April 06, 2005
Happy Day!
To all the compassionate, generous, and committed Brigade members and all the knitters and blanketeers out there that I will never know about or meet and yet who have become the true heart and soul of the Dulaan Project, I dedicate this entry to you.
500 ITEMS!!!
Yes, we have solidly reached the 500 item goal, Dulaaners! But, wait, it gets so much better, you have no idea. Thanks to the efforts of charity knitting organizations such as Angel Covers, Charity Crafters, and GuidePosts who contributed bucket-loads of hand-knit items to the project, we zoomed right past 500 to:
967 ITEMS!!!
The 500th item was hand-delivered to F.I.R.E. by Joyce Christensen of Flagstaff, AZ, who brought in a box of 14 items, all knit by her generous self. I think I see a trip to my LYS to find a suitable prize for Ms. Christensen in my future...
So, now that we have left the "500 item" goal and Doubting Dave in the dust, let's look ahead to our next goal of 2,000 items, which is now only 1,033 items away. My onesy-twosy box, which I am very close to shipping, contains 45 items, so, see?, we're already seriously whittling away at this number.
From the bottom of my heart, and a million times over, thank you to everyone for making this such a successful project to this point. But we're not done! Only two months to go before you should seriously think about getting your items in the mail to meet the July 1 deadline. Imagine what you could knit in that time!
An extra big thank you goes to Meredith, the Executive Director of F.I.R.E. who has been keeping me posted as the items came in. Meredith, your efforts and your Magic Numbers are helping to keep me inspired and motivated as we close in on the deadline!
And lastly, a thank you to Cuzzin Tom who was the originator of the entire Dulaan idea and who single-handedly brought the knitters, the blanketeers, and F.I.R.E. together. I'm glad everything is going well for you in Mon-frickin'-golia, Cuzz. We're keeping the fire lit for you over here!
Posted by Ryan at April 6, 2005 11:52 AMHooray! To celebrate, let's throw another marmot on the fire!
(Sorry, I couldn't stop myself.)
AND!! (tah dah!) On behalf of our little Stitch-n-Bitch group in Salt Lake City, I've put together a box that has another 18 items in it. I was hoping to get you a picture today, but my camera batteries are dead. I'll send that along this week before I ship the package out to FIRE, 'kay?
Posted by: Anne on April 6, 2005 12:23 PMHah! We're more than halfway to our goal!!! I KNEW we could do this!!! Knitters are such great people.
I have a personal goal of 25 items, and have 22 of them done, so I plan to mail my box next week. I know of a few others who have also been knitting but not mailing yet.
We might just even top 2,000. Wouldn't that be fun? THIS IS SO COOL!!! THANKS, CUZZIN TOM!!!!
Mary B
Posted by: Mary B on April 6, 2005 12:31 PMThere is a box of four (lonely) items heading off to F.I.R.E.
Since I have a bit more time, I'll see what else I can finish between now and the cut-off.
967 items already! Yippee!!
Posted by: Carol on April 6, 2005 12:36 PMI am amazed and so, so humbled.
I have not sent my items in yet either. But I have 3 hats and a scarf at my desk from fellow knitters from the philly area. When I get my socks done (I am SOOO close with sock #1 it kills me) I'll post the box and start the next one. OK?? see.. 5 items right there.
Suddenly wishing socks counted as 2 items altho she knows that would never work.
Posted by: anj on April 6, 2005 12:38 PMWow. Such a fantastic day. So many items already sent and so many more going. It's just heart warming! And all this on the day I found out that I now have a LYS. In Texas! This evening is my first visit so I will just have to get some Dulaan Project yarn to celebrate. Such a fabulous day!!!
Hope everyone's day is going just as well!
Posted by: Stalker Angie on April 6, 2005 12:41 PMHA! that's all I have to say. HA.
OK. I also have to say I have to get knitting.. no Dulaan objects finished yet... I think 2000 is a reasonable goal for the project...
Posted by: melissa on April 6, 2005 12:46 PMThat's amazing! We'll make 2000. No problem.
Posted by: Jessica on April 6, 2005 01:38 PMI, the slowest knitter in the world, have finished a neckup/hat that is awaiting photography and shipping. And neckup #2 is on the needles.
Posted by: Becca on April 6, 2005 01:56 PM3 pairs of mittens, 2 hats and a couple of blankets in the box. More to come. It's an ambitious goal, but I know it will be reached. Dream big! Look what has been accomplished already!
Posted by: Holly on April 6, 2005 02:29 PMOh, this is so wonderful! Not to worry, Becca, I'm right there behind you with my measly two hats. Once the semester ends, hopefully I'll have more knittin' time.
Keep on everyone!
Posted by: Kristen on April 6, 2005 06:22 PMPlus eight, ready to get in a box as soon as I get myself to it. I have more in mind, but I think I'll send these eight out tomorrow, just to get them off my desk. Wonderful, wonderful news!
Posted by: Norma on April 6, 2005 06:30 PMHoley moley! That is totally amazing! I am plugging away on some more items :)
Posted by: Lolly on April 6, 2005 06:32 PMOh, Susie. You caused everyone in this Mongolian internet cafe to glare at me as I barked out loud at "throw another marmot on the fire".
So...YOU GUYS TOTALLY ROCK!!!
I got a big, dopey grin on my face all the way here in Mon-frickin'-golia and love each and every one of you. The spirit you've brought to Dulaan is so much more than Ryan and I ever expected. I'm humbled and grateful.
Big bhaavgai hug for everyone!
Posted by: Cuzzin Tom on April 6, 2005 07:25 PMI think between Noah and I, we have 10 items that need to be mailed. Might add another hat or two.
I don't even want to know how someone might run over a bird. A BIRD??!! Where were you driving? What the heck kind of car do you have???
Posted by: Patti on April 6, 2005 08:37 PMWhoo hoo!!! I had no idea that we'd get so many so quickly. This is not the first time that I've wished I were a much faster knitter, but I have 6 hats on the way, so you can add that to the count.
One little kid's hat, two pairs of booties complete, two scarves started (one about 1/3 done), so count me in for five items. I'll have them done and shipped in about a month.
Posted by: Rabbitch on April 6, 2005 11:20 PMOh, wow! Oh, wow! Oh, wow! I wish I was technologically literate enough to make all those wows appear in large bright colors like the numbers on the web page. Fellow knitters and contributors, you are awesome!
Doubting Dave has given the excellent Meredith her bottle of wine, hasn't he? One for each 500 items, right? Right? Photos, please. (The man better stock up, 'cause I have 18 items in the box, 3 more projects on the needles and I haven't run out of yarn yet...)
Posted by: daisy on April 7, 2005 06:52 AMThat Kicks Serious Ass. I neener at Dave. Fie, fie on him for doubting.
Of course, this means I have to get off my duff and add some more items to my little donation (so far two hats and a pair of mittens).
Please add 1 very pink jacket, a hat and a scarf and 2 jumpers on needles/hook, and hopefully more in the near(ish!) future, from Kent, England. Great project, well done for the idea and the cheer leading!
Okay, I added up all the items commenters said they've finished plus the 45 I have, and it comes to 159 items!!! Kowabunga, y'all!
(Side note to Patti: The bird flew under the car. Couldn't have avoided it if I tried. Very traumatic, though. Side note to all: Patti's comment has to do with a comment I left on Cuzzin Tom's blog.)
Posted by: Ryan on April 7, 2005 08:27 AMWell I commented on Norma's blog that I currently have 16 items going so if you add that to the 159 we're up to 165. Wheeee!
Posted by: Stalker Angie on April 7, 2005 09:31 AMAdd another 9 FOs plus two more on the needles! Will be mailing mine off by June 1 -- almost to my personal goal of 20 items. Way to go, guys! Knew we could blow past 500 items no problem, and now we're even past 1000!!! Yah!!!
Posted by: Sheri on April 7, 2005 09:36 AMI've got several hats here that I need to ship. I'll try to get a photo today and send them out.
This has been loads of fun. I no longer attend a mainstream church out of personal choice, but I do so miss the outreach that it affords, so thank you for sharing this with all of us.
Posted by: Diane on April 7, 2005 10:28 AMAdd another 5 items to the total, I'll be sending out my box next week!
This news has been really inspirational to me and has given me the motivation to keep plugging away for my personal goal of 10 items. I had decided to stop at 5 but I'm going to keep going!
Posted by: jillz on April 7, 2005 01:12 PMI've got a measly one pair of mittens that I'm sending in, but it's a start!
Posted by: Susan on April 10, 2005 07:31 PM