Donations for Homeless living in the Elements

Thank you Patty L, from Ohio for your thoughtful donation of 7 pairs of gloves and 7 Balaclava's. For those who wonder what those are...face masks. You know like a knitted face warmer, snow mobilers use. Sorry to report, either I forgot to get a picture, or something happened to it. Thus this pictureless blog post. I was anxious to get these items delivered and so am not sure if I quickly put them in bag after showing hubby...or the camera didn't play nice. Once in awhile it does that. These knitted face masks will really be well received by those living out in the elements.

Edited to add, you might also know what I'm referring to when I say helmet liners.

Our contest ended on the 14th, on the 15th 3 winners were announced. Todate, we've only heard back from 2 of the 3 winners. Tomorrow I'll draw a new winner to fill in, if we've still not heard from our 3rd winner. Reminder...I need people to make contact with me (sandycrochet@gmail.com) to give me their snail ady, and to let me know if they're a knitter or crocheter. If you missed the announcement, or didn't get a chance to congratulate the winners....Click HERE.

2012 Donations:

Hats: 132
Scarves: 56
Slippers: 28
Shawls: 2
Afghans: 9
Mittens: 99+7=106
Squares: 128
Socks: 98
Rain Poncho's 2
Cotton Washcloths 15
Misc Items are not counted individually (such as personal care items, headbands, gators, yarn, wrist warmers/fingerless gloves, facemasks etc)

** Remember, no need to be shy...we're all friends here and you do not need to be a blogger to leave comments. Simply click the drop down box after you comment and click name and url, leave the url part empty. Please and thanks! I keep trying to nudge so many of you that come and lurk/read....we need your support with comments. It helps the blog, and we all love to see nice comments about our craft after our donations, let's support each other with making comments. It's truly a win win situation.

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. YOU truly DO make a difference. THANK YOU!

A Donation from Canada

Mitten and hat sets from the skillfull knitting needles of our Canadian Friend, Bonnie B (known as Panther on RAV). Nice warm, soft and sized well for a variety of heads (with those stretchy hats), as well as hands. Bonnie tells me she used The Panda Paw Mitten Pattern we have here on our site, supplied sometime back by our friend James. She made them using good old garter stitch except the ribbing for the wrist area. Nicely done. Many thanks Bonnie, keep up the good work.

2012 Donations:
Hats: 130+2=132
Scarves: 60
Slippers: 28
Shawls: 2
Afghans: 9
Mittens: 97+2=99
Squares: 128
Socks: 98
Rain Poncho's 2
Cotton Washcloths 15
Misc Items are not counted individually (such as personal care items, headbands, gators, yarn, wrist warmers/fingerless gloves, etc)

The contest ended on the 14th, and winners were announced yesterday! Did you read all about it? If not please scroll back and after reading, leave your congratulations for the 3 winners in the comments. Remember, no need to be shy...we're all friends here and you do not need to be a blogger to leave comments. Simply click the drop down box after you comment and click name and url, leave the url part empty. Please and thanks! I keep trying to nudge so many of you that come and lurk/read....we need your support with comments. It helps the blog, and we all love to see nice comments about our craft after our donations, let's support each other with making comments. It's truly a win win situation.

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. YOU truly DO make a difference. THANK YOU!

And the Winners

TODAY'S THE DAY TO ANNOUNCE THE 3 WINNERS

1 Boxes of yarn and or yarny things will be mailed to each our three winners! Once you determine if you're winner...please make email contact with me and provide your snail address as well as whether or not you're a knitter, or a crocheter or both....and whether or not you're a sock knitter.


The winner from Hat I (a fabulous black wool hat purchased in Charleston on vacation), was drawn from the following participants: (those who donated between Feb 14th and March 14th)
DaMarys
Karen B.
Sherry K.
Bonnie R.
Sandie in Florida
Bonnie B.
Diana K.
Sally B.
Kathryn V.
Patty L.
Gail B.
Otterbein's "Stiches to Share"
Suzy in Ohio
AnneMarie
Cheryl S.
Trudy S.
Wendy H.
Shannon P.
Martha M.
Paula K.
Elizabeth R (I need you to contact me)
Sue F.
Theresa A.
AND THE WINNER IS: Bonnie B! Congrats Bonnie B on your win. We're thrilled to have you and your thoughtful hands and hope to see you here often on Bridge and Beyond, with your donations, as well as your comments. Please remember to email me within the next 3 days. (after that time a new winner will be announced). **Added link to Bonnie's Rav page if you want to pop over and congratulate her**

The winner from Hat II (a fun hat purchased in Palm Springs to keep the sun off my head), was drawn from the following participants (those who donations included slippers and or scarves, the two highlighted items for the month of February and March):
Bonnie R.
Diana K.
Otterbein's "Stitches to Share"
Sandie in Florida
Gail B.
AnneMarie
Trudy S.
Wendy H.
Paula K.
Karen B.
Damarys
Sherry K.
Kathryn V.
Suzy in Ohio
Cheryl S.
Patty L.
Shannon P.
Elizabeth R (I need you to contact me)
Sue F.
Theresa A.
AND THE WINNER is Wendy H. Wendy be sure and email me your information within 3 days. Congrats to you, hope to see you here often with your comments as well as your wonderful donations. **Added link to Wendy's Facebook Profile, if you want to pop over and congratulate her.** Edited to add, I've already heard back from Wendy and have her address...1 down and 2 to go.

The winner of hat III (The chatty Cathy portion, those who left comments, each comment counted as 1 name in the hat, so the more comments the more times your name was in the hat--one of hubby's golf hats):
SSeger, Sue F, Patty L., Damaris, Allyson, Sally, Sherry, Liz, AnneMarie, Harvest Hill, Yvonne, Sandie P, Joy D., Jessica, Jen, RoseMarie, Sandie in Florida, Kathleen V., Trudy S., Theresa A., Crochet Princess, Kim, Wendy H.

And the winner is........SSegar. Congrats Sue, and please keep visiting and chatting along with your donating!
**Added link to Sue's Rav. profile page if you want to pop over and congratulate her.** Popped back to edit again...have now heard from Sue as well. 2 of the 3 winners have checked in.

All winners need to contact me via email with their snail addresses. Additionally, please indicate whether you knit or crochet, or whether you do both. It could influence the box of goodies you get to make. Contact via email needs to be within 3 days, after the 18th, a new winner will be announced if contact hasn't been received.

THANKS TO ALL WHO PARTICIPATED WITH KNITTING AND CROCHETING AND DONATING, THANKS TO ALL WHO DONATED THE HIGHLIGHTED NEEDED ITEMS OF SCARVES AND OR SLIPPERS, AND THANKS TO OUR CHEERING SECTION OF CHATTERS. I continue to encourage all of you to visit, to chat. There are many of you, we never hear from here on the blog. Remember you do not need to be a blogger to leave a comment. Comments are nice, they show support for each other's skillful work, comments are helpful to the blog with regard to it's SEO (search engine optimization). Placing well in the SEO makes us easier to find for folks looking for some place worthy to donate their knitted and or crocheted items too. If you are not a blogger, type your comment, then click the drop down box that says name and url, type your name...first name and last initial is all that's necessary and leave the url space blank. Then click publish....quick and easy.

As I wait to here from our 3 winner, Bonnie B, Wendy H, and SSegar....I'll be looking through my stash and picking out some goods to get ready to mail.

**Reasons to launder your items: Yarn sits on shelves in stores collecting dust. Yarn gets stored in our various containers...our stash areas, collects dust, sometimes get musty. Yarn picks up smoke and other aroma's from the house like food and perfume. Yarn attracts furry friends, their hair, and their dander. Yarn picks up oils from our crafty hands as we knit and crochet. And, yarn needs to rest, laundering your items, blocking if need be improves the appearance as well as the freshness of your thoughtful donation. It's not possible for me to launder ever item that comes my way; though I do sometimes need to do that when I open boxes etc. All the afghans I make from your donated squares get laundered and blocked, which also helps me make sure things stay put together. Sometimes squares need a bit more attention in terms of tails being appropriately secured. Please avoid spraying your donations with perfume, air-freshner, and or Fabreeze, it really doesn't replace the benefits of it being laundered. I generally wash the afghans in cold water, on delicate, and lay out to dry/block. Even though most of the yarn says washable and dry-able. I find these gives a good result over the long haul.**

2012 Donations:
Hats: 130
Scarves: 56
Slippers: 28
Shawls: 2
Afghans: 9
Mittens: 97
Squares: 128
Socks: 98
Rain Poncho's 2
Cotton Washcloths 15
Misc Items are not counted individually (such as personal care items, headbands, gators, yarn, wrist warmers/fingerless gloves, etc)

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. YOU truly DO make a difference. THANK YOU!

Sweet Georgia Brown

I couldn't help but sing, partially because this donation comes to us from our friend, Diana K from Georgia, and partially because ........LOOK! When I started opening boxes, I didn't realize more then one of the boxes was from Diana. Thus separate pictures. This is box 1....17 squares, 3 hats, and 2 scarves...plus personal care items. Awesome. Took photo, made note and moved onto another box or two...had several that day. Then

hit box 2 from our friend, Diana K from Georgia...see why I'm singing? Join me in the chorus. Followed by some lala's K! Box 2 had 6 more scarves, 8 more hats, 2 pairs of slippers.... AND
This rippled afghan!

Many thanks Diana for your thoughtful donation of goodies. So many will benefit. Scroll back up folks...anyone quess what Diana's favorite colors are, lol. Love the red and purples together!!

2012 Donations:
Hats: 119+(3+8)=130
Scarves: 48+(2+6)=56
Slippers: 26+2=28
Shawls: 2
Afghans: 8+1=9
Mittens: 95
Squares: 111+17=128
Socks: 98
Rain Poncho's 2
Cotton Washcloths 15
Misc Items are not counted individually (such as personal care items, headbands, gators, yarn, wrist warmers/fingerless gloves, etc)

**Donations received and counted in the contest not yet posted from: Patty L, Bonnie B, Gail B, and Otterbeins "Stitches to Share", Suzy from Ohio, AnneMarie, Cheryl S, Shannon P., Trudy S, Wendy H, Sandie in Florida, Paula K. Sue F., Eliz R (need Eliz R to make contact with me)Theresa A. ** (remember posts are written ahead, placed in que...scheduled to be posted and we typically work about 2 wks or so ahead). Announcement of winners tomorrow, everyone be sure and check in, and leave comments so we know you were here.

***Please folks ALWAYS include a note with your donations that includes your name, your email ady and group we're in together (if that's how we know each other). It truly isn't possible for me to know and remember everyone over the number of years Bridge and Beyond has been in existence. I spend lots of HOURS, looking through emails, facebook friends, Rav friend, friends on The Hive and in The Ville; as well as yahoo mailing groups to try and identify donations without the information. I have no way of knowing if you want to be anonymous...if I knew that I could spend the time knitting and crocheting vs searching and searching. I do like to be able to let you know your donations have arrived safely and to be able to thank you. So PLEASE PLEASE, even if you want to be anonymous, include a note for me stating that. I fear when I can't make the identification, people just feel I'm not acknowledging their donations. That's not my choice. I want you to know your donation has been received, and that's it appreciated. There are times when after looking multiple days, and spending lots of hours I book something as unknown, and weeks later, I'll receive an email asking if their donations arrived. They feel bad, and I've wasted time. When your donation comes with a return address label with your husband's name...it's a good possibility, I don't know it's you. Additionally, the people who use nicknames in groups, and or fun names in their emails ady's typically don't come up in search when I plug in your real name (from the label) to find you. Please save the frustration at my end, and YOURS, include a note.


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. YOU truly DO make a difference. THANK YOU!

Clapping for Mittens

Lively clapping going on here, look at this fabulous mitten donation from our good friend, Sally. Awesome, soft, warm mittens. You knit so beautifully Sally...I so wish you could sit beside me and help me along. 7 pairs of mittens, some personal care items, a hat and nice knitted washcloth. Thank you also for joining your mittens, I sure appreciate that. Your mittens are always so nice and warm, solid...what type of yarn are using?

ONE MORE DAY LEFT FOR THE CONTEST.....TALLIES WILL TAKE PLACE TOMORROW, THE 14TH, AND WINNERS ANNOUNCED ON THE 15TH. DO CHECK IN. WHAT'S THE LINE, "DO YOU FEEL LUCKY, WELL DO YOU?" Clint Eastwood said it, but the name of the movie isn't clicking in my brain right now.


2012 Donations:
Hats: 118+1=119
Scarves: 48
Slippers: 26
Shawls: 2
Afghans: 8
Mittens: 90+7=97
Squares: 111
Socks: 98
Rain Poncho's 2
Cotton Washcloths 14+1=15
Misc Items are not counted individually (such as personal care items, headbands, gators, yarn, wrist warmers/fingerless gloves, footies etc)

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. YOU truly DO make a difference. THANK YOU!