library yarn bombing

june 8 was international yarn bombing day, and my local library was yarn bombed at two different branches! check out the sweet knit and crochet pieces that adorned trees, benches, and shrubs. what a pop of color to be seen by all the library patrons!

yarn bombing the museum

michigan's department of natural resources is looking for knitters! the michigan historical museum will be yarn bombed as part of its be a tourist in your own town event that starts june 1.

yarn bombing in aviles, spain. photo by rebes.

they are hosting stitch labs now through may:
all skill levels welcome; instruction, limited equipment available.

they happen from10:30-3:30 on march 23, april 27, and may 18. there are also kids stitch labs on march 16 and april 20.

want to participate and can't make it to a stitch lab? no worries!

Knitting or crocheting enthusiasts who cannot make it to Lansing to participate can send their creations in the form of 5-inch-by-5-inch squares in any color to the museum to be included. They can be mailed by May 29 to the Michigan Historical Museum, 702 W. Kalamazoo St., P.O. Box 30740, Lansing, MI 48909.

this all sounds like a jolly great idea to me. i hope to head out to see the finished product!

the small craft @ pot & box

while normally the small craft hosts events at the trumbullplex in detroit, they've taken their act on the road this winter, and yesterday they hosted a meet-up at pot & box in ann arbor. it was such a lovely space for a kick-ass crafty gathering! amy and ethan cronkite of small craft provided coffee, tea and yummy vegan cookies, cellar door soap co. sold delicious soaps, while i lead a skillshare on how to turn old paperback books into pretty book sculptures! paperback trees and dangling diamonds were the most popular shapes made by guests. it's a fairly simple craft once you learn the tricks, and it's quite addicting, so hopefully i've created a few folding addicts. we had a great crowd with some of my favorite crafty faces in attendance, and i had boat-loads of fun. (get it? boat? small craft?)

thank you so much to those who came out, and to small craft for organizing these monthly gatherings, and for allowing me to share a skill this wintery month.

next up: the small craft will be at woodward avenue brewery in ferndale, where handleber will be leading a skillshare, and glass action will be the featured pop-up shop. i'm in!

more book talk: belle isle to 8 mile

the linn siblings have written a wonderful guide to the city of detroit. whether you're just passing through or have lived in the area your whole life, there is something in this book for you. you may know emily and andy linn from their detroit shops city bird and nest and have seen them at local art and craft fairs. i feel like i met andy and emily way back in the beginning of dang argyle days, and i am so happy to have done so! their belle isle to 8 mile book is an inspiration to the creator and wanderer in all of us.

small craft!

february's edition of small craft is headed to ann arbor for a visit! small craft will be setting up at the adorable pot & box on saturday, february 9. there will be a pop-up shop featuring cellar door soap co. from 2-6pm, and a skillshare lead by me that goes from 3-6pm. there will also be coffee and vegan baked goodies to fill your tummy. read more about this adventure here.

for the skillshare we'll be making book sculptures! i have a slew of paperbacks waiting to be folded into beauties. once i started folding up books, i simply could not stop. it's super fun, addicting, and the end result is wonderful. my favorites are the diamond shapes that hang! the event is free to attend, and supplies will be provided; though i highly recommend you bring a glue gun if you have one.

don't fear repurposing books; these books were most likely to collect dust and never be read again, and if that's the case, they may as well go on collecting dust as amazing art sculptures instead.

see you there!

book time | extra yarn

 

extra yarn by mac barnett is one of my favorite picture books as of late. it has the potential of winning a caldecott thanks to jon klassen's beautiful illustrations. the story features annabelle who comes across a box containing some yarn. but a magical thing happens! she knits and knits and the yarn never seems to run out. so she knits sweaters for dogs, and people, and trees, and cars, and soon the entire monochromatic town is awash in color thanks to her handiwork. the greedy archduke decides to steal her magic box. how will she get out of that pickle? you'll have to read it to find out. it's a great read-aloud for the little ones, and sure to be at your local library!

gertie's in town!

gertie hirsch's blog for better sewing is one of the most popular sewing blogs on the internet. an avid seamstress, her clothing designs are vintage inspired and truly fabulous. if you're into kitsch and sewing, her blog's a must read. and you should check out her new book: gertie's new book for better sewing: a modern guide to couture-style sewing using basic vintage techniques.

michigan crafters, you've got a treat coming up soon. the new york-based gertie will be in town and you'll have a chance to meet her! she'll be visiting the ann arbor district library for a free event on sunday, january 27, from 2-3:30pm. she'll be talking about her book and her blog, and there will be a book signing with books for sale. sounds like fun, right? she's making the trip out, so should you. i am working that day and won't get to attend, so you need to go and let me know how it goes!