What a week! Thank you so much to everyone who came to Powell’s – I had a great time and I hope you did too. And if you couldn’t make it but want a signed copy of the book, here you go! I have to admit that I spent more time talking to friends than taking photos of magnets, but I’ll post some awesome ones people made over at the World of Geekcraft book site. Powell’s has been amazingly supportive of me as a local writer and I was so thankful for all their kindnesses, so just to start with a little thank-you I made them a special set of comics magnets for the store… the first of a few more crafty gifts I’m planning to make them over the next few weeks.

Now I’m helping organize one of the Portland Craft Parties (yes, there are THREE going on in Portland) this Friday, June 10, and I would love to tell you all about it. We are planning some really fun things and it would be great to see you there!

PORTLAND CRAFT PARTY #1!

The I Heart Art/Museum of Contemporary Craft event, a fundraiser for Mercy Corps‘ work in Japan, is really coming together and we are so excited about it! From 11-6, I’m hosting a Quilts for Quake Survivors bee at the Museum, thanks to Modern Domestic generously lending us six Bernina 330 machines for sewing and quilting. We have some beautiful quilts in progress that could use a little love if you have time to jump in with us! All community-made quilts are for sale through Modern Domestic, priced at $125 or $150, and the money raised from sales goes straight to Mercy Corps.

The Museum is also going to display a selection of the QfQ quilts in their beautiful Community Showcase upstairs in the Lab, where the daytime craft party will be taking place. These community-made fundraiser quilts will be on display in the Museum for the month thanks to their generosity! I’ll post a photo as soon as we finish the installation on Thursday…

So, during the day Friday (11-6) you can sew, quilt, bind, or try one of the free crafts offered by I Heart Art:

* 11:00 am–1:00 pm — Japanese-style Papercuts
* 1:30 pm–3:30 pm — Freestyle Embroidery
* 4:00 pm–6:00 pm — Mighty Ugly Project

The evening party will start off at 7pm (tickets here), and your entry ticket includes music, food, beer and wine, tickets to win prizes (including a Modern Domestic punchcard, handmade gifts, and signed copies of both my books, among many other lovely things), and tons more chances to craft – including needle-felting, origami, hand-weaving, and making your own crafty artist trading cards!

But… there are two other craft parties going on too!

PORTLAND CRAFT PARTY #2!

Speaking of our dear sponsor Modern Domestic, they are hosting a lovely sewing party at their shop to celebrate, from 10 am on. Details here:

In celebration of Bernina‘s new partnership with Etsy, we are offering unlimited open-sewing all day long with snacks and refreshements for $10 to all Etsy vendors and customers. In addition, you will get 20% off any one item on June 10th (this offer excludes machines and classes).

PORTLAND CRAFT PARTY #3!

And The Pendleton Woolen Mill Store is also planning something amazing, including decorate-your-own-sheep-cookies, at their store, from 2-5 pm:

Join us in a celebration of all things crafty (and woolly). Tour the store and the gallery, watch the strange miniature animatronic mill, test out some Pendleton craft supplies, use our enormous cutting tables for your project, and eat some tasty cookies. We hope to have some garments from the Pendleton archive on view, a treat for sure!

(By the way, if you haven’t been to the Woolen Mill Store yet, here’s a video tour.)

If there was ever an afternoon I wish I could be in three places at once, this Friday is the strongest contender yet. Please come by one (or if you’re super ambitious, all) of the parties if you can… we’d love to see you, make some great things, raise some money for Mercy Corps, and celebrate Etsy‘s birthday!