Wednesday, November 12, 2014

CBC, First Air, QMR and Igloolik (oh yeah, and us)

Last night was cray.  Suzanne, Claire, Julia, Jeanine, Carlene, Amy and I were opening your boxes, sorting, photographing (usually, I've got about 80% of that done before packing night), oohing, aaaaahing, and then the CBC showed up.  We were expecting just a radio interview, but the CBC sent a TV crew as well (okay, one guy but it felt like a crew).  First of all, just have to say that the interviewers were extremely kind and patient with packing night nuttiness.  They looked a bit bemused.

All in all a good time.  Here's where you come in, dear knitters (and crochetters): we took many many photos but perhaps the logging isn't upto the standard that you're used to:  amidst the craziness, I didn't get to write full names and locations down, and I  am guessing that I'm batting 75 on attaching names to items.  One thing I can assure you of: everything was packed and will be taken to Cargo on Saturday.  Also (ok 2 things): because Carlene is a super-organizer, we made sure that if you made an item for Bonnie, for example, it got into the Bonnie package.

Finally, shout out to our sponsors:  First Air, for providing us with the free shipping, once again.  We love this airline - without them, we wouldn't have been able to do the Igloolik project.   Also, thanks to   QMR Consulting and Professional Staffing.  They provided the Christmas gifts that went with the packages of hand-knits for the kids.

The best part is that not only were we able to do the hand-knits, but we were also able to provide 2 boxes of "overflow" items.

So here are some pics and credits for the night - love you guys!

PS If I got names wrong or if you would prefer that I include your full name rather than your rav name, please just pm me on Ravelry and I will make it right!

PPS Here is the video of the interview.  We're at about minute 10.

http://www.cbc.ca/player/News/Canada/Ottawa/ID/2596992953/



So this is the house before we start - you can't see the boxes on the floor, just the envelopes here on the table.

And this is when I'm yelling at everyone to line up, posing with some of the boxes, creating more chaos rather than helping.  Nobody listens to my screeching.


And here we go now:  Jeanine, Suzanne, Amy, Carlene and wee Claire up at the top.

Janet Tomas of Toronto sent in these cute little stuffies and the sweater. Janet, we packed the stuffies in the gift bags for the 2 year old, and the 2 four-year olds.  

Here's a better picture of the sweater.


I love Karen Zorn of Bredenbury, SK.  She has been contributing since almost the beginning.  The pink sweater is for Marlene.

These matching mittens are from Cheryl of Sweetscorners Ontario (GrandmaCoco).  They are for Bonnie and Connie.

Vixen Von Tiki (Cheryl) and DameKnittinMama!  We loved the package for our littlest recipient, Anguti!  Thank you, and the little pillow-case is adorable!

Paulette dropped these items off at the KnitKnackers in Smiths Falls - the perfect Christmas colour.

Bonnie Belanger (Panther on Rav) sent these hats and neck warmers.  Panther, you've been with us a long time as well. Thanks for all of your contributions over the years.

Jeanine Turcotte (Douceaubergine) is the Jeanine from the photo at the top.  J, I hope your back wasn't killing you today, 'cause you were a trooper.  I think we did about 40 squats together to get all the goods ready for posing.

More mittens from GrandmaCoco - beautiful appliqué - imagine a girl getting the kitten mittens.


All the way from Japan, its Barb (Obassan)'s beautiful hats.  Barb has a kind of double-layered pattern that screams "bring on winter".

So instead of gift-wrapping, each gift was placed in a pillow-case or bag that a child could reuse.  These were made by Kate, (Femmeng).  Check out her blog at http://artsandsocks.blogspot.ca.  Thanks, Kate!

Kathleen Thomas from Kingsfield Maine made these socks  and hats.  We all loved the sage green socks.  In fact, Kathleen, when I spoke with the community rep this week, she said "Send more socks" - so they will be very much appreciated.

These are from Darling Carlene (almost poetry).  I love her blankets.

This entire Makpa bag is from JCL (Jackie Lambert) of West Richland, Washington.  Jackie, I don't think we took photos of the contents. Rest assured though that we looked at them and were thrilled - the blue was beautiful.  Good guess on sizing!

….here are the contents of the Makpa bag from JCL herself. 

Serena Rose's sweater by Collielover of Calgary, Alberta.  Don't know how you find the time between this and the Collie Rescue, but thank you!

So this is the teaser: you have to scroll down to see the contents of Bus13knitter's gift bag for  Quunguliq.

Lovely pink socks and sweaters by Claudette (MarieClaude) from Buckingham.  Claudette has never missed a shipment yet!  Thank you for everything, including the cards - that is perfect!

Plentimawfish in Waterloo made this beautiful collection.   Plentimaw, the blanket was just beautiful - the turquoise really pops!

And here is a closeup of one of Plentimawfish's hats just because I loved it so.


Say cheeeeese, Suzanne!  This blanket was created by Bonnie Belanger (aka Panther).  Thank you!

Bus13knitter (Janet from New Brunswick) is lovely.  She's been with us since the beginning and is prolific in a crazy crazy crazy way.  Janet, my daughter fell in love with your socks: "cozy".  Thank you!

M Doppe of Concord California created the absolutely sweet baby sweaters and the adorable hat.  Is this your first time on Team Warm Hands?  Welcome!

Ailie Penny of Burlington, Ontario (apenny on Ravelry) made this lovely purple hat.  I tried it on (hanging head in shame).  I have a soft spot for cable hats.

Cheryl (aka GrandmaCoco of Sweets Corners): we wound up giving one of these hats to one of the girls because we somehow were short a hat.  It was the elephant one - its stunning.

GrandmaCoco: these are the mittens we thought we'd lost to the Snowsuit Fund, remember?  When I went back to Yarn Forward, Joanne picked them out of the pile and they've gone to Igloolike!  My favourite were the owl ones.

Serena Rose's socks by apenny of Burlington.  She will love them!

Claudette of Buckingham, QC MarieClaude on Rav) also threw together a stack of socks and neck warmers and mittens.  This lady is prolific!

Carolynh1 of Ottawa made this beautiful grey striped sweater.  I think it would be great for a 14 year old. Eric is going to love it! Check out her blog at http://carolynproject365.blogspot.ca/


Carolyn, I didn't like my close up of Star's items, so I took your pic instead.  Gorgeous.

Laurie Kingston of Ottawa, thank you for the beautiful shawl.

Janet (bus13knitter) from Fredricton sent in these  lovelies.  I have a soft spot for cable hats, have I mentioned that?

No name is on this one - it was a beautiful package tagged for us that we picked up at Yarn Forward.  Hellooooo out there: whoever you are - thank you!

The Serena Rose package all put together - very nice!


Um, Jackie Lambert, this is wear I start to get a bit confused on who sent in what.  I these are all yours - can you confirm?

This is Star's pretty little sweater sent in by mamaaquarius, all the way from Tasmania, Australia.  Unbelievable!  Mamaaquarius, you get the newbie award because we've never received anything from that far away.

The group of gifts for Qunnguliq from Janet Wright of Fredricton.  Merry Christmas, bus13knitter!
Linda Heintz of Pendleton Oregon - I got these today via Expresspost.  They just made it into the shipment - thank you!

And here is a sky-view photo of the grouped items for each child - of course you're not seeing the gifts sent in by QMR and the 2 ENORMOUS boxes of overflow that are going out.




4 comments:

Kara said...

Umm - absolutely incredible! I am blown away by the generosity, talent and determination of this group. Bravo.

Cheryl said...

I'm so pleased to be part of this effort. Thank you for organizing it.

Cheryl C (GrandmaCoco)

Kate said...

Wow, all of that stuff is great. I can't imagine how all those lovely things were knit in such a short time. Thanks for letting me help.

Karen Z. said...

Cheryl, I LOVE your ear flap hats and your mittens. Where can I buy the patterns? They are so adorable, I want to make some.

I love visiting here and admiring all the lovely knits that are sent in. So pleased that I can help out a little. Can't wait to see the next lot!