|
|
|
| |
|
| |
 |
Also By This Writer |
|
THE HAT LADY
A Crocheting Ministry For Women and Chemo Patients |
|
|
| |
|
|
 |
| Karee Clark (L) with Angelina Musik |
THE HAT LADY
A Crocheting Ministry For Women and Chemo Patients
by Angelina Musik
I met Karee Clark a couple of years ago after she saw me on the San Antonio Living Show where I was encouraging women to live their passion through their business. At that point in her life Karee was feeling alone, hopeless and depressed as a sixty-year-old woman who had a struggling hand crocheting business. She called me two weeks later asking for help. The day she arrived in my home we both carried in a carload of hand crotched hats, scarves, doggie sweaters, shawls and laid them all out in my office and living room. The backseat of her car was so full of her hand crotched items that she drove with a dipped backend. "My first passion is hand crocheting." she told me. "To me, crocheting is an expressive art form of patterns and colors that envelops the personalities of its owners."Weeks later, when I interviewed Karee in Gruene, Texas, her two rat terriers were both wearing doggie sweaters that Karee had hand crocheted just for them. It's because of rescuing Pulga, a shorthaired Chihuahua who easily chills in cool weather, that Karee started crocheting doggie sweaters. She explained: "I crocheted Pulga her own Doggie Sweater Designer Collection. People saw what she wore and starting ordering doggies sweaters for their own pets!" When feasible Karee has also donated doggie sweaters to pet shelters to keep their dogs warm.She learned to crochet after watching a friend, MamaLee, create an Afghan that she would later sell. "I wanted one of her Afghans but couldn't afford it," Karee said. "I finally asked her to teach me how to crotchet one. She did. It took me two weeks to finish my first Afghan. Someone asked to buy it from me right away and I said "no'. I couldn't sell my first creation." A few weeks later Karee managed to finish a poncho, sold it and then started making hats. That first Christmas Karee received an order for a dozen hats. That's when people started calling her 'The Hat Lady'! After that Christmas of hat sales, MamaLee offered Karee, a single mother, a position as a cook at her restaurant. "I worked as a cook on and off for about 10 years," Karee said, "and I continued to crochet and sell my items to support my children. My biggest challenge was to have enough crocheted items to satisfy the different tastes and styles of people. I learned how to listen to what people wanted and to create custom designs just for them." Karee started designing Soft Chemo Hats after receiving a request to help a woman, Joan Miller, who was undergoing chemotherapy in New Braunfels. Karee's soft chemo hat was so soothing and comfortable for Joan's sensitive scalp that she also wore it to bed as a nightcap. "I sleep with the ceiling fan blowing on me to keep me cool in spite of the air irritating my scalp," she explained. "Now I can sleep better through the night because of the scalp protection Karee's hat offers me." Karee's goal is to exhibit her items at craft shows. Over time she has realized, "If I can sell ski hats in Texas, I can sell them up North where I can fund my retirement more fruitfully." Taking her business to the next level will allow her "to rescue myself out of a difficult financial situation and to help people at the same time," she said. Karee shares that her greatest request before God right now is for Him to put in her path the people and resources to obtain a used travel trailer and pickup with a camper shell. She would love to fulfill her dream to travel to northern markets and speak to mature women's groups along the way while selling her inventory of hand crotched items. Karee's ministry of hope is to help reduce the struggles with loneliness, depression, isolation and suicide of these mature women by sharing her story while encouraging them to pursue a dream they might have given up.When asked what has been Karee's source of strength she responds: "I have to believe that God cares about me and I have a purpose of existing. His purpose. I have a very personal daily walk with Him. I talk to Him when I am in the shower and when I am in the car. I go to Him for comfort when life is tough, give thanks when something fantastic happens and I ask Him to fill a need of mine if it is His will. I pray that He provides me with the chance to make a difference in the lives of others," she said."I see my chemo hats also as my ministry," she added. "But I have to sell them because my social security is only $150 a month. Still, I know that people need them and I am filling that need." Karee has seven dozen soft chemo hats right now that people can sponsor for a cancer patient at $25 a piece. You may contact Karee Clark at KareeClark@MOMtrepreneurs.com or call Angelina at 210.497.2372.
|
Angelina Musik
Contributing Writer
Angelina Musik arrived in San Antonio as a 14-year-old German immigrant. As the founder of MOMtrepreneurs.com, she won two awards from the US Small Business Administration and was recognized by Governor Rick Perry for helping women succeed in business. In 2004 she hosted the Angelina TV Show on PAXTV. Currently she hosts the Woman In Business Radio Show that airs online. Her passion is to empower, give hope and enhance the belief systems of others personally and professionally by using media, print and technology. For interviews and speaking engagements, call 210.497.2372.
Angelina@AngelinaMusik.com
|
|
|
|
Did you enjoy this article?
Would you like to read more like this
one?
With a FREE subscription we send you notifications
on articles or news breaks that are of interest to you.
Find a San Antonio church.
saWorship.com is a Christian Online
Magazine serving the local San Antonio area. Find a church online.
San Antonio churches
have free
listings
on our directory and can be updated at their convenience. Search
by denomination or area of the city.
|
|
| |
|
|
Find a Church in San Antonio
find a san antonio church, san antonio churches, christian magazine, find a church in san antonio, san antonio catholic church, free christian magazine, san antonio nondenominational church, christian woman magazine, san antonio community bible church, christian online, church in san antonio, san antonio baptist church, christian community online, san antonio presbyterian church, christian business online, san antonio lutheran church, san antonio protestant church
|
