The Designing of Orange Julius

Now this is just plain fun. Not sure it can get more colorful then this. These rectangles and squares of orange, yellow, green, red, and variegated mixes come from: My Darling Daughter, Christine, Yvonne, RoseMarie, Carol, Kris, Pat, Anne, Joy, Louise, and Krystine from her garage sale find awhile back. The bulk of these fun bright colorful squares are crocheted though there are some knitted ones as well.

I must give some thought to what color to join and edge this ghan with. Perhaps off white/ivory/tan? I generally use darker colors for joining; but...given the amount of color here, might not this time. Then again, maybe orange? I edged the previous orange colorful ghan (Autumn) with a green. Will give this more thought and check my stash. Got an idea....do sing out and let me know.

A few more days til the end of the month when we'll temporarily close our Give a Square Campaign. Remember though it's not going away, it's just going to be dormant for awhile.

As of the writing/scheduling of this post (all posts are written and scheduled ahead), we have a ghan in the works, plus 6 designed and waiting in the wings. When we ending the year 2010 we had donated ghans. Two of those went to our friends at Pine Street, while the remainder to our homeless and abused folks at Faith Mission so much in need.

2011
Scarves 27
Hats 40
Mittens 1
Socks 5
Slippers 3
Ghans 6
Squares 54

Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!

Blue Jazz

Blue Jazz in the planning stages here. This group of donated squares really has lots of different pieces. A few of the squares are from way back and are smaller then our 7-10 guidelines for our current "Give a Square" project. This group has squares, rectangles, some knit, some crocheted in granny style fashion (in the round), while others are sampler type in design (crocheted end to end).

The number of people who've donated for this one is a bit of a mystery to me, given some of those older squares. Some of which were before Bridge and Beyond was formed. I've picked up some at garage sales in years past, some given to me when someone had a family member who used to crochet or knit. Though perhaps not immediately, everything truly does get used for charity at some point when donated to me. I can tell you the following people have squares in this Blue Jazz Ghan: Joy, RoseMarie, Yvonne, Niki, Sarah S, Christine (DD), and Susan. Please if you see your square here and I've missed you....sing out.

This ghan when completed will go to our Mothers and Children at Faith Mission. Currently, I'm thinking I'll edge and join this ghan in a smokey blue color. I've got a good amount of it in my stash.

2011
Scarves 27
Hats 40
Mittens 1
Socks 5
Slippers 3
Ghans 6
Squares 54

Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!

More designing fun for Faith Mission

This is a revised design. You might remembering seeing it HERE. I took out quite a bit of white and was able to add more pink and green from some of the more recent donations of squares and rectangles. It's more colorful this way I believe. I don't have any plans to change it further and plan to join it with white or pink; though I've also considered green. Must check my stash and go from there. Leaning white though now that I've removed some of the white squares.

2011
Scarves 27
Hats 40
Mittens 1
Socks 5
Slippers 3
Ghans 1
Squares 54

Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!

Squares serve so many

More squares to add to the designing fun I've been having for our Mothers and children at Faith Mission. Thank you Sandie in Louisiana for your crocheted squares. They will be put to good use and are very much appreciated.

We'll be collecting squares for 11 more days (until Jan 31st), for our "Give a Square" program. As of the writing of this post (as you know all are scheduled ahead), we have quite a few designed and ready for me to assemble. Remember Give a Square won't go away never to return. It will be dormat for awhile until such time I feel like we need to make more ghans; so please if you like making squares, keep doing so. If you like to make a square or two when you finish other projects with the left over yarn; continue to do that and put them aside. I will be posting another time for you to mail them in. This method I believe keeps things at a manageable level.

2011
Scarves 27
Hats 40
Mittens 1
Socks 5
Slippers 3
Ghans 1
Squares 51+3=54

Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!

Designing Warmth for the Homeless with your Squares

This reddish brown ghan has both knitted and crocheted squares and rectangles of various sizes from lots of people. I know several I've had on hand for quite a while (before Give a Square), and therefore don't know whom several are from (remember the groups that sent items when they disbanded); but the more recent contributions come from Joy, RoseMarie, Sarah S, Judy, Liz (minnisoda on the Ville), and James. If you see any of your squares above and I've missed naming you, please sign out. As I've mentioned before it's quite difficult to keep track of who sent what squares; though I do remember quite a few.

I really like this color combo, though in truth probably isn't one I would have thought of before seeing the squares. With the variety of sizing, I'll do lots of piecing this one together. At the moment, I'm thinking of joining it with a burgundy. Stay tuned for updates on the progress of this and previously posted designed ghans, as well as more designs coming from your thoughtful donations. Together, we're warming those folks at Faith Mission, one stitch, one square, and one ghan at a time.

Thank You!

2011
Scarves 27
Hats 40
Mittens 1
Socks 5
Slippers 3
Ghans 1
Squares 51

Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!

Designing with Blue and Green

Blue and Green, what fun! Squares and rectangles from lots of folks. I know some are from Sandie, Joy, Alexis, Rose Marie, Jessica and Yvonne as well as my long term stash from before Give a Square. If I missed someone, please sing out. I try to scan the pictures and remember who sent what group of squares. I really can't keep track of each individual one; but don't want to leave anyone out.

This blue and green makes me think of a favorite formal from my high school years. My mother thought I was a bit wacky when I selected blue and green satin fabric for her to make me a dress. The top was turquoise, and the bottom was green. It was a basic empire wasted dress, sleeveless and floor length. I wore it to the winter formal. Loved the dress so much the following year for she added an overlay of a blend of the colors so the dress would look different and I wore it to the prom. Several years later a friend borrowed it for her sister to wear in her wedding. I've never heard back from her since and so never got my dress back. Makes me sad, even to this day. I've gained weight so naturally couldn't wear it now; but Mom made it and it was my favorite.

Am having great fun folks designing with your squares and rectangles, keep em coming. Please keep checking back in...I've got more for you to see.

2011
Scarves 20
Hats 39
Mittens 0
Socks 5
Slippers 3
Ghans 1
Squares 51

Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!

Pink and Purple Afghan Design

Keep checking in folks. I've been throwing squares and rectangles all over the living room coming up with designs for afghans for our folks at Faith Mission from your generous donations. The above pink and purple combination is sure to bring a smile to someone's face. This is bagged and ready for me to assemble when I finish colorful blocks which is currently in the works. What girl doesn't like pink and purple? Young or old, lol.

This design is made from both squares and rectangles, some are knitted and some are crocheted, some are granny squares and others are sampler style. I know off the top of my head many are squares from Joy, Rose Marie, Karen V, James, and some I've had for a good while from a couple of defunct groups that sent their odds and ends anonymously when they disbanded. Do you see any of your squares or rectangles here? If so, sing out.

Please stay tuned folks, cause while I had the living room a mess...I really went at it designing. Hubby took a look at the living room with squares on all the chairs, coffee table, carpet, etc and said I best leave, "don't want to be in the way of your creating!"

2011
Scarves 20
Hats 39
Mittens 0
Socks 5
Slippers 3
Ghans 1
Squares 51

Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!

Hats, Scarves, and Squares, The Giving Continues

Thank you James. James does beautiful work (all items are knitted), and has been a long time supporter of the cause here at Bridge and Beyond. We appreciate your dedicated, your hard work, and duration James! 3 nice warm soft hats, 1 fabulous scarf, and 4 squares to add to my collection. Please keep checking in for designs and finished ghans for our folks at Faith Mission from the squares from Give a Square (as well as those I have on hand).

Hand knit and crocheted items give warmth in several ways folks, so please keep them coming. First they give hope to the person who receives them. Hope that things will improve for them. It gives physical warmth from the cold which is so needed, and it let's them know they are not forgotten, that someone somewhere who doesn't know them has taken precious time to make something special...JUST for THEM!

2011
Scarves 19+1=20
Hats 36+3=39
Mittens 0
Socks 5
Slippers 3
Ghans 1
Squares 47+4=51

Rainbow Project....kids helping kids runs through the end of January. Have you read about it? Please do.

Recently, Toby (a lady who helps Rae prepare and feed the homeless on Sat am), hand delivered some of our hats, scarves, and mittens to 2 schools who sadly have children in need. Cold children without, some of whom make their way to school despite the difficulties of being homeless, or living in a shelter. Stiles and Darby Dale Elementary schools are part of the Southwestern City School District who've experienced many failed levies and many cuts. We may not be able to make up for the shortfalls with failed levy's, but we can and did make children warmer through your generous and on going support of knitted and crocheted items. Yet again, an example of the word "beyond" in our title.

Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!

Cheering up and Warming up with Bright Blocks

Bright Blocks in need of a few final rows/trim edge. These blocks were all crocheted and donated by Anne, Pat, Carol, and Kris.

I edged them with a nice dark blue and as luck had it, actually had some of the variegated yarn in my stash--hard to believe isn't it; but how cool is that. I was then able to complete the edging with several more rows of the matching variegated yarn.

Funny different lighting in the 2 pictures. The first picture was taken during the day (you can actually see a wee bit of sunshine), and this 2nd picture taken at night with the lights on when I finished the edge. Not sure you can tell without clicking to enlarge but the final edge has several rows of ruffles for the ladies.

Once it's laundered, it will need a small bit of blocking, but not much. Once that done, it's on it's way to Faith Mission for those Mothers and Children in need. This is about 50 inches square so is nice size.

2011
Scarves 19
Hats 36
Mittens 0
Socks 5
Slippers 3
Ghans 0+1=1
Squares 47

We still have a couple of weeks left in our Give a Square and Rainbow Project, both are running until the end of the month of January. Details in the sidebar.

Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!

Stage One, the donated squares
Stage Two The Design
Stage Three...edging and joining

I am so greatful for donations for the homeless

Thank you Sarah. You've once again shown how generous you are. We appreciate all your efforts more then you realize. Sarah's been a wonderful supporter donating to our homeless since she and I met over on The Hive. Sarah sent 3 matching hat and scarf sets, 3 additional hats, 2 personal care packages (which are always wonderful), 6 squares that you know will be used to create more ghans for our folks in need at Faith Mission, and 5 pairs of warm socks.

Everything is far prettier than it shows in this picture. It's a bit blurry. I think I had to recharge my batteries right after this too. Sorry folks.

Many thanks Sarah for your on going support.

2011
Scarves 16+3=19
Hats 20+6=26
Mittens 0
Socks 0+5=5
Slippers 3
Ghans 0
Squares 41+6=47

Please read details for Give a Square and Rainbow Project in the side bar.

Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!

Vacation Ghan for Homeless

My darling daughter started this ghan over her Thanksgiving break when she came to visit for a few days, and picked it up again when she returned for Christmas. Thus my naming it, vacation ghan. She crocheted it in stripes using a variety of stitches. The variegated stripes are v-stitch, and the vertical stripes are a combination of double crochet (green), and shells with front post double crochet (cream, burgundy, and dusty rose).
Wanted to show you her progress. Once she got the variegated stripes done she got the idea for the shells and began crocheting the vertical portion.
She made wonderful headway before she had to head back to St. Louis. I'll be finishing it up for her by joining the sections and completing the last section of shells, and doing something about a border.
What a wonderful way to spend one's vacation, making something for someone else. This ghan will go to Faith Mission.

Thank you darling daughter. Wish you could have stayed longer. Thank you for your thoughtful donation and giving your time.

2011
Scarves 16
Hats 20
Mittens 0
Socks 0
Slippers 3
Ghans 0
Squares 41

Remember we have 2 programs this month, the end of Give a Square and the very special Rainbow Project.

Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!

More goodies for the homeless

Our long time supporter and friend, Sandie has sent a beautiful turquoise scarf and 2 interesting crocheted squares. I LOVE the color, sooooooooo pretty. The black and red stripe will also get put to good use. I'll be adding these squares to those I have on hand and soon be designing another ghan. Remember squares are being accepted for our Give a Square Program until the end of this month. (details in side bar)

2011
Scarves 15+1=16
Hats 20
Mittens 0
Socks 0
Slippers 3
Ghans 0
Squares 39+2=41

Have you read about our special RainBow Project for the month of January? If not, please do.

Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!

Stage Two, Bright Blocks for Faith Mission

Am enjoying working on stage 2 of this bright block ghan from crocheted squares from Anne, Carol, Pat, and Kris. Edging all squares in sc, then joining, then edging a strip again for a larger border, then joining those stripes. It's coming along nicely. By the time you read this scheduled post; am hoping to have another ghan designed and be working on the colorful knitted block ghan.

Give a Square continues through out the month of January, so you still have time to get squares in. AND don't forget about our special "Rainbow Project".

2011
Scarves 15
Hats 20
Mittens 0
Socks 0
Slippers 3
Ghans 0
Squares 39


Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!

Every color of the Rainbow to warm and cheer those in need

Rose Marie has done it again! Many many thanks Rose Marie for your bright and cheery and very colorful donation. Rose Marie crocheted 4 hat and scarf sets, 20 crocheted squares, and 3 knitted squares. I'll add the squares and rectangles to the collection I have and soon will be designing another afghan for those folks at Faith Mission.

Don't you love the pretty yellow, bright turquoise, orange and green? Believe the girls will really enjoy these. Without knowing it, you chosen colors that really make a person think of Rainbows. How cool is that.

Please keep those hooks and needles busy, the need is great. Thank You all.

2011
Scarves 11+4=15
Hats 12+4=16
Mittens 0
Socks 0
Slippers 3
Ghans 0
Squares 16+23=39

**Give a Square runs til the end of this Month**
****Have you read about our Rainbow Project?****

Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!

Joy to the World

JOY to the WORLD. You might have been singing those words from a Christmas Carole not so very long ago, or perhaps The Three Dog Night song came to mind. Both did for me. Joy indeed! Look at this wonderful donation Joy, an old high school friend sent.

Joy and I got re-connected through the beauty of facebook. She's donated beautiful crocheted items previously. Am thrilled to have her on-going support. Two matching hat and scarf sets, and 3 additional hats. All nice and soft and warm.
And, look at these fun granny squares. I've used some of her squares previously and am looking forward to designing another afghan for the folks at Faith Mission using these lovely squares. These 16 squares all are a part of our Give a Square Program, which is being extended until the end of this month of January 2011. If you click on the link for Give a Square you can see thumbnails of the ghans we've donated thus far.


2011
Scarves 8+3=11
Hats 5+5=10
Mittens 0
Socks 0
Slippers 3
Ghans 0
Squares 16

Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!

It's 2011, there are still Homeless

Before we begin yet another year of knitting, crocheting, and looming for the homeless wanted to discuss a few important issues--the business side of things.

We launched Give a Square, with the idea of it being a 2 month period (Nov and Dec of 2010). My thought was focusing on squares for a given period of time would give us the ability to spread our wings a bit, but keep things manageable in terms of squares piling up here for me to assemble. Once they were assembled they would be given to Faith Mission. They house mothers and children in temporary housing (apartments), who've been abused and or homeless. They have 20 such apartments. I thought it would be nice to donate 20 afghans, lapghans and have a few extra that they would have on hand to give out as others moved in (plus some families need more then one ghan). Once folks move in they work hard to get them back into society; find permanent housing, jobs etc. They could take their ghans with them as house warming gifts. To date we've donated 10 finished ghans and have (at the time of writing this scheduled post) 1 in the works, with 2 others designed waiting in the wings with other squares still on hand. My current thought is we will continue to collect squares throughout the month of January. The Give a Square program will not go away, it will be and off and on program. From time to time I'll re-activate it, based on the number of squares I have on hand etc. So, feel free to continue to make squares and keep your eyes peeled for posts indicating it's time to mail them. Each month I'll select an item to be highlighted; but we will continue to collect all items. The purpose of the highlighted item is to give people an idea of what to make if they're unsure what they want to make. To give us a focus. Typically it will be the item we've collected the least of--or where the greatest need is at that time. With that in mind Janaury's focus will be our "Rainbow Project".

Important Reminders:

Please remember not to knot and cut yarn when knitting and crocheting. When I receive items with knots I worry about them coming apart, and therefore take time to do a bit of repairing before I can deliver them to those in need. When changing yarn, always leave a tail (even if you do knot), and work into your work. With squares work in all tails except the last one please.

Please refrain from using loose stitches, as the items we make need to keep people warm in cold damp conditions, often outdoors for hours.

Please remember to include a note with your name and email ady, your blog url, or your ID from facebook, or Rav, or Crochetville, or wherever it is we've connected. I really do get confused sometimes with folks using different ID's in different groups.

For the month of January, we will partner with a daycare in the area to collect hats and mittens. I was contacted by a local daycare that does a service project during the month of January. The children collect hats and mittens for other children. This is a learning opportunity for them, to learn children their age have less then they do and to be able to help them. We will include their hats and mittens in our donations. I'm calling this project The Rainbow Project. Because they are children, their hats and mittens will be store bought, but our focus will remain knitted and crocheted, hand made. How sweet is that, children helping children! So think children, think rainbow colors, right and cheery if you're unsure what you want to make during the month of January. Hats and Mittens for children will be our January focus.

**Pending donations from Helen, Joy, Sandie, RoseMarie, and Louise to kick off 2011** Keep checking in, leave comments when you admire each other's work. Everyone likes to read nice words about their time consuming donation. And, spending time on the blog, leaving comments on the blog helps the blog's placement which is helpful in people finding us. Hint hint.

Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!

Designing Warmth for the Homeless

Pinks, Purples, Turquoise, Goldish Yellow....25 of the 70 squares donated by Anne, Carol, Pat, and Kris will come together to make a bright and very cheery and girly Afghan. Not sure what color I'll join this with, must check my stash and see what jumps out at me. Naturally it could be done in white, ivory, black, but ....I happen to know I have some of the same variegated.....off the top of my head, I doubt I have enough to only use it; so will put on my thinking cap and see what I come up with when the time comes. Got one in the works as we speak, and a 2nd one designed ahead of this one in que. Love thinking ahead though.

Sure have enjoyed the fun and different squares that have come as a result of our Give a Square program. Those with ones I had on hands will give us the ability to make a good number of ghans for those folks at Faith Mission.

2010
Scarves 339
Hats 592
Mittens 151
Socks 101
Slippers 34
Ghans 10
Squares 238


Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!

Squares, Squares, Can You Count Them?

Connections are made in so many ways. This is certainly the case with this group of 70 crocheted squares. A group of ladies involved in about 10 community, charity type projects through work got together and made these squares. These ladies: Anne, Carol, Pat, and Kris have worked together on bake sales, walk-a-thons and many interesting and worthwhile projects throughout the course of the year. They found a program on line to make squares to be joined into afghans for those in need. Through time it was found that program involved costly shipping fees, as the squares were to be sent all the way to Africa. Looking for a project closer to home they began searching once again on line and through several aborted efforts found The Slipper Project on The Lion Brand site. Once they contacted Joyce at The Slipper Project, she suggested our Bridge and Beyond. Joyce and I have connected through The Hive and our quest for charity knitting and crocheting. So, many thanks to Anne, Carol, Pat, and Kris for these lovely fun and cheery colored crocheted squares, and Joyce for her referral to us, and to The Hive for connecting Joyce and I.

I'm hopeful we'll continue to see Anne, Carol, Pat, and Kris among our helping hands.

Many thanks for the thoughtful donation, sure glad you found us.

2010
Scarves 339
Hats 592
Mittens 151
Socks 101
Slippers 34
Ghans 10
Squares 168+70=238


Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!

Designing Afghans for the Homeless

Emptied out all my bags of squares, many of which I've had for some time, leftovers from several groups that sent odds and ends when they disbanded so many of these squares I don't know who made them. Some are more recent from RoseMarie (the rectangles that are green), some of the pink ones are from Karen V. I've got this bagged and ready to start on when I complete the knitted color blocks from Rose Marie HERE. At this point I'm thinking of joining this with white, though I typically don't use white for the dirt factor. Maybe I'll go pink. Have to check my stash when ready and go from there.

Also, since I designed and photographed this I've received some more squares that might fit into these design as I get going; but one must start somewhere. As you can see this will be another of real peace meal work with the huge number of sizes of pieces to be put together.

2010
Scarves 339
Hats 592
Mittens 151
Socks 101
Slippers 34
Ghans 8
Squares 168


Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!

So many ways to help the homeless

Thank you Yvonne for your ongoing support of the homeless. What a wonderful box of goodies here. Scarves, hats, slippers, socks, gloves, and squares. Also some wonderful personal care items-toothbrushes and toothpaste. Some items are knitted, some are crocheted. I love the mix of sizing for the hats.... So many different sized cold heads will now be warmed. Click on the picture to enlarge...check out the really neat pattern on her beautiful gray scarf!

Look at these fun, bright, cheery and interesting knitted squares. I'm anxious to put them with others and design another afghan for those folks at The Mission.

2010
Scarves 325+3=328
Hats 583+8=591
Mittens 143+4=147
Socks 85+6=91
Slippers 16+1=17
Ghans 8
Squares 159+9=168

**Give a Square til the end of this month, December 2010**

Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!