Episode 15 - Winners revealed woohoo!

Warning: This post is VERY picture heavy - it contains all the prize winners! woohoo!

FO
Boyfriend Socks: Lucky Bamboo (Pattern will be available as soon as I figure out how)
Koolhaas Hat from IK Holiday Knits
Dream Swatch
Candleflame (you thought this day would never come)

WIP
Elizabeth Bennet Cabled Cardi
MS 3 (I finished clue 5 since I recorded woohoo!)
Winter Gem Gloves from Cast On (hey, those are finished...look for a post soon)
Everlasting Bagstopper from Knitty.com (its done now too...woohoo)

Spinning
Finished 2oz of Border Leister in a green blue from Windy Acres Farm bought at SAFF

Yarn
ummmm...we shall get to all of that...
Ultra Alpaca from Berroco for the gloves bought at Rainy Day Creations.
Eco-spun from Little Barn for the everlasting bagstopper

Cool Stuff (I planned to have pics but no daylight!!!! silly work!!! stay tuned and I will put some up...soon!)
Yarn Balls from Random Meanderthings
Namaste Executive Bag bought at Scouts Swag
Needle Roll from Zonda (check out her brand new shop!!!)

Yarn Shop Reviews
The Black Sheep - Winter Park, FL
Sip and Knit - Maitland, FL (yarn bought there: Dream in Color Smooshy, 2 skeins of Rio de la Plata Sock yarn)

Lupus Walk Donation Winners - Total Raised: $4602 - THANK YOU!!!

These prizes are in no particular order. Thank you to all of the prize donors. Please take a moment to look at their sites and other stuff - each of them has amazing things to offer and WOW they are all SO generous!!!
Paton Kroy Socks Winners: Rebecca (blogless!), Deb and Martha!
Opal Sock Yarn: Barbara, Olivia, Anna, Elysbeth, Carrie (3 skeins!), Martha (blogless!), Theresa (blogless!)
A Little Quacky Prize Pack: Elizabeth
Cat Borhdi Markers: Heidi and Row Counter: James
BagSmith Bag donated from Rainy Day Creations: Alyson


artyarns portrait: Allison


Jewelry from Kellie


Cross Necklace: Jaye, Heart Necklace: Sharon (blogless!), Flower Necklace: Heather


Earring Winners: Carolyn (blogless), Kathy (2 pairs!), Denise


Handspun Yarn from Jessica: Kathy


Poppy Flower Fibers Roving in Earth and Sky: Geri. Geri also won a blue project bag from my mom that I forgot to get a pic of. oops!!!


Poppy Flower Fibers Sock Yarn in Jumiper: Dani


Charlotte Yarn prize pack: Laura


The Changling Pendant: Jessica

Gift Certificate from Macek Designs: David

Marucca Designs Project Bag from The Loopy Ewe: Anne

Stitchin Caps for Kids Stitch Markers by Stitchin Mary: Virginia (blogless!)

Stitchmarkers from La: Jorie (blogless!!)

A Touch of Autumn Tea Sampler: Rebecca and the 2 4oz Tea package: Nancy (blogless!!)

Interweave Press donated 2 books of the winners choice. One book each goes to: Heather and Michelle

Interweave Press also donated 2 one-year subscriptions of the winners choice. One sub each goes to: Melanie (teabird on Ravelry) and Sarah (blogless)

13 signed WendyKnits Patterns: Cristi (and she hasn't shut up about it since :) )

Zen Yarn Garden Prize Pack: Kristen

10 balls of Lavish donated by Berroco!: Sarah

signed copy of Casts Off : May

signed copy of Crazy Aunt Purl's Drunk, Divorced, and Covered in Cat Hair: The True-Life Misadventures of a 30-Something Who Learned to Knit After He Split donated by Laurie Perry: Olivia (pictured here with her Opal yarn winnings as well)

Three of these soaps (yes, 2 were for me for winning something else and I was lazy so sue me!!!) from Rosi G: Jaeleen (blogless!!!)

Things I promise to snap pics of and get up...but I haven't had daylight!!!

Turtledaddy sock blockers from Cristi: Carolyn (blogless!)

Yarn Pirate Prize Pack: Karen

From The Yarn Bar - Lupus colorway roving: Rebecca and yarn: Danielle (blogless!)

Charlotte Prizes:

Facial from Jennifer York at Modern Salon and Spa: Rachel

Reflexology Massage from A Touch of Autumn: Patricia

The Walk!

First, I would like to say a giant thank you to all the donors! Both monetary and prize donors! Without you I wouldn't have raised ANY funds! This year we raised $4527.40!!! True, I didn't hit that $5ooo goal. And true there are a couple of outstanding checks making their way to the ALR that I didn't get the information on, but it is what it is.

I convinced Cristi that it would be loads of fun to walk with me. Yes, I am very clever for this since there was no yarn shopping involved.

I like to knit in hotels! I knit a sleeve!

So we headed up Friday night and stayed at the Holiday Inn (if you are looking for a nice place to stay with free internets - HI is the place for you!!!)

We were welcomed with a nice sign AND a balloon arch!!! We got checked in and I showed my true morning colors.

I am not a morning person.



We met some really nice volunteers who gave us snacks and water!

Water? I drink COFFEE!

There were some opening remarks and some dancers. Yes, dancers. Cristi took video and it will be on YouTube! (Ummm...WTF happened to this picture on my digi camera??????? )

Then we went through the arch and walked. I am generally against exercise, though I need to get out and do more. We had a nice walk. Not too slow, not too fast. We learned about the 3 year plan of some ladies to get out of debt. And the hopes and dreams for 10 year old girls. We are having a bit of a drought here in the Carolinas. Lake Lynn, where the walk was held, definitely shows signs of it. That down there, well, it used to be half a lake.

The walk went really well. I got a GREAT interview with the National Walk Coordinator that will be on the podcast this week!!!

We had a great time. After the walk we went and had lunch (super healthy lunch of McDonalds) and came upon this pumpkin patch. I want a pumpkin, but I won't be home enough to enjoy it!

So it was a good day and we had a great time!

Now, what you really care about...the drawing. OK - I have the prizes listed (there are a few things that haven't made it here yet, so I didn't draw for those, I will as they arrive - I don't want to draw and then them never make it and get people all excited about getting stuff!). I will be sending emails out to all to get addresses, etc. and then I will make one big post to announce all the winners and what they won! I will be in Orlando next week and have about 400 knitting and other things to do before I leave, so be patient, it is all coming. I promise.

Walk with Us to Cure Lupus

As I have been saying, I am doing the Lupus Walk fundraiser again this year. Woohoo!

For all my knitterly friends, I am having a thank you drawing. For every $5 you donate to the walk, I will put your name in a hat and draw for some FABULOUS prizes!!!! Those Prizes will be posted here over the coming weeks. So far there is fiber, jewelry, sock blockers, project bags! I am so excited to be able to do this for everyone as a thank you for helping me work to find a cure - because lupus sucks!!!! Seriously.



So, go to my Lupus Walk page and click on Make a Gift! In the comments, put podcast or blog or something that tells me you came from here (cause I have family and friends who don't care a bit about getting fun stuff (shocking I KNOW!!!!) so I am not including those non-knitting souls in the fun (more for you!!!!!!!!!)

My goal this year is to raise $5000. I think that is totally doable. The walk is on October 6. All donations must be received by then.

Now...for the first prize that was donated and you could win...These are the Turtle Daddy Sock Blockers available at Turtlegirl76's etsy shop. The pictured pair are the large women's/medium men's, however I am not entirely sure which size/color combo is being donated - we chatted about it this weekend, but never settled on it because, well, we were busy buying yarn!!!

I chose this particular color/size to show them off though, because I happened to paint this pair. That's right. This fairie also paints sock blockers (in exhange for vodka and stitch markers - I am easy, what can I say???)

So - go check out what else Cristi has to offer and stay tuned for more items to come!!!

Some Lupus facts:

Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease in which a person's immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own tissue.

Lupus can cause life-threatening damage to major organs such as the kidneys, lungs, heart and central nervous system.

Lupus is the leading cause of death among women with autoimmune diseases who are in their childbearing years (ages 15-45).

Women are five times more likely to die from lupus than men, and African Americans are three times more likely to die from lupus than caucasians.



That's right, folks, LUPUS KILLS!!! Yeah, I look fine right now, but I hurt and this stupid disease kills! Help me find a cure!!!

Into the home stretch!

And there are still some REALLY COOL prizes to come this week. In fact, I will have to start doubling up to get them all up!!!

La of the JenLa Blog is sending one winner this AWESOME stitch markers! These are super cool!! Thanks, La!!
Next, we have a skein of 70% superwash merino/30% seacell in the gorgeous Lilacs colorway from Roxanne at ZenYarnGarden! Included with this is a matching project bag! I have to admit to being a bit jealous since I have been coveting some of this yarn - but one lucky winner will get it all to herself (or himself - you know - if some of you manly knitters donate!!)
As of right now - 10/1/2007 at 6 pm - we have raised $2456! Almost half way there! Thank you all for your kind support! If you would please pass the word along! The more people who know, the more we can raise for a Lupus cure!

Thank you for finding a Lupus Cure!

As promised I will be putting up the things which have been donated as gifts to thank you for donating to my Lupus Walk. I will be putting everything in this post to keep it at the top and so you can scroll through and drool to your hearts content :) Also, there will be links on the sidebar to all shops/blogs who have donated so you can clicky to happiness and see what else they have! I am adding these in advance to get you excited about what is coming, but they are not all there yet!! Also, if you are a yarn dyer, crafter, etc. and you are interested in sponsoring the walk through a donation of a thank you gift, email me.

Thank you again for your support of my walk and helping me find a cure for Lupus!

So...without further ado...

9/10/2007

(picture provided through the courtesy of The Loopy Ewe)

Today I am TERRIBLY EXCITED to announce that Sheri of The Loopy Ewe has donated a beautiful Maruca City Girl project bag (value $55.00) in Ovoid Pattern. This is the pattern that Sheri herself owns and she says it is BEAUTIFUL!! I am jealous!!!

9/11

Today we have a beautiful skein of Noro Kochoran in color no. 21 (love those desscriptive colornames, huh??)! This beauty comes to us from Charlotte Yarn, who incidently were the first to answer my call for thank you prizes! Along with this skein of Noro Kochoran (which is a Wool, silk, angora blend and did I mention BEAUTIFUL???) is a pattern from local Charlotte designer Campagne Makerof Stitch Poet. This beautiful capelet called "Smart Girls...Knit" is designed with this one skein of Noro - so you have everything you need (well, except the needles) to make this beauty! A perfect gift if you have a friend or loved one who has a chilly office or library to spend time in! Or a beauty to treat yourself to!!

Capelet Pattern and Noro Kochoran from Charlotte Yarn (value: $25.50)

9/12/2007

Is that not a pretty pretty skein of yarn? This skein of 440 yards of fingering weight Superwash Merino is called Juniper (valued at $22.50) and comes to us from the sweet Lisa at Poppy Flower Fibers. I have quite a bit of her fibers and this stuff is GREAT to work with!! Pinks, purples, turquiose and gray. mmmmmm...

9/13

We have another prize from Lisa at Poppy Flower Fibers. Earth and Sky is 4 oz. of Merino and pictures do not do it justice. Thank you, Lisa!!

9/14

Connie, a beautiful and wonderful custom dressmaker in Ohio, has donated a bunch of sock yarn! Thank you Connie! First is Opal in Crocodile! It is bright and blue and prettiful!!

Special Delivery!!!

I went to Atlanta to see the Yarn Harlot. She was generous enough to sigh a second book for me so that I could give it away to you!!! Thank you, Stephanie, for a fun time and a GREAT prize!!!

Etsy Prize Day!

This beautiful shetland wool handspun comes to us from Snowmoon3! Thanks so much Jessica, I appreciate the donation and some lucky winner will LOVE this!!!

Also - I am super pleased to announce that Tyler of Macek Designs has donated a gift certificate for a skein of custom dyed sock yarn! WOOHOO!!! I have some of Tyler's roving and I have to say that I LOVE it!

Please visit our donors sites and support them! They are the reason we have prizes! Also, take a moment to spread the word - I appreciate it! We are ALMOST to $1300 today. YAY!

Pampering Prizes

Well, we have 3 days and just under $2000 to go! Thank you to all who have donated - keep passing the word on!!!



RosiG has donated some of her fabulous soapy products to one lucky winner!!! See those pretty pretty samples of soaps??? I hear her soaps are FANTASTIC and I hope to have my hot little hands on some soon!

Next, Autumn of A Touch of Autumn has donated 2 great prizes. First is a sample set of all 8 of her teas. This is 8 1 oz. sample size tins of her delicious hand blended teas! Another lucky winner will get 2 4oz tins of their choice from her tea selections!

ATTENTION CHARLOTTE RESIDENTS!

If you are in the Charlotte metro area, you are in luck! Why? Well, because Autumn is also donating a 20 minute reflexology session!!!!

AND!!!

Jennifer at Modern Salon and Spa is donating a 30 minute facial to one lucky Charlotte resident!!!! Jennifer is who I use for all my pampering needs - and if you ask I will tell you all about why you should give up shaving and let her start waxing you!!!

Crazy Aunt Purl, WendyKnits and a BagSmith Bag

9/27/2007
HOLY MOLY! As of today we have raised ALMOST $1500 (just a couple dollars shy). And today I have some HUGE prize announcements!!!

In no particular order - because they are all FANTASTIC -

I would like to thank WendyKnits! She has generously donated an entire set of her published patterns! These patterns have taken the sock knitting world by STORM and The Loopy Ewe has been selling out of them for weeks!

One lucky winner will receive ALL THIRTEEN of these SIGNED BY WENDY patterns. I don't know about you, but I love Wendy's blog (and Rozz has a major crush on Lucy!) and her patterns and I am SO excited that she has donated these to the prize vault!

When I opened my mail today and had Wendy's patterns I didn't think ANYTHING could make my day better ... and then I got to the envelope from Laurie.

Yes folks. That is a signed copy of Crazy Aunt Purl's new book! And I have it here for one of you to win! I can't believe all the amazing things that have come in for this! Laurie is an AMAZING woman who I love reading! And sometimes she knits too :) Thank you, Laurie. I really appreciate your support!

Lastly today we have a BagSmith Project bag donated by Rainy Day Creations. The ladies at Rainy Day are amazing! The shop is right around the corner from me (OK - 10 minutes) in downtown Pineville, NC, and I really encourage you to drop by.

The Rainy Day ladies are also holding a charity event on October 13th from 10-4! A light lunch will be provided and there will be free classes on techniques we all want to learn. I will be there (not that anyone cares that I will be there, but I will) and I encourage you to come - there will be a lot of charities there that are accepting knitted items. Please go check out all the information on their site!!! I have a FANTASTIC flyer for this if you email me I will send it to you :) I was going to post it, but technology and I aren't getting along today.