Thank you and farewell!

Today I turned in the keys to the NestMaine post office box. The postal worker who was helping me with the paperwork said, "Wow, you've had this box for a long time!" It's true. I opened the PO box 11 years ago. Over those 11 years, Nest received handknit and crocheted clothing from all over the world. That's hundreds and hundreds of warm heads, hands, and hearts.

Before I say goodbye, I want to share a bit of information about just how EASY it was to get this project going. First, I went to the post office and opened a PO box. For the first few years all of the donations headed up north to the Ft. Kent area. I'm not from that part of Maine and I don't have any connections there. So, I called the local public schools. School secretaries and principals know their communities. They put me in touch with people in the community who knew the organizations (and the people) who would distribute the donations. One of the contacts had family in southern Maine. When she came south for visits she would load her car with our bags and take them back home.

As it turned out, that model wasn't sustainable. After the first years, I distributed all of the donations in the Portland area. I started by donating to the Portland Family Shelter, then added Greater Portland Health.  I also made a few deliveries to the Frannie Peabody Center. Every single time I walked through the door with a big bag of your lovely work, I got huge smiles and prolific thanks. Always.

Sadly, there continues to be a need for donations. If you are interested in continuing to contribute to those organizations, I encourage you to send your donations directly to them. The family shelter ALWAYS needs hats, mittens, vests and sweaters of all sizes, and baby blankets and baby clothing.  Typically, I brought mostly adult hats and mittens to the Greater Portland Health clinic. Frannie Peabody serves families and would likely be interested in any warm clothing. You can look up mailing addresses online. (I won't publish them here in case they change over time.)

Thank you, thank you, thank you. I could not have done any of it without you. Your generosity has been amazing.


Peace, love, and light to you all.
Jean

Welcome, Winter 2017-18!

Welcome to the season for all things wooly and warm!

We have had oddly warm weather throughout the autumn. (Again.) We have been warned that much colder winds will blow in by the end of the week. It looks like we will finally return to more seasonable temperatures. Nighttime lows in the teens, daytime highs in the 30s. Time for wearing, knitting, and sharing warm woolens.

Once again we are happy to deliver your donations to three locations in Portland: the Family Shelter,  Greater Portland Health's Park Avenue clinic, and the Frannie Peabody Center.  What do we need? We welcome any donations of new, handknit or crocheted clothing or blankets. Hats, mittens, scarves, small blankets, socks, vests, whatever you enjoy creating. Hats and mittens will always be at the top of the list, as being out in our climate without them makes the simplest task so very unpleasant. We are often asked if clothing made with fiber other than wool is acceptable. Yes! Although wool is warmest, there are people who can't wear it, and people who can't work with it.

I am grateful for the blessings of a warm home and ample warm clothing for winter weather. I am also extremely grateful that so many of you share your blessings with others by donating to Nest. Please know that your thoughtfulness and generosity mean the world to those receiving your donations.

I wish you a wonderful winter season, and a healthy, happy 2018.
Peace,
Jean

Welcoming Winter, 2016-17

Winter is upon us! So far this season has been a tad unpredictable. We've enjoyed lovely, sunny days, followed by sleet and snow and ice. In fact, it is currently over 50 degrees outside! Snow and much colder temps will return later this week. Although this has been a very busy year for me, I find great joy in even a few minutes of knitting at the end of each day. It's lovely to have plenty of quick projects on hand for blustery, winter evenings.

This year we continue to deliver your donations to the Family Shelter in Portland, and the Portland Community Health Center, whose new name is Greater Portland Health. We will also make deliveries to the Frannie Peabody Center, another wonderful organization in Portland. The following is a description of their mission. "Frannie Peabody Center is the largest community-based HIV / AIDS service organization in Maine, providing prevention services for at-risk groups and direct services for people living with HIV/AIDS."

What do we need? We welcome any donations of new, handknit or crocheted clothing or blankets. Hats, mittens, scarves, small blankets, socks, vests, whatever you enjoy making. Hats and mittens will always be at the top of the list, as being out in our climate without them makes the simplest tasks so very unpleasant. We are often asked if clothing made with fiber other than wool is acceptable. Yes! Although wool is warmest, there are people who can't wear it, and people who can't work with it. 

Peace and love to you and your loved ones in 2017!
Happy knitting!

Jean

Getting Ready for Winter of 2015-16

Hello, Nesters. Welcome to the 2015-16 season!

It has been CRAZY hot in Maine this month. We have had weeks of pasty, hot, humid days with temps in the 90s, which is really unusual for us. By this time our daytime temperatures should be in the low 70s. We all know this can't continue and that colder temps will be here soon. So, let us prepare by reintroducing ourselves to those baskets of wool and needles sitting patiently in corners. I know. Some of you remain best of friends with your needles and skeins throughout the hottest days. Alas, I am not among you. Thankfully, the air has begun to shift! Crickets are chirping and evening darkness comes earlier. All the right signs for a little quiet knitting here and there.

Last winter was a DOOZY in New England. We had piles and piles and piles of snow. We endured days and nights so cold we thought they would never end. There were plenty of days when being out of doors without appropriate clothing was hazardous.

The number of people who count on our donations CONTINUES to grow. Once again, we will make deliveries to the family shelter and clinic for the homeless, both in Portland. Here are a few lines I wrote last year:

What do we need? We welcome any donations of new, handknit or crocheted clothing or blankets. Hats, mittens, scarves, small blankets, socks, vests, whatever you enjoy making. Hats and mittens will always be at the top of the list, as being out in our climate without them makes the simplest tasks so very unpleasant. We are often asked if clothing made with fiber other than wool is acceptable. Yes! Although wool is warmest, there are people who can't wear it, and people who can't work with it.

As autumn weather arrives, let us remember those in need.

We wish you love and light in this new season. And as always, thank you.

Peace,

Jean

Here it comes......

Hello, Nesters!

Before I welcome you to a new season at Nest, I want to pay homage to the last few months. We just enjoyed the most spectacular summer ever. Maybe there were clouds, rain even. Maybe it was a tad too warm for a few days. I really don't recall. All I remember is bright, sunny morning after bright, sunny morning. Gorgeous, breezy summer nights. It was heavenly. And it seems as though fall will continue the trend. We enjoyed temps in the 80s this weekend! But, we have been warned. Things will change this week. In a big way. As I drove home this morning the radio announcer actually told me to make chowder. "Chowder. You're going to need it." Those were his very words.

So, it begins. I'm not sure if it is the sound of crickets, the quick arrival of evening, or what, but I find myself reaching for the wool and needles in the quiet after dinner. This week I will wash our winter woolens, dry them in the sun, and fill the baskets by the door with hats and mittens.

What do we need? We welcome any donations of new, handknit or crocheted clothing or blankets. Hats, mittens, scarves, small blankets, socks, vests, whatever you enjoy making. Hats and mittens will always be at the top of the list, as being out in our climate without them makes the simplest tasks so very unpleasant. We are often asked if clothing made with fiber other than wool is acceptable. Yes! Although wool is warmest, there are people who can't wear it, and people who can't work with it.

Last year we made regular deliveries to the family shelter and the clinic for the homeless, both in Portland. I just delivered two large bags of lovely handknits to the shelter this week. The folks at the front desk were very appreciative, as clients who have just arrived in Maine are quite chilly already! The clinic for the homeless closed, but we have been in touch with people at Portland Community Health Center. They will gladly accept donations this season.

As autumn weather arrives, let us remember those in need. Their numbers continue to grow in our community.

We wish you love and light in this new season. And as always, thank you.

Peace,

Jean

Winter!

For the past few months, I've been dreaming of a little green vest. I have some Cascade 220 in a lovely green that has been waiting, so patiently, for an opportunity to become something useful and warm. We had a long drive ahead of us a few weeks ago. Perfect time for action. Vests, it seems to me, are a great solution in many ways. We can wear them inside on really cold days, or outside in almost every season. We can add them as a layer under winter jackets. Best of all, they still fit after arms have outgrown favorite sweaters. I always have a hat on the needles, and love to make mittens, but maybe vests will be my go-to project in 2014. (And maybe this will be the year I finally learn to cable.)

I visit the family shelter and clinic for the homeless fairly frequently now. I used to wait until I had a pile of woolens to deliver, but that really made no sense. Your donations are no help if they are waiting here at home, so now I pop in whenever I have more than a handful of warm things to share. What do we need? Everything. We need hats, mittens, socks, scarves, small blankets, vests, and sweaters. Yes, that is a long list. Basically, make what you love making. Try a pattern you have been thinking about, or stick to your favorite pattern.

I am often asked what we need the most. In truth, it is exceedingly hard to be out and about in our climate without a hat. Hats are always in high demand. I am a big fan of knitting hats, as they travel with me so easily and are perfect to work on when you have only a few minutes to knit here and there. If you tire of making hats, make something else! Know that your donations, whatever you make, will help keep somebody warm on these cold winter days. And thank you for thinking of Nest.

Happy Winter!

Peace,

Jean

Woolens

I love wool. The colors, the textures, the possibilities. That said, I am not a summer knitter. I don't make a conscious decision to put down the needles when it gets hot, but I do. Maybe it's because my summer hands are busy doing other things. I don't even realize I've done it until I find myself digging through my knitting basket, months later, looking for something that needs finishing. Then, knitting becomes a regular part of my day once again. I look forward to those quiet moments here and there when I can get a few rows done.

Today I went to the family shelter to drop off a small bag of donations. There were hats, mittens, a lovely sweater, and a few small blankets. I am sure that the bag will be empty by the time temperatures drop this evening. As many of you know, there has been a sharp increase in the need for housing at the shelters in Maine. Too many people in our community lack the most basic articles of clothing to keep themselves warm.

I am often asked what types of donations are most helpful. We need it all. We welcome any donations of new, handknit or crocheted clothing and blankets. Hats and mittens are at the top of the list, but scarves, sweaters, socks, and small blankets are also very popular. All of your donations will be taken to the Portland family shelter and to the city clinic for the homeless.

As we let go of summer light, let us remember those in need this winter. As always, we thank you.

Peace,

Jean