The NFL Draft was a few days after I posted about making my 200th mask. The NFL had an awesome opening about hope and I decided that I should sew Chicago Bears masks will watching the NFL Draft. It was a fun way for me to cheer on our beloved Chicago Bears and I decided to tweet a picture of me sewing and the draft.
I kept sewing and a few minutes later my fabulous friend Jayme texted me that the Chicago Bears had retweeted my tweet! I was so excited, it was so cool!
It was so fun to see all the comments and several people working on the front lines asked how to get a Chicago Bears mask. I connected with them and am sending masks to nurses, a bus driver who is delivering meals to kids, and a great Bears fan that works at a food factory. I deeply appreciate all the people working so hard on the front lines. One of the Bears fans that I'm sending a mask to wanted to make a donation to a charity and I suggested Bears Care which she did. So great to see how we are all helping and paying it forward. Huge thanks to the Chicago Bears for the ReTweet! Go Bears!
Today I made my 200th mask. I'm part of a group of sewers in our neighborhood and together we've made more than 2,700 masks for doctors, nurses, policemen, firefighters, nursing homes, hospice, EMS, and so many others. It is still surreal that I am making masks for people on the front lines of the coronavirus. When Tony and I moved a year and half ago we discussed if I should move my sewing machine. I've had it for years but hadn't touched it in a very long time. I remember telling Tony that I wanted to keep it because I might want to sew again in our new house. Little did I know how much that sewing machine and those grade school sewing lessons would help.
My mom, Bev Murer and my mother-in-law, Lois Tortorello set me up with my initial fabric and sewing materials and away I went. Sophia and Stella have helped me trace the mask patterns and I've set up my sewing shop at our kitchen table. My twins love Build-A-Bears and one of my favorite parts about the BAB process is when the girls kiss the hearts and put them inside the bear with their love. As I sew I keep thinking about that moment and how I am putting love and wishes for bravery and safety into each mask
While making masks I've been inspired by all the helpers in my small group as well as around the globe. An incredible woman in our neighborhood, Lois Nelson is leading our sewing tribe and you can read more about our masks and awesome team in this recent Patch article. This amazing couple, Heather and Tom Krusinski will pick up masks from my front porch and drop them off at Lois's house. Tom and Lois even brought puppy treats to Rocky and they have a fantastic dog care business. We have others who are donating fabric and elastic like the awesome Cheryl and Katrina. Shout out to my fantastic high school Dairy Queen friend Jean Pilon Chudy and the fabulous Tanya Rand for helping me with elastic! And, others are delivering the finished masks all around our community. It is such a great team effort and I'm in awe of the my fellow sewers, they are so talented! We've been able to see some pictures of people wearing our masks and it makes me catch my breath. It is surreal to be sewing at my kitchen table and see a nurse wearing a mask I made hours later. I wish I could do more.
I also need to give a huge shout out to JOANN! JOANN has a fantastic web page dedicated to helping people make masks for people on the front lines of coronavirus. They share patterns, tips, and how-to information. JOANN has so many great fabrics and it was so easy to order on line and ship the fabric and thread to my house. Huge thanks to my mom and messy mommy Holly for sending me fabric too from JOANN!
As I scroll through social media and watch the news, I'm in awe of the incredible ways so many people are being helpers during the coronavirus pandemic. From ordering meals from local restaurants for people working at the hospitals and on the front lines, to supporting food banks, to helping with e-learning, to chalk drawings in the neighborhoods, to making videos to make people laugh, we are seeing the best in people. No matter how you are helping, every act is making a difference. Thank you for helping. Stay home. Stay safe.
xoxo, Meg
As I scroll through social media and watch the news, I'm in awe of the incredible ways so many people are being helpers during the coronavirus pandemic. From ordering meals from local restaurants for people working at the hospitals and on the front lines, to supporting food banks, to helping with e-learning, to chalk drawings in the neighborhoods, to making videos to make people laugh, we are seeing the best in people. No matter how you are helping, every act is making a difference. Thank you for helping. Stay home. Stay safe.
xoxo, Meg
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