Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Myfairbaglady and *Giveaway*




















I'm sure you all were intrigued when you saw little Knikolas Knickerbocker the Knitting Knome on the video... I'll give you a little background information before we delve into Knick's story.
I approached Myfairbaglady about felting me a little gnome (I can probably quote you "Amelie" word for word en francais, I've watched it so many times!)to travel the world via the Phat Fiber boxes. I didn't know the project would soon take on a life of its own.
First, I received the most amazing gift... a hand felted Spinning Sprite (yes she is spinning on a drop spindle)! I don't know how many hours/days/WEEKS? It took Kathy, the Fair Bag Lady to make it for me! Not only did I receive the sprite and Knickolas, but an entire story has been created, a magical land called Yarnovia birthed, and hopefully- an entertaining serial will be published here on the blog and the website as we track Knick's progress as he pays visit to random Phat Fiber enthusiasts!
I'd like to post the first chapter in Knick's life here (he's old now, so this happened a long time ago) , and we will get to the giveaway afterwards.

The Story of Knickolas Knickerbocker

Chapter One
The Beginning, A Very Good Place to Start

One day, a very long time ago, a young woman knelt upon a tattered piecemeal blanket, spreading soft batts of creamy white wool across her lap. She quietly mused about her day, happy at the thought that her life was about to change. In just a few days she would leave the work of washing and carding wool to become an apprentice spinster in the guild. How amazing that now, while she was busy with her daily chores, she spied a particularly beautiful fleece. She smiled and wondered if she dare set at least a few rolags of the delicate fibers aside so she could herself experience spinning it.

"Anna!" the crackling and gravely voice of old Miriam pierced the quiet evening and startled the young woman. "If you don't finish soon there will be nothing left of supper but crumbs and a few sips of broth!"

Anna snatched just two small rolags of the lovely fleece and tucked them under a fold of her old quilt. She quickly loaded each of the worker baskets with the rest of the wool batts, covered them with muslin, and then scurried off to gather her things. The secreted rovings were folded into the quilt now cradled like a child in Anna's arms. All the while that Anna finished her work, old Miriam hobbled toward the kitchen. Now in a few quick steps Anna was at her side and the two women slowly proceeded to their meager supper.

Supper finished, Anna unrolled her blanket and smoothed it on the straw tick that served as her bed. Old Miriam was already asleep. Her chest quietly moved her own blanket up and down in a slow but rhythmic pace. Anna placed the two batts of wool neath the ticking, between the muslin covered straw mat and the stone floor on which it lay. Finally she lay her head down, closed her eyes, and softly breathed her evening prayers till sleep overtook her.

Her dreams were magical that night, filled with wild colors and strange creatures. Nonsensical sounds sung by angelic voices softly cooed musical notes. All through the night her ears were filled with the noises and her countenance grew paler and paler. By the time the morning sun creased the horizon and began to send shots of gold through the muslin cloth that covered the window slits of the old stone quarters the young woman's body had soaked the ticking with feverish beads of sweat. The strange music had transformed to pounding noise, her mass of brown curly hair, matted and wet, tangled about the beauty's head as she thrashed her body to and fro. Old Miriam sat nearby, mopping Anna's brow and murmuring pleas to heaven for mercy. Day waned into evening and evening to night, and still the young woman did not awaken from the feverish sleep.

All the while the secreted batts lay neath the woman's ticking, but now their fibers began to seize. Pressed together and moistened by poor Anna's sweat and the spills of Miriam's medicinal teas the once lovely fleece began to press itself into a felted roll. Anna would not-nay, could not waken. Old Miriam kept her vigil all through that day and well into the night. Finally Miriam's old bones could not sit another moment. She retired to her own pallet, leaving Anna to fight whatever demons had invaded the women's lives.

I am a bit of a collector of stories. Fiber folk are full of them, aren't they? Kathy emailed that to me shortly after Knick arrived here. Whomever receives Knick in their box this month will be entitled to a FREE BOX next month, if he is taken care of properly and sent back home here.
Myfairbaglady, was also gracious enough to send along a beautiful aqua- colored felt bead necklace for a giveaway!! This is a large, chunky necklace and it is just beautiful! It has small seed beads that separate the large felted ones, and I really want to keep this for myself! Please visit Myfairbaglady's Etsy shop and find something you like. Post about it below here and you will be entered to win on Friday! Make sure you leave a way for me to find you, in case you win. I always count plurks, tweets, forum posts, blog posts etc twice when drawing for the giveaway so you can have more chances to win!
Big thank-yous to Kathy from Myfairbaglady!

40 comments:

idyll hands said...

This magnolia felted pin is lovely: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=20259404

I've just started wearing broaches and pins this year and like things that are classy and this is it! I also LOVE the necklace for the giveaway.

:)

Oriri said...

Oh my gosh, I thought the gnome was adorable in the video, but that sprite is AMAZING! /jawdrop

Darcys Knotty Knitter said...

I love the Needle Felted Wool Hydrangea Pin or Brooch.Jaw droppingly gorgeous:)Hugs Darcy

Teresa said...

I love the felted rose pin and the felted grapes pin, but I've been watching her shop since I saw the video for felted sculptures like Knick and the sprite!

Ariel said...

Those buttons are amazing!!!! And the felted grape pin, wow.

Elaine said...

WOW - what a great necklace!

On the etsy sight, I especially love her buttons but I think the figures are astounding and that's not a word I use often.

What a talent!

And I'm blogging about this on my blog at elaine-knitting.blogspot.com where you can contact me if I should be lucky enough to win.

Darcys Knotty Knitter said...

I posted the giveaway on my group on ravelry.Hugs Darcy here:http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/knotty-knitter/531734/1-25

Darcys Knotty Knitter said...

I posted the giveaway on my blog and linked back to it.Hugs Darcy
Here:http://darcyknottyknitter.blogspot.com/2009/02/myfairbaglady-giveaway-at-phat-fiber.html

Unknown said...

I think the felted rose pin is really lovely. It would make a great closure on a jacket in lieu of buttons.

And I know just the person to gift the beads to should I win. They are beautiful.

tomknit AT gmail DOT com

Melentine said...

The acorn and leaves pin would make a beautiful shawl pin, and that sprite is absolutely amazing.

Grace said...

the items on her page are beautiful, I am enamored of the Rose pin and the acorn but its all equally lovely, I will post about this in tomorrows entry!!!

k8 said...

I love the rose pin and the sheep she has in her sold section. Beautiful work!

PenelopeRose said...

I loved the rose pin so much I just bought it. Yeah! What a talented artist!

This is a great post and a great story. Thanks so much for doing this.

Bohoknitterchic said...

I love the buttons! So cute!

kathy b said...

Im hoping for those cute cute felted buttons. LOVe what you sent to Darcy. The necklace is great.

cksknitter said...

My favorite is the Gillian Greig tartain plaid sateen and black velvet choker. I have the perfect outfit to go with it.
Chrissy at knittodayAThotmailDOTcom

Anonymous said...

I really liked the pink pig in the sold section.

Lisa

jennifer said...

The tartan satin choker is so appropriate with all of us working on Celtic themed stuff for next month!

desert garden

PS Oh please, Random Number Generator, pick me. I'm a sucker for felted jewelry!

KellieBelle said...

I LOVE LOVE LOVE the magnolia felted pin!! And I'm a Southern girl, so that just 'fits' me! The necklace is gorgeus, here's hoping I get lucky and win it!!

memarcierenee said...

I do love those buttons. I guess I'm becoming a button fanatic.

Anita said...

That sprite is just great!! And the necklace is gorgeous!

My favorite in her store are the buttons. :)

Yarndemon

Unknown said...

I love both the necklace and the buttons. The figures are fabulous.

pick me, pick me


I'm jerseyjessie and gmail

CarrieM said...

Good start to the story! The grape cluster is "omyheavens!" gorgeous!

primdollie said...

Oh my what wonderful pieces and loved the story!! I love the magnolia felted pin!! but all the pieces are lovely!! esp the beautiful and such awesome colored sprite!! wonderful work!!
Hugs Linda

Melissa @ Banana Migraine said...

That is so cute!!
I think that the acorns are so neat - that's what I would pick for sure!!

natchwoolie said...

What a beautiful little lady you have - I want her and don't send me that little gnome - I would just have to keep him. The necklace is beautiful but I want that plaid tartan choker. Beautiful work.

kataish said...

Oh wow. me me meeee the colours are gorgeous!
And I ADORE the felted grapes. felty AND sparkly. mmmm!

(kataish.etsy.com)

CAT said...

I love the Acorns and leaves pin. I am partial to acorns. There are so many different kinds. Love the necklace too. If I happen to get picked, you can contact me at crystalwolfsings@yahoo.com.

purple-power said...

I really love the necklace and the buttons and the pins as well. The figures are wonderful!



Rav id - purple

knitmomma said...

My favorite thing that is currently in her store is the Acorns and Leaves Pin or Clip at http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=20296007. Since there were only 6 things in her shop right now, I also looked at sold items, and found an adorable felted sheep! It's called Lambchop or Beauregard and the link is http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=6443558.

Gina said...

I love the hydrangea! That is the color of the hydrangeas in my front yard!!

The necklace is gorgeous, as well. If you decide you want to give your Spinning Sprite a new home, I will willingly open my doors to her!

Keep up the good work.

GnaS on Ravelry

Turtle said...

i love her goods! gorgeous, i looked in her sold items and fell in love with her Lambchops!

Turtle said...

PS i own and love the movie Amelie!!!

Little Miss S. said...

The necklace is adorable. I really love it. And the grape pin at the etsy shop is beautiful - I'm a sucker for grapes...

Tina said...

I am so jealous of people who have artistic ability. I have NONE. These are beautiful.

www.bookshipper.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

I think the spinner is an absolute marvel. I love the idea of felted buttons - brilliant. All I need to do is knit a sweater now to go around them.

And I would give the necklace a very loving home!

Unknown said...

Oops - I forgot to say I'm

bloglessinnj AT gmail Dot com

Anonymous said...

The felted buttons are adorable! I have just the sweater for them!

Cindy said...

I think she has the best felted buttons I have ever seen. I will remember her store the next time I need buttons. I also adore the magnolia pin.

mamakin said...

Oh I love the shop and the story and the sprite (which you would find missing if i were there lol) the beads are stunning and I'm willing to trade my husband for the gnome-and that's saying something !!! I love the sheep and the acorn & leaves pin from her collection. When I grow up I want a piece of her talent.
mamakin