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Tampa Bay Chapter - June 2018 Newsletter

CHAPTER COORDINATOR MESSAGE

Every September we hold a month-long event called Miles of Smiles. While September is months away, it takes many months of planning and arranging to set up this undertaking.

During Miles of Smiles, we are challenged to sew enough pillowcases to measure a mile if the pillowcases were laid end-to-end. That's a lot of pillowcases. To be precise, 2,112 pillowcases make a mile!

We need volunteers to help plan and conduct sewing events during September. If you can assist in any way, please let me know.
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Carol Deloney
Chapter Coordinator
cases4smiles4tampabay@yahoo.com
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PILLOWCASE DELIVERIES

Pillowcases delivered to Tampa Bay area hospitals in June 2018 totaled 830, bringing our 2018 deliveries to 5,256. The total number of pillowcases provided to hospitalized children since the inception of the Chapter is 132,912.
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SEW DAY HAPPENINGS

The Tampa Bay Chapter conducts Sew Days at various locations. July Sew Days are listed below. Bring your sewing machine or serger, and a basic sewing kit. The Chapter will provide some kits, but asks you to bring some child-friendly fabric if possible. If you can, please consider bringing a box of quart zip lock bags or a box of color catchers when you attend a Sew Day. Our supplies are getting low and any extra help with this would be most gratefully accepted.
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Volunteers with and without sewing skills are encouraged to participate in a Sew Day at a location near them. There are tasks for volunteers ranging from cutting fabric, pinning, sewing, and ironing pillowcases. No prior sewing experience is required. We’ll train you on what you need to know. Experienced sewers are always welcome!

Would you like to hold a Sew Day at a site near you? If yes, please send an email to cases4smiles4tampabay@yahoo.com.
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VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION
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This month we recognize Jamie and Chris Hendrickx. Jamie is on the delivery team for Ryan's Case for Smiles. Every month she helps take the pillowcases made by our volunteers to their destinations. Jamie also co-leads (with Flo Bradbury) Inspire! Quilting and Sewing's monthly Sew Day. Chris delivers pillowcases to Tampa General Hospital every month. When they aren't helping with pillowcases, Chris and Jamie make pet beds and deliver the beds to various charities and shelters every month.

Jamie and Chris grew up in the Quad Cities, an area on the border of Illinois and Iowa. Jamie's grandmother taught her to sew when she was 4 years old. Jamie has degrees in Civil Engineering and Physics and a math minor. She currently works as a self-employed math tutor specializing in algebra through calculus. Her love of math translates into a love of quilting with her latest obsession being Judy Niemeyer paper piecing.

Chris' mother and grandmother both sewed, and Chris sewed off and on throughout childhood. He has a degree in Computer Science from the University of Iowa and works in IT at Tampa General Hospital. Chris was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer in 2013. He had surgery in December of that year and spent most of 2014 in and out of the hospital fighting complications and infections. He was pronounced cured in January 2015. During his fight in 2014 and recovery in 2015, Chris joined Jamie in the quilting and embroidery world. They worked on many projects together as Chris healed. As soon as he was well enough, he returned to his passion - circus arts. Chris currently trains several nights per week at The Keep Yoga & Circus Arts, home of Aerial Dragons in Ybor, where he performs tricks, drops, and climbs on ropes, silks, trapeze and more.

Why do you volunteer for Ryan's Case for Smiles?

Jamie: "I have Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome. When I was a kid, it was really bad and I spent a week or 10 days out of every month or so in the hospital. That went on for over 10 years. I know how it feels to be a kid in the hospital repeatedly for prolonged periods. Anything that brightens up the room or provides a distraction, makes a difference. Anything that reminds you of home - not this sterile environment - makes a difference. If we can make a difference with something as simple as a pillowcase, why not do it?"

Chris: "I spent most of 2014 in the hospital. It was rough. For the first 5 months, we didn't know why I kept going septic. At one point, I was in the hospital for 23 days and we didn't have any answers. You start to lose hope and your attitude goes downhill. That makes you feel worse, which makes your attitude worse, which makes you feel worse, and it just keeps going. I had to snap myself out of it and change my attitude to make me physically feel better. If we can stop that cycle before it starts by giving a kid something to smile about, let's do it. I have lived the words, 'Feel better to heal better.'"
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HOLIDAY FABRIC NEEDED
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It's time to purchase and donate fabric for Halloween. Autumn and spooky fabrics are always a hit with the hospitalized children and hospital staff. Since it takes time to cut fabric into kits, assemble, wash, iron and deliver holiday pillowcases, it's not too early to be working on those Halloween pillowcases.

Remember: nothing with skeletons or disturbing images.
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PILLOWCASE-A-MONTH CHALLENGE

For 2018, we are holding a Pillowcase-a-Month Challenge. Using your stash or fabric you purchase, please create at least one pillowcase each month at home and take them to one of the drop-off locations listed at our Website (http://caseforsmiles.org/tampa-bay/). We would love to see a photo of your creations. You can post the photo on our Facebook page (Casse for Smiles - Tampa Bay) or send us an email.
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LIKE US ON FACEBOOK

Over 180 individuals have liked our Facebook page. Please share our page at Case for Smiles - Tampa Bay (click HERE) with your friends so we get the word out to more people about our great mission.
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PILLOWCASE POINTER: SETTING IT STRAIGHT ON STRAIGHT PINS

Straight pins are used to hold fabric together prior to sewing the cuff and body of the pillowcase together and to secure the main pillowcase seam allowances. They are a standard in most sewing kits, but do you ever wonder about these little sewing tools?

There are many types of straight pins and it's important to use the right pin for the sewing task you are undertaking. The most common types are:
1. Glass head pins - will not melt during ironing
2. Ball point pins - rounded tip used for knit fabrics
3. Silk pins - extra fine pin, also called dressmaking pins
4. Quilting pins - longer, stronger pins capable of going through multiple layers of fabric
5. Plastic head pins - pins with multi-colored, novelty ends, typically not used for pressing
6. T pins - mostly used for upholstery and craft projects

Best choices for making pillowcases are glass head pins or quilting pins. Using the wrong pin type can result in bent pins or damaged fabric. If a pin becomes bent, rusted or dull, discard it.
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READER FEEDBACK
Last month we discouraged the addition of a contrast band when sewing pillowcases for Ryan's Case for Smiles because of the risk of interfering with medical devices. One of our readers suggested that the risk could be eliminated by top stitching along the edge of the contrast band. Good point! Thanks for the suggestion, Joyce S.

If you have a pillowcase sewing tip or pointer you would like to share, please email it to cases4smiles4tampabay@yahoo.com and we may print it in future newsletters. Until then, thanks for all you do to help kids feel better to heal better!
 

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