Knit the (Pittsburgh) Bridge Project Going Strong

Samples of crocheted/knit panels for Knit The Bridge 

Pittsburgh, PA is known for many things -- a certain NFL team, sky high sandwiches, three meandering rivers -- and bridges. Come visit our fair city and you will be impressed by the iron structures that bring visitors and residents alike together.

A project is underway to bring even more attention to our bridges. Knit the Bridge is a grass-roots project organized by local community members to create a "large-scale, aesthetically stunning fiberart installation on a Pittsburgh bridge in conjunction with an international fiberart exhibit."

The word went out to handcrafters a few months ago that large panels of brightly colored yarn needed to be crafted to cover the railings on both sides of the Andy Warhol Bridge, the middle of Pittsburgh's Three Sisters bridges. That's all it took. Knitters and crocheters are by nature a kind, helpful lot who love to be part of things and have a purpose for the work they would do no matter what. 

Officially, the Knit the Bridge project was created in conjunction with Fiberart International 2013, being exhibited in Pittsburgh now through August, with the intention of celebrating the history of Pittsburgh as a city of bridges and steel as well as to celebrate the region’s thriving, contemporary arts scene. 

My friend's completed panel for Knit the Bridge

 

 

 

I  was fortunate to be able to attend one of the group meetings where crafters work on their own panels, sew donated squares together to make even more panels and re-purpose discarded yarn projects into panels. It was a great way to spend an evening, among friends I had just met. I hope to go back.

Once official permission to line the bridge with yarn is had, and that should occur soon, the panels will be installed on the bridge during the month of August and later taken down, cleaned and given to those who need a little handmade comfort in their lives.

Don't Miss a Thing this Summer

I don't know about you, but it's hard to keep track of all of the things we want to do in the warm months. Too often we read about something we would have loved to have seen only to find out we missed it.

Not this year. I decided to print out blank monthly calendar pages for the summer (April through October actually) and will jot down ALL of the events, shows, classes etc. we are interested in. Then when we are making plans, we can make a good decision about what we really want to do.

This is easier to do when you can "sign up" to follow blogs usually associated with activities. I can look at my Blogger.com home page and see what's happening along with any other newsy sites I follow.

Crocheted Valentine Lariat Necklaces

You still have time to craft some of these lariat necklaces to give as gifts for Valentine's Day. All you need is some fancy yarn, a crochet hook and a couple of heart-shaped beads. all of which you proably have hanging around your home already.

Simply make a long chain with the crochet hook (mine measure about 18 inches), being sure to leave a long tail of yarn at the beginning. Make a knot at the end of the chain leaving a long tail again.

Tie heart-shaped beads or charms onto the two ends of the chain, running the remainder of the tail back through the chains to anchor it.

Ta da! Easy to do and very easy to wear. You can also wrap these lariats around your wrist for a neat bracelet idea, securing the charms under the wraps to anchor the bracelet.

Happy Valentine's Day!

And What Will You Serve during the Super Bowl?

As Americans gather around their TVs Sunday night to watch Super Bowl XLVII, there will be one thing on their minds: Do we have enough dip?

Big games like the one this Sunday between the Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers, need food to make them go well. Whether or not you are a fan of either team -- and remember I am located in Pittsburgh, you just have to have some of your favorites sitting on the coffee table to be gobbled down whoever wins.

Fans will be chowing down on wings, salsa, chicken fingers, soft pretzels, Empanadas, hot dogs, beef satay and dips -- lots of dips, but it's time to be a little more creative and sneak some healthy snacks in with the rest. Choosing from bowls of fruit, dishes filled with nuts, vegetable trays, and low fat crackers and chips will help reduce your guilt factor come Monday morning when you think of all you ate the night before.


So by all means enjoy the game, but be sure to add some healthy choices to your Big Game menu.

Buying local? Join a CSA club

The other day I was in the grocery store, buying my normal stuff: bananas, apples, grapes, squash. I also like to buy some of the vegetables that have already been chopped up, something that Trader Joe's and Whole Foods began as a practice.

But then in the bagged lettuce aisle, I saw bags containing collard and turnip greens and thought that it was time I started buying these healthy greens and using them to cook.

One way to accomplish this would be to join a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) Club near home and enjoy new and healthy foods weekly during the growing season.

A CSA works this way: A group of people purchase a "share" (also called a membership or subscription) and receive a weekly basket of fresh vegetables and fruits, along with bread, eggs and meat depending on the farm. Costs for the memberships vary, depending on how many pounds of  produce you want delivered each week.

To learn more, search on the internet for "CSA clubs (your town)".

Bring on the kale, and mustard greens and the spinach!

Reducing Stress at the Holidays

Guest Blogger, Vickie Dellaquila, an organizing guru, offers the following tips to help you relax more during the holidays: 

The holiday season is once again upon us. Time for family, decorating, and presents. How does your list look? Do you have too many things to check off your list or people to shop for? Here are some ideas on how to focus on the holiday and make it a little less stressful.

Gift List

Look at your shopping list. Can you eliminate some people? Perhaps nieces and nephews who are older now need to come off your list. Maybe you could exchange names within your extended family and even immediate family instead of everyone purchasing gifts for everyone else.  With only one gift to buy, the spending limit could be raised, you would still save money, and perhaps it would even be a nicer gift. For many families, this is a relief when someone finally suggests it.

Gifts

Give some gift certificates for things to do. The list is endless -- skating, movies, bowling, sport events, gym passes, zoo passes, restaurants, lessons to learn a hobby such as knitting. There are so many activities or places to choose from. Many people appreciate gifts of food, wine, homemade cookies, bath products, stamps and stationary.

Monetary gifts in the name of someone to your favorite charity are also valued.

Wrapping

When it comes to wrapping gifts, save money and the environment by using these tips: Make the wrapping part of the gift. For example, wrap the gift in towels, sheets, or blankets as part of the gift. Place small items inside the gift such as a crock pot, special pan, or re-usable basket. Be creative. There are so many ways to wrap gifts that don't involve paper that will just be thrown away.

Reuse gift bags. You know everyone does it  (!) and it is good for the environment. When the gift bag becomes too shabby to give, use it as a lunch bag to carry your lunch to work: recycling at its best!

Use burlap sacks decorated for the holiday for wrapping gifts or make holiday sacks to use every year. Children will look forward to who will be receiving the special sack this year.

People usually make way too much food for the holidays. Make less or give your extras as gifts or to a shelter.

Keep receipts of anything you purchase as gifts in case they need to be exchanged or returned. You really don’t want to have a chia pet sitting around in February and not know what to do with it. Return it or give it to someone else who would enjoy it! The giver does not need to know. A gift is a gift and you get to decide what you want to do with it.

The holidays can be a stressful time for many people, however with a little planning and organization they can be a little less stressful.

Happy Holidays!

Vickie Dellaquila is a (CPO®) Certified Professional Organizer, (CPO-CD®) Certified Professional Organizer in Chronic Disorganization and owner of Organization Rules, Inc. She is also the author of the book Don’t Toss My Memories in the Trash-A Step-by-Step Guide to Helping Seniors Downsize, Organize, and Move and the Moving Workbook. For more information please visit www.OrganizationRules.com

Non-Traditional Thanksgiving Dinners

Who says you have to have turkey on Thanksgiving?

Given a ltitle creativity, those who are not fans of turkey and all that goes with it on Thanksgiving Day can come up with meals to share with family and friends that they enjoy more.

Here are some of the meals that others have created for their own particular feasts:

• Pancakes
• Pizza
• International favorites
• Mexican (compete with margaritas)
• Lasagna or spaghetti and meatballs
• Baked ham
• Roasting chickens or Cornish hens
• Grilled oysters
• Prime rib
• Pot roast
• Gumbo
• Order out Chinese

And the meal that probably most likely resembles the first Thanksgiving? A pcnic! For those of you who will have nice weather on the 22nd, eating picnic food outside is a great way to celebrate and be thankful.