eat! craft! live!

save the date!

What are you doing Saturday, August 27 from 11-6? Will you be in Lincoln Park in Portland, ME? I think you will.

You know why?

Because that way you'll get to join me and tons of other crafty vendors for the 4th annual Picnic Music+Arts Festival!

Picnic sez:

The Picnic Music+Arts Festival will feature clothing, jewelry, prints, accessories, bags, plush, stationery, photography, housewares, fine art, vintage goods and more. There will be live music and tasty food to enjoy all day.

I guess I fall into the "and more" category... Anyway, it'll be an excellent chance to check out my new yarn colors and squish it with your very own hands! Last year I attended (not as a vendor) with my teeny baby and it was loads of fun. Save the date and we'll look forward to seeing you!

potholder, potholders, potholders!

Potholders! Recently I participated in the 3rd annual potholder swap...the first time for me though! In fact, I learned to crochet earlier this spring, specifically for the swap!

Since I'm just a newbie crocheter, I chose a pretty simple pattern - the potholder pattern by Bea Aarebrot. It's very simple but leaves room for lots of colorful interpretation and no two of mine were alike! I had a great time learning to crochet and making these and I really enjoyed getting a little surprise package a few weeks later...

The potholders I received in exchange for my little lovelies were great - I love them all, despite the fact that I probably never would have made any of them, for a variety of reasons. The colors mostly fall outside my comfort range, even though now that I own them I think they're fantastic! And the patterns seem like they might have been a little beyond my newbie capabilities, or at least would have taken a little more time than I had to devote to the project. Nothing like a swap to get you thinking outside your own little box!

Details:
Pattern: potholders by Bea Aarebrot
Yarn: Tahki Cotton Classic
Hook: 3.75 mm (F)
See mine on Ravelry

blankets

Some of you may know that some friends of friends lost two of their beautiful daughters in a house fire a few weeks ago. I cannot imagine going through such loss and I know that simple knitted items can't possibly make up for it. But! My friend forwarded me this message about knitting and/or crocheting blanket squares for them and it would be such a lovely gesture. She said that the goal is to gather enough squares to make a blanket for each of the 6 remaining family members. Here's the message:

Handspun with Heart · A Portland, Maine nonprofit dedicated to fundraising and community building through fiber arts · handspunwithheart@gmail.com · Facebook: Handspun with Heart · (207) 332-6217

Patchwork blanket project for family in Maine
Please deliver or mail your squares by May 7, 2011

A family in Maine lost two of their children in a house fire in March 2011. We are collecting knitted and crocheted squares to be assembled into a blanket or blankets. Squares need to be delivered or postmarked by May 7, 2011. Questions? Email us at handspunwithheart@gmail.com or call us (207) 332-6217. Like us on Facebook for updates: Handspun with Heart. Please spread the word—thank you!

Making Squares
1. Choose a color or colors of yarn that suggest healing, peace, love, respect. Wool or acrylic, commercial or handspun, are all fine.
2. Knit or crochet one or more 5.5 inch squares in any pattern of your choosing. Finished dimensions need to be 5.5 inches square. A basic knitting pattern is included below if you need it. Have fun!
3. Send your finished square(s) by May 7 to Handspun with Heart, c/o JVW, 37 Westminster Ave, Portland, Maine 04103. You can also hand-deliver — place in bag on front porch marked “Patchwork Blanket Project.”

Assembly
Assembly will occur Saturday, May 14, 2011 starting at 10 a.m. If we receive enough squares we will make more than one blanket. We need volunteers to help with assembly--experience helpful but not necessary!

If you would like to volunteer please RSVP:
handspunwithheart@gmail.com / (207) 332-6217. We could use a few people with experience assembling this sort of blanket!

Easy Knitted Square pattern
You can use any pattern you enjoy so long as the finished dimensions are 5.5 inches square. Here is a basic knitted garter stitch square pattern as a starting place if you need it. Choose colors that suggest healing, peace, love, respect.

Materials: worsted weight wool or acrylic yarn; size 7 (US) needles, or needles needed to obtain gauge
Gauge: 3.5 stitches / inch
Pattern: Cast on 20 stitches. Knit every row for 38 rows or 5.5 inches. Bind off loosely.

Alternate for heavy worsted weight: Cast on 18 stitches. Knit every row for 34 rows or 5.5 inches and bind off loosely.

About Handspun with Heart: Handspun with Heart is a nonprofit fiber arts organization based in Portland, Maine, dedicated to the betterment of the planet by fundraising for local and international charities and building community through fiber arts activities. Like us on Facebook: Handspun with Heart. Email: handspunwithheart@gmail.com / (207) 332-6217