B-Mused

For Kalliope at 16

Betsy — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 22:21:48 +0000

So every year since she was little, I have written something for Kalliope on her birthday. Sometimes a poem, a story, a photo book…it has varied over time.

Here is this year’s:

“Why, then the world’s mine oyster, which I with sword will open.” (Merry Wives of Windsor, II,ii)

16 Wishes for 16 Faces of Kalliope,

on this, the occasion of her 16th birthday

22 March, 2011

1. Happy Birthday

to little girl Kalliope

Full of imagination, wonder, stories, questions, and magic.

2. Happy Birthday

to daughter Kalliope,

good, loving, and honest.

3. Happy Birthday

to sister Kalliope,

Sharing her world, sometimes unwillingly, but always responsibly.

4. Happy Birthday

to young woman Kalliope,

Growing beautifully comfortable into her own skin,

Not only finding her niche, but creating it.

5. Happy Birthday

to literary Kalliope,

Devourer of words and brilliant critic.

6. Happy Birthday

to drama Kalliope,

Whose life is never without it.

7. Happy Birthday

to artist, writer, and poet Kalliope,

Who honors inspiration wherever and whenever

It sings into her.

8. Happy Birthday

to messy, absent-minded Kalliope,

Whose attention is captured by more important things.

9. Happy Birthday

to intellectual Kalliope,

Whose thirst for knowledge is bottomless,

And whose mind never stops questing.

10. Happy Birthday

to adventurous Kalliope,

Who seeks out new experiences

And loves to travel and explore.

11. Happy Birthday

to nerd Kalliope,

Lover of squids, sci-fi, and all things geek.

12. Happy Birthday

to cool Kalliope,

Who’s brave enough to blaze the way

And awesome enough for David Bowie.

13. Happy Birthday

to Victorian Kalliope,

Elegant Anglophile.

14. Happy Birthday

to Renaissance Kalliope,

Versed in History, Literature, Art, Drama, Music and Film.

15. Happy Birthday

to Epicurean Kalliope,

lover of meat and gourmet delectables.

16. Happy Birthday

to wonder-full Kalliope,

Who is able to take joy in the wonders of life,

Large and small.

And one to grow on:

Happy Birthday

to the WHOLE of Kalliope,

Whose essence is beyond words,

And so much more than the sum of these parts.

Dear Kalliope,

The world is your oyster,

and the pearl is within you.

May 16 bring continued adventures, mysteries, magic, love, and joy.

I’m so proud to be your mom.

Thanks for the gift of motherhood 16 years ago today.

I love you!

Happy Birthday

Love,

Betsy

Charity Knitting with Kids

Betsy — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 12:27:40 +0000

Check out this really cool news video about a group of kids in Belgium who knit a scarf 103 meters long to raise money for children in Pakistan (to build a school). You can see them marching the long scarf through the town to the museum where it will be displayed as a giant yarn ball.

I think this would make a GREAT KnitLit project for next year. I love the idea of a large group SINGLE creation with yarn (as opposed to individual squares/blankets/caps, etc.) If anyone reading this has ever done such a project,please contact me, I’d love to talk to you about it!

BTW I’m off to Maine this morning – no internet for a week (yay!) – but I’ll be back.

Peace and all things fuzzy to you,

Betsy

Is spring in the air?

Betsy — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 16:59:59 +0000

And the times, they are a-changing….the snow on my road has been reduced to a black crust…the dog poop in the yard has thawed just enough for me to shovel it…I am looking at the prospect of my third year in a row of pink-slipping, but what upsets me more about this is not my individual job but the big picture. Our children are our future, are they not?

And as I contemplate this, while it makes me TIRED, I also sense an opportunity lurking.

SPRING is in the air. And I’ll repeat an old favorite: ”an empty vesssel is filled with infinite possibility”.

Here’s to the world of POSSIBILITY…remain open to it, everyone!

Thanks for Voting

Betsy — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 15:14:09 +0000

Two more days, and once again I’d like to thank everyone…all things considered, we have done amazingly well, thanks to you. The publicity for the program has been great, and I have received lovely letters of support, and offers of yarn donations. Also, we will have an article coming out in Yarn Market News in December.

And more good news: yesterday I received a phone call from the office of Howard T. Phillips, Jr., the Supervisor of the Town of Haverstraw. They congratulated me on the program, and would like to contribute $250. And to think that I never even asked them for money! I am honored.

So please remember to vote two last times, today, and tomorrow, and enjoy your Halloween!

One final note: I am still waiting to hear from my school district whether the program will be able to run this year, but the latest I heard was that it was looking hopeful for starting in mid-November.

Thank you,

Betsy

Red Heart Yarns puts in a good word!

Betsy — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 02:23:12 +0000

A shout out to the knitting universe – I am astounded by the support and enthusiasm of total strangers…yet not total strangers, really, because they are fellow knitters! Here is a lovely e-mail received from Coats and Clark (maker of Red Heart Yarns) today:

Dear Ms. Rodman:

Thank you for your recent inquiry.

We love your story! I forwarded your information to the person who does our Facebook page and here is her response:

Lynn,

I love this….I’ll set it up and post it today. This is a fantastic story!!!

Kathleen Sams, Red Heart Ambassador

She will be sharing it with our 8000+ fans.

Thank you for the opportunity to be of service.

Sincerely,

Lynn L. Browne
Director, Consumer Services
Coats & Clark
47125

Thanks Lynn and Kathleen! Pay them a visit and give them a “like”!

Yarn Market News

Betsy — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 22:06:19 +0000

Yarn Market News: another company reaching out…pay them a visit!

They might be doing a story on KnitLit – more to follow!

oops!

Betsy — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 11:22:33 +0000

posted the blurb, forgot to attach Joy’s e-mail! here it is:

Dear Betsy,

So glad you thought my suggestions of some use!

I’m afraid I’m not on facebook, but I’ll definitely share your info with anyone I can think of and find time to try to vote today. If I’m successful I’ll drop you a line.

The power of the net, and those of us who knit and use it is indeed amazing! I’m glad news of your project is already being circulated so widely.

Please feel free to add me to your daily reminder list,.

Good luck, … I’m looking forward to hearing Knit Lit won!

Yours sincerely,

Joy

Please take a few moments to browse and enjoy
my original artwork at:
www.tigerfeathers.ca

Knit the world beautiful

Betsy — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 11:19:17 +0000

I just wanted to share this lovely e-mail from Joy up in Canada, and I encourage you to visit her website, Tigerfeathers and read her amazing story and see her original art.

Thanks, Joy, for reaching out to us!

Operation Toasty Toes

Betsy — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 09:39:41 +0000

Another charity seeking support which has reached out to KnitLit from Canada! Thanks Operation Toasty Toes!

Knitters Unite!

Betsy — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 02:29:07 +0000

(also known as the power of the internet!)

So this afternoon, my cell phone rings: it is a woman in Dallas, who received an e-mail from New Orleans about my KnitLit Club and our Power a Bright Future nomination, wondering if she can donate some yarn.

How cool is THAT? So thank you to all the people out there who I don’t even know, all over the country, who are spreading the word. Wouldn’t it be cool if we could get it to go viral? Anyone want to make a video for us?