Good Afternoon and welcome to 'SIBOL'.
I'm very happy to be telling you that today I visited
Greville House Care Home in Four Oaks, Sutton Coldfield. I was contacted by Sandra - the Manager of the Home a few weeks ago, she was given my contact details through someone visiting
Crochet Spot - Charity Section over in the States and emailed to see if we could supply her home with several 'Sunshine Blankets'. After having a lovely chat with her I arranged to take in 20 of our beautiful Blankets.
As Mr. Twins was on holiday this week I arranged my visit for 10.00am this morning. I have spent the last few weeks getting our 'Sunshine Blankets' ready for their deliveries. It's always an exciting time for me because our Delivery days are always so rewarding.
Greville House have 20 Ladies living there and I thought these 'Sunshine Blankets' were ideal for them.
Don't you just love to see our 'Sunshine Blankets' all lined up like this! Beautifully tied with ribbons, 'SIBOL' Butterflies hanging and cards tied on to the Blankets! I call this photo my 'Blanket train!'.
I moved the Boxes in to my Lounge ready for the off this morning and stopped to take some final photos!
We set off for Greville House using the sat nav. We left around 9.15am and got there for just gone 10.00am.
Mr. Twins carried one of the boxes for me while I knocked the main door. We were met by friendly Staff and Residents and soon started chatting to them. We were introduced to Sandra who showed us into her Office. We were offered cups of tea and there we sat telling her about my Grandmother and why I started the project. She was absolutely amazed we had made so many 'Sunshine Blankets' and she couldn't get over how beautiful they were.
I explained how the Squares came in from as far as the States and Australia and I told her how terribly kind you all are. We had a great conversation about Knitting and Crocheting and we were also talking about how theraputic these crafts were.
While we were drinking our tea, Mr. Twins went outside to fetch in the other two boxes. When he came back I also told Sandra about our special Charity Blankets in particular making the Olympic Blanket and Flag Blanket for Alzheimers. Also the special 'Think Pink' Blankets. They were amazed that our Blankets made so much money for various Charities.
Soon after we were shown in to the Lounge where Sandra introduced us to the Ladies. I talked a little about my Grandmother and then Sandra started giving the Blankets out.
Well what a reaction! The Ladies absolutely loved our 'Sunshine Blankets'. They were all absolutely over the moon with them. They could not believe how terribly talented you all were. They were asked which Blanket they wanted and the Staff read out the names of the Blankets to them and who had made the Squares and indeed the whole Blankets.
I spent a lot of time with each Lady talking about who had made their Blankets.
One Lady asked where Bev lived in the UK. Another Lady asked me who had made 'A Loving Touch'. Another Lady wanted to talk about Pauline. I told her we call her 'creativegranny'.
The Lady who received the Blanket assembled by Joyce called 'Cherry Crumble' told me that it matched her carpet beautifully. Another Lady told me how cold her knees get, and how useful the Blanket would be to her.
The new owner of Fiona's Blanket 'Carp Diem' was terribly interested in what she had wrote on the small card attached to the Blanket. We wondered whether those words were 'Latin?' They enjoyed listening to what Fiona had written about the making of her Blanket, the Lady said the Blanket was made in her favourite colours. What I found with this Home was that the Residents were really interested in the Ladies who had made the Blanket for them. I'm thinking it might be a good idea to always attach a little card written from the person who put it together. We did try this before, but let's try again! It's a very personal touch I think and the Lady who received one of Fiona's Blankets really liked reading why she had made that particular Blanket.
Our 'SIBOL' Butterflies were such a talking point and I explained how they could be hung on door knobs and zimmer frames. They loved the colours they were made in and once again they just couldn't get over how talented you all were. Even more surprised when I told everyone we had made nearly 300 'Sunshine Blankets!'
We had such a wonderful morning Mr. Twins enjoyed himself too. It's been a long time since he has been out with me on 'SIBOL Deliveries!'. He took me to the very first one up in Cheshire back in 2010. Without him this morning I don't think I would have got there.
I'm so grateful that we could have some photos taken, it's important to me that I show you where our Blankets have been delivered to.
Our 'SIBOL' Delivery Day is very important because it's the end of the process if you like from receiving Squares to the making up of the Blanket. To know that it has been given to an Elderly person really warms my heart. Each of our 'Sunshine Blankets' are so unique no two Blankets are the same and each Square in the Blanket has been made lovingly Your kindness is always so much appreciated not only by myself but by the Homes we deliver to and the Ladies who receive them. We really do brighten up an Elderly persons life and we definitely do bring smiles to their faces.
So a Big Thank you to everyone who has helped me with these Blankets from myself, Sandra and the Ladies at Greville House. On leaving I said Goodbye and everyone applauded us which really made my morning.
I couldn't wait to write this post and let you know how I got on. I hope you enjoy looking at these photos.
Thank you Greville House for making us both so welcome this morning and I do hope you enjoy your Blankets they really are going to be the topic of conversation today! What a lovely morning we both had.
Thank you!
x Sue x
London 
'Crafty' November 2013.
