Le Tour de Fleece

And The Envelope Please!

The prize drawing has been conducted and the following Tour de Fleece participants have been awarded a prize selected at random from all of the donations.  Each winner and donor will be contacted by e-mail to sort out the mailing of prizes.

Congratulations, to the prize winners, and to all who participated in Le Tour de Fleece 2006.

And as a quick reminder, there are still a couple of days left, until July 31st, 2006, to qualify for the extra prize draw for 100g of Fleece Artist hand-dyed roving (colour Sherbet) -- to qualify, just purchase an article from the Tour de Fleece shop on Café Press or make a donation via the PayPal button in the sidebar.  The proceeds of the Café Press sales and the PayPal donations will be contributed to the charitable organization Dyana Afghan Women's Fund (http://www.dawf.ca)

To date, the proceeds from the sale of Tour de Fleece items amounts to US$33 and the PayPal donations have raised CA$40 -- many thanks!

Here are the winners (in no particular order!) and their prizes:

1. Leah - Some dyed fiber, details to follow; Donated by Martheme (Inspirations Yarn)
2. Elle - 8 oz of Shetland roving; Donated by Tj
3. Annie - A spindle bag; Donated by Jennifer
4. Lisa -- Hand over the Wool! - An Amy Butler Madison bag; Donated by Beverly
5. Beverly - 4 oz of chocolate brown llama roving; Donated by Leah
6. Elisa - A bag of cormo roving in funky colors; Donated by Carolyn
7. StarzAbove - A copy of Big Girl Knits; Donated by CJ
8. Nessa Z. - A $25 gift certificate from Spunky Eclectic; Donated by Anj
9. CJ - Some roving from the stash of Sarah in DC; Donated by Sarah in DC (Fortryll Knits)
10. Helen -- The Back of the Sofa - 250g of Wellington Heather 50% Mohair / 50% Wool roving; Donated by Katherine (Tour Director)
11. Tj - 1/4 lb of Polwarth top, dyed "in house"; Donated by Heidi of London-Wul Fibre Arts

The Finish Line

The time has come to hand out the victors' laurels, that is, blog buttons!

You may feel free to take one of the following (please remember to save the button to your own server!):

1.  The Prize for the Maillot Jaune (Yellow Jersey)

If you completed your goal, please take this button for your blog:

 

2.  The Prix de la Combativité (Prize for Combativeness)

Okay, so you didn't make your goal.  It happens.  But did you give it your all?  Did you try your best?  Then please take this button:

I realize that when I announced the Tour de Fleece, I said there would only be a button for those who actually finished and achieved their goal.  But while watching the Tour, I thought about that red dossard (the thing with the numbers that the riders wear on their backs) that's handed out at the end of each stage for the rider who was the most combattive each day.  And I thought it would be a good idea to offer it up to any of you who tried your level best but discovered that life got in the way, or that the goal you set was a bit more than you could handle.  You didn't give up?  You get a button, too.

Thanks to all who participated in the Tour, and to those who donated prizes -- we'll be drawing for those sometime this weekend, and I'll contact the winners via email to get a snail mail address.  After that, I'll post the list of winners here.

Thanks, too, to everyone who bought Tour de Fleece swag or who made a Paypal donation for the DAWF.  You have until July 31st to do either of the above, and at the beginning of August I'll draw a name from everyone who bought or donated for the 100g of Fleece Artist Roving.

The Home Stretch

Well, with just the "home stretch" stage 20 from Sceaux-Antony to Paris tomorrow remaining, it looks likely after today's time trial where he finished 3rd, that Floyd Landis will be the winner of this year's Maillot Jaune at the Tour de France -- although, as they say, "It ain't over 'til it's over..." and given the many surprising turn of events throughout (and even leading up to) the Tour this year, we could still see Oscar Pereiro finish on top.  It's certainly turned out to be more exciting than I had originally expected...

I've been remiss in not putting up some pictures of the prize I'm donating to Le Tour de Fleece, but better late than never...

So, added to the already generous donations of those listed in the sidebar, I'm contributing a 250g box of Wellington Fibres Wellington Heather 50% Mohair / 50% Wool roving.  The quality of the roving coming from Donna's new mill is truly wonderful and really showcases the mohair from their Angora goats.  If you're going to be in the Elora area, try to drop by and have a tour of the mill and the shop.

Below are a few photos of the prize, to be awarded by random draw from all those who complete their Tour de Fleece goal.  The draw, for the Wellington Heather and the other prizes, will take place next weekend (the final weekend of July).  Each of the prize donors will be mailing out their own prize, but I'll draw from those registered on the tour and contact folks for their snail addresses and generally co-ordinate it all (Be afraid.  Be very afraid... :-)

The blog button for successful finishers will also be available by next weekend (along with some additional buttons to be announced).

   

I'd also like to announce an additional prize drawing, for those who purchase Tour de Fleece items from the shop on Café Press or who send me donations for Dyana Afghan Women's Fund (DAWF) through the "PayPal Donate" button in the sidebar.

The draw will take place at the beginning of August 2006, from all the people who either purchase from the shop (proceeds to DAWF) or send me a donation for DAWF up to the end of July 2006.

This prize is being given in honour of The Other's *ahem* 50th birthday today (he swears it's a typo on his birth certificate...), and consists of 100g of Fleece Artist hand dyed Wensleydale Top in the Sherbet colourway purchased from Robyn at Redbird Knits.  From what I've heard, the Wensleydale Top is forgiving to spin, making it an excellent choice for beginner to intermediate spinners -- at least I'm hoping that's true, as I've bought myself some in the Greens colourway to try out.

Onward to the end of the Tour!

Stage 15: L'Alpe d'Huez

Well.  We're almost to the end.  Several gruelling days in the Alps, a time trial, and then onward to Paris.

I have to say that it's been a long time since I've seen quite so many broken collar-bones on a Tour. 

And, sadly, that the race for the green jersey seems to have come to an end, unless of course Oscar Freire can pull off something spectacular.  Though my prediction of a McEwen 2002/2004/2006 win would seem to be coming true.

I think the saddest moment of the Tour so far happened for me today -- watching Tom Boonen at the side of the road, at the end of his road, so to speak.  He was in tears, and I was this close to tears myself watching him.  But if cycling teaches me anything, it's that you can have a great spring, and look forward to a good Tour, and then have things just not go right at all.  And then, you keep moving forward -- he'll be back, tour of the Netherlands and another one I've forgotten, and maybe by then he'll be back in form.

But it just goes to show what a challenge the Tour de France is.

As for the Tour de Fleece -- well, it's much the same for us, too, I think, at least for me.  I take on other, smaller, spinning projects throughout the year, and often I don't think too much about what I'm trying to accomplish.  I've discovered both this year and last year that taking three weeks out of my schedule (a feat in itself, I think many of you will agree), devoting myself to one project, to one challenge, has proved to be more beneficial than I'd ever realized.  I won't write too much about that today -- will save it for the end of the Tour -- but it's what I'm starting to think about as we move into the final days.

But a reminder -- taking on a challenge of this nature is already a success unto itself.  Remember that if you're feeling discouraged.  Give yourself a pat on the back, climb back on, and keep going.

Radio Tour -- The Latest Updates & News

This is where announcements, news, updates and suchlike will be added throughout the Tour.

2006.07.17 Tour de Fleece sales on Café Press raise US$20 for Dyana Afghan Women's Fund

2006.07.06 Daily postings will allow participants to comment on their progress

2006.07.05 Café Press shop featuring Tour de Fleece items opened to raise funds for Dyana Afghan Women's Fund

2006.07.03 More Prizes Added to the List

2006.07.02 Prize List Updated

2006.06.25 Deadline for entries set

2006.06.19 Official Tour de Fleece Button available for download

2006.06.18 Participants List Updated

Click on the link below to read more...

Stage 12: Luchon to Carcassonne

Okay.

I confess.

I fell asleep during the stage.

I hope I can be forgiven -- I go for nerve blocks every couple of Fridays, and this morning the appointment was early (7:30a.m.) and I ended up really tired afterwards.  Not to mention it's hot here today (32C, plus humidex).

I sat down to watch, and the next thing I knew, most of the stage was over -- I saw about the last half hour, and thank goodness I didn't miss that!

Of course, it also means I didn't spin at all this morning.

This evening there was a huge party in Carcassonne -- in part for the July 14th holiday, in part to celebrate the arrival of the Tour.  Carcassonne is reputed to have the best July 14th fireworks in France, and this year the theme of the fireworks was the Colours of the Tour Jerseys and the Caravane.  Since my theme for the Tour this year is also the Colours of the Tour Jerseys, I was delighted to be able to watch the festivities.

France2 put on a live concert, so there was lots of music.  As well, they invited a lot of the folks who run the Tour and report on it in France, as well as many of the former French champions and riders on the Tour.  They also had several photo montages of great moments of the history of the Tour, and I found myself teary watching some of the great moments.

And little spinning got done tonight, either.  The show was just too much fun!

Tomorrow is another day, though -- Stage 13 already, and I'm off to bed to get a good night's sleep so I don't miss a moment tomorrow!

Progress Report July 11th

Phew.

I spent much of yesterday afternoon checking out participant blogs -- I have to say, I am truly humbled.  There are a lot of things going on out there.  I know that you've been listing your goals here and updating your progress, but it was still fascinating for me to see the range of things folks chose to do during the Tour, and how they were feeling about their goals.

Some of you are struggling to balance off your goals with, well, life.  Which does what it does, and throws us some curveballs.  Even just getting through what passes for normal and everyday can be a challenge, so my hat is off to you.

Some of you are taking time away from the Tour and your spinning to get out there and cycle yourselves.  Some of you are finding yourselves in the pleasantly surprising situation of having underestimated your abilities or your time and have re-set your goals for the continuation of the Tour.

Some of you are frustrated.  Now, if this is your case, what I'd like you to think about doing is taking a deep breath, maybe taking some time away from your project, and have a think.  The Tour is about goals, sure -- but it's also about strategy.  The best teams on the Tour know how to work with the skills and talents they've got and change tack when things don't work out as they were expecting.  You see this every day on the Tour, so cut yourself some slack, and re-think your strategy for getting through to the end.

It's allowed.  If the elite cyclists of the world can change strategy mid-race, then so can you.  The point is to get to the end, and feel good about what you did.

I have to say, I'm falling into the pleasantly surprised category.  I mentioned that when I fell sick during the Giro, I couldn't finish the project I was working on then.  When I'd set my original goal for the Tour, I thought it was slightly ambitious, but do-able.  When I fell sick again (and I'm still feeling a bit wibbly), I figured I'd never meet the goal.

But interestingly enough, I think I shall do it.  And probably this week.  And I'm astonished.  But during the Giro, I just stopped spinning.  This time, I've continued -- I stop and start frequently, and I'm doing far more park and draft with the spindle than I'd like to -- but the progress has been steady.

I had a bit of a surprise with the roving when it arrived -- I had expected a riot of colour, but I had thought that the colour repeats would be shorter than they are, and was aiming for something else entirely.  Instead, I've separated the two repeats of several colours, will spin them separately, and will attempt to ply them in order to get as much of the same colours plyed with same colours.  I'm sure there will be *some* barber-poling, but maybe I'll be surprised. 

And I already know what I want to do with it -- part of my goal was to have a project idea at the end of this, and that I already know where I want to go has made me very happy indeed.

Now, if only Tom Boonen could win a sprint.

Progress Report July 8th

Hi, all,

Yup, it's me.  I'm still a bit unsteady on my pins at times, but finally able to spend some time at the computer -- and since the Acting Tour Director (actually, he really is the brains of the operation -- without him none of this would have happened) goes back to work on Monday, I'll have a little more computer time so I can surf some of your sites to see what you've been up to this first week of the tour.  The comments you've left have got me excited to see it first hand!

I couldn't remember for the life of me if I ever got around to stating what my goal for the Tour was going to be:  I'd planned on spinning half of the 500g box of roving that I got from Rovings in Manitoba.  I thought that this might be an ambitious goal -- I'd planned on spinning 200g of something else during the Giro, was sick then, too, and ended up finishing it the week after the Giro ended.

I hadn't planned on falling sick now, either, but then who ever does?  Thank the stars there's no one doing coverage of the Vuelta, or I'd be feeling a bit superstitious.

(That reminds me of the interview I heard with Robbie McEwen yesterday after his stage win -- he commented that he'd won Stages 2, 4 and 6 in the Giro, and now 2,4 and 6 of the Tour.  Seems to me he's also won the Maillot Vert (green jersey) in 2002 and 2004, so maybe this year is his, too?)

For today, I don't really have a progress report, per se.  Though I'll leave you with a photo of the roving I'm working on when I got it in the post a few days before the tour started:

More on what my plans for it were and how it's progressing on Monday.

As always, do share your trials and triumphs in the comments...

Progress Posting for Friday July 7th

If you have an update on your progress, post it in the comments here.

You can include complete URLs and TypePad will convert them to links, so if you've already posted an update on your blog or photo site just put the URL to the appropriate posting or image and you won't have to duplicate your update here.

If you don't have a blog or photo site, just tell us about you progress here.

Katherine will resume posting shortly, and will take over adding daily posts for participants progress updates.

Yr fthfl srvnt,

A.T.D. The Other

Black is the New Black

News flash from Acting Tour Director "The Other":  After much struggling with transparent PNG graphics (don't ask...) he's managed to finally make available on Tour De Fleece's shop at Café Press a Black T-shirt with the Tour de Fleece 2006 line drawing in yellow, in addition to the white/light coloured items with a black line drawing which were already available.

A caveat, however:  Café Press lists the Black T-shirts as "BETA" products; they may take longer to produce and ship than other items.

The Black T-shirt is also listed separately in its own shop (part of The Other's learning curve in setting things up... sigh)

As noted previously, proceeds from sales will be donated to Dyana Afghan Women's Fund (http://www.dawf.ca).

Yr fthfl srvnt,

The Other