http://www.thepreemieproject.com/index.php/blog The Preemie Project Community Blog en laura-aker@thepreemieproject.com Copyright 2011 2011-11-30T03:44:02-06:00 http://www.thepreemieproject.com/blog/comments/black_friday_wrap-up/ http://www.thepreemieproject.com/blog/comments/black_friday_wrap-up/#When:03:44:02Z We have been so excited about your support for our Prematurity Awareness Month Fundraiser!  With your support we raised $2,300.  Thank you to everyone who contributed to this campaign!  You keep our mission alive! During the early morning hours of Black Friday 2011, TPP volunteers were spread throughout Iowa, and even Kansas, with coffee in hand, ready and waiting to dash in Jo-Ann Fabrics and grab as much fabric as possible.  Why the mad dash?  On Black Friday, flannel that is usually priced $5.00/yd to $6.00/yd was a mere $1.49/yd.  With such an amazing deal we seek to purchase enough flannel to last the whole year.  We were all so happy to have great weather this year for the hour place wait in front of the store. Group #1 was located in Topeka, Kansas.  Heather Borgren and Linda Aker were first in line at Jo-Ann Fabrics and started the line at 5am. Group #2 consisted of Laura and Brian Pabich, who were first in line at 5am in front of the Jo-Ann Fabrics in South Des Moines, Iowa.  Getting up early and waiting outside in the dark is easy when it’s for the babies! Group #3 consisted of die hard TPP volunteers Audrey Knox, Carla Lyons and Mary Anne Sheets (plus family member visiting for Thanksgiving) who were also first in line in front of the Jo-Ann Fabrics in Iowa City.  When the doors opened at 6am there was a similar scene at all three stores.  Our volunteers madly dashed for carts and began quickly filling them with bolts of flannel for the babies.  In less than ten minutes we had everything we needed and then the long wait at the cutting and measuring table began.  We were all lucky to get out of the store by 8am.  However, many people in line behind our groups waited for hours to have their fabric measured and cut.Here is a look at the Iowa City group waiting to have their choices measured.  Looks like they did a great stacking job with their carts! Laura Pabich’s husband, Brian, was in charge of placing bolts of fabric in carts as Laura handed them to him in the Des Moines Jo-Ann Fabrics.  He stacked two carts higher than his 6 foot frame before Laura was done! The group in Topeka, Kansas came away with an impressive amount of fabric that traveled all the way back to Iowa two days later. Over the last two days, these three groups combined all of the fabric to be rolled off of the bolts, sorted, measured and cut for the year.  Funds from our Prematurity Awareness Month Fundraiser and Holiday Craft Sale were used to purchase Flannel and Fleece for the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics (UIHC), Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in Iowa City, Iowa.  Volunteers cut the flannel into flat sheets and fitted sheets for the NICU beds and fleece into pads to place over the sheets.  The fleece pads provide a soft and warm environment for the NICU babies to lay on.  Here is an example of what a UIHC NICU bed looks like with our bedding: This year, due to your overwhelming support, TPP will be providing the UIHC NICU with all of this bedding!  The bedding provides a soft, warm surface for preterm and critically ill infants and a warm, home like environment for NICU families. 550 Flat Flannel Sheets 235 Fitted Flannel Sheets 400 Fleece Pads Linda Aker, our work group chair, also had volunteers scouring Jo-Ann Fabrics to purchase fleece at discount prices.  She was also on her computer at 4am on Thanksgiving Day purchasing discounted fleece online.  All of this fleece will go towards making Blanket Sleepers for the UIHC NICU over the next year.  Wonderful job Linda! Wow, that is a lot of fabric!  This will benefit approximately 800 infants and families who go through the UIHC NICU over the next year.  This year we also had the privilege of purchasing fabric for Blank Children’s Hospital NICU in Des Moines, IA.  The nursing staff at Blank graciously donated funds from a unit fundraiser so that we could purchase fabric to make bedding for their 35 bed unit.  We are so excited for this project.  Laura Pabich purchased enough fabric at the Des Moines, Iowa store to make the following: 300 Flat Sheets 160 Fitted Sheets 300 Fleece Pads Once again we are so grateful for all of the support via bake sales, craft sales and financial donations that allows us to purchase the materials to fulfill our mission.  We also woudl like to thank all of the volunteers who stood in line in the early morning hours to make the purchasing possible on such a large scale.  Now that we have our materials the real fun begins.  Get your sewing machines ready!  Check out our upcoming events to find out how you can help! Events & Announcements, General Blogging 2011-11-30T03:44:02-06:00 http://www.thepreemieproject.com/blog/comments/only_four_days_left/ http://www.thepreemieproject.com/blog/comments/only_four_days_left/#When:19:41:18Z Thanks to your support, we have reached 50% of our goal to raise $2,500 in honor of National Prematurity Awareness Month.  We only have 4 days left to reach our goal!  All funds raised will go towards fabric purchases on Black Friday to support our programs. The Joyce family once shared their story of how TPP touched their lives: “One of the hardest parts of having a baby in the NICU is having to leave.  After all, the obligations of everyday life are still there. I remember going home one day and when I came back there was a small bag hanging on her crib.  I noticed her crib had the cutest little blankets and not just the plain hospital one. I looked inside the bag and thought it was a mistake and that those things belonged to a different baby.  Inside there was a knit hat, a blanket and a sleeper sack. There was a tag inside saying those things were from the preemie project.  I felt like my baby was so loved and that somebody, who did not even know us, cared for the two of us. It was kind of poetic that it arrived when I was gone and it made everything all the more special.“Just one donation of $3.50 will purchase fabric to make one blanket sleeper for a family like the Joyce’s.  Just $5.00 will provide bedding that turns the sterile NICU environment into home.  We hope you will consider contributing to this campaign and help us support hundreds of families in Iowa going through such a difficult time.  No donation is too small and every bit helps! Donations can be made two ways: 1. Via PayPal by clicking the button below: 2. Or Mail Donations to: The Preemie Project PO Box 1310 Iowa City, Iowa 52244 Note: Black Friday Fabric Fund Events & Announcements, General Blogging, Volunteer Opportunities 2011-11-20T19:41:18-06:00 http://www.thepreemieproject.com/blog/comments/winter_holiday_donation_contest/ http://www.thepreemieproject.com/blog/comments/winter_holiday_donation_contest/#When:17:08:00Z Start working on those winter holiday sets to earn a chance to win a great prize from TPP! For each winter holiday set you donate for the December 19th Winter Holiday donation, you will be awarded one chance in a drawing to win a beautiful piece of lia sophia jewelry. One prize will be given to the volunteer who crafts the most winter holiday sets and two additional winners will be selected in a random drawing. Read on for contest rules and to see the prizes!Contest Rules and Prizes: 1.  Only hat and bootie sets will earn a chance in the drawing. Hats and booties within the set must be of the same size. 2.  Hat and bootie sets in sizes 3-5 lb, 6-8lb and 9-11 lbs will earn one chance. Two sets in the 1-3 lb size will be worth one chance. 3.  Only sets that follow TPP donation guidelines will be counted. This means items must be made from a suitable soft, non-wool yarn (get some brand ideas here) and follow the size guidelines listed here. Any pattern may be used; there are a few ideas to help you get started on the Patterns page (scroll down for holiday patterns). 4.  Sets must be received or postmarked by December 7, 2011 to count for the drawing. 5.  The volunteer who donates the most sets will have first pick of the three prizes. The first winner of the random drawing will receive the second choice of the three items. The second winner of the random drawing will receive the third piece. 6.  Jewelry prizes will come with the lia sophia Purchase Receipt and be covered by the lia sophia full Lifetime Replacement Guarantee. The prizes are: Azure Necklace Lovey Dovey Child’s Bracelet Tulle Cuff Bracelet Questions? Contact . Events & Announcements, General Blogging 2011-11-11T17:08:00-06:00 http://www.thepreemieproject.com/blog/comments/support_babies_during_prematurity_awareness_month/ http://www.thepreemieproject.com/blog/comments/support_babies_during_prematurity_awareness_month/#When:14:20:14Z November is National Prematurity Awareness Month.  In honor of this National event, The Preemie Project is launching a campaign to raise $2,500 from November 1, 2011 to November 23, 2011. All donations will go towards our “Black Friday Fabric Fund”.  This fund has been set-up to purchase fabric during Black Friday sales (on the day after Thanksgiving) to support our programs.  Last year we purchased over 3,000 yards of fabric in one day!  We invite you to visit our Facebook Page to see more photos! Just a few examples of the tremendous amount of support that $2,500 can provide includes: 1. Blanket Sleepers for 500 infants.  Blanket Sleepers not only provide warmth but also provide nursing staff with a teaching tool to help decrease the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.  Click here for more information on this program. 2. 250 Hawkeye Blankets for the “Littlest Hawkeyes” in Iowa. 3. Bedding to support the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics NICU for one year.  The bedding not only provides a soft, comfortable surface for the babes, it also provides a warm welcoming environment for families in an otherwise sterile environment. We hope you will consider contributing to this campaign.  No donation is too small and every bit helps! Donations can be made two ways: 1. Via PayPal by clicking the button below: 2. Or Mail Donations to: The Preemie Project PO Box 1310 Iowa City, Iowa 52244 Note: Black Friday Fabric Fund Check back with us early next week to track our progress!  As always, it’s for the babies!! Laura Pabich Founder, President Events & Announcements, General Blogging, Volunteer Opportunities 2011-10-31T14:20:14-06:00 http://www.thepreemieproject.com/blog/comments/congratulations_to_the_winners_of_our_pumpkin_patch_contest/ http://www.thepreemieproject.com/blog/comments/congratulations_to_the_winners_of_our_pumpkin_patch_contest/#When:01:35:42Z Congratulations to Lana Johnson and Nancy Miller! Lana donated the most pumpkin sets (16) and Nancy won the drawing. Thanks to all who made and donated sets to make the NICU a sweet little pumpkin patch!Stay tuned for news about the Winter Holidays Contest. Details will be posted soon! General Blogging 2011-10-26T01:35:42-06:00 http://www.thepreemieproject.com/blog/comments/calling_all_pattern_designers/ http://www.thepreemieproject.com/blog/comments/calling_all_pattern_designers/#When:21:17:03Z We have a fabulous new opportunity for volunteers to support our mission.  We are seeking pattern designers to create and donate patterns for sale in our Ravelry Store. Ravelry is a free online place for knitters, crocheters, designers, spinners, weavers and dyers to keep track of their yarn, tools, project and pattern information, and look to others for ideas and inspiration.  Ravelry has over 1.5 million users and is a great place for you to keep notes about your projects, see what other people are making, find the perfect pattern and connect with people who love to play with yarn from all over the world in our forums.  You also also purchase patterns for download from the site.  If you are not a member already, we suggest you check it out today! Donated patterns will be posted in The Preemie Project store on Ravelry.  100% of the proceeds will go back towards our mission (minus a very small fee charged by ravelry to maintain our store). Steps for submission: Submit patterns, by email, to , TPP Vice President, for review. Patterns can be, but do not have to be, for preemies.  We would like to have a wide variety of pattern choices available.  Submissions should be sent as attached MS Word documents. The terms paragraph below should be copied/pasted into the submission email with the submitters name typed below it for a signature. Andrea will send the pattern out for test knitting and once it appears to be in order it will be reformatted to The Preemie Project format and listed in the Ravelry store. Designer Terms of Agreement: By submitting this design to The Preemie Project, I verify that I am the original creator of the work, and that I have not infringed and/or violated the existing intellectual property rights of any third person in the creation of the work I claim as mine. Further, I agree to hold The Preemie Project and its editors and publisher harmless from any and all expenses, losses, liabilities, damages or third-party claims that may arise from any infringement and/or violation of such intellectual property rights. I will receive no compensation from the donation of this pattern to The Preemie Project. All earnings from sales will be donated to The Preemie Project. This notice will serve as my written permission to allow my pattern and all related images to be published by The Preemie Project in the standard Preemie Project pattern format until I provide written notification otherwise. The copyright notice on the bottom of each pattern will read as follows: Copyright [YEAR], [DESIGNER NAME], [DESIGNER CONTACT EMAIL/PHONE]. This pattern is for your personal use only. Items produced from this pattern may not be sold for profit, and this pattern may not be duplicated or otherwise distributed to others. Proceeds from the purchase of this pattern benefit The Preemie Project, PO Box 1310, Iowa City, IA 52244.  Though this pattern has been reviewed and edited, if you find errors or have a question about the pattern please contact the author/designer directly. We will do our best to make corrections to the pattern as quickly as possible. We thank you for your consideration.  Please forward this information to friends or family who might be interested. As always, it’s for the babies!! Events & Announcements, General Blogging, Patterns, Volunteer Opportunities 2011-10-03T21:17:03-06:00 http://www.thepreemieproject.com/blog/comments/pumpkin_patch_contest/ http://www.thepreemieproject.com/blog/comments/pumpkin_patch_contest/#When:17:02:17Z Start working on those pumpkin sets to earn a chance to win a great prize from TPP! For each pumpkin set you donate for the October 24th Pumpkin Patch donation, you will be awarded one chance in a drawing to win a beautiful piece of lia Sophia jewelry. One prize will be given to the volunteer who crafts the most pumpkin sets and another winner will be selected in a random drawing. Read on for contest rules and to see the prizes!Contest Rules and Prizes: 1.  Only hat and bootie sets will earn a chance in the drawing. Hats and booties within the set must be of the same size. 2.  Hat and bootie sets in sizes 3-5 lb, 6-8lb and 9-11 lbs will earn one chance. Two sets in the 1-3 lb size will be worth one chance. 3.  Only sets that follow TPP donation guidelines will be counted. This means items must be made from a suitable soft, non-wool yarn (get some brand ideas here) and follow the size guidelines listed here. Any pattern may be used; there are a few ideas to help you get started on the Patterns page (scroll down for holiday patterns). 4.  Sets must be received or postmarked by October 17, 2011 to count for the drawing. 5.  The volunteer who donates the most sets will have first pick of the two prizes. The winner of the random drawing will receive the other item. 6.  Jewelry prizes will come with the lia sophia Purchase Receipt and be covered by the lia sophia full Lifetime Replacement Guarantee. The prizes are: ALPINE NECKLACE CRYSTAL BALL NECKLACE Questions? Contact . General Blogging 2011-09-05T17:02:17-06:00 http://www.thepreemieproject.com/blog/comments/please_note_new_donation_mailing_address/ http://www.thepreemieproject.com/blog/comments/please_note_new_donation_mailing_address/#When:16:34:29Z We’re outgrowing TPP headquarters! Please mail future donations to our new address: The Preemie Project PO Box 1310 Iowa City, IA 52244 General Blogging 2011-05-03T16:34:29-06:00 http://www.thepreemieproject.com/blog/comments/anyone_crafting_for_the_spring_craft_sale/ http://www.thepreemieproject.com/blog/comments/anyone_crafting_for_the_spring_craft_sale/#When:23:26:13Z Our 1st ever Spring Craft Sale fundraiser is right around the corner! We need your donations of crafts to make this new sale a success!  Share your spring crafting ideas in the comments!Try putting a spring twist on these favorites: *You do not have to limit your donations to these items.  Please feel free to be creative!* Men’s Hawkeye scrub caps Flannel pillow cases (sets, 2 each) Knitted Youth caps 1 year+ and 3-7 year olds Quilts Hawkeye Tag Blankets Spring themed items (aprons, potholders, towels, pillows, etc) Gift Packages Jewelry (Bracelets, Necklaces and Earrings, or in Hawkeye colors) Washcloths and Potholders (Sold out last year) Purses, Totes and Bags Spring and summer weight Scarves and Hats! Soft Toys and Teddy Bears Anything Hawkeye Themed (Teddy Bears, Blankets, Scarves, Hats, Bags, etc) Dog and Cat Toys (always sell out!) Baby Taggie Blankets Mail by Deadline: Monday 4/25/11 Deliver by Deadline: Friday 4/29/11 Details: TPP Spring Craft Sale May 2 and 3, 10am-4pm The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA. (Lobby by elevator I) General Blogging 2011-03-30T23:26:13-06:00 http://www.thepreemieproject.com/blog/comments/2011_craft_and_bake_sale_schedule/ http://www.thepreemieproject.com/blog/comments/2011_craft_and_bake_sale_schedule/#When:20:01:36Z This year The Preemie Project will be testing out a new fundraising schedule. We need your continued support to make these sales a success! Please review the schedule below to make plans for your 2011 crafting and baking.Spring Bake Sale Old Capitol Mall, Iowa City, IA Monday, March 28 8am - 4pm Spring Craft Sale UIHC, Iowa City, IA Monday, May 2 and Tuesday, May 3 10am - 4pm each day Summer Craft Sale Old Capitol Mall, Iowa City, IA Friday, July 29 8am - 4pm Fall Bake Sale Old Capitol Mall, Iowa City, IA Monday, September 12 8am - 4pm Holiday Craft Sale UIHC, Iowa City, IA Tuesday, November 1 and Wednesday, November 2 10am - 4pm Holiday Bake Sale Old Capitol Mall, Iowa City, IA Monday, December 5 8am - 4pm How Can You Help? Your help is especially needed with the new Spring Craft Sale. Look for emails in the coming months with ideas for crafting. To help you get started, think of jewelery in Hawkeye colors, gardening gifts, graduation gifts and items for Mother’s Day. Handmade cards always sell well. We hope you will consider helping with our sales this year!  Contact with questions. Happy Crafting! General Blogging 2011-02-18T20:01:36-06:00