Drinking the Kool-Aid

First off, thank you all so much for your responses to my last post. I really feel like we have such a great community here in blog-land. There's so much love and positive energy - you're awesome!

Secondly, congrats to Rebecca who won the contest. I'll be sending you some goodies soon!

I entrusted my wonderful husband with the task of choosing the winner:


In other news, I've recently been drinking the spinning Kool-Aid. My lovely mother got me a drop spindle class with Kristine of A Verb for Keeping Warm at Article Pract.

Spinning is really, really difficult to do correctly, but it's also fun. It might start to take away from my knitting time. And I might already be stalking more blogs of knitters who also spin.

It's amazing that in less than a week, I've turned a pile of wool like this


into yarn like this.



It might not be smooth or pretty or evenly spun, but it's yarn. And I made it. How cool is that?
We have a second class meeting tomorrow where we'll learn how to ply and try spinning other fibers.

Earlier this week I fell down at etsy.com and ordered some more fiber. Like I need another stash...

This could be bad.

Happiness

Today, my 28th birthday, I'm trying to concentrate on what is good in my life. So often I get wrapped up in what I want and think I deserve instead of concentrating on the wonderful things already in my life that make me happy.

I have a family that loves me, a wonderful husband who takes great care of me, a job that keeps me well stocked in yarn, and a roof over my head. I really have very little to worry about.

And yet, I do. Constantly. About getting a new job, about paying the bills, about everything. I hate it, and I'm trying to be better. I'm working on appreciating the little things. I'm trying to not be grumpy. I'm trying to smile more.

In this light, I've decided on the theme for this year's birthday/blogiversary contest! Happiness.

Please leave a comment here, or send me an email (branderson2006ATgmailDOTcom) telling me what you're grateful for in life. What makes you happy?

Entries received before Friday May 16 at 11:59pm will be entered into a random drawing for some yummy yarn. Or, if you're not into that, we'll work something out.

Thanks for playing. Have a great day!

Go wish Nova and Rangsiwan a happy birthday too!

Can you believe?

My blogiversary almost slipped by me again... Two years. I can't believe it!

What a wonderful endeavor this has turned out to be.

Thanks to all of you who visit, read, comment and/or link to my little corner of the blogosphere. You're the best!

Stay tuned for the second annual birthday/blogiversary contest - coming on Monday!!

Paying it Forward

Rosina of Noteworthy Knits (via Octopus Knits) has generously offered to spread the wave of crafty goodness, and now it's my turn to pay it forward.

"It’s the Pay It Forward Exchange, 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 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're interested in playing along with me, please post a comment here and send an email to branderson2006 AT gmail DOT com with your name, shipping address, ravelry id or flickr id if you have one, etc.

I'm already planning the surprises!

WINNER!!!

Vanessa is the winner of a skein of lovely Lemongrass!



Thanks everyone for playing!!



Now, some stats, just in case anyone's curious:
I had 19 people enter. I eliminated any second comments left by someone who had already been entered.
I used this random number generator to draw the winner's number.
I had 11 requests for Jade, 4 for Lemongrass and 4 for G-Rocks.




I think this will have to become an annual event. Come back and play again next year!!

EXTRA! EXTRA!!

The very merry un-birthday un-blogiversary contest has finally arrived.

The prizes came in today's mail, so the contest will begin!!!

Up for grabs are one skein each of Socks That Rock Lightweight in Lemongrass, G-Rocks, and Jade.

Simply leave a comment by 12:01am on Sunday, May 20th letting me know which colorway you choose! I will choose and announce the winner's name on Sunday.

Mmm... Lemongrass

Yummy... G-Rocks

Delicious... Jade.

Isn't it hard to choose??

Come one, come all. And good luck!

Blogiversary!!

Oh my gosh. Today is my blogiversary and I almost forgot! I have been so preoccupied with an event happening tomorrow (more on that at a later date, maybe) that I haven't been paying attention.

So, that, and Saturday is my birthday (and Nova's too!).

There's so much going on that I think we need a contest!! Don't you?

I am taking a few days off of work, and going out of town. So while I'm gone, get your contest-winning hats out, and come back next week for the big prize reveal and entry guidelines.

Have a great rest of your week, a great weekend and Mother's Day! Talk to you soon.