Wow! What a great response to the Knitbloggers Knitting Basket Project! You guys are amazing. Thank you! Pat yourselves on the back and feel very good about yourselves!

I’ve put a “Donated So Far” below the button in my sidebar so you can keep track of your generosity. I’ll update it at least once a day.

Amphora

I made it past the beginning of the armhole steeks. This is coming along nicely. Even though it’s only four colors and a relatively simple pattern, I’m finding it immensely fun to knit. I’d consider it a good design for someone who’s a fair isle wanna-be. An adventuresome beginner with some two-color knitting experience ought to be able to knit this.

Big Booga Bag!

Yup, I’m still knitting this. I’m almost done with the body of the bag. I plan to do an i-cxord bind-off and incorporate a button loop into the i-cord, per Vanessa’s excellent suggestion. Then I still need to knit the i-cord for the handles, and a couple of rectangles for pockets. So there’s a ways to go yet.

Where’s Waldo?

Actually, it’s “where’s Wendy?”

Can you find me in my 6th grade class photo? Click on the photo for a larger version!

And Just Because . . .

Lucy!

Are you guys familiar with Heifer International? You can “purchase” animals or a share of an animal to go to impoverished families around the world, to help them feed themselves and or earn income.

One of the gifts you can purchase is a “Knitting Basket” — here’s what Heifer International says about the Knitting Basket:

Your gift of a Knitting Basket will include two llamas and two sheep — one male and one female of each — four animals famous for their warm, income-producing wool.

Over time, as your gift multiplies and more animals are passed on to help others in need, entire communities will be warmed by the precious wool of your Knitting Basket.

Teresa Mowery and I have joined forces for a holiday season charity project. On behalf of the Knitblogging Community, we would like to be able to donate at least one Knitting Basket to families in need. A gift of a Knitting Basket for four needy families is $500. With many of us pitching in, this is not an unreasonable goal.

Teresa has set up a Paypal account to receive donations for the Knitting Basket — there’s a link to it on the Knitbloggers Knitting Basket Project page. By clicking on the paypal button on the bottom of this page, you can donate to this cause. It doesn’t have to be a large donation — many people donating just a few dollars will quickly add up.

If you have room in your heart and in your wallet, please consider contributing to this worthy cause.

There’s a button over in my sidebar (picture me gesturing to the right) that will take you to this page that Teresa created. Teresa and I encourage you to copy this button and host it on your blogs if you’d like to show your support.

Thanks!

Because great minds think alike, yesterday Deb suggested donating to Heifer International for a Knitting Basket!

Lucy Visits With Grandma and Grandpa

I had lunch with my parents yesterday, after which they spent some quality time with Lucy.

I also finally stuffed my Extreme Hedonism neckwrap.

And I worked on Amphora.

And I got a much needed haircut on Monday, so my sassy curls are back.

This staying home from work stuff is really cool. Too bad I’m heading back to the office this morning. Sigh.

Yesterday was a nice relaxing day.

Lucy wanted to go shopping with me.

She was also a big help with Amphora.

So . . . apart from Amphora knitting, I spent the day cleaning (yuck) and then went to the mall (not so yuck). So not so much to report. I’m about 15 rounds from the beginning of the armhole steeks on Amphora.

November Contest

Thanks for all the entries I’ve received so far. I’ve got the beginnings of a good FAQ page! A pattern is emerging as to what your favorite questions are.

And last but not least . . .

Please note that when I described the contest, I specified that you send me a question and an answer. Answers can be found by searching the archives. There’s a search function for my blog located in the sidebar.

I’ve gotten a couple of entries that are just questions, no answers, so I wanted to make that clear!

Thanks.

It’s that time again, kids.

When Wendy asks you to do work for her in the guise of a contest.

Here’s what you gotta do.

At the end of last month, Roi said this in my comments:

When I notice questions being asked of you that have been asked numerous times before – espeically the ones I’ve asked previously – I wonder if it would help you to have a “Frequently Asked Questions” section in your blog. You could have us every-day readers do the work for you – come up with a list of those questions? Could even be combined with a contest???

“What a great idea!” thought I.

So that’s the contest. Email me (via the email link in the sidebar) a question and answer for my soon to be created FAQ page. You might notice that there is a searhc box in my sidebar — you can find my answers to common questions by searching through my blog.

Please email your entries to me by 5:00pm EST Friday, November 14, 2003 (one entry per person, please) to be included in the drawing for this:

This is The Knitter’s Handy Book of Patterns: Basic Designs in Multiple Sizes & Gauges by Ann Budd. The book was generously donated by Catherine in California (also known to some of you as “3c”).

Some Mouse-a-thon News

Yes, Ian and I are still bagging mice and taking them over to Capital Animal Care. We brought two shopping bags full over to Barbara on Saturday. We’ve still got 100 or so mice to bag, and that’ll finish up the last delivery of two shopping bags full, which we’ll do next weekend. I know there are a few more mice out there coming in, so we’ll bring thos over as we get them.

Apparently the mousies are big sellers! Barbara told me about a man who bought one for his cat, who is terminally ill and only has a few weeks left to live. The man has since told her that this mouse was his kitty’s favorite toy. so you guys can feel very proud of yourselves — not only have the mice raised money for the rescue organization, but in this case, and possibly more, a mousie has brought comfort to an ailing kitty.

A number of you have emailed me to ask if I’m going to have another mouse-a-thon next year. I know that I’ve got some interest from the emails — what do the rest of you think? I’m game if you guys are! We can do another one next summer, complete with raffle prizes, if you guys are interested.

Amphora

I got a good bit done on Amphora over the weekend. Here it is:

Lucy seems impressed, doesn’t she?