A few months ago, the creative director for Knitting Pattern A Day and Crochet Pattern A Day Calendars contacted me about design submissions for the 2008 calendars. She inquired about some of my patterns and the possibility of their inclusion into next year's calendars. I contributed a couple of patterns for the knitting calendar and a few patterns for the crochet calendar.

Fast forward to today: I received an email from the same creative director congratulating me on being a winner. Winner, of what? I didn't know that by submitting designs to this publication I was automatically entered into a contest. The Swirl wrap cardigan I designed in crochet for Crochet Me Magazine Fall 2005 won 1st prize.

Honorable mention in a contest - cool.
1st, 2nd or 3rd place ranking in a contest - very cool.
Winning a contest you didn't even know you entered - priceless.