While at my day long annual CPR and First Aid training this Sunday...
... I managed to knit several more mini Boy Scout socks for our fundraiser
We're trying to raise enough funds for our Venturing Crew flag (we're nearly there) - and then we'll have to figure out what to do for the next round of fundraising. Send someone to Jambo? Build a pavilion at one of our camps? Donate to Friends of Scouting? Decisions. Decisions. Decisions.
Coincidentally, I had lunch with two more Scouting girlfriends this week. We live on opposite sides of the state, so we met in the middle and had great laughs and great fun. These two ladies, Barbara and Donna, have totally reinvigorated the way they do their Boy Scout District Round Tables. They've pumped new life into them and are suddenly the talk of the Council.
Way to go ladies! They have many nicknames - including Pinky and the Brain - and more. Personally, I like to think of them as the Dynamic Duo because they are. Both are very busy people, yet they give so much of their time to make sure the youth in our area have the best Scouting opportunity available. We're so lucky to have them.
Way to go ladies!
All the birdhouses for the Project Return Bird House auction are on display in Westport. Most of them are downtown. I intended to take a stroll downtown, peruse all the windows and find our Westport Young Woman's League Birdhouse on display... but I never got around to it. Imagine my surprise when I sent to my LYS - Westport Yarns, and decided to get a coffee at Dunkin Donuts... and strolled right past Earth Animal and spied our birdhouse! I squealed (honestly!) I quickly texted Michelle and Joanne, my partners in crime, and they brought family members by to see our contribution. I think the owners of Earth Animal didn't quite know what to make of us!
So, if you're in Westport and you want to check it out, head on over to Earth Animal at 606 Post Road East in Westport, CT, buy a special treat for your dog or cat, and tell them I sent you.
If you want to attend the fundraiser and help young women in the area get back on track, attend Friday night's gala and auction. It's going to be a delight.
I may have stocked up on more yarn for about a gazillion more Boy Scout miniature socks.
If I can knit up all this yarn, I could probably pay for some really big, really cool trip!
Did I mention that I just love this pattern? It's too cute for words.
I went to Westport Yarns and picked up two skeins of Ella Rae Pansies in color 02/pink-purple. I think I can knit 2-3 newborn ruffle hats with this yarn. You can see my modifications to this pattern on Ravelry - Ruffle Hat to knit it in the round instead of flat as originally written. I'll never understand why anyone would knit a baby's hat flat and then have a seam.
I have the BEST knitting friends. You all quickly piped up and bought lots of the donated yarn. I understand that it's easiest to buy the smaller, less expensive skeins (I get that!) - but the deals on the larger, more luxurious lots are really amazing prices for some classic yarns. I updated yesterday's post to reflect items sold (or sale pending) - so you can see what is still available. Please leave a comment if you are interested in more yarn.
In the meantime, I managed to finish a very cute baby hat for my charity project.
This is the Bernat Ruffle Hat
- except I altered it to be knit in the round (I hate hats knit flat then sewn!). I think I'll definitely make more of these as they add a bit of extra flair for a little baby girl with the ruffle. Awww.
Happy Valentine's Day! It's time to share the love!
Remember my fundraiser/stash busting sale to help my sister? Well, I have some great friends who donated yarn to my sale. Things got kind of hectic so I wanted to wait until after the holidays to have another sale. So check out these great yarns which I'm offering to you at approximately 50% of cost. If you live in the US, I'll pay the shipping.
My friend Ellen G. (not to be confused with my sister Ellen) has more yarn than she knows what to do with. So she really didn't need to buy any new yarn, but wanted to help out. She looked through her own yarn stash and donated this lovely luxurious yarn for the sale. Ellen lives in a smoke free house and has one hypoallergenic dog.
28. Soft-Kid GGH - SALE PENDING - dusty blue - color 079 - Lot 35892 - Luxuriously soft blend of 70% super kid mohair 25% nylon 5% new wool - 17 skeins - 425 grams, 2,346 meters - paid $216. Yours for $108.
29. Alchemy Synchronicity - Vintage Jade - Color 72e - 350 grams - 826 yards - 7 skeins of 50% silk 50% wool - Paid $168 - Yours for $84.
30. Alchemy Synchronicity - Moonstone - SOLD - Color 92w - - 200 grams - 472 yards - 4 skeins of 50% silk 50% wool - Paid $98 - Yours for $50.
31. Twisted Sisters Jazz - SOLD - Monochromatic Variegate - Chocolate - 7 skeins - 350 grams - 1,134 yards- 100% fine wool - sells for $98.35. Discount plus will throw in the hand wound ball for free - Yours for $49
32. Twisted Sisters Jazz - SOLD - Monochromatic Variegate - Wasabi - 7 skeins -350 grams - 1,134 yards- 100% fine wool - sells for $98.35. Discount plus will throw in the hand wound ball for free - Yours for $49
Another friend, Joan, donated some great yarn for projects that you're going to love!
33. Koigu KPPM - SOLD - dye code/dye lot P210 73 - one skein - 50 grams - 175 yards - 100% merino wool - sells for $13.25 - Yours for $8. This yarn is perfect for making Christine's Stay On Baby Booties!
34. Claudia Hand Painted Yarns - SOLD - Pistachio - 012 - one skein - 50 grams - 175 yards - 100% Merino wool - sells for $13.00 - Yours for $8.
35. Prism - Merino Mia - SOLD -Wisteria #K0905 - one skein - 2 ounces - 190 yards - 100% Merino wool - sells for $15.50 - yours for $9.
36. Prism - Merino Mia - SOLD -Terra Cotta #K0723 - one skein - 2 ounces - 190 yards - 100% Merino wool - sells for $15.50 - yours for $9.
37. Plymouth Yarn Royal Llama Silk - SOLD - Color 1000 - Lot 30869 - (natural white) - 4 skeins - 200 grams - 408 yards - 60% fine llama; 40% silk - sells for $39 - yours for $20.
38. Plymouth Yarn Royal Llama Silk - SOLD - Color 1829 - Lot 31811 - (taupe/tan) - 4 skeins - 200 grams - 408 yards - 60% fine llama; 40% silk - sells for $39 - yours for $18. One skein was previously wound.
39. Be Sweet Magic Ball - Sunburst 21 - 2 skesins - 100 grams - 240 yards - baby mohair with ribbons and more - seels for $60 - yours for $30.
So there you have it. Aren't my friends the best? I hope you'll see something you like.
Please leave a comment if you are interested in any of these yarns. Orders will be accepted on a first come, first served (and paid) basis. I accept PayPal. As before, all proceeds will go to my sister Ellen and her family. They did manage to move back into their home for Christmas, but still have a lot of work to do - they're only on the main floor of their house - and after the ground thaws, they'll have to assess how much damage happened to the foundation/basement of their home (Remember those 6 cracks in the foundation that allowed light to pass?). Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers. The kids were so excited to be in their house by Christmas, that they all wanted to help paint the basement foundation on Christmas Eve. They called this "Dreaming of a White Christmas" - are these the best kids, or what? I think they need even more handknit socks, don't you?
So please help me share the love. I hope you got something sweet from your honey today. Not everyone in my house eats sugar cookies, so there may have been a healthy option - a heart shaped whole grain PB sandwich.
Happy! Happy!
I forgot to post a picture of the dozen Scout mini socks I made for our District Dinner this past week. Our Venturing Crew is new and trying to purchase our Crew flag. It’s a little pricey… so I offered to knit the socks and let the teenagers sell them. We sold all twelve at the dinner… and got orders for more than twenty more. In one night, we raised enough for our flag! I’m so thrilled.
And at this dinner, I was honored with the Pomperaug District Award of Merit for all my work within the District, especially with our family fundraising campaign. Of course, I accomplished this with the help of all the Scouts, families, leaders and presenters who have helped me with our Friends of Scouting efforts over the past few years.
Here I am with my friends and District Key Three - Bill, Jonathan and Scott. We are so fortunate to have such great volunteers who are passionate about Scouting. You know how much I love it - and it's fabulous to be surrounded by others who are equally committed.
I took my yarn and needles to make a few more baby hats for charity this weekend. There's nothing very special about them. They're basic. Maybe sometime down the road I'll work on making extra special cutesy ones. But I did knit up two more.
Here's a pale yellow in CottonTots yarn
Here's another in a periwinkle from Alpaca with a Twist.
I've got quite a collection of newborn hats. I suppose it's probably time to pack them up and ship them off. I hope they'll be appreciated by some happy parents and babies.
Our Bird House is progressing along nicely.
Joanne, Michelle and I met today to start glueing and assembling our diorama. I lashed together a miniature fence for the chicken pen. It's a hoot. Michelle stitched the eggs and purple bird to the nest. She perched the orange bird inside the house. Joanne created a pond for the ducks. Not pictured is the greenery she brought along to jazz things up.
Will our bird house get any bids? Will one of us have to buy our own bird house? Will we get a legitimate buyer or just a pity vote? I'm keeping my fingers crossed that someone will buy our adorable Happy Birdies with joy in their heart.
What do you think? Are you going to the Project Return Bird House auction? Will you bid on our bird house?
Change is Good
