In early May we “stormed” the Hilton Branch Library (at their request) to help celebrate Dr. Seuss Birthday. Thanks to the amazing Gina Provenzano, who was responsible for so much of the work, the library was covered in colorful and creative pieces in honor of one of my favorite authors.
If you’re in the Maplewood, NJ area this weekend, don’t miss Maplewoodstock!
http://maplewoodstock.com/
Rebel Yarns will have it’s own shady spot underneath a tree at the top of the hill. Just look for the Rebel Yarns banner. We’ll be there both Saturday and Sunday from 12-6. Bring your folding chair, lots of water (or your favorite beverage) and your knitting needles or crochet hooks. We’ll be knitting and crocheting all weekend to cover the currently bare tree we will all be sitting under.
If you don’t know how to knit or crochet, no problem. We have plenty of spare needles and hooks and someone there will be happy to teach you.
Many thanks to Meera at Knitknack for sponsoring our booth this weekend. She’s donated a huge bag of yarn for us to use. So stop by and visit us.
I’m looking forward to a great weekend of music, yarn and fun!
What an amazing two days we had preparing and celebrating the Artists Studio Tour. Spiotta Park in downtown South Orange was covered in yarn! There were flower gardens, floating fairies, a parade of butterflies and so much more. My thanks to everyone who made is such a special day. To all of you who took part in the yarnstorm by contributing pieces of your work and to those who showed up to appreciate it and even take the opportunity to learn a new craft. It left us all with a deeper sense of Community.
Okay, get your crochet hooks and knitting needles out. We’ve got lots of work to do and it begins this weekend with Mothers Day.
Happy Mothers Day
Why not celebrate your mother with a little yarnstorming?
My mother taught me how to knit 47 years ago. Sadly, she’s not here to help me teach my daughter, but we’ve chosen to celebrate her this year with a tag on the clocktower in South Orange. If you are so inclined, why not add your own tag, or yarnstorm another location. If you don’t have the time, just add a written note to this piece. That’s what my daughter and I will be doing on Sunday. Use a paper clip and just add it on. A wish, a blessing a thank you to Mom.
The following week it gets even busier with Mayfest on Springfield Avenue and the beginning of Bike to Work Week both on Sunday May 15th.
Beginning with Mayfest on Springfield Avenue from 11-5, head right over to KnitKnack at 1914 Springfield Avenue. It will be a yarnlovers paradise that day. Don’t forget to bring a swatch to add to the bench or tree outside the store. Throughout the day, we will be covering them both with our work. They should be incredible by the end of the day.
Then have a seat and join Seth Boyden parent Leah White who will be giving knitting lessons. Join the knitting circle and refine your technique by working on a swatch. If you want you can just turn around and add that swatch to the many others that will be covering the tree and bench.
Then head inside Knitknack and get your free ball of Cascade Fixation along with your newborn cap pattern. All year long these knitted caps are donated to local hospitals. Good Knitting Karma!
Then you can stop by and see me. I’ll be there from 11-1 giving “knitters massage”. Arm, hand and neck massage so you can get back to working on your next project painlessly. All proceeds from the massage will be donated to the American Cancer Society as well as a portion of Knitknack sales for the day.
And if that’s not enough for one day, it’s also the beginning of Bike to Work week. Check out this empty bike rack.
Looks pretty bland right? Could use a bit of color and texture to remind everyone to get on their bikes to get to work. Help save on gas, get some exercise, be a good example for your kids and have some fun.
Now check out these bike racks…..
See how much more inviting it can be with a little yarnwork. Doesn’t need much. Just take some scraps you have around the house and knit/crochet a small block. Most bike racks have an 8″inch circumference. Let’s see how many we can do in South Orange and Maplewood to support Bike to Work Week!
Then comes Saturday June 11th. There are two big celebrations going on that day. The first is International Yarnbombing Day. How great that it happens to fall on the same day as Celebrate South Orange! Just think of the possibilities. And we have over a month to prepare for them both. So start thinking of projects you’d like to do. Get your friends together and collaborate or be a yarnstorming ninja and head out alone in the middle of the night.
To help get ready Knitknack is hosting a Knit Night. Wednesday, June 1 at 6:30. Come, sit, knit and chat. Let’s see how much we can get ready for International Yarnbombingday.
Now I’m going to ask for your help with a little project I’d like to do for Celebrate South Orange. 
My plan is to have a wall of oranges. Knit-crochet-any size—–just as long as they are orange! We will spend the week before Celebrate South Orange attaching and hanging them so that the wall will be ready in time for the celebration. Any and all oranges are welcome. It’s a community effort, so please join in! I’ll let you know later where and when to drop them off, but just start making them.
Okay, that’s enough for now. Hope this sparks some ideas. Please let me know if you have any questions or special projects you’d like to work on. I can’t wait to see it all!
Hello South Orange and Maplewood. Are you ready for a community art action? Meet us for the kickoff meeting of our Rebel Yarns event. October 5th at the Gas Gallery and Studio at 411 Ridgewood Avenue in Maplewood. Learn about yarnbombing and how you can become a part of this community project. For a preview of what yarnbombing is you can check out http://www.yarnbombing.com
Rebel Yarns - A Community Art Action 