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Operation NICU Surprise - Tripler Army Medical Center (Hawaii)

5/20/2014

Earlier in the month we asked everyone on our Facebook page to nominate a NICU and/or Hematology/Oncology unit or clinic that was there favorite to receive a special surprise from Gracie's Gowns!

We are choosing two NICUs and two Hematology/Oncology units from those nominated to receive a special box from us. The first NICU was chosen - and it is going to Tripler Army Medical Center's NICU in Honolulu, Hawaii! Jennifer nominated the hospital after her son Colton (who is also a Gracie's Gowns recipient) was born and cared for by the NICU staff. She was awesome enough to include a story of his stay and just how wonderful the staff was - and some sweet photos to share as well!

Here is her precious Colton when he was born and cared for back in August of 2011. She includes the following about the hospital and staff at Tripler Army Medical Center's NICU.

"Our son was in the NICU for 12 days in August 2011. Our pregnancy with my son was very rough. Not many doctors believed he would make it or he wouldn't live long after brith. The NICU was just very amazing with him. They did everything they could to help him and it was so nice to finally have someone believe in him. They felt like family to us when we were there. And they just went above and beyond for my son. The NICU staff was just amazing! My son had an MRI when he was 1 1/2 months old and they let my son back into the NICU to be observed overnight bc they knew I was very uncomfortable with him going to the PICU with a bunch of sick kids. They were very understanding and cared very much for my son! And being a Military Hospital a lot of kids are in there with just one parent and no other family members to help them out during a stressful time in life and they could use a little a cute hospital gown!"

The photo above on the left is Colton in his gown from us back in September of last year (2013) and the photo on the right is him today at 2.5 years old! Look how much he has grown and how precious that smile is!! Way to go Colton - you've come so far and we have no doubt it was because of the fabulous start and care you have received since coming into this world!

So what's the surprise we're sending to Tripler Army Medical Center's NICU?

Well, we are sending them thirty NICU smocks to be distributed to the babies they care for! We know it doesn't remotely even make a dent into the 1,100 babies they serve annually, but at least there will be thirty styling babies this year!

These will be sent out this week to Hawaii and we hope they are received with much love and bring many smiles to the families that receive on of the gowns!

Thank you Jennifer for nominating Triple Army Medical Center's NICU and sharing Colton's NICU story with us and allowing us to share it with all that may read our posting!

Thank you as well to Kim for sewing pretty much every single one of these thirty gowns going to the NICU (after we drew the name - we learned Kim's granddaughter was born at this hospital as well, but fortunately did not need to be admitted to the NICU).

Stay tuned for our second NICU to be drawn once we have the items completed - but also for our Hematology and Oncology units/clinics to be chosen!

Lots of Gracie's Gowns cuteness to come!

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The Why Behind the Machine

5/17/2014

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We've been working on trying to gather funds together to purchase another embroidery machine - not that we need two machines, but the current machine we are using is starting to show some wear in ways that may not be as fixable (or affordable) in a timely matter when we have so many gown requests to be fulfilled.

The embroidery machine is used for adding the first name of children on their hospital gown - or even their nickname should that be requested. Even more so, it is used to create a truly unique gown for each child. One that is just as unique as they are.

Sometimes we get requests with things that children like, but fabric isn't made with that particular thing on it - this is especially true with characters, sports teams and things of that nature. There are also times where we use the same fabric multiple times because we have several yards of it, but we still want to create a gown that is special to another child, without making look exactly the same as another one.

From time to time though, it is just time to use the machine and create something a little extra special. We've used this with monograms and different fonts as well.

It is truly an honor to create gowns for each child that a request is made for - it is something that represents the child in a way that doctors, nurses, techs and other hospital staff members don't always see the child. They are ice breakers/conversation starters, which is always important to have when it is a new doctor or nurse coming on shift that isn't familiar with the child and family.

In many ways the gown can become the one thing each child has control over in a situation that is completely out of their hands. They allow each little one to have a choice in making the long hospital stays, the testing, the procedures a little more fun.

We are trying desperately hard to make our current machine last and work, as long as, it possibly can before having to send it in for deep cleaning and potential repairs.

The last time we had to send the machine in, we were without it for almost three months. We do have a couple options for at least getting names embroidered onto gowns should we have to do that again, but it will severely delay the process and a couple of those options will have a cost with them.

Is a new or used machine more expensive than repairs and paying for embroidery? Yes, it is, but in the long-term it would be a better investment and use of our funds to have another machine. We have a couple machines that are looking into because the price range is less, but it really boils down to the size of the embroidery hoops that are available to be used with that machine. We need one that can use all the current hoops we have and some wider ones to open a few more projects we'd like to do in the future of Gracie's Gowns.

Below we've included some more pictures of gowns that we've used our embroidery machine on in more unique ways than just putting a name on the gown.

The monsters and teddy bears that we have made and look forward to making and offering the in future as well were done on the embroidery machine. Our Freckles are embroidered on the machine as well (including the awareness ribbon). The angel wings we have made for our angel bear gowns are also an item that requires the embroidery machine to make.

Down the road we will consider a multi-needle commercial grade machine, but the pricing on those begin around $10,000 and the machine we are hoping and looking to get right now will be at most $3,000. We currently do not have the space for a commercial grade machine either.

If you're able and interested in helping towards this specific need of Gracie's Gowns, we would more than appreciate your support! The best way to contribute to this specific fund is through our gofundme.com fundraiser, but you can also provide a financial contribution through our website using PayPal on our How to Help page: http://www.graciesgowns.org/how-to-help.html

There is a donate button on the page - and in the special instructions to seller, please put "Embroidery Machine Fund" the same would go in the memo section on your check or money order should you wish to make a contribution that way. Our mailing address is below should you wish to make a contribution by check or money order.

Gracie's Gowns
PO BOX 1446
Spotsylvania, VA 22553-1446

Any help is greatly appreciated and we thank everyone in advance for all the help provided!
We wouldn't have made it this far without your love and support.

Gracie's Gowns

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Another Box of Goodies - Off to Oregon

5/13/2014

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We talk about Healing Helpers a lot - why? Because they are just so awesome!!

I am all about practical gifts for children in the hospital - hence we make hospital gowns. They are fun, they can be used and they make sense. Healing Helpers do that as well.

They provide comfort, they are fun and they make sense by providing a child with a best friend that is just as special as they are! They are an awesome teaching tool for parents and care providers alike. They can help start a conversation and help "break the ice" in ways nothing else can. Just like our hospital gowns, they show the individual behind the chart...not just a diagnosis.

So with our move coming up really fast, we've been going through more and more in the crafting areas and the kiddos are more than willing to pass along their "loved, but not essentially for living with" animals over to Healing Helpers to be used in making best friends for other children around the world.

It fills my heart to see my littles so giving and so caring of other children that are just as special and unique as they are, but have more medical concerns then they do.

Then it is up to mommy to finish filling the box with her "loved, but not going to be used anytime soon, I am a craft supply hoarder at heart" supplies to be used in the making of pockets and organs and bands and more!

So we have so felt, remnant pieces of fabric from gowns and other pieces of fabric from personal projects.
The fabrics are used for the pouches with zippers and the felt is for all the other amazing surgeries, wrist bands, key chains and anything else Michael and Lani-lee come up with over there!
They are literally creative geniuses!

I can't wait to see some of these get used and look forward to sending more lovely items their way in the future - Healing Helpers is a very special business to us and great supporters as well! It is always nice to have a set of friends that share a similar passion and yet go about it in such a different way we can compliment each other and work well together!

You can see all Healing Helpers has to offer and browse their website at:

http://www.healinghelpers147.com/

Don't forget to tell them we sent you over!

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Gracie's Gowns T-Shirt Design Contest

5/13/2014

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Below are the rules and other information you need to create and submit your entry for the Gracie's Gowns T-shirt Design Contest. Your design could be sold by Gracie's Gowns and worn by Gracie's Gowns fans all over the country and possibly throughout the world. Read all of the rules very carefully, failure to follow them could result in disqualification of your submission.

Design Guidelines
•Your design must be inspired by Gracie's Gowns (how your gown makes you feel, how it has helped you on your medical journey, butterflies, a hospital looking gown, etc.).
•Your design should include the words "Gracie's Gowns" (although not mandatory).
•Reproduction of works of art is not allowed, as it might infringe on the original artist's copyright.
•T-shirt color can be either black or white.
•Your design can only be on the front of the t-shirt.
•There is no limit on the number of entries per person.
•Your design must be completely original. By submitting a design you are guaranteeing that you hold rights to everything on it, and that it does not contain any copyright material.

Design Specifications

•Design should not exceed 8 ½” x 11” inches.
•Please try to limit the number of colors used in your design (avoid gradients is possible as well).
•It is best to create your design in a professional design program. If using Photoshop or other paint programs, then design must be no less than 600 dpi at 8 1/2" x 11" in dimension. If using Illustrator or Corel Draw, no dpi is required.
•Please specify if your design is intended to be printed on a white or black t-shirt.
•If submitting a hand-drawn design and you cannot convert to a PDF and e-mail, please make sure to mail it in such a way to prevent folding, bending or tearing.

Submission Agreement

•All submissions may be sent as an attachment to Jessica@graciesgowns.org, on a CD or original artwork to:

Gracie's Gowns
Attn. T-shirt Contest
P.O. BOX 1446
Spotsylvania, VA 22553

•This contest is designed for children who have received or requested a gown from Gracie's Gowns or their siblings. Parents are more than welcome to participate as well with their own entry or even with helping your child design their entry.

•Gracie's Gowns will have all rights to the winning design. By submitting you agree that if your design wins, it will be sold by Gracie's Gowns on a t-shirt and other promotional items.

•We reserve the right to make adjustments to the winning design.

•You must submit your design by midnight Sunday, June 1st, 2014.

•Entries will be judged by the board of directors for Gracie's Gowns - we will pick our three favorites and then present them on our Facebook page and website's blog for voting by the fans, supporters and followers of Gracie's Gowns to choose the overall winning design.

•By submitting you are agreeing to all contest rules.

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BENEFIT YARD SALE and BAKE SALE - May 10th!!

5/6/2014

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This SATURDAY - the MOMS Club of Louisa is hosting a benefit bake sale and yard sale for Gracie's Gowns! We are so honored that the MOMS Club of Louisa has chosen us for their service project this year. Way back when my youngest was first born, we were members of the MOMS Club of Louisa - had been for almost three years at that point. What a great place to meet other mothers in your local area, have play dates and just enjoy the adult conversations too! Since then they have grown and do so many wonderful activities for families in our area and really try to reach out to all the mothers with children of all ages - regardless if they are working moms or stay-at-home moms.

It was a real treat last year to present Gracie's Gowns to the current members of the MOMS Club of Louisa and to share what we do and how we serve children in the local area, but also across the globe.
I will be at the yard sale this Saturday sharing Gracie's Gowns with those that come by to browse for goodies for the whole family and then some! So stop by, say hi, I'd love to meet you and you never know what you might find!

The address is: 116 Apple Orchard Drive Louisa, VA 23093
It is located in the Countryside Subdivision just outside the "main drag" of the town of Louisa.

You can drop off items this Thursday and Friday at the same address between the hours of 10:00am and 6:00pm, to be sold to benefit Gracie's Gowns as well. They will be tax-deductible donations! So instead of taking those too great to throw-away items to Goodwill you can drop them off, still get the tax receipt and help benefit our ministry in making these precious children a hospital gown of their very own!

The MOMS Club of Louisa has set a goal of $500.00 to try and raise for Gracie's Gowns - so even if you don't find anything you need or want item wise, pick up a baked goodie for the trip home!

SEE YOU THERE!

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End of Spring Raffle Winners

5/6/2014

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Our spring raffle ended last week and we rounded out the items given away with several great prizes!
All prizes have been mailed out and should be received very shortly if they haven't already arrived - there are a few I still have to deliver in person, but that will be taken care of this week as well.
I would like to say thank you so much once again to everyone who helped out with this fundraiser and while we didn't reach our goal in ticket sales, we still broke even with our expenses and have a great time seeing everyone get excited about the items they won!
We hope everyone enjoys their new goodies and we look forward to doing our summer charity raffle late July or early August depending on when I can finish getting everything sewn up and completed.

Our twenty-second winner was Brenda Hill - her items were from Scentsy!

The items for this day in the raffle were donated by Christi Smith - a Scentsy consultant that is also the mother of a child we have made a gown for.

This cute bunny is a charity item by Scentsy for March of Dimes - we'd love to be able to get a few more of these to include with our NICU gown donations to hospitals.

Christi's business website is:
http://csmithrn04.scentsy.us

Our twenty-third winner was Karen Valdez - her items were from The Pampered Chef!

The items for this day in the raffle were donated by Audra Smith - a Pampered Chef consultant that is close friends with a gown recipient's family.

Audra's business website is:
www.pamperedchef.biz/audra

Our twenty-fifth winner was Brianna Horney - her items were from The Pampered Chef!

The items for this day in the raffle were sponsored by Marie Snyder - a local Pampered Chef consultant to Gracie's Gowns.

You can find Marie's business page on Facebook at:
https://www.facebook.com/PampChefLady

And her business website is:
www.pamperedchef.biz/foodisfun

Our twenty-ninth winner was Megan Jensen - her items were from The Pampered Chef!

The items for this day in the raffle were sponsored by Marie Snyder - a local Pampered Chef consultant to Gracie's Gowns.

You can find Marie's business page on Facebook at:
https://www.facebook.com/PampChefLady

And her business website is:
www.pamperedchef.biz/foodisfun

And there you have it - the last of our raffle winners!!
CONGRATULATIONS to all our winners and once again thank you so much to everyone who helped, donated an item, purchased a ticket and just spread the word about our raffle!

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Operation NICU Surprise - Tripler Army Medical Center (Hawaii)

The Why Behind the Machine

Another Box of Goodies - Off to Oregon

Gracie's Gowns T-Shirt Design Contest

BENEFIT YARD SALE and BAKE SALE - May 10th!!

End of Spring Raffle Winners

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