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Ben's Blessings for Vanderbilt Children's Hospital

8/28/2015

Two years ago on June 24th, something amazing happened...a precious little warrior named Benjamin was born with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. He was born a son, a little brother, but more importantly, an inspiration to hundreds, even thousands of strangers he would never meet during his lifetime including me.

Out of the ashes of heartache and sorrow when Ben passed away a little over a month before his first birthday. Sara, his mother, created a page and organization to honor is fight and help other families that have children diagnosed with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome.

This summer was our turn to help out with Ben's Blessings in a way that not only remembered Ben, but allowed us to do what we do best...make gowns for children with chronic and life-threatening illnesses.

Sara put together these fabulous care packages in memory of Benjamin and in honor of his second birthday. They care packages were for infants and young children that were admitted to the PCICU at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee. Our gowns played a small role in the care packages, but we were more than excited to help out!

And of course you can't leave out the amazing staff of the PCICU either.

Our part allowed Sara to pick out some of the "extra" gowns we have that were from our first pattern set used in prints that Ben and Emma, his sister, would like and then we took them one step farther by adding special embroidery work to them in honor of Ben as well. Below are the gowns, we completed for the care packages.

Thank you so much Sara for allowing us the opportunity to participate in your care packages to honor Ben's fight against Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. It truly was an honor and blessing to be able to provide gowns for the little warriors that received your care packages.

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A Flitter, A Flutter, A Butterfly Bead

8/27/2015

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Over the last three years, we have participated and even donated items or supplies to other organizations that work with the same type of families, and in many cases, the exact same families we work with. It is always a blessing to be able to share my time, talents and energy to support the families we serve throughout a variety of way.

One of these organizations is Beads of Courage, which we have wrote about quite a few times here, but we have added something new this year in working with families who also participate in this and other similar arts in medicine programs offered by different organizations.

We had a butterfly bead created, that represents our organization and can be added to any existing bead strands a child already has through the program they participate in. These beads are for children that have requested and/or received a gown from Gracie's Gowns. Children who have passed away, but a gown was requested and/or received prior to their passing also qualify for this program.

The program is at NO COST to our families, whatsoever, however, anyone that is able to help towards the bead cost and shipping expenses is always welcome to do so. We have had other families and even private donors help support this program as well with the first set of fifty beads that arrived in July.

Each bead is handmade, they are glass lampwork beads and are made by order. The colors in the photo above are the colors available: pink, blue, purple, green, and a multi-color one as well. They are absolutely GORGEOUS in person, I cannot take a single picture that does them justice.

The other item we have offered with this program, is how we got started helping these types of arts in medicine programs - a bead bag. Some families that participate in their respected programs are not provided with a bag in which to hold their strands and beads in. Many of times because the hospital is in short supply of them, or they just don't use something like that. So we have also asked whether or not a bag for the child's beads is needed. They are very simple drawstring bags, but they are so much better than using a ziploc sandwich bag or something along those lines.

We have some labels from Beads of Courage that we put on the bags for those that participate in their program, but need a bag to keep their bead strands in. For those that participate in other programs, we just put our gown label on the bag.

Our beads are not directly associated through any of the programs listed on the request form, meaning that you cannot get our bead through their program, it has to be requested through Gracie's Gowns using our request form. We order the beads when we have at least fifty requests, it is more beneficial shipping wise to us when they are ordered in larger quantities

The link to our form is located through this link:
https://docs.google.com/a/graciesgowns.org/forms/d/1Ctc8c1rLVaXCWKpMy1C-EK85rJqi5vAex15JOxRxToY/viewform

We look forward to adding your little one to our Butterfly Bead Club!

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TPN/Tube Feed Backpacks the Process

8/4/2015

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So in June and early July we collected orders for TPN/Tube Feed Backpacks, which isn't something entirely brand new for Gracie's Gowns, but this particular style of backpack is. Not only that, but how they are modified is different as well in comparison to the previous years.

While I had a few moments and am still working on getting all ninety-five, yes you read that correctly, ninety-five backpacks completed from the order. I wanted to show some better pictures of what they look like before and then the modifications we're making to them. Now, I do want to throw out there, any new orders will have a price increase compared to before, since this was our first time using these, first time ever ordering wholesale and so many other new adventures, Gracie's Gowns has absorbed all of the additional costs that were not charged to those who ordered, meaning, for lack of a better phrase, we lost money rather than breaking even, which was the plan. We never intended to make a profit, to break even was the goal, so with the price increase, this should happen on all additional orders placed (more information at the end on ordering).

In the set of photos below, are the more detailed pictures of what the backpacks look like when they come in from the manufacturer. We decided to use the Sugarbooger Kiddie Play Packs from Ore Originals for our backpacks this year because of their size, the prints available, and the ability to embroider them a whole lot easier than before. The specifications on the backpacks are as follows:

They are 8" x 4" x 11" in size
Waterproof cotton canvas exterior and durable nylon canvas interior
Nylon Straps
Lead-Free and BPA-Free
Non-toxic
Machine Wash, Air Dry.

If you clicked on the link in the text above, I promise, we didn't pay $26 a piece for them, we were able to order them at wholesale for around half that cost, but there were restrictions to it. First our order had to be at least $150.00 in total, but what really made the concern was having to order in sets of three for each print. This left us picking up several extras in the various prints in order to make that minimum requirement...the extras are listed below with the ordering information too. This will be a standard as well for all additional orders we place, at it is their wholesale requirement.

Now here is how they are modified by us (well me) in between working on gown requests and getting our butterfly beads and bead pouches out in the mail...and everything else going on in life behind the scenes of Gracie's Gowns.

First off, I install a 1" grommet through the back side of the backpack, I have been placing them on the right hand side of the backpack (as if you had it laying on a table, back side up, looking down at it). We cut the hole for the grommet to go through and then snap the two pieces together. Really...this is the hardest part and requires a bit more strength than I imagined it would. They are plastic grommets, in case anyone needs to know the material they are made from.

Next step is the chest strap, all of the modified backpacks automatically come with a chest strap. If you requested one without modifications, I did not include the chest strap, should you need one though, please let me know and we can get them to you. This step is really the easiest, originally the plan was to make them, but with the time constraints in place, myself being the person modifying all of them, and needing to get these backpacks into their new homes, I was able to find some already made. This is where some of the additional cost came in to play. These chest straps came from Timbuk2 and are adjustable. I had contacted their customer service department about donating some or allowing us to order via wholesale, but was not able to get a response in time based on when the backpacks were to ship. So we ordered them outright, the cost was $5.00/each not including the shipping costs, which on 105 of them (I ordered for the extras as well), was almost $60.00, but they are durable and can even be washed as well. The other area we had a larger than expected cost has been in the shipping expenses, especially those who have multiple backpacks coming to their homes.

After those two things are in place - then onto the personalizing. I think I've finally found the best system to keep them in place since they are a little too thick to hoop with my embroidery machines' hoops. We have spray adhesive, heavier stitch n' tear stabilizer and then removing the name card from the inside front flap is what happens before it is ready to go. The front flap is then placed on top of the stabilizer and I program the name into the embroidery machine.

Which looks something like this, and yes, that is only half the stack of the gowns that need names embroidered on them in the background, no worries, that is on my plans for after occupational therapy for my son today. This isn't the last step, but, they are on their way to being entirely modified and ready to ship once the names are embroidered. While the machine does all the work, this has really been the most difficult part of the backpacks because the color options I was given do not seem to always show up the best against the designs. I am working on getting the best colors chosen, but it really has been trial and error for some, as I cannot tell until after they're embroidered.

The very last step is adding the loop on the inside of the backpacks, this is so those who want to hang their TPN/Tube Feed inside may do so. It is comprised of white webbing, with heat sealed edges to help protect against fraying and then a kamsnap that is placed on the folded edge, but also through the back of the backpack on the inside of the back panel. Once this is done, the back packs are ready to be shipped out. Now onto the part everyone is waiting for, how to order and what extras we have on hand already.

The above are the designs the backpacks are currently available in, orders placed in September will have the option of a couple additional styles, but as for right now and the ones we have extras of, these are the prints available. Out of the prints above, we have the following amount of extras.

Princess - 1
Birds and Butterflies - 1
Happy Camper - 1
Matryoshka Doll - 1
Retro Robot - 1
Hedgehog - 2
Cupcake - 2
Skulls - 2
Ocean - 1
Lady Bug - 1
It's a Jungle - 1
Polar Pals - 1

For those that are interested in ordering one of the above, this link (and you can click on the picture above too for the link) will open the order form, from there you will be sent a PayPal invoice. Once the invoice is paid, your order will be added into the mix of ones to be worked on. Anyone who missed out on this order, can place an order as well, once we reach the minimum required wholesale amounts (in gross total and in design sets) we can place another order. I will look at doing so late October more than likely, make sure to follow our Facebook page for the information on it. The new cost will be in effect for anyone ordering one of our extras in additional to all new orders as well, which is the pricing seen on the order form now.

While I was completely thrilled to offer them at the lower price in the beginning and helping ease the financial burden of making each child's medical journey nicer, we had to increase them so our sponsorship and shipping funds are not compromised. I pray everyone can understand the increase and I believe it is still considerably lower than other folks who make, modify or sell them, I know it is not as low as many would like.

As my usual, I will continue to update when more have been completed and mailed out. Patience, grace and understanding are always appreciated, as I am but one woman trying to save the world one stitch at a time.

Much love and many blessings,
Jessica

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Late Night Thoughts and Inspiration

8/2/2015

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The last few weeks I have been awake and taking care of essentially everything 15-20 hours out of each day. This is not a complaint, to be honest, I've been amazed that I can function like this given everything behind the scenes, however, it is in these late hours that I do start to feel stress in relation to getting the important aspects of Gracie's Gowns taken care of.

This is my job, this is my dream, this is the legacy that I will leave behind when my time is over on this earth, and I will continue to put forth every ounce of energy to make the bigger plans I have in store for Gracie's Gowns come true. However, despite all my valiant efforts to save the world one stitch at a time, it can be and sometimes is exhausting, overwhelming, and even in some aspects it can be frightening.

Those are the moments I look for inspiration to just keep swimming and to bring myself back to where it all began. Sounds simple, but even that can prove challenging. That being said, over the last month or so I have a constant reminder that has helped me to remember just how amazing this organization is and will continue to be, my roots in creating it, the reasons behind every stitch, and how far the organization has come since conception a little over three years ago.

A little over a year ago I had a box of 4" x 4" fabric squares that had been cut from remnant pieces of gowns and from what I can remember now some of my personal projects as well, just taking up space, so to speak. It was always my intention to make them into scrap quilts and raffle or auction them off in order to help raise shipping funds and such.

I had posted to Facebook about this box of scrap pieces and Rosie was so excited to take them off my hands and make them into "something special." Little did I know that this something special would end up being for me.

When she first brought this scrap quilt over and I opened it up, I couldn't help but start crying. It is sentimental on so many levels. There are pieces from gowns from day one of me sewing them, gowns of children that have passed away, and so many pieces of gowns that I can pick out the name of who it was for, because I am just that kind of person that every child deserves a gown just as unique as they are.

And then there are the random, I just thought they were pretty fabrics that I used to make items to sell at Graves Mountain over the last three years to raise money for Gracie's Gowns (like the macaroons one above). I originally had posted to our page that the quilt was going to be for raffle or auction, but the more I looked at it, the more I thought about it, the more I held it...I just couldn't let it go and in that moment, Rosie messaged me saying that the quilt was for me/Gracie's Gowns to keep as a reminder and keepsake of these children we make gowns for.

It is in my plans to have an office in the near-ish future, while I always say the sooner the better, we have some decisions to make and the office may have to be postponed just a wee bit, but I do know that when I have an office, there will be a reading corner for families and children to use while they are there. This will be going in that reading corner, so anyone who needs a hug, can snuggle up with it and feel connected and hugged by all the children who have gowns represented by this quilt. Right now, it sits on the back of my sewing chair...the best place for it to be, to continuously remind and inspire every stitch...and to keep me warm when this bedroom becomes way too cold.

Thank you Rosie for blessing me with such a sweet keepsake...and thank you to all our families for blessing me with being a part of your child's medical journey, to inspire me to be a better person and to fight for not only what matters most, but what I believe in as well.

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Ben's Blessings for Vanderbilt Children's Hospital

A Flitter, A Flutter, A Butterfly Bead

TPN/Tube Feed Backpacks the Process

Late Night Thoughts and Inspiration

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