New Website and Casting Off Online

Hi!
Casting Off the Cold's web presence has just been extended! Now when you type http://www.castingoffthecold.ca/ you will find yourself on our new website. The site gives information about us and the causes we support. You can also find the calendar of meetings and events, size guides and a list of items we need the most. You'll find a direct link to the site in the 'Links' section on the blog.

Please visit the site and give us your feedback!

We would also like to announce that Casting Off the Cold is establishing 'Casting Off Online', where anyone who would like to participate in our contributions but isn't close enough to get to our meetings or drop-off points can send donations to us. We will choose one organization per month to be the recipient of all items sent in to Casting Off Online. Check the website for the featured organization and the things they will need.

Happy Crafting!

KNIT IN THE PUBLIC DAY

Casting Off The Cold will be hosting Knit in the public day, on June 20th at the Markham Village Music Festival on Highway 48, South of Bullock Drive North of Highway 7. The booth # is CW35 which is right in front of the new bakery, west side of Main Street in the same plaza as the Japanese Restaurant.

Please join us crafters ( knit/ crochet), bring along a project you are working on, meet the group and have some fun. You will want to bring a fold up chair and a hat or an umbrella that you can attached to your chair, just in case we have a hot, hot day!

There will be a raffle for a baby Afghan, so if you are interested in tickets, please contact Sally at castingoffthecold@gmail.com $2.00 a ticket.

Here is the blanket.

I am looking forward to seeing you all there.

FROM JEN AND DAVE

Dear Casting Off The Cold,

My husband and I would like to thank you for all the hard work and love you put into the blankets, hats and other items you make.

Our son received blankets and a hat while in the NICU and we were grateful for them.
Keep up the great work.

MANY THANKS FROM ROSE OF SHARON

March 17, 2009

Dear Ms. Karamath,

We would like to sincerely thank you for your recent donation of knitted and crochet baby items and recipes with hand cloths for the auction we held at our ls` Annual Rosie's Act One, Rose of Sharon's cabaret theatre event. The members of `Casting off the Cold' have been extremely generous to families at Rose of Sharon over the past two years. Special thanks to Tracy Jennrich, Pat Thompson, Nayana Shah and Kim Van Blarcom for their direct contribution to these auction items. We appreciate all of the work that your group achieves for our young moms and their babies.

Your generosity allows us to continue to uphold our mandate - to provide supports and services to pregnant and parenting women under the age of 25 living in York Region. Your gift will touch many lives - thank you!

It is through your support and the support of others that our young mothers and students are able to improve their lives and experience positive change.

"Rose of Sharon not only helped me be the best mother I can be, but it also helped me realize I can still fulfill my dreams" Rose of Sharon Student

On behalf of the Board of Rose of Sharon Services for Young Mothers, our agency staff, and of course the mothers and their children - many thanks for your generous contribution.
Sincerely,

Anna Pavan

Executive Director

PROJECT LINUS

On February 27, 2009, we donated 12 preemie blankets to Project linus.
We will like to donate a lot more blankets in the future, so we are asking you out there for some help!! If you have some time on your hands, and can knit or crochet, all it takes is one blanket from each one of you to make a HUGE difference. For more info you can contact me, Sally at castingoffthecold@gmail.com . Or you can go to http://www.castingoffthecold.weebly.com/ and you will find a list of items and sizes we need. I hope to hear from you soon!!

ROSE OF SHARON FUNDRASIER

February 17th Rose of Sharon will be holding a fundraiser, and we were ask to take part by donating item for their baby baskets, which would be auctioned off.
Some of the ladies from the group got their needle and hooks working so we could make the dead line. Here are some of the beautiful clothing that were donated.

Casting off The Cold would like to wish Rose of Sharon the very best in their Fundraiser.


From Tracy



Also Tracy's

Another from Tracy.


A sweater and bibs from Pat.

This baby outfit is from Nayana.


And these are some dish clothes and recipes for the non cook basket from Kim.

Bata Shoe Museum Sock Knitting Workshop

On January 25, four members of Casting Off the Cold held a workshop at the Bata

Shoe Museum to teach experienced knitters how to make socks.

We had twelve students in all, some of whom preferred crocheting to knitting, so Tracy held a small class to teach crocheting socks. Thanks a million, Tracy; we know socks aren't on your list of favourites.

Even though we were limited to a 5-hour session, a few of our students managed to finish a whole sock, and they were all pleased to have mastered a new technique. We presented each one of our participants with a Certificate at the end of the session, and many were very interested in what Casting Off the Cold is doing.

Thanks to the participants, the Bata Shoe Museum and our members for organizing and taking part. Click below to see a short video of the event.

Here's Tracy with the youngest student in the class:

Here are some more pictures from the workshop.