Goodwill Cheer Delivered!

In May 2010, designer and author Bendy Carter wrote an article for the May 2010 issue of Crochet! magazine about The Elizabeth House, a shelter for battered women in the Danbury, Connecticut, area, and how readers can help The HHCC collect crocheted goodies to donate to them.  Catherine of Massachusetts sent a box absolutely packed with an assortment of items ... from crocheted potholders to coloring books (see image on the right).   Thank you Catherine!!!

Catherine's wonderful crocheted goodies were added to The HHCC's, including two blankets the HHCC members crocheted from the Lands End/ Warm Up America "Feel Good" campaign (see image on the left for the completed afghan from last month's "Block Party"), and 10 of the Fiddler Shawls mentioned in this month's CGOA Chain Link newsletter. 

To complete the donation to the Elizabeth House, 20 sets of hats, mittens & scarves; 3 baby sweater sets, and 6 more blankets were added to the collection.  (To the right is HHCC President Grace, and elf-helper Casey, making the delivery to the Shelter yesterday.)  This was the second time The HHCC has donated to The Elizabeth House since the Chapter formed in 2001.

Further goodwill cheer (see images on left and right) was spread to The Salvation Army of Danbury, where 86 hat, mitten, and scarf sets were donated, along with a baby sweater set, 15 Fiddler Shawls, and an assortment of brand new toys.  The Salvation Army was delighted with the donations; this was the 8th time The HHCC has donated to the Salvation Army since the Chapter formed in 2001.

At the end of the day, these two local organizations benefited from millions of crocheted stitches by The HHCC members, and by the generosity of people like Catherine.  Thank you to all those who helped make these wonderful donations possible!

Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love. - Hamilton Wright Mabie

HHCC'ers Win at The Big E

Elaine Wins Blue Ribbon
& Sponsor Award

On Wednesday, September 22, HHCC members were just some of the 70,106 attendees at the Big E Fair.  The weather in the morning was seasonably cool; in the afternoon everyone would be baking in near 90 degree heat.  In attendance on this first day of fall:  Candy, Casey (aka Mini~Dee), Celeste, Chava, Dee, Dee Jr., Diane, Elaine, Fluffy, Grace, Hilda, Irene and Ruth. 

HHCC Booth

Upon setting up the booth, Casey, Dee, Elaine and Ruth learned how their crochet entries fared: they all won Ribbons ranging from Best in Division, Junior to Honorable Mention. Dee and Elaine also won the Sponsor Awards. The Connecticut Fifers marched in, representing 17 marching bands, kicking off the official start to Connecticut Day. 

The HHCC members enjoyed meeting a lot of people interested in crochet.  Many leaflets and crochet patterns were handed out.  This was the eighth year the HHCC has volunteered to demonstrate & promote crochet at The Big E.

In the afternoon, The Connecticut Line Dancers came to The HHCC's aid by volunteering to model for The HHCC's first-ever Fashion Show.  Even though it was 90 degrees, not including the humidity, they were great troopers swirling & twirling the crocheted Shawl Collection on the stage while HHCC President Grace emceed.  The majority of the shawls featured in the show were crocheted earlier this year for a production of Fiddler on the Roof.  The shawls will be donated, with other items, to the Elizabeth House, a battered women's shelter located in Danbury, Connecticut, in early December.

The HHCC & The CT Line Dancers team up for Crochet Fashion Show featuring shawls.



After the Fashion Show the Connecticut Line Dancers were up, showing all how much fun dancing can be.  They called HHCC'ers Dee & Grace up to the stage to learn how ... Fluffy, who is also a member of the CT Line Dancers, said to Grace, "I have a video of you and Dee keeping in step with us. It was a lot of fun, and look forward to teaching you more steps!!"

Everyone had a great time!

The HHCC would like to extend a huge Thank You to the Connecticut Line Dancers, and to all the other volunteers in the New England State building!