In memory of Abby

Today, another young life was lost to cancer. After a 28 month fight with Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Abby passed away this afternoon. She was a softball player at TWU, in the prime of her life when she was diagnosed and started her treatment immediately. She lost her hair due to chemo and she was one of the people that wore a lot of caps in place of her hair. Seeing pictures of her in a variety of caps, reminds me of why I make caps. I don't really see them in use that often or hear from the recipients but I know from experience that they are something that can be useful and gives people a chance to show their style despite having lost their hair. I haven't been making many lately, but I have a renewed desire to get some made in remembrance of Abby.

With my last donation, I picked several complimentary colors to put together and I did make one cap with those a couple weeks ago that I never posted, it is in a variety of  hues of my favorite color, purple!

To wrap up, I want to share information about my upcoming Relay for Life, in support of the American Cancer Society. If you are interested in joining my team, donating or just knowing more about what I'm doing, feel free to check out my personal page here:
http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?px=32821795&pg=personal&fr_id=52645

Night off

I haven't worked on any caps in awhile and tonight was the perfect opportunity. I needed a little down time, so I decided to take the night "off" and sit down, relax and crochet. I ordered some pizza, thanks to the Rangers 7 runs yesterday I got a deal! Then, I sat down with my animal babies, turned on some recorded TV and pulled out the yarn. It was a much needed time, as crocheting, is a great stress reliever for me and I have a product to share when I'm finished. I worked with two very different types of yarn, but both ones with their own color variations to create a look with yarn only, not with different patterns. The variegated is a very soft, slick yarn that is a nice light spring weight (for when our spring actually comes and stays!) and the purple and white is thicker and fuzzier with flecks of reds blended into the purple and white wrap.  Another example of how the same basic pattern can create different looks, and I am happy to have 2 more to add to my next donation.

Donation $ = yarn

Ric Jones - Dallas, TX

I got a package in the mail yesterday from Jo-Ann Fabrics & Crafts. It wasn't a surprise to receive it but nonetheless it's always nice! This package was all yarn I was able to purchase last week thanks to a donation I received over spring break. Since I was out of town then, I didn't get to order but the timing worked out so that as I got back into town and settled, there was a sale on yarn with free shipping that I was able to take advantage of in using the donation. I picked Caron Simply Soft in a variety of (mostly) light spring looking colors that can be used separately or together for multicolor caps.  Once again, as always, I can't wait to get started on a new cap or two with the new arrivals!

Special Order

This morning, a friend asked if I could make a special cap for a little boy. He loves superheroes and has a spiderman doll so I gathered some red, blue and white and decided to look for a pattern for a Super-Man cap before trying to make up my own. I found one that looked good and got started, hopeful that I could finish today and figure out how to get the cap delivered. There were a few things I did to slightly personalize the cap but otherwise I followed the pattern and was able to finish it by early afternoon. By then, a request had come out on the Caring Bridge site requesting blue caps, so after talking to the friend who had requested the cap and he had volunteered to come pick it up from me, I started making some more basic caps in his favorite color, blue. I was able to finish a couple more in different yarns and then sent them with my friend for delivery. I haven't really done much in special orders but I really enjoyed being able to do something with a specific person in mind. If you want to read more about this little boy, check out his site:
www.caringbridge.com/micahahern

Tammy Walker Cancer Center

This past week, I traveled to Kansas to visit family and deliver some caps to the cancer center in Salina. I arrived Thursday afternoon and got a tour of the facility and talked with a couple of the employees. I got to hear about one patient that had taken a previous cap and how much she loved wearing it, although it's no necessary, it's really nice to get some feedback like that. We got all of the caps set out in the radiation waiting room, though it looked like I might have brought too many at one time! :) They are now available for patients to choose their own to take home. I heard that the next day, Friday, the caps got talked about around the office and hopefully more will be taken to their new homes soon and I will have to restock. (For those of you that want to know more about the shirt, check out http://lovetothemax.org)

Kansas bound

All these caps are tagged and bagged and ready for delivery to the Tammy Walker Cancer Center in Salina, Kansas. I didn't count how many I put in the bag, but there are approximately 3-4 dozen, looking for new heads to call home. I'm excited to get to deliver these caps in person. I've donated to this cancer center twice before but I haven't personally delivered them. My helper (cousin :) has taken them previously but tomorrow I'm meeting her there to drop them off, so it will be my first visit to the center. It's an 8 hour drive to get there, will I be glad to get there!

SALE!

When I see a great yarn sale, I find it so hard to pass it by, even with all the wonderful donations I've had. Today there is a sale that I have to share with you all, in case anyone is interested in picking up yarn for anything, there are lots of options. It's from Joann stores, most are in store and online, if you are shopping online, there's also a free shipping coupon code for orders of $50 or more, YUEA068. All the yarn is on sale, they are up to 40% off on some varieties. Some of the best deals and my faves are the following (you can tell I've been window shopping):
*-online only
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NON-ACRYLIC OR MIXED

Bernat Alpaca Chunky (alpaca and acrylic) for $2.69 (reg $4.49)

Bernat Cottontots (cotton, great for kids) for $2.99 (reg $4.99)

Bernat Bamboo Chunky (86% bamboo, soft and thick) for $2.69 (reg $4.49)

Jo-Ann Sensations Bamboo & Ewe (Wool, nylon and rayon mix) for $3.59 (reg $5.99)

Lion Brand Baby Wool (warm wool, pastels) for $3.35 (reg $4.79)

Nature's Choice Organic Cotton (favorite, soft, great for chemo caps) for $4.49 (reg $7.49)

*Naturally Caron.com Spa (bamboo/microdenier acrylic) for $2.99 (reg $4.99)

Patons Lace (acrylic with mohair and wool, fuzzy, great color changes) for $3.89 (reg $6.49)

Patons Classic Wool (100% wool roving) for $4.19 (reg $6.99)

STANDARD YARN
Bernat Softee Baby Yarn (thin and soft) for $2.79 (reg $4.99)
Bernat Baby Big Ball Sport Yarn (thin and soft) for $5.99 (reg $9.99)
Bernat Baby Blanket Yarn (thicker than most baby yarns, fuzzy and soft) for $5.99 (reg $9.99)
Caron Simply Soft (favorite, lots of color options) for $2.79 (reg $4.49)
Lion Brand Homespun (works up fast, soft and wavy) for $4.79 (reg $6.49)
Lion Brand Homespun Thick & Quick (thick, soft and wavy) for $4.79 (reg $8.99)
Mary Maxim Sugar Baby (favorite color schemes, soft) for $2.99 (reg $4.99)
Red Heart Soft (great colors, soft acrylic) for $2.79 (reg $4.49)
Red Heart Classic (best variety of colors) for $1.60 (reg $2. 29)
Red Heart Super Saver (favorite for larger projects) for $5.99 (reg $9.99)

FANCY/DECORATIVE YARN
Bernat Boa (eyelash fringe) for $2.99 (reg $4.99)
Bernat Tizzy (polyester, fringe) for $2.99 (reg $4.99)
Jo-Ann Sensations Beautiful (acrylic/nylon, fuzzy) for $3.59 (reg $5.99)
Jo-Ann Sesnsation Cello (polyester, great for fake hair caps) for $2.79 (reg $4.99)
*Lash Lux (long eyelash) for $2.44 (reg $3.49)
*Lily Sugar'n Cream Scents (cotton scented yarn, great for bath & kitchen) for $1.31 (reg $2.19)
Lion Brand Fancy Fur (perfect for decorative scarves) for $3.59 (reg $5.99)
Lion Brand Moonlight Mohair (great colors and fibers, not super soft) for $5.39 (reg $8.99)
Patons Kroy Sock Yarn (wool/nylon sock yarn) for $3.89 (reg $6.49)
Premier Starbella (ribbon yarn) for $4.89 (reg $6.99)
Red Heart Team Spirit (2 color self striping in 15 combinations) for $3.15 (reg $4.49)
*Simply Soft Party (soft with a little sparkle) for $2.57 (reg $4.29)