Project Craftivism

This week’s shelter doggie walk was even more brilliant than usual. We got up early, picked up this sweety for a walk around our local shelter, and on our hike saw a deer!

She was found on the street last week, so she did not have a name. Our walk consisted of cuddling/petting sessions (as in the picture), sudden running sprints (with one of us dragging behind lol), digging, and rolling around in the mud. I think it’s safe to say she enjoyed herself on our one hour walk.

This is just a reminder that another way to help in your community is to adopt an animal from your local shelter (if you don’t know about puppy mills and how horrible they are, please do a google search, especially if you are thinking of buying a dog or any animal). If you are not able to adopt, apart from volunteering at the shelter or with walking the dogs at the shelter, why not take part in a crafty project for them, such as making knitted/crocheted blankets or creating little somethings you can raffle on their behalf…? You can even get other knitters in your community involved, which is always fun :)

If you follow my blog, you know that apart from getting crafty, I try to get involved in other issues. On Saturdays, I try to make my way to my local shelter to walk a dog for an hour.

I was pretty upset this past Saturday, when I found out that this poor pup had just been dropped off at the kill shelter. Dropped off without even bothering to give her name or any other information about her. The waste of space irresponsible human just dropped her off like garbage. When did life become of so little value in our world?

They gave her to us to take her out for a bit, but she was still confused and afraid. All she wanted to do was stick close to my leg, be cuddled, and be reassured.

This is a reminder that if you make a commitment to a life, you can’t just get rid of them when you feel like it. Thousands of shelter animals are killed in shelters because of irresponsible humans. When you choose to take in a dog, cat, rabbit, hamster, bird, fish, or other, remember that they are for life.

This is Sani. She’s an adorable shelter dog ready for adoption. She’s about 7. I met her this past Saturday at my local pound. She was so happy to be out in the snow that’d she’d just drop down and roll in it! Haha my husband even sprinted with her a few times and when I lagged behind them, she would stop to wait for me.

This is just a small reminder that all it takes in one hour per week to make someone happy, in this case, a shelter dog that would otherwise be stuck in a cage until she is lucky enough to be adopted. All you have to do is approach your local shelter, animal rescue, or wildlife hospital and ask how the animals would benefit from your hour.

Sh*t Vegan Knitters Say

…coz vegans knit too, but we do it cruelty-free!

hehe, this is what I was working on the last few days…

Hope you enjoy!!

I’ve encountered a few individuals that insist that making things for people in need makes no difference, doesn’t change anything, or help anyone. They tell me that donating sums of money does.

Well, I (still) beg to differ. I received the following letter from the shelter where I donated the knitted and crocheted items I collected last fall for a homeless project drive. I donated all the items to my local shelter. I’m sharing because I want to make sure that everyone involved reads it and also, to hopefully inspire you…

Donating sums of money is perfectly valid for some, but it is also valid to reach out to the forgotten individuals in our community and let them know we care through our craft.

Even though it may be a small gesture, individuals are touched through the fact that someone out there cared enough to try to help them/make them something without expecting anything in return.

January 29th, 2012, Switzerland (they speak French in this region; I want to point out that a Gentleman also took part in this project, so please ignore the “ladies” bit! I didn’t want to (and did not) edit the letter at all…)

“It is of all my heart that I wish to express you my gratitude for all the beautiful socks, hat which you knit for the persons of Marmotte.

On December 24th, during our Christmas celebration, the “Father Christmas” came to distribute to each of the users on of your Knitting. The users were extremely happy to be able to choose the Knitting they wanted. They were also very touched that we knit them clothes since the United States, Canada and Switzerland.

Ladies, I am very touched by your movement, which testifies of your spirit of solidarity to the most deprived and the trust that you have to the Salvation Army.

By your support, you contribute to the improvement of the everyday life of the persons who stay in our shelter.

While repeating my thanks, I send to you, Ladies my kind regards and a happy New Year 2012.”

1 hour out of 168 hours (hours in a week) is all you have to give to brighten up someone’s day!

This picture depics me walking with an adorable shelter dog, Baboo.

I recently made the commitment to volunteer at my local animal shelter. They mostly need help with walking the dogs, so I walk a homeless shelter dog for at least one hour per week. Without people to volunteer to do this, these dogs, awaiting adoption, would be stuck in a tiny cage for who knows how long. It’s also a great way to give affection to a non-human in need that may have just gone through a terrible situation (abandonment, the death of his/her guardian, ect.).

All it takes is just ONE hour per week. One hour goes in a flash (start taking account of your hours and see what you spend them on…chances are it’s easy to find an hour to share and brighten someone’s day.)

What does this have to do with craftivism? It doesn’t have anything to do with crafts, but it has a lot to do with getting involved in your community and overall making an effort to make it a better place.

Animal shelters are not the only places where an hour is invaluable. Look up your local wildlife hospital, animal refuge, sanctuary, etc. to see how you can help!

Walking a dog may not seem like much, but it is a start. It also makes all the difference to that individual dog. However, I also find that it is a very fulfilling experience (and a good work out too, lol).

He was possibly the sweetest dog I have ever met, and so incredibly intelligent and gentil. I can’t wait to go back this week and meet the next dog <3

On the kindness of strangers…

“That best portion of a good man’s life,
His little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and of love.”

This is the first scarf to arrive for the drive that I’ve set up to help the homeless in my local community. It’s inspiring how people from far away places are willing to help people that they don’t even know. It melts my heart, and I have hope that we’ll have enough items for the 34 people that I am collecting for.

Thank you to everyone who has pledge to send an item so far.

We still need more item donations to reach the goal (34) of scarves, gloves/mittens, socks, etc. to help keep these people warm. Let me know if you would like to help! Deadline is December <3