Search This Blog

Monday, November 3, 2014

Lollies, lollies and more lollies!

As someone who has chosen to avoid eating foods which contain sugar, I've certainly been handling a lot of sweets/lollies/candy lately!
But it's all in the name of charity. 
For a few years now, Knitting for Brisbane's Needy members have provided mini Christmas stockings filled with sweets, to the various community groups who distribute them to the needy. This 'tradition' has grown from a few hundred to well over 2000 in 2013. Last year, the founder of the group, and her husband spent over $400 of their own money buying sweets for these stockings. After hearing how much of their own money went on buying supplies, I decided then and there that there had to be a better way. So I asked for help...from family and friends.
My wonderful friends, the Sunday Stitchers brought along a big lot of lollies at our October meet...

While doing election training a few weeks ago, a handful of sweets were placed on each work station...the others ate their pile...DH and I brought our booty home...this was one day's worth. They gave us more to bring home on the second day! Lol

Other friends and DH, cousins and in laws have also donated sweets. 



Then I tackled the issue of the packaging...the knitted stockings take a while to knit, so as I needed to increase production output, I trialled other ways of packaging these gifts. 
Simple felt ones...pinked edges...so easy and quick!

Mark 2... Felt with a ribbon decoration, and some Christmas fabric stockings...also pinked edges :-) 

Then I started thinking outside the square so to speak...I had leftover sweets cello bags from the 'making sweets for the church fete' days...and some bells left over from teaching days...

Then I wondered if we could package up the sweets in party treat boxes...Christmas stickers also left over from classroom days :-)
So last weekend, I played around with ideas and packaged up 81 gifts of sweets...
 Three friends had given me some stockings too. 

On Monday I took my filled containers of sweets to the Scarborough Knit and Natter...and you'll never guess...the ladies were filling Christmas stocking there too! 
A bag of empties waiting to be filled...
Busy busy...
We packed over 500 yesterday!
Last week at Zillmere over 200 were handed in...
Including the mini lollipops with the Santa hats!
I love the crocheted stocking in the photo above...crocheting is generally faster than knitting...mmmm...might just give that a go I think. :-)
(It looks like we need to provide 2500 of these stockings, bags, boxes judging by the requests that have come in. Including one from a former student who is a Uniting Church minister. There were huge bush fires this year in her parish in north eastern Victoria; she wanted something to bring a bit of cheer to her parishioners. Another of my students works/runs a mental health inpatient unit on the GoldCoast  with 21 beds; she has requested 21 stockings for her patients) we try to help as many as possible) 

13 comments:

Vireya said...

Wow, that's a lot of lollies!

What a lovely thing to be involved with. It will bring happiness to so many!

Lin said...

What a huge operation! Well done to all concerned and to you with your innovative ideas! I am sure the stockings will be so much appreciated. xx

Cynthia said...

Wow, that's a lot of little stockings, bags, boxes, etc. I'm glad so many are pitching in to help. I'm sure they will be appreciated.
The Santa hats on the lollies are the cutest thing!

Jazbriz said...

A great idea, well done to everyone for all the work!

Anonymous said...

Maria you are a real powerhouse when you get your teeth into a job. Wonderful to see how beautifully presented these gifts are.

Unknown said...

Great Job Maria - when I read you blog I feel loads of love spreading to many that will grow from your efforts...

Bev C said...

Hello Maria,

What a lovely happy post. We still have a little knitted stocking that was made by one of the pre school aides many years ago.

Happy days.
Bev.

Susan said...

Great effort by all maria!

Soma @ inkTorrents.com said...

How wonderful, Maria, and so many smiles!!

-Soma

margaret said...

what a good idea you have certainly made lots and lots of stockings and i am sure the kids will love what is inside them

Dorothy said...

What a wonderful lot of little stockings. All those ladies look busy but also seem to be having much fun. 2,500 is a lot of stockings to provide but I'm sure you and your friends will achieve your goal. Good luck. xox

Nanette said...

Looks wonderful Maria, you're a powerhouse! I had the same thought as you, takes too long to knit them, so I bought some pretty felt yesterday at Spotlight and will sew it all up into little stockings ready to hand over to you next week.

Heirloom treasures said...

Maria such a really lovely worthwhile pastime. Wish I lived closer. I could get my friend to help me make some too. Worth thinking about. I could use up scraps of wool and or fabric I have in my stash.I might just give it a try. xx