Just Between Us

Well, Trudy never contacted me. This means, of course, the Ranco of Randomness has yet to be claimed. But, you know, it really wants a new home. As promised, I will hold a new random drawing. But this time it's just between us. No advertising beyond the blog. Let's see who's really reading. So if you are here with me just say "Hey" in the comments to let me know. Drop me a line anytime Tuesday or Wednesday and I'll draw a new winner. But you'll have to really be checking in to know if you win. Perhaps Blogger's lack of email feature is a good thing!

And the Winner is...

...or ARE as the case may be. Two years ago today I started this blog. It has grown, evolved and hopefully gotten better. I have striven to make projects more that are increasingly more complex, more challenging and more exciting. I hope I continue to do so. I have also worked to make the blog more interesting, visually and in my writing. I thank you all for your comments. They were indeed quite helpful, however I do reserve the right to implement those that think are right. At least, right for now.

Your comments are important to me, not just as a fan meter, but as a means of communication. The writing transcends a journal and becomes a conversation when I know what you are thinking. However, at the present I still can't answer back. And as I wrote recently, I don't like that at all. Some of my favorite bloggers are those that I feel I have some kind of give and take with. Those that reply back to my comments, even if it's to say "thanks" or "good idea" or to just give me encouragement. Therefore, one of my goals for 2009 is to switch over to another host, one that requests email address so I can communicate back with you. My knitting goals I'll share tomorrow.

So now, the contest winners.

Most Amusing goes to Elaine, and per her poem, she receives the Lang Mille Colori

I'd also be happy,
I have to admit,
If I won the Lang,
For showing wit.

Most Helpful/Constructive Carla, for suggesting I leave my comfort zone and show up for a photo call. I'm working on it! The Cascade 220 is yours.

The random winner was decided by taking all the names, dumping them into excel and assigning each a number. Using the Random Integer Generator I got one number.

And number 23 was Trudy. I hope you truly are amused! You've got the Ranco coming your way.

If the three of you want to email at tantejATgmailDOTcom, with your addresses, I'll start working on getting your packages out!

And since it is my Knitting Blogiversary, I would be remiss if I didn't have some knitting content. Behold, color 2 of my Charlotte's Web.

Flashing the Contest Stash

There was plenty of light today, and I came home early enough to take advantage.

Here it is the contest yarn!

First up: Arauncia Ranco Solid

weight: 100 grams
yardage: +/-375 yards
fiber content: 75% superwash wool, 25% polymide
gauge: 24 sts = 4"
needles: 3.25mm/US 3 (smaller for socks)

Next: Cascade 220
weight: 100 grams
yardage: 220 yards
fiber content: 100% wool
gauge: 20 sts = 4"
needles: 4.5 mm/US 7

And finally: Lang Mille Colori


weight: 50 grams
yardage: 92 meters
fiber content: 50% wool, 50% acrylic
gauge: 12-16 sts = 4"
needles: 6-7 mm/US 10

This yarn has very long repeats, so depending on what you do with it, it will behave very differently. For instance, in my Chevron Hat (rav link, pattern link), the colors changed about every row, giving a striped effect.



However, in Quant (rav link, knitty link), which is made using the entrelac technique, the repeats made nice, bold blocks of color.

I think it will look great in Veronik Avery's Short-Row Hat (rav link, pattern link), which I plan on knitting!

Cotton Pickin' Goodness

This may not seem like a lot of yarn to some of you, but for me, that's a lot of cotton! And 3 of those bad boys could be yours. Yep. These are the colors you will be choosing from if you are one of the lucky contest winner. For more details, click here.

Please give to this worthy cause. The time to cure breast cancer is NOW.

Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow

That's it folks. Tomorrow morning I return to the gloom of winter that I call home. Not much happened today, although I finally got some alone time with my mom. Now it's just about packing and getting ready to go. There won't be any post tomorrow but look out for some pictures, FINALLY, on Friday.

Although there isn't much to write about knitting or visiting, I would like to take this opportunity to sen out a thank you and a make a short Public Service Announcement/Yarn Contest.

First the thanks. Right before my departure I won a comment contest. My prize had not yet arrived to photograph and I forgot to mention it. Christy, over at Having a Hissyknit had a favorite yarn contest. And I won. Two skeins of either Andes or Mission Falls 1824. I should know when I get home! What yarn did I enter? Why Hand Maiden's Mini Maiden, the very yarn I am using for Jeanie. Ahhhhh.

And now for the PSA/Contest.

My sister, doer of many good deeds as well as mother extraodinare, has decided to participate in this year's Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. The following is taken from an email she sent out about the event.

...This year, an estimated 40,000 women will die from the disease. Breast cancer takes another life every 14 minutes. Another woman is diagnosed with breast cancer every 3 minutes. An estimated three million women are living with breast cancer. One million of them don't yet know it.

As part of the event, I have pledged to raise money. People can make donations on ym behalf, so that I can reach my fundraising goal. With the donations raised, the Avon Foundation will provide support and resources for women affected by this terrible disease. This will help so many people in our own community and throughout the country. Any amount you can give is great.

It is faster and easier than ever to support this great cause - you can make a donation online by simply clicking on the link at the bottom of this message. Whatever you can give will help! I truly appreciate your support and will keep you posted on my progress.

Thank you for supporting me always, but especially in this challenge; you really do make a difference.

Click HERE to visit her personal page.

Need more of an incentive? For every $5 donation you make, we will enter your name into a drawing for 3 balls of Peaches & Creme or Sugar'n Cream. There will be two winners (3 balls each!) and I'll even give you a choice of colors from my very large stash of the stuff. (No, that's not up on Ravelry but trust me there are lots of colors.) Just follow the link above and in the personal note section, write in "Tante J Yarn Contest." I will also be adding a button when I get home. The walk will take place the weekend of July 12 & 13, so the contest will remain open until that time. Names will be drawn randomly by S & T. The drawing will take place July 14, the day after the walk.