Accepted for the 2013 PNA Winter Fest!

I just got my acceptance letter for the 2013 PNA Winter Fest!  It will be December 7th and 8th at the PNA from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.  There is a $4 admission fee.  It is a fun weekend with food, entertainment, and about 115 craft booths!   My booth space nofication will come in October, but I am usually upstairs in the Blue Builing in the center of Room!  I have to get busy making more potholders!   See you there!  

Getting ready for the PNA Winter Fest !

I have today off and will be working on finishing up a few potholders and getting everything ready for the big weekend at PNA Winter Fest.   I have made about 500 potholders and they are an exceptional lot!   There are a large number of "random" brights and "confetti" color schemes which are a result of my continued experimentation with color.   The colorful loops I purchased from sock production have added to my color palette!  You will find a perfect potholder pair for your kitchen.  Same low price of $10/pair.

Here is the PNA Annual Fund Challenge:  If 400 or more potholders are sold, 20% of the proceeds go to the PNA ANNUAL FUND.   Hope to see you at Winter Fest this weekend!   

Here is the link for more information and details from the PNA website:  http://phinneycenter.org/winterfestival/

PNA Winter Fest!

The best winter festival and crafts fair in Seattle is at the PNA (67th and Phinney) the first weekend in December.  I have been accepted for my potholders by the jury committee and will see you there!   I am in "Room 5", which is upstairs in the big blue building, so I am really excited!  That is the same location as in the past.   Listed is further information. 


Saturday, December 1 & Sunday, December 2, 2012
10 am-5 pm each day

Admission: $2/PNA member, $4/general public | Children 12 and under are free PLUS bring a can of food to donate to the Greenwood Food Bank. This year's event will feature 115 artists and crafts vendors, hundreds of musicians and dancers, live ongoing entertainment on two stages, a quilt raffle, a bake sale and lunch items. http://phinneycenter.org/winterfestival/

I will have a huge load of 600 potholders to choose from, so there should be a color and pattern that appeals to everyone!   I have a new line of  "random" bright potholders with black backgrounds that are the perfect with Fiestaware.  The bright color random weaves always sell out on the first day, so I am making more this year. 

As always, sock donations accepted.    Lauri

Greenwood Garage Sale Day!

We will have a booth at Greenwood Garage Sale Day FLEA MARKET on Sautrday, May 19.  The Flea Market is located in the lower parking lot of thePNA brick building  We open at 9 a.m. and will go until about 2 p.m.   We will have a fresh selection of  our potholders in pairs and singles AND a group of half price "random" for sale along with 2 truckloads of great stuff from the house. 

Lots of antiques, collectibles, frames, household, vintage clothing, etc.  There also are some leftovers from the PNA Capital Campaign sale last year, so you can support the PNA with your purchase!  Come early for best selction! 

Link for PNA Garage Sale Day: http://phinneycenter.org/events/garagesale.shtml

 

Exactly what is a "Recycled Sock Potholder"?

These sturdy kitchen wonders are woven on a large 9" or vintage 7.5" loom.  The loops are cut from used socks or left-overs from sock production.  Our used socks are purchased by the pound from the Seattle Goodwill Outlet!  We go there periodically for several hours and "mine" the bins for socks.  Sometimes, we find some great stuff.....vintage sweaters, antiques, antique linens, vintage lace, yarn, clothes, knitting needles, books,  a spare pressure cooker top for my very expensive Swiss pressure cooker.  Being a "bottom feeder" at the Goodwill Outlet is big fun!  Not many people are looking for socks, so there is little competition.

Fiber composition is a big unknown!  I do not use socks that are obviously 100% nylon or acrylic.  I prefer to work with cotton and wool blends. 

Caring for your "Recycled Sock Potholder" is very easy.  Machine wash as needed with your regular laundry.  Wash vibrant reds alone, just in case of color bleed.  They usually was up very nicely.  After laundering 100's of them, I have only had a few strange things happen in the wash.  Hang to let dry and stretch it a bit to make sure it stays a nice square shape. 

To tell the truth, I hardly ever wash mine!  When they get really dirty, I make new ones!   My favorites are RED, WHITE, and BLACK to match my 1930's kitchen! 

Potholder of the Week!

This pair of potholders was made with a pair of GROOVY tied dyed anklet socks and basic black socks.  They were really fun to make and made a great gift for my brother-in-law!  I would LOVE to find more tied dyed socks.  The black really makes the bright tie dye colors pop!  

A Big Success and Thank You!

The response to our potholder sale benefitting the PNA Capital Campaign was HUGE!  We sold about 500 potholders and made a large donation to the PNA Elevator Challenge!  Perhaps next year for Winter Fest  there will be an elevator!  

2012 Winter Fest was a great event!  I enjoyed chatting with new and repeat customers.  The new and larger size of potholder on the new loom was well received, but the smaller potholder on the vintage looms is preferred by some.  Perhaps next year, we will have potholders of both sizes.   Amelia brought out left over stock from 2011 of the smaller potholders on Sunday because sales were so brisk on Saturday.   Sales were strong in all colorways with a preference for matched pairs.  

My favorite potholder pair, the "Black Watch", which looked like the Black Watch Scottish tarten featuring dark navy & hunter green argyle socks, is destined to be a Christmas gift for a man in a traditional Scottish music group.  I want to find some more argyle socks for a "Scottish Tarten" line of potholders!

Link to the PNA web site about the news and see my picture:   http://www.phinneycenter.org/CC/challenge.shtml

Thank you so much for your support and purchases to benefit the Capital Campaign!   Happy Holidays and see you in 2012!   I am planning a "Potholder of the Week" feature with my new explorations into potholder design and weaving.....