Happy Blog Day To Me!

My very first post on this blog is dated April 18th 2007 so technically this is my 2nd anniversary with The Shetland Trader! I was quite wet behind the ears when I began my relationship with the blogging world. I had also just had my first design accepted by knitty.com. Looking back I feel like I've accomplished quite a lot since then! I've also connected with some fantastic people many of whom have shared their wisdom and knowledge with me as I struck out on the designing path. I'm so glad to have "met" you all. Keeping this blog helped me through a time when I've been far from some of my nearest and dearest friends and family. So to show my thanks to all who stop by and for the pure fun of it I'm doing an anniversary give away thingy!

First prize - some Shetland goodies:
A copy of the book Shetland Hap Shawls Then and Now by Sharon Miller and enough Jamieson's Yarn (direct from the mill) for you to complete your very own Hap Shawl. I have picked the same colours that I used in the shawl I made for little Daisy last summer (photos of that one below) and a cute tote bag made by phatsheeptextiles in Shetland featuring cute and colourful croft houses.


Next up - Books for all tastes!
For those that don't know, my husband is a novelist with 4 books under his belt so far and another, The Other Lands (Acacia, Book 2), coming in September. He has kindly donated a copy of each (in English) for this giveaway. Each of the books will be given away individually. More info on the titles (with links) below the photo:

About Gabriel's Story (a New York Times Notable Book) Publishers Weekly wrote: "The old West, both beautiful and brutal, is the setting of Durham's magnificently realized debut novel, a classic coming-of-age story of an African-American boy."

Walk Through Darkness (also a New York Times Notable Book), combines aspects of his family's African-American history with my Scottish ancestry. The San Francisco Chronicle wrote: "David Anthony Durham's evocative and finely wrought second novel, Walk Through Darkness resonates with the great American historical irony: Founded in reaction to tyranny, America's habit was slavery and the acceptance of institutionalized racism its denial."

Pride of Carthage tells the story of Hannibal's war with ancient Rome. It's been published in the UK and in eight foreign languages. The Christian Science Monitor called it, "a brilliant exploration of the tension between private destiny and historical force, as full of the sweep of geopolitics as the quiet intimacies of a marriage. He so clearly creates the hopes and fears of these people removed from us by time and culture that we can recognize our tragic, common heritage."

Acacia: The War with the Mein is an epic fantasy set in an alternative world, featuring a multi-racial cast, it's been published in the UK and eight foreign languages, and it got David nominated for the John W Campbell Award. The Washington Post wrote: "From the first pages of Acacia, Durham, a respected historical novelist, demonstrates that he is a master of the fantasy epic. "

Last-but not least, a Shetlandtrader original pattern:
I thought it appropriate to include some of my creativity in this celebration so I will be giving away 3 free copies of my latest self-published pattern Moch Cardi. Please note that this is just the pattern...not a finished cardigan!
To enter please leave a comment on this post with a way for me to easily contact you (no addresses, I'll get them when I pick the winners). This is open to anyone, anywhere. If you want to state a preference for a prize please do so.........No promises but I will try to accommodate where possible. You have until next Friday, the 24th of April to enter!