March Coffee Morning

We've all heard the saying, it takes a village, let us become part of your village! We welcome you to join us for a cuppa and a chat at our informal coffee morning on Monday March 9, from 10am at Blue Lotus Cafe, 170 Hamilton Street, Balcatta (within the Waldecks). Everyone welcome!

This is an opportunity to get together to connect and chat about high-risk pregnancy, bedrest, the neonatal unit and the challenges our 'tiny sparks' face when growing up.

Our Crafty Creators are also more than welcome to come along and drop off any of their wonderful creations.

HBF Run for a Reason 2020

The HBF Run for a Reason returns to the streets of Perth on Sunday May 24. This is an incredible opportunity to help us make a difference in Western Australia. In past years as a direct result of funds raised through HBF Run we have been able to produce free information booklets on surviving bedrest, milestone cards, sponsor Developmental Playgroup placements, donate mobile phone chargers, coffee machines, microwaves and a huge number of other items for parent lounges in different Neonatal Units. This year we would love to hear from you about what would have made the most impact during your high-risk pregnancy or Neonatal Unit stay.

For us the HBF Run is more than a fundraising opportunity. Whilst that is important as a volunteer run organisation funded solely via donation we feel the sense of community is even more important. We would love for you to join our team by following these simple steps:

1. Click on the ‘Join our Team’ button below.

2. Input all of your details.

3. Choose your distance. You are welcome to particulate in whichever category suits you best. If you would like to walk together as a group please choose ‘4km Wave E Families and Prams’.

4. On the ‘Official Charities’ page enter ‘Tiny Sparks WA’ in the keyword field and then select us when we show up.

5. Set up a personal fundraising page if you would like to. When prompted during registration you will be transferred to the Everyday Hero platform to complete this task. Please choose ‘Tiny Sparks WA’ when registering. You can link your personal fundraising page to our team page here - https://hbfrun2020.everydayhero.com/au/team-tiny-sparks-wa

6. Confirm your details and make your payment.

Please note: You will need to either collect your event pack or have it mailed out to you.

We welcome you to ask your friends, family and work colleagues to also join our team, the more the merrier!

February Coffee Morning

Please join us for a cuppa and a chat at our informal coffee morning on Monday February 17, from 10am at Stickybeaks Playground Cafe, Kings Park. Everyone welcome!

This is an opportunity to get together to connect and chat about high-risk pregnancy, bedrest, the neonatal unit and the challenges our 'tiny sparks' face when growing up.

Our Crafty Creators are also more than welcome to come along and drop off any of their wonderful creations.

Christmas 2019

Spending any special occasion in hospital is extremely challenging for families. This Christmas thanks to our incredible Crafty Creators we have once again been able to gift a keepsake item to every baby in Western Australia, in a Neonatal Unit or Special Care Nursery Bed on Christmas morning. Thanks to the incredible generosity of our friends at Foote & Flame each baby also received a beautiful Christmas tree ornament to commemorate their 1st Christmas. We know these items mean so much to the recipient families and are treasured for many years to come.

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Foote & Flame have generously supported Tiny Sparks WA at Christmas for many years and we would encourage you think of them first if you are in need of a cake topper, or personalised gift.

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This is just a very small selection of the amazing quilted donations that we received.

Christmas Quilt Drive 2019

Our Crafty Creators make a big impact at Christmas time with quilts and stockings being donated as keepsake items for families who spend Christmas Day in a Neonatal Unit in Western Australia. The quilts and stockings are treasured for many years to come!

Last year there was overwhelming support for this project. We work closely with recipient hospitals to ensure they receive what they need at Christmas time, to support their families in the best way possible. It is therefore important that your donation comes through us for co-ordinated distribution.

This year we are hoping to receive 100 Christmas Stockings and 140 Christmas Quilts. You will find instructions for these items below. Please read right to the end to cover all of the instructions and FAQs from past years.

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Christmas Quilted Stockings

We are grateful to Amy Smart who blogs at Dairy of a Quilter for providing permission for us to use her 'Easy Quilted Stocking Tutorial'. You can find the instructions to make your Christmas Quilted Stocking here.

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Christmas Quilts for Tiny Sparks WA

This pattern was kindly designed by Jill of Patchwork Place in Albany. You can download the instructions here, or find them below.

Size 16" x 24"
 Or
41 cm x 61 cm

Requirements

Piece backing approx. 18" x 26"  (45cm x 65 cm) - white or cream
Piece 100% cotton light weight batting/wadding same size as backing piece.
Small amounts of Christmas coloured fabrics.

Suggestions

Any basic 4"  or  8" block pattern

No borders.
Keep blocks simple.
Avoid using yellow or gold.
Use conventional quilt binding or a commercial satin or pre-made binding or finish by “bagging” then turning through to right side. Top stitch around edge if using last method.
100% cotton fabrics (though not essential) are easier to work with.

A - Basic 4" Block - Total of 24 squares cut 4 ½" x 4 ½ "  in Christmas colours

1. Arrange design into 6 rows of 4

2. Join together into rows with ¼ " seam.

3. Press seams in row 1 to the right, in row 2 to the left, row 3 to the right etc

4. Join the rows together.

Basic 4" Block - 2 alternative designs

B - Basic 8" Block - Cut 6 squares 8 ½" x 8 ½ "in at least 2 Christmas colours.

1. Sew into 3 rows of 2.

2. Press seams in alternating directions then join rows together.

Basic 8" Block

Finishing Quilts

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Finished Quilt created by Jill of Patchwork Place, Albany

1. Lay the backing right sides down, place the wadding on top and finally the pieced top right sides up. Pin together and quilt.

2. Prepare binding by joining the 2 bits end to end with a mitred (angled) seam.

3. Press in half lengthways. Sew onto the right side of the quilt having ALL raw edges level. Mitre the corners as you sew.

4. Trim off the excess from the edges.

5. Handstitch the folded edge of binding over onto the back of the quilt.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. How many items will you need? - We will need 100 quilted stockings and 140 quilts to mail out across 20 neonatal units state wide so that every baby in a neonatal unit on Christmas Day receives a gift.

2. Can I deviate from the instructions/patterns/specifications? – No, we ask that you follow the instructions carefully. They have been set out for a reason. The hospitals have very specific guidelines about what can be around the babies in the NICU and SCN. In particular please ensure the backing for your quilt is white or cream.

3. What material should I use? – Quilting fabric, 100% cotton (or very close please). No flannel.

4. Should I prewash the material? – Either way is fine please.

5. What cotton should I use? - Cotton or poly/cotton blend is fine.

6. What designs can the material have? – Anything that is in the Christmas spirit, please make sure the design is child appropriate. The backing for your quilt must be white or cream.

7. Can I add a personal touch to the stocking? – Yes! Embroidery and applique is fine.

8. Can I add my name, sewing tag to the stocking/quilt? – Yes, we just ask that you keep it small.

9. Can I contact you to make some other arrangements? Given the volume of donations we handle we cannot make individual arrangements, sorry.

10. Will I get a personalised response about my donation? We will attempt to acknowledge all donations sent in, although we are only able to do so if you provide us with your name and email address clearly written inside your package. We are unable to mail a response due to limited resources. Please allow for up to a month for us to acknowledge any items posted or hand delivered.

11. How many stockings/quilts can I make? – We would prefer that each person make no more than 10 items each.

12. What else can I sew for you? – We need sewers and knitters all year round. If you’d like to help further, please see the details here.

13. Can I just drop my donation off directly to a hospital? - No, please do not drop your donation off at a hospital. We take a co-ordinated approach to ensure the needs of each hospital are met.

When and how can I get my donation to you?

1. We require all donations by Friday December 6, 2019. This will enable us time to sort and send out donations state wide in advance of the Christmas postal rush. Any donations received after this time will be put aside for next year.

2. You can post your Christmas items to us at:
   Tiny Sparks WA, PO Box 1114, West Leederville WA 6901
   Please include your name and an e-mail address inside your parcel.

3. Can you collect my quilt when I am finished? - No, we are a small team of volunteers and unable to collect your donation.

4. I don't want to mail my donation, how can i get it to you? - Please e-mail admin@tinysparkswa.org.au for metropolitan drop off locations, alternatively you are welcome to come along to our Neonatal November event and leave your donation with us there.

If you have a question that has not been answered above, please email us at admin@tinysparkswa.org.au  We will do our best to respond as quickly as we can.  Please keep in mind that we are all volunteers and this is a large project to manage so it may take a few days for us to get back to you.

We are so very grateful for your support and thank you for your time and energy in helping us to make Christmas in the Neonatal Unit a special time for our families.