I didn't know there was a Netroots Nation Auction.

[Joanne98]

Confession

by mcjoan

Confession

I've been holding something about myself back from most in this community for a long time. It's something that isn't necessarily shameful, but it's hardly something that will enhance my reputation as a radical, left-of-the-left, foul-mouthed, take-no-prisoners DFH. In fact, it could really take away any bit of an edge I've been able to cultivate.

You see, I am a crafter. A friend of mine in college used to tease me that my goal in life was to become a midwestern farm wife, and sometimes I think he wasn't that far off the mark. I have domestic tendencies in spades. I love to garden, to cook and to bake bread. I've turned the messy little neglected and overgrown yard of my apartment building into a virtual aviary, and get way too excited when the resident sharp-shinned hawk shows up to case out my bird feeders.

I sew.

I quilt.

Mostly, I knit.

I know in recent years knitting has become cool. But I've been a knitter since before knitting was hip. I had a "Stitch & Bitch" club with my friends long before seeing clusters of hipsters hanging out in coffee shops with their needles and their fancy, fluffy, sparkly designer yarns became commonplace.

I was knitting back when there was only one store in town that sold natural fiber yarns, a few skeins scattered in a sea of acrylic, when the only choice of needles were the aluminum ones that the paint wore off of or the flimsy plastic ones that would bend under the weight of a sleeve. Growing up as a ranch kid, there was no question I would be in the 4-H livestock and horse clubs, but the knitting club meetings were where it was at for me.

You see, I'm a dork. And why am I telling you all this now? What could compel me to bare my soul to you? Make the jump to find out.

mcjoan's diary :: :: Only a very good cause could make me admit to this side of myself: the Netroots Nation Auction.

I know there are some very cool things on offer for this auction. You can NN memorabilia signed by famous politicians, lunch with netroots heroes, vampire protection from Howard Dean (?), romantic getways, enough books to make your progressive library complete, and more collectibles than you can shake a stick at (and who wouldn't want a Hello Kitty Grab Bag?).

Sure, anybody can sign a program (or a wooden stake?), or offer themselves up for lunch. But I'm here to represent the people who make things. Ok, so it's not all quite the same as Valerie Wolf's or our own boran2's amazing art, but the crafters and the makers among us.

Check out this incredible jewelry! You can even get custom-made earrings! Or a necklace with a bottle of 14 KT gold beads, frankincense and myrrh. How cool of a Christmas present would that be? How about this gorgeous, one-of-a-kind, handwoven scarf? Kossacks boran2, hyperbolic pants explosion, MsSpentyouth, and others have toiled away, creating these treasures with their very own hands.

In comparison, my contribution of hand-knit pumpkin hats look rather humble. (No, not carrots, pumpkins! Just in time for Halloween, and perfectly reflective of Kos orange.) But while they aren't fine art, they are indeed handmade. After a few inquiries, I measured, and the hats would stretch to about 21" in circumference. I don't have a kid's head handy to measure, but it should fit a toddler to young child. They are auctioned separately.

I make this confession about my truly dorky nature to you, and took the time away from following the goings-on in D.C. over healthcare reform to keep my fingers off the keyboard and on the knitting needles, because of the cause. Netroots Nation has been a transformational experience for the progressive community, and one that just keeps growing. Proceeds from this auction will help that growth, helping to underwrite the cost associated with planning Netroots Nation 2010, in Las Vegas July 22-25. It will also help bring Netroots Nation around the country, by underwriting the our year-round Regional Salon Series. So if you can't make it to Vegas, Netroots Nation might come to you with one of these Salons.

I don't have to tell you how critical Netroots Nation has become to the progressive community. You know that because you know what it's been able to achieve so far. And you know it's become the powerhouse progressive organization and event it has because of you. It grew out of an entirely volunteer effort, and is a reflection of the the community that we've all worked to create together, across the entire blogosphere and in collaboration with other grassroots communities. So if spending a few hours playing with yarn will help continue that expansion, it was well worth the time.

But only if people actually pony up some dollars to the effort. Go check out the auction. If handcrafts aren't your deal, there's plenty else there to tempt. And don't miss the great deals.

But you only have until Tuesday, September 29 to place your bids.
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/9/27/786993/-Confession

The pictures of her pumpking knitted hats at link....

[madfloridian]

1. Ha ha wooden stake autographed by Dean

http://www.cmarket.com/auction/item/Item.action?id=93435015

Estimated Value Priceless

Item Number 184
Item Description

On August 10th of this year, just before Netroots Nation - Pittsburgh, Lou Dobbs famously called Governor Howard Dean a "bloodsucking leftist" and that he could only be stopped by "a stake through his heart."

Well just in case you run into the Governor at next year's Convention, we recommend you bid on this for your protection.

This package includes a wooden stake signed by the Governor as well as a Sterling Silver Necklace with Small Bottle Filled with Field Garlic, Sterling Silver Beads and a Tiny Hedgeapple Wooden Stake.

Exactly what you'll need to protect yourself from Governor Dean!

[madfloridian]

2. Kick for McJoan's pumpkin kntted caps.

I love them.

[KoKo]

3. They are very cool...I'm going to try to check out the other stuff.

K&R