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Tuesday, October 24, 2017

The Lead up to Christmas...

Readers who have been following the blog for a while would remember that each year about this time my thoughts turn to mini Christmas stockings. It would have been 2014 when I discovered that the founder of Knitting for Brisbane's Needy and her husband were spending hundreds of dollars of their own money on buying sweets to fill the mini stockings that the group members would make each year. Various community groups who work with the needy would distribute these little gifts; often to recipients who would get no other gifts except these humble offerings. What started out as a few hundred little stockings grew to a mind-blowing several thousand. Last year K4BN distributed 6500! 


So in 2014, I asked friends and relatives ( and other K4BN members) for help to provide the mountain of sweets needed to fill 3000 stockings. ( that number has certainly crept up over the ensuing years) The lovely Sunday Stitchers group continues to help each year without my even asking! 

These are some of the sweets donated by Sunday Stitchers this year...


Susan and Lynda also make stockings; the next photo shows the 50 felt stockings made by Susan this year. That is a lot of cutting out and stitching up there and it's really appreciated Susan.


As part of my plan for sourcing the best lollies' buys, I went to Costco that first year. My lovely sister and brother in law who are members, took me as their guest. 


The bucket on the left was a great buy that first year as it contained lollipops and wrapped sweets. 

The following year, that bucket of sweets was still available but these last 2 years it's not been at Costco. Each year, I check out and compare lolly prices at various 'bricks and mortar' shops, as well as online. Costco seems to be the best value for the lollipops. 

Last Tuesday, DsD2 who is a member of Costco took me and DsD3 there as her guests. I had been given money to help buy sweets for this year's stockings. In each stocking we place a lollipop and a few wrapped sweets. I planned to buy some of the packs of 100 chupa chups/lollipops...It would work out to be 19 cents per lolly. In shops the unit price of this popular brand is anything up to 50 per lollipop. 


But then I saw these! 


That's a tin of 1000 chupa chups...unit price 17 cents...but boy that tin was heavy!!!

DsD3 to the rescue!


So that was Tuesday night...next day there was a K4BN Knit and Natter...and knitting/crocheting was put aside as the ladies got to work packing stockings. 


We ran out of stockings before we ran out of lollies! We filled 267 stockings that morning. One member quipped that we just had another 6000+ ones to do by the beginning of December! 

Since last Wednesday I've been alternating between sewing stockings and knitting them. I had been working on stockings on and off for a few months but had only made a pitiful 12 which got filled at the Knit and Natter. 


Thankfully my output has increased! 

Another member dropped off 70 stockings last Friday...


Next Tuesday we have plans to fill more stockings...on a bit of a roll here! 



20 comments:

Kate said...

Now this is Christmas Spirit - well done, you!

Susan said...

Wonderful effort by everyone...the little green stocking look pretty cute too.

mamasmercantile said...

That is amazing, such a wonderful thoughtful thing to do for so many.

Lin said...

You are amazing! xx

Anonymous said...

A wonderful effort Maria, what a wonderful group of people you are.
Jean

Kim said...

What a wonderful initiative, Maria. Love all those different stockings, but those knitted woollies made my heart smile. How wonderful you found that BIG tin of Chupa Chops. All you ladies will certainly put a smile on all who receive their little, goody-filled stockings. Well done you!!

Nanna Chel said...

How very thoughtful, Maria. What a big job! I am sure each little gift would be much appreciated.

Cynthia said...

What an undertaking! They are so cute and will make some chIldren so happy. When I saw the size of the lolly can in the cart, I laughed. It didn't look nearly so big on the shelf.

Michelle Ridgway said...

You are all wonderful human beings.....blessings to you all xxx

Dorothy said...

Kudos to you and the KFBN supporters Maria. Great job. How do you keep the sweets in the stockings when they've been packed? I have visions of lollipops rolling all over the place as they escape from those lovely stockings.

Nanette said...

Love that giant tin of chupa chups, who would've known?! Got your email, not to worry, I don't mind:) Will have some stockings to send soon.

handmade by amalia said...

I'm so impressed with your good deeds. Well done!
Amalia
xo

Anthea said...

Goodness you all have big hearts... these look great!

Chookyblue...... said...

People don't realise the work involved in these projects......

Sue (this n that) said...

aw that is so nice - well done to you and all those lovely ladies.
All the smiles that will happen when each stocking finds its home.
Great lolly-buying too! ❤️

Sue said...

You and your band of friends are doing a wonderful job, Maria.

Jackie said...

Well done to you and your friends. Great price on the lollipops too.

God bless.

Janine @ Rainbow Hare said...

You are all doing an incredible job :)

liniecat said...

What a lovely thing to do make and fill those stockings!

Meg said...

What a thoughtful, collective effort to do something a little special for those who need that at Christmas time. Such caring spirits! MegXx