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Ditty bags for the Jennifer Project

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Friday night my friend Denise (you might recognize her as Craft Gossip’s Needlework editor) came over and we sewed up a stack of ditty bags.  They’ll be filled with goodies and delivered to children with Cystic Fibrosis who are staying at Arkansas Children’s Hospital. 

It’s called the Jennifer Project, named after an inspirational young woman who lived with this disease for many years.  After her death, her mother, Debbie from Roses and Ribbons, started the project in her honor.  As she knows from experience, children with Cystic Fibrosis spend far too many days up at the hospital.  That’s no fun for anyone, much less a child.  The Jennifer Project helps them pass the hours with small toys, craft projects, and other goodies.  

I had so much fun sewing up these bags with Denise!  (I wanted to get a picture of the two of us sewing together, but neither of us had put on make-up that day so we weren’t feeling our sparkly best for internet photos.)  The night was a flurry of fabric cuts and on-the-fly design.  We ended up with a total of 12 bags, each with its own personality.  They’re all made from brightly colored fabric or recycled denim, with neon shoelaces as the drawstrings.

Thank you, Debbie, for dreaming up this project and for letting us be part of it!

Comments

  1. I looked at Ribbons and Roses and was not having much luck finding information on this project. Can you get me pointed in the right direction? I think this might be a great project for our Girl Scout Troop.

    • That is a great idea!! I don’t think there’s any one page on Debbie’s blog that describes the project. But, I can put you in contact with Debbie and her sister Kimberly so you can get all the info you need. Blessings to you! –Anne

  2. Anne and Denise – these are so adorable! We had so much fun filling them with goodies! The kiddos will absolutely LOVE THEM!!!

    Thank you so much for your kindness!

  3. Agree!!! I looked at Ribbons and Roses and was not having much luck finding information on this project. Can you get me pointed in the right direction? I think this might be a great project for our Girl Scout Troop.

  4. Hello! Can you get me pointed in the right direction too? Would love to embark on this meaningful project! 🙂

Have you read?

Freebie: Printable Christmas Eve magic pillowcase poem

Freebie: Printable Christmas Eve magic pillowcase poem

Freebie: Printable Christmas Eve magic pillowcase poem

With all the excitement and expectation of Santa’s visit, it can be hard for kids to go to sleep on Christmas Eve.  Melissa from Polka Dot Chair created special pillowcases for her nephews, to be used only on Christmas Eve.  When she gave them to them, she included a little poem explaining that they’re magic pillowcases to help them have sweet dreams.  She’s sharing a free printable of the poem on her blog, plus she links to a tutorial she’s written for making a pillowcase, so you can start the tradition with your own kids.

Click below for her tutorial & printable:

Free Printable Christmas Pillowcase Poem , by Polka Dot Chair

[photo from Polka Dot Chair]

Looking for Holiday or Christmas themed Fabric prints? Check these out. Don’t have time to make your own pillow case? Check out these Christmas Pillow Case designs.