Crowdfunding

Crowdfunding has certainly enjoyed a bit of time in the sun recently. While the idea has been around for quite some time (think of charity drives - they're essentially a giant crowdfund initiative to fund something with a massive budget), it's only really recently with the rise of social media that they've kicked off as a popular way of raising money.

They're used for many things - the arts, charitable works, startup funds (or top up funds) for profit-driven entities.

As anyone who has used one of the popular crowdfunding websites (Kickstarter or Pozible, for example) knows, usually what is offered in return for the funding is a reward. These rewards usually increase on a sliding scale - the bigger the investment by the user, the bigger return they should see once the funds are raised and used.

And this, I think, is key.

I've been quietly watching a story unfold in the Australian knitting world. Without going into too much detail, people who invested through the crowd fund are being told (by the person who was raising this money) that they weren't investing in a business venture, but an idea. That because of this they have no right to complain that they haven't received their finished product, even when the finished product was being sold to the public at a recent agricultural show. They're being told that they have no recourse to complain to the site that hosted the crowd fund.

Well, I can't speak for those affected, but I can say for sure that I would be pretty peeved if I was in that situation.

It has certainly gotten me thinking about the risks of crowdfunding. As a user investing into someone's idea, you'd have to assume that they'd created a comprehensive plan, had costed everything out and had determined that they were capable of running/producing/doing whatever they're promising. It's worrying that it appears that there are people out there seeking money for ventures without having put the idea through what I would call an appropriate amount of scrutiny.

At the same time, I don't want to hold back from putting money into a crowd fund for a reason or product I believe in... (hah, fencesitter much!)

Does anyone have any ideas on how to handle this sort of thing?

WWKIP Day - Sydney NSW

ATTENTION KNITTERS!

World Wide Knit In Public day is drawing near: this Saturday, in fact!

Are you going to an event? I'll be at the Sydney one, organised by the fabulous PomPom.

DETAILS!

Abraham Mott Hall, Argyle Place, Millers Point. 1.30-5.00pm.

There are lots of prizes (including an awesome basket from Mosman Needlecraft), competitions and fun to be had, so please come along! There is no food available at the venue, but beverages will be available for gold coin donations.

See here for the full details.

See you there!

Retrospective

It's certainly the fashion to post about the year in review at the moment, what with it nearly being over and the world poised to leap into the new decade.

I could certainly go into many details about the year past that would keep this blog post going until the world ends because the Mayan calendar runs out or something, but many of those things are intensely private and not items that I wish to put out there.

Suffice to say that this year was not the best for me. It's been a long, hard journey and has certainly had some very low and rocky moments. (Oh no. I'm starting to sound like a bad 80s power ballad. I promise this bit won't last long.) Things are getting better and I'm starting to make some very necessary changes to my life and to myself. To my support network, thank you for everything. For just being there, for the random messages, for the tea, sympathy, coffee, knitting, DVDs, laughs, and above all your company. Thank you.

I've learned a lot about myself and changed a lot in the past 12 months. Whether any of the lessons are useful remains to be seen. My taste and style have changed too, and I'm picking up things that I had set aside for so long. Hello video games, music, art and generally creative pursuits again. It's been a slow uptake as I learn to let myself have this time for these activities again.

I seesawed a little in terms of my fitness regime and weight. At the moment I am happy with where I am. I am back into running. I am doing two boxing classes a week. I've acquired the Wii Fit Plus software and balance board for core strength and rainy day exercises. I'm well placed to kick start the new year and keep working on my fitness.

Knitting-wise I reached an important milestone this year. I finished my first cardigan. A whole garment - done. Admittedly it took a lot longer than it really should have, as there were long periods this year where I wasn't really knitting much. But it is done, and I am so happy to have completed it. The style is no longer what I would consider in a cardigan. It's loose with little shaping, but even if I only choose to wear it around the house, it's mine and I made it myself. It's also warm and a little luxurious - a merino, mohair and cashmere blend with a mohair trim. I particularly love the buttons.





Not many other knitting projects surfaced this year. In general I neglected it. That's something to fix.

I'm sure there is so much more to write about, but at this very moment it's escaping me. Not to worry - rather than focussing too much on the past I need to look to the future. Which is what my next post will be about.

Echoes

It certainly has been quiet around here. (Sorry about that.)

Inspiration to write has been lacking. Inspiration in my crafts has been lacking. In short, I think I hibernated a bit this winter.

It's odd, really. Winter should be when i am crafting most - it's cold outside and generally conducive to staying home and all that, but rarely does it happen.

So once again spring is starting to come about, and I haven't finished even a little of what I wanted to achieve before winter (or the end of winter, if I'm not being picky.)

The cardigan I started in April? Still going. I have a sleeve to go, then I have to sew it up and edge it. Still no photos. It's just stocking stitch, so imagine a pile of stocking stitch pieces in this yarn and colour.

The Woodland Shawl I started... um... a long time ago hasn't really grown at all. It is next on the list of WIPs to complete.

Socks I was working on have been frogged and a new pair started. They haven't progressed that much either.

I did recently finish some spinning. VintageGrrl dyed some fibre and I got a hold of some Cool Breeze... and here is the resulting yarn:



(As always, you can clicky to biggy)

I am now spinning up some Southern Cross Fibre Polwarth in the colourway Hay Sunrise:



In keeping with the hibernation theme: the pink merino I've been spinning on my spindle hasn't gone anywhere.

Catch up and things made of awesome

For anyone who doesn't yet know, all my health-related and exercise blogging will now be done over at Operation Awesomeness - a blog I am writing along with knitness!

Things have been busy around here (what else is new??) so once again I am in a whirlwind. Yesterday was WWKIP (World Wide Knit In Public) Day, so after the guild meeting I was down at Darling Harbour with the crew causing fear and panic amongst the Muggles.

The day was fantastic - we had a total of 80 knitters turn up (I think the Bayside Lounge was a bit surprised about that) and I got to meet a few new people and catch up with others who I haven't seen in a while.

A very big thank you to Sally for being our wonderful organiser!

I'm off to go warm up as it is absolutely freezing today.

As guilt free as it gets

Tonight I ate Hungry Jacks for dinner... pretty much guilt free! I did feel a pang for the large amount of fat and sodium in the food.

I spent today working in the warehouse inventorying some (ok, a lot of) stuff that has to be disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner. It was heavy work. There was lifting and carrying. There was walking. There was moving gigantic pallets. (By the way, using a pallet jack can be pretty cool.) There was digging through boxes of ICT equipment that time forgot.

The upshot of around 8 hours of heavy physical work? It's pretty much exercise for me as a usual day is much less physical activity, and as such it increases my kilojoule allowance. Given that I had my usual breakfast, snacks and lunch I was way short. So I could easily eat that fatty meal from HJ's and still be in my proper allowance.

The best bit? I get to do another 4 hours in the warehouse tomorrow. Yay for another workout! I think I'll eat healthy though.

Hopefully this weekend I will get to do a knitting update post with some pictures. It's been a while since I've posted anything about knitting, and I miss making those posts.

Fleece Artist!

The lovely Sally ran a competition on her blog - any comments made during the month of March would go into the draw to win a prize.

I was shocked when I discovered that I had won the local prize! I never win anything!

I received my prize and I have fallen head over heels in love - I have some Fleece Artist BFL socks yarn in the delicious Ireland colourway.

Also included in the package was a pom pom maker (check out the URL of Sally's blog to see why!) and some yummy chocolates that didn't last long, as well as a lovely card. It really brightened my day.

It's perfect. Thank you, Sally! I need to put some pics up!

Can you believe it?

Me, the girl who swore she'd never knit a jumper is now up to the armhole shaping on the back of my first cardi.

It's almost magical how this item is taking shape.

Don't mention the Guild...

So I attended the NSW Knitters' Guild AGM this weekend. Oh boy.

I received a very warm welcome from the incoming Vice-President - I was amazed at how enthusiastic she was about the fact that I was there, and she really made the point that she was glad to see a young person... and how the Guild really wants to attract more young people to join.

That attitude seemed at odds with a lot of things that later transpired.

I got to witness first hand some of the resistance shown by members of the Guild toward changing things to make them more accessible - namely making information available on the web and leveraging the knowledge and skills of existing members who want to help with activities.

Questions were seen as personal attacks. There was no mention made of how members could get involved and help. It seems a sad thing that the Guild has members who can (and want to) help with things like enhancing digital photographs or properly storing and archiving the collection of knitted work, but these people are turned away or dismissed because those in charge want to do it their way.

The incoming Secretary was inaugurated but later resigned the same day - something which I was quite upset about as I know that she had some wonderful ideas for the future of the Guild.

I really wonder how the Guild will go about attracting and keeping new members if they are so resistant to embracing the things that will enable them to do so.

I'm considering trying to get in as Secretary... I am just waiting to try and find out some more about the duties required and I want to see if I can gauge the time I'd have to put in. If all else fails, I'm going for committee next year. there needs to be a serious shift in attitude.

Rain, rain, go away...

Not really, as we do need it. I am trying to use my psychic powers to send it to Victoria though. They could use it given that the bushfires are still burning.

Today was weather of the type that makes me want to cast on some cosy 8 ply socks for wearing around the house. My good old green socks have been keeping my feet warm tonight.

Instead of knitting, I did a tiny little bit of spinning and a whole lot of cooking. I now have a lot of little mini Mixed Bean Burgers in the freezer, ready to be defrosted whenever needed. I also brought out my small (1.5L) slow cooker and made a pasta sauce out of the tomatoes I picked up at the farmer's market last weekend.

It was my first time using a slow cooker, and I was very impressed with the results, as was the other half. The pasta sauce had a much richer flavour than my stovetop ones usually have - but whether that's because of the longer cooking time or the fresh tomatoes I am yet to find out. I do know that the first chance I have I will break out the large slow cooker and make up a big batch of pasta sauce using tinned tomatoes, and then freeze it in portions.

I'm trying to move toward using as few processed and pre-packaged foods as possible, so I need to get organised and start making more foods that I can freeze and keep on hand for later. It's funny how by not buying many convenience foods our grocery bill has dropped enormously. I expected it to stay the same (or possibly increase) because of all of the fresh ingredients I'd have to buy but that's not the case.

I'm now off to pack some lunches to top off this foodie day.

More dye!

I dyed this:



It will be a Woodland Shawl... my first lace. (See the previous post for link). I am pretty happy with it. I think it turned out well for food colouring!

I have also dyed this:



More pics once it's reskeined...

2009

I welcomed in the new year with many friends, much alcohol, Buzz and SingStar.

It was great.

Today I am feeling a little sorry for myself. I have been inspired by Vintage Grrl to start a Woodland Shawl, and I need to dye up some yarn to do it.

I'm thinking a gentle variegation. I don't want it to be too colourful, as it will overpower the laciness of the shawl. Blues, maybe?

Drama and new things

Christmas is nearly over (and what a dramatic one it turned out to be. Not in a good way, either.)

Here's Down the Garden Path, a neck warmer I made for my mother.



Here's something I tried doing this afternoon. Beaded stitch markers... This beading thing is pretty cool!



I'm off to rest. There's going to be a big day of house cleaning and re-organising tomorrow.

Recent finished projects

I have gotten some knitting done recently and I've finished the chequerboard scarf!



I finished the other half's socks



and have made more progress on the socks of dooooooom.



I may have also bought a spinning wheel on Sunday. Oops. She has no name yet. Frontrunners are Penelope and Aurora.

It's been a while

Life has been nuts.

Here's some yarn.







(aren't those blues stunning??)

Sock it to me

Making more socks... this time for the other half.



They're being knit in Bendigo Woollen Mills Allegro. It's fun to knit with.

Mojo

I've found my mojo again! (Maybe it was the Olympics starting... hmmm.)

I have cast on some man-socks for the other half and gotten back to work on the Starry Night Wrap. Things are looking good. No photos at the moment as I forgot to bring my camera (oops).

Disaster

So I am going away for the weekend - on a plane.

It has now been decreed that due to the tight schedule we are on (nothing to do with me!) that we must travel with carry on luggage only... so that we don't have to waste time waiting for any checked baggage at our destination.

This means two things:

1. NO KNITTING OR CROCHET can be packed. Ouch. Australian airport security decrees that they are tools and are not allowed in carry on luggage because they are too sharp.

2. I have to pack for a weekend away (in the middle of winter) in a 22L bag. That is small. Tiny, even.

What am I meant to do? I mean, seriously?

Something finished, something new

Please bear with me, I have decided to use Flickr for photos now, so this post might look a bit funny.

I finished the lovely chunky yarn project... I give you the Entwine scarf:



Yarn: Basics Entwine (from Spotlight) 4 and a bit balls.
Pattern: None. It's a garter stitch scarf.
Needles: Tulip 7.0mm bamboo straights.

I also started the Starry Night wrap:



Sadly, I am not feeling that inspired at the moment. I have not knit a single stitch all weekend. Hopefully the new yarn i have coming will help that.

Therapy

The big chunky knit is such therapy. It's already more than half done... it's practically knitting itself.

I won't say much about the new shade card I received from the most evil-minded enablers in the world my favourite yarn mill. New merino yarn in gorgeous fun colours... it'll make awesome winter socks. that is all I'll say. No more details until I buy all the stock for myself... mwahahahaha.