Mission Statement

Operations for Bridge and Beyond will cease on Dec 31, 2021, last mailing date should be Dec 24th

GOAL FOR AFGHANS

Afghans
Goal: 30
Start: #24
Current: 26
0.8666%
START
END

Friday, June 14, 2013

Whatever Lola Wants, Lola Gets

Thought you all might get a kick out of this cute cartoon about how nuts we who knit and crochet are.  I can't remember if I saw this on Facebook or on LionBrands site; maybe both.  Anyway, thought it was cute and worth a repeat.

Hope you're all keeping busy now the weather has finally turned nice in most places.  We're still closing windows and putting on fleece some days/nights here.  Normally that's not the case for this time of year, it's been a bit wonky.  Do keep your fingers busy with hooks, yarn, and needles.  We like to collect and delivery our awesome donations all year long.....even in summer.

June is slipper month, hope we get huge numbers of slippers.  We need slippers for men, women, and children.  Remember slippers should be made nice and thick (no loose stitches please).  PLease check the slipper tab for ideas about how to use double yarn, or chucky yarn, or how to put 2 slippers together.


2013 Donations:

Hats:  374
Scarves: 289
Socks: 200
Afghans: 25
Slippers: 132
Rain Ponchos: 202
Mittens: 77
Cotton Wash Clothes: 369
Shawls, Sweaters, Vests, Poncho's: 10
Misc. Items: include personal care, headbands, handwarmers, cowls/gators and all meal prep related items, etc aren't tabulated


All donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated. The Power of One is awesome, and when we work together The Power of One becomes The Power of Many.

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Thank you, but No to Anonymous Donations

Anonymous donations came up the other day and it's not something I've blogged about in awhile, so thought it was time to discuss again.
**Isn't it nice when people donate anonymously, that means they don't need or want a public attention?**  Actually, no it's not nice in our setting for lots of reasons.
  • In the past when I would receive a donation without a note, I would spend hours, sometimes days trying to determine from whom the donation came.  Why?  Because I don't have a way of knowing if they just forgot a note, or if they want to be anonymous.  It's not uncommon to get a heads up something coming your way, forgot to put a note in the box.  Since I can't look into my crystal ball to know if they forgot or if they wanted to be anonymous, I always expended lots of time and energy tracking people down.  All those I tracked down were in fact people who'd forgotten...so I really never assumed someone wanted to be anonymous.  Luckily, that particular problem has really lessened.  THANK YOU
  • When a donation comes without a note, I'm not able to let the person know their items actually made it here.  Sadly, we have had a few situations with items lost in the mail, so it's best for everyone to know their items have been received...AND it saves them spending extra money to have it tracked.  (also less of a problem now with the changes in parcel post.
  • Obviously for my record keeping anonymous is a problem.  I need my records to be visible and without question.  You can be anonymous on the blog, but not with me. 
  • Sometimes I receive donations that aren't quite appropriate for our cause and it's important I have the ability to privately let the person know so they don't continue to send things that don't quite work.
  • Sometimes I have items that require repair by me before they can be donated, and it's very important to communicate that so changes can be made in the future
  • And..something I've never discussed here on line; but think perhaps it will help folks understand the magnitude of my being able to communicate with the individual, even if they wish to be anonymous on the blog. .. Bugs can nest in yarn and be transported from one house to another; bed bugs among them.  No, I've not had this happen; but I do know someone that has been unfortunate enough to be in that situation.  I did once, sometime back have a situation with yarn someone donated that I had to discard for related issues.  My apologies for feeling the need to post this; but as we grow it's sadly one negative by product of growth.
Some time back I indicated I could no longer spend the hours and days looking for people and therefore could not accept anonymous donations.  Thank you folks for understanding the ramifications.

All donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated. The Power of One is awesome, and when we work together The Power of One becomes The Power of Many.

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Crocheting with 12 Children

Still enjoying sharing our stories about how and when we learned to knit or crochet.  Please email your story, it's fun to see how we all started these crafts that have become such big part of our lives.  These skills/gifts given to us that share with the  with those less fortunate.  I believe our hearts and hands are guided down this path.  Please keep up the good work, One and All.

Love to post your story, please email at sandycrochet at gmail.com

Here's our good friend Sherry K's story, enjoy!

When I was about 7 or 8 my mother had a friend who had 12 children yet she had time to crochet baby afghans.  She was quick and it fascinated me.  I didn't actually pick up a needle until I was 19. I had lots of time on my hands because my first husband was a Marine and gone all the time.  I purchased a basic book to learn the basic stitches.  I didn't start small though. I went right to an afghan. I made afghans for everyone except myself of course.  Over the years I have made baby clothes, hats, scarves, and more but my real love is to make afghans. I recently made a knitted hat for my son and I have made a few knitted wash cloths but I still prefer crochet over knitting.
My story is quite simple but that is the way I roll.

 *I love how so many of us have a common thread, whether it's knitting or crocheting, so many of us used the craft to fill a void, and it truly does*
All donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated. The Power of One is awesome, and when we work together The Power of One becomes The Power of Many.

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Crocheting to Over Come Grief

A few days back I shared my story of how when and where I learned to knit and crochet.  A few days later I shared Sandie P from Louisiana story.  And now I'm sharing a beautiful story from our friend, Marjorie M.  It truly touches me, and while I knew some of this from our first couple of email exchanges it still touches me to think about it again.  Here are Marjorie's words.
No really big exciting story here. I learned to crochet because they told me I couldn't, due to being left handed.  Elder Aunts and my Mother taught my sisters but not me.  I watched from across the room and could see it in reverse.  Did it opposite of the right handers. I crocheted basic stuff for a few years then quit when I got married and had two babies and a job.

My husband was diagnosed with lung cancer on May 9 , 2011 he passed away on June 19th of the same year.  That was such a confusing, tragic time for me that I was looking for something to keep me sane. My younger sister sent me some yarn and a hook and I started crocheting again. I am not good at it, but can't even tell you the number of hours I spent sitting in his chair crocheting. Really believe it saved my life.  When I came across your charity by accident, it seemed like something I was supposed to do, being in Ohio where he was from.  He loved street people and the homeless and was always stopping to give some guy a few bucks or a cigarette.  I am still not able to read a pattern, but make terrific grannie squares, have taken a class,  to learn basics,and now belong to a crochet club. maybe I will improve over time.


the reason i check in with you each morning is that my dogs get me up at 6 a.m.  when i let them out i get dressed and turn on my computer at the same time. i hit the button to your site as the first thing i look at. then i tweet my granddaughter with a report on the weather for the day, before school.  i am a creature of habit. same thing starts each day.  therefore when your site is the same for a day or two i notice.

good talking  with you, hope you get lots of interesting stories on your new project. thanks again for all you and rae do to help the Ohio homeless.
**Marjorie, you would not be the first who turned to knitting or crocheting for comfort.  I had yarn in my hand all the time I sat beside Mom during her long hospital days before she passed.  I've read many books who's theme was in fact how they got through my learning to knit or crochet, or the comfort a group brought to them during difficult times.  You certainly honor your husband by sitting in his chair and caring for people from his homestate.  And, finding my blog perhaps wasn't by mistake...we all are guided, sometimes we just don't know it.  We're thrilled you've joined us, and shared your touching story.  Don't sell your crochet skills short my friend.
**please email me your story, how, when, where and why did you learn to knit or crochet?**
sandycrochet at gmail.com


All donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated. The Power of One is awesome, and when we work together The Power of One becomes The Power of Many.

Monday, June 10, 2013

The Things we do for Love

Another awesome scarf crocheted and donated by our friend Sandie P from Louisisana.  Awesome shades of blue, what type of yarn did you use?  I've not seen this mix before but really like it.  This would be well suited for male or female, adult or teen...Nice!



**June is slipper month, be sure to check out the slipper tab above, before you begin knitting and crocheting**

**Email me details of when, how etc you learned to knit or crochet, please don't leave the details in the comments below**

Few days ago, Sandie shared her story of how, when she learned to crochet.  It's a cute story, hope you enjoy it.

I learned to crochet in 1980, in Mississippi, from my cousin's wife Katy and her friend Diane. I used a J hook. From that trip I took away the basics. When I got home, I got yarn and hook of my own, along with a leaflet for how-to. No Internet then. I made afghans for everyone in my family. I only made afghans (large, bed size ghans) for many years.

I started a ripple afghan for my boyfriend (now my husband) just a year or so after I learned. He asked if it could be wider so I made another strip, attached it to the first few inches I'd already done, and continued the pattern forward. The things we do for love. LOL



2013 Donations:

Hats:  374
Scarves: 288+1=289
Socks: 200
Afghans: 25
Slippers: 132
Rain Ponchos: 202
Mittens: 77
Cotton Wash Clothes: 369
Shawls, Sweaters, Vests, Poncho's: 10
Misc. Items: include personal care, headbands, handwarmers, cowls/gators and all meal prep related items, etc aren't tabulated

All donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated. The Power of One is awesome, and when we work together The Power of One becomes The Power of Many.

Sunday, June 9, 2013

Licorice Afghan Donated to Homeless Families Foundation

Thank you Sherry K for this lovely afghan, whomever receives this at Homeless Families Foundation is going to be thrilled.  It's nicely sized, and very well made.  Here's team work for you folks, our friend from New York Ann Marie, sent squares to Sherry K (through the group they've become friends...pretty cool), and Sherry assembled the ghan.   Sherry named this afghan, Licorice...how perfect is that!! Then Sherry and I met again for coffee and a nice visit so she could pass the ghan along to me.  Gotta love team work!  And I passed along Pink Persuasion to be assembled to Sherry.   Sherry also loomed 2 hats.  Thank you Sherry for your hard work!



**June is slipper month, be sure to check out the slipper tab above, before you begin knitting and crocheting**

**Email me details of when, how etc you learned to knit or crochet, please don't leave the details in the comments below**


2013 Donations:

Hats:  372+2=374
Scarves: 288
Socks: 200
Afghans: 24+1=25
Slippers: 132
Rain Ponchos: 202
Mittens: 77
Cotton Wash Clothes: 369
Shawls, Sweaters, Vests, Poncho's: 10
Misc. Items: include personal care, headbands, handwarmers, cowls/gators and all meal prep related items, etc aren't tabulated


All donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated. The Power of One is awesome, and when we work together The Power of One becomes The Power of Many.

Where are You and Your Yarn From?

I'm trying to identify where everyone is from, partially for fun. Take a look at the map. Also, believe it will aid me in cases where we have several people with the same name. Please look at the lists of bloggers and non bloggers and see if I have the state you hail from. If not, please leave a comment and let me know.

Additionally, we've had help from Scotland, England, Germany Puerto Rico, Canada, and France! They don't appear on the map, but their help is still greatly appreciated.

Where The People Who Donate Come From, is your state represented?