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Softies For Mirabel 2015 Launch : Our 9th Year!

October 21, 2015

Yay! It’s finally time for Softies For Mirabel to roll out for the year! This is one of my very favourite Meet Me At Mike’s ideas. Who knew, 9 years ago, that ace people would make thousands of soft toys for The Mirabel Foundation kids? Not me, that is for sure.  (Remember when Vogue Japan made a video about it?! That was pretty nuts!)

So what’s it all about?

Softies For Mirabel is a handmade toy drive to benefit The Mirabel Foundation kids.

The Mirabel Foundation supports kids whose lives are affected by parental illicit drug use. You can read some of their stories here. These are great kids whose parents have unfortunately had some serious problems with addiction and associated health issues. Many kids have had the harrowing experience of being abandoned or losing their parents to drugs. All are in the care of loving relatives and The Mirabel Foundation supports everyone in all kinds of ways including counselling and respite care.

They are really GOOD people and it’s important to help them raise awareness of the work they do. Also, giving kids cute toys is UBER important because you can tell all kinds of important things to a soft toy, right? That can be a really important thing. Not only that, these toys start lovely, positive conversations between kids and their family carers – when often the conversations might have been about other SUPER tough things. So let’s get this happening and provide some cute, made with love stuff to talk about (at least some of the time!)

Whether you are new to the program or a tried and true Softies For Mirabel veteran, there are some things you need to know about this year’s drive. So listen up!

 

SOFTIES FOR MIRABEL 2015 A4

Here’s what you need to do to be part of this (and BOY would we love you to be part of this!)

1. Make a toy for the Mirabel Foundation kids. 
2.Remember the theme! Yes! We have a theme this year! The theme is ‘all creatures great and small
3. Upload a photo of your handmade toy (softie!) to Instgram using the #SoftiesForMirabel tag (if you can!)
4. Send your finished toy/s to: PO Box 1320, St Kilda, Victoria, 3182, Australia
5. Know that it will be matched with a great kid (according to personality, age appropriateness and safety considerations.)
6. Do all this by 20th February 2016 (or sooner!)

A few things are different this year (Extended deadline – so you can make over the Summer! A THEME – so you can get even more creative! A new postal address – because we are sending direct to Mirabel this year!) Make sure you read over the guidelines and leave any questions below.

Your toy should be handmade (with love!) and ready for an ace kid. It’s okay to use buttons and other findings because the special Mirabel Foundation toy/kid matchmaker will make sure that toys with buttons or other fancy bits don’t go to small children or babies. It’s also good if you don’t name your toy – kids love naming them all by themselves. You can send a letter to the Mirabel Foundation staff with your toy – but best not to write a note to the recipient of your toy because it’s important to make sure they are not getting notes from people they don’t really know. We don’t need new toys or other kinds of handmade items, but thank you! I am sure all that makes sense to you!

I’m going to profile our (mine and Mirabel’s!) favourites on my blog and Instagram each week. This is such a great way to celebrate making, ace kids, crafty talent and community. You really should take part (or get your office or school making as a gang! The more the merrier!)

Feel free to copy any images in this post and use them across social media or blogs to share the word. GO. FOR. IT.

If you’d like to see what people made over previous years you can check the #SoftiesForMirabel tag on Instagram or look at the Flickr group or here!

Thank you so much if you have ever taken part in this drive – and indeed if you are going to help us this year. YOU ARE THE BEST!

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SOFTIES FOR MIRABEL 2015

14 Comments

  • Reply Cathy November 22, 2016 at 9:40 PM

    I love making the toys I think I have been making them for 7yrs now- I have just sent some off today- now how do I put my photo up every year is the same I just can’t work it out.

    Cathy

  • Reply audrey November 24, 2015 at 10:02 PM

    I’m excited to be able to take part this year! I wonder if we can drop the toys off instead of mailing them?

    • Reply Meet Me At Mikes November 25, 2015 at 9:01 AM

      You would have to contact Mirabel and see what works for them. Thanks for joining in!! x

  • Reply Therese October 28, 2015 at 11:46 AM

    Can’t wait to get started on this brilliant project. Thanks helping me find my craft mojo Pip!

  • Reply Pia October 27, 2015 at 1:40 AM

    Pip
    I was totally unable to help last year, so I am genuinely excited to be involved with this year’s campaign. I am also hoping to get a lot of my FB followers to join in. A couple of them actually make stuffed toys as their major/favourite Creative outlet.

    It’s SO important for all of us to feel like we are making a difference in the world.
    THANK YOU for bringing this opportunity to us all.
    <3
    Pia

  • Reply Catherine October 22, 2015 at 2:16 PM

    im going to try and organise a Sydney Spoolettes sewing day for this! I think we did one earlier in the year for another Charity at Sew Make Create. hopefully the longer deadline will get more people interested!

  • Reply Meredith October 22, 2015 at 5:43 AM

    Spoonflower is looking forward to another Softies for Mirabel drive in our office!

  • Reply Andi October 21, 2015 at 9:42 PM

    I have a free pattern that might suit people who want to make a simple softie. It’s a fox and available at my website here: http://www.superminx.com/portfolio/fox-softie-sewing-pattern/

    Cheers,
    Andi

    • Reply Kristy October 22, 2015 at 1:50 PM

      Thanks Andi!!! I’m keen to try it although I’m not too crafty so don’t have a machine – think it will be ok to try and sew by hand? Thanks
      Kristy

      • Reply Meet Me At Mikes October 22, 2015 at 2:01 PM

        Handsewn is totally FINE! Thank you!! x

  • Reply Kelly October 21, 2015 at 9:14 PM

    I’ve heard of Softies For Mirabel but never really knew what it was all about, what a great cause. Looking forward to joining in this year 🙂

  • Reply Jo October 21, 2015 at 8:50 PM

    Can’t wait to partake again, such a valuable cause. I also love the fact that it falls around Xmas time when everything feels a bit too excessive and consumerist – this feels like a good way to create some balance. Thanks for organising it again!

  • Reply Gayle October 21, 2015 at 7:51 PM

    Yay! I think this will be my fifth year. So much fun. And such a great cause.

  • Reply Robyna | the Mummy and the Minx October 21, 2015 at 7:28 PM

    looking forward to making something cute already!

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