Domestic Violence Awareness Month Contribution with Safe Horizon

On Friday October 21st, the delivery was made to a shelter of women survivors of domestic
violence. (My dad - chauffeur for the day - thanks Dad!)

sue rock originals EVERYONE!!! delivered
8 Afghans 4 tops
2 Vests & 2 Shrugs 5 Ponchos
15 hat and scarf sets and 40 pairs of earrings!

On entering the facility I was amazed at the decor - this particular location was fitted by Liz Claiborne and the Oxygen network. Contemporary wallpaper lined the walls as the
entire first floor was meeting area and various
offices. The administrative assistant helped carry the 7 duffle bags into the main meeting room. I began to lay the items around the area to allow the director to truly enjoy the items that had been created.

As the director was busy, (though her arms are featured here!) I met the social worker for the shelter - Dana, who shared with me some of the work the shelter does for the women of this facility.

As I continued to open more and more bags and pull out more and more items from pockets and side pockets, various administrators walked into the meeting room. Everyone was thrilled with the quality of the work and the volume of what was brought. It seems that this year there was not the volume of notice around Domestic Violence Awareness month and it almost as if these women were forgotten.

Once the director was available she was stunned. We had a wonderful phone conversation in planning the delivery but she didn't think it would be like this. Administrator after administrator came in thrilled. They spoke of single women who would come in looking for items - and though there were many items for children - for the women there was barely anything.

The emergency shelters house women from all walks of life in separate apartments at a central location. Nondescript on the outside -warm and inviting on the inside - this was unlike anything I ever could have imagined! Though I did not meet most of the residents, they generously offered a tour of the facility. In addition to a number of offices, they offer a central meeting room (where these items are being photographed), a childrens play area with computer, four computers in the living room and four floors of private living spaces. As the Director Annie Bautista shared with me "This is just so if you or someone you know ever has to make a choice, they won't think of a shelter as such an isolating experience - we really want it to seem less like an institution and more like a supportive shelter."


Well they have succeded. I want to take this time to thank a number of people who made this possible. My dearest friend and sister Brenda "Al-Asia" Shelton, Amy Salant, Ramona Kearns, and Mei Ling. The constant support both spoken and unspoken of my husband Babafemi Akinsegun nurtured my freedom in exploring all the ways this venture could be done. Rebecca Timmel of Safe Horizon was great as are Annie Bautista - directors of this Shelter, Dana, the Social Worker and the other administrators.

Whoops, I would be remiss if I forgot Rose Fox - Rose Fox is a beginner knitter who felt more confident with her jewelry making ability and contributed 16 pairs of earrings!

Thank you, thank you all from myself and Safe Hoizon!

SUNY NEW PALTZ - REPRESENT!

Hello. I am very interested in working with this organization. I am currently attending SUNY New Paltz, however, and will be leaving shortly to go back to school. I, along with a friend, have created a knitting and
crocheting club at our school and if you are interested, we would be more than happy to work with you and help out in any way while we are in New Paltz, if this is possible. Currently we have a group of very talented students making newborn and preemie caps for infants at 2 hospitals, one
where my co-president's mother works in New Jersey and the other at the local hospital where my roomates step-mother works in the New Paltz area. Again if you are interested please contact me at this phone number or email
address. Thank-you for your time and I hope to hear from you soon

And so began a unique concept for me which came from its own energy - the expansion of Sue Rock Originals to other states (no not the state of confusion!) - This wonderful young woman came with her brother to pick up yarn and BRING IT TO SCHOOL (and this two days before she was leaving!!!)

Well I just received this latest letter and photo from her crew there!

...after doing one last final count we have 13 skeins of yarn that you gave us. Our meetings have been going smoothly and just yesterday we started making hat/ scarf sets. We hope to be done with this by the end of this semester (roughly mid-December). We have mostly beginners so we expect it to take a while. Thank-you for your patience and I'm glad everything is turning out great. ...


The party is just getting started I see!

AMAZING!!

Love you all

Sue

Afghans and Lap Covers

Shrugs and Ponchos

And Two Pullover Vests!

Round Throws - Wonderful!

This throw reminded me of something one would get on their wedding day........




and then there is this one - I call it "Lessons in GREEN" - who knew Green could be so Warm?














However this one I call "EYE of GOD"......

Hat and Scarf Sets

I've got to get these pictures up - I'll think of something snappy to say later!

Love - Sue

The gift of "YES"

The process of working with women and their creativity since the beginning of this year is an experience that is more rewarding tham I could have ever imagined. Waves of satisfaction and delight overcome, as I handle the hats and scarves and gloves and blankets that have been imagined out of thin air. Every woman I have worked with had understood the intent behind the action of creating these items. They brought their own insight to this venture, their own compassion. Many of the women, myself included, had never created clothing before - or had the courage to try something different - to challenge their talents and skills.

Time and time again - their ideas worked. Lap blankets became graceful shrugs.....too small sweaters became stylish vest/handbag sets......an accidently felted hat and scarf set became a high end children's item.....Every setback IS truly a blessing that will be loved, nurtured and appreciated.
I find that I am surfing some other wave length in this project - a wave length that does not require ego or finances or the word "No". This endeavor in my life has consistently said "yes"
- "I think I would like to make clothing for women in Shelters"
- Safe Horizons: "YES",
- Red Heart Yarn: "YES"
- Volunteers found through the free website Craigslist: "YES"
- Volunteers invited through the free website EVITE.com: "YES"
and through the free site Volunteermatch:"YES"

The majestical, beautiful word "YES" has kissed me throughout this year in the encouraging creativity of engaging people who understand the pure intent of this work.....

as you can see......




"Yes" is a beautiful

and Powerful word.....

Simplicity Delivers - AND HOW

.....and SO.....Simplicity says that they "like" what I am doing and that they will be sending some patterns.....sure......I imagine a manila envelope with maybe 6 patterns of varying out of date styles and look forward to their vintage charm....

I didn't expect the wealth of what was to come.....

when my husband told me the patterns had come..........

I did not expect a BOX!



Simplicity Pattern company - to the benefit of their administration sent 9 DIFFERENT STYLES of patterns - with a minimum of SIX of each style!




Speechless - I began to go through the selections. All children's clothing, the items included knits, wovens, pinafores, pajamas, items for girls and boys and wonderfully, thankfully and perceptively, all for warm climate locations!

As you can see from these images
there are enough pieces to work with for classes of sewers. Each of the patterns is complete, as they indicated - simply last years items.


In turn I have contacted my daughter's Alma Mater - Fashion Industries High School here in New York.
Through their mentoring program I hope to be able to work with young people studying tailoring and sewing and encourage them to make a difference in children's lives in the South.

Sue Rock Originals receives Patterns from Simplicity for Hurricane Katrina survivors!!

From: Sue Rock
Sent: Sunday, September 11, 2005 3:07

Subject: Pattern contributions needed for Hurricane Katrina survivors

Good Afternoon;

My name is Susan Hargett-Rock. My company is sue rock originals - a knitwear design company based in New York. For the past year I have worked not only on the company but on a charity division called sue rock originals EVERYONE!!!. This charity division works specifically with contributed yarn and volunteers creating clothing and accessories for survivors of domestic violence living in transitional housing. We currently have three adjoining groups of volunteers working with us and are working with Safe Horizons, the leading domestic violence organization in the country.

In the wake of recent events and having received a great quantity of fabric, I am about to expand the work to include the creation of clothing for families who have obtained transitional housing in the Mississippi and Alabama areas. Sue rock originals EVERYONE!!! has obtained enough fabric for the creation of more than 1500 pieces of clothing.

We are in need of simple patterns for childrens clothing to create items that would be used by survivors of the largest tragedy to effect the United States in 100 years.

We have the volunteers
We have the sewing machines
We have the material
We just need your help.

Thank you

And here is their response - WOO HOOO!!!!

Hello Sue,

Thank you for writing. We apologize for our delayed response. We would like to be of some assistance in helping with work in assisting Katrina victims. We have some recently discontinued Childrens patterns we will be help to donate. We will order some up to be mailed to you in the next few days. We appreciate the work you are doing with Safe Horizons and hope this will prove helpful.

Consumer Relations Manager (Simplicity, New Look)

If you are able to contribute time or resources, contact me at suerockoriginals@yahoo.com

AND an update -

Sue Rock Originals EVERYONE!!! will be collecting all items to be distributed to Safe Horizons for the Fall season (and in tribute to Domestic Violence Awareness Month) on Sunday, October 2, 2005 in Brooklyn, New York. If you are interested in participating in this effort - please contact me at suerockoriginals@yahoo.com

Thank you for giving me the encouragement to do this!!

....this all developed out of the idea of being OF something.....

...You've got to give thanks for Craigslist! If you don't know about Craigslist it is simply the hottest website out for us common folks trying to make a way out of no way. 12 steps better than EBAY - Craigslist allows neighbors to connect to meet, work, rent, trade and give away freely and 24-7. It is through Craigslist that I have found the most yarn, fabrics and accessories - all for free. It is through Craigslist that I have found wonderful volunteers and excellent job leads. And it is through Craigs list that this story begins.

Working as director of Sue Rock Originals EVERYONE!!!, I have had the opportunity to have access to two wonderful community organizations - Safe Horizons and Fortune Academy. A recent acquisition of items received off of Craigslist afforded these two organization window dressings and bedding for over 50 rooms!

On Friday, August 12, 2005, I presented these two wonderful groups with over 200 pounds of curtains, sheets, drapes and bedding for their facilities. Safe Horizons, the leading organization working against domestic violence has 8 facilities in New York City. Their 6 emergency facilities and 2 transitional facilities house women and their children who are leaving traumatic living situations.



Over 18 bags of fabrics and home window treatments were collected from home decorator who had passed on recently. The items were sorted and paired together and are shown below. Exquisite quality - these items had NEVER been used. In fact on further inspection, the items had been made by the individual who had passed. It was amazing.

Sheer Drapes, Cafe Curtains, Winter Drapes, Pillow cases all in great condition. Upon opening the bags and seeing what was inside, I immediately contacted Safe Horizons and Fortune Academy. They were thrilled, having just discussed the need for window treatments for their various facilities

Once the items were arranged, I grouped them into sections for each organization. They each received upwards to 50 sets of window treatments - plus bedding of various types. The pickup vans came in the late afternoon and the items were received without a hitch. Each organization was good enough to prepare donation letters for the individual who donated the items (as they were the true originator of the donation) and that was it!

Our First New York Yarn Exchange - 2/05