Month: October 2012

Class Photos

Lots of swapping around, sharing of advice and trying on one another’s new creations:

 

There is a story behind Blanket #5

There is a story behind this blanket.

This blanket represents healing and restored hope.

A therapy blanket.

This blanket was created by a lady who suffered greatly after the tsunami. Her house and restaurant were on a small hill that overlooked an entire neighborhood next to the beach.

On March 11, people from her neighborbood fled to the evacuation point right next to her house. However she realized that even her house was not going to be safe from the tsunami. She urged people to flee to even higher ground. However, people just stood there in disbelief, watching their houses below being swept away from the tsunami. She ran to even higher ground, still urging people to follow suit. Tragically, this evacuation point was not high enough to save these people. She watched in horror as people were swept away. Her own house was filled with about a meter of water – measuring the wave to have reached about 15 meters.

Traumatized by this event, this lady needed time – time to think through everything. As part of her recovery, she started to crochet and knit with supplies that were given to her from Yarn Alive. Incredible pieces were created.

Through the months, this brave lady regained her strength and hope and re-opened her restaurant on the anniversary of 3/11.

DONATE!

Many of you have been asking if there is a way to donate other than mailing yarn and supplies. Well now there is! Visit our “Get Involved” page and click Donate!  Any funds donated will go towards continuing the operations of Yarn Alive (supplies and upcoming events – like Christmas!)

Thanks so much!

Thank you Kate Sutcliffe and the Kyōyū kyōyū – share group for your inspiration!

Time for Blanket #4. But before we introduce that one, we just want to acknowledge that the last two blankets posted were in fact blankets given to Yarn Alive from Kate Sutcliffe and the Kyōyū kyōyū – share group in the UK.

Since April 2011, this incredible group of ladies have generously and lovingly sent us blankets and toys which they made with their own hands. These blankets were received with grateful hearts as they brought a ray of sunshine during a very difficult time.

Months later, the initiative “Yarn Alive” was born.  Many of the ladies who came had received one of those special blankets. This soon led to them being inspired to do the same thing – create similar blanket designs AND THEN donate them to other people who had experienced the same tragedy in other areas [See Stories: 2 Brave Women & Kesennuma Heroes]

Through the months, the Kyōyū kyōyū – share group sent us over 100 blankets and nearly 200 yarn toys (see the penguin mascot -that was from them!).   Many of these blankets  and toys help inspire the ladies to not only create but to also give. “It is more blessed to give than to receive”.

A special thank you to Kate for contacting us, organizing your group and sending us boxes of love and inspiration! You will never be forgotten!

And now here is BLANKET #4 – an item designed by one of Yarn Alive ladies and inspired by many of the blankets received from the Kyōyū kyōyū – share group.

Profile of the Week

Name: Mrs. Aikawa

How was life affected by March 11, 2011:  Mrs. Aikawa lives with her daughter and family on a lot with two houses in Hanabuchihama, a minutes’ walk from the beach. On March 11, 2011, she was in her house with her daughter when the great earthquake happened. Tsunami sirens began to alert everyone of an impeding 6-10 meter tsunami, At first Mrs. Aikawa did not believe that a tsunami would come and refused to move from the front house to the back house. But then they started to see the water rising to such a great level that they did not think that even the back house would survive so between the first and second tsunami they ran to a nearby neighbours lot which is on higher ground.

The water reached a meter into the back house, and unfortunately her front house could not be saved.

First started coming to Yarn Alive: July 2011

Favorite color to work with: Brown

Favorite project: Flowers!

Current Project: Putting together a pink scarf and hat set for a local 1st grade girl who lost both her parents in the tsunami. She loves to be able to make things for other people because it brings so much joy to them.

What she enjoys most about Yarn Alive: Meeting her friends and talking with one another