A Community Project

Yesterday, Nancy and Maggie Benton stopped in to look at the shorts. They offered their time and skills to help with the project. I am so excited to see the community anxious to help. It really is becoming a community project. Thanks Nancy and Maggie for your willingness to help it is greatly appreciated. Today I completed only two pairs of shorts!!! I ran out of elastic. I had some ordered and it did come in today, but with the ice and snow, I will wait till a better time to go get it. I sewed 19 other pairs completely, excluding the elastic of course, so on Monday I will finish those and that will complete 105 pairs for this week. I have also cut about 50 pairs for next week, so I have gotten ahead in that aspect. I will leave totals till Monday. Enjoy the snow.

Loaves and Fishes

Today was a loaves and fishes day. I cannot tell you how far my fabric stretched. It was as if it were neverending. It was great!! I want to say thank you to Zella Sisk from Oil Trough AR for donating fabric. So far this week I have completed 84 pairs of shorts. Tomorrow I should finish 21 pairs giving me a total of 105 for the week. 190 down, 4810 to go.

Thanks for the help!

I have two people that will be sewing with me. In Jonesboro, Cindy Calhoun sewed over the weekend and made several pairs of shorts. I will report her totals later. In Scottsdale, AZ Cissy Lieblong will be joining us and she will be trying to get others in AZ to sew with her as well. I think they plan to make some dresses, also. I am so excited!!! Thanks Cindy and Cissy!! I think we will get a lot done for the children of Haiti. As for the fabric, I had Janice Porter and Joanne Nally donate enough fabric to make about 200 pairs of shorts. WOW!! Thanks Ladies!! Also, Johnna Dobbs is in China this week and will be bringing back fabric for the project. Thanks, Johnna!! Your positive response and support are so very appreciated. Today I completed 22 pairs of shorts for a total of 128 pairs. Only 4,872 to go. Here is a photo of 128 pairs of shorts sorted and ready to ship.

First Week, 106 pairs of shorts

Today completed my first week. It was a great week. I completed 106 pairs of size 3T shorts for boys and girls of Haiti. If I can get in 5 extra pairs a week, that will give me an extra day each month for illness, etc. I will try to post a photo of all the shorts from this week. Thanks for your support and for following this blog. It keeps me going to know that people are keeping me accountable. 106 down 4894 to go!!

Settling in

Today was very successful. I completed 21 pairs of shorts in 3 1/2 hours. I think I have found my groove. I had done the cutting the night before, so I think tonight I will cut for tomorrow as well. That seemed to work well. I have several people that want to help. A couple of people want to help sew and some have asked to help mail. I really appreciate all the help. I can't wait to mail the first box. I will post a photo every one hundred pairs. 74 down and 4926 to go.

Saving Time

Today I approached things differently. I got up at 6, took the dog out, fed him, had breakfast, did my Bible study, and began sewing. The house was quiet, no phone calls, no barking dog. In short (ha, ha, ha) I was able to make 20 pairs of shorts in 4 hours!!!! Much better than yesterday. Last night I worked out a couple of problems that were time consuming. There was a small problem with the pattern so this morning when I cut the shorts, I made the correction and it was a breeze from there. Also, yesterday I pressed my fabric right side out and cut, then I had to switch sides to sew, today, however, I folded the fabric inside out before I cut then it was ready to sew. A third thing, I cut two pair of shorts at a time so my cutting time was cut in half. Tonight I did all my cutting for tomorrow, so in the morning I will be ready to go. Yesterday I was wondering if this was another one of those things that I would start and not finish, but after today, I realize it is something I must do.

53 pair of shorts made 4,947 to go.

Day one was busy

Today I spent 8 hours sewing and was able to complete 33 pair of shorts. It was a lot of work and I realize I have set a lofty goal, however, I am sure I can still make 5000 in a year, only 4967 t0 go. In the movie Julie and Julia I was able to identify with Julie when she said she was always starting things and never finishing. Today, I realized why that seems to happen to me too often, I always am over zealous. I always think I can do more than is physically possible. This year will, no doubt, be a challenge, however, it is achievable. Today when I tired of sewing, I thought of those children with nothing, and suddenly sewing seemed a pleasant task. My goal for tomorrow is 20.

For the children of Haiti

Watching all the devastation in Haiti this week has left me wondering how I could possibly help. My son Mark shed some light for me. As we were discussing possible college majors for him, he said he felt he needed to use the gifts God had given him. So, applying that simple rule to myself, I decided that I should look at the gifts I have been given. In short order, I realized that one gift I have is my ability to sew, it is just something I have always done well, a gift. After giving it some thought I decided that I could make shorts for the children of Haiti. Shorts are fairly easy to make. Children's shorts are particularly easy and I can use the same pattern for boys or girls. If I put elastic in the waist, the shorts will fit without having to know an exact waist size. So, I have decided, I will make a simple short, use really cute fabric to make them special. My son Matthew and my daughter-in-law Jennifer sent me the movie Julie and Julia, a very inspiring movie. After watching the movie, I decided to make this a challenge. I have decided that if I took weekends off, I could make 20 pair of shorts every day 5 days a week, 100 pair of shorts a week, for 52 weeks a year, a total of 5200 pair of shorts in a year. Allowing for impositions on my time and possible illness I am sure I will be able to make 5000 pair of shorts for the children of Haiti. So, my challenge is this: By January 18, 2011 I will have made, by myself, 5000 pair of shorts for the children of Haiti. I will begin tomorrow, January 18, 2010.