Wired and waiting

Seven hundred dollars is wired, and now we're just waiting to get the authorization number to send to Sister Marida at the orphanage.

We had intended to wire the money on the 11th, but we ran into some complications.  The name of the orphanage had actually changed from La Cuidad Blanca to Hogar De Niños Corazon de la Misericordia Jesus Buen Samaritano.  (Yes, seriously.  I'm almost glad I didn't know this when we were doing the fundraiser because I could never have remembered all that, or tried to write it on things.)  Along with the name change, the email of Sister Marida, the head of the orphanage, had also changed, and that had been our only means of contacting her.  My sister, Diana, and her excellent Spanish skills came to the rescue.  She emailed the family she had stayed with while in Honduras and the mother of the family was eventually able to get us a phone number and the new email address.

We ended up doing a three day wire, because it was $20 rather than $45 for the next day wire.  Since I completed the request in the early afternoon yesterday (Tuesday), the three day wire would allow Sister Marida to pick up the money on Friday.  Then I got an email yesterday evening saying the wire wouldn't go through until I answered some questions.  I turned out the MoneyGram company was trying to protect me from fraud, because I was emailing to an individual rather than a company, so I had to make my case over the phone.  But, because it was after five, I was told that I now wouldn't get the authorization number that Sister Marida needs until Monday.

Once I get the number, I (with Spanish words from my sister) will email Sister Marida the number so she can go pick the money up!

Generous donations!

Yesterday I got the mail and one of the envelopes was from my uncle.  I said, "Kate, this is from my uncle who we made those two hats.  I bet it's a check."

When she opened it up, I said, "Oh, my goodness!  $100!  He owed us less than $50!"

Kate paused for only a moment and said, "He sent $50 extra, so we have over $500 for the orphanage!"  I could see the excitement nearly bursting from her.

Then later yesterday evening, our five-year-old neighbor came over holding money.  I called Kate in, and he handed her a $20 bill saying,  "This is from our family.  Thank you for the hard work you're doing for the kids."  Adorable.  My goodness.  Now I was ready to burst.

Tonight, I was out to dinner with some friends, one of whom had bought two hats.  The one who hadn't bought hats, took out her checkbook and wrote Kate a check for $50 for the orphanage.

I can't wait to give her that when she wakes up in the morning.  I can't wait to let her do the math, and see that we now have an even $600... on the dot!

Kate and I like to think of all the ways the orphanage could use the money.  The other day, when we had $500, it went like this.

She said, "How much does a shirt cost?"

I said, "Maybe a t-shirt is $4."

Then she said, "So, 60 t-shirts is $240.  Then they still have $260 left.  What food could they buy for that?"

"Well, I bet they could give them each a good meal for about a dollar each."

"So, $60 for everyone.  60, 120, 180, 240... so they could have four really good meals and a t-shirt."

It seemed kind of discouraging, when she put it that way, but I shook off the feeling of being small and powerless, and focused on what we did do.  I said, "That's four times they'll have nice full bellies and feel really happy because of what you did for them.  And they'll have nice new shirts.  And maybe they could buy diapers, too, so they feel nice and clean."

So, everyone of you who helped us, by sharing the sale on Facebook, by buying a hat, or by donating, you helped these kids.  You will bring them happiness!

Kate has already gotten really good at addressing envelopes, soon she'll learn about wiring money...
a strange skill for almost anyone to have in 2012, but even stranger for a six-year-old.

Still Time to Donate

We have now been blessed with orders for thirty hats, and, although we want to be able to donate as much money as possible, we're going to stop taking orders.

We have three more hats to complete for orders, and then we want to use the leftover fleece to make some hats for the vendor sale next week.

After that, we want to be able to take time to appreciate the Advent season with family activities.

We are making arrangements with the head of the orphanage in Honduras to wire the money on December 11th. There's still time to send a donation.  I will share our address on Facebook or you can email me to get it at kristalmelbye@gmail.com.

Kate and I want to sincerely thank you, each and every one of you, who either ordered a hat, shared the sale on Facebook, or are planning to make a donation to the orphanage.

Unexpected Benefit

So, who knew!?

An unexpected benefit of these fleece hats, particularly the "larger than life" ones (a term my friend Jamie used to refer to Ally's hat), is that they offer some protection to the head!

Ally somehow took a head first tumble down a set of concrete stairs at my dentist office. I saw her land right on the left side of her forehead, just a split second too soon to catch her.

When I picked her up, she had a secondary scrape on her nose and a trickle of blood where she'd bitten her lip. I removed her hat, expecting to see a huge lump, but it was just slightly pink.

So, those two bunched up layers of fleece...they're practically as good as helmet!

(This statement has not been proven by the AAP.) :)

So, how do you figure the number on the side?

When I was figuring the number of how much we've earned for La Cuidad Blanca, I had been basing it on orders we took in.  Unfortunately, orders for five of the hats didn't end up going though.  Some people would write to me telling me they wanted a hat or a couple hats, but then never follow through with the order.

So the number that is on the side right now is definite profit, based on 27 definite orders.

We have so far completed orders for 21 hats, and we are in the process of making six more.

We have spent $134.43 on fleece, a couple spools of thread, and a package of buttons, but the total due for the orders is $507.  That puts us at $372.57, but we were blessed with an "anonymous" $50 donation from someone very close to Kate who has seen her hard work, and is very proud of what his daughter is doing for the orphanage!

There's more good news!

We have another opportunity to make more money for the orphanage.

When we buy the fleece, we have to buy it 60 inches wide, even if we only need it 21 inches wide for a hat, so we have a good amount leftover.

After we complete the last six orders, we will make hats out of the leftovers.  And, a friend of mine has volunteered to take these hats to a vendor fair to sell them.   It will be more profit for the orphanage without having to spend any more money!

If you live in the Sheboygan area, consider doing some of your Christmas shopping at the vendor fair:

(Any hats left over after the vendor fair will be donated to the Joy House, a place in Milwaukee for homeless women and children.)

Made to Order!

Every one of these warm and cozy, anti-pill fleece hats 

can be made to order to exact head size 

in your choice of colors!

Style A - $22 - All profits go to charity

Style B - $18 - All profits go to charity

Style C - $22 - All profits go to charity

Just place your order in the comment section below.  

Please specify the following:

Hat style:

Head circumference:

Inside color (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, pattern, or giraffe print):

Outside color (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, pattern, or giraffe print):

Flower color (if applicable):

After commenting, please contact me via Facebook message or at kristalmelbye@gmail.com, to arrange payment and delivery.  You can pick the hat up, or we will ship it to you for the cost of shipping, which should be under $3.  All hats will be completed by December 15th.

Da Bears

Are there any Bears fans out there with cold heads?  We bought Bears fleece for a special hat order and I have enough left for two more Bears hats...

Bears fleece hats
Style A (shown) - $22 - All profits go to charity
Style B (no flower, fringe on top) - $20 - All profits go to charity

Back to work

We (gratefully) avoided any Black Friday deals in the stores today and got back to work on our hats.

Making a yellow flower to sew onto a hat.

...and then the stomach flu hit

Eleven of our hat orders were from family and we planned to deliver them tomorrow on Thanksgiving.  We only had seven of those done, but three of the others were already cut, so we figured we could complete the last four today since Kate had the afternoon off of school.

Kate charged through the first two.  She was doing awesome.  And, I only had to rethread the machine once...that's amazing!

But then she succumbed to the stomach flu that hit the twins yesterday and Anna this morning.  Not cool, stupid virus!

But, to focus on the positive, we have orders for 27 hats!  We've already finished 17 of them!  So, we're doing really well!

Hat attack

What a busy day!

Kate and I made four hats this afternoon and evening.  Although Kate did most of the sewing, my neck and shoulders ache from bending over to help and from rethreading that stinking needle that mysteriously manages to get unthreaded nearly every single time she takes a piece of fleece out of the machine... despite me reviewing the process with her countless times and being unable to see something she's doing that is causing this.  Between these minor frustrations and the demands of three other kids, I am wiped out.

Don't need a hat?

We've taken orders for 19 hats so far.  (And we've made about half of them.)  We're still hoping for a few more orders, and we plan to make about a dozen hats before December 9th to be sold at a vendor's fair.

We have so far made around $300, but we'd like to wire at least US$500 to the orphanage in time for Christmas this year.

If you really don't need a hat but would like to help the children at La Cuidad Blanca, please know we would love a donation of any amount.  Just send us a check.  Message me on Facebook or email me at kristalmelbye@gmail.com for our address.

Thank you in advance for your generosity.

Busy night

Kate had a busy night.  She got home from gymnastics and went right to work on a hat.  But, this wasn't a hat for the fundraiser, not this time.  This was a hat for her beloved first grade teacher, who's birthday is this weekend!  After working on the hat, she still had some homework to work on before climbing into bed.

With all the orders we've gotten,
I was hoping Ally was interested in learning how to sew,
but she's decided to wait until she's 2 1/2.

Ms. Havig's hat, made in her two favorite colors.

These hats are a hit!

Walking through Costco yesterday with my kids in their homemade hats, I overheard not one, but two, people comment, "Look at those cute hats!"

Go, Pack, Go

For those of you who don't know this already, I can't stand the Packers! (Gasp, look of horrified shock...and maybe disgust!)

It started when I was a kid and we could never do anything on Sundays until the game was over, and I am so not a patient person.  (I, to this day, swear that the last three minutes on the clock of any football game takes an hour and a half.)

Well, when I went to college in Green Bay, my dislike of football and the Packers intensified, as every single thing in Green Bay has to do with the Packers.  The local news up there somehow manages to come up with a leading news story about the Packers, even in mid July.  Hearing about the Packers made my stomach turn.

Anyway, when I was at Michael's buying fleece on Friday, I saw some Packer fleece.  I knew Packer hats would probably sell well, but could I really get into the business of making Packer hats.  I couldn't.  I justified my decision by saying the profit margins would be much lower, since the licensed fleece was twice as expensive as the rest.

Our first order happened to be for four hats in green and yellow.  Why?  Because they wanted to have Packer themed hats for their family.  I decided to be nice.  They ordered four hats.  I'd have to go back to JoAnn's anyway, either for more green or for the Packer fleece.  I offered to get the Packer fleece, and she was thrilled.

Then I posted the picture of Luke jumping on the hats we'd cut out and a few people saw it and asked, "Can we get Packer hats, too?"

Well, yes you can, because...

Kristal Melbye is in the Packer Hat making business now!

Introducing our Packer Hats...

Style A (left) - $22 - All profits go to charity
Style B (right) - $20 - All profits go to charity

The hat's in the mail

Kate packaged up the first hat to be sent out today!

I blurred out the last name and address for privacy.

Working hard

We spent hours cutting out the hat orders from yesterday, which gave Luke a fun place to play "lilly pads" while Kate got to work on knitting an order for a newborn baby boy hat.

 

For Sale!

Made out of fabric scraps that we had left after cutting the 12 hats that were ordered yesterday, this hat will be sold to the first person to comment below that they would like to buy it.  After commenting, please contact me via Facebook message or at kristalmelbye@gmail.com, to arrange payment and delivery.  You can pick the hat up, or we will ship it to you for the cost of shipping, which should be under $3.

It's made from anti-pill fleece and is very warm and cozy.  It has a lot of stretch, but will best fit head circumference 21-22 inches, or roughly a 7 - 10 year old.

$22 - All Profits go to Charity

It was huge on Anna, but she wanted to model the "clown hat."
She has requested we make one in her size after the hat sale is over.

On the blessings of many orders and surviving JoAnn's Fabrics

We got orders for 12 hats yesterday!  Kate is thrilled!  I'm so excited that we already have over $200 to donate to the orphanage.  I keep thinking of what they might be able to do with the money.

But this blessing of orders required me to take another trip to JoAnn's, which is definitely not my favorite place.  Today their cloth scanning machine was evidently down, and the sku numbers for each of my six types of fleece had to be written by hand by one employee and then punched in at the checkout by another employee who couldn't read the first's handwriting.  She kept having to walk all the way across the store and back to determine what certain numbers were, all while my two-year-olds were standing next to the candy display in the only available check out lane having tantrums that they couldn't have "chocolate, chocolate, chocolate!"

But, we're home now, and once Kate gets home from school the sewing will commence!

La Cuidad Blanca, through the eyes of an American college student

I've don't remember everything my sister told me about the orphanage, but what I do still haunts me.  I think God has kept it on my heart, urging me to help in whatever small way I can.

The following is an excerpt from a letter written by one of the students who visited the orphanage with my sister:

"On Thursday afternoon, we went to La Cuidad Blanca, an orphanage operated by nuns. All 66 orphans [ranging from two years of age to late twenties] in this facility have either Down Syndrome, Spina Bifida, or Hydrocephalus. Despite the advice we received from fellow Honduran students prior to our arrival, nothing could have emotionally prepared my group for this orphanage. I will attempt to describe what I saw, although words cannot truly capture this experience.

As I entered through the screen door into the orphanage, I note the bare white walls and cool tile floor. Not a place I would want to live. The silence of my group was deafening. Like I said before, it is difficult to match words with this place. The smiles on our faces were quickly fading as we made our way deeper into the orphanage. I gravitated to the baby being fed by a bottle. Her name is Dulce Maria (translates to Sweet Mary). She has Hydrocephalus, meaning her head was swollen to the size of her body. As I held her heavy in my arms, I was amazed at the sight before me. Two twin beds pressed against the walls, each bed with three or four children lying on their backs lifeless. These children have Spina Bifida, meaning they have no use of their limbs. They all lay like vegetables. Some of the children were lying in their own waste or that of their neighbors. As I rounded the corner, this is where the heartache took over. The next room, which was about the size of a basketball court, was packed from wall-to-wall with cribs of all sizes. The thought of this room full of disabled children caused the pain in my heart to come out in full force. I continued to walk through the orphanage with an attempt to gain composure as to not upset other group members or the orphans. As I entered the third room, the pain ignited within me. This room had four full-size beds packed with kids. Each bed had at least five children lying on their backs. Unfortunately I never had an official count, but I estimated of the 66 occupants: 6 of them had motor skills and the ability to walk, another 15 were confined to wheel chairs (half of which had motor skills) and the rest were confined as vegetables to beds, strollers or car seats.

Our group worked at La Cuidad Blanca for almost four hours. During this time, we circled the facility in attempt to meet all the orphans. The moment you approached them, they were instantly overcome with joy. It was as though your presence alone made a difference in their lives. I colored with the few orphans who had use of their hands or feet. One guy actually colored with markers and read books with his toes! It was quite amazing to see how he had made use of his feet since his arms were of no use to him.

Upon our arrival, the nuns began changing all the bed sheets and preparing the meals. Mealtime was quite a sight to see. A large four-tiered cart of food came rolling out of the kitchen just as a handful of local volunteers came walking into the orphanage. It was comforting to see the Honduran community has realized there is a need. The entire time I was at La Cuidad Blanca I crossed paths with a total of six nuns. Six nuns for 66 occupants! They truly must be from God to have made such a commitment to these orphans. Each child was fed, given a clean t-shirt and diaper, and then placed into his/her crib/bed. It took well over an hour for all the volunteers to feed the 66 of them. The children who could feed themselves ate bananas in milk. Everyone else was spoon-fed orange mush. After they finished their excuse- for-a-meal, every orphan was then given the same dosage of medicine. I am not certain, but it seemed as though this was the only meal they would receive all day. Each orphan seemed to inhale their food and water, which answered our curiosity as to why they were so frail and fragile.

The best way to describe La Cuidad Blanca: a holding cell for death. These orphans are simply waiting for the Lord to bring them home. Although I commend those nuns for the work and commitment they have put into those children, something must be done, which is why I chose to share my experience with you in such detail. I pray that God gives you an idea to create change in this place."

For Sale

Sewn by Kate, with minimal help from me, this hat will be sold to the first person to comment below that they would like to buy it.  After commenting, please contact me via Facebook message or at kristalmelbye@gmail.com, to arrange payment and delivery.  You can pick the hat up, or we will ship it to you for the cost of shipping, which should be under $3.

It's made from two layers of anti-pill fleece and is very warm and cozy.  It has a lot of stretch, but will best fit head circumference 19-21 inches, or roughly a 4 - 7 year old.

$20 - All profits go to charity

For Sale!

Sewn by Kate, with minimal help from me, this hat will be sold to the first person to comment below that they would like to buy it.  After commenting, please contact me via Facebook message or at kristalmelbye@gmail.com, to arrange payment and delivery.  You can pick the hat up, or we will ship it to you for the cost of shipping, which should be under $3.

It's made from two layers of anti-pill fleece and is very warm and cozy.  It has a lot of stretch, but will best fit head circumference 20-22 inches, or roughly a 6 - 8 year old.

SOLD!  Thank you, Samantha!

For Sale!

Knit by Kate, with absolutely no help, this hat will be sold to the first person to comment below that they would like to buy it.  After commenting, please contact me via Facebook message or at kristalmelbye@gmail.com, to arrange payment and delivery.  You can pick the hat up, or we will ship it to you for the cost of shipping, which should be under $3.

It will fit head circumference 17 - 19 inches, or roughly a 1 or 2-year-old.

$15 - all profits go to charity

Made to Order!

Knit hats, made by Kate, are also available in any up to three colors.

Style D - $17 - All profits go to charity

Just place your order in the comment section below.  

Please specify the following:

Hat style:

Head circumference:

Color choice, up to three ( red, orange, yellow, blue, grey, pink, or purple):

After commenting, please contact me via Facebook message or at kristalmelbye@gmail.com, to arrange payment and delivery.   You can pick the hat up, or we will ship it to you for the cost of shipping, which should be under $3.    All hats will be completed by December 15th.