We are inviting all our readers to be a part of the first ever Handmade Hope week, which will take place from 18 to 24 September 2005.

What's the plan?
For one week, the entire South African crafting community will focus their creative talents, resources and time on uplifting those in need of hope.

How can I get involved?
You are limited only by your imagination. Here are some ideas:

Donate a portion of your profits for the week to a worthy charity

Set aside places in your craft classes for underprivileged children or unemployed adults

Hold a charity auction of some of your pieces

Spring-clean your craft supplies cupboard and give away whatever you don't need

Host a crafting party, charge an entrance fee, and donate this to a needy cause

Make handcrafted toys and donate them to a hospital or creche

Host a Big Knit in your home, and make up blankets for those who need them

Buy a set of craft supplies for a teacher at a needy school

Start an altered book circle to raise awareness for your favourite charity

You're a creative bunch, so I know that in the time it's taken you to read this you've probably come up with some ideas of your own - please email us at handmadehope@redballoon.co.za and tell us what you plan to do, and what you'd like to challenge others to do. We will publicise every Handmade Hope event, and as many ideas as possible, in the Gazette and on our web site in the coming months.

If you publish a newsletter or magazine of your own, run craft classes or own a shop or web site, please drop me a note at handmadehope@redballoon.co.za so that I can send you a press release or a poster regarding this initiative. The more people we can involve the more good we can do!

Let's make this work, let's make it huge, and let's make it annual.

This month we are giving away not one, but three prizes, all sponsored by Candlemaker's Deli. Each of our three winners will receive a Candle-making Kit, containing 1kg wax, 100g stearic acid, dye, wick, mould, mould seal and full instructions - in fact, everything you need to get started! To stand a chance of winning one of these super prizes, send an email to competition@redballoon.co.za with the word 'July' in the subject line, and tell us who is sponsoring this month's competition. The winner will be contacted by the 7th of September. Congratulations to Deena Daya, who won a copy of Sugar and Spice in our May/June competition.

An arts and crafts market will be held on 3 & 4 December, at the Pretoria Showgrounds. The organisers are looking for a variety of exhibitors to show, sell, and demonstrate their handmade products. The show will be held in a lockable hall, and 24-hour security is part of the package. For application forms and further information, contact the organiser, Lydia Coombes, on 083 995 5049 or via email at lydiaco@webmail.co.za. Despite the prevalence of email these days, people do actually still write real paper letters! Make a simple and inexpensive gift as follows: Cut a number of sheets of A4 pastel-coloured paper in half. Scour your pattern cupboard for all your old magazine pull-out patterns - these are a wonderful source of templates. Trace a smallish picture onto the top left-hand corner of each sheet, using a gold or silver metallic gel pen. Now the fun part: get out your pencil crayons and start colouring! When you're done, roll the writing paper up and tie with a ribbon; complete the set with a pretty pen and pack of envelopes. Jo-Ann Bannister is holding the following soapcrafting workshops at High Street, Bellville next month: 6 August: 10am - Beginners / 1pm - Bath Delights 13 August: 10am - Scrolls / 1pm - Health Soaps Booking is essential. Contact Jo-Ann at glorioussoap@iafrica.com. You can download and print a couple of really cute and colourful free knitted-doll patterns here.

I received this email in the wake of the London bombings (which happened on my birthday, sadly), and I think it may be a good idea, so I'm passing the message on to you: East Anglian Ambulance Service have launched a national "In case of Emergency (ICE)" campaign with the support of Falklands war hero Simon Weston and in association with Vodafone's annual life savers award. The idea is that you store the word "ICE" in your mobile phone address book, and against it enter the number of the person you would want to be contacted "In Case of Emergency". In an emergency situation ambulance and hospital staff will then be able to quickly find out who your next of kin are and be able to contact them. It's so simple that everyone can do it. Please do. You can read more here. Scrapbooking workshops at the V&A Waterfront: Heritage Page, Travel & Friendship, Mini Love Album, The Story of Us 30 & 31 July, 10am-1pm and 2pm-5pm Booking is essential: (021) 408 7842. Elize Gerber's next PMC/Silver Clay class will be held on 13 August, and classgoers will make a leaf pendant. Get more info here, or contact Elize at elize.gerber@absamail.co.za.