April / May  2025                                                                                                                          Blankets Donated    32,337 

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                                                                 Hugs & Snuggles Newsletter 

 

Please see our website to view all pictures.    

Project Linus Onondaga County NY

 

Blankets:     

In April blanketeers donated  161   blankets and we distributed    263    “Hugs”  for children in need, by delivering blankets to    McMahon Ryan Child Advocacy Center, Salvation Army Homeless Shelter, Sleep in Heavenly Peace, University Hospital Emergency Department, Upstate Pediatric and Adolescent Center.

 

In May blanketeers donated  195  blankets and we distributed    164    “Hugs”  for children in need, by delivering blankets to    CIH,  McMahon Ryan Child Advocacy Center, Nappi Wellness Center, Sleep In Heavenly Peace, Upstate Pediatric and Adolescent Center.

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Blanket sizes

Approximate Sizes

Baby / Toddler   36x36,   36x40

Grade School  40x45

Teen 45x50, 50x60  or bigger.  

 

WE NEED  :    We can use Baby, baby, baby

 

 Note from Karen      

Hi Everyone:     

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I hope you are enjoying  our Spring / Mud Season.   I cannot believe the amount of rain we have been getting.  Don’t get me wrong, we need it, so it can keep going, but the amount of mud my dogs bring in the door is just crazy.  It’s mostly Sam’s fault – him and his big hound paws.   I had to go and buy one of those rubber backed entry way rugs, Heavy Duty, to try and catch some of the mud from his paws on the deck before he enters the house.   It helps but nothing is perfect.   Luckily Sam loves to be wiped down with towels when he comes in.  The other one – Brandy just looks at me like – “Who are you and Why do you think you have the right to touch me?”  She’s my DIVA. 

 

A quick note on my schedule.   I am no longer available for phone calls, texts, or drop-offs on Sunday.  Sunday is my day off.   After 16 years of doing this, I think I need a day off each week to catch my breath, and not think about blankets.  My family thinks it should be Saturday and Sunday.  But a lot of you work and Saturday is a day you can catch me and we plan sewing days at Manlius on Saturdays.  So, I will continue to “work” Saturdays.  A good thing to know is that you have a better chance of contacting me from 1pm to 9pm on the phone.   I am not a morning person – does not even begin to describe me.  Some like to call me before 9am.   Even my family does not call me before 9am.   It is normal for me to be up at 12midnight or later.  So 8am, I am just starting to wake up.  After wake up my mornings are spent at the YMCA exercising, walking the dogs or doing blanket pick-ups, running errands.   I am usually home from these things by 1pm, unless I have appointments.  If you leave me a message, I will get back to you.  Maybe not that day, because to be honest somedays I forget to look at the stupid machine.  But usually in a day or two I will return your call.   Please remember I am a volunteer, just like you.  I do all this for free.   Sometimes I need to set a boundary and give myself some space so that I don’t burn out.   I had some people worried cause playing catch up for being closed January and February – had me rattled and feeling like it was all getting to be too much. 

 

In regards to my schedule – I will be totally unavailable  June 6th through 10th.  My husband is having surgery and I want to give him my attention for a few days and not be distracted.   Thank you for understanding. 

 

I am working out the kinks of not having Joann’s being a drop off.  Our smaller shops do not have the room to store, so I am having to make more trips to them.   I am making multiple trips per month to Fingerlakes Fabric and the Manlius Library.  Also, since these smaller places do not have assigned storage place it is more important than ever to place your blankets in a bag.   I would love if you also included your name and contact information but I know some of you love to be Anonymous.

 

Please remember to look for pins, work in your loose yarn threads and PLEASE SMELL YOUR  BLANKETS BEFORE TURNING THEM IN. Our blankets need to be free of scents.   No Downey Unstoppables, No Frabreeze, NO TIDE DETERGENT.      

 

State Fair: Lots of blanketeers have been asking me are we doing the State Fair.  I have not heard from the powers at be yet.  I am thinking they are not willing to give us free parking, so I am thinking we will not be doing the Fair.  If anything changes I will send out a separate note immediately. 

 

Blanket backings:   I know some people have been worrying about blanket backings.  For those who cut costs by using fleece we are not going to have the plethora of choices we had with Joanns.  I have some ideas swirling in my head about how we can keep the price down.  I need to think a little bit more and right now, I am sure most of  us stocked up on fleece while Joann’s was here.   But for other backings, most of our local quilt shops carry extra wide fabrics for backings.  Calico Gals has even gotten in extra wide flannel for quilting backs and they have quilt batting by the yard.    So you may need to visit all our local quilt shops and see what they have in backing fabric, quilt batting and notions based on what you like to use. 

 

List of places online:   I do not personally endorse any of the places I have listed.  When I shop at these online places I usually have a specific theme in mind and am searching for that theme.  I do however check out clearance areas while I am there as that gives me the most for my money.   This is just a list to help those that have depended on Joann’s.  I suggest you do your own searching online to find the best buys for you.   

 

 

Fleece -  www.yourfleece.com  -  carries, fleece – some cotton , some cute baby flannels and some sewing notions.  

Hobby Lobby – limited selection – but occasionally 40% off

 

Cotton Fabrics

Marshall’s Dry Goods -  They have some of everything, fleece, flannel – cotton  .  Online Fabric Store | Order Quilting Fabrics, Precuts & More - Marshall Dry Goods

Pico textiles -  Again a little bit of everything.   Fleece Fabric by the Yard: Discount Fleece Fabrics | PicoTextiles.com

Thousands of Bolts -  Mostly cotton,  easiest viewing if you choose to list by theme  Thousands of Bolts ... only one nut!:

Connecting threads – material, batting, notions.   Connecting Threads - Exclusive Quilting Fabric, Thread, Kits, Patterns & Supplies

Keepsake Quilting – again a little bit of everything, Material including wide backings, notions – also clubs.  You can join a club and you will get a delivery of material every month.  I love their scappy club, it helps to build your stash.   Keepsake Quilting | Your Favorite Online Quilt Shop!

Michaels online – www.michaels.com

Equilter – www.equilter.com  - they have lots of cottons and you can search by theme.  

 

 

Quilt Batting.   Marshall’s Dry Goods,  

Walmart – even available by the roll.   www.quiltbatting.com  - available by the roll.

 

Yarn:  Of course  Michael’s and Hobby Lobby carry yarn.  

www.premieryarns.com 

www.herrschners.com  -  they will be carrying Big Twist that was popular at Joann’s

www.marymaxim.com 

 

I hope this list helps you find what you need to keep making blankets.  

 

Project Linus Volunteers facebook page.  There is a facebook page started and ran by Patty Gregory the head of Project Linus.   You can sign up to be accepted as part of the community there.  It has lots of information and lots of pictures of blankets made by other volunteers.  There is a link below.  If you do sign up, remember no politics, no bullying and be nice in your comments.   (15) Project Linus Volunteers (USA) | Facebook

 

 

Events: 

Manlius Library – blanket top day

 

 

Our next Manlius Library sewing day will be August 2nd from 1-4pm.   I am hoping to mix up our designs for that sewing day.  I will still have our no fuss, no muss basic one block in a layout of your choice, but I have been trying to design some pixels that can be just sewn together in the 3 hour window.  We will see how we do.   Mark you calendars.   

 

The Syracuse Maker Faire :   We made 7 plus blankets at the Syracuse Maker Faire.  We were next to some college students from Cornell who helped to color squares.  It was a great day.  See pictures on our events page on the website.

 

 

Blanket Pick Ups:    I should be driving the Silver Ford Escape.  But just incase the other vehicle is a gold Chevy Equinox. 

Blanket pick up dates | projectlinusonondaga   

 

If you know you cannot be there close to the hour and will be closer to the half hour or 45 minutes – please let me know.   If you are at an appointment I will gladly wait.  But if I sit there for a half hour and no one shows,  I will be leaving.   As someone said to me recently, Project Linus sure keeps you going.  Yes it does, and I love it.   But I am a volunteer, and I can be driving home to unload my car rather than just sitting there. 

 

June Pick-ups:

Fayetteville Joann’s Parking lot -  Wednesday June 18th  – 11am

Clay Joann’s Parking lot – Friday -June 20th  – 11am

Baldwinsville Library – Wednesday June 25th   – 11am

Preble (the new Cortland)  Kaleidoscope Quilts – 6271 Little York Lake Rd  – Friday June 27th -11am

 

July  Pick-Ups

Fayetteville Joann’s Parking lot -  Wednesday, July 16th   – 11am

Clay Joann’s Parking lot – Friday -July 18th – 11am

Baldwinsville Library -Wednesday 23rd – 11am

Preble (the new Cortland)  Kaleidoscope Quilts – 6271 Little York Lake Rd  – Friday July 25th -11am

 

Blanketeers for this month.  Thank you to the following Blanketeers for donating blankets .

 

Anon                           Nancy Asherman                     Steve Brazina                                      Merinda Brown

Cindy Crandall            Tammy Dauphin                     Deb DuVaul                                        Karen Eggleston

Elmcrest Childrens Center                                          Judy Fiorini                                         Jean Fuhrman

Claire Genett               Victoria Heyn                         Susan Holloway                                  Rebecca Jeffery

Gail Keller                  Valerie Knoop (Val’s Creations)                                                         Susan Koopman

Leslie Kraus                Lafayette High School            Susan Lewis                                        Julie Litteer

Elizabeth MmcGuire                                                   Elizabeth Neuyen                               Ruth Norton

Miriam Palmer            Barbara Parr                            Kathy Perry                                         Jean Rautio

Gail Renninger            Sue Ellen Romanowski           Karen S                                               Tami Smith

Kimberly Sweetser      Marty Norton Wilson             

                                                           

Quilt tops, Fleece, Material, Hats, Mittens, Scarf …etc       Carol Ann Kozlowski, Anon,  Cindy Carlson,  Claire Ganette, Manlius Sewing Group

 

Blankets of the month.   You can see pictures of our blankets of the month on our website at :  BLANKET OF THE MONTH | projectlinusonondaga

 

April –

Valerie Knoop  - Long May She Wave

Tami Smith – Gramma’s Lace

Elizabeth Nueyen - - Patriotic Dog

Susan Holloway – Triangels

Karen S – Field of Sunflowers

Ruth Norton  - Orient Surprise  

Kimberly Sweetser – Peach Dreams

Cindy Crandall – Dragon Fly Dance

Leslie Kraus – Santa Fe Skies

Barbara Parr – Horizon

Karen Eggleston – Follow the yellow brick rod

 

May -  there were more I liked, but I thought I had already downloaded them – and deleted them.  But I had not.   Sometimes I get confused.  

Mary Ellen Romanowski – Fruits and Vegs

Kimberly Sweetser – Trunk or Treat

Gail Renninger – Bright Grannies

Gail Keller – Here’s My Heart. 

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Our drop off sites:   Please check with our drop off sites for current hours of operation.   All of our sites are wonderfully supportive of us and we thank them for their support. 

When dropping off blankets please put them in a plastic bag with Project Linus on the outside and a note inside with your name. 

Baldwinsville Library – 33 E Genesee St, Baldwinsville

Manlius Library – 1 Arkie Albanese Ave , Manlius

Calico Gals – 3906 New Court Ave – Syracuse

Finger Lakes Fabrics 1400 Genesee St Skaneateles

Oliver's Originals – 8188 Cazenovia Rd Manlius

Kaleidoscope of Quilts – 6271 Little York Lake Rd – Little York(Cortland County)

The Quilt Shop – 1625 State St Watertown,

Karen Lathrop – 245 Martin St – Syracuse NY

 

Sponsors:

I want to thank our great sponsors whose dollars help me to buy fabric, muslin, markers and yarn.

Stewarts Dairies

Luv Handlz Frozen Yogurt – James St