Crochet, Star-Struck, & Giveaways - Oh My!

I have been a bad little blogger! I have NOT updated my blog in like, forever.. okay, more like 3 weeks. (I get a tad dramatic when it comes to yarn, dontcha know.) A TON of things have been happening in KPG land.

First up: I have been crocheting granny squares. Basically, I've been experimenting with different patriotic-themed squares. The square pictured above is a design by Bonnie Batten called, American Pride Square. I haven't affixed the star to it yet. I really love this granny square pattern - but didn't like the colors I used and couldn't see myself crocheting an entire throw of these. So I decided to just crochet up some red, white, and blue basic granny squares. They look nice. And let's face it - I'm a newbie crocheter so granny squares are really the extent of my crochet prowess.

Next Up: I am so amazed that my little webshow, Stitch & Dish, is taking off. It's certainly not because I have a high-tech set. Even my headset screams 1988.. And it's not because I have a mesmerizing beauty or fabulous voice. It's not even because I am a knitting guru (far from it). It's because knitters/crocheters/fiber artists will find any excuse to get together! And like a complete goober and fan of fiber, I Tweeted and messaged some terrific authors and asked them to be on the show! To my surprise, I've gotten some responses (And acutal nice ones - no restraining orders ;P )! This Friday, Susan B. Anderson, author of "Itty Bitty Hats," Itty Bitty Nursery," and "Itty Bitty Toys," will be joining me on the show for an interview! SO thrilled! In August, Amy Gaines, author of "Cute Little Animals" will join me on the show. Cosette Cornelius-Bates, author of "Knit One, Embellish Too" & Etsy Shop Owner, may also be making an appearance later this summer. And {{Fingers Crossed}} Franklin Habit, author of the hilarious blog, The Panopticon and cartoon book, "It Itches," may be making an appearance. (He said he'd love to discuss it when he returns from vacay.) I'm like a kid in a candy shop! These talented, brilliant, amazing authors are so inspiring - that I may have to finish a pair of socks to celebrate! (I know - I'm getting all crazy!)

And to top off all of the very cool things going on... Interweave Press is going to be giving away some books on the Stitch & Dish Show!!!! OMG! {Picking jaw back up off the floor}

As always, be sure to tune into Fiber'Tudes for your weekly fiber fill. Check in with Karen, Stacy, Lara, & myself as we talk all things fiber! If you can't listen live Mondays @1:30p ET - be sure to listen On Demand on BTR or download from iTunes (fibertudes) and listen at your convenience!

Stay Tuned - Soon, I'll be launching my Etsy shop, KPG Yarns & Sundries. I have a feeling I'll be updating my blog frequently!

My First Attempt at Dyeing Yarn

Be sure to check out:
The Fiber Arts Friday Blog Carnival from Alpaca Farm Girl!


Recently, my fabulous co-hosts of Fiber 'Tudes and I decided to take the plunge and hand dye some yarn. Being a yarn dyeing virgin, I did a little research on the internet and decided that the simplest method would be the method I would use. So I chose the crockpot method of dyeing. I also decided that I would use a non-toxic, edible dye since my kiddos like to help out with my projects. Kool-Aid dyeing it was! Also, a non-toxic dye meant that I could re-use my crockpot for edible endeavors. (If you use a toxic or inedible dye - use a crockpot that will NEVER be used for cooking food again. You can get crockpots pretty inexpensively at yardsales.)

Tips:

• Do not use Kool-Aid that is pre-sweetened. You need the original Kool-Aid packets that have NO sugar or sweetener in them.
• Use an animal fiber not a plant fiber for Kool-Aid dyeing. Plant fibers won't take the dye properly.
  
• Tie your yarn with a pure white cotton yarn (it won't bleed onto your yarn). -OR- Buy Bare Yarn by Knit Picks (like I did). It comes already tied and is ready to go straight into the crockpot. Of course, if you spin your own, you're going to have to do all of the work yourself. (But that is part of the fun!)
• DO NOT agitate non-superwash fibers. This is a hot water method and you will felt your yarn if you agitate it prior to being COMPLETELY cooled.
• Be careful. The water AND yarn are very hot. Let the yarn cool completely prior to rinsing. If you burn your fingers, you will not enjoy knitting your gorgeous new yarn.
• When mixing up the Kool-Aid - remember the more water you use to mix up the dye, the less concentrated the color. Don't be afraid to experiment with your color. It's only Kool-Aid after all.
  

Step 1:
I had to choose the colors I wanted. I had an entire bag of Kool-Aid and decided for the first try, I wanted pink, orange, and cranberry. So I chose Pink Lemonade, Orange, and Black Cherry Kool-Aid packets.

Step 2:
I re-read the tutorial from Nermal, Not Normal. (Hot Pour Method) I deviate a tad from her tutorial. But I used her tutorial as my knowledge base.

Step 3:
I placed the yarn in the cold crockpot and covered with water. Then I added 1 cup of vinegar and turned the crockpot on HIGH.
Step 4:
I mixed up all of the Kool-Aid. I wanted a really brightly colored yarn and decided to have alot of Kool-Aid and a little water to produce that effect. So I mixed 2 packets of Pink Lemonade Kool-Aid, 3 packets of Black Cherry Kool-Aid, and 3 packets of Orange Kool-Aid each in a glass of approx. 6 oz. of water.
Step 5:
Once the water in the crockpot was sufficiently hot, I poured the Kool-Aid dye mixtures in different areas on the yarn. I had planned on pouring in thirds, but quickly realized that I still had surface area that needed dye. So I mixed up a fourth color - Lemonade Kool-Aid (4 packets) with 6 oz. of water and poured it in. Then I replaced the crockpot lid and set the timer for an hour.
Step 6:
After the timer went off, I stuck a spoon into the yarn to gently check if the dye had penetrated all of the yarn and to check the water. Clear water on the spoon meant that all of the dye had been absorbed into the yarn! Time to rinse!
Step 7:
I carefully dumped the yarn into a very CLEAN bath tub to cool. Once sufficiently cooled, I rinsed and re-rinsed with a cool water bath. BE SURE to allow the yarn to cool. It will be very hot. You don't want to burn yourself or felt the fibers.
Step 8:
Gently squeeze out excess water and hang to dry. THE Vickie Howell commented on my yarn!!!!

Step 9:
24 hours later... my yarn was completely dry! Time to wind the yarn ONTO the swift in a larger diameter so that when twisting into a hank, it shows off the colorway. I put the yarn on my Adirondack chair and wound onto my swift. (Like an idiot, I did this at 1p in the hot sun. I was boiling hot and drenched in sweat by the time I was done.)
Step 10:
I added some waste yarn to tie the yarn together (weave in and out of the yarn) so that it didn't get twisted in the hank. I used some waste cotton I had in a natural color so that I could see it easily.Step 11:
I twisted the yarn into a hank. I had a little difficulty as this was the first time I'd ever done that - so it's not as tight and neat as I would've liked - but it does show off the colorway nicely!Step 12:
Finally it was time to name the yarn. Hubby named this colorway Fruit Cocktail.

Stitch & Dish Launch & Giveaway!

Beginning Friday, June 26th - "Stitch & Dish" will air live on MomTv at 8p EST! If you are a knitter, crocheter, needlepointer, felter, or any hand-crafter.. grab your project and your webcam and join us as we stitch and dish the topic du jour. Don't have a webcam? No worries. There is a chatroom for those who either don't have a webcam or wish not to be on camera.

I would LOVE to have a full house Friday nights! Here's what you've got to do to participate:

• Sign up at MomTV for a FREE account.
• Sign up at Stickam for a FREE account.
• Show up and get ready to have some fun!

You will need both a Stickam account and MomTV account to participate in the Streaming Live WebShows. If you have never been to MomTV - you're going to get addicted! There are Live Streaming Shows for every interest a mom could have.

I'm lining up sponsors to give away door prizes for the first show! So far, it looks like we'll be giving away:

• A pair of Kollage Square Knitting Needles courtesy of The Fine Needle
• KnitFitKits is giving away a skein of sock yarn!
  
• Spotted Sheep Studio will be giving away a prize package containing: stitch markers, a beaded row counter, 3 pattern tamers, Scissors Fob & protector!
  
• Just Ice Jewelry is giving away 3 pair of earrings!!
• A $50 Gift Certificate from Restaurants.com
  

In order to be eligible to win one of these amazing prizes, you must RSVP and be in attendance to win! I will randomly select winners from the RSVP list and also the comments. Would you like additional entries to win a door prize? Do one or more of these things and come back and comment after each one.

• Tweet about the giveaway with a link to this blog post. Leave a comment with a link to the status update that shows your tweet. Only 1 tweet per day.
• Blog about the show and link back to this blog post. This is worth 5 additional entries. Leave a comment for each of the five entries.
• Visit 1 or all of our sponsors' sites/shops. Come back and leave a comment as to which item(s) from their site/shop is your fave. You may leave an entry for each sponsor!
• Refer a sponsor for a door prize. Have the sponsor email me & let me know you referred them. This is worth 5 additional entries. Leave a comment for each of the 5 entries.
  

(If you're interested in sponsoring a door prize - email me at knitpurlgurl [at] gmail [dot] com!)

Fiber 'Tudes Radio Show Re-cap: June 15, 2009

On today's show, we talked about:

• We missed Lara today :(
• Karen has decided to use the cold water method of dyeing her yarn with cold water dyes. She plans on dyeing up some cotton
• Stacy plans on attempting the solar dyeing method and will dye up some wool with Wilton Cake Dyes. She is also going to try her hand at hand painting yarn.
• I decided that I will try the crockpot dyeing method with Kool-Aid on some wool.
• Karen is trying to meet her deadline as she designs a lace jacket on the loom for an E-Zine.
• Stacy continues to "plug away" at her Botanica Medallion Cardigan and also her display sock for her shop, The Fine Needle
• I haven't progressed at all on my Botanica Medallion Cardigan and worked on my DD's triangular garter st shawl with yo border instead
• Stacy's fiber guild in MD participated in WWKIP Day on June 13th!
• We talk about the dying art of all things handmade and the resurgence of 'Homesteading' and sustainable living
  
• We talk about why we knit socks INSTEAD of buying them at WalMart
• Why it's important to create memories and pass down traditions through hand crafting
• We talk about knitting retreats. Stacy's shop hosted a successful retreat last spring. I want to try and convince hubby that a retreat in Tuscany is a good idea.
• We talk about Extreme Kid Fighting
• Karen says my tight knitting is due to my personality ;P
• We discussed all of us being ADD to a point with our creative endeavors
• The Fine Needle may have a craft yard sale in July

Fiber 'Tudes Radio Show Re-cap: June 8, 2009

This week, on the Fiber 'Tudes Radio Show, we talked about:

• My & Stacy's progress on the Botanica Medallion Cardigan by Shiri Mor
• Karen's designing a jacket/cardigan on the loom!
• We chat about how we got our start working with fiber
• I won a custom shop from SilkFair!
  
• We talk about learning to dye yarn
• CPSIA and how it affects selling dyed yarn
• Knitty.com's Dyed in the Wool article/tutorial
• We challenge each other to all dye yarn for the 6/22 show
  

Progress on the Botanica Medallion Cardigan

As you may know from my Blog Talk Radio Show, Fiber 'Tudes, I am tackling the Botanica Medallion Cardigan by Shiri Mor (featured in Vogue Knitting Spring/Summer 2009). Don't ask me why I thought this was a good idea. Sure, the pattern is gorgeous. The designer is amazing. BUT - a few things hit me as I started knitting this:

1. I'm NOT too proficient in lace work. Sure I knit a lacey sock - but it was simple yo(s) and K2tog(s). - Nothing too fancy or challenging
2. I've never knit a sweater. I was dazzled by the 2 piece construction of this cardi. Now, I'm terrified that I won't be able to sew it together properly.
3. There are alot of different techniques in this pattern that I've never done before.. such as SK2P, Indian Cross Stitch, and seaming!
4. I'm an advanced beginner and this project is a 3 on a 1-4 scale of difficulty (4 being the most difficult)

That's right - I'm ridiculously stupid for attempting this cardigan. But I will keep on trying.

During the medallion part, I dropped a stitch and messed up round 52 about 5 times. Thankfully, a very patient knitting friend of mine, Celeste, helped me figure it out and patiently tinked back my stitches 3 or 4 times. She's part knitting guru, part saint! After she helped me retrieve the dropped stitch and tink back sufficiently, I was able to knit past it and finish the medallion portion of the cardigan. The picture above is of the medallion blocking.

Now I have to start the outer band which, I'm sorry to say, looks much more scary than the medallion. Cross your fingers for me, knitsters.

If you're interested in joining us in the KAL, be sure to check out the KAL group we have on Ravelry!! And be sure to tune in to Fiber 'Tudes to hear all the details of Stacy's and my Botanica Medallion Cardigans!

Fiber 'Tudes Radio Show Re-cap

On today's show:

• We chatted a bit about The Great Lakes Fiber Show!
• Karen's up & coming Etsy shop, Cre8tiveSpin
• Karen's Loom-Alongs: Formal Lace Loom LAL & Decor Accents Inc. Yahoo Group
• Stacy's amazing and friendly yarn & quilt shop: The Fine Needle
• Stacy's finished and PHOTOGRAPHED purple sweater
  
• Lara's FINISHED(!) Kimono and blog
• Calla Lily Yarn & Gifts in Wooster, OH
• Creatively Dyed Yarn
• The Botanica Medallion Cardigan by Shiri Mor
• The Botanica Medallion Cardigan KAL on Ravelry
• Carriage House Woolens Mazu Yarn in Apples Colorway
• The Knitter Magazine
• Supporting LYSs and LYS employee conduct
• My love for WEBS and their fabulous prices
  
• Cascade Cotton Rich DK Yarn
• Curve of Pursuit Afghan by Pat Ashford & Steve Plummer
• Poems by Universal Yarn
  

Be sure to tune into the Fiber 'Tudes Radio Show on Blog Talk Radio every Monday @ 1:30pm EST. If you cannot tune in live, you can listen On Demand at Blog Talk Radio or subscribe (FREE) to our podcast via iTunes.

Don't Miss Fiber 'Tudes!

The Momma 'Tudes Weekly Radio Show is NOW The Fiber 'Tudes Weekly Radio Show. The name of our radio show has changed.. but the content is the same! Don't miss an all new Fiber 'Tudes radio show on Monday, June 1st at 1:30p EST. Please feel free to call in LIVE to the show ( (646) 200-0060) or log into Blog Talk Radio and "chat" in the chatroom with us during the show. As always, our show will be available via podcast approx. 1 week after the LIVE show. Be sure to subscribe for free via iTunes.

Catch up on our other shows by listening ON DEMAND (FREE) on Blog Talk Radio.

So join Karen, Stacy, Lara, & I as we talk fiber Mondays, 1:30p EST on Blog Talk Radio.

The Great Lakes Fiber Show

As promised, I will recap The Great Lakes Fiber Show on Monday, June 1st on our fiberlicious radio show: The Momma 'Tudes Weekly Radio Show. Be sure to listen live Monday, June 1st @ 1:30p or you can subscribe (free) to our podcast via iTunes - just search for 'mommatudes.'

I had alot of fun at The Great Lakes Fiber Show. So much fun, infact, that I snapped oodles of pics. I originally tried putting all of the pictures into a post, but found that my blog post would be the entire blog long. So I condensed them into a slide show.

Of course The Great Lakes Fiber Show is held annually in Wooster, Ohio. (FYI: Wooster is NOT pronounced like Rooster. It is pronounced as if you are saying the word 'wuss' and adding 'ter' to it. I heard non-natives mis-pronouncing it all day!) We recently moved from our beloved Wooster to PA and the fiber show gave me an excuse to come back home for a few days and meet up with all of my gal-pals.

I met up with Connie and Nora from the Cran-Knitters first on Saturday. They were on the hunt for quality roving. Then, I met up with Celeste who came to Ohio via Cuba (I'm pretty sure - LOL). It took her and her hubby a maddening 4 hours due to the turnpike being shut down to hoof over to Wooster. Celeste and I were on the hunt for good hand-dyed yarn.

I met some very interesting people and got to chat a bit with them. I met up with Dianne from Creatively Dyed Yarns. Oh. My. Good. God. This woman has the most gorgeous yarns! I was first introduced to her fiber goodness at the PGH Knit and Crochet Festival and have been smitten ever since. I have purchased her yarns online and wanted to buy some at the show - but needed a certain colorway that I already have. I was so dazzled and ADD I ended up at her stand 3 times - YES 3 TIMES and did not buy yarn! :( I'm so bummed. I will have to order the yarn. OR.. I did grab me a postcard that lists which shows she'll be at. I may just have to stalk her and buy some of her gawgeous yarn. PLEASE - visit her website. You will NOT be disappointed!

I talked with an Alpaca rancher from Richland County, OH who gave me the lowdown on Alpaca history and lineage as well as what fiber is most desirable. For instance, she told me that white Alpacas are the most common; that black Alpacas are the most rare, but have the least dense fiber and are therefore, the least desirable. She also told me that they are directly related to llama, but that llama fiber has no lanolin in it, thus making it less desirable to work with.

I watched a weaving demonstration. I watched some spinning demonstrations. I picked up some needle felting kits for beginners. I know - I need another hobby like I need another hole in my head. It looked so easy and like so much fun - I just couldn't resist. Plus - I can embellish my knitting with with. Such a plus! (Of course, I have to finish knitting projects before I can embellish them, but I digress.)

I ate a LAMBdog! It looks like a regular hotdog, but it's made of 100% lamb meat. It was actually pretty good!

And of course, I bought me some yarn. I got some hand-dyed yarn from Carriage House Woolens (formerly known as YarnSmiths). It. Is. Gorgeous. It's their Mazu yarn in 'Apples' colorway! I also skipped down the street to Calla Lily Yarn & Gifts and got me some beautiful Cherry Tree Hill Supersock in 'Very Scary' colorway.

It was such a fun trip. I miss my dear Wooster. But I will definitely be happy to get home to PA!!

Get Your Weekly Dose of Fiber Fun..

Be sure to check out this week's episode of the Momma 'Tudes Weekly Radio show! Available On Demand on Blog Talk Radio or via podcast on iTunes. As always, tune in live for the radio show, Mondays 1:30p EST where you can chat in the chat room with the hosts during the show or call in and chat with us live by calling in during the show at (646) 200-0060.

During this week's episode, 'Goal Oriented,' we chatted about:

• Lara's baby blanket and Kimono progress
• Karen's new loom design for her 'Toe Socks' pattern
• Stacy completes her purple sweater
• I finish my Entrelac Bag
• Interweave Knits Summer 2009 and Vogue Knitting International Spring/Summer 2009 Issues
• Botanica Medallion Cardigan pattern by Shiri Mor KAL
• Pattern -stealing and copyright infringement on Etsy
  
• Our knitting goals
  

I Finished Knitting The Never-Ending Bag & Yarn Acquisitions

I have been so pre-occupied recently with trying to get the radio show/podcast and the social network up and running, that I haven't focused much on my knitting. Infact, I went 2 wks without picking up the needles. {GASP} I know, right? So, anywho.. I decided this weekend that I WAS going to finish the entrelac 'Market Squares Bag' (by Lynda Cyr). I started knitting it back in November and had been poking at it bit by bit and making small amounts of progress over the last 6 months. Then on Friday, Celeste, Marilyn, and I decided that we would have a KAL for the Vogue Botanica Medallion Cardigan and I decided that I needed to finish this bag as this was also a KAL and I was the last person to finish! SO I finished it up and felted it. The top pic is of the bottom of the bag. The bottom picture is of it blocking.

I ordered some leather handles from WEBS that I will sew on to complete the bag. They were relatively inexpensive ($20 for 30" handles). And since I had spent 6 months knitting the bag and $50 in Cascade 220 - I figured I may as well go ahead and buy some nice handles for it. After all, this bag represents a FINISHED OBJECT for me. And you know me - finished objects are hard to come by.

So I have ordered some lovely Cascade Cotton Rich DK for the cardi (from WEBS) and can't wait to begin. I need to focus this week on completing my second "Breeze" anklet sock so that I don't have it hanging over my head during the KAL. I think I will try to focus on knitting mates for all of my socks at Friday Morning Knitting Group. Perhaps by fall, I will have mates for my socks. We'll see.

Latest Yarn Acquisitions & My Plans for It

I got these l'il gems on CLEARANCE from Natural Stitches in PA. I was immediately drawn to the price colorway. I picked it up and fondled it for a few minutes before putting it back down. Then I walked past it again - flirting with the idea of adding it to my stash. Then I picked it up again. And finally, Alicia said, "Just buy it!" So I did! It is Steadfast Fibers Wonderful Wool in Carrot Cake Colorway. It's a wool/merino blend. I only have 380 yds of it so I'm not sure yet what I want to do with it. I'm thinking a felted handbag of some kind. But I only paid $8/hank for it (regularly $14/hank). Gorgeous.

This amazing yarn was also a find at Natural Stitches. Unfortunately, it was NOT a sale yarn. The picture does it a disservice. It's so beautiful that when I saw it, I HAD to have it immediately. (Even at $18/hank) It's Kraemer Yarns Sterling Silk & Silver in Majestic Blue colorway. It's a Merino, Silk, Nylon, and ACTUAL silver blend. SO amazing. I have 1680 yds of it and would like to make a shawl with it. I just need to find a pattern I like.

This pretty yarn reminded me of summer the minute I saw it. And since it was a nippy 50 degrees - I bought it instantly! I got this yarn at Knit One in PA. It is Farmhouse Yarns Cotton Blossom Yarn by Dixie in Tangerine colorway. It's a cotton-rayon blend that is hand-dyed. I got 600 yds of this yarn and actually bought a pattern to go with it! I plan on knitting Farmhouse Yarn's Cotton Blossom Wrap, Pattern #13 with it. (Also listed on their site as Cotton Blossom Ruffle Shawl.)

Finally, I got 2 skeins of Knit Picks CotLin (cotton/linen blend) for some washcloths I want to knit. Celeste found and knit up the most adorable Butterfly Washcloths by Susan B. Anderson and I was smitten. I want to knit these up using these two colors and put them in gift baskets with some handmade body scrub and bath bombs for end of the year gifts for DS's teachers. The yarn is in Clementine and Creme Brulee colorways (top to bottom).

KnitPicks Giveaway ALERT

Okay, Knitsters - Things Moms Like are giving aways a KnitPicks Package including some wonderful cotton and Harmony Options Needles!!!! Get your bums over there and enter to win today!!!

And the Winner is...

The winner of the ADHD Curbing Bag Kit via random number generator is......

Terry D

Congrats to Terry and thanks to Gail of ADHD Knitting! This was a terrific giveaway! Be sure to check out Gail's Etsy Shop and her blog regularly!

A Little Bit of This, A Little Bit of That..

* Don't forget to enter my giveaways: 'Curbing' Knitted Bag Kit (ends 5/4) & Fused Glass Pendant (ends 5/6)*

First off, here is my entrelac 'Market Squares Bag.' I've dubbed it, 'The bag that never ends.' I truly believe my kids will graduate HS before I finish this puppy. But, I am making progress. And I guess that counts for something. (Stop shaking your head, 'no.' Yes it does!)

Remember I said that I'd take a better pic of my 'Breeze' anklet. Well, here's a much better pic. I am happy to report that this sock will get a mate (unlike my other 3 socks which are destined to be mateless, me thinks). I have cast on the second sock and hope to make progress on it this weekend!

I'm hosting a Mother's Day Gift Guide and Giveaway on my Mommatudes Blog. Pictured above are the amazing prizes I'll be giving away! Be sure to get over there and enter! You can enter once daily through 5/8.

A Truly Awe-Summm Award!

I have to tell you that the very AWE-SUMMM Karie of One Fish, Two Fish, Three, Four, Five Fish is the one who bestowed this amazing award on me. I have just recently 'met' her through Twitter. I sent her a tweet telling her that I HAD to meet her because I have seen her all over the same social groups I'm involved in and I LOVE-LOVE-LOVE that her username is 'Karie with a K.' I can so relate - I have to tell EVERYONE that my name is Karrie with a 'K." And then usually I have to spell it out. Her name is just slightly different than mine - but we're two peas in a pod. Anywho.. She tweeted me back and voila.. here we are.

To accept this AWE - SUM award and pass the award onto others I must list 7 awesome things about myself and then list 7 awesome people that I would like to pass the award on to. So here goes, I am AWE-SUM:

1.) I moved my family and put my (newly built) house up for sale so that my autistic son could get the medical support he needs/deserves.
2.) I've devoted my career (before becoming a SAHM recently) to helping others: as a health care practitioner and then a teacher.
3.) I host 3 blogs, a social network, a talk radio show, and a craft column and still manage to wash the laundry, buy the groceries, eradicate my house of dust bunnies, and cook some dinner.
4.) I can knit socks! I mean really - how AWE-SUMMM is that?
5.) I name all of my pets after literary characters. So AWE-SUMMM. I even named my daughter after a literary character, Madeline.
6.) MY hubby and I are HS sweethearts. We have known each other since we were 13 and started dating when we were 15. We've been married nearly 12 years and together for a total of 20 years. And we STILL can't wait to see each other every day! That's not just AWE-SUMMM, that's amazing!
7.) I always forgive and give the benefit of the doubt. I believe everyone deserves a second chance.

I wish I could give it to ALL of the AWE-SUMMM bloggers I know - but here are my 7:

1. The Ohio Girl
2. Average Jane Crafter
3. Bloggin' it From the 'Burbs
4. The Pink Toque
5. Knitnut, Karen
6. Aunt Kathy's Place
7. Pink Vanilla Cupcakes