Category: Beads Of Courage

A look inside - WVU Children's Hospital Hem/Onc Suprise Box

12/11/2016

West Virginia University Children's Hospital is one of our newest recipients of a hematology/oncology unit surprise box!

Their hospital was selected in honor of Matthew Rose, who was not only a gown receipient and patient at their facility, but the cousin of our former Treasurer.

Matthew "Super Matt" passed away in 2014 after a six year battle on and off again battle with cancer. He had been diagnosed with a Wilms Tumor in 2008 on his right kidney. His cancer relapsed three times. He was treated both at a hospital more local to our location, but also West Virginia University Children's Hospital.

This is Matthew, when he passed away he not only left behind his parents, but his brother Troy as well. We made Troy a Freckles that matched Matthew's gown before he passed away.

Below shows the items that were included inside the surprise box that we sent to WVU Children's Hospital.

Beads of Courage Bead Bags
Chemotherapy Bag Covers
Fabric Headbands
Reusable Face Masks
Band-Aids
Stickers

The first four items were all made from remnant fabric from gown requests and the last two are items that have been donated throughout the year just for this specific collection we do all the time.

It isn't much in comparison to what these children and teens go through, but we hope they find comfort in the little things...because not only are complete strangers thinking about them, but they're in their corner cheering them on!

We're also working on getting together our Tween & Teen Program that has been officially announced on our Facebook Page, and will be live on our website here shortly as well. This program has two sides that is recognizes the unmet needs of children in the hospital that are over the age of 10 years old, but it is also in honor and memory of another local cancer warrior her that passed away in 2012.

There will be more to come soon on that - and definitely new opportunities to help support Gracie's Gowns through this program between sewing opportunities, collection drives, and even packaging days.

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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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No Fabric Wasted ~ Paying it Forward

9/30/2014

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This year we've worked on some more Beads of Courage bead bags and we were looking forward to donating them to the table at CureFest last weekend, but they were not in attendance this year. So instead we are mailing them back to the main office of Beads of Courage and cannot wait for them to be distributed to children participating in the program across the United States and the world.

Each bag we make is from left over pieces of fabric from our gowns. Even though they won't make it to the same kiddos we have made gowns for (or by sheer luck some might) it is still a special honor to use the fabric we've received through donations or purchased with donations to benefit another great organization.

In this batch (yes, there will be more) is a total of 25 bead bags and if you'd like to make some from your own fabric remnants here is the link for the directions and more information:
http://www.beadsofcourage.org/pages/quilters.htm

This is a great project for Fat Quarters and pieces of fabric similar in size. The labels are supplied by Beads of Courage as well and they really do make the bags look so spiffy! Their labels is what actually made me want to get labels made for our gowns, they just have a more professional feel to them with a label.

Each bag is lined with a fabric of your choice and the seam once turned is sewed together on the bottom of the lining fabric, so no one really sees it (but still keep it pretty). I like using coordinating fabrics, plus it helps dwindle down the "stash" of fabrics I have here taking up space...so I can buy more...just kidding (maybe only halfway kidding). You can also use the same fabric you did for the outside of the bag as well.

Here is what I use for the drawstrings - it isn't cording and for the life of me, I can't remember what it is actually called. Once I purchase more, I will make sure to look at the name of it and post it as a comment to this blog posting. Normally I get it from Joanns with a coupon, it doesn't cost very much then, but you need 26" per bag, so I try to buy whatever they have. The last few times I have been in our local store, they haven't had any though.

Below are the close-ups of the fabrics we used for this batch of Beads of Courage bead bags.
Do you see the fabric we used for your child's gown? If so, which one?

These will go out in tomorrow's mail and should arrive before the end of the week - once again it has been a pleasure working on these bead bags and we can't wait to finish up another batch!

~ Gracie's Gowns

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A Little Break in Routine

4/15/2014

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Okay - so old picture, but had to use something with the sewing machine. I love sewing these hospital gowns, I love sewing them for your little ones and seeing their smiling faces and knowing how it can literally change a hospital experience from bad to at least tolerable.

Sometimes though, I have to break the routine of making gowns and work on other projects, just to keep from crying over how many precious little ones are in need of such an item. It breaks my heart in so many pieces at times, that I have to sit back and remember how much of a blessing each child is, how they have changed the lives of those around them...how they fight, just to make it through another day and while yes, the odds are usually stacked against them, they inspire others to do such amazing things - like Gracie's Gowns and so many other organizations!

One of the items that have been done and still being worked on were these squishy little monsters! We sold them over the course of a couple days in order to raise shipping funds for gowns.

I am happy to say they are almost all done and out in the mail (still have maybe 7 more in total to make I believe). Here is some of the ones that went out last week, as I didn't get pictures of the previous ones made to post. My apologies on that...they are too cute not to picture and post.

These guys come from leftover minky fabric that I have from making millions of blankets over the last few years I have been making for friends and family.

One of the other items that get worked on in those little breaks are some bags for Beads of Courage - I love making these little bags from leftover pieces from gowns!

They are easy enough to make and still give that feeling of inspiration and fulfillment I suppose in knowing the fabric we use won't go to waste and can brighten the days of so many other children too.

This year we have 17 bags made so far to donate to Beads of Courage and will probably have close to 50 by the time the donation is ready to be made. We are hoping to be able to donate them to our local hospital with a Beads of Courage program.

Lastly, whenever I really want to venture out into my sewing fun - I go back to making little items from leftover pieces of fabric and working through my own personal fabric stash and creating other items that we will be taking with us for our craft show in October - last year we raised $900 for Gracie's Gowns with items made from leftover pieces and whatever fabric I had on hand - this year we're hoping to meet and exceed that amount...especially with the Christmas Box Program coming up at that time of the year as well. Right now we've loaded the items into an etsy store (which will be put in vacation the Thursday before the show) to try and sell some of the items throughout the year with all the money being put into our shipping expenses. So here is the etsy mini with links in case you want to browse it!

With all that fun being said and shown - no worries, gowns are still being made, still being sent out and Gracie's Gowns is rolling right along like we always do. Sometimes just a little slower than normal, because we are in the process of moving and my health has gotten a little "interesting" for lack of a better word, but we are still upholding and maintaining our mission to provide every child we can a special hospital gown of their own to wear while in treatments, surgeries and hospital stays!

Much Love and Many Blessings,
Jessica

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A look inside - WVU Children's Hospital Hem/Onc Suprise Box

A Flitter, A Flutter, A Butterfly Bead

No Fabric Wasted ~ Paying it Forward

A Little Break in Routine

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