The Common Thread Circle

New Circle Co-Chairman and Hospital Coordinator Janie Schmidt and Delivery Chairman Dory Graham are pictured with bags of heart pillows, ready to be delivered to patients in Houston area hospitals.   So far in 2011, Common Thread Circle has delivered 5,328 handcrafted items to Houston area hospitals.  Over the past three years, since May 2008, the total of handcrafted items delivered has grown to 31,066!

The Common Thread Circle took a brief vacation and did not meet on the 4th of July.  However, a large group turned out at Town and Country Starbuck’s for our July 11th meeting and plans were announced for the remainder of the month.

Tuesday, July 12 – Circle Meeting at Memorial Drive United Methodist Church, Room D126, from 9:30 until noon.  (Because Vacation Bible School meets during the 3rd week, this meeting replaces our usual meeting on the 3rd Tuesday.)

Monday’s – July 18 and 25 – at Starbuck’s Town and Country from 2:00-4:00 p.m.

Wednesday, July 27th – Spring Branch Presbyterian Church, “Happy Hands” group, from 9:30 until noon.

The Knitter’s and Crocheter’s group will NOT be meeting in July.

• On May 2, 2011, new officers were elected to chair the Common Thread Circle.  Co-Chairpersons are Janie Schmidt and Lenore Alfredson.  Monday meetings at Starbucks will be handled by the co-chairs with Marilyn MacRill, JoNell Bosse, Jeane Kranz and Joyce Wolf taking turns assisting them. During May and June members of the circle have continued to produce hundreds of handcrafted items that have been delivered to area hospitals.

Sometimes the best way to do something nice for yourself is to reach out. At The Common Thread Circle, we reach out two ways. We get together to eat cake, drink coffee and stitch, sew and cut; and we reach out by helping out hospital patients at a lonely time of life. A comforting fabric work can help make life less lonely for them.

In this update, you’ll see pictures of fabricworks made by the ladies at Spring Branch Presbyterian Church. You can see how productive and wonderful they are. They must have had fun making these. I bet the patients will appreciate them too.

In the past month, we have donated to:

• Shriners Hospitals for Children
• Ben Taub General Hospital
• Memorial Hermann
• M. D. Anderson
• Methodist
• M. D. Anderson Breast Center
• Children’s Memorial Hermann
• Texas Childrens
• Southwest Memorial Hermann
• TIRR
• Northwest Memorial Hermann
• Katy Memorial Hermann
• St. Luke’s
• St. Luke’s Woodlands
• St. Luke’s Sugar Land
• Memorial City
• Memorial Hermann

Calendar

We meet every Monday at The Town and Country Starbucks from 2-4 (except May 30, which is Memorial Day). Thank you Starbucks for your continued enthusiasm for our efforts.

There will be no meeting on Memorial Day, May 30.

This January we will have many meetings and be busy helping patients in Houston area Hospitals. Our calendar will include:

We enjoyed celebrating our 25,000th fabricwork delivered to a patient this last November. For me it was a time of great satisfaction, as well as a time of reflection.

I have decided not to seek re-election as president of The Common Thread Circle for the year beginning June 1, 2011. As I leave it, The Common Thread Circle is in good shape: we have money in the bank, good relationships with hospitals, and many hard workers.

My tenure as fearless leader has been a personal joy and, most of all, a wonderful experience getting to know you, our loyal and competent volunteers. I’d like to thank those who have helped us achieve our dramatic results, especially all who deliver fabricworks, cut and sew, and maintain our treasury, as well as the knitting and stuffing that we all enjoy. You have made us the success that we are today.

As Thanksgiving nears, we at The Common Thread Circle have much to be thankful for.

First on my list would be all of you who so faithfully work with us. Well over 70 of you dedicate your time to cutting, sewing, stuffing, closing, knitting, crocheting, delivering, ironing, shopping and other tasks necessary to get fabricworks out to patients. I could not ask for better friends or coworkers, and you’re doing it out of the goodness of your hearts.

Next, our great hospitals in Houston who take care of thousands of patients each month and who appreciate our help. Particular thanks to Pam Lemp and St. Lukes, who have stood behind us all the way.

And third, the fact that we are very close to reaching a huge goal of donating 25,000 fabricworks since June 1, 2008 to patients.

Last, but not least, The Starbucks Coffee Company and District Manager Jean Manning along with Charles Peirsol, Manager of the Town and Country Starbucks, have made it possible for us to donate to over 1,000 patients a month. This scope of service would not be possible without their generous support.

That’s a lot to be thankful for, but mostly, I’m thankful for knowing you and working with you. Bravo to each and every one of you.

Our Calendar

We will meet at the Starbucks Town and Country Mondays from 2-4 on November 22 and 29; December 6, 13, and 20; and January 3 and 10. Please note we will not be meeting on December 27.

We will meet at Memorial Drive United Methodist Church on December 14 for a stuffing, knit and crochet session followed by a potluck luncheon at 11:30 a.m. If you have not already, please call to let us know what dish you are bringing. All are invited to come for lunch and a slice of cake celebrating our 25,000th fabricwork.

Charles Peirsol is throwing a Starbucks Christmas party at the Town and Country Starbucks on Thursday, December 2 from 6-8 p.m. Let’s all join with him for some Christmas cheer.

Happy Holidays!

Congratulations to you! We have donated 22,924 fabricworks since June 1, 2008. Since June 1, 2010 we have given away over 1,000 items a month. This is an incredible achievement when you consider the amount of planning, cutting, stuffing, stitching, knitting, crocheting, packaging and delivering that is involved.

We do all this with joy because we know that the fabricworks we donate are useful and colorful and designed to lift the spirits of patients in Houston area hospitals. Bravo for a job well-done.

Since our last newsletter, we have donated to Methodist, Ben Taub, Katy Memorial Hermann, M.D. Anderson, Texas Children’s, Children’s Memorial Hermann, Southwest Memorial Hermann, Northwest Memorial Hermann, Shriners and St. Luke’s Hospitals.

Upcoming Meetings

Thank Charles

We are successful in part because of Starbucks’ support and we appreciate everything that Starbucks and manager Charles Peirsol are doing for us. Charles and his supportive staff always make us feel welcome, and every week we enjoy their wonderful pastries and coffee, as well as their pleasant and clean cafe. We cannot thank them enough. Make sure to say thank you to Charles when you see him.

Buy One, Give One

Spread the word! Those who want to donate to The Common Thread Circle have a new, fun option. If you donate $150 or more, you’ll get a handmade critter designed by our doll artist member, Gwynne Ross, and we will match your purchase by giving a critter to a patient in need. Contact us for more information.

Free Patterns

If you are unable to join us for meetings but wish to sew at home, we put several patterns on our website here (in PDF format). Thank you to Christel Dekker for creating these patterns.

Looking forward to seeing you soon.

Busy, Busy, Happy

Since our new year began on June 1, Common Thread has been busy, busy, busy. We are donating more than 1,000 fabricworks each month and our group continues to grow in numbers and in affection. Simply put, we have a good time with each other. At the same time, we are making useful and attractive fabricworks which tell patients in Houston area hospitals that we care about them. I love win-win situations.

We do need some help in one area. Is there anyone out there who is interested in going to groups to speak about Common Thread? Anyone who personally knows doctors who might support us? Or organizations who make grants to non-profits? Are you interested in developing these connections? It would be very helpful to have a fund-raising group actively working on keeping us funded. A happy group is one with plenty of material and yarn!

Honor Roll

• All of you who stuff, cut, sew, buy, knit, crochet or say a prayer for Common Thread.
• Dory and Garrett Graham for delivering our fabricworks to hospitals every Thursday.
• Gywnne Ross for her wonderful critter patterns (see below).
• Margaret Atmar for all of those faces and her non-stop sewing.
• Leora Feldman for hosting the knit/crochet group at her home.
• Thelma Stockton, Beth Morris, Sarah Dikeman, Beverly Davidson and Bonnie Laverty for all your cutting and sewing.
• Jeanie Kranz, master cutter, for your unwavering support in cutting and your great color sense.

Upcoming Meetings

Whew! With your help, we will get it all done.

Great news!

Since May 29, 2008, we have donated 20,435 handcrafted fabricworks to patients in Houston area hospitals. This incredible achievement says a great deal about our members. You cut, sew, stuff, knit, crochet, buy material and make patterns. You come as often as you can to help at meetings. You work at home. You are cheerful and hard-working. You know what we do matters. Thank you seems unequal to your efforts.

Testimonial

But maybe the following note we received will help you realize how very important YOU are:

I just wanted to send a quick note to let you know how much we appreciate the heart pillow we received from your organization. My mother is currently hospitalized in Katy Hermann Memorial and the pillow that was delivered to her has brought her quite a bit of comfort. She had surgery a week ago today and that was the only pillow she wanted under her head. She took a rough turn yesterday and is now in the ICU, but that pillow remains with her and is the most comfortable pillow to cradle her neck. Many thanks to all of you who volunteer to make these items. They do bring joy and comfort to patients and I’m sure that is what you all intended. God Bless you all and I hope you continue this wonderful ministry. - Melissa Smith

Thank you for letting us know, Melissa, and we hope your mother encounters some turns for the better. We’re thinking of her as she faces this difficult time.

Calendar

Great news! Starbucks has awarded us a grant of one thousand dollars to continue our efforts. What a wonderful reward for all our hard work. Thank you to Charles Peirsol, manager of our Starbucks, for his help with the application process and throughout the year. Charles, what would we do without you?

And we are planning an outing to see hand made dolls at the Opening Reception for the Texas Association of Original Doll Artists. Gwynne Ross, a member and designer of our wonderful children’s pillows, will be showing her very fine and creative handcrafted dolls including “Minstrels” (pictured). The opening will be at the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft on 4848 Main Street on Thursday, August 5, from 5:30-8 p.m. We will meet at Rima Blanc’s house at 5:00 and then head to the craft center in a carpool. RSVP to Rima.

Calendar

We have two recent articles about us and some pictures for you to see below. More rewards for our dedicated ladies who are committed to helping others.

See you soon.