 Things have been quiet here on the blog, but I've been working hard behind the scenes to open a brand new studio! Stitchery is a classroom and studio space offering sewing and knitting classes. My partner Traci Vaspol will be teaching all the knitting classes, I'll teach sewing. Both of us are joining forces to bring you a series of monthly wardrobe workshops. But that's not all--we will be hosting knitting groups, carrying independent pattern designs for sale, hosting open studio time, bringing in guest artisans for workshops, and providing children and adults a creative space to learn sewing, embroidery and knitting. Registration is LIVE for March classes. You can meet up with us in the studio to register in person or, you can register by credit card directly on the website. We have introductory classes for knitting and sewing, both for kids and adults. Interested in a birthday party? Want to not have to clean your house and host your knitting group in our newly-renovated space? Looking for Summer Camps for the kiddos? Just send us an email or fill out the contact form. Camps are on our schedule, but we are still working out the details before posting to the website. Check back soon!  We hope to see you at our Grand Opening party on February 25!! Come see the studio, enjoy some refreshments, try out some of the equipment, sign up for classes, learn more about all the ideas we have planned for the next few months, and we will even have crafts for the kids.
We would love to show you around!
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 This Saturday will be my first opportunity to attend the Newport Strawberry Festival as a vendor. The weather forecast looks gorgeous! I'm very excited to debut all the beautiful berry bags I've been making the past 2 months. In addition to all my reusable bags (produce bags, shopper totes, snack baggies, wet bags, etc.) I will have quite a few small waterproof zippered pouches in a wide variety of strawberry motifs. Think of them as small cosmetic pouches, perfect for traveling this summer, or organizing your handbag and beach tote. At $15 they are the perfect souvenir from the festival, as well as an adorable gift for just about anyone. Let me introduce you to this new set of cuties.     
Come pick some berry bags at the Strawberry Festival this Saturday. I hope to see you there!
Strawberry Festival Trinity Church, Newport Saturday June 20 11-6, rain or shine St. Ann's Square on the grass in front of the white steeple downtown Here's the event page on Facebook  What a beautiful day we had for the marketplace on Sunday! The weather could not have been lovelier for April in Rhode Island. The blue sky in the photo of the barn says it all. Let me take you on a little tour.  First, outside. This is the view when standing in the front door of the barn. Mount Hope Farm in Bristol hosts all types of events, plus is a Bed and Breakfast. They hold a farmer's market inside the barn during the winter, then out in one of those fields during warmer months. There are also many publicly accessible walking trails that reach out to Narragansett Bay.  Turn to your left a bit and you'll see the spot where the spinners set up for the day. If you turned to the right, you would see a yummy food truck from Acacia Cafe, but I unfortunately didn't get a photo. The spinners worked all through the day, eager to share their craft with anyone who was interested. I met several children inside who had spun their very own yarn bracelet that they proudly showed off!  Step inside the barn and you find a dozen or so vendors, all with fabulous items just perfect for a knitting or crochet artist. Of course I had project bags, needle cases and yarn-themed bags of all types. I love this event because everyone who attends as a customer is an artisan. They understand and appreciate handmade. Many of the knitters also sew, and it's always fun to talk shop with people about your craft. This is one event where the atmosphere is of camaraderie among the vendors, not competition. I loved getting to know my neighbors that day! Who were some of the other vendors? I didn't get photos of all of them, but I'll share the ones I did. Check the official GRYC blog for a list of all the participating vendors.  June of Rising Sun Earthworks makes exquisite pottery. As an avid knitter herself, she has a clever sense for pottery that suits a fiber enthusiast. Yarn bowls, buttons (you've seen some of her buttons on my products!), and mugs with witty sayings like, "Just one more row," or "I knit so I don't kill people," are some of the items you will find in her booth. The sheep yarn bowls she debuted this year are just beautiful!    The yarn loops around the sheep's tail! How cute is that??  Next up is Katrinkles. Katy makes bamboo buttons, stitch gauges, key chains, earrings, broaches, all sorts of beautiful things that relate to knitting. You'll find the perfect button to finish your handknits in her booth.  Look at the mini bunting and size cards!! And, I will forever be a fan because the wooden boxes holding all those cards of buttons are antique sewing machine drawers. Swoon. You will recognize her buttons on some of my projects. I bought some more this weekend so I can make the Christine Haynes dress I've been planning for a few weeks.  Don't you just love all the itty bitty baby sweater samples hung as garland?  Arrow buttons! You should definitely check out her Katrinkles Etsy Shop.  And then there's the yarn. It wouldn't be much of a Yarn Crawl Culmination without Yarn, would it? There were three different vendors, and I'm sorry to say that I only have photos from one, Play at Life Fiber Arts. Quaere Fiber and Dirty Water Dye Works were also there with equally beautiful offerings.  The color! Don't you just want to reach out and touch it? I'm grateful to be included in such a fun event, and look forward to attending again next year!
 What on Earth is the Rhody Yarn Crawl?? For anyone who loves yarn, whether you knit, crochet, spin, weave, or just generally appreciate all things wool, this event is so much fun! It's a pub crawl for yarn that takes place over an entire weekend (this weekend, April 17-19) in the state of Rhode Island, without the hangover. 14+ yarn stores around the state participate, including a shop on Block Island. The shops offer specials to those customers who have a GRYC (Great Rhody Yarn Crawl) passport. Donating a food item gets you a chance at winning a raffle at each of the yarn shops you visit. Some of the raffle baskets are sa-weet. There is even a Treasure Hunt--you'll have to spot the coordinator somewhere around town at one of the shops. You may be wondering how is Dancing Threads RI involved?? On Sunday, there is a fantastic vendor marketplace with artisans making things that support yarn enthusiasts. Here is a link to all those participating this year. I'll have all of my knitting accessories and project bags available!  The barn at Mount Hope Farm is absolutely beautiful. All the vendors will be available from 11-4, and Acacia Cafe will have their food truck with yummy lunch options. Coffee Guy will be there all day keeping us going.  How gorgeous is this location???? What exactly will I have available at the market? Take a peek. I hope to see you Sunday! 11-4 at Mount Hope Farm, Friday through Sunday at yarn shops throughout the state.
This will be my third year attending the Cornucopia Art Sale as a vendor, and I can't wait! It is a great event with well-curated vendors (they chose me, didn't they??)
This coming weekend there is a preview/shopping party Friday night and the sale happens all day Saturday from 9-4. Later this week I will post some more details and photos about the products I will have in my booth. Great gifts for women, men, children, teachers, secret santas, and some eco-friendly bags to wrap it all up. Put it on your calendar--I hope to see you there! |
Karen KatinAs co-owner of Stitchery in Portsmouth, RI, I teach sewing classes to children and adults. Welcome to my blog Dancing Threads RI.  Archives
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