Greetings from Kermit!

Here we are at the beginning of a new year, with one Piggy Bank Bazaar behind us, and this year's Even Greater Bazaar ahead. Now it's time for planning, and donating, and Workshops, and just LOTS of stuff.  It's enough to keep this frog hopping with joy during this cold time of year!!

The year will start out with the Annual Planning Meeting on Wednesday, February 1st at 9:30 a.m. in Room 15. Please join us at the meeting - you'll be Very Welcome!! You'll get to hear a report of last year's Bazaar, and you'll be a participant in planning for this year! You'll also get to help allocate Bazaar profits to specific donations. If you have any craft ideas, please bring those with you - the Workshop folks are always on the lookout for new ideas! And perhaps best of all, Refreshments will be served!!!

February's Wednesday Morning Workshops will be held on the 8th, 15th, 22nd and 29th, at 9:30 a.m. in Room 15. (Meetings usually last until about 11:30.)  The Workshop on the 8th will be the annual Reorganize Piggy's Cabinet session, where we will put away all the donated supplies you Wonderful people have brought us.  Once that is done, the Workshops will be mostly craft projects. With several projects underway at a time, there's bound to be one or two that are perfect for YOU!  Please join us at the Workshops!!  Children are always welcome.

One special note about wintry weather.  Sometimes snow does affect the Workshops.  The rule is that if Wappingers schools are closed or even just delayed, there will be no meeting.

For the last few years, the Piggy Bank folks have been learning how to make beaded jewelry. On Saturday, March 10th, at 9:30 a.m. in Rooms 13 and 15, they will be holding an instructional workshop for anyone who'd like to learn the basics of making beaded necklaces, bracelets, and earrings.  Each participant may take home a free piece of jewelry, and we hope you will also have time to make some additional items for the Bazaar. Introductory lessons will begin at 9:30. If you're already skilled in jewelry making please join in too, and have fun designing with all the beads we have available.

Each year, TAKE HOME KITS make up a significant part of what we're able to offer all the young humans at the BAZAAR.  These are made available to members of the congregation in the spring.  Each kit includes a completed sample of the craft, supplies to make more of the item, and written instructions. We are looking for several people who would like to DESIGN TAKE HOME KITS.  Designers usually do most of the work at home, getting supplies from Piggy's Cupboard, on line craft sites or mail order catalogs, and local stores.  If YOU can help  help in this way, please call Carol Ray and volunteer!!

Once Piggy's Cupboard is all straightened up, there'll be room for some supplies we need, including beads, jewelry making supplies, old jewelry, ribbon roses, fused pearl strands, new nails, screws, washers and hooks, pliers, pom poms, buttons, Styrofoam balls, Styrofoam cones, Styrofoam flat sheets, tennis ball containers, jingle bells, Christmas and other designed mugs, fabric, pillow forms, polyester stuffing and batting, yarn, ribbon, floral foam, vases, floral moss, paint brushes, craft paints, scrap book paper, new pencils and pens, stickers, rulers, yardsticks, rhinestones, very fine glitter, cut out wood shapes, frames, Christmas gift wrapping paper, Christmas gift bags, tissue paper , and other miscellaneous craft supplies. For the 2012 Bazaar we'll need department store handled bags or grocery bags with handles.  Any of these or other goodies you may have for the Bazaar can be left in Room 15.  Mrs. Ray (my human friend who is all refreshed and ready to start on this year's Bazaar) tells me that all the Wednesday Workshop folks enjoy looking through new donations!!

That's all the news for now.  I need to get busy hopping around so I'll stay warm. I hope to see YOU at the Workshops!!

Yours in love,
Kermit