Heavenly Socks Yarns
Newsletter

Read below about a sale at Heavenly Socks Yarns during Church Street Festival this Saturday, October 3.

All sock yarn is on sale this month at 20% off. We are also discounting sock books and patterns at 20% off. We are expecting new sport-weight sock yarn as we write this, but our new sock yarns include Indulgence, a superfine merino with aloe (the feel is dramatically different), and a new self-striping sport-weight yarn from Regia. Both of these yarns are a good value even before the sale! We also have new colors in existing lines.

Other new yarns and items in the shop include:
Debbie Bliss' Donegal Chunky Tweed: a bulky wool made in Ireland knitting at 3 sts. per inch on a US 10.5" needle.
Regia ABS Latex: A non-skid adhesive for socks. This is applied to the bottom of socks to make them less slippery -- great for the toddler or someone who needs to be particularly careful walking in stocking feet.

New to the discount bin:
Reynolds' Whiskey: This is a sport-weight yarn that is similar to Shetland. Originally $7.95, now $4.75 per skein.

Here is a fun project that Helen just completed in three days (and three days of not that much knitting!), shown at right. It is a free pattern from Ravelry called Round or Pinwheel Baby Blanket. We just wanted to let you know about it because it was fun to make -- mindless, but not boring!

It was made with two skeins of Brown Sheep's Cotton Fleece and one skein of Berroco's Touché. Again, if you haven't gone to Ravelry yet, it is well worth your time. We have free copies of this pattern at the shop.

Tips from customers to share:
Looking to knit stripes? So you want to knit stripes without having the stripes looking totally even, yet you are looking for something aesthetically pleasing? A customer forwarded this link to a random stripe generator. It is fun to play with! (See sample output at left.)

Felted bag handles: Next time you are at Goodwill or a yard sale, check out the pocketbooks. Take the handles and hardware off and use on your felted bag!
Sewing buttons: Can't find the right thread or yarn to attach your buttons to your project? Consider trying dental floss. The waxed variety holds the knot tight and it doesn't come undone.

Hats for Kids: Winter is coming, and we need hats and mittens for our many children in Waldo County who don't have enough warm clothing. Hats for Kids collects hand-knitted and crocheted hats and mittens, and then delivers them to Ellie Weaver, the nurse at Troy Howard Middle School in Belfast. Ellie welcomes the donations and distributes the items to the many children and families who need them. The smaller-sized ones are sent home for younger siblings, or passed on to Chris Harrington, an elementary-school nurse, who distributes them. Any and all donations will be greatly appreciated and can be dropped off at the shop before the deadline of December 15. Your donations bring warmth to the heads, hands and hearts of our kids in Waldo County. Thank you to everyone who helps!

Judy Kao, at 207-338-1945, is happy to pick up donations or provide more information.

Susan Weinz will have an exhibit, Colorful Characters, at The Belfast Framer, October 2-30. The opening reception will be held on October 2, 5-7 pm. The artwork focuses on language and letterforms, and includes a series of artist's books, typographic broadsides and prints. Stories of colorful characters: quirky, nonsensical texts based on obscure words found at the end of the dictionary. "I like finding odd words I don't know but that have an interesting sound or evoke the unexpected," says Weinz. She writes narratives with an eye on more than just spelling and meaning; they also visually challenge the viewer's reading experience. Appropriately, visuals are based on collections of old wood type that become "characters" in themselves. Shown at right is one of the images from the show.

There Ought to be Clowns! will be the theme of this year's 30th annual Church Street Festival & Parade Saturday, October 3 from 10 am to 3 pm.

There will be lots of fun for everyone as a record-setting number of zanies and fools come to clown around on Church Street. There will be live music with Ando Anderson, Jeff Densmore and Alan Crichton, and performances by the Belfast Bay Fiddlers, Aerlite Celtic Dancers and Courtney Porter's Swing Dancers.

There will be craft and food vendors. The chalk mandala and famous cake walk, games and yoga for kids, face-painting, and a farmers' market will all be on Church Street in front of Crosby School and the First Church.

The colorful Mythweavers Parade of Clowns and trained elephants will begin at 11 am and march along Church Street and Main Street. Everyone is invited to be a part of the festival. Children and adults costumed as clowns are sought to join the parade. Anyone interested in joining the parade or being part of the festival fun may e-mail Mary Weaver or phone her at 207-338-5777.

Downtown Belfast merchants plan a jumbo-sized sidewalk sale and are also organizing a scavenger hunt with prizes. We will be participating in the sidewalk sale. However, if the sidewalk sale is rained out, we will offer 20% off your purchase on Saturday only.

Fall classes commence at Waterfall Arts:
October 5 through the first week in December. The after-school and evening classes are complemented by a new lineup of one-day workshops scheduled for Saturdays in late October and November.

Adult evening classes include:
Word/Art: Paul Oberst, Tuesdays. Transfer printable words to any surface.
Free three-week brainstorming session: Peter Baldwin, Tuesdays. Find 350 ways to create sustainable local economy.
Painting: the Life of Objects: Adele Drake, Wednesdays. Basics of painting and integration of personal vision.
Introduction to Wheel Throwing: Danny Piper, Thursdays. Functional ceramics.
Drawing and the Human Figure: Stevan Hall, Thursdays. All ability levels.
Long Pose Saturday Figure Sessions: Non-instructional drawing group for intermediate to advanced levels, restarts October 10, 9:30 am-12 noon.

After-school classes for kids, 3:30-5:30 pm, include:
The Wonders of Clay: Linda Stec, Tuesdays. Kids of all ages.
The Very Short Movie Workshop: Ned Lightner, Wednesdays. Instruction and encouragement for teens in producing videos.
Drawing, Painting, Printing and Collage: Thursdays. For 7- to 12-year-olds.

The new lineup of Saturday workshops include:
Shake Up Your Art: Discovering New Levels of Creativity: Marcie Bronstein, October 24, 9:30 am-12:30 pm. Open to all levels, from aspiring artists to professionals.
Nature paper-casting techniques: Kathy Levine, October 31, 9:30 am-3:30 pm. All ages and levels.
Paste Paper and Gelatin Print: Laurie Adams, November 7, 10 am-3:30 pm. Both techniques yield colorful prints and papers.
Learn to make a beautiful wool silk shawl: Rose Whitehead, November 14, 9:30 am-3:30 pm. Parents and children together encouraged.

Waterfall Arts is located at 256 High Street in Belfast. All classes require registration and full payment before the start of the first class. To register, request a printed brochure, volunteer or be added to the mailing list, or for more information, call Waterfall Arts at 207-338-2222. To view all courses, instructors, exhibitions and events, visit Waterfall Arts.

Belfast Co-op October Announcements:
October is National Co-op Month! Support local and national co-ops, including area credit unions, Fedco, Art Alliance Gallery in Belfast, Cabot Creamery, Organic Valley, Equal Exchange, Once Again, Blue Diamond, and True Value Hardware stores (Jerry's in Belfast, Paul's in Brooks, and Bucksport and Union True Value). Learn more about co-ops at Go.Coop.
Artwork by Dina Petrillo: Belfast Co-op Gallery, October 8-30.
Co-op Wine Tasting: October 16, 7-9 pm in the Co-op Café. Free, must be 21 years old to attend. For more information, phone Ron at 207-338-2532.
A Sea Change: The Colonial Theatre in Belfast will have one screening only on October 20, 7 pm. Ocean acidification could lead to a world without fish. $5 suggested donation. For more information, e-mail Kate.
Belfast Co-op Board Meeting: October 22, 6:30-8:30 pm, at Waterfall Arts Center in Belfast. All welcome.
Belfast Farmer's Market Festival: October 23, 9 am-1 pm. Support local farmers and enjoy live music on Main Street in downtown Belfast.
Climate Day Parade: October 24, 2:30 pm. Starts at UU Church in Belfast at 37 Miller St., marches through town and down to the Rally. Bring your banners, drums and 350 T-shirts. Visit 350.org for ideas and a T-shirt stencil.
Climate Action Day: October 24. 350 Climate Action Rally, 3-4 pm at the Belfast Commons. Sponsored by the City of Belfast and the Belfast 350 Committee, takes place with over one thousand other events worldwide. For Climate Action Day information, e-mail Mitch Henrion or phone her at 207-338-3369. After October 12, you may also e-mail Fran Clemetson or phone her at 207-338-2532. Learn more at 350.org.

For information regarding Co-op announcements, please e-mail Fran Clemetson or phone her at 207-338-2532. Post comments at the Belfast Co-op blog. Visit the Belfast Co-op Web site for community resources and Co-op information.

Make sure to check the Belfast Downtown Business Group Web site for ongoing updates of local events.