JAN 31, 2019 – We’ve been sitting on this heart-warming story for a while now, and the coldest week ever seems to be a great time to tell it. Late last September, Cardie Dianne Sutton emailed us, “I’m on my way to a knitting retreat in Maine. (Long way from South Carolina!) I tell you this because it was your knitting card that inside reads “Casting pure love on you today!” that brought me into your community. The first time I saw it in a store, I bought five. I’ve lost track of how many I’ve bought and sent since then. Of that same card. I’ve sent it for birthdays, get wells, and thinking about you. Before I flew out this morning, I dropped three more in the mail: Two birthdays and one sympathy. Nice that cards can be there when I cannot!”
Tickled by Dianne’s passion for cards, knitting and connection, we emailed her right back, “A ‘knitting retreat’ sounds wonderfully redundant to us!” We told her how much we love hearing from our kind and eloquent Cardies, “Especially when you Share Your Story,” we said, indicating that hers would be proudly posted on our Cardie Community pages.
The following week brought this report from our knitter on the ground: “Wonderful trip to the Knitting Pipeline retreat, and wonderful time with 55 knitters from 21 states. I’ve sent you a group shot, and also included a pic of the big pile of mittens we knitted for those who will really need them at the local shelter this winter.
“The big pile of mittens we knitted for those who will really need them at the shelter this winter.”
– DIANE SUTTON
“Paula Fuessle, our retreat leader, hosts retreats all over the country,” Dianne explained. “It’s through these gatherings that I have met so many wonderful new friends. I told Paula and the group about your knitting card, and that I’d emailed you as I was in transit, and I even told them I have a Fairy Cardmother!” :)
Yesterday, while pulling Dianne’s story together to share with you, we checked out organizer Paula’s site Knitting Pipeline.com. There we were sorry to read that she’d posted, “I have some difficult news to share with all of you.” Paula had written there for her knitting community, “I have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer. I am otherwise in excellent health, which will serve me well during the healing process, so we are optimistic that surgery and treatments will restore my health. I welcome uplifting comments, especially if you are a survivor yourself.
“You have been with me for eight-and-a-half years now,” Paula wrote, “and we have built such a splendid community. I treasure all the friendships, not just between you and me, but among yourselves. That has brought me the greatest joy.” She closed her post with, “I know this will be a long, hard road and I am prepared to fight as hard as I can! I have two beautiful granddaughters and I want to see them grow to adulthood!”
Wow. We reached out to Dianne, and together we agreed to invite our Cardie community to be there for Paula just as her Knitter community will. If you happen to be a Cardie who knits, we invite you to knit a small heart and slip it into a support & encouragement card to Paula c/o Cardthartic’s Sales & Fulfillment Center. As it happens, Paula will have her chemo and surgery just a short drive from there! Send those sweet hearts knowing that a few of her Fairy Cardmothers will deliver them on Valentine’s Day.
It’s so amazing to us that the universe would knit together our Creative team in Miami with a Cardie in South Carolina heading to Maine with 55 women from 21 states and their special mentor who now begins the fight of her life an hour from our home office in Illinois! Last evening, Dianne wrote, “I shared our Hearts for Paula idea with a couple of her close knitting friends, and they were delighted at the thought of a basket of hearts beside Paula to encourage her. She has a tough stretch ahead.” Those of us who are not as artistically gifted as knitters may still cast pure love on Paula: Receive a knitting card FREE, and just draw a little heart next to your signature! When you add-to-cart, you won’t be charged for the card to lift Paula’s spirits, and can you imagine the love and good energy she’ll feel opening them?! Go, Cardies, go! And do stay safe and warm.
Hearts for Paula
c/o Cardthartic
3102 Research Road
Champaign, IL 61822
Happy knitters in Maine. Sept ’18
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