Showing posts with label exchange. Show all posts
Showing posts with label exchange. Show all posts

Friday, September 28, 2007

Flood Relief Contest & Pay It Forward

I'm almost done with the back of my Minimalist Cardigan, but I'll post about that later.

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Right now I want to put in a quick plug for Knittymama's Flood Relief Contest. From her blog:

"I’m sure most of you have heard about the devastating floods that have taken place in Southeastern Minnesota and Southwestern Wisconsin by now. There has been terrible loss of life and property, but one group that has been hit especially hard are the organic farmers of the region. This is a fertile area, and home to a rich organic farming community....

This is an agonizing loss for these farmers. Not only have they lost their crops but they have suffered erosion and equipment damage, and have had to lay off workers as well. While most farms are hoping to make it through the damage there are also many who have an uncertain future....

Once I began to find out about the losses around our region, I felt helpless but unsure of what to do. But then I saw that Sow the Seeds is doing a fundraiser, and then I thought, “The knitters! The knitters will help!” And so here I am, with both a contest and a plea for you all to help our organic farmers."


Knittymama has some great prizes (sock yarn!, handspun!), but the contest will only remain open until September 29th (tomorrow!), so check it out. Of course, feel free to donate even if you read about this too late to get in on the contest : )


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Pay it Forward

Rosina of Noteworthy Knits has very generously offered to make handmade gifts for the first 3 people who leave a comment on her post (I think you can still leave her a comment, so give her a visit, and check out all the cool spinning she's been doing lately!).

I took her up on it (Thanks, Rosina!), and now I'm paying it forward.

This is "based on the concept of the movie Pay it Forward where acts or deeds of kindness are done without expecting something in return... just passing it on, with hope that the recipients of the acts of kindness continue to pass it along as well. Here’s how it works: I will make and send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment to this post on my blog requesting to join this PIF exchange. I do not know what that gift will be yet, and it won’t be sent this month, probably not next month, but it will be sent (within 6 months) and that’s a promise! What YOU have to do in return, then, is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog."

If you would like to participate, please leave me a comment on this post and email me at octopusknits AT gmail DOT com with your contact info. (mailing address, blog address if you have one, Ravelry or flickr ID if you have one).

I'll try to make you something you'll like!

Saturday, August 11, 2007

Sockapalooza!

Look at the gorgeous socks my Sockapalooza 4 pal, Ellen (who seems to be blog-free), made for me!

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Aren't they completely beautiful? She used Dream in Color Smooshy sock yarn in what looks like the Nightwatch colorway and a lovely lacey pattern with cable-like detail (which she chose because she noticed how much I like cables!).

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Here are some more views of them:

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I couldn't be more pleased!

But wait... there's more!

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Bonus socks which Ellen had made for herself, but turned out too big for her! She had hoped they would fit me, but, alas, they're a bit too long in the foot. She told me to re-gift them if they didn't fit, but I love the socks (done in a lovely, soft cotton sock yarn - great for summer), so I'm considering performing a little toe surgery to make them fit. They have a wonderful cuff pattern, and the salmon, raspberry, and blue striping is such fun to look at!

It turns out that Ellen is from Austin, Texas, and she wanted to share a little piece of it with me:

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What a deliciously scented piece it is! In her note she explained:
"That soap is handmade locally and is a combination of all the things that are best about south Austin."

She went on:
"Please enjoy. You may find the odd dog or cat hair/fur... I have 3 dogs and 4 cats, so it's a bit hard to keep completely beast free in my house. Happy Sock Day, Ellen"

Well, that sounds familiar (here a hair, there a hair, everywhere a cat hair)...

Thanks so much, Ellen! (What a fantastic sock pal!)



P.S. Bug and Moana are on strike for the day, so no goofy kitty pictures - but don't worry, there will be more in the future...