Crafting for a Cause

Todd told me that a high school classmate has a daughter that would be having extensive medical care over the next few months.  He mentioned it because the classmate contacted him wanting to know if he could donate a quilt to the silent auction benefit they will be holding later in the month.  He does quilt, but he doesn't make quilts.  He mostly makes quilted stockings, that are beautiful btw.

We put our heads together to come up with something we could donate because if this was either of our daughters, of course, we would hope others would be able to help.  For the silent auction, we decided that he would donate one of the stockings and one of us would make a set of 6 reusable shopping bags.  (For those that know me, those shopping bags are the extent of the sewing I do.)

After more thinking on it, I realized the girls are really liking making the heart necklaces we made at Girl Scouts and I could make some other stuff.  Todd contacted the classmate and presented the idea of having a table that was stuff for sell instead of silent auction.  My idea was that if there was several of similar items, people could just choose what they want with a portion of the sale going to the benefit and possibly make more for the benefit instead of counting on people to bid up the items on the silent auction.  The classmate loved the idea.  So we are busy making things to sell.  Here are some of the items we are making with instructions (or links to instructions).

Hemp Macrame Necklace -- Don't ask how long I made the string.  I didn't measure.  I know the knot string was as long as my arm span.  The anchor string was shorter.  It was more the length of what I thought I wanted the finished product to be.
I created this using square knot sennits attaching small wooden beads at random intervals.  The small beads are attached to the knotting string.  When I reached what I thought would be middle, I added the first larger bead to the anchor string.  Add 1 complete square knot sennit, then add the next large bead.  Repeat 1 more time.  

Heart Necklace -- This is the necklace the girls like to make.  I introduced the oldest daughter's Girl Scout troop to this craft, but it has been a hit with both girls.  I found the instructions to this on at Family Fun, but modified it to not include candy or note.

 

Washer Necklaces -- Love these necklaces.  I found the instructions on this website.

The Mistake -- :)  The girls got a little wasteful with the wire for the hearts above.  I hated to see the materials go to the trash, so I got creative.  This is what I came up with.  Obviously it is made a lot like the heart, but I added the bead on the bottom to give it something different.

I will add more pics if we come up with anything else interesting.