Woolarina
Friday, November 30, 2007
holiday heap and lots of hats!
Holiday Heap last Saturday was great! The Charm City Craft Mafia did a great job hosting the fair and the space was perfect! There were loads of great vendors, and we were busy all day.
Marcel and I were eyeing art all day - Bees Knees Studio was right in front of us, so we are planning on getting a couple of prints to decorate our bedroom. Once we tackle fixing the plaster walls! because owning a home is fun...
So hats! HAha.. beside the fact that I am ALWAYS knitting a hat! (Big craft fair sellers, and super fast to knit!) Mia is collecting hats for patients at the Bethesda Naval Hospital! I've already taken a couple good ones out of my dwindling supply to get to her! Go knit her a hat!! Imagine the comfort a handmade hat will bring to someone who needs it! :)
Marcel and I were eyeing art all day - Bees Knees Studio was right in front of us, so we are planning on getting a couple of prints to decorate our bedroom. Once we tackle fixing the plaster walls! because owning a home is fun...
So hats! HAha.. beside the fact that I am ALWAYS knitting a hat! (Big craft fair sellers, and super fast to knit!) Mia is collecting hats for patients at the Bethesda Naval Hospital! I've already taken a couple good ones out of my dwindling supply to get to her! Go knit her a hat!! Imagine the comfort a handmade hat will bring to someone who needs it! :)
Sunday, November 25, 2007
free yarn! contest!
I think I mentioned before that I'm heading into mad crazy craft fair season! The fair I am most excited about is at the very end... and I am thinking I may not have that much stuff left! Still - it is the most important to me... we are trying to raise funds to donate to a DC food pantry, and also a fund some sort of school art program, like one of those here!
To raise money, we're going to have a tree up with ornaments for sale. All sorts of ornaments, from traditional to crazy punk rock. I've been making some simple ones out of felt, and have knit one ball already. The goal is to get all our friends and crafters from DC and beyond to donate an ornament or two. (or more!) Make something! :)
Can *you* make an ornament? If so, we'd love for it to be a part of our efforts! To sweeten the deal, I am offering a free skein of yarn (at least enough for a pair of socks, if you knit those!) or a comparable amount of roving! Each ornament gets an entry for a random drawing!
I need to have the ornaments for the fair on the 15th of December, so either get them in the mail by the 8th of December (email me for my details!) or bring them to the fair and let me know what you are making! I will draw the winner Sunday the 16th of December!
**Not sure how to make a cool ornament? There are a few ideas over at the Craft Mutiny Blog!**
To raise money, we're going to have a tree up with ornaments for sale. All sorts of ornaments, from traditional to crazy punk rock. I've been making some simple ones out of felt, and have knit one ball already. The goal is to get all our friends and crafters from DC and beyond to donate an ornament or two. (or more!) Make something! :)
Can *you* make an ornament? If so, we'd love for it to be a part of our efforts! To sweeten the deal, I am offering a free skein of yarn (at least enough for a pair of socks, if you knit those!) or a comparable amount of roving! Each ornament gets an entry for a random drawing!
I need to have the ornaments for the fair on the 15th of December, so either get them in the mail by the 8th of December (email me for my details!) or bring them to the fair and let me know what you are making! I will draw the winner Sunday the 16th of December!
**Not sure how to make a cool ornament? There are a few ideas over at the Craft Mutiny Blog!**
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Holiday Booty Market!!!
The Holiday Booty Market is going to be a super fun show. Free Admission! Music and snacks! A crafting station for kids! The Craft Mutiny website has all of the details including how to get there (easy! Metro!).
For all the crafters out there, we are collecting both promos for our goodie bags and ornaments for our ornament drive. Just email us for details. Here's a few quick ornaments I made! Simple and fun - plus they used up some old buttons! Yay.
Make something! We are encouraging shoppers to participate in our ornament drive! Make a holiday ornament, bring it priced and ready to hang on our tree. Money raised from holiday ornament sales will be donated to both a food pantry, and also a DC schools arts project (More info coming soon). Show up early to give your ornament more time to sell. We are encouraging both traditional and slightly odd ornaments. Just make something! If you cannot come to the show, but still want to send ornaments, just email us for details.
For all the crafters out there, we are collecting both promos for our goodie bags and ornaments for our ornament drive. Just email us for details. Here's a few quick ornaments I made! Simple and fun - plus they used up some old buttons! Yay.
Make something! We are encouraging shoppers to participate in our ornament drive! Make a holiday ornament, bring it priced and ready to hang on our tree. Money raised from holiday ornament sales will be donated to both a food pantry, and also a DC schools arts project (More info coming soon). Show up early to give your ornament more time to sell. We are encouraging both traditional and slightly odd ornaments. Just make something! If you cannot come to the show, but still want to send ornaments, just email us for details.
Saturday, November 17, 2007
hopeful news
While I haven't shopped at any LYS's lately (nor gone to any fiber fests- I'm being "good"...) Springwater is one great shop... where else can you get fiber around DC? And the spinning! And dyeing! I've been meaning to get into one of their spinning classes for ages but either miss them or can't come out to VA at the time the class. Hearing they might be closing is sad! I'll definitely give what I can in the hopes that they get what they need and can continue doing the good stuff they do!
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Springwater News - A Big Push!
We have received many calls from our loyal customers and students asking how they can
help Springwater stay open. They have all said how much Springwater means to them and
how much it has changed their lives. It has been very gratifying and overwhelming.
Several have encouraged us to try a last-ditch effort to save Springwater by asking for donations to help us reach a specific goal.
Starting today we will begin a big push to help save Springwater by asking for pledges of money. We estimate we will need about $100,000 to make it work. We need money to give us a cushion for operating expenses, to pay off critical debts, and to make a very large investment in new merchandise for the store.
While we value the school above all, the store subsidizes the school. Without a profitable store, we can't keep the school going. So getting new merchandise – and asking all of you to come in and buy it – is the only way to really keep Springwater open. If we can do this, we will emerge as a better organization.
We are asking for pledges instead of cash because we don't want to have to return your money if we don't get enough. We also need to do this in a very short time frame because our lease is up at the end of the year and we will need enough time to empty the premises if we have to close. We know this is a tough time of year to be asking this – with the holidays, travel, and other financial commitments. But it is all the time we have.
Therefore, the deadline for receiving pledges is Nov 28. If we do receive sufficient pledges by that date, we will ask donors to provide the money within a week.
Please send them in writing to Springwater Fiber Workshop, 808 N Fairfax St., Alexandria, VA 22314. Or come in and enjoy our sale and drop off your pledge. Please feel free to call me if you have any questions or just want to talk. My number is 703-548-1962 and email is annliddleATcomcast. net. When you send in a pledge, I'd like to know right away – so please email me in addition to mailing it.
Give a gift of Springwater to yourselves.
Thank you very much for your enthusiasm and support. (Please forward this message to
any groups you belong to that might be interested.)
Ann Liddle
President of the Board
Springwater Fiber Workshop
annliddleATcomcast. net
------------------------------
Springwater News - A Big Push!
We have received many calls from our loyal customers and students asking how they can
help Springwater stay open. They have all said how much Springwater means to them and
how much it has changed their lives. It has been very gratifying and overwhelming.
Several have encouraged us to try a last-ditch effort to save Springwater by asking for donations to help us reach a specific goal.
Starting today we will begin a big push to help save Springwater by asking for pledges of money. We estimate we will need about $100,000 to make it work. We need money to give us a cushion for operating expenses, to pay off critical debts, and to make a very large investment in new merchandise for the store.
While we value the school above all, the store subsidizes the school. Without a profitable store, we can't keep the school going. So getting new merchandise – and asking all of you to come in and buy it – is the only way to really keep Springwater open. If we can do this, we will emerge as a better organization.
We are asking for pledges instead of cash because we don't want to have to return your money if we don't get enough. We also need to do this in a very short time frame because our lease is up at the end of the year and we will need enough time to empty the premises if we have to close. We know this is a tough time of year to be asking this – with the holidays, travel, and other financial commitments. But it is all the time we have.
Therefore, the deadline for receiving pledges is Nov 28. If we do receive sufficient pledges by that date, we will ask donors to provide the money within a week.
Please send them in writing to Springwater Fiber Workshop, 808 N Fairfax St., Alexandria, VA 22314. Or come in and enjoy our sale and drop off your pledge. Please feel free to call me if you have any questions or just want to talk. My number is 703-548-1962 and email is annliddleATcomcast. net. When you send in a pledge, I'd like to know right away – so please email me in addition to mailing it.
Give a gift of Springwater to yourselves.
Thank you very much for your enthusiasm and support. (Please forward this message to
any groups you belong to that might be interested.)
Ann Liddle
President of the Board
Springwater Fiber Workshop
annliddleATcomcast. net
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Upcoming Shows
Woolarina has a crazy full schedule ahead! I will totally be making good use out of my generous newfound government leave! Up to 4 shows in the first 15 days of December in Baltimore and DC!! It will be so fun!
December 1 - Charm City Craft Mafia's Holiday Heap: The event will be held indoors at St. John’s Church, located at 2640 St. Paul St, Baltimore, MD 21218, from 10:00 AM until 5:00 PM. It is going to be awesome.
December 9 - Squidfire Holiday Art Mart: At the Lyric Opera House! Dec. 9, 12-7 PM... 40+ Vendors and Food! Free!
December 15 - Craft Mutiny Holiday Booty Market!: Last chance for great handmade gifts (plus free food + music!) at Hilda's at the National City Christian Church - 5 Thomas Circle NW, Washington DC 20005.
December 1 - Charm City Craft Mafia's Holiday Heap: The event will be held indoors at St. John’s Church, located at 2640 St. Paul St, Baltimore, MD 21218, from 10:00 AM until 5:00 PM. It is going to be awesome.
December 9 - Squidfire Holiday Art Mart: At the Lyric Opera House! Dec. 9, 12-7 PM... 40+ Vendors and Food! Free!
December 15 - Craft Mutiny Holiday Booty Market!: Last chance for great handmade gifts (plus free food + music!) at Hilda's at the National City Christian Church - 5 Thomas Circle NW, Washington DC 20005.
Monday, November 05, 2007
buying local
I am lucky that my work has a farm market each week... it is the perfect excuse to get out and buy my produce! Plus they usually have samples of tons of varieties of apples, so you can taste before you buy! They also have the bestest ever cherry tomatoes (sungold?!) and delicious mediterranean cucumbers. And the usual stuff..
This week, the eggs caught my eye..
I can picture a bunch of happy chickens scratching around a field... actually they are free to run and fly around a big windowed room, but it's a bit better than not, right? Just like free range is (slightly) better than not free range. (but still frickin ick! - many chickies never actually get to range anywhere!) Anyhow, I'll see if these eggs are tasty!
Speaking of local food, we've been eating lots of local beef lately! Grass-fed beef! This farm is in Buckeystown, MD - just a quick drive up 270! We've had some great meat, and it's healthier to boot and it's sustainable. Also, I like the fact that you can see the cows there that will (some day) be part of your meal! How often does that happen? (Though I gotta admit, thinking of all the animals makes me eat the occasional vegetable-only meal - we aren't that bloodthirsty!) I think all in moderation, it is good!
This week, the eggs caught my eye..
I can picture a bunch of happy chickens scratching around a field... actually they are free to run and fly around a big windowed room, but it's a bit better than not, right? Just like free range is (slightly) better than not free range. (but still frickin ick! - many chickies never actually get to range anywhere!) Anyhow, I'll see if these eggs are tasty!
Speaking of local food, we've been eating lots of local beef lately! Grass-fed beef! This farm is in Buckeystown, MD - just a quick drive up 270! We've had some great meat, and it's healthier to boot and it's sustainable. Also, I like the fact that you can see the cows there that will (some day) be part of your meal! How often does that happen? (Though I gotta admit, thinking of all the animals makes me eat the occasional vegetable-only meal - we aren't that bloodthirsty!) I think all in moderation, it is good!
The past few weeks have been crazy busy. First trying to figure out how to get some hideous bookcases down from their perch on the wall (these things were bolted in with 6" screws!) then repairing the damage that some previous owner did...
Here's with one of three of these ikea bookcases down! We actually couldn't get the main bolts out. We had to enlist the help of a super strong guy! (thanks, mac!) and even then had to break off the screws!
And a dozen or so of the seventy holes left behind! Um? These people apparently did not use the technology of a STUDFINDER! Boo.
So after a week of patching and prepping, we painted... nearly every night last week! We managed to avoid dripping on the other furniture in the room (and it was tight)! My husband was pretty diligent at finishing it, even when I was superbusy at work or feeling sickish.
(with a fancy sewing machine + cabinet I need to find time to play with!)
Now we have to go find the artwork to stick up! :)
Here's with one of three of these ikea bookcases down! We actually couldn't get the main bolts out. We had to enlist the help of a super strong guy! (thanks, mac!) and even then had to break off the screws!
And a dozen or so of the seventy holes left behind! Um? These people apparently did not use the technology of a STUDFINDER! Boo.
So after a week of patching and prepping, we painted... nearly every night last week! We managed to avoid dripping on the other furniture in the room (and it was tight)! My husband was pretty diligent at finishing it, even when I was superbusy at work or feeling sickish.
(with a fancy sewing machine + cabinet I need to find time to play with!)
Now we have to go find the artwork to stick up! :)
