Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Felter Shmelter

Hi my name is ______, and I'm addicted to felting. At a holiday staff party last night I was introduced to the fantastic idea of felted soaps! Beautiful, practical, and totally customizable, these sell to the average Joe for $15 at Anthropologie.
I recently purchased some fair trade olive oil soap from Palestine that I'm going to try this with. For step by step instructions, see this great tutorial from Mielke's Fiber Arts.

Sadly I do not have any wool, so I am experimenting....


***Meeting tonight! 7pm! Real Art Ways!***

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Blog Blog Blog

People are talking about us! (Good things, too)

If I've learned anything from visiting all these new blogs, it's that I need to get more creative with my titles!
BEST BLOG NAME EVER: A Few Queers on the Prowl. They were sweet enough to post a blog on our recent downtown "canvasing." Nothing makes us happier than brightening up someone's day.

When you're drinking your morning tomorrow coffee don't forget to pick up a copy of the Hartford Advocate. I hear Pikachu makes a guest appearance.
 
The Advocate also interviewed Leanne Prain, co-author of The Yarn Bombing book and blog.
Canadian yarn bomber Leanne Prain is one of the most visible proponents of the art. She runs a blog that publishes pictures of yarn bombs from all over the world and also authored a coffee table book on the subject. Prain traces the origins of yarn bombing to Houston artist Magda Sayeg and her group, operating under the name KnittaPlease, and since then dozens of crews have emerged with names like Acrylic, Polycotton, the Skeinstas, and Microfiber Militia.
Prain said there are as many motivations for yarn bombing as there are bombers. Some are making a statement about art and public spaces, but many are just having fun, and finding an outlet for their knitting hobby.
“I’ve met groups of women who are in their seventies who just think it’s really funny,” says Prain, who spoke to the Advocate by phone from her home in Canada.
They also got a response from the Hartford Public Library, which houses the now warmer Mark Twain Statue.
Library CEO Matt Poland said the Committee’s work hadn’t gone unnoticed. Poland said he was upset when he saw the piece, but his anger was directed mostly at the cold weather, rather than the vandals. “My outrage was that Twain was warmer than me,” Poland said. Library staff had snapped some photos of the display, and Poland said he “loved” the new trend. “[This is] what makes living in a city so much fun.”
 To no one's surprise, no comment from the Hartford Police Department. They have bigger fish to fry and we're no threat. I couldn't even get a call back when I was working on my short documentary about urban blight and graffiti here in Hartford.

Today I went to go visit the little babies of the St. Francis Hospital NICU. They have 28 incubators, and try to send every baby home with a blanket and hat. A nurse informed me that they have 16 max lil' guys at once. So baby caps take little to no time to make - sizes from premature to average infant. For blankets - think 16'' x 16''. No itchy fibers, these babies are sensitive. I asked if the blankets could have larger holes from larger hooks (I don't want anyone to get a hand stuck) and it's A-ok.

We meet tomorrow, Real Art Ways 7pm. I said potluck, but it's more like a snackfest. Beverages (soft and hard) are available for purchase. I think so far we have cookies, fruit, and veggies covered. I'm excited to meet some new people!

Sunday, December 12, 2010

We did it!

For the first time ever, people are writing about us. However, Harford IMC may have only written this blog for the awesome title chosen: MacraMayhem or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Yarn-bomb.
I thought my "BEET IT!" patch would be a great way to promote Hartford's chapter of Food Not Bombs which meets at the Charter Oak Cultural Center.

As I posted in my Hartford IMC comment we respect graffiti and have nothing against other permanent forms of street art. We also love homeless people! It was never my intention to use language that can be read as disrespectful.

Last Wednesday we went bombing downtown with charming Hartford Advocate writer, Jonathan Campbell.What can I say, he was a natural!



Look for us Wednesday in the Hartford Advocate, then come to our meeting at 7pm at Real Art Ways.

What kind of cookies do you guys want this week?

xoxo

KC

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Lots of stuff!

First off, thanks to everyone who made it out to last weeks meeting. We visited the corners of West and Spring St.'s in Windsor Locks where 15yr old cyclist Henry Dang was slain by a drunk Windsor Locks Police officer. Did I mention that a WLPD patrol car rolled by?

Our new business cards came in! Ask around and maybe you'll find one.

We may have something very special in store for next week.... stay tuned!

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

If you're not pissed off, you're not paying attention.

UPDATE!

We are visiting the Henry Dang memorial site in Windsor Locks tomorrow night after our meeting. I don't know about you guys, but this whole thing is really getting to me and I feel like I need to pay my respects. If you haven't been reading the news, the 24 year old police officer (still attached to his daddy's teat) is pleading NOT GUILTY to manslaughter charges.

Donations are welcome! If you'd like, please bring your sentiments to Real Art Ways tomorrow from 7pm-9pm. We'll place them at the memorial for you. It would be nicer if you could join us!

See you then.

I think we should start seeing other people...

So I posted an add on Craigslist! According to a certain group website, (that costs money I'm spending on business cards) there are hundreds of knitters and crocheters in Connecticut willing to meet up and loop. Let's hope we find each other and get at it before it really snows.

In other news, New Haven recently got yarn bombed! Spotted by local blogger, Stacey. (Who has really cute animal patterns BTW).

We meet Wednesday, 7pm @ Real Art Ways. I need help making this!

I bombed Arbor St (again...) the other night. At the bottom of the pole I found a tag that had fallen... so I attached it to the bottom of the freshie. I need to go out and take pictures during the day.





Tuesday, November 16, 2010

I'm Ready!

Are you? I have a bunch of pieces ready to go up and I need just a few extra hands and some location ideas! We meet Wednesday at Real Art Ways. 7pm! There may or may not be rice pudding. Anyone wanna go bombing? By the way, the Newington Skate Park has removed my tags. Boo hoo.



















Monday, November 1, 2010

Is felt the new brass (knuckles)?

Hey you fiber fiends. We're meeting Wednesday, November 3rd at 7pm in the Real Art Ways lounge. I have to cut it short around 9pm and do some work, but everyone else can hang.

Let's continue talking about our plans for downtown. We should also have a meeting where we discuss personal safety. Hartford has had some scary stories lately, so it couldn't hurt if we practice shooting pepper-spray. Who knows, maybe we could have a fundraiser selling mace-cozies. I have a pretty good bunch of donated buttons... so bring your ideas for those, too!

xoxo
ck

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Newington Prepares for Winter

I recently learned how to crochet flowers and decided to spread my joy. On such a beautiful day, I went to the Newington Skate Park with my favorite cohort. I also made these awesome Knitty Gritty tags for our work.
I recently stumbled upon a blog post that contains evidence of another yarn bomber(s) in the Hartford area. A yarn store in Bloomfield got bombed. We need to go investigate!

Meeting Wednesday, Real Art Ways, 7pm.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Winter is coming!

You haven't seen much from me lately, but that's because I'm saving up and I've got big plans. Downtown plans. By first snowfall I should have a lot done, and could use some extra help getting everything up! If you'd like to help in the meantime, I have a plethora of yarn.

I'm also in the middle of bombing the inside of my car. Pictures of that to come.

The West Hartford Art League is having a juried fiber exhibit entitled Out of the Loop. Unfortunately I think my ideas involving crocheting and stripper poles are not mature enough to go forward with! Maybe next time.

Last night we met at Tisane where I mistook gay night for trivia night! We had tasty drinks and a huge cookie! It's a great place for yarnwork, but I'd put the needles and hooks away once it gets late. Apparently the lights get dim no matter what you're doing : p

But really. First snowfall. I'm serious.

Thursday, October 7, 2010

reading my mind. OooooEeeeOoooo...

I hope everyone got a chance to see our latest bombs. Mostly because the church where we posted them pulled them down! Boooooooo! We see how you are about supporting art!

While we were looking for places to bomb, I had an idea to embroidery-bomb. No reason that can't work as well as yarn. Then I get a message from a craft site that I follow on Facebook.


http://www.ulrikaerdes.se/public_embroidery.html

How did they know what I was thinking? Or how did I know? Creepy...

Enjoy anyway!

See you next week!

Monday, October 4, 2010

Big things

We have big plans to discuss this week. The KGC needs to think BIG. Winter is coming along and there are more than just poles that need warmth...

Every artist has a duty to help beautify their city.

Join us, Vegas BLVD 7pm Wednesday night.

Before I inspire you, I must make you laugh
.

Monday, September 27, 2010

Look, there's a tree.

Visit the West End Hartford Farmer's Market and see our latest tag!

Meeting Wednesday at Vegas! 7pm!