Another Un-Contest
‘Nearly all the best things that came to me in life have been unexpected, unplanned by me.’ —Carl Sandburg
I have a new header.
No, you did not miss an opportunity to vote on photos. Funny how things happen. Was reading some comments left on the blog. You know how it goes…one link leads to another and I found myself at Lisa’s blog. She did a post on Mosaic Maker.
Janey Mack!
Warning: Culturally Accented Diversion Ahead
Right, I would not normally say ‘Janey Mack’ but it’s a great expression especially if you have an Irish accent, so please read it with one, okay?
Anyway, it’s exactly what I was looking for! A great way to highlight archival favourites. No more dithering. And it’s so simple that additional favourites will certainly crop up in future. Hope you like it…I do!
But the contest is still on with 200grams of Irish Kilcarra tweed yarn to be posted anywhere on the globe. Colours available are Red, Dark Berry, Tobacco or Dark Green.
Comments will be open until Friday morning…oh let’s say until noon EST to avoid confusion…and then I’ll use the handy-dandy random number generator to pick a winner. Thanks for your input!
Post Postscript:
See, I’m already fiddling with it after only a day! Taking on board your input, I’ve taken out a photo that Elisa thought was muddy (how true) and included the felted snake that Pia liked (good choice!). Hope to stick with this for a bit, but who knows? There’s lots of power out there with Mosaic Maker!
Post Postcript 2:
Great suggestions from ye! (Yes, they do say ‘ye’ in Ireland, so throwin’ some in for good measure.) Been dithering about the felted snake, so when I received a couple of suggestions about including a Dublin-inspired pic, the snake is out and the shamrocks are in. How appropriate to the legends of Éire—the snake-free isle! As I hunt up other archives of Ireland, we’ll add those in as well in future.
I love the new look! Glad you are all here safely.
16 Jun 2008 at 11:01 pm
Welcome home! Hope the settling in goes smoothly - and the new header? Fabulous!
17 Jun 2008 at 12:46 am
Welcome back to America. I hope unpacking is going alright.
17 Jun 2008 at 12:53 am
I like the header - I especially like that it captures several different sides of the blog, instead of just knitting.
And it really makes me want some raspberries!
17 Jun 2008 at 1:06 am
The header looks great!
17 Jun 2008 at 1:12 am
I have been wanting a good mosaic maker. Hmm and the yarn is beautiful. Must check out tudora again.
17 Jun 2008 at 1:16 am
nice to have you on this side of the pond. love the new header. the pictures are lovely. hope you and the fam are well.
17 Jun 2008 at 1:42 am
I do like the look of the header!
I’ve been hankering for a hank (bad pun, I know) of Kilcarra Tweed since I first read of it on your Tudora pattern on Knitty!
17 Jun 2008 at 1:53 am
Comment from over in Ireland. I just love that new header. The cushion brings back memories of knit cafe in Dublin.Its a real work of Art.Its very colourful too and eye-catching. Would not mind a slice of that chocolte brownie just now with my cup of tea. Good Luck with the blogging.
17 Jun 2008 at 4:16 am
Like it. I’ll just dido the same comment from the last post. Hope I win! Could always use nice yarn that I didn’t buy.
17 Jun 2008 at 4:55 am
Hey, Cheryl…another comment from across the pond. I love the new header. I look forward to reading your blog.
17 Jun 2008 at 5:00 am
I love the look of that yarn (and your new header!)
17 Jun 2008 at 6:05 am
Hi Cheryl, another one from your old European buddies.
I like the new header but the very left picture isn´t so clear, meaning it isn´t obvious what you want to show with it/through it/at it.
Have a good time over there and of course I´d love to make myself a Tudora from the berry yarn. ^_^
17 Jun 2008 at 6:21 am
I love that mosaic maker - your header looks great.
17 Jun 2008 at 7:03 am
The header looks great, but I must say I liked the felted snake a lot. Maybe you can fit it in? Looking forward to read about you life “over there”.
17 Jun 2008 at 7:04 am
So glad you are here and setting up house, both online and otherwise. The new design looks great!
17 Jun 2008 at 7:53 am
I really like your new header. It is very colorful and reflects your blog.
17 Jun 2008 at 8:12 am
The new header looks smashing! And so does the picture of the Kilcarra Tweed (its great to knit with too!)
I’m usually a lurker, but thought I’d comment on your return to America. I laughed at the Janey Mack comment, my friends mother is from Cork, she usually uses the “Jesus Joseph and Mary!” comment.
17 Jun 2008 at 8:33 am
Welcome back. The new header looks great. Really like the Kilcarra tweed!!
17 Jun 2008 at 8:54 am
Welcome! Love the header. Makes me want to knit something colorful, eat a sweet then take a picture of it!!
17 Jun 2008 at 9:06 am
I really like that look. Thanks for the link.
17 Jun 2008 at 9:16 am
ah. . . . there’s always one in every crowd. . . . Although I like the pictures, I wouldn’t be one for putting them all in as the header. . . .
But hey - that’s what makes a horse race, eh? And you know me for the contrarian I am. (and, like other comments, I, too, am delighted to see ‘old friends’ in the header. . . . so: nevermind!
[this is all really about yarn and random numbers - grin!]
17 Jun 2008 at 9:51 am
Mosiacs are great!!! I like that you can show several different aspects of your life and blog all at once….good for those who can’t be limited by decisions, like me!
17 Jun 2008 at 1:00 pm
Welcome! I like the header, too.
17 Jun 2008 at 2:03 pm
Beautiful Irish yarns
I read you were moving to the US… hope you’ll have a wonderful time there.
17 Jun 2008 at 2:25 pm
Wow - what a culture shock to move from Ireland to US!
Had a wonderful trip to Ireland in 2001 - would dearly love to go back again - if only plane tickets would go down instead of upupup! Ireland and BC are the two countries I would choose to live in, if I had to leave the US!
17 Jun 2008 at 2:39 pm
I’m liking the header too. Very eye-catching.
17 Jun 2008 at 3:13 pm
I love this header. Beautiful! I have wanted a Mosiac really bad and love that you have posted about it. I love all the colors of the yarn together.
17 Jun 2008 at 3:36 pm
Wow, those are gorgeous yarns. Good luck on your move and I hope that there’s lots of yarn to serve as padding for your fragile items!
17 Jun 2008 at 3:40 pm
The new header looks great, although the chocolate and raspberries make me hungry.
17 Jun 2008 at 3:53 pm
Gorgeous yarn!
17 Jun 2008 at 3:58 pm
Welcome back to the States! Love your blog header - all great photos!
17 Jun 2008 at 4:02 pm
thanks for the link to mosaic maker–sounds like fun!
17 Jun 2008 at 4:07 pm
Beautiful yarns! Welcome to the States!
17 Jun 2008 at 4:11 pm
Welcome home! Love the tweedy yarn, and I think the banner looks great.
17 Jun 2008 at 4:39 pm
That’s a really wonderful header! Very nice… love the pic on the right especially. Welcome back to the US from lovely Ireland! Gorgeous yarns, by the way… a really great prize!
17 Jun 2008 at 4:40 pm
Welcome back. Your blog header is about the coolest I’ve ever seen!
17 Jun 2008 at 4:45 pm
Welcome back to the US! And tinkering around with the redecorating (blog-wise or cottage-wise) is part of the fun that makes up for all the work of moving, right? So, we don’t mind if you play with it for awhile until the right combo hits you.
17 Jun 2008 at 4:52 pm
I never thought of using Mosaic Maker to create a blog header! Excellent idea, and far easier than what I end up doing which is messing around with Photoshop for hours on end. LOL And I like the photos you’re using.
17 Jun 2008 at 5:21 pm
I think the header looks great.
17 Jun 2008 at 5:49 pm
Lovely blog header and stunning yarn.
17 Jun 2008 at 6:19 pm
Welcome home! I love the pillow pictured in your header.
17 Jun 2008 at 6:20 pm
How about posting the recipe for that yummy looking desert? I have some gorgeous raspberries in my fridge right now - and I think they’d like to snuggle up to some chocolate!
Great banner, by the way… and I thought that one was supposed to read your entire blog with an Irish accent!
17 Jun 2008 at 7:09 pm
What a fun header! I think i need to go look at mosaic maker. Like I need another distraction…hehe
17 Jun 2008 at 7:44 pm
Oh I really like that new look! Can you tell us how your did that felted pillow? Is it a pattern that is available for purchase?
17 Jun 2008 at 7:49 pm
Welcome back, just in time for all the election brouhaha. You might feel like running back to the Emerald Isle pretty soon. Right now I’m visiting Mom and her Jurassic Computer, so your header doesn’t show at all. I’m dying of curiousity, which is fittin’ for the Kitten. I’ll be back to my Medieval Computer this weekend and take a look.
17 Jun 2008 at 8:38 pm
I love the header so classy and who doesnt love raspberries and chocolate yummers;) Well the yarn wow colors are amazing and I would love to win this yarn and knit the tudora:)Hugs Darcy
p.s. please go to my blog and leave a comment about what keeps you coming back to a blog for a chance to win prizes from my celebration of my 200th blog post.Hugs Darcy http://darcyknottyknitter.blogspot.com/2008/06/200th-post-blog-party-drawing.html
17 Jun 2008 at 8:59 pm
Welcome home. I really like the header - I think it looks great.
17 Jun 2008 at 8:59 pm
I really liked your Clarks, do you know what the name of the style is? I haven’t been able to find exactly that one. I would love to see some pictures of your cottage.
17 Jun 2008 at 9:13 pm
That yarn is really pretty!
17 Jun 2008 at 9:21 pm
I think the header looks great!
17 Jun 2008 at 9:22 pm
Oh I’m so glad you arrived safely and I love the new look! Can’t wait to see the new place through your camera’s lens and I’m anxious to hear about the children take to their new digs.
Hugs all around!
Tora in Chagrin Falls, OH
17 Jun 2008 at 9:55 pm
The new header looks good but i do miss your landscape pic’s that were so “purty”! smile Confused me for a minute! thought my pc sent me to the wrong page! How are you settling in? All unpacked?
17 Jun 2008 at 10:33 pm
Love the header! It’s gorgeous!
Welcome back home!
17 Jun 2008 at 10:48 pm
I like the new look. Welcome back!
17 Jun 2008 at 10:54 pm
Welcome home. I really like the new look too.
17 Jun 2008 at 11:32 pm
I was just browsing around and found your website. The header is beautiful.
18 Jun 2008 at 2:57 am
Love the new header. That pillow is incredible. Welcome back.
18 Jun 2008 at 4:17 am
like the header, but mostly because I’m a fan of change, and you’ve changed the site (and your life) in so many ways. How is it, by the way? Being back…there?? Dublin misses you folks and so do all of us. KNN
18 Jun 2008 at 4:49 am
Ah. I see you’re still spelling words like a Brit.
Perhaps the beauty of such a header is in being able to change it at a whim. It’ll keep your readers intrigued.
18 Jun 2008 at 7:17 am
Sometimes you can lose hours to the mosaic maker!
But at least you can not only entertain yourself but us as well.
Brilliant!
And since you have such a vast collection of great photography, no sweat, it’s practically a candy shop.
18 Jun 2008 at 8:22 am
I love the new header. The colors are so rich.
18 Jun 2008 at 9:47 am
Lovely quote! I’m a new visitor to your blog, and I like it!
18 Jun 2008 at 10:33 am
I have a complaint about your header… now I have an irresistable urge for a chocolate dessert. That looks so yummy! Gorgeous yarn too. Cheers!
18 Jun 2008 at 11:09 am
What beautiful yarn! My dream is to go to Ireland! Love your header too!
18 Jun 2008 at 11:46 am
Welcome back to the US! And what beautiful yarn to bring home! The tweedy-ness (tweediness?) just FEELS Irish.
18 Jun 2008 at 11:52 am
Welcome home!
18 Jun 2008 at 2:01 pm
Yea, the green is back!!!!
18 Jun 2008 at 5:26 pm
Welcome back! I still have about 3 weeks to go in my stay in Europe.
19 Jun 2008 at 6:11 am
Welcome back to this side of the pond! Love the pillow and weaving on your header, and thanks for that shot of the auld sod. Best wishes to you during this major transition.
19 Jun 2008 at 7:26 am
I love the pillow. Is that done with intarsia or log cabin style?
19 Jun 2008 at 9:37 am
I do love the new header. Change is good! ( Keep repeating that to your self. It helps!)
I found your blog by following links from someone else’s knitting blog. I fell in love with your beautiful photos and stories and bookmarked you site. I was sad to read that you were leaving Ireland but, on the other hand, could not imagine being that far from family. Everyting happens for a reason, right? I hope you and your family enjoy your new adventures. I know I look forward to reading about them.
19 Jun 2008 at 1:00 pm
I like the pillow - and the last picture of the tweed. A nice link to your past lives in Ireland.
19 Jun 2008 at 1:32 pm
I love the pictures and welcome back to the states…
The yarn looks yummy!! 
19 Jun 2008 at 1:39 pm
Hello!
Welcome back to the US! What was Ireland like? I love the yarn and would greatly appreciate entering your contest.
Thanks!
19 Jun 2008 at 2:41 pm
Welcome home! The new header looks great, I like the different images. Very colorful.
19 Jun 2008 at 3:59 pm
The mosaic picture approach is lovely: almost as nifty as the yarn you’re offering!
19 Jun 2008 at 9:55 pm
I think the header looks perfect. After your contest is over I’m wondering if you’d be interested in swapping or selling some of your kilcara. My sister brought me back 20 100g skeins of kilcara about four years ago. I used 12 to knit a lovely sweater. I have eight unused skeins I’d like to trade for another color. They look like a med. green, #J250, 4885 color # or dye lot on the label. Anyway I want to knit another sweater but in a different color (and I need 12 skeins). Welcome back, I work in a school in CT. Today is the first day of vacation so I am ready to knit. Thank you.
20 Jun 2008 at 7:52 am
I like the pillow!
20 Jun 2008 at 9:15 am
Gorgeous header. Love the shamrocks.
I was lucky enough to find a 4 leaf clover in a school yard in Doolin last summer vacation. Martha Stewart once mentioned the technique (just sort of blur your eyes on a big patch and sometimes one just jumps out at you.)
The weather was horrendous but I treasure my Irish luck!
20 Jun 2008 at 2:42 pm