It’s that time of year again, when a knitter’s thought turn to folly and festivals. And you know what that means, right?

Rhinebeck Blogger Bingo!!

That’s right, folks, it awwwwn! It’s the best excuse to hug perfect strangers I’ve come up with yet. Last year was a hoot, so many people finally got to put a face to the blogs they’d been reading for ages, found brand new blog buddies, and generally had a raucous time trying to find everyone on their cards. I couldn’t possibly not do it again.

The rules and gameplay will be the same as last year, I think it went pretty well considering utter mayhem was my actual intent. *insert evil grin here* If you didn’t play last year, no worries, the rules are posted below. For the moment, I’m using the same logo as last year. We may or may not come up with something new. I’ll keep you posted.

Ok, here’s how it works:

There are three ways to join the fun; you can be a player, a square on the card, or both. Players are not required to have blogs, but you must have one to be a square on the card. You can be there on one or both days, just let me know which when you sign up. I’ll make some special cards for people only there on one day or the other.

The names of participating bloggers will be randomly placed onto the bingo cards. Players will be sent a card electronically at least a week before the festival so you can scope your targets out beforehand. Hopefully they’ll offer hints about how to identify them. Just print it out, take it with you to Rhinebeck and let the games begin! It’s a guaranteed good time as you seek out the bloggers on your card.

Everyone participating will be entered to win something cool from an array of fabulous prizes, and we’ll also give out prizes for full black-outs. No, that’s not when you pass out from yarn inhalation, it’s when you find everyone (including me) on your card. We use the honor system for this task, just remember, the eyes of the bloggers are upon you.

There will be a separate page for all Blogger Bingo updates and info. Keep an eye out for info about meet-ups as well as a growing list of participants so you can check out the fellow players. I’ll post any updates here as well.

The rules:

1. Sign-ups are open! If you would like to participate, send an email to me at “yarnpants at yahoo dot com” (you can just use the link on the bottom right sidebar) with “Blogger Bingo” in the subject line. For best results, please enter by October 10th (preferably earlier) to give me time to add everyone to the cards and email them out. Be sure to include the following information in your email:

-Participation: (Player/Square/Both)
-Name
-Email Address
-Blog Name (if applicable)
-Blog Address (if applicable)
-What day(s) will you be attending the festival?

2. Participants whose names are on cards must prominently display the official “I’m a Square” logo identifying them as such. We’ll be selling buttons, tote bags and other stuff in a Cafe Press store, or you can print out the image and display it some other way. If someone is on your card but is not displaying their “I’m a Square” logo, take it as a sign that they may be feeling overwhelmed and need some bingo-free time. Our intent is not to impose on those not participating, so please be respectful.

Please extend your respect to those participating in the game, as well. If they’re in the middle of a transaction with a vendor, deeply involved in a conversation or appear to be engaged in aggressive negotiations over a fleece with a fellow festival attendant, please wait until they’re finished to approach them. This is especially important in the latter case. Situations like this could be eruptive, so it’s best to back away slowly, without making any sudden movements. You may actually want to hide behind something until it’s all over and the fleece is no longer flying.

3. Use whatever means you choose to mark off squares on the card. Bingo dobbers, sharpies, a size 2 dpn, whatever. Last year, I saw some unbelievable feats of organization involving stickers, lamination, and all kindsa craziness. Some people even printed out photos of their targets and stuck them to a corresponding sheet!

4. While it is a lot more fun to say a quick hello to someone before marking them off your card, it’s not required. If you recognize someone and feel uncomfortable approaching them for whatever reason, you can simply mark them off and move along. Just remember that everyone signed up to play, and as long as they’re wearing that button, they’re expecting you. Don’t be shy!

So, whaddaya say? Wanna play?

. . . . so then I said “Rectum? I nearly killed ’em!”

HA HA HA HA HA!!!!

~sigh~ Good times.

Oh, hey! There you are. I thought you were just popping off to the bathroom and I’ve been waiting, I was starting to get worried. Where ya’ been?

That’s not working, is it?

Ok, well look, sometimes a gal just needs to take a bit of a break. And boy howdy, what a break it’s been! I have been more productive than I’ve been in a LONG time. Not as productive as some people (yay Beckett!), but I lit a fire under my butt (it was more of a raging blaze that may or may not have engulfed an entire seaside town) and returned to my crafty roots. The whole book thing, and worrying about potential future book things was getting way too freaking stressful, so I just kind of tuned in and dropped out. My attentions were refocused on my home, my husband and myself. Work has still been busy, but I’ve been using my spare time for fun stuff.

I do have an admission to make, my dear knitters. I’ve been unfaithful. I have fallen for a new siren’s song. Sure, I’ve dabbled in the past, but hadn’t done it in a long while and was really craving some instant gratification. I thought about how nice it would to use fabric that’s already made rather than knitting my own. It felt a little dirty at first, but with each thrusting pump of the pedal, it felt better and better. And now, well, now I’m addicted to sewing.

In the past two months, I’ve made four baby dresses, two baby shirts, a crib-sized quilt, some baby pants (they still need a waistband), and have amassed a collection of vintage fabric that has gotten my mailman toned up for the summer. Not only have I fallen off the eBay wagon, but the wagon has backed up and driven over me a number of times.

Here is Miss Ginger in a dress made from fabric I got in LA when I was in the company of HRH Lady Linoleum.

And here she is, kicking back with Uncle Jon. Yep, we’re really good babysitters. Her favorite movie is The Running Man. Vintage Ahnold cracks her up.

I have since shortened the dress so she doesn’t get stuck while crawling. As amusing as it is to watch, it must be annoying.

And here is my favorite detail.

Alas, buttons seems to be gnaw worthy in the Land of Ginger and she actually started to bite one of them off, so I replaced them with Velcro. And then she started with the Hulk impersonation and tearing the dress off. Ohhhkaaayyy. So I got the big guns and used Kellee’s new and astounding snap press. Very cool and it seems to have done the trick. She remains clothed and mobile, her airways are free and she looks rawkin’.

I made her another using fabric with pink poodles on a turquoise background. I don’t have a photo of that one yet, but the cotton is too . . . I dunno . . . cottony and comes out of the dryer very wrinkled. I was disappointed at that. I made another for our neighbor and will get a photo of that, too. And here is the fourth dress for one Ms. Bookish Sophia. It’s made using vintage Hawaiian fabric that has an amazing palette and great drape. Aloha, Sophia!

The nice thing about this dress is that it’s big enough to grow into. It’s got pleats at the top, so the body is very roomy. I dare say it can be worn for a year, from baby dress to toddler shirt and then on to the next babe.

And here is what I have titled the €œDaisy Mae Crazy€ halter top, modeled by one Miss Scarlet. I unraveled the bottom to make it look sort of ragged (there’s a hem above that section, so hopefully that’ll keep it from unraveling more) and made the ties out of a few strands of soft cotton twine from Home Depot that Jon and I plied with the drill. That was his brilliant idea. I love that you just see plain bandana material at first, then comes the crazy. Again, one to grow with.

She’s getting so big. She looks like a full-on kid, not a baby. Remember this?

How does that happen in a year and a half?

I made the same shirt for Ginger. I love making baby stuff, it takes no time at all.

So that’s what I’ve been doing. What about you? Did I miss anything?

‚ 

‚ 

‚ 

And yet, when you lose, it’s as though you were specially selected by an esteemed panel of judges so they could tell you that you’re just not good enough. Dramatic much, Stitchy? Well, not usually, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed. I knew I wouldn’t win the People’s Voice award, despite so many people letting me know that they voted for me, which I really, truly appreciate. I mean, how can you compete with kittens and puppies in that arena? But I really thought I had a chance with the one decided by the panel of judges. Well, I guess technically, I did have a chance.
‚ 
But the sting has worn off and I’m glad I entered, astounded I was chosen as a nominee out of all the entries and I’ll probably enter again next year. The “Weird” category has an entrance fee of $125, all other categories are $250. (I guess weirdos tend to have tight budgets.) I don’t think a lot of people realize you actually have to enter (and pay!) in order for a chance to be nominated, but there you go. Also easing the pain is the fact that Stephen Colbert didn’t win in the Humor category, and really, that’s why I wanted to win and go to the awards show. I’m not going to think about the fact that David Bowie is going to be getting an award and that I could have been photographed while pretending to interact with him while he wasn’t looking. Someday. A girl can dream.
‚ 
But you know what really helped me recover from the soul-crushing defeat brought on by a pair of giant, fuzzy paws? My whirlwind trip around southern California, where I met up with not one, not two, but THREE of my favorite knit bloggers AND one of my favorite Knitty Gritty producers, AND a group of amazing people who helped me with a project that’s still in it’s larval phase and therefore cannot be discussed and we shan’t speak of it again.

‚ I had the best. Time. Evaahh!
‚ 
The first stop on my Blogger Invasion tour was Chez du La, the latter half of JenLa. I was secretly hoping they were conjoined twins and I’d get a two-fer, but we had a great time despite La’s only having a single head. We were joined by Wen of Slow Knitter, who brought Key Lime Pie that I so desperately wanted, and totally forgot to eat because I was distracted by the delightful conversation.

La’s hubby grilled us some amazing chicken and bratwurst while the ladies chatted and enjoyed some cocktails. La brought out her Franken Lace (also known as the Forest Path Stole) and an absolutely gorgeous blanket that she’s working on and I was in awe. Girlfriend can knit! Time flew and before I knew it, I had to take off (and awesomely enough, La and her husband were going salsa dancing that night! How cool is that?).‚  I wanted to take the dogs and the cat with me because I was suffering from pet-withdrawal, but I didn’t bring a big enough knitting bag. Next time.

Thank you for the great time, Miss La! And thank you for my treats, including the gorgeous hand-dyed yarn! (please note that there were more chocolate Lindt Lambs, but I’m not made of stone, people. Honestly, most of them didn’t see the light of the next day. I expertly shepherded them into my belly!)

Next stop was the Crazy Aunt Purl Express. Laurie’s friend, Faith, offered up her home for a brunch and a gaggle of West Hollywood Stitch n’ Bitchers were in attendance. They were all so cool, the mimosas were delicious, and the laughs were plentiful.

And as a special treat, we were joined by Stefanie, one of the producers I worked with while shooting an episode of Knitty Gritty last December. Turns out she lives near Faith. I didn’t realize this because she picked me up at my motel in West Hollywood and as we neared Faith’s place, she said “There’s my house!” She went WAY out of her way, which was just so sweet.

Hanging out with Laurie and Faith afterwards was like being with people I’ve known forever. It was oddly comfortable to just be lounging around with them. I was happy to be able to share my experience with the whole book thing with Laurie and possibly help her navigate some of it. Since her writing style is so warm and personal, she’s really opening herself up to the public. She’s going to do great as she wades through throngs of adoring fans and walks stealthily past the freakazoids, I just know it.

Thanks Laurie and Faith! It was a pleasure. And a special thanks for my official Crazy Aunt Purl Mix-Tapes! I love mix-tapes, even if they are CDs now.

And finally, I spent the afternoon with Her Royal Coolness, Lady Linoleum. I love me some Regina, she is the most talented and prolific knitter/crocheter I’ve ever encountered. She straddles that line between art and craft and the things that come off her needles always amaze and amuse.

Look what she gave me!! Sir Loin (not sure if that’s his official name, but it’s what he answers to) and El Churro. Can you stand how cool these are? I can’t let Dot see them or that whole “Bad kitty, fiber is not food!” thing is going to get really confusing.

Regina also took me to a ginormous fabric store in Downtown LA. Fabric stores are almost as dangerous as yarn stores for me, maybe even more because my fabric stash is basically non-existent. I have a sewing machine and long to get good at making it go. There I stood, surrounded by just about everything you could possibly want. I don’t have a photo, but I will get one. I got a few of the same things she did, including the bright orange sating/plastic quilting. It’s going to look great with Moxie and Tab cans! If you look at the fabric in this post, I have the Sugar Skulls, but with the black background, the vintage milk caps and the orange beauty.

And if you’re in LA, go to Philippe’s for a dippy sandwich. You won’t be sorry, it was SO good. I would like another, please.

Whew! See what happens when I don’t post for a while? Shit happens! Thank you to all my amazing new friends in Cali, both the ones mentioned and those I can’t. I miss you all like crazy!
‚ 

‚ 

‚ 

Oh. My. Gaaawwwwwwdd!

I got nominated for a Webby Award.

What do I do? Do I look ok? How’s my hair? Do I look fat?‚ I totally look fat.‚ I’m all twitchy. I’m in the same company as Cute Overload, people. My Cute Overlords.

‚ eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

*thud*

oh crap, that means I’d better step it up around here.

*dies*

Oh, and there’s also a People’s Voice Award where everyone can vote for their favorite in each category! If I win either‚ the award‚ judged by a panel‚ (that includes people like Beck, David Bowie, and Matt Freaking Groening), or People’s Voice “Weird” category, I get to go to the Gala Event. It’s hosted by Rob Corddry from The Daily Show. Prince was there last year. Stephen Colbert is nominated this year. Maybe he’ll show up.

Seriously? I’m totally geeking out. I mean seriously, I’m beside myself.‚ How cool would it be to have knitter representation at the Webby Awards? And how fantastic would it be to wear some amazing knitted creation? Holy cow, my yarny senses are tingling . . .

So, you know. Vote for me! If you like me. You like me, right?

Voting ends on April 27th, so don’t forget!!

‚ 

‚ 

‚ 

‚ 

You know what I hate? Cancer. Who’s with me? Well, one person I can think of is my best bud, Charlene. (You remember Charlene, right? The one who’s always there when I need her and always makes me laugh?) That’s why she’s embarked on a Hike for Discovery. It’s an endurance training program that raises money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. She committed to nearly 5 months worth of progressively more difficult hikes in preparation for a weekend hike at Yosemite. She’s doing it in loving memory of our good friend’s mother, Carolyn. I wrote about her a little bit when I had made a sweater for her grandpup. She really was‚ an inspiration and dealt with her illness in such an amazing way. Once by scooting off to Paris with her friends for a week of fun!

Now, being the cream puff that I am, I can only watch in wonder as she shows me the various bruises and scratches she incurs in the name of medical research. Since I’m not so good with the sides of mountains, I decided that I’d donate to her cause instead. And you can, too!

Click this link to read her hiking blog (she promised she’d be updating soon with her latest photos).

Click here to go directly to her donation page.

Chuckles (it’s amazing‚ which nicknames really stick, isn’t it?)‚ has been working her bruised butt off doing all kinds of fund raising, including a weekly bake sale at her work. Can you stand it? She bakes every Sunday for her coworkers in exchange for donations!

If you’d like to reward Charlene’s efforts and do your part for cancer research, please donate whatever you can via her fundraising page. Every little bit helps, so if you want to spread some of that knitter love to a muggle (I know! I haven’t got her knitting yet.), I do believe that‚ we would all‚ benefit.

‚