
Those questions could be about anything about me, my family, Gracie's Gowns...literally anything (okay, except the really private stuff anything.).
Below are the questions we received from our followers on Facebook and the answers to those questions.
Thanks so much for participating and hope we all learn a little something new!
The very first gown I made was a labor gown for a friend of mine when she delivered her baby this past spring. Once I got the gown completed, I thought "wouldn't it be such a great idea, if they made these for children in the hospital?" So I scaled it down to a child's size and you can see what has happened since.
Question 2: What's the one thing, most important tip or advice that you would tell another parent or family that would like to start a non-profit to pay it forward?
The most important thing in my opinion is to choose something that comes to you naturally, something you are passionate about and something that you like to do and use that talent and that passion to give back to others. I love sewing it is easy for me and I love what I do...so it isn't work, it isn't stressful and it makes me feel wonderful.
Question 3 (one that I had to laugh about, because it is just comical to me): How many hours do you sleep in a day?
Honest answer ~ depends on the night and what all is going on. Many of time I have gone to sleep at 8:30 pm and don't wake up until the kids get up at around 7:00 am. Other times I am up until 2 am and sleep until they wake up. Though with school about to start up, my bedtime will be earlier because I will have two that have to get up and get on the bus now.
Question 4: Who or what inspired you to make the gowns and when did you start?
Partially answered that in question one ~ start date was in March 2012 with our first requested gown accepted in early April. What really inspired me to continue making the gowns was thinking back to a local little girl named Grace Oughton who passed away in 2007 after battling Neuroblastoma. I wanted to help her and her family so bad, but just never seemed to be able to and wanted to help other children fighting so hard and inspiring so many to just live and to never give up. I was following a lot of these little ones and seeing how the hospital gowns barely fit or were massively too big and said, well this is it, this is what I need to do to help give them a little comfort during their fight.
Question 5: What makes you smile every day?
Every day I get the biggest smile out of my children, the fact that I can wake-up to their smiling faces, temper tantrums, bickering, laughter, sweet prayers and even their tears. They are here with me, safe and know that I love them more than anything else.
Question 6: How many brothers/sisters?
Somewhere down the line God decided to bless me with a younger sister...not sure what Him or I was thinking all the time as we have definitely had our share sibling rivalry and bitterness towards each other, but we've been there when the other has needed it as well. We are as different as night and day most of the time, but together everyone always asks if we are twins.
Question 7: How many kids do you have and what ages are they?
My husband and I have three children ~ 2 girls and a boy stuck in between them. They are 5 years old, 3 years old (almost 4y) and 2.5 years old. They are our world!!
Question 8: Do you have any pets and how many?
We don't have any pets ~ boring right? Eventually when our addition is built and complete we will be getting a kitten, but in the mean time we don't have any pets. We did have a female beta fish that was given to us during the summer, but my wonderful toddlers decided to take the fish out of water and pour water all over my desk...big mess and precious Diamond went to be with her mommy in Heaven. We do have 14 chickens and 2 turkeys outside, which are kind of like pets...lol...we hatched 6 babies this fall from the chickens we had bought as babies back in March 2012.
Question 9: What type of sewing machine do you have?
I have a couple machines that I use to make the gowns. I have a Singer Confidence Quilter which is what I sew everything on...it is "the sewing machine." I also have a Husqvarna Designer SE that I use for the embroidery of the gowns and names. It can sew as well, but just easier to leave it set-up for embroidery. My dad purchased a Singer ProFinish Serger for my Christmas present, but I haven't figured that machine out, once I do...that is what I will be hemming all the gowns with instead.
Question 10: Are you married and if so, for how long?
Yes, I am married ~ my husband and I have been married for a little over 6 years now (this year will be 7) and he has been a huge supporter of Gracie's Gowns and while he does not like the long nights I "work," he is always so willing to take all the packaged gowns with labels on them to the post office for me after he gets off work or when he is out taking care of things (he leaves the international ones to me...lol). He also helps me removed the "bad" snaps that get placed wrong or break...so I don't cut or tear holes into gowns anymore trying to remove them with scissors.
Question 11: What is your biggest fear?
Bathroom mirrors in the dark ~ well any mirrors in the dark...no joke! It all started back when we lived in Washington State and I went with my 5th grade class to the Fort Casey and we stayed in the barracks there and of course someone decided to round up all of us and start playing all those crazy "camp" games and well one involved the bathroom and the HUGE mirrors in there in the dark and the whole "Blood Mary" thing...yep been traumatized every since. Ask my husband ~ I can't STAND mirrors in the dark. Now my biggest fear as far as Gracie's Gowns is having a little one pass away before we could get their gown to them, that has happened a few times already and that really isn't a fear any more, it is just severely heartbreaking and we still send their gown to them (after we ask the family, if they would like it, which they all have so far).
Question 12: What is your favorite thing about making the hospital gowns?
My favorite thing about making the gowns is reading the messages from the children and their families about how much they love their gown. How something so "little" made such a BIG difference to their hospital stay or procedure. The other that is just as equally my favorite, is being able to create something so personal for these children ~ something that gives them their own identity in a situation they can't control.
Question 13: What are your dreams and goals in 2013 for Gracie's Gowns