What this is all about…

We said it at the beginning, and this letter from Tina in North Carolina reminded me again. This is about using your time and your talent to make something beautiful and meaningful to a child this Christmas. This letter from Tina truly touched me.  Thank you to Tina and every one of you who has participated in our first year of this project.

Here’s what Tina said about her experience:

“First I’d like to thank you for the awesome idea of making doll clothes to donate to Toys For Tots. I am a BIG fan of youcanmakethis.com and all of Carla’s ebooks. When I saw the email for the Toys For Tots free pattern it really touched my heart. I was very excited to be a part of this..my husband is a Marine and was in charge of Toys For Tots for his unit when we were stationed in Puerto Rico a few years ago. He saw first hand the joy in the children’s faces when he and the other Marines handed out toys at a 3 Kings Day Parade. This is a really special organization..and thanks to everyone who has supported it this year. There are many children who will appreciate your kindness. Not only am I a proud Marine wife, but also mother to 4 sweet little girls. I know how much my girls LOVE their dolls and dressing them up, and I think that Twirls For Girls is the BEST idea. I find it very rewarding to sew and make things for my girls, it really comes from my heart. To think of how my doll sets will brighten some little girl’s sweet little face this Christmas is the best reward of all. My girls went crazy when they saw the finished sets, and of course wanted them for their own dolls. I explained to them that there are little boys and girls out there that aren’t as fortunate as they are..and that they may not be able to get anything for Christmas and how important it is to give of ourselves to those in need. Great lesson of compassion for my girlies! We dropped off these 3 adorable sets tonight. I wanted to make more, but have run out of time. The toys that have been collected here in Jacksonville NC will be distributed on Monday.

Honestly, I was feeling a little Scrooge-ish after Thanksgiving. My husband was getting ready to leave for the month to go to a military school, I had planned on making the girls’ Christmas sets as well as planning to launch my customs business on ebay. In addition to the usual hustle and bustle of the Holidays, I had a lot of things I wanted to do and was feeling a little grumpy because I was getting a late start. When I saw the Twirls For Girls, I knew that I wanted to make sets to donate..but how would I have time to do it?? I decided to focus on making the doll clothes instead of making customs and launching my business and Christmas sets for my own girls. They were happy with their store bought Christmas dresses and knew that sewing time for the doll clothes donation was for a good cause. I will get my ebay business up and running after Christmas. While making these sets, I reflected on how truly blessed I am. Sure my husband had to go away for a few weeks..but he is coming home tomorrow. I thought about all of the military wives and children who’s loved ones are deployed and won’t be home this Christmas. And for those that have given the ultimate sacrifice..I am truly blessed. I also thought about my 4 sweet, beautiful, HEALTHY girls. I AM truly blessed. Why on earth was I feeling scroogey? I am the luckiest woman in the world to have my family with me..and to be able to be a part of helping a less fortunate child experience some magic this Christmas!”

Every girls favorite…Elmo & Strawberry Shortcake!

These are so sweet!! Kris from Utah will be donating these and won’t two little girls love them!?!

Here’s what Kris said:
“To get me started on these skirts, I needed a little inspiration. So I went to another childhood favorite doll of mine…Strawberry Shortcake! The pinks and reds came together and I was so giddy thinking about who would be receiving this. I knew that Sesame Street would be another hit for a young child, so that was my 2nd skirt.  Thank you for providing this opportunity to all of us!”

Another one in Lansing, Michigan!

Allison from Lansing, Michigan just sent in a  4th set.  Thank you Allison!

Here’s what she said:
“I have been saying for a long time now that I give away far more than I make (meaning money)  but after making these it made me remember why I do that… Because I love to!!  I love the feeling of using a talent that God gave me to give back to someone else.  I think this is all I will have time for right now but I loved making them.  Thanks so much for doing this and thank you for the pattern!”

4 Cousins Spent their Thanksgiving…

making twirls for girls! Their ages? These up-and-coming seamstresses are ages 8, 9, 10, and 11! Following their Thanksgiving dinner at Grandmas, they spent their afternoon sorting through piles of scrap fabrics looking for “just the right combinations to make any girl happy!” This was their first attempt at sewing and they loved every minute! Thank you Jesse, Cate, Hannah, and Emily for using your time and NEW TALENT to make Christmas very special for some little girls just like you!

6 sets donated in Maryland!

Cute, cute, cute! I love all of these combinations of fabrics! And I love that she and her mom worked on these together! Thank you Missy (and her mom!) for using your time and talents to make these beautiful sets! 6 little girls in Maryland are going to be so happy!

Here’s what Missy said:
“I was able to finish 6 and hopefully I will get one more done.  Thank you so much for doing this.  My mother and I have had so much fun picking out fabrics from our scraps.  And I felt so good that the outfits were going to needy girls.  My favorite (the pirate one) is in the back and hard to see.”
 
Missy K.
Maryland

Donation in New York!

Elizabeth from New York will be donating this set! Elizabeth…I love this skirt and I love the idea of getting your students involved for next year! What a great idea! We definitely hope to have this year be the start of a tradition for years to come! Thanks for helping us!

Here’s what Elizabeth said:
“Here is my finished Twirls For Girls donation. It was made with love from many pieces in the scrap bag. Hopefully it will bring joy to someone this Christmas season. I will be bringing it to my local ToysRUs tomorrow to donate it. Thanks for allowing me this opportunity to help with this great cause. Next year I hope to get my students involved and maybe I will be able to donate many more! ”

Another Texas sweetie!

So many girls in Texas are going to be thrilled to open up these skirts in a few weeks! Marie from Houston, Texas will be donating this sweet skirt! I love the fact that she had her 6 year old daughter right there to help her lay out the fabrics and watch the process. That is something Isabella will never forget. And won’t she be excited to open one up, too! Thank you Marie!

Here’s what Marie said:
“My 6 year old daughter, Isabella picked out all the fabric and laid the squares in a row and I serged it all together. I try to teach her that it is a blessing to have beautiful handmade clothing (because of all the things I make for her), so it was great for her to be able to be a part of something like this. It was a wonderful lesson in giving because she really wanted the outfit for her dolly, but knew that it was for another little girl who doesn’t have the same opportunities and advantages she has. Thank you for providing this pattern! This cute twirl skirt is being modeled by her Hello Kitty doll-what she doesn’t know is that she’s getting a new dolly for Christmas and a dolly outfit using this pattern too! Shhh!”

Look at this gorgeous crochet!

Dainty and sweet as can be! Noreen is donating several doll clothing items for some little girls in Washington! And isn’t that crochet just beautiful? I would have loved dressing up my dolls in that when I was a little girl! Thank you Noreen!

Here’s what Noreen said:
“I was excited when I heard about twirls for girls. I remember when I was little my Grandma won a raffle at church that was a doll with a set of handmade clothes.  My sister and I loved playing with Jeanie (we named her after our Grandma).  My sewing machine broke so I made one simple dress, I forgot how long hand sewing takes :).  I knit and crochet faster so I made another dress and some booties for the dolls as well.  I wish I could make more but with my machine broke and two toddlers this is as far as I got.  I like the idea so once my machine is fixed I plan on making a bunch for next year.  I will be donating these in Puyallup, WA.”

-Noreen

3 Friends Sew & Donate in Kansas!

I love that 3 friends got together and made these skirts for little girls in Kansas! What a great idea to get together with your friends and sew for such a neat cause. Thank you Sarah, Julie, and Monique for making these! They are beautiful!

Here’s what they said:
“These were so much fun to make!  Thanks so much for the free patterns and contributing to making Christmas extra special for some little ones.My friends and I had a great time getting together to make these skirts. So far we have 4 skirts and 1 shirt and plan to make more.  We will be donating in Kansas.”

6 more sets in Fort Worth, Texas!

Rachel in Fort Worth has been very busy! Isn’t this exciting though? She has made 6 more sets to donate in Texas!  And Rachel, I love that Heather Ross print one, too! Here’s what she said:

“I just finished six more skirts and shirts, I hope the children will have as much fun dressing their dolls in them as I did making them.  The Heather Ross print skirt is my favorite one so far :). 

I noticed that you were extending the deadline since some locations will be accepting donations till later in the month. If there is a location near me that will be accepting them late I’ll try to finish the last of my Christmas gift sewing early and try and sew a few more sets.  Thank you for this opportunity.”
 
Rachel F.
Fort Worth, TX