I was recently asked to contribute to an instructional zine series by some rad people at The Skeleton Key, a creative DIT (do it together) collective in Chicago. So what else does a yarnbomber do but yarnbomb the covers of her zines? These will be available at The Skeleton Key table at Zine Fest Chicago on March 10th!
Oh thank you! The whole point is to spread art and make people happy so I’m glad it’s accomplishing that :)
This is a work in progress.
I’ve been hibernating a little this fall and winter. There’s been a lot going on in my personal life so yarnbombing has taken a back seat. But I started to get the itch for it again last weekend and started working on a crocheted chevron pattern that uses up my leftover yarn. Even though I consider crocheting to be easier than knitting, I’m much slower at it. It’s kind of nice to have my hands do a little something different though.
Since its pretty cold and snowy outside right now I’m not sure if I’ll be putting this up any time soon (I should have done it a few weeks ago when it was 50 degrees out!). But we shall see. My plan is to make enough colorful yarnbombs to cover every large light pole next to the alleys on my street. The street is cut off on both ends by two more major streets and so only goes about 5 blocks. I haven’t counted all the poles but I don’t think it would be all that hard to accomplish.
I put more tiles up over the weekend on a curb near a park that I love. I put them up in the daylight and didn’t want to draw too much attention to myself so I decided to go back the next day and take pictures. When I went back they were gone, someone had gone to quite a bit of effort to chisel them off the concrete. It makes me sad that people want to remove beauty. Why should I be scared to install beauty in public while other people install hate in public every day? My friend just texted me to tell me a guy swore at her for sitting in the seat he wanted on the train. How many people stopped this from happening? But someone made SURE those tiles were gone, innocent silly little tiles. It is a very backwards society that we live in.
Anyway, ranting aside, I didn’t want to be discouraged so today I put up 4 more tiles on Chicago Ave. in Evanston, along an abandoned stretch of buildings. As I was finishing a car pulled up but I stood my ground and took pictures. I thought they were parking but they were just pulling over. I’m hoping they were just confused where they were going and weren’t trying to snoop on me. Doing this stuff in the daylight might not be my thing, but we’ll see how I’m feeling after a few more. I like the colors of these tiles and I like how they play off of the colors in the pole. I did find new glue that isn’t runny at all (more like caulk), completely sets in 10 minutes, and is more environmentally friendly. I’m liking this project and liking the subtle love it gives these neighborhoods.
Removed Project #4. See more here.
I had a dream last night that I yarnbombed a tree in my neighborhood (which is weird because I plan to never yarnbomb trees). The next day I walked by and someone had added about 10 other pieces to the tree in random places. I was wondering who was adding to my work and wasn’t sure if I appreciated it or felt weird about them jumping on my bandwagon. But, thinking back on the dream, I remembered this piece and the joy that I felt that someone cared enough to add to something I started. Strangely the part that was added to that piece was removed the next day, and I remembered that it was part of what was added to the tree in my dream last night.
I think this dream came about for a couple different reasons. First, I mailed a yarnbomb to Streetcolor which will be added to a collection of yarnbombs from around the world for an exhibition at the Oakland Museum of California. It sounds like they’ll begin installation this weekend, but I’ll give more updates on that. Second, I haven’t done much street art this summer and I’m totally itching to do more.
I was just thinking about how I forget to take opportunities to beautify spaces when I can. I’m working on being more spontaneous and not planning so much all the time. I think life is much more beautiful when we slow down and take the opportunity to do something on the spot instead of always waiting for “later”. I’ve only done my installations in the dark so I’m a little nervous about putting them up in the daylight, but smaller pieces like my tiles are so quick no one would ever question it.
Just a ramble… more installations and pictures soon!
Oh thanks! I will try to not disappoint :)
I made a new embroidered tag for the yarnbomb I’m sending to Oakland. Packing it up today!
I have a large jar full of colorful tiles that I decided I was going to start gluing to the sidewalk. This was my first try but I think the glue is a little too liquidy (you can see where it oozed out the sides up close) so I’m going to keep trying different adhesives. I placed these tiles in front of a place that is very special to me: a place that I’ve spent endless hours of my time and energy over the years and where a small piece of my heart will forever remain despite closing the doors for the last time on Friday.
Well these are super awkward colors to photograph for some reason, but here is a sneak peek of the new yarnbomb for Streetcolor’s installation at the Oakland Museum of California. I’m much happier with this one and like the quirky color combination!
postcard