April 2022 Newsletter

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Festival Dates: August 25, 26, 27, 2022

at DoubleTree Hotel, Green Tree, PA

Happy Spring!! I don’t know about you all, but I am excited for warmer weather!!

I am also excited about the overwhelming response we received from teachers wanting to join us this year. I am happy to let you know that there will be over 70 classes in many different creative arts: crochet, sewing/quilting, knitting, weaving, macrame, and many more! We have local and national teachers joining us this year.

Check out all the teacher bios on the website: https://www.pghknitandcrochet.com/teachers/

So you ask when is class registration opening up ????

Class Registration and Advanced Admission Sales will open online on

May 1, 2022 at Noon

www.pghknitandcrochet.com

Need a room for the festival – we have a block of rooms at the DoubleTree use this link to book your room: https://group.doubletree.com/7r84ac

Here’s some of what we have planned:

Toni Lipsey of TL Yarn Crafts will be joining us as a teacher and she will also be doing a book signing of her new book, The Tunisian Crochet Handbook.

Members of the Bethany Community Ministry will be teaching beginning knit and crochet classes for free.

Stacy Wiener from S.A.C.K will be back and there will be space to create soap sacks to be donated to a local organization. You can also bring completed soap sacks and soap to donate.

Yarnbyrds will be bringing Birdie – a mobile yarn shop.

Working on a Create Along – more details to come on this.

Bingo will be back on Friday night!

There are still a few vendor spaces available. For more information email pghfiberfestival@gmail.com or click the link:

https://www.pghknitandcrochet.com/vendor-information/

April 2021 Newsletter

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Hi Everyone!

These images are me everyday….I am super excited to share with you that we have had overwhelming responses from vendors and teachers to be part of our festival this year!! But I also have my fingers, toes, knitting needles, crochet hooks and needles all crossed hoping that the covid/vaccinations continue in a positive direction so that we can have our festival.

As it stands today, we will be having our in person event August 12-14th at the Double Tree hotel in Green Tree, PA. Masks will be required, the festival/classes are set up to allow for social distancing and there will be hand sanitizer available.

Let’s talk about the festival – we have many returning vendors and teachers plus lots of new ones!

We have vendors coming from all over the USA – from Florida to Vermont to Kansas and everywhere in between. They will be offering lots of unique items, including yarn/fiber, fabric, bags/organizers, felting supplies, notions, accessories for quilters, shawl pins and so much more. On the website is a list of vendors – check them out!

The class line up – all I can say is WOW – you will have lots to choose from! Some really innovative techniques, new local teachers will be joining us, my wish list is a mile long – and there just wont be enough time in the day to take them all.

As I had announced earlier on social media we have two nationally known teachers joining us this year:

Heather Kojan, a nationally known quilting instructor will be teaching every day. Her classes will definitely up your quilting/sewing game!

Laura Nelkin, an innovative knitwear designer and pattern maker will be teaching every day as well – her classes will bring a new twist to sweater making, brioche and much more.

There is definitely something for everyone – weaving, polymer clay, crocheting on canvas, dyeing, pin loom, tatting, felting, kumihimo, illusion knitting, steeking and so much more.

Class registrations will open end of May/beginning of June. So make sure you are following us on facebook, instagram and get our newsletter!

In the meanwhile check out Laura, Heather and all the teachers bios on the website at https://pghknitandcrochet.com/

I am be adding more vendors and teachers in the coming weeks.

I am also working on a community project that will be lots of fun and support local organizations in the Pittsburgh area.

There is a block of rooms reserved at the Double Tree hotel in Green Tree, PA – so book your rooms now by using the following link

 http://group.doubletree.com/t58xg

Time for me to get back to planning more festival fun! Looking forward to seeing everyone in August.

If there are any questions, please email me at http://pghfiberfestival@gmail.com

Happy Creating,

Laura
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February 2021 Newsletter

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I am super excited to announce that there will be 2 nationally known instructors at the Festival in August!!! Laura Nelkin of Nelkin Designs and Heather Kojan of Heather Kojan Quilts.

Laura Nelkin is a knitting designer and teacher from upstate New York. Her designs and techniques are innovative, fun and will challenge you to think in new ways about your knitting. Her classes focus on sweater construction, lace and incorporating beads into knitting. Laura travels often to teach at workshops around the country and online at Craftsy.com.

Heather Kojan considers herself a modern quilter with traditional roots. She is the founder of the Baltimore Modern Quilt Guild. She is a contributing author to the Book Classic Modern Quilts and a featured quilter in The Improv Handbook for Modern Quilters by Sherri Lynn Wood.

In 2020, Heather taught to many guilds across the country, is a teacher with Original Sewing and Quilt Expo – and did many zoom classes the later half of 2020.

I hope you all are excited as I am to welcome Laura and Heather to the Pittsburgh Festival family!!.

Now Accepting New Vendor Applications and Class Proposals

New vendor applications and class proposal forms can be found on the website at www.pghknitandcrochet.com under the Information tab.

Any questions please email us at pghfiberfestival@gmail.com

Deadline for applications and proposals is March 12th. Notifications of acceptance will be sent in April.

Hope everyone is having a great start to 2021! Winter finally hit us these last couple of weeks – not a big fan! Love the snow but not the cold temps and lack of sun!

I have been busy working on the Festival. I am still hopeful that we will be able to have an in person show.

Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and instagram for updates and other fun information.

Happy Creating,

Laura

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October Newsletter

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It’s finally FALL! My favorite season! I love that the weather starts to get a little cooler but it’s really all about Halloween! I have a closet full of costumes, mostly handmade…. we’ve been Angry birds, a roller coaster, mimes…not sure what it will be this year….as my hubby is in a cast due to rupturing his Achilles…maybe Nurse Ratchet?!?!

I’ve been a bit busy…..I attended the monthly zoom meeting of the East Pittsburgh Knitting Group. What a great group! I talked about the future of the Pittsburgh Creative Arts Festival, saw what everyone is working on, and laughed a lot. It was great meeting everyone and spending time chatting. I welcome the opportunity to meet with other guilds! Send me an email at pghfiberfestival@gmail.com to schedule time.

I also made a day trip to Pittsburgh for some festival business and visited two awesome places. First stop was Songbird Artistry, were I spent time with Debbie while she was creating with polymer clay. We chatted about impacts of the pandemic and ways to socially interact while keeping our distance…..possible a collaboration in the future! Check out her website at www.songbirdartistry.com or stop in her shop.

Next stop was Contemporary Crafts, what an amazing space! The current exhibit is by artist Caledonia Curry (aka Swoon). If you are the area, you need to check it out….it was awesome! Part of the space includes great spaces for opportunities to create…check out upcoming workshops on their website www.contemporarycraft.org. I’m looking to partner with Kate and Allison on future endeavors…stay tuned

Below are pictures of both spaces I visited, plus us as Angry Birds.

I had hoped to see some fall colors along the way but everything was still pretty green….hopefully on my next trip that will be different!

I would love to meet others on my next trip to Pittsburgh….drop me an email at pghfiberfestival@gmail.com

Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram and Facebook for updates in between newsletters!

UPMC a long time sponsor of the festival is hosting their annual funding raising event online. What a great opportunity to help an organization within the Pittsburgh community.

The 12th Annual Celebrating Senior Champions Dinner and Auction honors distinguished individuals and organizations for their outstanding accomplishments in creating a better life for seniors.

This year’s special on-line celebration creates the opportunity for everyone to be a part of the silent auction. This includes you, your family, and your friends! You need not buy a ticket to the event itself to take part in the auction. With 200 items to bid upon, we have something for everyone, including sports memorabilia, golf packages, high-end handbags, fine dining, and cultural experiences.

Don’t miss out! Bidding is open now through Friday, Oct. 23 at noon. To register for mobile bidding, text 2020CSC to 76278 or use this link www.2020csc.givesmart.com Winners will be notified by text message.

Thank you for supporting this organization!

What’s up in Fiber?

Virtual festivals:

VogueKnit Live 10/8-11

Stitches at Home 10/3,4,10 &11

Westknits annual MKAL starts 10/10

Pittsburgh:

Raggz Fiber Affair, Delmont VFD parking lot, 10/24 10am

What’s up in Fabric?

Virtual festivals:

Pacific International Quilt Festival 10/14-17

Know of an event happening, email pghfiberfestival@gmail.com and I will add it to the list.
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Thursday Winners

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Thursday Daily winners are

Osteomedico (from instagram) and Jojoseph. Congrats and I will be reaching out to you for your mailing address

Please continue to support the vendors by shopping via their online stores!

Don’t forget to email or comment on facebook or instagram when you make a purchase! Happy shopping and creating!

Laura

Wednesday Daily Drawing Winners

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Support the Vendors! Wednesday daily drawing winners are:

James Yamber

Mo Doerner

I will be sending you an email to get your address.

Keep supporting the vendors!! Next drawing will be on Thursday and if you made a purchase but haven’t won…you are still in.

Don’t forget to email me at pghfiberfestival@gmail.com or comment on Instagram or Facebook – when you make a purchase so you can be entered into that day’s drawing!!

Call for Vendor Support

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I had hoped that people would be starting to get excited about the 2020 Pittsburgh Creative Arts Festival….but not this year. 🙁  Looking forward to seeing everyone in 2021!

In the meanwhile, you can still get excited about seeing what your favorite exhibitors have to offer by visiting their online shop!!!

Head on over to our website www.pghknitandcrochet.com  Go to the exhibitors tab and there you will find everything you need to visit them online.  I ask that you take some time and possibly find something that you just can’t live without!!!

When you make a purchase – Go to our instagram account, www.instagram.com/pghknitandcrochet and leave a comment about what you purchased and who from.

Don’t have an instagram?  send an email to pghfiberfestival@gmail.com In the subject line enter  Made a purchase.  You will be entered into daily drawings that I will start Wednesday, August 26th – with the last drawing on Sunday, August 30th. Winners will be notified via email or instagram and posted daily as well.

I have lots of goodies (yarn, fabric, patterns, bags etc) that many of the sponsors donated to give away.

Looking forward to lots of messages in the email or instagram!!!  Thanks for supporting all the exhibitors!!

Happy Creating,

Laura

Exciting News

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Hi Everyone,

Before I talk about me, I would like to first give a HUGE SHOUT OUT and THANKS to Barb for having a vision all those years ago when she started the Pittsburgh Creative Arts Festival/Pittsburgh Knit and Crochet Festival.  THANK YOU BARB!

If it wasn’t for all the work Barb, Ann, the volunteers, vendors, teachers, sponsors, and attendees have done over the years to make this one of the best Fiber Festivals, I wouldn’t be in this position today to have the opportunity to take over the reins and for that I am very grateful.

Who am I?

My name is Laura Regan.  I am an avid knitter, crocheter, weaver (self taught during Covid-19) and indie dyer/owner of Created 4 U by Laura.  Fiber/creativity runs through my body…..during college (many decades ago), I wrote a business plan for opening a yarn shop that received an A….still have that plan today.  It may have been the only A I got in College, I say it was the best A I received!

I am very excited to be taking over the Pittsburgh Creative Arts Festival.  The opportunity it creates to bring together vendors, teachers and attendees is something that I want to see continue. I love the retreat like feel that Barb has created.  One that I will continue as well.

I will also admit that I am a little nervous as I am a one woman company and I have a lot to learn about the intricacies of organizing and running a festival.  On the plus side, I have been a vendor at many festivals around the US and will call on that experience to help make this the best festival it can be.

Why did I do this?

To be honest it felt like the right thing to do…a little risky considering all that has happened in the fiber community and the world in general this year.  I love being creative….and want everyone to have the opportunity to learn, become better, meet/make new friends whether you knit, crochet, weave, sew, quilt, spin, dye, paint, bead, mold clay etc.  What better place to do that then at a festival.

Also, my husband is from Pittsburgh and my in-laws still live there…so it makes a perfect opportunity for me to do something in a town that has meaning for my family.

What’s next?

I’ll be working with Barb and Ann on transitioning all the details of running a festival to me.  I can share with you the following about the 2021 Pittsburgh Creative Arts Festival:

·       It will be August 12-14, 2021 (Thursday, Friday, Saturday).  You may ask why August and not March – March/April has become rather crowded with festivals and with everyone having to make a choice on which to attend, vend or teach at.  In August there are not as many festivals, so hopefully people will only have to choose to attend this one.

·       It will be at the Double Tree by Hilton Hotel in Green Tree, PA.  The same hotel it was at in 2019.

My hope is that you all will continue with me on my new adventure! I look forward to meeting everyone and begin to create new and lasting friendships.

Stay tune for updates!  Don’t forget to follow us on instagram and Facebook!