Winner

As chosen by the random number generator at Random.org, Kristen of audioknits is the winner of "Ethnic Knitting Exploration".

Thank you all for entering the contest.

Now I'm off the crank out a knitted birthday present. 27 reps of a 10 row pattern, I'm on #5, and need to get it blocking by Monday night.

A Contest - No Fooling

I just realized a big thing I missed yesterday: the contest.

I have an autographed copy of "Ethnic Knitting Exploration" by Donna Druchunas to give away. If you aren't familiar, Ms. Druchunas is the author of several books including "Artic Lace" as well as articles in Piecework and other publications.

I enjoyed the first book in the series, "Ethnic Knitting Discovery", which talked about Norwegian, Andean, Danish, and Dutch knitting so much that I pre-ordered her new book, "Ethnic Knitting Exploration". The approach is less about copying patterns, and more about learning and understanding the techniques so you can design your own sweater. Each category starts with a small project like a head band or gloves. It uses drawings rather than photos, to further stimulate creativity.

The new book explores Lithuanian, Icelandic, and Irish knitting traditions. I'm interested in all three. Although I know about Icelandic and Aran sweaters, Lithuanian knitting is totally new to me. Check out the author's blog, she is posting tips and there is a blog tour.

The author is of Lithuanian descent and has studied the language as well as knitting. You know how much I'm into my Norwegian heritage, so I decided on an ethnic theme for the contest. I want to hear something about your ethnic heritage. A story, song, saying. Maybe your favorite food, Lutefisk, perhaps? If you could link to a photo, that would be fun. You don't have to have a blog to enter, but if you do, why not comment with a link to it? I have found so many blogs reading comments on other people's blogs.

The Rules:

• Anyone can enter. I will mail the book anywhere.
• Contest ends Friday, April 10th at midnight Pacific Time.
• To enter leave a comment on this post telling me something about your ethnic heritage (see more ideas above). You must leave a comment in a manner that provides me with an email address so I can contact you if you win.
  
• Each commenter will be assigned a number, and the winner will be picked via a random number generator.
  

I Blog Occasionally

You may notice that the BLOG 365 "I blog daily" badge is gone from my sidebar. I can't tell you how many times I wanted to quit during this year, but I managed to post here or on my neighborhood blog daily. Until last weekend. I just have too much going on and can't get photos taken. Plus I noticed that I missed November 11. So there it is. I blogged every day for almost 11 months. Whopee.

Freebie Kit

Hey readers, I've been cleaning out the craft closet. I'm going to a yarn swap in a couple weeks, but I found some sewing stuff I don't think I'll ever end up using. I found homes for some things on Ravelry, but wasn't sure what group to put this kit in, so I thought I would offer it here.

It's a felt "quiet book" kit from Keepsake Quilting. I think I had a quiet book as a kid, and I know my cousins had a neat one with Bible stories. So when I was pregnant I bought the kit with dreams of my little boy sitting quieting lacing and unbuttoning things. The reality is my son will not sit and be quiet using it, so it isn't worth putting the time and effort into making it.


With the kit you get the felt for the pages, shaggy felt for the bear, velcro, and a shoe lace. You provide the fabric for all the pictures. Of course you don't have to use the pattern included, you can use your own drawings.


If you would like it, I'll send it, within the U.S, to the first person who emails me at the gmail address over on the right column. Just let me know who you would make if for. You don't have to be a regular commentor or anything, lurkers welcome.

More Admin.

This morning I noticed that my category links were gone, and I couldn't fix the code, so I broke down and updated my template. I also have a bit of work to do updating labels on old posts. And why is there "knitting" and "older knitting"? Because the next page code was broken, so all the knitting stuff wouldn't show up, and I didn't want the old stuff to be lost.

Let me know if anything is wonky, please.

A question - if I answer comments in the comments do you read them? I tend to answer there rather than email back so everyone can see the answers. But with moderated comments, there might be a delay. If you are like me you might not remember to go back and check comments you made on other people's blogs. Don't want my few loyal readers to think I am ignoring them. So, what do your prefer?

I'm going to go through and take links to my kid's blog out. But I will email it to friends, family, and regulars.

And finally, lurkers, say "hi" sometimes, okay? Even if it is just "hi". I would like to check out your blog, too.

Everybody's Doing It...

..posting their keyword searches, that is. So, in lieu of knitting photos, photos of my kid, or other ramblings here you have it:

These are the top searches leading people to this blog:

1. 18.72% giraffe costume
2. 13.62% how to make a giraffe costume
3. 6.38% giraffe costume pattern
4. 4.68% viking stuff
5. 2.98% how to make giraffe costume
6. 2.55% baby giraffe costume
7. 2.55% viking princess
8. 2.55% make a giraffe costume
9. 2.13% making a giraffe costume
10. 1.70% viking princess costume

If all goes well, next Halloween people will find my blog by searching "zoo keeper costume". And for all those who didn't see it, here is the giraffe costume in question.

Here are some other search terms used:

• wheat weaving
• interweave heart sachet
• martin luther bobble head
• senior picture 1987 (gorgeous, isn't it?)
• princess's grammar (not as clean as it you would think just by reading this blog)
• big viking costume (bite me)
• correct grammar hung up the phone
• woman, bart, attack (I would love to know why they were looking for this)
• norwegian bunader pattern
• luther burbank roses
• craigslist's grammar mistakes
• lacroix fallecker
• sunnmørebunaden
• daughters of norway idaho
  
• viking princess tattoos (you'll never know)

Okay, I lied earlier, here's a picture of my kid. The expression embodies how he will feel at age 13 when he discovers I allowed him to be seen in public with his baby doll. It's a boy, doll, people. And he threw it on the ground and stomped on it ten minutes after this photo was taken.


Back to search words. My other blog's Top Ten:

1. 21.57% apartment names
2. 13.73% sunset style
3. 7.84% francis scott key elementary
4. 5.88% names of apartments
5. 5.88% sunset video
6. 3.92% windsor terrace lawton san francisco
7. 3.92% hello panda
8. 3.92% polly ann's ice cream san francisco lassiter
9. 1.96% thom ross little big horn
10. 1.96% parkway apartments inner sunset

Other searches:

• a myth why the sunset has many colors
• cool apartment names
• san francisco sunset district garage doors (I think I couldlove you)
• 44th ave
• lawton steps artist san francisco tile (thanks for reminding me about these)
• 70's light fixtures
• setting out tile on a staircase
• tile from the 1970's
• popular brown tiles from the 70's (by popular you mean ugly, right?)

All in all, nothing weird. But then again I keep my language and topics pretty clean on here, as opposed to real life where I don't do so well. I really thought there would be some kinky sock searchers, judging by mail I have received through my Flickr account.

And finally, I received junk email with this subject: "make he happy with your bigger stick". Yes, it said "he".