Oh my goodness, your emails are pouring in so quickly that I can barely keep up – (not to mention that I’m trying to pay attention at a work conference!) Thank you so much for your incredible generosity- I’m sure Arielle will be back up and sewing in no time thanks to your kindness!
I’m trying to compile a list of all of the promised items, and so far, here is what has been offered in the emails I have received so far (if you received a response email from me, then I’m counting the items you offered in this list):
- Buttons
- Zippers (regular and invisible)
- Dress pins
- Thread (all requested colors)
- Hooks & eyes
- Snap fasteners
- Steam-a-seam
- Chalk, marking pens
- Tracing paper, tracing wheel
- Hand sewing needles
- 3m tape
- Seam rippers
- Bobbins
- Glad Press ‘n’ Seal
- Ironing board cover
- Rotary blades (both sizes)
- Miscellaneous patterns and fabric
To help you out, this means that the only things left on her wishlist that are not yet covered are:
- Ballpoint pins
- 1/2″ shoulder pads
For those of you who would still like to send her things and not yet emailed me, it would probably be best to send the sort of things that “one can never have too much of”, e.g. pins, tape, zippers, tracing paper, snaps, rather than the things that one doesn’t need many of which have already been promised (ironing board covers, tracing wheels). Email me at selfishseamstress[at]gmail[dot]com for her US courier address.
To answer some of your questions, I’m not sure at this point what other items may be helpful to her- she does have sporadic email access so you can try to contact her directly to ask (lakaribane[at]gmail[dot]com). And I’m not sure if things need to be packaged in any special way as she did not specify, other than to say that you should not send any liquids of any kind.
To those of you who have kindly offered to send money to me to purchase items for her, I apologize, but I’m not too comfortable sending or receiving money. I do appreciate the generosity of your offer- perhaps Arielle would appreciate a warm email from you instead; I’m sure she certainly understands that it is more expensive than it is worth for non-US residents to send a box of pins to a US address and would just appreciate that you are thinking of her. Again, I am very sorry that I can’t be more helpful on that front, but I’m nervous about handling or sending other people’s money.
I haven’t received a pattern wishlist from Arielle, so I’m not sure what kind of patterns she is looking for. If I receive a list from her, I’ll be sure to post it here.
Thank you all again for your kindness and generosity- it’s truly heartwarming to see this community take care of one of its own.
12 comments
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April 14, 2010 at 9:48 am
Jean S
I have plenty of extra pins and would be happy to send them on. Also a fair number of giant safety pins (from when I thought I might be a quilter). Also a pair of pinking shears.
Just let me know.
jeanshawpdx at comcast dot net
April 14, 2010 at 10:36 am
Becky McKee
I will go buy some ball point pins this afternoon, and maybe an adorable pin cushion.
April 14, 2010 at 11:11 am
Jean S
hey, just fyi, I tried to email you directly and it didn’t go through….
April 14, 2010 at 12:14 pm
Cassandra
Tell her to hurry up! JoAnns is having a major sale on patterns this week. Best time to try to get them!
April 14, 2010 at 12:58 pm
Cassandra
I’m just kidding about hurrying up. I meant to put a LOL. I’m sure she has limited access to the internet. But sizes would be a help too.
April 14, 2010 at 12:37 pm
Meredith P
Yes, patterns we can do (and specify the size please).
April 14, 2010 at 3:17 pm
Sandra
Hi SS, love your blog and would be delighted to add some extra zippers to Arielle’s parcel. Do you know her pattern size? I have some patterns she may like as well. This is such a lovely thought, thanks for organising us all.
April 14, 2010 at 4:12 pm
Debbie Cook
I’ve been out most of the day so I didn’t get in on the first call for volunteers. Please put me down for patterns. I’m going to buy the current issue of BWOF/BS and forward that once I have an address, but I’ll be happy to grab any of the Big 4’s at the next Joann’s sale.
You’re incredibly UNselfish for putting this together. Thank you. And don’t worry … we won’t tell anyone how nice you really are. :-)
April 14, 2010 at 5:59 pm
Karen
I am going to be shopping at Joann Fabrics in Flagstaff next week before I head up to my summer job at the Grand Canyon. If you can let me know a couple of patterns Arielle would like to have I can pick them up for her. Also, let me know if there is anything else in particular she would like to have. I know I would be crazy if I did not have the things I needed to sew with.
April 14, 2010 at 8:32 pm
Karen
Definitely post a list of patterns Arielle woudl like, and also please forward me the address because I definitely have some surplus goodies that I would love to forward to her. And if a little fabric finds its way into the package, well, I don’t know how that happened.
Dobn’t worry, we’ll keep your secret. You won’t have to change your name to the Unselfish Seamstress.
April 15, 2010 at 8:36 am
melissa
Oh cool. I was already gathering together some stuff to send to her the day before the earthquake hit, so I’ve been emailing with her for additional goodies to put in my parcel.
You say about patterns – she’s got subscriptions to Burda and KnipMode already, but I do know that her parcel full of La Mia Boutiques from another friend got lost in the mail so if you have any spare LMBs she’d be giddy for them. And size-wise she’s a petite Burda/Knip 36 so get the smallest size range in patterns for her pixie-like frame (I’m so jealous!).
She is going to be TICKLED with all of this!!
April 18, 2010 at 6:10 pm
Karen
For those who wish to contribute to others…www.kiva.org is a great way to give money to seamstresses in other countries. The money is used as micro loans for women (primarily) to start or expand businesses. After clicking “Lend” you can specify “Clothing.” While many of these people are selling clothes, there are also seamstresses who are looking for loans for material or sewing machines.