Birthday Give-A-Way Winner!

This wall quilt has a new home!

Every follower on both blogger and networked blogs was placed in the bowl ... I did the drum roll ...

Mr. DillyDally mixed them again ... and again ...

... finally he drew one ...

... the winner of the wall quilt goes to ... Kayleen!  Congratulations Kayleen!  You will be receiving it soon!  May it always remind you to celebrate the small things that bring you joy! 

A warm thank you to all who follow this humble and mostly silly blog ... you have touched my life in so many positive ways!  I am truly grateful.

Remember...do what you love...do dillydally!

A Birthday Message for You!

Yep ... hard to believe that two years ago ... all this nonfunsense began! 

Mother Nature must be celebrating today as well ... this was the early morning view from the front deck. ;-)

Where does all this silliness come from?  Well ... someday ... maybe ...I'll write that book. ;-)

Years ago ... I mean many years ago (insert violin music here) ... I read an article about the power of negative messages and their effect on people.  Oh ... how I wish I had kept that article ... to legitimize what I am about to say.  What I remember most is this ... when we receive negative messages, we repeat them nine times to ourselves.  That adds up to receiving the message 10 times!  Yikes!  No wonder people choose to be unkind so often ... it works!  The article went on to say that when we receive positive messages, we repeat them to ourselves three times.  So in order to counteract every putdown or unkind statement we receive, we need to  receive 3 compliments or affirmations!  How often does that happen?  Not often enough, for most of us.

By sharing this ... my hope is that you'll better understand why the message of this blog is ... Do dillydally! ;-)

While trying to come up with something that I could make for this "Birthday Give-A-Way", I knew that I wanted my message to be very clear.  Hee-hee ... guess I made that pretty obvious!  I also wanted it to reflect where I live ... hence the Alaska State Flower, Forget-Me-Not and the mountain scene fabrics.

As I was machine quilting this the other day, I was trying to rid myself of some recent negative messages I'd received.  Yes, they seem to come from all directions, don't they?  While stitching down the lettering ... it occurred to me that I had fused all the lettering amongst the clouds ... and I started to laugh ... out loud! I found it both ironic and symbolic!  I've been told ... more than once ... to get my head out of the clouds!  What a common, yet unkind and ridiculous thing to say to someone ... think of the human potential that is lost because someone receives messages like that!

So here is my message for you today...

Put your head in the clouds!

Do Dillydally!

P.S.  Please...pass it on! ;-)

Second Birthday is Just Around the Corner!

I hope all you dillydallies had a terrific weekend!  Here in dillydallydom, I've been busy working on five 007 projects ... trying to get some things done before my travels begin!   Today I get to reveal one of those secret projects! ;-)

Remember these?

They were the postcards I made a year ago to celebrate this blog's first birthday.  You can revisit it here.  I had 18 followers at the time!  The intent of the postcard was to remind the follower to dillydally!  I have mine hanging up in my sewing room! ;-)

As the second birthday loomed around the corner, I wanted to do something ... but what?  I've been thinking about it for weeks ... with 50+ followers ... it has taken me awhile.  I have celebrated every hundredth post with a give-a-way of something I've made.  In May of 2010, to celebrate my 100th post, it was this pillow ...

Last winter, for my 200th post it was this sweet angel...

... people would have to leave comments and if they were also a follower their name was submitted twice.  It has been fun!   

Because it would take this blogger a lifetime to make 50+  followers something handmade, I've decided to have another drawing ... for followers only! 

It is a 16" X 20" wall quilt ... designed to remind you ... do dillydally!  I'm always humbled and somewhat overwhelmed when a new follower signs on ... thank you for tolerating all my silly nonsense funsense!

The drawing will take place at 10:00 pm (Alaska time) on Thursday, July 21st!  At that time, if you are a follower, (either through blogger or Networked blogs on facebook) you will be entered in the drawing!  The recipient will be announced Friday morning!  Those of you who have been stalking ... this gives you a chance to become a follower and be in the drawing.  Of course I am thrilled when I receive comments, but they are not necessary to be entered in this drawing!

Have a great week!  Do what you love ... do dillydally! ;-)

Dillydally Snip-its!

Over the past few days, this was the view from the front deck ... perfect dillydally weather!  I've been busy working on a few 007 projects ... but have a little I can share. ;-)

Remember this yummy yarn?

It is becoming a toddler sweater.  The colors are so fun ... they just ooze happiness!  Love it!

We celebrated QBee Julie's birthday!  We all had so much fun catching up with one another ... good food enjoyed with great company ... can it get any better?

Julie is joining me for the Minnesota Shop Hop, so of course I made her luggage tags!  Our trip is only weeks away ... it is all I can think about!  We are all sew excited!

I haven't posted pics of Teacup recently...but that doesn't mean she hasn't been fulfilling her supervisory obligations!

She is always checking my accuracy! ;-)

Being the supervisor is often dangerous! ;-)  She keeps me alert!

The rumors are true ... being a supervisor is exhausting ... who knew?  And those are the snip-its from dillydallydom ... as always...

A Dillydally Lesson from the Past

When we woke Sunday morning ... the sun was shining ...

... Mr. DillyDally suggested we spend the day, "out the road"!

At 30 mile we could see our final destination farther up the Copper River ... our intent was to go as far as the "road" will take us!

Here we are ... at the end of our 50 miles of road!  The Nat'l Forest Service has a campground and picnic area located directly in front of ...

... Child's Glacier!

We held our picnic here at the end of this trail.  The glacier was very active ... dropping quite a bit of ice into the river.  We never tire of watching it calve.

Even with a very cool breeze coming off the glacier ... Kysa had to find shade from the sun ... I guess her fur coat was just too hot! ;-)

Mother Nature finds a way to bring her flowers to even the most hostile of environments ... I never cease to be amazed by natures resilience.

We spent hours just soaking in the sun, roasting hot dogs, and watching Mother Nature's version of fireworks!  It was lovely.

Every time we drive back from Child's glacier ... I am transported back in time when this view comes before us.  Sister DillyDally is three ... Mr. DillyDally is driving ... I'm in the front passenger seat and Sister is behind me in her car seat.  "See dat mouten, Mama?"

"That mountain on the end?"

"Yep, dat mouten!  My Papa can wift dat mouten!"
"He can?"
"Yep, he can wift it."
"Of course he can."

Now ... I did not share this story to discuss my husbands ego ... my daughters speech impediment ... or the fact that at one time our children thought we were superheros.  ;-)

This story really represents the essence of the dillydally spirit.  What I love about preschoolers is that they completely understand and embrace the dillydally lifestyle!  They view the world through dillydally lenses ... all things are possible!  It is all they know and it empowers them!  We can learn a lot from preschoolers.

It was a beautiful day ... dillydallying with my husband.  Do what you love ... do dillydally!

Wishing Summer Would Slow Down

Do you ever have those moments when you wish that time would slow down ... and yearn for the opportunity to savor and truly absorb all that surrounds you?  This past week has been like that...

... it has been a week of cooking, entertaining, household duties, and teaching ... all accomplished in true dillydally fashion! ;-)

Brother DillyDally's special friend was here for her first visit to Alaska.  That girl saw and did more in the week she was here than many locals do in a year!  It was fun watching him introduce her to his Alaskan lifestyle ... she was such a good sport and seemed to enjoy discovering all that our community offers!

She celebrated 4th of July with us ... Alaska style!  

We introduced her to fresh Copper River King salmon ...

... we made popcorn balls for dessert...

... no hotdogs or hamburgers for this picnic ... we put that salmon on the grill instead!  

We invited a couple of friends over as their families were out at sea harvesting salmon!  The best holidays are those when my table is filled with family and friends!

There were quiet moments early in the day when I had time to do a bit of dillydallying... 

I was able to finish a sweater that I had started last summer!  

This sweater is the primary reason I bought this book, although it is filled with other wonderful patterns, this Yellow Duck pattern is the one that really pulled my heart strings.

When we were expecting our first child (Sister DillyDally), we decorated the nursery in a yellow duck theme. I made this in size 4T and it will be saved for her future children ... as were the items that were used to decorate her room. ;-)  I love how the designer has the ducks floating around the yoke of the sweater, but my favorite feature is how the neckband represents the sun and it is shining rays of warmth down onto the duckies.  I know ... I'm pathetic ... but the design concept is just too dang cute! ;-)

I love hosting new visitors in my home ... seeing what I enjoy through the eyes of another is a reminder to appreciate what I often take for granted in my remote corner of the planet.

Savor your summer ... do dillydally!

Around the River Bend

Those of you who follow my blog may remember that I've been navigating my way "around the river bend" in my dillydally knitting life!  The back post can be found here.  I did feel a huge amount of trepidation when I began this journey ... the inspiration began with a trunkshow I attended in February while in Anchorage.  I bought the pattern, with the intention of recreating their sweater in yarn from my local yarn shop, The Net Loft.

It had a cable bodice, short sleeves and was not fitted ... after reading through the instructions multiple times ... I began to have doubts.  Still ... I forged forward and bought beautiful, hand dyed yarn by Three Irish Girls.  But my doubts concerning the pattern continued to grow.

I knew Sister DillyDally would want something more fitted and after discussions with her over the phone, I decided to switch it up.  I had never designed a fitted sweater before, but had knit them using published patterns.

It was time to get out the graph paper, calculator, pencil and gigantic eraser! ;-) This is the fun and easy part of the process.  A friend I teach with, has a ready made sweater that has parts of the style I was seeking.  Unfortunately, I didn't take a photo of it.  But I used the elements from the ready made sweater to create percentages for the one I was designing.

I was "mostly" comfortable with designing and knitting the body of the sweater.  However when it came to "set in" sleeves ... I not only felt anxious ... I was in a panic!  I remember the horrors of sewing in my first "set in" sleeves in a garment for 4-H ... multiply that terror by 100 and now you know how I felt as I began sewing in the sleeves of this sweater.  I called my knitting buddy for reassurance and support ... yes ... I needed a life jacket!

The good news is ... they fit!  Yes ... I did the happy dance ... many times!

In some ways I like the back more than the front ... guess I'll just make sure Sister DillyDally walks in front of me! ;-)

Occasionally the dillydally winds blow in a direction that forces me to challenge myself ... often I respond with resistance ... it is easier and more comfortable to stick with what I know.  Following those "bends in the river" can be unsettling ... I never know what lies ahead ... success or failure.  A while back, when another dillydally windstorm had blown me in a different direction,  a good friend asked me if I liked everything I made when I took those kinds of risks.  I answered her honestly ... "No, but I absolutely love the journey!"  No matter the results ... I learn the most on those kinds of adventures!

Fortunately, I am happy with the results from this trip around the river bend ... and I can't wait to see Sister DillyDally wear it!  I hope a dillydally windstorm is headed in your direction ... grab your life jacket and enjoy what you find around the next river bend!