Growing Bigger - with great reasons!

We've decided to broaden our efforts!

We are still happily collecting for the September shipment to afghans for Afghans. And, after that, we will be collecting for two groups. One is the Next Generation Guardians in Natuashish, Labrador, a group of women who are helping to heal their community through teaching life skills, Innu language and culture. This is a community that was relocated from Davis Inlet after a series of tragedies.

The other group is the Dulaan Project. A great group who are knitting to warm Mongolia. This is their website: http://www.fireprojects.org/dulaan.htm And a link to their flyer. http://www.nwkniterati.com/movabletype/archives/MossyCottage/DulaanFlyer2007_color.pdf

So, why are we doing this? Four generous women, really. One is here,

http://notjustaboutcancer.blogspot.com/, who wanted to give us something that didn't fit the criteria that afghans for Afghans need to keep, in order to be helpful in Afghanistan.

The second wonderfully generous woman is Mags Kandis, of Mission Falls fame. Mags actually designed us a knitting pattern!!! A great cap, called Hugs and Kisses. This made us think about trying to help some of the children in Canada who need help, like the Labrador Innu.

The third generous woman is Kathryn Thomas from Fleece Artist. She has donated her pattern, Amelia, to this campaign. We are also big fans of Fleece Artists - both of us were born in Nova Scotia, so we love to support all the great things going on there. And working with Fleece Artists yarn is very fun! I have a lovely capelet that I knit from a skein Anita brought me last summer. And I hope to visit in August, myself.

And the fourth is the amazing Shoshana Teitelman of the Creativ Festival. This is a huuuuge crafters festival in Toronto. Because of her heart and generosity, we will have our own booth (#909). Knitters and crochetters will be able to donate newly knit sweaters and afghans on site, and receive free admission to the festival. We will also be offering everyone the opportunity to "knit a square" on site, with Moda Dea Merino Superwash contributed by Coats & Clark.

Sadly, I have to get back to work now- I have been stealing time this morning, and can't figure out how to post these great patterns!

Friday the 13th

First, a correction - Kate has 12 squares done, 24 to go - I read the counter backwards, as she pointed out, with very good humour. It has been that kind of a day. I dropped the girls off at their camp pick up, heard my phone ring and my husband announcing that their lunches were still at home. I think quickly and head for the nearest Tim Hortons for bagels and juice. Return before the bus arrived, and I think I have turned my luck around. As I am driving to my office, the phone rings again and Bill has discovered M's epipens at home. Not cool. But, a lovely camp volunteer was heading in late, so I just had to go home, find the epipens, meet up with the very kind Allison and her partner, and get back to work in time for a meeting. Aargh. My new manager is not in the office today, so she will just have to find out later that I am a bit scattered, and that stuff comes up sometimes at home

I am hoping to have time to knit this weekend. A very good friend is turning 40 and is in for a few major surprises at her cabin. No, not a cottage, as she is from northern Ontario. The part of ontario where having a sauna at the cabin comes before having running water.

Working on it!

Kate, http://katekastsoff.blogspot.com/ is up to 24 squares! Go, Kate! If you need more yarn, let me know - I have some wool in my stash. This is great!!

I have 2 wee hats just about finished, from that lovely ball of yarn I picked up at The Loop in Halifax. The girls on M's soccer team (6 and 7 year olds) have tried a stitch or two, but I don't think any of them will take up knitting any time soon. They are getting used to me knitting on the sidelines now, and sometimes come over and fill me in on a great play I have missed.

My other daughter has crocheted a square, so we are working on a blanket. Our goal is to finish it by labour day - a baby blanket. I think I will hope for a 25/75 split on the squares with her.

And... stay tuned for a very special development that we will unveil shortly!

Updated info at Afghans for Afghans

Here are photos of some knitting Anita has been doing - hats and a vest. We will have to find a new home for the vest, I think.

I just had a look at the Afghans for Afghans website. They have some pictures from their last trip to Afghanistan delivering knitting. The focus now is on baby items - hats, socks (not booties) and blankets.

I bought a lovely ball of yarn in Halifax (at The Loop) and have one hat so far, and another on the way. I"ll post photos soon - the camera is hiding somewhere at the moment. This is a ball of Lucy Neatby's yarn which I brought back for Anita. Celestial Merino in Maple - colours that always remind me of Anita.

That's all for now - I have to get the children's lunches ready and bathing suits, hats, towels and sunscreen for camp tomorrow. Hard to believe after a very grey, rainy weekend. M&M were good sports about playing soccer in the rain.

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afghans for Afghans TO and Ottawa Collection Details

afghans for Afghans TO and Ottawa

Thank you!!

A big thank you to the wonderful people who dropped off their knitting to the Bank St. location of Yarn Forward! I am in a great cafe in Halifax, the Wired Monk, enjoying a cafe au lait and pastries with an old friend. Anita sent an email with the good news, so I had to figure out a way to get online. I had a lovely evening at a sidewalk patio over some pasta and locally brewed Garrison beer with Rudy and his wife Alex. She is already at work now while we are still getting the day started. I haven't seen them in four years, so it was a treat to have a last minute trip to Halifax for a meeting. I am hoping to have time to look for The Loop Craft and Cafe later. I will try not to add to my stash, but judging from their website, it might be hard!

It's great to have such quick and generous responses to our request. Keep knitting, everyone!