Hi! Our first "Sew for HOPE" meeting at Big Bend Homeless Coalition in October was a great success. Mary Digiovanni, Chris Rivers, and Cynthia Seyler were there to work on making polar fleece blankets. Five residents stopped by to help, and that made quick work of our projects. Two resident children stopped by after school to see what we were up to. I see now that we'll need a Children's Corner. Saima Furiato from Tallahassee Garden Club stopped by with the generous donation of a sewing machine and four beautifully crocheted/knitted afghans. She also gave us quilt batting, fabric, thread, blanket bindings, and some rick rack. We're looking forward to making some large flower appliques using that rick rack for the flower stems. Thank you Saima! Since that meeting several individuals have sought me out to give donations. Special thanks to Mary Digiovanni for the rolling sewing machine tote and for her help cleaning and oiling our new sewing machine. Thanks for all your extra support Mary. Also, thanks to Chris Rivers for her generous support and for knitting baby blankets at home. Thanks to Cheryl Bartell for the crocheted baby afghan. It's so sweet! Thanks to Jill Williams for the large bag filled with quilt fabric and fleece. A heartfelt thanks to Carol Harrison from Fellowship Presbyterian Church. She's also the philanthropic chairwoman of Quilter's Unlimited. With the help of her friends, Carol donated  five baby http://www.sewforhopenow.com/?page_id=1415, lots of quilting fabric, a tall kitchen trash bag filled with yarn, 8 knitted/crocheted caps, and a grocery sack filled with toiletries for the residents of Big Bend Homeless Coalition. This evening I'm meeting Kathi Felder, who has 2 large pieces of polar fleece to give. We also received a cash donation of $10 which I used to buy a pair of sewing scissors. We're off to an AWESOME start. Oh, I don't want to leave out Marty O'Neill. She's making baby http://www.sewforhopenow.com/?page_id=1415 at home. She's also been corresponding with Fairfield Processing and other companies who make quilt batting. Because of her efforts, we'll be receiving 6 packages of quilt batting every year from Fairfield.  And last but not least, thanks to Suzy Smith for donating five children's books for our new Children's Corner. I pray I didn't leave anyone out. If I did, it was a huge mistake and I hope you'll forgive me.

It's now November and we'll be meeting on Tuesday the 11th from 1 - 5 p.m. in the cafeteria. We'll begin cutting fabric to start making http://www.sewforhopenow.com/?page_id=1415 as a group. And we may have a knitting corner. All are welcome to join us on that day for blanket making. If you want to bring a project to work on, that would be great.

Wish list: Sewing machine, iron, ironing board, extension cord, fabric (cotton, fleece, and flannel), quilt batting, scissors, and basic sewing supplies. I would like for each resident, who stops by to sew, to be presented with a basic hand sewing kit.

Address - Big Bend Homeless Coalition
                2729 W Pensacola St
                Tallahassee, Fl 32302

Directions - drive west on Tennessee Street, turn left onto Appleyard, cross Pensacola, take the first left onto Municipal Way, pass the jail on the right, look for a small sign by the entrance on the left that says "Tallahassee Coalition for the Homeless". Administration building is last building on right (brick). You must go to the administration building for a visitors pass.

Thanks for all you do,
Cynthia Seyler
850-539-5558 hm
850-556-1215 cell

October 2008     December 2008