Handmade's Photo Gallery

2025 March 28 Wrapping Party and Luncheon at Leslye's

Great wrapping party.  Spring really was busting out all over!  So many attended (25 at least, maybe 27, not sure), including two new participants, Taina and Kate.  Thank you all so much for coming.   I know everyone has busy schedules.  You are really giving something of yourself and your time when you come to a Handmade wrapping party.  It’s a big deal.  And we appreciate.

Truly, we ate all the food.  There was only a little asparagus soup left, and not because we didn’t like it, but because I made so much!  Everything was delicious.  So many different salads.  As usual, the fruit salad was exceptional.  We celebrated a special occasion.  Arlene just became a US citizen.  She brought a chocolate cake to share with us to celebrate.

Here we are, working hard.  I really tried to include everyone.

As beautiful as we all are wrapping the scarves, and we are beautiful, I feel I must also mention how beautiful the scarves are.  What a mountain of them, so many colors, patterns, and yarns.  It’s a thrill for me to see them in the enormous waiting-to-be-wrapped pile.   As you can see, many hands make light work.

I feel wonderful because so many of you support Handmade Especially for You--with your time and energy, yes by making comfort scarves, but also by wrapping, driving, cooking, sharing, measuring, winding—doing everything that it takes to make comfort scarves for abused women.  You’re the greatest! 

We shipped on Tuesday.  It was a small shipment since our big shipment is next month In time for Mother's Day.  That's me in front of the boxes of your wrapped scarves.  Leslye

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2025 February 21 Wrapping Party and Luncheon at Leslye's

The wrapping party was loads of fun -- 21 attended, including a few new participants.  We really let the good times roll (our Mardi Gras theme).  I think everyone enjoyed the lunch and the camaraderie of the occasion.  That’s the best.  We accomplished a lot.  We wrapped every scarf possible.  And then we shipped all those newly wrapped scarves on February 24.  We’re so streamlined.   Leslye

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2025 January 24 Wrapping Party and Luncheon at Leslye's

What an incredible wrapping party.  Thank you all for coming and wrapping all the scarves we had.  What a pile!  We’re in good shape for shipping on Tuesday.We had a lot of fun yesterday and we worked hard.  Sorry, I forgot to photograph the food.  It was really great too.  As usual, the fruit salad was exceptional.  It was exceptional—with Mexican papaya, pomelo, cantaloupe, grapes, blueberries, apple, kumquats—kind of like the exceptional group of wrappers we were.As you can see, several “new” Handmaidens attended.  We hope they will become regulars.  We need everyone’s participation to achieve our goal of providing shelters for abused and/or homeless women and children with comfort scarves.Thanks again for coming, wrapping, cooking, eating, and your friendship.  Leslye

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Nov 19, 2024 shipping was incredible!  We sent 2,100 scarves, 505 hats, 42 shawls, 8 pairs of slippers and 11 blankets to 66 shelters for abused and homeless women.  What a feat.  UPS hasn’t picked up the boxes yet so you can what such a shipping looks like.

The boxes are stacked in three rows.  That’s a lot of boxes.  A lot of scarves, hats, shawls, slippers and blankets.  It took all of us to get this done:  all the yarn and $$$ donors, all the measurers and winders, all the knitters and crocheters, all the wrappers, all the shippers, and all of all of you who do so many things to support abused and homeless women by working for and with Handmade Especially for You.  Give yourself a big pat on the back for all you do.  You’re the greatest!!!

2024 October 22 we Shipped the scarves we wrapped at the October 18 Wrapping Party and Luncheon at Leslye's

Today we shipped 725 comfort scarves, 380 hats and 30 pairs of slippers to 17 shelters for abused and homeless women, teens and children.  Yes, this was a “small” shipping compared to September.  Just wait until November.  We want to ship to all 70+ of our shelters then.  The shelters love having our scarves and hats at their holiday parties. 

Our wrapping party last week was a lot of fun.  21 attendees wrapped all the scarves we shipped today (and then some).   We worked and talked and laughed and wrapped.  The pile of scarves is so colorful.  The ribbons so cheerful.  We couldn’t help but have a wonderful time!  And then there was the food.  Apparently, the Halloween theme inspired us. 

As a result of wrapping so many scarves, we easily filled all requests when shipping a week later.  We sent 2,040 comfort scarves and 66 shawls to 66 shelters for abused and/or homeless women.  It was hard work, packing and sealing the boxes, but at the same time very exhilarating. 

2023 September 22 Wrapping Party and Luncheon at Leslye's

We wrapped so many scarves, thanks to you!  A good group attended and we remembered to photograph the group and the table filled with scarves and ribbon.  So colorful.  

Evelyn really enjoyed the fuss we made for her 96^th birthday.  She told us the secret to her long life—walking twice a day, upper body exercises, healthy diet.  She was proud of her regimen and we all listened carefully.  She was able to blow out the candle on her cake (she asked for 96 candles!).

You brought such yummy salads.  There were hardly any leftovers.  We all had a good time wrapping, eating, visiting with each other.  Thanks so much for supporting abused women who have sought the protection of a shelter. 

The next week we started our autumn/holiday shipping.  We sent 2,420 comfort scarves to 67 shelters for abused and/or homeless women.  Wow!!!  That was huge.  I think that was more shelters than we ever sent scarves to in one day.  The number of boxes alone was show stopping. 

2023 June Handmade Luncheon at Leslye's House

First pot luck juncheon at Leslye's house in a long time.   Everyone loved sharing the salads they brought and catching up on the friendships.

2022 December Holiday Party at Ortega 120

Kneeling:  Van, Kayoko, Chris, Elizabeth

Standing:  Ann, Rose, Allen, Janet, Anneliese, Evelyn, Leslye, Linda, Betty, Paula, Karen

3-24-22  Handmade Luncheon at Portola Park

After not meeting for such a long time together, Handmade's hard-working volunteers picnicked at Portola Park in Torrance.  (Click on the photo to enlarge)

2021, July 11 WE ARE VACCINATED Lunch at Leslye's House

2021, June 11 WE ARE VACCINATED Lunch at Leslye's House

This is our 2nd We Are Vaccinated lunch at Leslye's house - no work, just good eating.  The theme is salads; though there were a lot of yummy desserts, too.  It's the first time for some of us to be inside with such a large group, but we're all vaccinated and feeling empowered.

CLICK on the photo below to enlarge it and view the caption.

Wrapping Party with a Moroccan-Themed Lunch - Nov 7, 2019

Here again is an example of the work of Handmade's most prolific knitter, Joanne Garlick.

Back in July 2019, we sent Joanne partially finished projects donated by a would-be participant of Handmade, Sally Flowers, who saw our bin at the Anza Barber Shop.  Sally told us, "I have had to move my Mom in with me as she has spent the last month in hospital.  I have a lot of yarn and would like to know if we can donate that to you and your organization."

Much to our surprise, Sally included crocheted squares of cute images, birds, elves, gift boxes, roses, etc.  We sent them to Joanne knowing she could make them into something useful.  And she did!  Here are a few of the beautiful blankets Joanne created from the squares and mailed to us in Sept 2019.  The shelters we support will be delighted to have them.

And here's the photo Joanne sent with this note: 

The blankets are pretty and I am working on another one. My room looks like a big ball of yarn. lol
Have a great day. God Bless You and love, Joanne

First Wrap/Ship of 2019, January 24

2017 July Scarf Wrapping Party

Union Bank presented $1000 check donation

Kohl (Redondo Beach) sent 5 volunteers to help us wrap scarves and promised a $500 donation

One of Handmade's most prolific scarf knitter, Joanne Garlick, collected and donated over 300 stuffed animals.  Handmade will be shipping them to selected shelters this July 2017.

This is part of Joanne's message to the "Ladies of Handmade:"

I wish to thank all of you for your generosity. Over the years I have been made to feel a very important part of the group. 

You have given me a place to be creative with making the scarves. A little to give to others coming out of abused situations just like me. It warms my heart to be able to be a little cog in a big wheel as Handmade.

Please Thank all the Ladies and let them know I feel the love.

VERY CUTE baby hats knitted and donated by Kay, one of Handmade's many contributors.

Leslye wearing the scarf Susan (right) just completed while knitting at Concepts on Wednesday night (May 3, 2017)

Carolyn Lowi (left), new owner of Concepts and Yarn with Leslye Borden

Remembering June Grossberg

Working with Handmade

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Feb 2016.  Domestic Violence Survivor (from Rainbow Services) Speaks to Handmade at Concepts and Yarn

Dec 2015.  Handmade Banquet at Misto Restaurant, in Hillside Village

Jan 2015.  Sister Anne (from the Good Shepherd Shelter, Los Angeles) speaks to Handmade at Concepts and Yarn