Happy Christmas and New Year!

Good evening,

May I wish you all a very 

Happy Christmas and New Year.

Thank you all for your wonderful support once again this year it is very much appreciated.

x Sue x 

End of year Delivery Day!

Good evening and welcome!

The 'SIBOL' project was started in January 2010 in Memory of my Grandmother who lived to the fine age of 103. She was very fortunate indeed she lived in her own little Bungalow in Hockley Heath and she had lots of family and friends visiting her. She knew everything about History and Politics and was so interesting to talk to. She cooked and bathed for herself  and it was always such a pleasure to visit her.

After she sadly passed away I thought I would like to do some Charity work in her Memory, knowing who for wasn't difficult at all. I wanted to make Knitted and Crocheted Blankets for the Elderly in Residential Care/ Nursing Homes.  I realised that there were many not so fortunate as my Grandmother so I asked my friends on-line if they wanted to help me and of course they jumped at the chance of using their skills.

First we collected Squares but it soon became apparent that I couldn't cope with the amount that were coming in to me, so I decided to ask for made up Blankets. The response has been absolutely amazing and since 2010 we have now made 1189 Blankets. We call them 'Sunshine Blankets' because we hope that when a Resident receives one it 'Sends a Ray of Sunshine into their lives' knowing that someone maybe hundreds or even thousands of miles away has been thinking of them. Very often they don't have family visiting  and I thought it would be a nice thing to do for them. We owe such a lot to our older generation and sometimes they are forgotten.

Today is my end of year 'Delivery Day!' I had 62 Sunshine Blankets and 7 Shawls to deliver.
It's always such a joy to take them out to a Home I am always so proud of everyone's work.

After lunch I rang up Oaklands Care Home in Moseley, Birmingham. Sue Baldry is the Manager there and she very kindly agreed to accepting our Sunshine Blankets on behalf of the Residents. The Staff were such lovely Ladies very happy and friendly and they agreed to having their photos taken for me. I do like to show you where I have delivered our Blankets.

I gave the Home 36 Sunshine Blankets and 7 Shawls. Sue and the Staff absolutely loved your work. They were so grateful to each and everyone of you  and wanted me to send you all a Big Thank you! I think they will be wrapping them up for Christmas Day. Can you imagine what it will be like in their home? I would love to see the Residents faces on receiving their Blankets. A couple of the Homes I visit have done this and it really makes their Christmas special for them.

Thank you Oaklands so much for accepting our work, it was a pleasure to meet you all.

The second Home I chose was a Nursing Home in Wythall, Birmingham.  Once again quite close to my home as I live in Hall Green.  The name of the Home was Glenfield Nursing Home.

Once again the Staff were extremely pleased to receive such beautiful donations and were just so grateful to everyone. I told them about our project and as they have 46 Residents I have promised to go back next year with more so that everyone can receive one. Your Blankets really are such a joy to take out to the Homes each one made in such wonderful colour combinations and the designs are really unique! Great sizes and  they will definitely be brightening the bedrooms up! They always wash so beautifully made in Acrylic yarn and made in bright colours they are easier to see if eye sight is failing.

(26 Sunshine Blankets).

The Home was really friendly and welcoming situated out in the countryside I had a lovely ride out this afternoon. 

Thank you all so much for donating these Sunshine Blankets and thank you also to the Staff of Glenfield Nursing Home for accepting them I'm sure your Residents will love them.

Once again we have had a massive response this year from all over the world. It always amazes me how supportive you are. To think that you all sit for hours Crocheting or Knitting away and then to send donations to me it really is very kind of you all.

Before I go, I would like to show you Butterflies sent to me from Sally.

As I have said to the Homes we always attach one to our work whether it be a Blanket or a Shawl,

it's a nice finishing touch.

So thank you Sally.

Thank you

x Sue x 

Thank you to Anne Murray for this very pretty Blanket.

I shall be delivering it to a Home next year.

Saturday's post.

Good morning,

I would like to thank Miss. Gaynor Harris this morning for a Knitted Blanket she sent to me.
I will be sure to take it with me when I deliver our Sunshine Blankets very soon. Thank you so much for taking the time to make this donation, it is very kind of you.

30th November is my closing date for this year.
I am really sorry I cannot accept any more Sunshine Blankets and Shawls until 1st March.

I am still available on email.
I'm Sue on sueatpigsty@talktalk.net

Thank you very much

x Sue x

Fly for Peace.

Good afternoon,

I would like to thank Gabriella in (Italy) today for sending me a Blanket on behalf of her Mother Anna Maria. This Blanket is made in very pretty Granny Squares. They are so bright and cheerful and I know a Resident is going to be very pleased to receive it. It's a great size and very neat too.

I really appreciate you sending it all the way from Italy Gabriella and I love the Butterfly and Ribbon which you have attached. We are calling this Blanket 'Fly For Peace' as this Butterfly has made a special journey to me. Let's hope it will bring Peace across the world.

I will take the Blanket to a Home very soon and please thank your Mother for us. It's very kind of both of you.

My closing date for receiving Sunshine Blankets and Shawls is 30th November 2015. I will be accepting donations again 1st March 2016.

I have a few things going on at home next year I hope that's okay with you all.

Thank you.

I can be contacted on

sueatpigsty@talktalk.net

x Sue x 

What's new today!

Good evening,

May I thank Julie today for two beautiful Granny Square Blankets for SIBOL.
Both made in Granny Squares - 1 Large Granny Square and the other in smaller Squares.
Gorgeous colours and great sizes these are going to be perfect for Residents.
Thank you so much for all the time taken on these Blankets Julie you are very kind indeed.

Next we have a Shawl from Liz T and a Sunshine Blanket too! It's called a 'Bit of Colour'.

Such pretty colours Liz and a great pattern for the Shawl.
Thank you so much!

x Sue x

P.S No more donations after end of November thank you for this year.

Sunshine Blankets from Switzerland.

Good afternoon,

 I would like to thank Bettina (Switzerland) today for sending to me  4 beautiful Crocheted Sunhine Blankets and Butterflies. How kind of you to send all this way to me! As I said in my email to you
they are perfect. Such pretty colours and designs and great sizes too. Let's take a look at them now.

Thank you so much Bettina!

Next we have a pretty Granny Square Blanket which is so 

colourful.

Unfortunately, no name enclosed so I can't acknowledge

receipt sorry. So I hope you are seeing this post.

The Sunshine Blanket is perfect once again, and I'm sure

a lucky Resident will love using this one.

So a Big thank you!

That's all for today. Thank you for popping in to our Blog.

x Sue x 

Little Misses

Good Morning,

I have another beautiful Sunshine Blanket  to show you this morning. This time from J & B Francis in Guildford, Surrey.  I have called this one 'Little Misses'. I just love the Blanket it is  great size and the pastel colours are so delicate and soothing. Decorated with Ribbon and Crocheted Butterfly this
will be added to my next pile and taken out as soon as possible.

Thank you both so much I love it.

Flickr is playing up again I'm sorry this is upside down.

x Sue x

End of year Blanket Deliveries.

Good evening,

17th September was the last day we made Blanket Deliveries. Lisa to Belvoir Home and myself to Bramley Grove Care Home. Since then I have collected 75 Sunshine Blankets. It always amazes me because it's not very often I get comments on the 'SIBOL' Blog and there are only a handful of Ladies who comment regularly on the RAVELRY site but nevertheless I know Ladies in the Crafting Community are visiting from all over the world. You only have to look at the visitors widget to see the countries visiting.  Only yesterday did I have an email from  Gabriella in Italy who tells me her mother is sending our Residents a Blanket! How kind! I also have Bettina in Switzerland sending a Blanket so thank you very much for taking an interest.

The Blankets upstairs are piling up and I have around 75 in total. I'm starting to run out of room so I thought I would visit one of my local Homes 'St. Michaels' in Olton.  Today I took in 22 Sunshine Blankets and 10 Shawls. It is always such a pleasure to visit the Home. The Staff are friendly and very welcoming.  Over the past few weeks I have been getting the Blankets ready and as you can see from the photos we have a great selection.

The brightly coloured Granny Square Blankets were hand delivered to me by Alma and her Husband and I am very grateful to both of them. Alma tells me her Husband crochets a couple of rounds and she finishes them off and joins them together. How lovely for her Husband to enjoy the same hobbies!

 Then I have Lyn who travels the UK with her Husband on trains. She takes her Knitting needles with her and Knits stripes which she then joins together, she has  donated quite a lot.

I would also like to thank everyone else who has donated Blankets and Shawls in this Delivery.

Here's what I delivered today!

The Staff will be wrapping these Blankets up ready for Christmas Day.

A Big Thank you from St. Michael's and here's a photo of one of the Staff receiving them. Such a pretty girl and I forgot to ask her name.

I am always very thankful to everyone who donates a Blanket or Shawl and I am so pleased that you think the project is worthy of your time. Thank you.

x Sue x

Shawls from Norway.

Good afternoon.

I have received three very pretty Shawls this morning. Crocheted by Isrose who lives in Norway.
So kind of you Isrose and I love the colours you have chosen.

So perfect for the Residents I will deliver them as soon as possible.

Thank you for sending them to me from Norway.

May I remind you I cannot receive any Shawls or Sunshine Blankets after the end of November thank you.  This will give me time to take them out to the Homes ready for Christmas.

x Sue x

Colour 7 times over!

Good Morning,

I would like to thank Alma very much indeed for getting these Sunshine Blankets to me yesterday.
As you can see they are made beautifully. What a lot of colour! Such pretty Granny Squares made into 7 fantastic Blankets. I love how you have placed the Squares Alma you really have a knack of putting them together. Alma tells me her Husband Crochets too isn't that fantastic and together they have sent these wonderful donations. So a Big Thank you.

I cannot email you at the moment my emails are down so I do hope you have seen this post. I will contact you as soon as I can. Thank you.

I would also like to thank Gill for her parcel today.  Once again we have some lovely Shawls and two Sunshine Blankets made beautifully in every way.

Gill many thanks indeed I love your work too!

x Sue x

A thank you card.

Good afternoon,

 A nice thank you today from St. Katherine's Home for the lovely Shawls recently delivered to them.  One of my friends took them on our behalf. It's not always possible to do them myself.

'Sweet Lavender' was also delivered to The Hermitage today for one of the older Ladies there. Sorry Photo not available through Flickr today.

The Shawls have been very well received. I have been told that they are all a good size and will definitely be useful to them. I really have had some great feedback so a Big Thank You!

x Sue x