It's my Blogiversary (but you get the presents!)

Once upon a time (on the 9th of January 2006, to be precise) I started a Kodak Gallery set called Creating in 2006 and sent invites to a few of my friends saying "Projects I have completed this year. Call back regularly for updates and blast me if there's been nothing new for a couple of weeks. Thanks!"

My first entry:
"OK, this one is sort of cheating as I made it in December to wear in the wedding party for Emma's wedding. A bit freaky (making the skirt, not the wedding - which, in case you were wondering was lovely) as I'd not really sewn for almost a decade... "

(ARGH! Look at the crappy quality of the photo - you can tell it's never been near Photoshop... What a lot I've learnt in the past year)

The skirt was followed soon after by my first piece of knitting in as long:"Jan 2nd: I got the overwhelming urge to knit a black and white Christmas stocking on December 16th. Which is kinda odd as a) I don't "do" Christmas (or so I thought) and b) I haven't knitted full size since I left NZ. After the prerequisite 2 week cool down period I finally took myself off to Spotlight and bought supplies over the New Year's weekend. Of course I completely changed the pattern. As usual. Pity I have to wait almost a year before I can use it.... (And I have a mad scheme to make extras to sell to rabid Collingwood footy supporters and thus keep my eBay habit funded)"

(OK, getting better at the photo taking - but how funny to think that just over 13 months ago I didn't own a single pair of knitting needles. The avalanche started here (look at that little itty bitty embryonic stash!))

On January 16th I noted the arrival of this fabric:which I used part of during my first Use What You Have Month in April. The rest, I decided, would be perfect to make my Blogiversary gift out of (more about that later in the post)

By February 4th 2006 I decided that Kodak Gallery wasn't doing it for me anymore and so The Shopping Sherpa blog was born. Right from the start it's been a mix of creating and frugalling and other stuff that wanders through my world.

I've met some fabulous people through here in the past year (you know who you are!), learnt lots, been more creative than I ever could have imagined, had things happened I never would have expected (getting a link from The National Museum still gives me shivers of excitement) and had a fine old time. And, of course, had some great swaps (and a couple of duds).

So, to celebrate, I invite you to leave me a comment. The names of everyone who comments on this post during the next week will go into a hat and someone (Nibbs?, Trudy Bunny?, My alter ego?, The Knitting Devil?) will pull out a random name.

If you're the lucky winner, I'll send you my latest Screaming Inside bag (especially chosen to be unisex, just in case I have more than one male reader - Hi Dad!):plus a few black and white goodies tucked in it (Alison, you'll pleased to see the addition of a third inside pocket just perfect for iPods after your feedback!)I can't wait to see what the next year brings and I hope you'll join me for the journey...

(Listening to: Eddi Reader, Simple Soul)