I’ve been sewing but not getting around to posting on my blog. Sorry, but these days I just don’t have the time to stop and write like I wish I could. It’s time to update and this project has a deadline, so let me share it right away!

Each year, Carole of frommycarolinahome.com helps her local shelter with Safelight Project 2023. She generously makes and fills spa bags for the women, men and children escaping abusive domestic situations. She buys tote bags, fills each with loads of items like shampoo and hairbrushes, includes handmade cards and delivers them locally. This year I’m helping with sewing bag sets again.

Carole provides simple instructions for sewing safelight kits that include 3 handmade items including: a make up bag, tissue holder and sunglasses sleeve.

She hopes to get the bags assembled for delivery sometime in early March.  I’m a bit late to the game, but I’m on it! If anyone wishes to help out, please go to her site. She is very willing to take donations to help offset the cost of the sundries and other tote bag supplies.

Here are 6 finished bag sets that I just completed. In each one is a matching holder for sunglasses and a little container for tissues. My cosmetic bags use zippers, but Carole’s instructions call for the use of velcro. It doesn’t matter how you close the bags, the measurements just need to be about the same.

This is the back of the big cosmetic bags to match.

So far I have these 6 sets to send but more are in progress. It’s easiest to make the sets with straight pieces of fabrics, but I love to use my scraps for something more interesting.

For a few years now, I have helped sew for my local domestic abuse shelter. A few months ago, I went to drop off a load of handmade items. The shelter official told me that their cases have quadrupled since Covid!! Emergency calls are way up. They are out of space in their regular safe houses and have had to resort to placing families in random hotels. Obviously, the need is greater than ever!

Now and always, thank you Carole for all that you continue to do. We owe a debt of gratitude to folks like you!!

Linking up to: Oh Scrap, Midweek Makers, Confessions of a Fabric Addict, Peacock Party, Finished or not Friday, Brag About Your Goodies, Thank Goodness It’s Finished Friday, My Quilt Infatuation: Needle & Thread Thursday.