Welcome Visitors

According to Statcounter my blog gets an average of 100 - 125 "unique" visitors daily, actual "page loads" are higher meaning some visitors are looking around at more than one post each time they drop by. With my visitor count standing at 99222 right now, it seems likely that I will reach the 100,000 mark in the next week or two.

Here is a breakdown of where the last 500 readers came from. (I get a kick out of that sort of information).



One of my most frequently visited pages is HERE. (Of the last 500 visitors, 78 were for this one page.) Seems my sorta-pattern for the Knitty-Gritty Sockettes has gotten on a few free pattern listings. 1, 2, 3, I even found it as the featured sock in a knit-a-long at one time. The funny thing is I've only knit ONE of them myself. That's right, it didn't even hold my interest long enough to get a pair. They're cute enough, but when I put socks on my feet I want warmth. I don't even like those short little sport socks. For me it's either nice, warm, handknit, woolen ankle socks or, in hot weather, sockless.

So you bloggers who host contests now and again, how do you go about organizing that? I'm thinking I should have some kind of contest in honor of the 100,000 th visitor. How do you take entrants? How do you pick a winner? How long do you take entries before doing the draw? Any cautions I should know about? What makes a good prize?

Contest, Contest!

I was visiting Nicole's blog, "Knerq", and read of a contest going on at "Skeins Her Way". Three winners will be receiving the pattern for Ali's "Fitted Tank" with the first prize winner also receiving 4 hanks of "Blue Sky Dyed Cotton" in their choice of colours. To enter you have to have a blog. It that sounds interesting to you, check it out. And don't forget to tell them that Marlene/Wovenflame sent you. Here, grab my blog address and take it along with you. ;-) www.wovenflame.blogspot.com

Okay, okay. I might as well be upfront about it. I'll get an extra entry if you say I referred you.

Now for the "work" part of the contest. Ali wants contestants to list their summer knitting goals. As most of you already know, knitting isn't my only fibre related interest and I've recently started exploring weaving on small looms in addition to my usual spinning and knitting. Summer is also my prime time for doing fibre preparation like fleece washing and wool combing. So as you look over my rather short list of summer knitting goals, keep in mind that I will be up to my elbows in other fibery goodness as well.

Dale of Norway US Olympic '02 Ski Sweater. This one has been in "time out" ever since I discovered that it contains rows with 3 colours. It has discouraged me, but I will not be defeated!

Cabled Hoodie, Sirdar 8427 - or possibly and adaptation so I can use a worsted weight handspun.

Socks - these are ongoing projects I keep in the car. No intended finish date.

Loden Mist, that fantastically beautiful lace jacket on page 47 of the Spring 2007 issue of "Knitter's".

Order Level II of the Master Knitters Program.

I might not finish any of these this summer, but these are the knitting projects foremost on my mind.

She's a Beauty

Remember way back in October when I spindle spun and navajo plyed the hand dyed, hand combed wool for this hat?



I entered the crocheted hat in this contest held at www.spindlicity.com , and actually won in the "Best Use of Color" category. My prize was to be a lovely, handmade Bloodwood and Ebony spindle from Spindlewood Co. I promised to post photos of it when it arrived.

Well, it finally arrived yesterday and it was well worth the wait. It's absolutely beautiful and spins on and on for a long time. It often touches the floor before it runs out of spin. A far cry from the home made, unfinished spindles I have used so far. Wow, so this is what a well balanced, professionally made spindle is like.




The spindle arrived packaged safely in 4 ounces of soft, easy to spin fiber. Too bad all parcels don't come protected with such beautiful "filler". I'm no expert on identifying fiber so I'll have to write and ask them what it is.



Thanks Spindlewood Co. and Spindlicity from a very happy prize winner.