Knitting for Charity

So about 5 months ago I taught myself how to crochet, after seeing an advert for a new crochet magazine on the TV.

Initially, it was quite a funny idea - I was going to knit myself a 'granny blanket', and people joked about how comical it was to see a 22 year old crocheting. But I enjoyed it, and it meant I stopped snacking all the time as my hands were busy crocheting with every bit of wool I could get my hands on.

I've knitted hats for friends and family, and I love giving them to people - but I decided I wanted to do a bit more..

So after browsing the internet for a couple of hours today I have decided to put my new-found crocheting skills to better use. I'm going to crochet bonnets and garments for UK children's charities, and blankets for UK animal shelters.

After looking through various websites, it hit me how much these various volunteers and charities need people to donate their knitting and crochet items, especially some of the smaller ones; it was so sad to read how they struggled to hit their targets for donations due to not enough people being able to volunteer.
One site I came across listed their garment targets they wanted to reach by the end of this year, and it was so sad to see "1,000 premature baby bonnets needed - total received 41".

Now I have no specific target set - but I'm going to do my best to learn some new patterns and donate as many items as I can for these charities.
And I think anyone reading this should do the same - learn a new skill, like crocheting or knitting - and put it to good use, and help out someone less fortunate than yourself.

Below I have listed a few of the charities that I have come across, but obviously there are hundreds - so please, do what you can.
I hope this post can encourage other people to take it upon themselves and do something for these charities.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.
-Leanne Leveaux


http://www.snugglesproject.org
-The Snuggles Project is a great charity who provide 'snuggles' (blankets) to animal shelters all over the world.

http://sites.google.com/site/preemiesuk/home
-Preemies UK is a group of volunteers who knit and crochet clothing for premature babies. They're always needing donations and people to volunteer.

http://www.postpals.co.uk
-Post Pals is an amazing project set up for people to send gifts and cards to sick children in the UK. Please also check out the 'TLC' section, for children that are in need of a little more thought this month.

http://cuddles-uk.org
-Cuddles UK is a volunteer, non-profit organisation based in the UK, who supply gowns, blankets and wraps to maternity units all over the United Kingdom. They attempt to support families dealing with the loss of a baby through miscarriage or still birth. Please take a moment to check this site out.

http://www.bonniebabies.co.uk
-Bonnie Babies makes and sends tiny premature clothes, blankets sadly burial outfits to UK special baby care units, and also to the parents who need their support.

Due Date Dash

As part of the upcoming film release for Due Date, starring Robert Downey Jr. and Zach Galifianakis. Warner Bros. Pictures are giving you the chance to win two places to the film's premiere and an all expenses paid road trip across America.

Please see the following links for how you can enter to win this amazing prize!

http://www.people.co.uk/play-win/competitions/2010/10/24/win-due-date-premiere-tickets-102039-22651124/

http://www.premierinn.com/en/news/news_category/celebrate-release-of-warner-brothers-film-due-date-126.html

http://www.absoluteradio.co.uk/freebies/competitions/due_date/index.html

Queue Jumping

Now generally, I'm pretty complacent about things, but queue jumping is one of my biggest pet hates!
And in London, people seem to assume this is ok? Has anyone else noticed this?

I mean, fair enough - on the tube, queue jumping is inevitable, because lets face it, there is no obvious queue, just hoards of irritable commuters, all of which feel they deserve to get on the tube more than the little old lady next to them, or that poor woman with the buggy.
And annoying as that is to watch, we just seem to accept it, and to be honest, another tube will be along shortly, with half the amount of people on, so that's not a big deal.

But for people to so blatently cut a queue that is so clearly obvious really winds me up.
Take for example my morning so far. I always stop in the Tesco Express on the way to work to pick up something for breakfast, and every morning there is always a queue running down one of the aisles (always the same aisle, before there is any confusion).
So there is little old me, with my breakkie, happily queuing, when this burly man in a business suit walks into the store, grabs a lucozade, looks directly at myself and the queue which had formed behind me, and as clear as day walked straight up to the till.
Now, I'm not normally very vocal about things like this, I tend to keep my thoughts to myself and generally roll my eyes and grumble under my breath, but the fact this guy made it so obvious he had SEEN the queue, and just figured he was above queuing really pissed me off.
Just because I was not wearing a suit does not give anyone the right to think they are above me, I am working my ASS off at the moment, trying to land myself a job.
So I called him out, reminding him that there was indeed a queue, to which he looked at me, and continued to attempt to pay for his lucozade, by which point I stated that he was clearly above the rest of us and it was my mistake thinking he had to queue like everyone else, and kindly mentioned that I hope his drink chokes him.

Now I apologise to anyone reading this who might be thinking I am a malicious, seething individual who gets ticked off at the smallest of things, but I am sure anyone else would have done the same.
But then, that does make me wonder why no one else in the queue said anything? It is again this unspoken rule that queue jumping is something people don't agree with, but that people just ignore, and let other people feel high and mighty and walk over the rest of us.
London, pull your finger out and stand up for yourself!
I'm new to this commuting lark, but it baffles me to see people happily let other people take the piss.

I think I may just become the Che Guevara of the London Underground..

Rex

Completely unrelated to work-like things, but thought I'd introduce you all to my new little pal, Rex.

so clever

amazing mini

Ok so Mini have the option where you can customise your Mini completely, but I have to say - this is by far one of the best one's i've seen.
It looks siqqq!!!

baffling times

It actually amazes me how difficult it is for students that leave University.
I know I'm still only fresh onto the soil from graduating, but so far it's been such a lot of ups and downs. A few people I left University with have been on placements at various agencies in and around London, and it actually amazes me how much of a ride some of them take us for, it's astonishing!
Yes, yes, I know placements are good for us to do, to earn experience, get better at producing work and ideas, but we're also skint as f*ck!
No body wants to be taken for a ride, I've heard a couple of agencies take students on for a minimum of 9 months before they even contemplate giving them a job, that's pretty far-fetched if you ask me (and I know you're not, but it's my blog so I'll tell you anyway).
If you can't figure out if someone is right for your agency/company after 3 months, then they clearly aren't suited for you, if it's not clear by then, then stop stringing them along.

I've got an internship myself starting in the next week which i'm totally excited for, but being in this limbo state of 'placementing' is pretty hard work!
I'm being evicted from my house this weekend, following my tenancy already being extended for another 3 weeks, which sucks. So I'm off to the council to see how they can help me.
I'm expecting the usual "seeing as you're not pregnant or have any children, try ringing the YMCA/local hostels" geeee thanks so much for your 'help'!!
I can see now why girls just go and get pregnant, it seems that life is so much easier that way with some people being paid up to £4,000 from the government to sit on their arse.
Those of us that are actually trying to make a career for ourself are shunned and given no help what so ever, someone tell me why our Government is so backwards?
I'm half tempted to go home and dress my kitten Rex up in a babygrow and bonnet and march down to the council and demand a flat.

David Cameron, please for the love of god, give next years batch of graduates some sort of hope.
I've been free from University for around 2 months now, and every day is getting harder already to be positive and motivated about something better coming.
I really don't know how some people do it, honestly.

And the results are in...

I have passed! With a 2:1 from my BA (HONS) Advertising: Creative degree!

wahooooo!!!
Now to find a job!

Heineken flavoured lip gloss

How amazing is this?!

Logo overhaul for BP

I'm sure you're all very much aware of the devastating oil spill across in America, it sucks big time.
LogoMyWay have launched a new creative competition to get people to express their views on this tragedy, by re-designing BP's logo. (there's a cash prize too!)
A lovely way of getting people to express their feelings about a situation through simple logo design, some of these are pretty cool!

check out the site, and reblog!
http://www.logomyway.com/contestView.php?contestId=1746

King Of Shaves

some more mock ups featured in my portfolio and degree show.
these were for King of Shaves, encouraging guys to earn their 'man points'.

For anyone who might be browsing..

..I am free from University.

I am living in High Wycombe and can work asap.
above the line advertising or creative PR preferably.
I can easily commute to London.
Resume on request, portfolio also on request.
I'm determined, driven and work hard to meet demands.
And require a minimum salary of £200 pw.

If you're interested, or like what you see on my blog, please drop me an email at leanneleveaux@aol.com

cheers!

FINISHED!

Woooaaahhh!!
Finally! All printed, presented beautifully, and handed in... now the real nerve-wracking part begins! Let's hope all this hard work has paid off.
For anyone not attending our show, here's a very small preview of some of the stuff my partner Fran and I did.
Enjoy!

Epic week.

Woah, so this has been tough!
Rapidly mac'ing everything up ready for degree show hand in this Sunday. So far so good!
We've blasted out so much work, and are currently in the process of getting 4 of 5 of our campaigns printed up.
Campaign number 5 begins tonight and continues on through until the end of the week, in between driving lessons, tea breaks, portfolio purchasing, and general other day-to-day madness.
WHEN WILL IT END??
very soon actually, gladly, and sadly.
Will be amazing when it's actually all finished and the show is up, but will be a massive end to an era.
We'll all be catapulted out into the real world then, so watch out!

Shark Sleeping Bad

So this looks pretty sweet! Chum-Buddy sleeping bag by Kendra Phillips.
Not very practical, but I sure as heck want one!
I saw one that was a bear a little while ago, might try and dig that one out too - all about the novelty sleeping bags. Makes sleeping fun again.

FMP

Eugh, so not long until the end of University life as I know it! Only about 5 weeks or so, and then it's time for the spectacular Degree Show.
Rather productive day today, got a lot more ideas going on our Final Major Project briefs.
So far we are decided on:
-Wonderbra
-Royal Mail
-Bucks Fire Service (reworking some stuff)

Will post work up here when it's more into the finished stages, it's currently just scribbled notes and marker squiggles on layout pads. If you're not creative, you wouldn't understand.

Also submitted the ideas I had come up with for a brief from Cunning NYC, love working on their stuff - such interesting briefs.
So fingers crossed they include my stuff in their deck for client, we shall seee!

So yeah, positive positive positive.

Real Life Simpsons

Probably the weirdest thing I've seen all day, real-life Homer Simpson.

Durex: Love Is Blind

Samuel Michael on Durex: Love Is Blind.
I like these, but have a vague feeling i've seen this done before. Nice idea, but feels a little familiar.
Still nice to know that sometimes the little ideas make it.

Natural gas commercial

This makes me feel warm and fuzzy.
I wish my house was all wooly.

The Big Vote

I know a lot of these have been floating around the net, but this one has to be my favourite.
Just spot on.

Why Britain needs an Obama

I just came across this, and thought it was incredible. I firmly believe that the U.S and us here in Britain should each have President Obama running our countries for 6 month periods every year - I definately believe our country could benefit from his drive, passion and vision.

The little boy pictured visited The White House, and wanted to feel if Obama's Presidential hair felt like his own.
Obama obliged.

What a great man.

www.postpals.co.uk

Saw this the other day on 'Russell Howard's Good News'. Such a beautiful idea and so simple. Please visit www.postpals.co.uk and take just five minutes out of your day to brighten the day of a sick child.

Please visit and get involved.

Apple

Love this! Amazing little piece of work.

Adobe Photoshop CS4 - "As Real As It Gets"

Lonely Hearts

Lovely little piece by JWT

KitKat Orangutans

This is an incredible ad, very hard hitting, and hits to point right on the head.
I'm not really a fan of Greenpeace's old approach of petitions and chaining themselves to trees, etc, but lately they have produced some really compelling ad work.
Well worth taking a look.
http://vimeo.com/10236827
http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/

Innocent

Just found some work I did for Innocent last year.
Had to promote the brand by making people interact with the products packaging.

Builder's Tea

Brief for Builder's Tea (brand of teabags if you're not familiar with them), Fran and I have been working on.
Developed three different ways of having your brew, matching the three common traits of builders.
Here's some of what we came up with.

Placement starts Monday..

So Fran and I start our placement on Monday at CMW in London. Really looking forward to it, they look like a fun agency so will keep this posted with how we get on.

Cutting Down Obesity

I'm pretty sure if soft drinks companies adopted this look to their packaging, it would help cut down on kids overdoing it on the sugar and piling on the pounds.
Come on Coke - do your bit!

Relentless - for small children

Just something more current that I have done.
Relentless for small children.

Dream Girlfriend

Came across this website via a blog link.
ABSOLUTELY HILLARIOUS!!

Ok so I understand the concept, good start - it all seemed to be going well..
For those that aren't aware, you basically have a virtual boyfriend/girlfriend, to whom you type requests of what they should do.
And to be honest, I think whatever you type is effectively going to produce a negative response.

So being new to this, I thought I'd be nice, and I typed in Cuddle? Then it got a bit weird. Shouting, and poor acting. This could have been done so much better, feel it was lost a little...

Check it out (or not, i'm not plugging) if you havn't already.

I'll be honest, I couldn't tell you who the brand/product/company this was for.

Great communication there.

Cadbury merging with Nestle

Saw this and thought it was brilliant.

iTable

I for sure want one of these.. what a great idea.
Christmas 2010 please.

WWF

Probably, in my opinion, the best and most direct WWF campaign.
Executed brilliantly.

Actions Speak Louder Than Words

It occured to me that whilst this is a blog mainly about my work, and things I have had the pleasure of working on, I have absolutely no evidence of ANY work!
Please forgive me, although I don't have any recent digital scamps of more up to date work, I can give you a slice of the 2009 pie.

Clients and Work

Here is a small overview of what I've been up to.
A full resume/CV can be supplied on request, I am also available for book crits.

Placements
Cunning NYC
CMW

Clients
Blackberry Storm
Trebor
Crunchy Nut
Aviva Investors
Barbican Blaze
Tourism Toronto
Bucks Fire Service
Innocent
Kleenex
Thorntons
LiDL
Tru: TV
Hey Champ
Childline
Relentless
Builder's Tea
Monster Munch
Coco Pops
Pokerstars.com
Wonderbra
Dairylea
(to name a few)