Tue, 4 Jul 2000 11:00:07 -0600 - from Kelly-Sue

Hello from Canada, EH?

I LOVE to Crochet and make afghans for all my Min Pin kids. I decided that in honor of the 40 Min Pins IMPS rescues ( on average ) each month, I would try to Crochet 40 blankets for IMPS.

I wrote to the Crochet Guild of America about my little project, inviting others who are addicted to crochet to make a blanket or two for a Min Pin in need. They have added my project to their Charity Page!!! I think that's FANTASTIC!!! :) Please stop by for a peek www.crochet.org

I invite anyone who can Crochet, Knit or Sew to join me on my quest and make a blanket, crate pad, snuggly or sleeping bag for one of our IMPS Min Pins. My personal goal is to make 40 in time for Christmas, but every blanket counts and will make a difference.

Send your blankets to an IMPS Volunteer Co-ordinator in your area or -- better yet -- to whomever you adopted your Min Pin(s) from. Feel free to contact me via e-mail with any comments or suggestions. min.pin@home.com

Everyone that is owned by a Min Pin knows the value of a good blankie. Take care and Happy Crafting!!

Kelly-Sue
from Canada, EH?

Tue, 25 Jul 2000 08:36:34 -0600 - from Kelly-Sue
Click here for previous posts on the IMPS Blanket Project.

Once I decided that Min Pins were the breed for me, I sat down like an expectant mother to crochet a blanket. I didn't know when my Min Pin would arrive, I just knew that I needed some way to pass the time while I waited for him.

Along came Sailor. His blanket travelled with him to dog shows across the country and kept him warm in his retirement. It had a few holes, which I mended because I couldn't bear to part with it. I have made many others, but it just isn't the same. That blanket means so much to me. I decided to name my project "Sailor's Blanket" and make it a year 'round effort, rather than just for Christmas. It is my hope that I can gather 500 blankets each year for the Min Pins we help. It sounds like a lot, but I have already found so many wonderful people willing to help.

Snowy was my first rescue. This spunky 9 year old came to live in my home and brighten my life three years ago. The sweetest, most loving Min Pin I had ever met, you would never have known she'd been abused. Snowy was never without a blanket, even on the hottest of days. That sweet old gal is proof that adopting an older dog is worth the emotional risk of knowing they may not be with you as long as you would like.

It is with tremendous sadness that I write to tell you that Snowy and Sailor crossed the Rainbow Bridge together yesterday. It is in their memory that I continue with "Sailor's Blanket" project, providing warm blankets for Min Pins rescued by IMPS.

The immense loss I am feeling now will be eased by making blankets for Min Pins who have not yet found their "Forever Home".

I cannot find the words to express my gratitude to all of those who offered comfort while I struggled with my decision. This is the hardest thing I have ever had to do and I made it through knowing you understood and that you cared.

Blessed Be,
Kelly-Sue Thompson
IMPS -- Canada
min.pin@home.com

Wed, 28 Nov 2001 10:30:30 -0700 - from Kelly-Sue

Hello Mag! I hope all is well with you. This is a Sailor's Blanket Update for the site. Thanks for your help!!

I am pleased to report that Sailor's Blanket has expanded to include not only IMPS, but IG... Basenji... Whippet... Saluki... Afghan Hound... and Greyhound Adoption Groups. Since starting last summer, OVER 400 BLANKETS have found their way to Fosters across Canada and the U.S.. Considering my original goal of 40 blankets, it's amazing to see it surpassed TEN TIMES OVER!! Due to the pending Holiday Season and the vast amount of mail that goes along with it, I will not be shipping any more blankets until mid-January. ( Rest assured, I could never go without crochet for that long ) Speaking of January.....

There will be a Crochet-A-Thon for IMPS taking place in January, thanks to Lynn Bryant, IMPS Volunteer and fellow Crochet Addict! As I understand it, there are about 500 members of this particular crochet group, which could mean quite a few snuggles for IMPS Fosters in the New Year. Special Thanks and Min Pin LOVE to Neva, who is the Co-ordinator for the event.

"Big High 5" to Kathy Sears, Pat Daigle, Sherri Peters, Susan Robertson, Freda Byard and Shirley Korpany! With their generous donations I have plenty of yarn to last through the winter and support my Crochet Addiction.
"Slap my palm, sisterfriend!!" Thanks also to Judy Benson ( Hound Togs - Coats for Sighthounds ) who donated 8 yards of Polar Fleece that I am turning into snuggle sacks. Judy makes coats for IG's and I am certain she can design one for your Min Pin. Part of the proceeds benefit RESCUE -- please stop by her site for a visit and show your support! www.houndtogs.com

If you happen to have yarn sitting in your basement, garage, attic or spare room just takin' up space - I would be happy to transform it into Afghans for the Fosters on my waiting list. There is no such thing as "UGLY" yarn. A bag of mis-matched yarn is just an Afghan waiting to happen. :) All Afghans I create in January will be donated to IMPS.

The blankets are given to the dogs when they arrive at the Foster Home and go with them once they are adopted. I feel that the blankets make a huge difference, providing a sense of comfort, warmth, security and stability while they adjust. I have heard from many Foster Parents over the last year and some say the blanket was the first step in earning trust with a dog whose life thus far has been hard, to say the least.

Those interested in donating yarn or blankets are welcome to contact me directly for further information. Bright Blessings for a Festive Yule!

Kelly-Sue Thompson
Founder, Sailor's Blanket
sailorsblanket@hotmail.com

Thu, 6 Dec 2001 19:50:12 -0500 - from Nancy

Attached is a photo of the Girls from Girl Scout Troop #228 in Vestal, NY who made a box full of Sailor's Blankets and shipped them to me. The girls have their work in progress with them. I was proud to receive them and will send them out with my next adoptees.

Nancy
IMPS - NJ - NY - PA
www.minpinrescue.org
That Dog Is Spoiled Rotten
www.geocities.com/spoiledrottendog

Thu, 13 Dec 2001 16:12:08 -0500 - from Nancy

Here's another great photo of Brownie Troop #1154 in Pickering Valley, PA with one of their Sailor's Blankets. These blankets are so soft.... It is such an honor to have them.

Nancy
IMPS - NJ - NY - PA
www.minpinrescue.org
That Dog Is Spoiled Rotten
www.geocities.com/spoiledrottendog

Mon, 15 Jul 2002 18:48:36 -0600 - from Kelly-Sue

Hi there Mag! I hope all is well with you and the Min Pins. Please post this UPDATE for Sailor's Blanket on the Saluki page.

Here we are, almost two years later and Sailor's Blanket is still going strong. I have surpassed my original goal of personally crocheting 40 afghans many times over. Thanks to the donations of yarn ( which are STILL arriving from people all over North America ) I was able to crochet approx. 80 blankets in 2001, with over 40 finished so far in 2002. I LOVE to crochet and am fairly fast ( the average Min Pin afghan takes three evenings to make ). There is no way possible I would be able to afford to purchase that much yarn on my own, which makes the donations even more precious to me.

Thank you for your continued support! It is my hope to have a website up and running before Christmas this year, which will help spread the word and perhaps get more people involved. Until then, I will continue to crochet ( you couldn't stop me if you tried ! ;) ) and my creations will continue to find their way to very special Fosters across North America.

From the hundreds of dogs whose lives were touched by Sailor's Blanket, I thank you! They are the reason this began and as long as there is need, I will continue.

Kelly-Sue Thompson
Founder, Sailor's Blanket
sailorsblanket@hotmail.com

Sat, 3 Mar 2007 12:07:12 -0500 - from Kelly

Good Afternoon,

I haven't written in a while but wanted to offer you an update on "Sailor's Blanket". Over 1000 blankets have been donated to groups across North America since I started this project years ago. Because Sailor was not a Rescue and because there are many more breeds involved ( not to mention the many e-mails I get asking me for the Sailor's Blanket pattern ) I decided to rename the project and set up some sort of website.

Introducing.....

WOOBIE ROUNDUP! http://woobie-roundup.blogspot.com/

It's a blog that will feature a discription of the project, links to the Rescue Groups I'm trying to help and pics of the Fosters with their Woobies. Please feel free to stop by for a visit, refer the IMPS Volunteers to the site. I'd be happy to have you post a link to this blog from the IMPS site so that those who are interested in donating are aware of the project.

TTY soon,

Kelly S Thompson