To say this experience and project has left me transformed would be an understatement. I’ve waited a week to write about it to let me fully absorb all that I’ve learned, felt and experienced the last two months in helping to create the yarn bombing of Carol’s Poets Shack.
Lets start with yarnbombing – Yarnbombing is the art of making fiber graffiti; the idea of using yarn to cover something else, usually outside, often in a public place. It can be knit, crocheted, knotted, felted- you name it. Google it from there with groups, concepts and ideas! It is overwhelming to be in front of, considering the energy and time usually put into these works of art. It has also become one of my favorite, most exciting art forms! What excites me about yarnbombing is that you can be really social while doing what typically might be considered a solo task- needlework. And better yet, you can use this very cool art form as a way to help draw attention to causes dear to your heart.
My close friend Amy Anselmo came to me a few months ago with this idea for a yarn bombing project for our mutual friend Carol who is undergoing a bone marrow transplant for non-hodgkins lymphoma. You can learn more about Carol’s story, the project, and how to donate here.
I instantly went looking around my house and studio for all the knit, crochet and felted scraps I could find. All my free time was spent crocheting tunisian panels as fast and as big as I could muster. Three strands of yarn is totally no problem now. Thank you Poetry Shack. Amy and our other darling friend Abi organized several knitting nights for groups of us to get together and plan the idea of the Poet’s Shack. It was so awesome to have planned events where fiber, yarn, Carol, and so many more things, tied us together. Big thanks to Vermont Arts Exchange in North Bennington for hosting our nights no questions asked, yarn donated from all around, so many thank yous.
As the launch day came, (The opening of the North Bennington Outdoor Sculpture Show) we started stapling our final fabulously pieced panels (Thanks Caroline!) for each side of the shack. We stapled for 5 hours, completing all but a tiny spot in time for the show. 3000 staples. My hand was swollen more than I had ever seen it, and I couldn’t have been happier. The shack itself has such a wonderful, loving presence. So much time, thought, love and care was put into each piece that made the shack for Carol – she says she feels the love – all this while sitting in Dana Farber. What a woman. <3 And she’s right, you really DO feel the love.
40+ people helped on this project. I’m so happy and blessed that I could be part of a community and a group so willing to give of themselves to help one of our own, as I write this I still choke up about it. It is so nice to have community of folks as passionate about the things I’m so deeply passionate about. Makes my heart sing.
The Poetry Shack is being raffled to raise much needed funds for Carol! It would make a wonderful backyard writing retreat, studio, potting shed, playhouse…tickets are $30 each or 4/$100. Scroll to bottom for donation & ticket info. The Poetry Shack is moving around the Southern Vermont area, Currently In Shaftsbury Vermont at Clear Brook Farm by the pond, and will move to Northshire Bookstore’s rear garden in Manchester,Vermont in September.
Since we completed the shack, I have been non stop crocheting and yarnbombing. I think it is a forever sort of love 😉 Right now I’m finishing up the tree in front the of Manchester Hot Glass on Elm Street. Check out progress on my facebook page. The bombshells want to plan more stuff too. yay.