Making Home Link Up #34: Raising Money for MS Trust

Welcome to the #MakingHome weekly link up!

Be inspired by posts all about moving house, home decor, DIY, crafts, family activities, recipes, gardening and more. It’s all here under one roof at Mrs Crafty B’s.

Don't forget to join in and link up your own posts. The linky is open from Friday until Tuesday. Find out how to take part at the end of this post. 

This week's post from me is not so much craft or decor related, but the topic is close to my heart. As the day that my sister gets thrown from a plane draws nearer, I wanted to re-share a post I wrote a short while ago: MS: A Personal Account.

MS: A Personal Account and Fundraising for MS Trust

As my regular readers will know, I don't go into much detail about my personal life on the blog (occasionally the woes of being a grown up or my personal struggles with housework). Today however, I am going to get a tiny bit personal as my sister is fundraising for MS Trust and I wanted to share with you a personal experience.

A few years ago, one of my nearest and dearest (who shall remain anonymous) was diagnosed with MS. I won't be going into the personal struggles of that person or the people around them but MS takes it toll in so many ways untold. 

Catching Up With Sniffy Wiffy and The Sniffettes - Supporting Cancer Research UK and Ballboys

During last year's Meet the Maker Christmas special, we met Sarah of Sniffy Wiffy. Sarah has developed a fabulous range of beauty products that encourage women to perform breast checks. Having mentioned some great plans for 2015, I have invited Sarah back over to Mrs Crafty B to tell us what she has been up to this year so far and what is next for Sniffy Wiffy...

Handmade Chocolates with Social Enterprise Harry Specters

In March 2014, I organised the Cambourne Craft Fair. I contacted a company that I had spotted in an ad as they made handmade chocolates. They looked delicious! 

Unfortunately, this company could not make it along. In October, I was watching the news and I saw a report about said company and how they worked with people with Autism. I had no idea. I was super excited about the idea of a handmade business as social enterprise and felt that I would love to show my support by introducing you Crafty B's to Harry Specters. 

Here's a little bit about them from MD, Mona Shah

Have you ever wanted to be Santa? #Foodbankfillup

I'm whacking a disclaimer straight at the top here:

*This post is not intended to be a demonstration of matyrdom, a dictation of what you should and shouldn't do with your cash or a guilt trip.*

Right. That said, let's move on and I'll tell you about my recent failure to follow through on good intent, an experience I had today and why I won't sponsor a donkey (other animals are available not to sponsor).

A few weeks ago, a shared post popped up on my Facebook timeline from comedian, Jason Manford. He had posted a picture of a huge collection of advent calendars that he had purchased to donate to a food bank. What followed was mostly positive comments but they were unfortunatly accompanied by a barrage of negative feedback and accusations including him using a charitable donation for self promotion and people demonstrating anger that they felt Jason was perhaps 'showing up' those who couldn't afford to donate 500 advent calendars with an 'I'm better than you' attitude. My reaction to this feedback was that each negative comment was born of ignorance. Not everyone can afford to donate something to a charity, sure, but when someone with such a big following promotes a cause, even by saying 'look at what I've done,' then even if a small amount of people are informed and are happily inspired, then more donations are made and this can only be a good thing. Surely?

Community Book Pledge for Dreamdrops Children's Charity

I have recently been corresponding with a lady named Aimee who is organising a community book pledge for a very worthy cause. After making my own donation, I invited Amie over here to Crafting a Daydream to tell us all about this fantastic pledge in the hope that my lovely readers will read, share and perhaps donate!

Here's Amie to to tell us all about it.

Hi Crafty B's!

As someone who is passionate about getting books into the hands of children, I have been in my element organising a Community Book Pledge for Dreamdrops Children's Charity.

The idea is simple, local businesses and individuals are kindly funding a brand new Usborne book (or three!) for me to order and present to Dreamdrops (charity number 1108920). They will then be made available to the patients and siblings on Holly Ward at Hinchingbrooke hospital, where they are unable to accept used books.

As a token of thanks, a bookplate will be inserted into the cover of each book stating who donated it and progress will be reported on my Facebook page. The response to date has been great, and the box is filling with activity books, story books, baby books and very apt titles such as Questions and Answers About Your Body flap book and Going to the hospital.

Thank-you so far to Hidden Gem Cupcakes, Maidin Cambourne, Argently Yours, Taylor Wimpey East Anglia, Cambridge Wills & Legal services, Rural Flying Corps, Janette Photography, White Rose Ceremonies, Elms Cambridgeshire and of course Mrs Crafty B for her donation and sharing this blog post.

If you would like to get involved and fund a book, please get in touch via my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/thecambournestorycorner.

Amie Thorpe
Independent Usborne Organiser www.thecambournestorycorner.co.uk

Spring Cleaning

As I put my third load of washing in this morning and stared at the next three, I thought to myself "this is worse than doing my own washing." So what exactly am I doing? Why so much washing? Why isn't it 'mine'? Am I mad? Then I thought "who else does this?" So let me enlighten you.

Spring is well underway and the spring cleaning is going very slowly. My main issue is that I am a hoarder. It's not news to any regulars over here at Crafting a Daydream and probably not to those who craft either. I'm sure plenty of you have a 'stash'. I feel like my hoarding comes from forming sentimental attachments to material objects. Probably due to lack of security growing up or something. I am absolutely convinced I will be able to re-use or up-cycle everything at some point. This is causing me cringe feelings and creating huge piles of stuff in our modest house. Over the last few years I have had several clear outs which have resulted in me putting piles and piles of clothes in the garage and vowing that if I don't take anything out of these piles in six months, I'll just nip them off to a charity shop. I never have.

In the three years I have been in my house, having moved from Sheffield to Cambridge, I have been married, had a baby, been through an emotional/physical roller coster, dealt with a family life changing 'issue', grown up a bit more, changed my lifestyle and still, I don't see this as a reason for a change of wardrobe even though most of my stuff still exists from pre-twenty...yes PRE-20. That's um.... *cough*7*cough* years ago maybe..... So why can't I just throw the stuff out? I convinced myself I would use some fabric for crafting and hid behind that as well. Ridiculous. In the midst of preparing for a second child and realising space is reducing, especially with my also being a child minder, I have bitten the bullet. I'm not actually finding it that hard. I think it's because as my life situation has changed dramatically and I feel more secure and happy in my environment and with the people around me, as ridiculous as it sounds, I feel like I am really not bothered about the pair of beautiful pj's that no longer fit me, because I can just go buy a pair that I can actually wear. Realistically I am NEVER going to fit into ANY of this stuff and if I did, I would look ridiculous. I deserve new stuff. There I said it. I might have to raise a few pennies and wait till I lose post baby weight but thats ok. I'll have something to look forward to!

So why the washing? Like an idiot I stored all of the clothes in the garage, cue damp smell and spider webs. I know that when donating to charity, most of the clothes get thrown away but that won't stop me feeling good about making a donation and if I donate clean clothes, which, let's face it, is just good manners if you're going to bother, then they will use more of the stuff. I figured I better get to work after putting it off for so long. So my kitchen is currently a laundrette, my currently damp garden is a 'drying' arena (ergh) and my bed is a mess as I brutally rip clothes from my wardrobe and don't think I wont be doing the same to Hubby B's.

Next up in my spring cleaning mission? A trip to the tip with the pile of 5 or so boxes of just rubbish, binning/recycling the pile of magazines from which I vowed I would cut inspirational pictures and setting up eBay to sell some old handbags, books and jewellery. Well, as good as donating to charity feels, I need to fund my new wardrobe somehow!  It might be worth noting that I haven't made reference to what I will be doing with my stashes of yarn, pretty paper, storage vessels etc....I WILL use them for crafts ;-)

Happy spring cleaning,

Mrs Crafty B

Hobbycraft Cambridge at Crafty B’s Craft Fair

So, last week I met with the lovely manager, Becky, at Hobbycraft Cambridge and they are keen to get involved in this great fundraising event.

Absolutely fantastic news and I am so excited. I’m please that so many people are willing to get involved!

In order to sponsor Crafty B’s Craft Fair and help to raise money for The Rosie Hospital Campaign, Hobbycraft will be donating some raffle prizes and running some workshops on the day.

DO NOT MISS OUT!!!

There will be two workshops running on the day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, but there will be limited places so please get in touch ASAP to book your place. There will also be a kids craft table for the little ones to get involved.

I will publish further details nearer to the time but to express interest or book your place, please email me.

Don’t forget that the fair will be taking place on September 8th 2012 at Bourn Golf and Leisure, so get the event in your diaries now.

There are still some stalls to be booked so again, please email to book your stall and don't forget to spread the word.

See you there!

Mrs Crafty B

Crafty B's Craft Fair for the Rosie Hospital Campaign

A Crafty B’s Craft Fair? Yes please!

I can’t believe I am actually embarking on the organisation of a crafts fair. It will take place on Saturday 8th September 2012 at Bourn Golf and Leisure in Bourn, Cambridgeshire. The fair is being held to raise money for the Rosie Hospital Campaign. I am so excited not only to be organising such an event but also to be raising money for such a great cause.

The Rosie Hospital Campaign is close to the heart of many local people including myself. This is reflected in the willingness of many local business to be involved and assist in raising as much of a contribution as possible. Baby B was born at the Rosie last year and I know that the extension of the hospital and its services to accommodate more women, could only ever be a positive thing. You can find out more about the the Rosie Hospital Campaign here.

The location of the fair is also close to my heart. Bourn Golf and Leisure was where Hubby B and I spent our wedding day last year in a wonderful marquee setting, having a sit down meal with all of our friends and family. The most perfect day made even better by the staff at the gold club! I couldn’t think of a better place to have a community event!

In terms of the Crafts Fair itself, it is intended to be a community event in all aspects. It will be a fair with a difference. If you are a crafter, or want to start a new hobby, come down and join the Crafty B’s Craft Group for a bit of crafting on the day!

So what can you do with this info? If you want to book a stall, get in touch! If you want to visit the fair or make a contribution to the event in some way, join me on Facebook to keep updated on all of the info and ways in which you can help. To make a contribution visit my Just Giving Page.

I hope that you can all join me in one way or another and as always, it would be great to hear from you. Please feel free to email me or find me on Facebook or Twitter.

 Mrs Crafty B