'It helps families': N.B. woman's grief project turns into fundraising efforts for local charity
Winding recycled wool into stars started as a way for Michelle Swan to manage her grief.
"My brother passed away in March. He had a long, hard battle with cancer,” Swan said.
After six years of battling the illness, Swan’s brother passed away.
“It was really overwhelming and I just needed something to channel my grief because I knew it could overtake me if I didn't find something to do,” said Swan.
Swan began creating stars from the left over wool pieces at Briggs and Little Wool Mill, where she works.
"There's some waste product in the process of yarn making, I've been kind of dabbling here and there with other things, and so I did just decide to make something easy, really kind of tedious. Something to lose my thoughts in,” she said.
So, for the last six months, Swan has been saving scraps and shaping stars.
"I don't knit. I've tried to knit, I don't enjoy knitting I find it's hard on my fingers and there's so many other people who knit very well,” said Swan.
“I just started saving the colours that I liked, and the colours that made me feel just a little bit of joy and I thought they'd make a nice star."
Those at Briggs and Little say they were happy to see Swan make use of the wool wastage.
"It's a wonderful project. The pieces that she's using would typically not be used for anything else, so she's recycling something. It's making a beautiful Christmas project for her," said Leah Little, a manager with Briggs & Little Wool Mill.
Proceeds from Swan's stars will go to a local charity in Harvey, N.B. called Christmas Mommies.
"The money stays in the community. It helps families with their Christmas wish list or food in the winter. I think there's high school bursaries, just any community member that needs help and asks for support, they try to help them out,” Swan said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.