Charts for Charity by Little House Needleworks and Shakespeare's Peddler

Neighborhood Friends by Diane Williams of Little House Needleworks

Pets bring so much joy to our lives: they greet us happily at the end of the day, they listen when we need a caring friend, they snuggle up to us when we sleep, and they are our constant loving companions. Diane Williams of Little House Needleworks and Theresa Venette of Shakespeare's Peddler wanted to help this country's homeless animals and have created two designs, the proceeds from which will benefit dogs and cats looking for their fur-ever homes.

Cats in the Garden by Shakespeare's Peddler

Both designers have donated their designs "Neighborhood Friends" and "Cats in the Garden," and Theresa is donating the printing of the patterns. So, 100% of the sales of these two designs will go directly to non-profit animal welfare organizations. When you purchase either or both of these designs from March 1-April 30, 2014, you can nominate an animal care organization in the United States to receive a portion of the proceeds.

To nominate an organization, indicate your choice in the comments section of your order form on Etsy. The organization must be devoted to helping homeless, lost, injured, abused, neglected, or abandoned animals and must be verifiable (we will need either an address, a web site, or a phone number for verification with your nomination.) The organization must be in the United States, but does not need to be restricted to an organization that helps dogs and cats (other animal welfare organizations are welcome!) If you do not nominate an organization, your vote will go to Best Friends Animal Society (www.bestfriends.org).  When you purchase both charts for the special price of $15.00, you may nominate two organizations.

On May 1st, we will draw from all nominations and choose three organizations to receive a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the charts. Additionally, funds will also go to Southern Pines Animal Shelter (Theresa's shelter of choice), Southern Arizona Golden Retriever Rescue (Diane's organization of choice), and Friends of Homeless Animals Inc., of Rhode Island (chosen by Valerie Morrell, who had the grand idea for this venture.) The charts will continue to be available after May 1st, and funds will be distributed at the designers' discretion.

These graphs will not be available through shops or through the distributors -- this allows us to give more to the animal organizations, since we will not have to give anyone else a cut of the sales. These are not "free" charts. You may not reproduce these graphs for sharing via photocopies, scans, electronic copies, or any other method; the designers retain all copyright privileges. You will be getting an actual pattern in the mail with your purchase -- these charts are not available as a downloadable PDF.

Thank you so much for giving a little -- we are happy to give you a little in return, and in the end, we hope to give a lot to many, many animals.

You can purchase the charts here:

Neighborhood Friends

Cats in the Garden

Both Charts

(Diane's chart calls for DMC floss on your favorite neutral fabric that will ensure the white shows up.  Theresa has suggested Sampler Threads, but has a conversion to DMC floss, and again, she encourages you to use your favorite neutral fabric.  Both designs have the same stitch count of 139 by 75.)

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A little bit about our three chosen organizations:

Southern Pines Animal Shelter is located in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Last year, this private non-profit organization took in 6,000 lost, abandoned, abused, unwanted, and neglected animals. They operate a low-cost spay and neuter clinic and an adoption center and have helped reduce the number of local unwanted animals by thousands in the last few years (through low-cost and free spay and neuter surgeries.) Thousands of animals are adopted locally, and the shelter also works with transport rescue organizations to send still more pets to states far away where those sweeties can find loving homes. Theresa is a board member and steadfast volunteer at the shelter, and fosters many, many (many) kittens every year. You can find out more about them (including available pets, and find out how to donate or volunteer, at www.southernpinesanimalshelter.org.)

Southern Arizona Golden Retriever Rescue: "We don't get the elegantly coiffed, classically beautiful, completely trained, perfectly behaved dog. We get the leftovers. Dogs that other people have incompetently bred, inadequately socialized, ineffectively "trained," and badly treated. Most Rescue dogs have had it. They've been pushed from one lousy situation to another. They've never had proper veterinary care, kind and consistent training, or sufficient company. They've lived outside, in a crate, or in the basement. They're scared, depressed and anxious. Some are angry. Some are sick. Some have given up. But we are Rescue and we don't give up. We never give up on a dog. We know that a dog is a living being, with a spirit and a heart and feelings. Our dogs are not commodities, things, or garbage. They are part of sacred creation and they deserve as much love and care and respect as the next Westminster champion. So please, please don't come to rescue in the hopes of getting a "bargain," or in need of "getting" anything. Come to Rescue to give, to love, to save a life -- and to mend your own spirit. For Rescue will reward you in ways you never thought possible. I can promise you this -- a rescue dog will make you a better person." - written by Diane Morgan. You can learn more about the Southern Arizona Golden Retriever Rescue at https://southern-az-golden-retriever-rescue.org/. 

Friends of Homeless Animals, Inc. of Rhode Island (a 501c 3 charity): "We rescue small dogs with big hearts! We do not have a shelter; all dogs are fostered in volunteers' homes. Every dog we take in is nurtured and given all necessary medical care as we work to find them forever homes. All dogs under FOHA's care are spayed or neutered before adoption. It is the strength of our members that makes the difference-caring individuals who step forward to save, nurture and rehome dogs who would otherwise face life in a puppy mill, shelter or even euthanasia. We hold many adoption events throughout the greater Rhode Island area all year long. Learn more about Friends of Homeless Animals, Inc. of Rhode Island at www.fohari.org/.