Update On Evan

Hello!

In an earlier posting I wrote of Evan, a little boy who has autism. He had been mainstreamed into a regular first grade class and was going through the difficult time of trying to fit in with his peers. The class was having a contest that required the children to receive and collect cards from different states and countries and Evan's grandmother Froggy (love that name) had sent out a request for kind people to send cards to Evan to help him to win this contest. You can see my original post of January 21 for the details.

Today I was checking out the bloggers on my favorites list - starting with my followers - as I do each morning and I saw this update about Evan with a photo - is he not a handsome lad! - on Joani's Cards Made By Hand blog. I am passing it on to you as I know that many of you have sent cards to Evan to help him with his goal to win the contest and will be thrilled as I was to hear that he has received so many! :<) The following is from Joani's blog. Paula is Evan's mother.

Paula got an email from the teacher yesterday and she is just flabbergasted at how many cards Evan is getting. She is amazed at how well it is making the class accept Evan. She said each morning when the mail comes the kids all want to know how many cards Evan has gotten. She said that they may win two prizes. One for Evan having the most cards from the most places and one for the class as a whole having the most cards. So the teacher is so excited. She told Paula she never expected this and she is just so choked up every day when the mail comes. And she said that Evan just sits there proud as a peacock and says my Grandma Froggy has lots of friends and they all like me! So believe me it is making a difference and is working.

I am so grateful to everyone that is helping out. Some people are even sending two or three cards and using friends and relatives names. The whole school is talking about it. Paula said she goes in on Monday for a parent/teacher conference so she is going see the cards and then she can get an idea of how many so far and where they are coming from. She was in tears yesterday when she called me because she couldn't believe so many people would help her little boy out like this.Thanks, thanks, thanks and thanks again!!!!

Isn't that great! I love it! You go Evan! If you would like to help Evan and join in with the fun, there is still time to send a card. Send your post cards/cards to Evan Rupp c/o Mrs. Parvizi First Grade, Frederick Douglas Elementary School, 100 Cedarmeade Ave, Winchester, VA 22601. Mention on the cards that you are a friend of his Grandma Froggy. :<)

Thank you to all who have sent cards to this dear little boy! Your kindness in taking the time to do this is so appreciated! Wishing you a great day today! It is cold but the sun is out today in WI.

Barbara Diane

Posting Delayed

Hello,

Chaos here with move. Have been ill with bad cold, bad cough. I will post soon.

Wishing you a good day today!

Barbara Diane

Finished Jim's Blanket - Tutorial on Monday

Hello!

Well, I missed yesterday and very late posting today! Too much going on here this week - getting ready to move Jim to his new group home on Monday. I finished his "New Home" tied fleece blanket and he loves it. I made it extra long and also tied it every 7 inches and knotted the ties 4 times for good luck! :<) He picked two really colorful patterns so it turned into a very "happy" blanket!

Everyone I have made these blankets for - including myself - have really liked them as they are so light weight but warm and cuddly and they wash up beautifully! So on Monday I will have a short tutorial on how to make one. :<)

Thanks for stopping by today!

Wishing you a great weekend! I have been working on some projects for next week as I am sure that on Monday I will be lucky to even get to look at my list of favorites! :<) First there is Jim's doctor's apointment in the morning, boxing up his belongings that are here and later going to where he was living and moving all of his belongings to the new home. Thank goodness that they are all packed and waiting! I think on Tuesday I will still be decompressing after having him here with me since the holidays - in two rooms/kitchenette/bathroom with the living room divided into a studio also! Every night take the living room side apart to put down the hide-a-bed, etc. and every morning put it all together again! Jim will be VERY happy to have his own life back again also! :<)

Barbara Diane

A Birthday Tri-Fold

Hello!

I finally finished the tri-fold card I have been working on. I do love this fold!

Card closed:

Card Open:
From Left Side:

From Right Side:

Left Side Detail:

Right Side Detail:

Center Detail:

Card Open Flat:

Thanks for stopping by today!

It is COLD here in Wisconsin! Good day to stay inside and work on a project. Today I am starting to make a tied fleece blanket for Jim to take with him to his new group home. He's picked some bright colors/prints so it will be fun! :<)

Barbara Diane

Millie Is On Her Way!

Hello!

Well, Millie is on her way to her new home! She left Wisconsin on Friday and should arrive there soon! I will miss her but I know that she will be loved and happy living with Carol in Georgia!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Wishing you a good Tuesday!

Barbara Diane

My Card For Evan

Hello!

This is the card I sent to Evan - some familiar faces I thought he would enjoy. I hope that he wins the contest!:<)

Thanks for stopping by today!

Wishing you a great Monday!

Barbara Diane

A Small Favor For A Small Boy Could Help Him Reach A Large Goal!

Hello!

Every morning I check the blogs of my followers - first thing before I check the others on my favorites list - to see what they are creating :<) I am so happy to know that someone follows my blog and I want to return that kindness and look at their cards and projects.

On Rhonda's Place to Share http://bluepoohbear753.blogspot.com/ I saw mention of this little boy and clicked on the link to find the details. The link took me to Joanie's Cards Made By Hand and the story of a little boy who's grandmother is asking kind people to send him post cards to help reach a large goal. You can see this post at http://joaniscardsmadebyhand.blogspot.com/

Evan Rupp is autistic and has been mainstreamed into a regular first grade class. He is trying to fit in and be accepted - no easy thing to do when you are "different" from the other children. I have many years of watching my oldest son Jim trying to do just that thoughout his childhood and so I have a soft spot for any and all of these children, who have no easy time in life.

It seems that there is a contest being held in Evan's classroom to see how many cards from different states and countries that the children can put on a map and the one who brings the most post cards/ cards to put on the map will win the contest.

We all make cards almost every day to post on our blogs - sometimes I feel to ask my fellow bloggers "What do you do with all your cards?" I give some away, I sell some, I keep some for samples - but I do always have many extras in a box. Maybe you do too. :<)

Would you share one of your cards to help this young boy to join in with his fellow classmates and maybe win this contest? So many of you are already making such wonderful Valentines - can't you just imagine the smile on Evan's face to recieve lots of these from many far away places? :<) If you have friends or family in other states or countries that you think might be willing to also send a card to Evan, please pass this information on.

Send your post cards/cards to Evan Rupp c/o Mrs. Parvizi First Grade, Frederick Douglas Elementary School, 100 Cedarmeade Ave, Winchester, VA 22601. Mention on the cards that you are a friend of his Grandma Froggy. :<)

Thanking you in advance for helping this little boy with his contest! I am sending a card out to Evan tomorrow! :<)

Barbara Diane

From My Brother :<)

I received this from my brother this morning:

Wow,

She was really excited to see herself on TV. Now she thinks she is a movie star. There will be no living with her now.

Now, how am I ever going to get anything done?

How funny are these photos! I have not laughed out loud in a long time! I still do every time I see them! And I just keep smiling as I remember how much fun it was to have this little doll around to keep me on MY toes! :<) I need to make another for myself!

I love my brother and his wonderful and sharp sense of humor! Thank you Dick for sending the photos and for the laughs!

Barbara Diane

One Of The Most Fun Doll Patterns I Have Made

Hello!

One of the most fun dolls that I have made is this little arm rest doll - to be used by your computer. But she is so much more! I have seen more people go goofy in love over one of these dolls at all the silly poses she can be put into and the way she just gets into your heart because she is so floppy and funny! She is made from a doll pattern called the WristRester that you can purchase from Keelings Krafts at http://www.keelingskrafts.com/ Check out their site as they have many wonderful and creative doll patterns!

In the following photos, the first one is the doll I made for myself but she then went to live with another 'mom' who was totally taken with her. The second doll I made for my brother Dick and she lives in his computer room (although the photos were taken here.)

When I went through my photo file on this doll I was amazed at how many photos I had taken of the two of them because they were so funny and endearing in what they did and where they showed up. You can pose them anywhere - and as you can see, I had a great time doing just that! I had a very difficult time to choose these few photos to share of the many I have. :<)

The first photo is of my doll "reading" a card my son Jim made me - a sort of a a scene, very detailed and complex. She is holding the rose that accompanied the card and sits by a little dog he also gave me. Next to them is a potholder that Jim made for me. (A very early post on my blog shows the wall hanging I was putting together from these potholders he was making.

The following photos are just some of the ways she would harrass me as I worked! :<) She also loved to visit with all the other dolls and items in the room - she is the most friendly and outgoing doll I have ever seen!

Here is Dick's buddy. I think she keeps him on his toes also! :<) She is such a flirt!

Love those eyes! :<)

Thanks for stopping by today!

I hope that you enjoyed the photos of one of my favorite dolls!

Barbara Diane

A Cat, A Mouse and Some Bubbles

Hello!

A card for a friend.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Barbara Diane