CRAFTING 4 TURTLES

CRAFTING 4 TURTLES 2024

Think Turtle launched the “CRAFTING 4 TURTLES” initiative in 2018 to encourage adults and youth to use their crafts skills and hobbies to help turtles. 2024 marks the 7th year for this initiative!

Each year adults and youths in Bancroft, neighboring communities and throughout Ontario have very kindly made “turtle” and nature themed handcrafted items using materials of their choice.

When completed these items have been entrusted to Think Turtle Conservation Initiative to sell at public events we participate in as well as through online sales and Christmas Sales we participate in. All the funds raised are given to the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre (OTCC), home of Ontario’s turtle hospital to help with the treatment and care of injured turtles admitted to the turtle hospital. In 2023, “1,919” injured turtles were admitted to the OTCC. Of that number 90% were admitted as the result of being struck by a motor vehicle. Each year with the help of other people that care as we do we try to help the OTCC as much as we can.

Turtle Season 2024

It is our hope that during the winter month’s adults and youths of all ages will consider being a part of this year’s Crafting 4 Turtles initiative. It is a great way to volunteer for a good cause from the comfort of your own home in a way that will contribute to helping turtles. Fibre arts such as knitting, crochet, felting, and quilting are always popular but any type of handcrafted item is welcome.

Crocheters and knitters we have a few “turtle” inspired patterns we can sent to you upon request via Facebook or e-mail as well the links to some video patterns that might be fun to make. Most of the projects are small and a perfect way to use up odd balls and scrap yarn. Some of the projects we have patterns for include; turtle potholders, mug rugs, coasters, appliqués, etc. You are welcome to use your own pattern. For more details please contact Think Turtle.

Turtle inspired handcrafted items sell well. If you would instead like to use other animal or nature themed designs please feel free to. The idea is to make handcrafted items and the funds from the sale of the items goes to the turtle hospital. Anything you want to make would be wonderful and so appreciated.

Photos

If you go to https://thinkturtle.ca/crafting-4-turtles it will take you to our website page about Crafting 4 Turtles. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to view a small selection of photos that include handcrafted items adults and youth have made for the Crafting 4 Turtles initiative over the past few years to help the turtles.

Completion Date

If making handcrafted items for the Crafting 4 Turtles initiative it would work well if your item(s) are completed before the end of June. Note: This is an ongoing initiative meaning we accept handcrafted items year round if you are not able to meet the specified completion date.

The success of this initiative is based on how many people participate. May, July through to December Think Turtle will look to selling the handcrafted items via online sources, through retail outlets, scheduled community events and markets.

When the items you want to make are completed please get in touch and we will see about making arrangements to pick-up items or possibly curbside drop off at our office in Bancroft if you live in the area or know someone that does. Curbside drop off and/or pick-up for completed handcrafted items can be discussed by contacting us. Note: No matter where you are located in Ontario if you would like to participate please get in touch we can see about getting your completed items to the Think Turtle office.

We look forward to hearing from you and are excited to see your wonderful creations!

Crafting 4 Turtles 2018 – 2023

2018 – Through the sale of an eclectic mix of handcrafted items such as, turtle themed soap, dream catchers, slime, crochet/knit turtles, etc. and some donations received $2,182 was raised for the OTCC to purchase a much needed “NEW” electrocardiogram machine (ECG).

2019 – The year of painted rocks! We hosted several rock painting events. Through the sale of painted rocks, other turtle themed handcrafted items and some cash donations the 2019 Crafting 4 Turtles initiative raised $1,342.75 for the OTCC turtle hospital.

2020 – With the pandemic unexpectedly setting in we approached the ‘Crafting 4 Turtles’ initiative differently by taking an online approach hosting rock painting/collage events and a donation campaign. This made it possible to purchase much needed supplies for the turtle hospital such as reptile lights, extension cords. adaptors, timers as well as some cash donations and gift cards.

2021 – The Crafting 4 Turtles initiative focused on “fibre arts”. We received a wonderful assortment of handcrafted crocheted turtle potholders, crocheted turtle cat toys, crochet turtle scrubbies, knitted washcloths, cross stitch keepsakes, a turtle quilt, knitted turtle hats, turtle inspired crochet afghans and crocheted turtles. In addition to this our friends at ‘The Carriagehouse’ in Maynooth helped raise funds as part of the Crafting 4 Turtles initiative through the sale of handcrafted knitted/crocheted/felted turtles. The 2021 Crafting 4 Turtles initiative raised $807.55 for the OTCC turtle hospital.

2022 – We received a charming and fun assortment of handcrafted crocheted/knitted turtles, quilted mug rugs, resin turtle key chains/necklaces, felted pins, crochet turtle potholders, paintings, crochet/knit afghans, crochet cat toys, crochet bees, crochet frogs, crochet, turtle potholders, crocheted/knitted afghans and other items. In addition to this our friends at ‘The Carriagehouse’ in Maynooth helped raise funds as part of the Crafting 4 Turtles initiative through the sale of handcrafted knitted/crocheted/felted turtles turtles and turtle themed knick-knacks from the “Everything Turtle” display set-up in the shop. The 2022 Crafting 4 Turtles initiative raised $1,500.70 for the OTCC turtle hospital.

2023 – Thanks to extraordinary talents and caring Crafters/Artists in Bancroft and neighboring communities we received a vast array of fabulous handcrafted items that included crochet/knit turtles, hatchlings in their eggs, quilted mug rugs, resin turtle key chains/necklaces, felted pins, crochet tea cozies, crochet Christmas ornaments, rag rugs, crochet plant holders, beaded bracelets, wreaths, paintings, crochet animals and so much more. These handmade items were sold at public events/markets Think Turtle participated in during May, July – September, and Christmas Sales. Our combined efforts raised “$2,144” selling handcrafted items and some donation box contributions for the turtle hospital this turtle season. Note: An additional, “$308” was raised through Crafting 4 Turtles items that were donated to the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre’s for their Art Auction in July.

It would be greatly appreciated if you could share news of the “Crafting 4 Turtles” initiative for 2024 with anyone you think may be interested.

Should you have any questions regarding this subject or other turtle related matters please do not hesitate to contact Think Turtle Conservation Initiative at 647-606-9537 (phone/text) or e-mail thinkturtle@yahoo.com or message. Thank you for looking out for species at risk!