First finished objects from Gift-A-Long 2016....

I have finished two quick knit patterns by Faye Kennington (known as UkeeKnits on Ravelry. Both items were knit with bulky yarn that I have had for a while.

 I also had some beautiful buttons, that went perfectly with the yarn for the cowl, so it was meant to be.  The universe put the pattern, the yarn and the buttons together at just the right time.  I knit it for myself, because I rarely make anything for me.  It will be pulled out for the few cold days we get in my part of Florida and it will keep my neck toasty.  The pattern is called (2 Hour) Artist's Loop, which had I not been interrupted I would have completed in the allotted time.

 The  color way is Quetzalcoatl from Kathleen Spins.  I picked it up on one of my birthday yarn jaunts down in Port St. Lucie.  There was a small yarn shop called Yarn It!, but I don't know if it is still open.  The buttons came from another shop in Cocoa Beach, which is no longer open. It's sad when a little quality shop that has cool stuff closes. 😞

This is my first gift-a-long, both as a designer and participant. I am selecting patterns from a variety of designers at differing levels of complexity.  I started with two of UkeeKnits' patterns, because I liked the way they could be knit up quickly for a little instant gratification. Instant gratification seemed good way to start this party of like-minded crafty folk.

yarn, pattern & buttons

close up of buttons

Completed project

Too hot to wear for long.  Please ignore double chin & wrinkles for 

aesthetic reasons.

The second project is the 2 Hour Smocked Toque, by the same designer.  The yarn has the colors of sunrise on the beach, which conjures warm feelings anyway.  The pattern has some interesting details, that make the knitting a little more fun.  You have to pay attention when knitting the pattern rounds.  The pattern is well written and knits up quickly.  Another beautiful item that I will only wear occasionally, but will make a statement of bright color and interesting texture whenever and wherever it is worn.

Beginning of the process

 Keep your eyes peeled to this blog for an interview with Faye Kennington, (Ukeeknits on Ravelry.  She has also graciously donated

Left face

Right face

a coupon code for a pattern from her collection.  Details on the pattern prize, will be forthcoming on the same day as the interview. Don't worry we'll let you know how!

Taming the wild Opadoo.....

Opadoo long story short: Adorable kid pronounced octopus as opadoo, comparison made between eight arms and eight categories in GAL, so completing one project per category = taming the opadoo. The majority of this post came straight from the group page where you can sign up for the "Taming the Opadoo", including the links.  It sounds like fun, I'm not sure I'm up to it, but I have already started my first item for the gift a long.  Don't forget all the fabulous designers (over 300) who have made a giant sale to help you along your way to taming the Opadoo.  Who knows maybe once I have a few items under my belt, I may even declare my attempt on taming that wild critter.

After posting this contest last year some quick minded GAL participants made the connection between an “Opadoo”, which has 8 arms, and the GAL challenge, which has 8 KAL/CALs, and so, “Taming the Opadoo” was born! To enter the GAL2016 Taming the Opadoo Challenge you must complete a project in each of the 8 GAL2016 KAL/CALs with paid (not free) patterns from at least 5 different Participating Designers, before the end of the GAL, and document it in an entry thread which will be posted later in the Gift-A-Long. You need to document your entry by posting the following in that thread:
1 - 1 photo that shows all 8 finished projects in it. This can be a photo collage (we have a tutorial in the group pages for that) or one photo that shows all the projects.
2 - A list of the 8 projects, each project listing containing the following:

• Which KAL/CAL it was made in. Your project must be on the participants list of that KAL/CAL and marked as DONE.
• A link to your project page
• A link to the pattern it was made from including the pattern name and designer’s name

3 - This year we encourage you to add some writing about what the Opadoo meant to you, or what you learned from it. This is not a requirement, but we hope you will all reflect a little and share your thoughts with us.
Remember, free patterns are not eligible to win prizes in the GAL, therefore all Opadoo-related projects must be made from paid (not free) patterns.
Also, please remember that there must be one completed project in each of the KAL/CALs:
Hats & Other Head Things
Hand & Arm Things
Foot & Leg Things
Kids & Baby Things (except toys)
Sweaters & Other Garments
Shawls & Stoles
Cowls, Scarves, & Other Neck Things
Toys, Home, & Other Miscellaneous Things
This is a judged contest. After the entry thread is locked at the end of the event on December 31, at midnight, the GAL2016 mods and Admins will vote for their choice of the entry that best captures the spirit of the GAL and the spirit of the Opadoo to them. We look at pattern choices, presentation, what you write about it, and everything else about your entry. There is no benefit to finishing quickly, so take your time and give it your best shot!
All complete entries earn the right to proudly display the I Tamed the Opadoo badge of their choice on their “About Me” page.
One lucky Opadoo tamer extraordinaire will receive 335 pattern codes, one from each of this year’s Participating Designers! These codes are transferable so you can share with friends, keep them all yourself, share in RAKs, or whatever you want!
Please tag all 8 of your projects giftalong2016opadoo in addition to the KAL/CAL tags.

Gift A Long is less than 24 hours away....

I am super excited to be taking part in my very first Indie Design Gift A Long, which starts November 22, 2016 at 8:00 p.m. and kicks off with a sale on some of my patterns and those of 334 other designers.  The designers participating have selected anywhere from 5 - 20 of their patterns to be on sale at 25% off until November 30 at 11:59 p.m., but its not just about a sale.

It is also a big party that runs through the end of the year.  There are games, prizes and lots of schmoozing and socializing that goes on 24/7.  The group opened up just a few days ago, and there are already well over 5000 comments in the thread assigned to pre-GAL chatter.  They have now opened up all of the category threads, where members can discuss what they plan to knit and share yarn choices.  It's a mad house over there, but is it a blast.  If I had known how much fun it was I would have joined in before.

There are threads where folks are planning meet-ups for geographic areas over the time span of the Gift A Long.  I haven't seen one for Florida yet, but I might talk to my local LYS to see if we can get something going in my area.  I can't be the only participant in my county.  Speaking of that, there is also a map where you can see what designers and participants have checked in to show their location.  I'm going to be on both maps, because I'm also going to take part in the KAL/CAL happening along with all the games and other events.  This is going to be putting up some of my choices for the various categories up on this blog.

I am also hope to feature a few short designer profiles and maybe even some prizes of my own for people leaving comments, but I'll have to work out the details before I can do that. Keep your eyes peeled for further information.

This is the collage that I came up with for my designer profile in the GAL designer thread, if you see it you can take the link to my designer page, where you will see my bundle of patterns.  Any of those patterns will be 25% off from 11/22/16 at 8:00 pm until 11/30/16 at 11:59 pm. I'm on page 8 in the designer thread post #198.   After that the GAL will continue as a KAL/CAL with games, prizes and lots of other happenings.  All paid patterns of the participating designers are eligible for prizes, but check the FAQ's for details.  Hope to see to at
                  GAL 2016.  Follow me to 
The Indie Design  Gift-A-Long 2016.  Woot! Parteee!😀💖

Indie Designers Gift-A-Long 2016 Stats & Update.....

What is Gift-A-Long? It’s a multi-designer promotion to help you kick your holiday gift-making into high gear!
The Indie Design Gift-A-Long is a 6 week long KAL/CAL of holiday gifts made from patterns designed by a rather extensive list of independent designers. From November 22, 2016 at 8:00 pm US EST to December 31, 2016 at midnight US EST there will be fun games, contests, and 8 KAL/CALs that will help you get your holiday knitting done with companionship and fun! From November 22, 2016 at 8:00 pm US EST to November 30th at 11:59pm US EST tons of indie designers will be discounting between 5 - 20 of their patterns 25% for this event. Use coupon code: giftalong2016. You can read all about the details in this post: click here or on the FAQ page in our group pages.
Once you’ve got your Gift-A-Long patterns, we encourage you to join a relevant KAL/CAL! (For instance, if it is a cowl, please join the cowl KAL/CAL.) To join, simply write a post in the KAL/CAL thread you want to join, including the pattern name you will be knitting and a link to your project page. KAL/CAL participants are eligible for lots of lovely prizes but you’ve got to post to win!
KAL/CALs will run from November 22, 2016 at 8:00 pm US EST to December 31, 2016 at midnight US EST, plenty of time to knock out all your holiday knitting and crocheting. We have tons of prizes and great conversation, plus a lot of other fun, so pull up a chair and join us!
On your mark…get set…. GIFT!!
Other things:

• Please use #giftalong2016 to tag your social media-ing!
  
• Please only share Giftalong projects in the “shared projects”
   
  There are eight different categories for projects:
  Please use these additional tags for any KAL/CAL that you make something in:
  giftalong2016head
  giftalong2016hand
  giftalong2016feet
  giftalong2016kids
  giftalong2016garments
  giftalong2016shawls
  giftalong2016neck
  giftalong2016other
  Click on the above words to see searches on those tags so you can all enjoy everyone’s creativity!
  Please note that the GAL tags should only be used on projects that are started between 8pm US EST on Tuesday November 22th & 11:59pm US EST on Saturday December 31. Projects made before this are not eligible for the GAL. Thanks!
  
   
  
  
  

Join the Ravelry 2016 Indie Designer Gift A Long

Join a large group of Indie Designers (including yours truly) for the 2016 Gift A Long, which is a combination of a week long special sale offering a 25% discount on a selection of patterns from over 300 designers. 
Games, giftie chatter, lots of socializing and prizes are just a few of the attractions of the event known as the Indie Designers Gift A Long. And oh, did I say prizes...lots and lots of prizes, both physical and electronic prizes. So keep an eye out here and around Ravelry for more info in the next couple of weeks. Share the love and knit on!
Don't forget to join the Indie Designers Gift A Long group on Ravelry, so you can be ready when the fun starts.  You can see the patterns that I will be offering with the discount in a special bundle by going to  Paula King's designer page .

Reinstated with an update

I was going to delete this blog completely.  I have such a small readership that I thought, "Just get rid of it!", but I was encouraged by others to continue with it.  Things may get busier around here starting in December when I have my first magazine submission being published.  I still can't say which magazine, but I can say which issue. I was given permission to tell my LYS, so that they can include it in the November newsletter.  I also might run a KAL, and might put in a few prizes, too.  More on that later.
I am also working with another entity through their independent designer program.  Once the pattern is ready to be published, we will promote in together.  They will even have an interview with little old me for their blog. More info will be forthcoming.
I also have another pattern in the works,  but  have changed some of the particulars on its structure and use.  More on that later too.
This is the first place that I have mentioned these three projects under construction in the same place, but I will include this entire post in my Ravelry group as well.

A little bit longer.....

It's going to be a little longer than I thought for one of the patterns that I'm working on, because I put in a proposal to a magazine for a pattern and it was accepted.  I am currently working on the actual pattern submission, so other projects are on the back burner for now.  I can't say what magazine yet, because I have to submit the pattern for approval.  As soon as I am able to release the information about the submission, I will give it here first. 
I am super excited and cautiously optimistic.  I have received positive feedback so far...so keep me in your prayers.  Thanks for being understanding.