I’m Angora - you can take the quiz and find out what fiber are you.  Don’t worry only 5 questions.

While I was out of town Rissa tagged me for a meme. I keep thinking I’m going to write one of those 100 things about me, but haven’t gotten around to it yet. Well this will help add 7 more to my list.

Here are the rules which you must abide by if you are tagged.
1. Link to your tagger and post these rules.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself: some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post and list their names (linking to them).
4. Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment at their blogs.
********************************************************************

1. I try not to be a production knitter, but I like to stick to a schedule. I actually get things done when I make a list and check things off.
2. I would consider myself to be a Purple Woman. I think to go down that path you should really have a calling. There are a lot of things I have a calling for, but not that one.
3. One of my dream trips is to Africa on safari. This is a must do in my life and I have to stay at Giraffe Manor for at least one night. I think this will probably happen when I’m in my 40’s.
4. I learned to play the piano at 5 and took lessons for years and years - till 18, but I never enjoyed it. However, I hurt my arm at 7 and needed to keep playing for the therapy. It was a simple fracture that went awry at the hospital and led me to using complete use of the arm and hand at one point. I have recovered, but not to full use. I normally always opt for long sleeves to hide the scars from the subsequent surgery. I did however wear a sleeveless for my wedding.
5. I would only play classical music on the piano. I always thought that sounded best. However, my favorite music is from the 40’s. I love Dorothy Shay and Bing Crosby.
6. I always wear slippers at home. I need lots of pairs and nearly always have to throw them away after a couple of months. I’ve had shoes for years, but slippers I go through.
7. I have a very, very mild case of Trich. I wanted to learn to knit to keep my hands busy at night, which is the time I am most likely to suffer. It is very mild and knitting has helped immensely. I never used to talk about it before, but I’ve since learned everyone has little quirks in life and have laughed many times over the husband’s OCD, so I see it as less of a stigma today and something just to work through. This change in attitude has also helped.

Ok - so I won’t tag anyone… but if you want to participate feel free and leave me a comment, so I can check your 7 out.

Lunch today was interesting. This was what was in my fortune cookie.

I’d like to think something was lost in translation on this one. Or maybe I should have bought a lottery ticket tonight with those numbers and then focused on having a futile life with the money. (lol)

edited to add: I upgraded to the latest edition of Wordpress this morning. If you had a problem leaving me a comment, please accept my apologies. I have fixed and tested it throughly now - it should be all fixed. Thanks to Julie who found the error.

Don’t worry Sophie… Sunshine kitty won’t try to cuddle…at least this time.  There is nothing better in Sunshine’s mind than a clean doggie.

Back to my musings.  I got the best fortune at lunch.  I love going to this Thai place it rocks and I always get the best fortunes. 

I’m back in the swarm… but there was an oops… so we’ll talk about that tomorrow.

So tomorrow I am off to the Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Fest. I have no list. I was thinking the Jennie the Potter will be there and I love her mugs, but other than that - no list. I’m sure something will strike my fancy, but I have to be good Rhinebeck is in what… 6 weeks!!! I’m pretty much all set to go. Just have to pack my wheel up and I’m off, but in the meantime. I’ve been finding some cute things out there and on Ravelry that I thought you might all find interesting.

First there’s a contest - Crazy Aunt Purl is having a knit your cat a sweater contest. It just so happens I knit what turned out to be a Fair Isle, well more Norwegian cat sweater for one of my kitties. I wonder why that one runs out of the room when I come in and he only wants to sit with my husband.

Secondly look at this Chicken Viking Hat. Too cute.

Also, there is going to be a Secret of the Stole KAL. I joined, but I think I may have bit off more than I can chew with that one… well see where I’m buzzing along at by the time it starts. Of course knitting the bee, makes me want to dive right back on Peacock. I’m big for back in the saddle when you fall off.

Finally I haven’t gotten the book yet, but if your a Cat Bhordi fan and looking for the stitch markers that go with it and don’t want to mess with diy, there are some super cute ones at this Etsy shop.

Oh and one more thing - seen these stretchy circulars yet?

I’m just astounded. I won the beautiful prize from Mason Dixon for my Red Scarf Donation. Did I mention I am astounded? I’m shocked. Did you see all the lovely goodies? I’m just shocked. I can’t believe it and I was just looking at the beautiful patterns in the Mason Dixon book at knitting yesterday. One of our regular group members, who’s funny self could use a blog because the world really does need to see knitting at Fandom… but hey no pressure… you know who you are :)… is making a baby kimono from the book and I thought that and some other patterns were lovely.

I’m a firm believer when you give, it makes room for good things to come back to you in your life. So you know when I found the Red Scarf Project earlier this year, I was bummed when I missed the deadline. Well reading Norma’s blog I noticed it was back up again. I wanted to make a donation and while I don’t ask, I do like to run things by Monsieur Purl and I knew it would touch his heart as it touched mine. I was on the OFA website and was all teary, which is not hard for me to get, but there was this one girl on there that said something to the effect of “no matter what happened to me, I always knew I would go to medical school and be a doctor.” OK - where’s my credit card? You too? Still time to donate.  Go to Norma’s Blog. Don’t forget it’s a tax deductible donation.

When I was listening to the speech about who would actually qualify for assistance by this wonderful organization, I realized Monsieur Purl would’ve qualified when he was going to college. Due to many helping hands he made it through to where he is today and believe me, hasn’t forgotten.

While I went later in life and had already worked for a time, I knew there were many loving people who helped me along with support of all types. It got me thinking again that college and education is really not a solitary event and those young adults that have the OFA in their life, may make it through just because they know someone cares. I may have the diplomas on the wall, but many can help claim in the success. I can tell you when I was writing my final paper to get my MSOM, at my wits end and out of words, my knitting buddies were ready to jump in and help. That meant a lot to me. I had to do it by myself, but just knowing they were there to cheer me on and get me through made a world of difference.

Anyway, I didn’t mean to jump on a soap box, but I never intended on winning any prizes and it’s just choked me up a little again to think about how generous people are and how I hope the love I knit into my scarf will help someone along to the life of their dreams.

Except a sock cuff and I’ll spare you. However, I did see this and thought you all might like it. Enjoy!!!

Invitation

If you are a dreamer, come in.
If you are a dreamer, a wisher, a liar,
A hope-er, a pray-er, a magic bean buyer…
If you’re a pretender, come sit by my fire
For we have some flax-golden tales to spin.
Come in!
Come in!

- Shel Silverstein

So I want to talk bundt, but I had a big day and am too tired, so tomorrow well talk bundt. In the mean time, not too tired for a little surfing. While on a browsing trip through the book store, which other than fiber is my other chief weakness, I spotted a few new free style embroidery books. I didn’t pick up, but added to my list. When I was adding to my list, you know how they suggest more books… well, I had a browse when one of the bios on the back caught my attention. After a super brief Google search I happened upon a super cool embroidery site - Sublime Stitching. This is vintage and mod all wrapped up in one… makes me think of the UFO tea towels that were being whipped up by a super crafty lady.

What was so cool - when I was browsing the blog portion - I found a trailer for a new movie about the indie craft movement, called Handmade Nation. Make sure to check this out. I think I have always been in the indie craft mindset, so I really didn’t realize it was a movement. With the shear numbers on Esty - movement maybe an understatement? Obviously others love the indie movement as well.

I loved the trailer and can’t wait to see the whole movie. To me it was more like ‘indie crafters get respect as artists and actually can make a living.’ Who knew? Gives us all hope to ditch the day job and make a life as an artist, which is actually so funny… because just this evening Monsieur Purl sent over an article he picked up that talked about the new generational “in word” - Grups. It’s actually a recycled word from Star Trek, but I can so see it tying in… one of the things that is specific to the Grup and fits me is “The Grup Career, or Take This Job and Allow Me to Do It From Home, With Occasional Snowboarding Trips.” Replace Snowboarding Trips with Fiber Adventures and I fit the bill. Serendipitous? Maybe? I’m thinking hmmm… another ‘hey’ from the Universe… I need to work on my craftiness and add it to the wonderful world of crafty. (lol)

And if all this isn’t enough to make you crafty - check out this neat website - the Craft Mafia.

If you want to see some of the cool books I was checking out for my inspiration… here they are…and on the top of my must have list.

Another good musing…

~ Madame Purl