Compassion

"I have this theory that if one person shows compassion to another then that person will start a chain reaction of the same." -- Rachel Joy Scott

Hi, I'm Addi! That's me, sitting on Angel Penny Sawczak's lap at the Crafty Angels' get-together this past Saturday. Chris said I could write the blog today because all the Angels loved me so much! My Mom is Angel Debbie Kreusch, and she made me out of yarn she and Chris got doing what they call "Noro-diving" in a big pen at Stitches Midwest a couple of years ago. The pattern called for me to be little -- made on size 2 needles -- but Mom said "what the heck!" and used size 8 needles to make me BIG!! I say there's just more of me to love!!

I can't wait to go to my new home -- Chris says that I'm going to some place called Cornerstone Community Outreach to be a Christmas present for a child whose family doesn't have a home. Maybe I can cheer that child up -- I AM "squeezably soft," I like to cuddle up in bed at night, and I'm good for drying up tears. I wonder whether my child will be a boy or girl? I don't care -- I just like little kids!

What? Oh....Chris says that I have to tell you about the yarny goodness that the Angels brought, not just talk about myself! OK, want to know who came to the party?

Here's Jeannine Patt and Doris Ahlstedt, both from Chicago.

Here's Angie Lyke, Lori Nienke, and Phyllis Snodgrass -- all from Chicago.

And Penny Sawczak from Chicago, Lisa from Lake Forest, and Carol Flowers from Barrington, IL.

Here's my Mom, Debbie Kreusch (cuddling me!!), Sandy Rice, and Peggy Kingsley. Everybody in this picture is from Chicago, too. Of course, Chris was there, but she said that because she was taking the pictures, nobody could take a picture of HER!

I have to tell you, I could NOT believe how much yarny goodness the Angels brought on Saturday!!! Mom told me to be prepared, but I just couldn't imagine how much love came in the door. Do you know that the Angels had yarny goodness stacked up on Chris' dining room table SO HIGH that it nearly touched the light fixture and Chris made everybody take all the yarny goodness off the table midway through so she could take good pictures (well, with Chris that's a relative term.......) of the rest of the yarny goodness? It is TRUE. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it.

In fact, Chris was worried that if we put up ALL the pictures she took that we might crash the servers where this blog resides! So I got to pick what I thought are the best things each person brought! Even THAT is a lot -- just look:

Angel Penny Sawczak brought so many things, including several shawls using this stitch. I liked this one the best because I like bright colors, and I think one of our seniors at Friendly Towers will, too.

Angel Penny also made this lap blanket for one of our senior men at Friendly Towers -- I think he will like it!

Aren't these scarves just the coolest?! Penny made these for the little boys in Cornerstone's shelters. I think they are kinda scary.....

Angel Carol Flowers does such beautiful crocheting! Just look at these spa cloths she made for the Spa Cloth Challenge! She makes them on her lunch hour at work!

She also makes scarves on her lunch hour -- I particularly like the mauve-colored one on the left here.

And just look at this prayer shawl Carol made! The yarn she chose has such a nice sheen and it's so soft. It will be a great comfort to someone who is ill or has faced a loss.

Angel Jeannine Patt made this beautiful baby sweater and hat for our newborns at Swedish Covenant Hospital. The Angels just went ga-ga over the itty bitty cables on the front next to the buttons and on the sleeves. Very, very cool!

Jeannine was also thinking about the toddlers we serve at Parenting ProGRESS -- she wanted their little heads and hands to stay warm this winter, so she made these hat and mitten sets just for them! All the Angels think that Jeannine makes absolutely the BEST pompoms!

This baby blanket got LOTS of oohhs and aahhs -- Angel Jeannine really showed off her crocheting skills on this one for our babies at Swedish Covenant Hospital. Chris really liked the edging she put on the blanket. I think the new mom who gets this will be really happy!

More spa cloths for our Spa Cloth Challenge! These were made by Angel Sandy Rice -- don't you think she did a wonderful job with her seed stitch pattern? I do!

Angel Lori Nienke made these beautiful spa cloths for the Challenge. I really like the orange one -- the pattern is just so cool!

Lori made her very first baby blanket!! Isn't it just beautiful? I think the new mom at Swedish Covenant Hospital will really like it a LOT!

Angel Phyllis Snodgrass learned to knit in Scotland, and look at these beauties she made for the Angels! Chris said these will go to the families we serve at WellSpring, which I think is a good idea!

Just look at all these baby hats that Angel Doris Ahlstedt made for Angel Birgit Yacoub's "Fill a Bathtub with Baby Hats Challenge!" Each little hat is different!

Isn't this just a great Seafarer's Scarf and Watch Cap for the Christmas at Sea Project? I think it will keep the mariner serving on a ship who recieves it nice and warm this winter.

All the Angels really liked this scarf that Angel Angie Lyke crocheted -- and luckily she brought copies of the pattern with her. No one had ever seen anything like it - it's just gorgeous!

When Angel Angie last came by to pick up yarn, she said she wanted to try working with yarns she had never used before. So she and Chris went through all the bins holding the Angels' fancy yarns, and Angie picked out some cool stuff. She made all these scarves for the Angels' fundraiser in December -- I think they will sell really well!

Angel Angie also made this lovely blanket -- just look at the border she crocheted around the edge. Isn't that just something? Chris said she was going to save this to be a comfort afghan for a man who is sick or who has suffered a loss. I think it will be a big comfort to him.

Now I want to show you some yarny goodness my Mom, Angel Debbie Kreusch, made! She has been so busy this summer making so many things for the Angels! She wanted to try something called "needle felting," so she made these felted mittens for kids and then needle felted the designs on them. Cool, no? I'm betting they will sell well at the fundraiser and REALLY keep kids' hands warm this winter!

She also made this afghan for one of the senior men we serve at Friendly Towers. It's much greener than this picture (once again, Chris takes a bad photo -- she really should take a class or something!).

All the Angels really liked this baby blanket -- it took a long time to make because Mom used the really fine yarn someone's grandmother donated. But it turned out nice, don't you think?

Now I have to tell you that Mom's favorite thing to make is TOYS! She made ME, after all!! She made some other toys this summer -- take a peek:

This is Flo -- Mom made her to go with Purl and Lovie, so now they are triplets! Don't you just love her little cloven hoofies?!?!?
Mom made this polar bear using the same pattern as ME -- but I think I turned out better!
Isn't this just the best gift for a tween girl?? Mom had yarn left over after making the blanket and decided to make a bear to to with it. I think she's cute (but not as cute as me!).

And just in time for Christmas, Mom made this snowman. I think it will be perfect for toddler-sized hands at Parenting ProGRESS!

WHEW!!!!! Can you believe this is only a small PART of all the yarny goodness the Angels brough?!?!? After the Angels left to go home, Chris told me that the Angels were some of the sweetest, bestest, most compassionate women she has ever met. She said that if that quote up top is true, then there will be an avalance of compassion all over the Chicago area come this winter. I think the Angels are pretty nifty, too -- so before I sign off on the blog, I want them all to know I think they are GREAT!!!