WRAP - Warm-up And Read Project

2012 Donations already happening!

2012-02-06T17:25:00.004-06:00

Since the American Turkish Association of North Carolina (ATA-NC) Knitting Club members cannot get to the 2012 annual MLA meeting, and have a difficult time mailing blankets, they have decided to donate their 2012 blankets and books to their local Ronald McDonald House. Click here and take a look at the lovely projects and group visiting the Chapel Hill, North Carolina Ronald McDonald House!

WRAP-up at MLA 2011

2011-07-12T12:20:00.003-05:00

Here are the WRAP projects that were brought to Minneapolis this year and displayed at the Hospital Libraries Section meeting during MLA 2011. What a great showing!

MLA 2011 Project a Success!

2011-05-30T11:21:00.006-05:00

Many thanks to Kolleen Olsen (Manager, Fairview Library Services in Minneapolis) who accepted WRAP projects from all those who couldn't make it to MLA,
AND who graciously delivered all of the 2011 WRAP projects to the Ronald McDonald House in Minneapolis! This year, 31 projects were created and accompanied by books and a few baby hats (thanks to Nancy Clark). Here is Kolleen at home with a few of the projects.
Thanks to all of you who participate in any way. We hope you'll join us in creating WRAP projects for Seattle in 2012.
Dena and Amy

Quilts from Carole Gilbert

2011-05-09T13:38:00.003-05:00

These classic quilts are from Carole Gilbert, Royal Oak, Michigan.

Pat Hammond's & Pam Lovera's story

2011-05-02T09:21:00.002-05:00

Frequently opportunities surface at the most unlikely time. When HLS members Amy Frey and Dena Hanson called upon other librarians to bring handmade "wraps" to our annual meeting for donating to a Ronald McDonald house, I was inspired. However, needlecraft is not one of my talents. During MLA '10, I asked Pam Lovera, Librarian at Prince William Hospital, about teaming up. She would do the stitchery and I would provide the book.

Last summer I started dating a widower. While cleaning his wife's sewing room, we found a beautiful unfinished afghan. When I showed it to Pam, she agreed to finish it for a Project WRAP donation. The fun continued during a trip to a bookstore with my beau's seven year old granddaughter. She picked out the books to accompany the afghan.

Sometimes all the pieces fall into place at just the right time.

Thanks,
Pam and Pat

Pam Lovera, Prince William Hospital, Manassas, VA
Pat Hammond, Sentara Potomac Hospital, Woodbridge, VA

Deb Miller's Sailboat Quilty

2011-04-26T12:38:00.001-05:00

This cute sailboat quilt was created by Deb Miller from the Education Resource Center, Chambersburg in St.Chambersburg, Pennsylvania.

Quillow from Jan LaBeause

2011-04-26T08:15:00.003-05:00

Here is a "quillow" from Jan LaBeause, Medical Library at Mercer University School of Medicine, Macon, Georgia. A "quillow" is a lap quilt which folds up into an attached pocket to make a pillow. Jan included the book Elm Creek Quilts Sampler by Jennifer Chiaverini.

More from Deniz Ender and the ATA-NC Ladies

2011-04-26T07:59:00.006-05:00

More blankets from Deniz Ender and the ATA-NC Knitting Club Members!

Dena's baby blanket

2011-04-06T17:51:00.002-05:00

Dena knit this baby blanket using a soft cotton in feather & fan pattern.

2011-03-30T09:00:00.004-05:00

Deniz Ender (Rex Healthcare Library, Raleigh, NC) and the Ladies of the American Turkish Association (North Carolina) Knitting Club have contributed these 7 blankets and books to the WRAP 2011 Project.
Contributors are Ayse Keskiner, Ayse Peksenar, Tulay Kabaca, Tezer Andrews, Ece Guralp, Dilek Tapici, Cigdem Wright, Gordona Ertan, Deniz Ender, Lale Bozkurt, Tuna Savas, and Serap Olgun.
Thank you, ladies, for a second year of lovely creations!

Throw and blanket from Charlotte Haskins

2011-03-02T08:41:00.002-06:00

This baby blanket (left) and adult throw(below) were created by Charlotte Haskins, who is cooperating on WRAP donations with Linne Girouard.

WRAP 2011 Quilts from Donna McCloskey

2011-01-25T07:56:00.005-06:00

These quilts were made by Donna McCloskey from Presbyterian Hospital in Huntersville, North Carolina. What fun!

A few more blankets!

2010-06-14T17:34:00.003-05:00

Amy Frey's Pinwheel Blanket

2010-06-13T15:51:00.002-05:00

Here is Amy Frey's pinwheel blanket, with "Frog and Toad Together" and "Three Cups of Tea ." WRAP co-founder Amy is librarian at the Hospital for Special Care, New Britain, Connecticut.

Afghan From Nancy Clark

2010-06-03T16:10:00.007-05:00

Here are photos of Nancy Clark's afghan, along with her book choice, Dewey. What fun!

Nancy is the Director, Library Network Office for the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Laurie Thompson's Quilt

2010-06-03T16:02:00.003-05:00

Front and back views of Laurie Thompson's quilt. It is a log cabin quilt pattern called straight furrows (pieced both front and back!) and came with a copy of the Little House on the Prairie. Laurie is the Assistant Vice President for Library Services at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas.

Quilt from Jan LaBeause

2010-06-03T15:37:00.005-05:00

Jan LaBeause, at the Medical Library, Mercer University School of Medicine in Macon, Georgia, sent this lovely quilt - along with a copy of the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency.

Thanks from the D.C. Ronald MacDonald House

2010-06-03T15:21:00.003-05:00

We received this thank-you letter from the Washington D.C. Ronald MacDonald house. Please let Amy or Dena know if you'd like receive a copy of the scanned PDF via email.

WRAPping up for 2010

2010-06-01T16:51:00.006-05:00

Congratulations! The WRAP project was a great success! We donated approximately 35 afghans, throws, and quilts with books to the Ronald McDonald House in Washington, DC during the 2010 MLA meeting. The completed projects were beautiful. And we received a lot of compliments from our HLS colleagues during the HLS reception, when some of the projects were on display, along with a poster board created by Amy.

Dena and Amy want to thank each and every participant for their commitment to this compassionate community service project. We will continue to update the blog with pictures!
We are already planning for Minneapolis 2011. If you are interested in participating, please contact us. You can read some of our early blog entries for some guidelines, pattern suggestions, etc.

A "new" idea for 2011 is adding knitted or crocheted stuffed animals, if you'd like to make one instead of a "blanket." And, if you're not a crafty librarian, you can partner with someone who is and donate the book to accompany the finished item.
Again, many thanks to our helping hands! A full list of participants and some pictures will be in July's National Network.
Best,
Amy and Dena
amy.frey@gmail.com
denahanson@sbcglobal.net

Kathy Zeblisky's Afghan

2010-04-17T13:03:00.004-05:00

Check out Kathy Zeblisky's afghan - and the neat book going with it! Kathy is the Medical Librarian at Phoenix Children's Hospital in Arizona.

Helen Ann Brown Epstein's blankets

2010-04-06T11:00:00.004-05:00

Helen Ann Brown Epstein sent a picture of her with her mother-in-law, Beatrice Epstein. She says "Mom has made 4 small blankets and I have made one larger one for this great cause. Both of us have been knitting for a long time and welcomed this opportunity to bring comfort to the families at the Ronald MacDonald House in Washington, D.C." Helen Ann is Head, Education and Outreach at the Weill Cornell Medical Library in New York City.

Deniz Ender and the Ladies of the American-Turkish Association

2010-04-06T10:49:00.009-05:00

Deniz Ender and the Ladies of the American-Turkish Association contributed 9 blankets, these among them. Deniz is at the Rex Healthcare Library in Raleigh, North Carolina, and her colleagues in crafting are Tezer Andrews, Ayse Keskiner, Ece Guralp, Ayse Peksenar, Tulay Kabaca, Dilek Tapici, and Serap Olgun.

Deb Miller's Cat Quilt

2010-04-01T15:09:00.006-05:00

Deb Miller at the Education Resource Center, Chambersburg Hospital in Chambersburg, PA created this kitty quilt.

More Drop Off Information

2010-04-01T14:55:00.003-05:00

Dear All,

To help address the variety of concerns, can you:

Please take a photo(s) of your finished product (along with the book) and send to either of us beforehand. We will post to the blog and, if we get them in advance, Amy will make a nice poster to display at the business meeting.
Put your finished product in a plastic bag (clear) before putting into mailer. This will not only keep it clean(er), but, if we do have time to unwrap before handing over to Ronald McDonald House, it will keep the items together.

This is the first year for the WRAP project, so we're working out the details. Next year should be easier. Thanks for your enthusiasm, ideas, participation!
Amy & Dena
denahanson@sbcglobal.net
amy.frey@gmail.com

The Drop Off

2010-04-01T09:58:00.003-05:00

It's time to thinking about gathering our projects. For those of you that will not make it to the MLA meeting in Washington, DC, please send your blankets and books to Amy Frey at home: 15 East Normandy Drive, West Hartford, CT 06107 (and please mark WRAP on outside of package so she doesn't open it!) by MAY 13.

For those of you that can join us at MLA this year, there are two times you can drop off your projects:

At the HLS Committee meetings, on Sunday, May 23 from 7:30 am - 9 am outside room 2A, 2nd Floor, ConnecticutHilton (we hope to provide a drop box)
At the HLS business meeting, Sunday May 23, from 6 pm - 7:30 pm, outside International Ballroom East, Concourse Level (again, hope to have a drop box)

If you are unable to drop off your project at either of these times, please leave a message on the Message Board for either Amy Frey or Dena Hanson. Include your CELL PHONE # or Hotel & Room Number so we can contact you.

A WRAP blanket is finished!

2009-11-10T16:23:00.004-06:00

Just wanted to share with you some pictures of Dena's WRAP blanket. This Oat Couture pattern called Auntie's Afghan was a great deal of fun to knit; you start with a garter square, and then knit the rest in the round. Hope you can see the details in the photos!

How are you all coming along? Chosen yarn, fabric, a pattern? Something from the stash? Have you selected a book to send along? Share your thoughts with us!

Dena and Amy

Hospitals and Social Media

2009-09-29T13:11:00.002-05:00

Some websites to keep in mind regarding hospitals (and hospital libraries!) using social media as part of communication with patients, family, and community...

How Hospitals Are Quietly Leading The Way With Social Media
http://blog.ogilvypr.com/2009/09/how-hospitals-are-quietly-leading-the-way-with-social-media/

WRAP - Update and Ideas

2009-08-19T09:19:00.005-05:00

Amy has a few ideas from a friend at her hospital. She and her quilting circle make & donate quilts to soldiers, so she is "experienced" with this kind of venture. Here are her suggestions:

1) Whipstitch a muslin (or similar) label approximately 2"x3" to the back side of your creation with your first name and initial of last name. (Ex: Made especially for you by Amy F.)
2) When you include the note saying why you chose the book you've chosen, provide this e-mail information: alf726@gmail.com (rather than having to disclose your own personal contact info. This one was created espeically for WRAP use, and all e-mails will be shared with the group. Although our recipients may not own computers, many shelters, public libraries, etc. provide free access or possibly someone can help them...If you want, you can include Amy's work address - in case they want to write a note. Any will share with everyone, but it would be nice to have a central repository for anything we get.)
3) Remember LAP SIZE is best (baby afghan size is good, too) - more versatile as to age of recipient and won't get in the way as easily if it happens to go to someone confined to a wheelchair for much of the day.
(4) When choosing the book, it was suggested that picture books (for kids), graphic novels (for young adults) and light fiction/non-fiction are best. Even photograpic essay work... But nothing too scholarly...we want to be as flexible as possible with recipient pool. We guess that also means not too many romantic novels, right?)

Thank you!
Amy & Dena

Pattern Suggestions

2009-08-19T09:02:00.003-05:00

A good site for free patterns is Lion Brand Yarns - easy afghan patterns and many of their yarns are machine washable (or you can substitute). Bernat, Berroco, etc. all have free patterns available, too.

Here are 3 patterns from Amy that are fun and/or easy to knit - we both I really love the pinwheel one and it works up beautifully in variegated or self-patterning yarn.
Pinwhee Blanket
Berocco's Artic Throw
And look for the Farnsworth Blanket pattern at Lion Brand Yarns

If you want to knit squares and sew them together (very portable & easy in the hot weather), you can find patterns at Knit-a Square. This also allows you to use up all those leftover skeins you have around or maybe pick up ends of lots on sale at your local craft store.

Have fun!
Thanks!Amy & Dena

Throw and Blanket Sizes

2009-08-19T09:00:00.002-05:00

Consensus is that 60 inches x 72 inches works better for a throw.
Baby blankets often are 36 inches by 36 inches.

WRAP Introduction - Calling all Medical Library Knitters

2009-08-19T08:08:00.002-05:00

Dena Hanson and Amy Frey have been knitters for years, and we know there are more of you out there. We would like to challenge our fellow librarian/knitters to participate in a project that will come together at our next (and subsequent) Medical Library Association meetings.

WRAP - Warm-up & Read Project

Many of us knit or crochet or quilt for ourselves, our families, our friends. We thought it would be nice to take the time to stitch for a cause. Many such projects exist where individuals knit squares to create afghans, but we know that putting together all the squares would be an arduous undertaking. Therefore, our "special interest group" asks any interested member to knit or crochet or quilt a throw (lap-size afghan) and bring it to MLA in Washington DC next year (2010) along with a book of your choice. We are targeting children through young adults, but you needn't feel so constrained if you'd prefer to choose an adult-level book. You are asked to (but not required!) to add a note about why you chose the book and include your name and contact information, in hopes that the recipient can write you back.

We will collect the afghans/throws and donate to charity(ies) in the DC area (possibly a shelter or hospital or multiples, depending on how many we receive). We hope to do this each year and donate to a charity or charities in our host cities. (Maybe we'll contact Michelle Obama and see if she'll help us distribute!)

Please make the throw machine-washable. Also, please place in a clear plastic bag with the book cover visible OR with a label indicating the title of the book (and reading level). This will simplify the distribution process and keep the "soft goods" clean.

If you are interested in knitting or crocheting or quilting a throw for this project, please contact either Dena or Amy. It will help to know how many of you anticipate providing a finished project. If you are not going to be able to attend MLA, but you want to contribute to the project, you can send to Amy by 1 May. (I'm traveling down by car, so I can load it up with the finished goods.) This is plenty of advance notice, so get those needles going!

Thanks in advance,
Amy & Dena