Fiftieth Post - And A Giveaway!

I can't believe that this is my fiftieth post! Although I have been blogging for years, I've had a few "stops and starts!" I look forward to blogging for another few years now that I've found my "voice!"

Anyway, I have chosen to celebrate my fiftieth post in a very special way: with my first giveaway! :)

As you may recall, one of my New Year's vows was to crochet a new pattern or project each month. Well, the project I chose for January was two beautiful scarves; one to be donated to Threads of Compassion, and one for a lucky reader! For those of you who are unfamiliar with this great organization,

"Threads of Compassion is a loosely connected group of survivors of sexual violence who desire to offer comfort and support to recent victims. The idea is simple. Anyone whose life has been affected by sexual assault or abuse is welcome to knit or crochet a scarf which in turn will be given to a victim of sexual violence when they enter the hospital for emergency treatment. Having been through similar experiences ourselves, our hope is to offer support at a time when a person is feeling forsaken, fearful, and extremely vulnerable, and in a simple way let them know they are not alone. So many people are lost in how to respond to friends and family members that have been victims of sexual abuse or assault, so they opt to do nothing. Their fear of adding more pain by saying or doing the wrong thing results in
silence. This silence is heartbreaking to the victim...a silence that offers no validation to the pain they are going through and that adds to their feeling of isolation. The silence produces shame.

One of the main goals behind Threads of Compassion is to break through this silence by acknowledging the pain. The gift of a scarf not only shows the knitters/crocheters concern for the victim, but also expresses their sorrow for what has happened. Each scarf is made by someone who wishes to provide a small amount of comfort against the pain being faced, and by doing so, lets the victim know they are not alone. The scarves are tangible objects that can be held, wrapped around the neck or shoulders, with the deeper meaning known only by the wearer. As each victim touches the threads of the scarves they receive, they are connecting with someone who cares about what has happened to them."

I am doing this giveaway to raise awareness for Threads of Compassion, in honor of my best friend, who in 2009 was the victim of rape. While I am constantly amazed at the strength that she has displayed in these incredibly tough circumstances, and at how God has chosen to work even in a horrific situation, I have also been affected by the grief surrounding this act of violence.

This topic is often ignored because it is awkward or uncomfortable to discuss; however, consider these statistics.

One in six women will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime; every two minutes someone is sexually assaulted in the United States; 60% of sexual assaults are not reported to the police; and only 6% of rapists will ever spend a day in jail.

The scarf was crocheted by me, Taleia, using this pattern, in a beautiful soft multi-toned lavender color. The pattern featured many interweaved loops, signifying the unique bond shared by all those affected by sexual violence. The lucky winner of the second scarf may choose to donate it to Threads of Compassion, or she may choose to wear the scarf and tell others about Threads of Compassion whenever she receives a compliment on it. :)

To enter the giveaway:

1) Blog, tweet, or post a Facebook status update about Threads of Compassion for one entry each. Mentioning this giveaway is appreciated but not required (the goal of this giveaway is to raise awareness for Threads of Compassion, not Taleia & Company).

2) Drop me a comment and tell me how you shared (if you blogged or tweeted, make sure to give me the address).

Optional 3) If you happen to be crafty and you decide to crochet a scarf of your own to donate, be sure to snap a picture! I will be hosting another Threads of Compassion giveaway later on this year and I will definitely give extra entries to anyone who donates! (If you're a particularly speedy crocheter and you finish a scarf for donation before the giveaway ends, drop me a comment and let me know).

On January 25th I will randomly draw a winner and post the exciting news! The winner will have until January 29th to contact me at taleia_and_company@yahoo.com and claim their prize; if I am not contacted within that time, I will redraw.

Good luck! If you haven't embraced the scarf fad yet, check out these picts for some inspiration, featuring the giveaway scarf as graciously modeled by my sister, Elizabeth!< /div>