Ravelraiser!

It's a year this month since I joined Ravelry, and like so many things including Netflix, my yarn winder and swift, and cabling without a cable needle, I don't know how to picture my knitting life without it anymore.  Between keeping up with what my friends are knitting and queuing, finding the just-right pattern to go with some mystery stash find, and watching radar when I really should be grading papers, Ravelry has proven over and over to be my best resource, a bubbling well of inspiration, and a place I always can count on to leave the light on for me when I need somewhere to go.

To make a long story short, I was hanging out with my pals in the Ten Lousy Bucks group when it occurred to me that it might be time to give Ravelry a boost.  A call to Jess and Casey confirmed that a new server is on the wish list- we're loading them up with good data that needs a home.  I emailed around a bit and received my first donation- two hanks of handspun from Jared of Brooklyntweed.  And from there it yarnballed into RAVELRAISER '08!

So here's the skinny.

Rulez

1.  Make a donation through the button atop this thread on Ravelry  between now and APRIL 25 (please note date change!!) and include the word "Ravelraiser" in the comments box.  (See how to do that here.)  If you use the special button above it won't matter as much, but it's still helpful.
2.  Each $10 donation wins you one chance at fabulous prizes!  Therefore, a $30 donation would win you three "tickets in the hat."
3.  If you are allergic or averse to wool, you may write "cottons" in the comments box as well.  This will mean that your name will only be added to the drawings for non-wool prizes.  Due to my desire not to overload Casey and Jess with extra work, no other special prize "requests" can be honored.
4. Jess and Casey will draw winners at Maryland Sheep and Wool on May 3!

Prizes
I will  keep a running thread about them here in the Ten Lousy Bucks group- feel free to come by and oogle and comment!  In addition, there is a Flickr set full of gorgeous photos to drool over and links to explore. Donors are highlighted in this thread.

The four "Grand Prizes" are "Dream Stashes."

Earthy Stash:

Brights Stash:

Cottons Stash, including Lexie Barnes knitting bag!

Handspun Stash (which is growing as I write this)

In addition to the dream stashes, there are many other amazing prizes including:

• two bags of Malabrigo Silky Merino donated by Yarnzilla
• an exclusive colorway Fiddlehead Mitten Kit donated by Adrian at Hello Yarn
• a Lexie Barnes needle case
• a three-month membership to the Yarn Pirate Booty Club
• two Scout's Swag $15 gift certificates
• Jess's Delight- three skeins of Jess's favorite yarn from Meg of Twisted Fiber Arts
• a Guess Who? gloves kit from Holli at Bee's Knees Knits
• Ravelry swag donated by Jess and Casey themselves!

If you are a spinner or dyer and would like to contribute a prize, please contact me!  The more winners, the merrier, I say!  I'll be updating the Flickr set and Prizes Thread often.

Talk to Me

• I have high hopes for this fundraiser.  Is there anything that isn't clear?  Any way you think it could be improved?  Donations you'd like to offer?  Places to advertise on Ravelry?  Please let me know.
• Please feel free to advertise Ravelraiser on your own blog, pointing folks either here or to the thread on Ten Lousy Bucks.
• Come over to this thread after you've donated to talk about why you did so.  Was it a particular prize?  Something you love about Ravelry?  Was I standing behind you, twisting your picking/throwing arm?  (I can be such a bully.)  You can also read, there, a little personal story about why Ravelry has been important to me.  Join up with the Ten Lousy Bucks folks while you're at it.  We're nice!

Thanks

I owe a lot of thanks for all the help I received putting this together. 

• To everyone who donated- your yarns took my breath away, and it was all I could do not to run off to Mexico with them once they arrived.  But then, where would I get more?  Good thing your stores are all linked in the Flickr set!
• To my dad, who photographed all of the yarn as it came in and in the process became a bit of a yarnie himself.  He spent hours fretting over white balance.  He showed up at my house every day to check for new packages.  He endured taunting from my mom.  Thanks, B-Bear!
• To Ashley, Kirsten, and Beth, who helped me solicit prizes.
• To Jared, for being first.
• To Jess and Casey, of course, who will keep track of donations.
• To Elizabeth, who helped me make an ad to run on the Rav.

Now let's get together and Raise the Rav!  Donate now!

Comments

[Kelly]

What an awesome idea, Julie! I'd been thinking about donating, but this is the push I need to get it done. You rock!

[frecklegirl jess]

LOVE LOVE LOVE :)

[WrenCraft]

This is great! I just donated :) I have to say the Ravelry is the best and I am online everyday. I'm glad I'm giving some financial support to a program and group that means so much to me!

[Meanbean]

how wonderful!!1 I have to admit, the possiblity of Jared's handspun being in my hot little hands is what spurred me on here....but I have to say pretty much EVERYTHING shown is delicious and who could turn down the opportunity to win some of that yummyness?! :)

[Susan]

Great idea! Thanks for organizing this!

[Nichole D.]

I've been waiting to donate, for whatever reason. This was the motivation I needed! I totally love Ravelry, and those two deserve every penny.

[jillian]

Awesomeness! Had no idea something like this was in the works. Need any more prize donations?

I have gladly given my support, and always mean to do it more often. But I forget. This motivates me to remember to do it RIGHT NOW.

[Jackie]

This is one of the best fundraisers I've seen in awhile - good cause, good prizes!

I've donated, and I'm dreaming about the Earthy Stash (or the Handspun Stash... no, wait, the Earthy...)

Thanks for pulling this together.

[Alli]

Thanks for the Ravelraiser! I love the idea! A great incentive to donate to Ravelry for the first time. I wanted to be part of Ravelraiser but I couldn't find the "comments" place to add the title to my donation :(
Can I be added to the drawing anyway?
Also where is the comment section? I'm planning to donate again when I get my paycheck!

[Karen B.]

It's been one year for me as well so I figured another anniversary gift was due. Let me know if there's still a need for yarn donations. Sorry, but I don't spin.

[Carrie]

Dude, this is awesome. and those prizes look amazing! Can I link to this post over on my blog?

Great job getting this organized, Miss Frick. You rock! and so does Ravelry.

[Jen]

Fantastic Idea - I was thinking it was time for another donation anyway

[Stephanie M]

I want to thank you for all the effort you are putting into this! Its great to help motivate people to give to this wonderful site. I will definitely be donating. Its also helpful to have this little shove in the right direction! Those yarns look wonderfully tempting!!

[farmgroupie]

What a great idea! After the joy of Malabrigo March, I am thrilled to donate to the ravelry cause to which I am fully addicted. Thanks for giving me the kick in the pants that I needed to get going. Gorgeous!

(psst, there's an extra $10 in it if I win a big prize ;)- Christine (Farmgroupie)

[KnittingGnome]

What a great idea! Those "dream stashes" do look like a dream!

[Bertha]

This is so awesome! But isn't Ravelry a prize in itself? We're ALL winners! That being said, uh, I wouldn't turn my nose up to ANY of those dream stashes, or Jared's handspun (!!!) or a Hello Yarn mitten kit (!!!!!) Off to donate!

[PaperYarnGirl]

Wow. Great idea! Can't wait to see the totals. And your prizes ROCK. What a great thing to do.

[PaperYarnGirl]

Wow. Great idea! Can't wait to see the totals. And your prizes ROCK. What a great thing to do.

[Knittah]

Awesome idea! Big yarny hug for all the work you have already put into this. Just one question: for those of us who don't spin and don't want to learn, can we opt out of any roving prizes? I completely understand not wanting to consider all sorts of prize requests, but for a lot of us not every kind of fiber is useful. *ducks*

[ashpags]

Done and done. Great idea Julie!

Also, I'm insanely jealous that you can just call up Jess and Casey. So cool! =)

[Mandy]

I love when people use "z" at the end of wordz that normally end with "s." It's totally corny in a totally awesome way.

[maryse]

this is a great idea and a wonderful effort. i'll donate, not so much for the fabulous prizes but because i have nothing to give. I HAVE NOTHING TO GIVE!!!!!

[Kirsten]

Goin' to donate now! Whoopie! Those are some fanfabutastic stashes!!!!!

[regina]

Thanks for suggesting this. It's been a while since I donated, so it's cool to get a reminder now and then.

[beverly]

I'm heading over to donate b/c I love Ravelry so, so much...I donate every month, but why not do a bigger donation so less is taken out for fees, and so I get a chance at fabu prizes!?

Great idea--thanks for letting me participate!!