Red-Scarfers, Start Your Engines

It's time to launch Red Scarf 2008!

Before we get started, please go watch the video, "Fostering Dreams."  Then come back.  I'll wait.

-------------

I'm all aglow after my recent trip to Washington to finally meet Annalisa Assaadi, National Events Coordinator of the Orphan Foundation of America, with whom I have shared a close email and telephonic acquaintance for the last couple of years.  Yes, you know what I'm talking about:  My favorite little cause, The Red Scarf Project. 

It probably comes as no surprise that Annalisa and I immediately fell into an easy old-friendship kind of conversation. This trip was filled with bonuses.  Two of them are named Doug Sprei and Lisa Parrott.  Doug is the OFA's Director of Communications and Marketing, and Lisa started out as a volunteer working on the care packages and is now a staffer working on coordinating the entire Red Scarf program. 

I had not been told to expect a "Doug."  I had a bit of time to kill after I had checked out of my hotel room, and was awaiting a call from Annalisa, so I sat in the lobby with my knitting -- a red scarf, of course:

I was a little taken aback when a man approached me.  He said, "I'm Doug Sprei, Director of Communications and Marketing with the Orphan Foundation of America.  I'm honored to meet you." 

He later told the story that as he was taking the Metro to the hotel, he wondered how he would know who I was.  He got to the lobby, looked around, and saw a woman knitting a red scarf.  Heh. Subtle of me, eh?

After a while, we were joined by Annalisa and Lisa, and we trekked down the street to find a breakfast place where we could work. We had the best time.

Annalisa and I are tied together with the award-winning scarf that provided the original inspiration for the Red Scarf Project.

Could we really even call it a business meeting?  Are business meetings supposed to be so much fun?  I vote yes.

But we did work.  Here I am, brainstorming with Lisa and Doug.  See how serious I look?  Working. 

What are we working on?  I'm so excited I can barely contain myself, but I'm not quite ready to tell you all the details yet, because they haven't all been finalized.  And besides, I want to tease and torture you a little, and build up the anticipation (subtle of me again, eh?).  A clue is here on the back of Annalisa's business card.

Que$tion $$ (pay attention; thi$ will be on the te$t) -- $$ What i$ one of the thing$ at which knitblogger$, knitter$, crocheter$, and knitblog reader$ excel $$?

----------------------------------------------

• In the meantime, you should start knitting or crocheting your red scarves.  Remember the new guidelines we've mentioned a few times before: 
• No more than five scarves per person. We're shooting for quality, not quantity, this time.  The OFA was overwhelmed with our generosity last year, in the true sense of the word. 
• Unisex and soft.  Machine washability is preferred, but hand-washable is fine, too.  No Fun Fur.  (remember unisex)
• 5 to 8 inches wide, with a soft drape, approximately 60 inches long
• Shades of red are preferred, but other unisex colors are fine, too.
• Fringe or no fringe; either way
• Notes of encouragement or personal messages attached to your scarves are strongly encouraged
• Please include a stamped, self-addressed envelope (for thank you notes and/or acknowledgments)
• Gift cards from national chain bookstores, fast-food places, stores like Target, etc., are strongly wished for
• Target dates of arrival are much earlier this year: September-October 2007, for 2008 Valentine's delivery. 

-------------------------

Soon I will be opening a new blog for Red Scarf 2008 with a similar format to last year's, where I will share information and post links to developments, and post your scarf photos if you send them to me attached to an email.  Please put "Red Scarf" in the subject line of your email.  I get a lot of emails, and some things might get lost in the shuffle without that. 

I am posting this sans some important info, such as the address to send the scarves.  I assume it's the same address as last year, but I want to confirm that before I post it.  Hang tight on questions about some of those details if you would, please.  I'll get to explaining everything as soon as possible.  The OFA is spiffing up its Red Scarf site, as well -- it's currently a work in progress.  Soon there will be links to suggested patterns and other essential info posted there. 

Knit and crochet on!

Next post, I'll talk about the scarf I'm knitting. I'm calling it Gwen's Scarf. 

Comments

[--Deb]

Wait, wait, let me think . . . whatever could you mean???

[Kathy]

Fantastic. Look forward to hearing more. Thank you so much for your enthusiasm about this project -- you motivate so many of us.

[Vicki]

How freakin' cool is that gonna be???

[claudia]

$o. $eem$ like I $ee what you are getting at.

[crazycatladyMel]

Posted!

Plus, I'm having a contest to benefit my other pet charity.

[Debi]

All this and a BIRTHDAY too!! Happy birthday Hunny!!

[hope]

Thank you , thank you, thank you for linking to the video at the OFA site. I am sitting here with tears in my eyes. I am already collecting items for my care packages!! I can't wait to hear about your project. I wonder what it'$ about.

[kmkat]

Rock on, Norma! Got my yarn, got my needle$, ready to go.

[Kristen]

Wow, girlfriend, you are amazing! I think I can handle doing $ome helping. I'm a little better with $ome type$ of help than other$. ;)

I also note you are trying to be clever and fool us by posting before Monday. HA! Your readers are sooooo clever that we caught you.

[Nicole]

Yah Norma! I'm so excited to get started.

[Lynn]

Hmmm, scarves...red...I bet I have red yarn in my stash. (Maybe not machine washable, though.) Let's consult the Table of SABLE: Well, there's some soy silk - eh, maybe not. And 738 yards of slubby cotton - how do you feel about a cotton scarf? Oh, here's 1183 yards of dark red wool/alpaca! Now we're talking! Hey, there's 600 yards of red Lamb's Pride Superwash - that's a definite yes! And 420 yards of a soft wool blend from WEBS' Valley Yarns! And 1278 yards of red Kona Bay - a good, basic wool! And, um, the table notes there are about 236 (!) quarts of left-overs, onesies, random balls - I bet a good chunk of that is red.

OK, I've got yarn. all right. When's that deadline? [eyes get big] That soon?! I'll try, I'll try, but I must warn you: I'm knitting for three babies with an August deadline - you may only get one scarf from me this year.

Two, if I'd shut up and start knitting...

[ELIZABETH AIRHART]

great posting and good for you -----i am ready i have one really
good looking nubby soft deep grey with soft color nubs thrugh out
really good looking and wraps and drapes so well i want one
here we go knitters success is a real high for every one

[Carole]

I think it's fabulous that you are doing something new with this project. I'm ready for anything! Go, Norma.

[margene]

It's crazy amazing and wonderful where blogging has taken us. Look at you go!

[Dave Daniels]

Wow, that's all so cool.
And that sweater is...um...quite flattering to your...um...youthful and perky physique. Bwahahahahaha.

[Laura]

Yay! I already have one ready and a second on the needles!! WooHoo!! xoxox

[minnie]

i'm going to either hunt up, or have a dyeing friend dye some superwash roving for me, and i'm going to handspin AND knit the scarf. how's that for quality, lol?

[beebs]

Hmmm... $ponser a $cholarship.... One wonders what a goal might be (and how quickly we all might blow right thru it...) Have 2 scarves done and a third on the needles. Thanks, Norma, for helping us contribute to these wonderful kids!

[Cassa]

Needles....check
Yarn....check
Good cause....check
Looks like I'm ready to rock!

[Ruth]

I know what I'm taking to knit while I'm in the hospital ...

[Roxie]

Blessings on you, Norma. Time to dig out the superwash! Maybe you could get Dave to dye some shaded reds especially for the red-scarf project. Bet you could even talk him into donating a few cents from every skein sold . . .

[sandy]

I am $o proud of you! Thi$ is all $o great! How exciting! And fantabulous~
Red...red...must buy some red...
xo

[Lucia]

I was just thinking about Red Scarf this morning. "I'm so far behind it's not even funny," I was thinking. And, see, I was right!

[Carol]

I'll be $o ready! Bring it Norma!

[scout]

I can't WAIT to hear what you have in store.

[Sue]

Thank you, thank you, thank you Norma. It's a great privilege to be able to share with you in this venture.

[SpindleRose]

I'm $o ready and $o happy. The two $carve$ I forgot to mail last year are ready to go. And proceed$ from the next round of $ta$h $ale$ are earmarked for the next project.

And I plan to set aside an afternoon or two to head out to Sterling to help pack care packages this fall.

[Beth S.]

Fabulous news! :-) Though it's odd to see you taking notes with a pen... ;-)

[Tracey]

Woo Hoo!

[robin smith]

What a way for me and our spinning group to start the New Year!!!!!!!! Thank you for your dedication to these children. It is a true blessing for everyone. Hope to see you at NH sheep and Wool Festival.