A Very Special Shawl

Subject: A Very Special MMario Shawl
From: wysiwyg
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 11:31 AM

I know a lot of us are feeling that helpless feeling that we want so badly to be able to DO something for Heather Fielding. Like me, you may be at a loss to know what that is.... so I have asked MMario to serve as representative for Mudcatters, to make a special shawl from us, for Heather Fielding. He has consented to begin on this as a group gift, to make the hugs we cannot offer her in person, but a shawlful of hugs she can wrap herself in... make the comfort tangible, deeper than words we can offer.

Of course I have no authority to have asked him this on "everyone's" behalf, but think about it. Who knows and accurately loves so many Catters? Who else is consistently loving toward all, and sees everyone's best? Who else has a heart big enough to hold each of us, and Heather, together in his heart, one by one, stitch by stitch, and "knit" us together in selfless love? I can't think of a better messenger of our love, than my friend (and many of yours), Leo.

For this shawl, MMario will do a piece for each person who posts "count me in," representing and focusing each individual's care for her as he works on it...

See? It's all about connections, stitch by stitch. It may become quite large..... it might go to festivals and stuff where Catters are, for a row here, a row there......

Leo, thank you. I hope you have a wonderful experience in this.

~Susan

Subject: RE: A Very Special MMario Shawl
From: Nancy King
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 11:46 AM

Sounds good to me. Count me in!

Thanks to Susan and Leo. Shall I send a contribution for materials, and if so, to whom?

Nancy

Subject: RE: A Very Special MMario Shawl
From: Rapparee
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 11:46 AM

Okay, count me in.

Subject: RE: A Very Special MMario Shawl
From: Wesley S
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 11:48 AM

I'm in too. Tangible , portible hugs.

Subject: RE: A Very Special MMario Shawl
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 11:48 AM

Wrapping myself in my warm and wonderfully vibrant Leo-shawl gave me such a sense of the love and care that emanates from this wonderful place. It came at the darkest time in my life. Count me in, too!

Allison

Subject: RE: A Very Special MMario Shawl
From: wysiwyg
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 11:51 AM

I'm not going to be able to keep up with PMing thank-you's for each of you wonderful responses, but I love you ALL.

$$ questions can come to or MMario via PM.

~S~

Subject: RE: A Very Special MMario Shawl
From: Morticia
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 11:53 AM

and me......good idea.

Subject: RE: A Very Special MMario Shawl
From: jeffp
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 11:58 AM

Count me in as well.

jeffp

Subject: RE: A Very Special MMario Shawl
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 11:58 AM

Me too

Subject: RE: A Very Special MMario Shawl
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 12:03 PM

Count me in too

Subject: RE: A Very Special MMario Shawl
From: Peace
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 12:07 PM

I'm in.

Subject: RE: A Very Special MMario Shawl
From: kendall
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 12:11 PM

Of course

Subject: RE: A Very Special MMario Shawl
From: Allan C.
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 12:12 PM

Sounds like a plan! Me too!

Subject: RE: A Very Special MMario Shawl
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 12:21 PM

okay - hopefully some people who know Heather better then I (just about anyone) might be able to chime in with a few simple answers.

Does she have allergies to any fibers? would love to be able to do this in something sinfully luxerious - the fiber equivilant of Rick's music.

Colour(s)? All I know is that she doesn't normally pick blue for herself.

Subject: RE: A Very Special MMario Shawl
From: open mike
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 12:21 PM

this is such a great idea....
and it brings to mind many images
from songs about being wrapped in
a sweater or cloak or shawl:

from Laurie Lewis' "Old Friends"
"Like a cloak against the cold,
I wrap myself in friendship's fold,
..Old Friend, like warp and woof entwine,
each crossing defining the design,
though in places frayed and worn,
the fabric remains untorn"

aned Connie Kaldor's "Someday"
.."Someday, someday, everything will be alright,
Someday, someday, someday but not tonight,
For tonight you'll wrap that pain around you
like a tattered sweater...."

It will be wonderful to feel apart of a big group
hug for Heather, and to be with her and bring a
ray of hope knowing there are so many who care.

Thank you Susan and Leo for offering this gift!
I would like to help in any way I can. Would it
be helpful to encourage as many people as possible
to purchase the recent c.d.? And can someone post
a reminder as to how and where to do this? thanks.

Subject: RE: A Very Special MMario Shawl
From: CarolC
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 12:22 PM

Count me in. I have one of those wonderful MMario shawls. I can't think of a better way for us to collectively embrace Heather at this time.

Subject: RE: A Very Special MMario Shawl
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 12:27 PM

How can anyone possibly say no????

Subject: RE: A Very Special MMario Shawl
From: Big Mick
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 12:32 PM

I'm there.

Subject: RE: A Very Special MMario Shawl
From: wysiwyg
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 12:32 PM

I should also say that of course this cannot replace, nor is meant to replace, whatever people who are close to Heather are moved to do, personally.

(Laurel, I'm headed out to the store for a bit, but a filter for threads with Rick's name should find you the thread on his CD. That's where I will look, myself-- our annual habit is to pick a special, tender project and get all our farflung family members the same gift. It started the year a friend opened a quilt and fiber-arts co-op-- we got a couple dozen crocheted snowflakes as tree decor and sent them to each family member in their Xmas card. The next year it was Mudcatter Keith Johnson's CD. Last year it was Mudcat CD samplers. Our Xmas shopping this year will be all from Rick's CDs.)

~Susan

Subject: RE: A Very Special MMario Shawl
From: SINSULL
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 12:47 PM

Count me in

Subject: RE: A Very Special MMario Shawl
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 12:50 PM

This is a very nice idea! If you need any donations of materials, ala a "crazy quilt" approach to this shawl, I have several nice skeins I could send. Include me in this group hug.

SRS

Subject: RE: A Very Special MMario Shawl
From: katlaughing
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 12:50 PM

Me, too.

MMario, I'll have to check my pictures to see what colours I used for a necklace for her a few years ago. I'll let you know.:-)

Subject: RE: A Very Special MMario Shawl
From: Sorcha
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 12:51 PM

Of course I'm in! what a GREAT idea!!

Subject: RE: A Very Special MMario Shawl
From: Tinker
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 12:54 PM

Oh, I've got big and little Mario shawls that I brought home as tangible Getaway Hugs. The large heathery muticolor one is a Great big hug, like Mario or Mick or ColK or... count me in here.

Subject: RE: A Very Special MMario Shawl
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 01:02 PM

Put a love knot or two in from Scotland too.
John

Subject: RE: A Very Special MMario Shawl
From: Carly
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 01:03 PM

I also am the proud owner of a Mmario shawl. What a great idea! Count me in. Mario, I am a spinner and weaver; I would love to contribute. More in a PM.

Subject: RE: A Very Special MMario Shawl
From: Áine
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 01:04 PM

This is a wonderful, beautiful idea. Please, please count me in, too. I have one of MMario's shawls, and when I wear it, I can feel the hug he gave me one very special summer's day.

Can't think of a better way to give Heather a very tangible group hug.

Thank you, Susan, for thinking of this. And a great big hug and thank you to MMario for taking on this task.

All the best, Áine

Subject: RE: A Very Special MMario Shawl
From: black walnut
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 01:41 PM

Lovely. Include me too. I've been feeling oddly cold since hearing the news on Sunday, and this thought of a shawl for Heather warms me up.

Nicely written, Susan.

~b.w.

Subject: RE: A Very Special MMario Shawl
From: Micca
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 01:49 PM

Me too Mario,

Subject: RE: A Very Special MMario Shawl
From: GUEST,momnopp - no cookie on school computer
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 02:00 PM

Me too, me too!

Love,

JudyO/momnopp

Subject: RE: A Very Special MMario Shawl
From: pixieofdoom
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 02:05 PM

And me please

Subject: RE: A Very Special MMario Shawl
From: Pene Azul
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 02:08 PM

Lovely idea. Please count me in, too.

Jeff

Subject: RE: A Very Special MMario Shawl
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 02:13 PM

What a lovely idea! Count the Ducks in.

Subject: RE: A Very Special MMario Shawl
From: catspaw49
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 02:20 PM

Geeze....I leave for a few hours and get back to find this....and it's growing fast!!!! This is gonna' be one llooonnngg shawl!!

Say Mario....Can you throw in a row from the Reg Boys? They were wondering if it would be okay. I said you'd do it.They're feelin' a bit low and are out with Paw, Cletus, and Buford. That's probably not good since when they get back, none of them will be able to feel at all.........

One other thing.....Maybe include Cleigh in my row huh? Rick actually blew up his ass once. Now ain't that a legacy? "This man once tried to blow a tune up a possum's ass." Come to think of it, that's not gonna' look to good on me at some point down the road either....."This man owned an Ass-Blown Possum." Oh yeah, that'll be rea............hey! Wait a minute.....As I think on it a bit more, YOU aren't going to be in any great shape either on this possum thing.............Best not to dwell on it.......

Anyway, count me in.

Spaw

Subject: RE: A Very Special MMario Shawl
From: GUEST,Kim C no cookie
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 02:20 PM

Me too. MMario please PM me and let me know if I can send money/yarn/needles whatever.

Subject: RE: A Very Special MMario Shawl
From: kytrad (Jean Ritchie)
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 02:31 PM

Yes, I'm in.

Subject: RE: A Very Special MMario Shawl
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 02:37 PM

This *is* growing fast - but what should be expected from this crowd?

Here's my Initial idea - A rectangular shawl in filet crochet - With a musical score worked into it as the pattern.

Any suggestions as to a tune? (or would anyone like to compose one?)

That was my first reaction - but there are plenty of other options - knit versus crochet, circular, semi-circular, square.

It could go fancier or simpler. Or could be a lap rug/afghan with SEVERAL staves of music. hmmmmm - that could be done in a more solid pattern and the design workied into it as an overlay...

let's let more people post in with ; let some ideas bounce and we'll see what happens.

Subject: RE: A Very Special MMario Shawl
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 02:38 PM

I'm in!

Subject: RE: A Very Special MMario Shawl
From: Big Mick
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 02:40 PM

There are only two possibilities. Catspaw's Rag. A Mudcat original. Or Leezy Lindsay, which was very special to Rick and Heather.

All the best,

Mick

Subject: RE: A Very Special MMario Shawl
From: Bill D
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 02:43 PM

of course..count me in..

Subject: RE: A Very Special MMario Shawl
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 02:44 PM

count me in.

Subject: RE: A Very Special MMario Shawl
From: Sorcha
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 02:54 PM

I like the Circle Motif.....the circle of life, unbroken. Perhaps in a soft heather grey? And, if there is 'supplies money' left over we send it to Heather, right?

Subject: RE: A Very Special MMario Shawl
From: Leadfingers
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 02:56 PM

Rick Fielding was someone I never met, though I read his postings in
the forum . Count me in too please .

Subject: RE: A Very Special MMario Shawl
From: katlaughing
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 02:59 PM

I think it should be one of Rick's songs, like Sing With the Angels and I love the idea of the circle, too. This is wonderful. Please let me know what I can help with.

Subject: RE: A Very Special MMario Shawl
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 03:00 PM

right.

Circular wouldn't mean we have to ditch the music though - I can work that in.

Subject: RE: A Very Special MMario Shawl
From: Mark Clark
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 03:01 PM

Count me in as well.

      - Mark

Subject: RE: A Very Special MMario Shawl
From: Helen
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 03:07 PM

Susan & Leo,

You are both treasures. Thank you for this beautiful idea. Count me in.

Helen

Subject: RE: A Very Special MMario Shawl
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 03:08 PM

I'm onboard.

Subject: RE: A Very Special MMario Shawl
From: Micca
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 03:19 PM

Why dont we all send MMario a dollar for materials? then we are all "equal" and he has about 40$ to start with.and even us on teh East side of the Pond might be able to find a 1$ bill somewhere or as a group?

Subject: RE: A Very Special MMario Shawl
From: Alba
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 03:25 PM

Thank you Susan and to you Leo for the wonderful, caring idea..
I would love to be included.

Jude