All-in-One Mum

The Toy Run is a non-profit organisation that collects toys through a bike run held annually right across South Africa. My sister and her husband's family (my extended family!) have supported the Toy Run for a number of years and in 2011 alone, with massive support from friends, family, co-workers and other businesses collected over 3,000 toys.  These were given to  orphans, abused children, shelters and needy families throughout South Africa.   Have a look at their Facebook Group  and see a few photos of what they collected for the children. The Toy Run supports charities who care for children up to the age of 18 years old and strive to get as many toys for them as possible each year.  All toys in good condition are accepted with open arms and new toys are definitely greeted with a very warn welcome.  Donations of money can also be made to buy gifts and toys that are so desperately needed. This year my sister and her family have challenged me...

I can't believe that it took me nearly 2 years to sew this very small knitted toy together.  The big question is, why did I find the thought of it so daunting? Before my Gran passed away in September 2005 I would have asked her to help me to complete most of my knitting projects.  She was a very talented knitter and sewed beautifully too.  I would knit a jersery or whatever I had decided to do at the time and she would either finish knitting it (we had the same tension in our knitting) or sew it together for me.  I knew that if I ever got stuck I had my Gran to help me out.  She taught me to knit when I was 5 and I am so grateful to her for this skill.  I love using my hands and being creative and find knitting very therapeutic and relaxing. As in most things in life, you learn through trial and error.  I do my best to make the finished knitted product look at least half as good as what my Gran would have done which is quite a challenge. ...

Thanks to Charlie Gilson for the donation of the two girl and boy sock monkeys for the Toy Run in Cape Town on 27 November 2010 . For more information, please click on the link. If you would like to donate toys contact Melany Fischer via that page or email me.