Circle Craft ends tomorrow, check out the list of exhibitors!    If you're planning on going be sure to stop by the Capilano U Textile Arts table.  They are there to answer any questions you have about the program and flaunt their hand-mades.  Alumni Wendy Van Riesen of Dahlia Drive and Vanessa Cunningham of Thrums are there.  Vanessa says her red shawls are going fast. 

Next weekend is the All Handmade Sale on 1st Ave and Salsbury.  It's personally my favourite Vancouver winter market.  In the past I've left with a homemade frozen cookie dough log, hand-made mugs from JustPotters, lovely wooden earrings, a hand-knit cowl with the cutest buttons, locally grown vegetables and hand-made soaps.  Oh and I also rented a mini potted Christmas tree from this market.  It was later picked-up from my home and re-planted in the ground.  So awesome!

See our calendar for details on both events

Image taken from the All Handmade Sale facebook page

Here is a link to Maiwa's blog post about this CCBC event, they are donating a place setting to the auction - lucky person who wins that!

This is what I call lazy blogging on my part, which you will see a lot more of since school has started :)

xo Janna

P.S.  Of course you can always quickly find this event again in the future on our community calendar page ;)

The Design* Sponge book is the brain child of one Miss Grace Booney.  Her blog is one of my top favourite blogs (and I follow many)!  I like it because it features a lot of beautiful textiles, but it also has some kick-ass do-it-yourself demos.  It's my online destination for some good eye candy/inspiration.

The book, which is a whopping 400 pages, is 1/2 design loveliness and 1/2 do-it-yourself tips.  So its not just a great coffee table book, but a design workbook too.  I pre-ordered mine a few weeks back so I'm pretty eager to get it in the mail soon.  For such a large book it's really well priced at $35.  Take a look at what it's got going on inside:

The book tour is stopping in Vancouver on October 1st and it's doubly exciting since they are offering a DIY presentation and workshop on how to make your own custom wax seal.  Cool huh?  If you want to attend that part, which occurs before the signing, they ask that you register since it is limited to only 35 people (cost $10).


Event: Craft/Book Signing/Celebration at Anthropologie
Date: Saturday, October 1st, 2011
Time: 5–8pm (5–6pm craft workshop / 6:30–8:00pm signing + celebration)
Location: Anthropologie (2912 Granville Street, Vancouver, BC)


xo Janna

There's a cool new segment on the Vancouver Is Awesome blog called The Opening, where they feature local artists, shows and interesting people in the visual arts community in Van.  Check it out here.  A few weeks ago they featured artist and associate curator for the Vancouver Art Gallery, Kathleen Ritter.  She was responsible for the How Soon Is Now show at the VAG which featured some textile based artists, (ie.Kristi Malakof - above).

And speaking of fibre-based art, there is a must-see show at the Richmond Art Gallery, Fibred Optics, on until August 28th. Read a review here in Canadian Art Magazine.   Montreal based artist Jerome Havre (above) is one of the featured artists.

Fun times at the Craft Pride Procession!  Look at that community tapestry!  Seriously, Wow!

Photos taken from the Craft Pride Procession website.  See more here.

August is an exciting month for Vancouver crafters with a million crafty things going on (which we've got on our calendar) beginning tomorrow with the Craft Pride Procession at Thornton Park at Main and Terminal.  Bring your banners, decorated bikes and of course your knitting/crocheting/embroidery/rug hooking etc to celebrate craft!  KT Kilgour will be weaving a community tapestry with YOUR fabric - so bring some ;)

Next Saturday (13th) is the Knit Social Yarn Swap where you bring yarn, needles, hooks, books and whatever other yarn-related things you care not have, to trade or sell.  As they put it, "How you swap is up to you - straight up, three-way, or a little cash thrown in to sweeten the deal, it’s your choice".  There will also be local vendors there to make experience even sweeter if that is possible.  It all takes place at the Cambrian Hall and entry is only $4.

On Sunday the 14th Britannia Centre's outside arts market, Artful Sunday is hosting a knit-out from 12-5, so here's an opportunity to show off your newly swapped goods and chill with friends in the community - you'll most likely make new ones too.

Also don't forget about the August workshop series occurring on the Sunshine Coast.  It's not too late to plan a weekend knit-away.

Something to keep your eye out for in the future is the Knit Mobile by Knit Social where they will be hosting yarn crawls, knitting cruises and more all right here in Vancouver.  But of course you'll always have us to remind you :)

Wow, this town in becoming the most craft-savvy place I know!  Love it!

Happy August!

ox Janna

PS.  Baaad Anna's is turning two at the end of August, so mark your calendars for their anniversary sale on the 27-28th

Electrictree Yarns Knitting Retreat 
October 7 - 9, 2011 
Saltspring Island, BC


Included in the Electrictree Yarns Retreat
- Accommodations for Friday and Saturday night
- Breakfast Buffet Saturday and Sunday morning
- Snacks, coffee, tea
- Fair Isle Class Instruction and an information session and lecture on The History of Cowichan Sweaters from knitting expert Barb Brown
- An exclusive pattern designed especially for this retreat.
- Knitting neeedles, hand dyed electrictree yarn and a project bag for your project.
- A grab bag full of knitting and local goodies.Free time is centred around lunch time so you can  explore the ---Saturday Market and the many fine restaurants and cafes in the village of Ganges.  (We will also give you directions to the local yarn store)

Facing Fair Isle Fears with Barb Brown
Skills to be covered:  Carrying two colours using two hands, right hand and left hand.  Carrying more than two colours when desired. Steeks Corrugated ribbing, Carrying yarn over more than five stitches.  Options for finishing. 

Skills required:  Knowledge of knit and purl stitches and some patience.  Barb Brown will be providing an exclusive pattern that will debut at this retreat.

About Barb
Barb Brown is a designer and lifelong knitter, living in Alberta, Canada.  She has taught at Sock Summit and Vogue Live in L.A., various community colleges and gives classes to knitting  guilds and children's groups.  Her designs have appeared in Vogue Knitting, Yarn Forwar,  The Knitter (UK), A Needle Pulling Thread and several on-line news letters.  Barb's Rib Fantastic Socks  were included in Knitting Socks with Handpainted Yarn, by Carol Sulcoski.  She is the great grand-daughter of Jerimina Colvin, the Shetlander who, with her friends Mary Edwards and Sopia Percy, of the Cowichan Band, strived to make  the Cowichan Sweaters a quality product that would provide an income for the women of that community.  Barb's book Knitting Kneehighs:  Sock Styles from Classic to Contemporary was released in February 2011 by Krause Publications

About the Location
This retreat is located at the Harbour House Hotel on Saltspring Island,the largest of the Gulf Islands that is known around the world for it's artistically rich and culturally diverse lifestyles.  The Harbour House Hotel, Reataurant and Organic Farm offers  year round accommodation, dining and entertainment.  This eco friendly hotel is located at the head of Ganges Harbour, overlooking the marina and is just minutes from downtown Ganges.  The Harbour House team is proud of the Organic Farm where produce, herbs and  other ingredients are grown on-site and then utilized in the Chef's menu. including Maple Syrup!

Pricing
-Standard Room - Double Occupancy - $420 per person 

-Standard Room - Single Occupancy - $505 per person 

-Standard Room - Double Occupancy - 1 Knitter and 1 Non-Knitter - $630 per couple  

-Harbour View with Patio - Double Occupancy - $440 per person 

-Harbour view with Patio - Single Occupancy - $545 per person 

-Harbour View with Patio - Double Occupancy - 1 Knitter and 1 Non-Knitter - $670 per couple 

-Knitter's Honeymoon Package - 1 Knitter and 1 Non-Knitter - $745 per couple  

-Knitter's Honeymoon Package - 2 Knitters - $955 per couple 

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http://www.electrictree.ca/#!retreat