Construction completed on Red Brick

Ta.....Dah....Red Brick is cemented. It's done folks. There are knitted squares, and crocheted squares. There are granny style squares, and sampler style squares. There are squares of lots of different sizes, AND rectangles included in these afghan. I cemented the afghan with red. There are squares here from lots of different people. Look and see if you can find one of yours, as this ghan was assembled from new and old squares; the initial design was a while ago. However I thought I needed a few more squares to make it the appropriate size, and so held for awhile. As often happens during construction, blue prints and construction plans change. Here's a review of the construction progress.

Here's the first design
Here's the 2nd design after adding about a dozen additional squares

After adding edging and joining, here it is in the works. Some squares got several rows of edging, some got none, and some squares got moved a bit here and there to fit together a bit better as the ghan grew.

Once completed it's was added to our donations for The Homeless Families Foundation as part of our project "Welcome Home.

2012 Donations:
Hats: 87
Scarves: 27
Slippers: 9
Shawls: 2
Afghans: 4+1=5
Mittens: 68
Squares: 78
Socks: 35
Misc Items are not counted individually (such as personal care items, headbands, gators, yarn, etc)

With the completion of Red Brick, and this being Valentine's Day, it seems appropriate to share the love. Therefore, I'm launching another contest to share the love of yarn and yarnie things. Starting today, everyone who donates from now until the 14th of next month (March 14th), get's their name tossed in a hat. The winner will receive yarn/yarnie things for their prize. One chance per person. One drawing, one winner here.

Since this contest covers half the month of February (slipper month), and half the month of March (scarf month), each person who donates either of those items get's their name tossed in the hat for a chance. Example you donate socks, hats, and a pair of slippers....your name is in for the above drawing; AND your name is in the 2nd drawing because you donated a pair of slippers. This is a 2nd drawing, and a 2nd prize.

3rd part of the contest is The Chatty Cathy portion. Every comment made on the blog from the 14th of February to the 14th of March gets your name tossed in a hat, if you blog about our blog/cause/ and contest you also get your name tossed in. If you facebook or tweet about it, be sure to send me the link....this too gets your name tossed in the hat. Likewise discussion on RAV, Crochetville where you talk about our cause etc. your name goes into the hat. The more you chat, the more opportunities you have to win. Please leave comments throughout the blog, only one comment per post. If however you're posting a new comment on a post you previously left a comment on...the new comment will count. **PLEASE remember you do not need to be a blogger to leave a blog comment. Type your comment, click the drop down box under the comment and select name and url, leave the url space blank...that way your name does appear.

3 Drawings, 3 winners..........starting right now.

*Please take time and refer size and color requirements listed on tabs across the top of the blog*

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!

Scarves from Mother and Daughter

Valentines Day, February 14th announcement and details of next contest to be announced.

Marushka and her daughter knitted these lovely scarves. 3 I believe are double strand or perhaps bulky yarn. All 4 are beautifully made. Marushka and her daughter make a good team. Glad to have you both join us here on Bridge and Beyond as our newest pair of helping hands. We hope to see you here often. This fabulous Mother Daughter team hail from the state of Tennessee.

Marushka's blog has been added to the blog log, please do visit and welcome her.

2012 Donations:
Hats: 87
Scarves: 23+4=27
Slippers: 9
Shawls: 2
Afghans: 4
Mittens: 68
Squares: 78
Socks: 35
Misc Items are not counted individually (such as personal care items, headbands, gators, yarn, etc)

**This is post #640! Wow, that doesn't seem possible. As of the writing of this scheduled post on Jan 21st we've grown in followers too, from 184 to 187. Love that and hope we continue to grow with followers, visitors, commentors, and donations.**

PLEASE always include a note with your donations with your name, email ady, blog url etc so I have means of contact. Even if you wish to be anonymous with your donation here on the blog, I need a way to contact you, to let you know your donation arrived. Please review unidentified section of this blog with those donations still needing information.

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!

The MotherLoad of Mittens

WOW! 50 pairs of beautifully knit mittens from Judy C. from Pennsylvania. Look at the wonderful variety of sizes and colors she provided us. A very special thank you too Judy for labeling them so nicely for me. I greatly appreciate that. She has them labeled by size, adult, child etc., and has them attached to each other. Fabulous all the way around. Thank you Judy, our newest pair of helping hands for your beautiful work. Hope to see you here often on Bridge and Beyond.
Wanted to take a 2nd photo so you could see some of the mittens close up. They truly are awesome!

**Is your donation listed in the unidentified section of this blog? If so, please please make contact.**

2012 Donations:
Hats: 87
Scarves: 23
Slippers: 9
Shawls: 2
Afghans: 4
Mittens: 18+50=68
Squares: 78
Socks: 35
Misc Items are not counted individually (such as personal care items, headbands, gators, yarn, etc)

**Reminder please avoid knotting and cutting when you make a yarn change. Always work in tails of at least 4-5 inches to avoid item unraveling. All tails except final tail for squares should be worked in.**

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!

Donation from The Island of Enchantment

Thank you Nancy O from San Juan for this thoughtful and much appreciated donation. Nancy is our newest pair of helping hands, and is a friend of our friend Damaris. We love having you join us and hope to see you here often at Bridge and Beyond.

As I look out the window at the results of last nights snow and freezing rain, I wondered what the temperatures were there in Puerto Rico. The website I found said it was 81 degrees as I was writing this scheduled post on Jan 21st. WOW, that surely sounds nice. Puerto Rico has been on my wish list of places to travel to. I also wondered how far away it was............drum roll please. 1,791 miles separates San Juan and Ohio's capital city of Columbus. And to think this is our 3rd donation from that wonderful Island of Enchantment.

Waving hello, welcome, and thank you to Nancy........and to our friend Damaris for spreading the word.

**Reminder folks, if you let your furry friends lay on your knitted and crocheted donations, please use lint roller to remove pet hairs...if that doesn't work, please launder items. Those of us with bad allergies thank you. Plus, you save me tremendous time laundering items before they can be donated and speed up getting the necessary items to those in need.**

2012 Donations:
Hats: 87
Scarves: 23
Slippers: 9
Shawls: 2
Afghans: 4
Mittens: 18
Squares: 78
Socks: 15+20=35
Misc Items are not counted individually (such as personal care items, headbands, gators, yarn, etc)

**Have you read all the updates? If not please do, constant changes and additions in the tabs area; as well as the working calendar.**


Trying to contact a donator from Osseo, Michigan....if you're out there, please make contact

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!

New Helping Hands from California

What an interesting and cheerful crocheted afghan. You all know how I like to name the afghans I put together from your donated squares, well the minute I laid this one out to photograph I though Spring Garden. I didn't crochet this lovely reminder of Spring Gardens, Elizabeth R from Oakhurst, California did. It's sized nicely for a family afghan and will be a wonderful house warming gift through our project "Welcome Home" Program. Elizabeth....you hoo...if you're out there, would love to have notified you of it's arrival, but after checking through my data base, my emails, various forums/groups etc I'm a member of, Facebook etc I was unable to locate an email ady for you.
Elizbeth has been busy folks. As our newest pair of helping hands look at this wonderful donation. Hats, scarves, and slippers/booties in lots of different sizes and colors. Some are sets. Many thanks Elizabeth, we're thrilled to have you join us, and hope to see you here on Bridge and Beyond often.............do sing out and leave your email ady for me.

2012 Donations:
Hats: 75+12=87
Scarves: 13+10=23
Slippers: 3+6=9
Shawls: 2
Afghans: 3+1=4
Mittens: 18
Squares: 78
Socks: 15
Misc Items are not counted individually (such as personal care items, headbands, gators, yarn, etc)

**Still looking to identify unknown crocheter, please if this donation is from you, make contact. Click HERE to see donation.**

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!

Donation all the way from Puerto Rico

Our friend and supporter Damaris has sent another lovely donation all the way from Puerto Rico! How awesome is that folks. These matching sets of knitted hats and crocheted scarves will make someone not only warm, but stylish too! So nicely made. And so truly appreciated. Many thanks Damaris for your thoughtful donation. Please keep up the good work.

Have you all noticed all the new tabs across the top of the blog? If not, take a look please and thanks. Lots of information regarding size and color requirements, and patterns to help you with your donations. The working calendar is also updated continuously. Currently we have the first 3 months of the year documented with Jan, Feb, and March monthly focuses listed.

**Remember, please avoid open lacy stitches, if you can see through the item and or poke your finger through the item, it's too lacy**

2012 Donations:
Hats: 73+2=75
Scarves: 11+2=13
Slippers: 3
Shawls: 2
Afghans: 3
Mittens: 18
Squares: 78
Socks: 15
Misc Items are not counted individually (such as personal care items, headbands, gators, yarn, etc)

**Have you noticed the unidentified donations area in the right sidebar? Please take a look, maybe you can help identify some donations.**

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!