Ok, so the weekend project suggestion doesn't actually involve sewing, but more preparing to sew. We're having our Super Stash Building Sale this Sunday, the 26th from 11 to 5. Here's how it works: buy two yards (in at least half yard cuts) and receive half off the third yard (of equal or lesser value). This also works for fat quarters--for every ten purchased, you'll receive two free! Wow. And, this sale is for a great cause: 10% of the day's total will be donated to the Children's Healing Art Project.

More from Joel Dewberry's lovely Modern Meadow line arrived just in time for the sale, as did adorable flannel from Valorie Wells and Erin McMorris. Yesterday I unpacked a box with a couple copies of Stitch by Stitch by Deborah Moebes. Great new learn-to-sew book by the founder of Whipstitch fabric store and sewing lounge in Atlanta. You can catch an interview with Deborah from Kim over at True Up. Enjoy the read and we'll see you Sunday!

And, if you'd like to chime in about our extended hours, feel free to leave a comment. We're considering staying open until 5 regularly on Sundays and would love to know what you thought. Thanks!

Events, Organization of the MonthBittySeptember 24, 2010Books, Magazines + Reviews, FabricComment

Organization of the Month: Children's Healing Art Project

We are proud to bring you the Children's Healing Art Project as the Organization of the Month for September. A portion of all sales on Sunday, September 26th will be donated in support of their mission. Scroll down to see details of the Super Stash Builder Sale!

Our Mission:

Children’s Healing Art Project, CHAP, brings the healing power of art to children and their families in crisis. Our mobile team of teaching artists create art opportunities where each child can be seen for their artistic talents rather than for their disease, diagnosis or disability. CHAP works with more than 10,000 children a year in and out of our partner hospitals in Portland Oregon, and at the CHAP Art Factory. CHAP offers one of the only in-and-out-of-the-hospital continuing arts education programs in the nation. CHAP art classes are all based on choice. We offer children in the hospitals, and their families, art opportunities that allow then to find their own personal narrative through the choices found in CHAP’s wide variety of art materials and teaching artists. CHAP understands that the simple act of choice can be a powerful tool in working with children to create a bridge between their world and ours. We help guide each child to express themselves in ways that are true to their creative spirit rather than teaching in the traditional sense of the word, CHAP helps facilitate energy to come out rather than giving the child more information to process. Making art with a child in crisis can open the door to the exploration of their own creative process. This simple fact is the corner stone of all CHAP action and thought….to work with a child rather than for the child.

CHAP teaching artists are trained to step into the world of the children we serve in ways that encourage, engage and inspire them to express their inner narrative. Children’s art often contradicts their physical and medical realities and illustrates their inner joy, humanity and hope. A child with a serious diagnosis, long term healthcare needs, or a perceived disability whether it be blindness or being born without arms often become CHAP’s greatest teachers. These children are heroes to other children as they share their unique creative spirit in ways that adults often miss due to our limited understanding of the creative process, they remind us of what we have forgotten about our own creative possibilities and our innate human potential that can be found in the common language of making art.

The CHAP Art Factory:

To bring the healing power of art to children in crisis is a noble cause, but to bring what we have learned from the children we serve back into our community is revolutionary. We offer the lessons we have learned from the children in the hospitals to the public through the creation of a retail art making life-changing experience known as CHAP Art Factory. CHAP Art Factory is home to Art Club where we address what is known as the second phase of healing, when a patient is healthy enough to go home to their families.

The most joyous of all CHAP art events is our ‘I AM DONE’ party. We invite the children to the Art Factory after their last chemo treatment and ask them to bring their family, friends, supporters, nurses and doctors to celebrate ‘I AM DONE.’ We stencil T-shirts for everyone, make a lot of art and take off our shoes and socks, step in trays of paint and jump up and down on a mattress while screaming at the top of our lungs. This party always ends with the parents holding hands and jumping face to face as they scream in joy and relief. We love our ‘I AM DONE’ parties.

CHAP offers hospice art, where we work with children in their final days. CHAP also creates art projects for the families of the children who have passed by translating the children’s art into floral sculptures and buttons for their funeral services. CHAP Art Factory is always free to the children and families we serve, and we offer the same art opportunities, $5 per hour, and guided classes, $10 per hour, to the general public.

So! Sunday, September 26th we'll be open an extra hour (until 5pm) for you to take advantage of our Stash Builder Sale. Buy 2 yards of any sort of fabric (in at least 1/2 yard increments) and get the 3rd yard of equal or lesser value at 1/2 price. OR buy 10 fat quarters and get two free. Watch out Liberty Tana Lawn, I'm coming for you.

Events, Local Favorites, Organization of the MonthBittySeptember 16, 2010Comment

Events, Organization of the MonthBittyAugust 27, 2010Comment

Tube Sale Reminder and New Fabric For Your Consideration

Melissa

This Saturday (August 28th) all fabric on tubes will be 20% off. As well, all scissors (Fiskars and Gingher brand) will be 20% off as well! 10% of the days profits will be donated in support of Art on Alberta. If you haven't been in the store in a while you might be wondering what "tube" fabric means. The store carries loads of knits, coated cotton, silk, rayon, cotton, vintage sari fabric, denim, canvas-- even chalkboard fabric-- all wrapped on long tubes and stored upright in bins around the store. You will find something you love.

New bits and bobs you might see on the regular bolts this week:

(Moda, Alexander Henry Home Dec, Forest Friends Organic Flannel!)

There is also a new stack of Aunt Grace repro prints, some re-ordered Joel Dewberry, and Japanese double gauze and linen. New boxes come in almost every day.

Events, Organization of the MonthBittyAugust 26, 2010FabricComment

Organization of the Month: Art on Alberta

After a brief hiatus, Organization of the Month is back! Each month we highlight a local community non profit and devote some time highlighting the work they do. Then the store donates a portion of all profits from our special sale day (this month it is the 28th!) to help fund their operation.

(Don't forget about all the upcoming activities at the Alberta Street Fair on August 21st. We'll be open from 10-1 pm that Saturday and closed for the rest of the afternoon.)

Art on Alberta is a small but mighty all-volunteer nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote the Alberta Art District's distinct cultural identity through art and educational activities. We have been in existence for over a decade and received our 501(c)(3) status in 2002. Art on Alberta has received grant support from the Oregon Arts and Culture Council and the Regional Arts and Culture Council for projects in the past, but we also depend on smaller donations from individual memberships and special fundraisers from Alberta Street businesses like Bolt, Cork, Bernie's, Radio Room, Alberta Gardens, and Bink's.

Here's a few of our favorite projects from our organization's history:

In 2006, Art on Alberta sponsored the creation and installation of fifteen kinetic metal banners that span from Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. to NE 33rd Avenue. They mark this area as the Alberta Arts District

In 2009, we mounted an exhibition of over 50 original works by artist Thelma Johnson Streat, an Oregon resident over half a century ago who was the first African American Woman to have her work in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York. More information about Streat can be found here. You can also see her work on OPB's History Detectives.

This year, Art on Alberta had two exciting projects. We raised over $2500 in scholarship money for three young artists to help in their college tuition through the sale of their original artworks to be on permanent display at the Avel Gordly Head Start Center in North Portland. This spring and summer, we have sponsored four new murals for Alberta Street, located at the Community Energy Project, the House of Umoja, and Cork wine shop. These murals were designed by artists Esteban Camacho and Rodolfo Serna and were painted by the attending public at Art on Alberta's 11th annual Art Hop this past May.

Please visit our website to learn more about Art on Alberta and how you can help us with our projects for 2011, which include a public art directory/walking map and the restoration of a 1960's teardrop trailer into a mobile art gallery!

--Hillary

Come in Saturday, August 28th for 20% off all fabric on tubes and all Fiskar and Gingher scissors. A portion of the days sales will go towards supporting this great organization.

Events, Local Favorites, Organization of the MonthBittyAugust 10, 2010Comment

Sunday Sale!

By Gina

This Sunday, May 23rd is the date for this month's Org of the Month sale. Mark your calendars and come check it out! We will be taking 20% off the following prepare-for-summer goodies:

Fat quarters: these never go on sale! Now's your chance to snatch them up individually or in packs to make napkins and quilts to last you and your loved ones through the summer.
Oilcloth and Coated Cotton: perfect, perfect for summer dining. Whether it covers the table in the backyard, or acts as the moisture barrier for your picnic blanket, it's a must for summer. We just got in Amy Butler's new raincoat patterns, in case you'd like to wear it instead.
Dish towels and Toweling: been wanting to try your hand at embroidery? Dish towels are a great way to get started. With our newly expanded selection of embroidery transfers, now's the time too! Check out Melissa's fast and easy napkins for more ideas with toweling.
Apron patterns: well, what can I say about these? We see new designs just about every month. It's pattern topic that has its own container. That's a lot of apron patterns. Bring some joy to the BBQ-master or pie baker in your life.
Kitchen-related books: this includes the adorable Kitchen Linens Book, Zakka Sewing, Napkin Origami, A is for Apron, The Apron Book, and Handmade Soirees.

Come shop on Sunday from 11 to 4 and help us support Out to Pasture Animal Sanctuary! See you there.

Events, Organization of the MonthBittyMay 19, 2010Gift GivingComment

New prints, Art Hop and more

by Gina.

A great new Echino line arrived last week. I love it! Cameras, eyeglasses and transportation. A must see.

The details for this month's organization of the month sale: prepare for summer with 20% off oilcloth (picnic mats), fat quarters (napkins), apron patterns, dish towels and towel yardage, and kitchen project books. How fun. (Thanks April!) It will be Sunday, May 23rd, 11-4 pm.

Art Hop is a wonderful time to enjoy and celebrate all Alberta Street has to offer! With the street lined with vendors of all sorts, so many fabulous shops and eateries, and lots of live music and...art. This year's Art Hop theme is Art Builds Community. Murals will be the highlight of the day.

Events, Organization of the MonthBittyMay 9, 2010FabricComment

Modified Style Fashion Show

The Modified Style fashion show is right around the corner--May 16th! It will be held this year at the Jupiter Hotel and tix are available through brownpapertickets.com. Read on to find out more about the fantastic event!

This May, over 50 designers take to the stage for Modified Style to showcase their designs in an effort to raise funds and awareness for three local non-profits.

Modified Style is not your typical fashion show--in addition to incorporating sustainability into every aspect of the event, the creators are using the fashion as a platform to raise awareness among their peers about local charities. The brainchild of two local ladies, Andrea Fretwell and Janessa Philemon-Kerp, Modified Style was inspired by a smaller version in Seattle a few years ago. These ladies decided to bring it home to Portland in 2009 and are approaching their second year with their successful event. Ms Philemon-Kerp says their main goal is "to show people in our age group--late twenties and early thirties--how easy it is to donate to charities. And we want people to have fun while doing it."

In addition to raising money and awareness for Sisters Of The Road, Out to Pasture Farm Sanctuary and Caldera,the organizers aim to inspire confidence in men and women who haven't necessarily ever designed before. "Learning how to sew for Seattle's Modified Style really inspired me; if I can learn how to sew, anybody can." Ms Fretwell says. She's passionate about the "volunteer designers unlocking their potential. So many people don't know what they're capable of until they accomplish something new."

This year Modified Style's fashion show takes place on Sunday, May 16th. With music by DeeJay BeLo, a raffle and a chance to buy your favorite creation at the Silent Auction, this event looks like a fantastic way to spend an evening while helping some great causes.

Events, Local Favorites, Organization of the MonthBittyMay 5, 2010Comment

Organization of the Month: Out to Pasture Animal Sanctuary

Out to Pasture Sanctuary is an animal sanctuary in Estacada, Oregon for animals big and small. We'll be holding a special sale Sunday, May 23rd, where 10% of the day's sales will be donated to OTP. This is the third organization being featured through the Modified Style Fashion Show on May 16th at the Jupiter Hotel. We will post more about this event and the special sale details soon!

Out to Pasture is a nonprofit animal sanctuary located in Estacada, Oregon and dedicated to sheltering abused, abandoned or neglected animals. We care for a variety of animals including large farm animals, llamas, sheep, pigs, goats, rabbits, chickens and feral cats. We believe that animals value their lives as we value our own and deserve to live free of exploitation and cruelty. Volunteer work parties are held at least once a month as well as Open Houses several times a year. For further information please see our website or become a Facebook fan. You can also contact Kit at kit.collins@gmail.com or call 503-756-8652.

A statement about the founders:

As a child, Kit cared for goats, sheep, horses, rabbits, chickens and a cow on her parents’ farm. Witnessing the slaughter of numerous farm animals made her question the necessity of killing and eating her animal friends. Years later, when Kit’s older brother returned from Vietnam as a vegetarian, he vowed never to participate in the killing of anything, human or animal. Impressed, Kit went vegetarian in 1976 and vegan in 2000.

In high school John read Henry David Thoreau’s story of planting extra rows of plants in his garden for the animals to eat. While other farmers chose to shoot the deer and rabbits that invaded their gardens, Thoreau chose compassion over cruelty. Several years later in 1970 watching a fish he had caught dying in the boat forced John to confront the reality of killing an animal and turned him into a vegetarian (and later vegan).

Married in 1977, Kit and John joined NW IDA (Northwest In Defense of Animals) in 2004 and became educated regarding the cruelty of many humans towards animals, especially the plight of unwanted and abandoned animals. Meeting Carmel Guzman of Oregon Animal Rescue and participating in the rescue of a donkey inspired them to start their own sanctuary.

At Out to Pasture we believe in choosing compassion over cruelty. Animals value their lives as we value our own and deserve to live free of exploitation and cruelty.

Organization of the MonthBittyMay 2, 2010Comment

Organization of the Month: Sisters of the Road

We are honored to be supporting the work of the this great local organization this month. Heather explains a little more about the mission of Sisters of the Road:

Sisters of the Road exists to build a safe, welcoming community. At Sisters, we create authentic relationships based in nonviolence while working for economic human rights for all people, including an end to the institution of homelessness. For thirty years we have worked to create a safe place for everyone, especially women and children, and we continue to offer nourishing meals at little cost or in exchange for labor through our barter work program.

In the Cafe and in the Personalist Center we build life-changing relationships. These relationships take shape during neighborhood clean-ups, in knitting circles, at City Council meetings, and, of course, over our famous coffee and cornbread. Honesty, trust, and a shared commitment to ending homelessness and poverty form the foundation for the enriching friendships found in the Sisters’ community.

Sisters Of The Road as an organization, is just as committed to creating world-changing relationships with individuals and groups who share our vision of a just and inclusive society. Like friendships formed in the cafe, shared work, sincerity, and respect form the foundation of these relationships. We strive to lead locally, regionally and nationally to change society and institutions, and to improve the lives of people experiencing homelessness and extreme poverty.

We are building a movement for social justice, affordable housing and equitable health-care, and for the advancement of human rights. Thank you to our friends at Bolt and to everyone that supports the great work of Sisters!

A portion of all Bolt sales on Friday, April 16 will go to support the work of SIsters of the Road!

Events, Local Favorites, Organization of the MonthBittyApril 8, 2010Comment

Have You Evaluated Your Cutting Tools Lately?

I have. This Saturday all cutting tools at Bolt are 25% off. I'm calling it good timing because I've had my eye on these Gingher Featherweight Sheers:

I have a pair of classic knife edge Ginghers that I love, but they are lonely and sometimes I don't need something as heavy. Bolt carries Olfa mats (24"by18" and 24"by36"), Olfa replacement blades and rotary cutters (both 28mm and 45mm), pinking sheers, thread snips, Omnigrid rulers, all manor of Fiskars... I'm going to have a good day on Saturday. I don't own a pair of thread snips which is a situation I'm also hoping to remedy.

Saturday is also Organization of the Month day, so 10% of all our days sales are going to The Community Warehouse. (Did you know they also have a blog and a sweet storefront?) See you on Saturday. I will be carrying sharp things, so watch your step.

Here's a few more words about Community Warehouse about what they do:

I'm often at the Community Warehouse on Mondays, when evidence of a "good"
weekend (lots of donation drop-offs) fills the space. A wall of mattresses,
dressers stacked two high, and sofas perched on end means that some of the
clients coming in that week have the luxury of choice, which isn't always
the case.

When the Warehouse is well stocked, we might serve 200 people in one week,
providing them with basic household furnishings. But no matter how many
people we see, there's always a waiting list, a reminder of how much need is
out there, and how much more there is for us to do.

Can you imagine what it must feel like to be a single mom with three kids,
trying to make ends meet with a minimum wage job? Or what daily life is like
living with a disability with no family to help you? For many of our
clients, getting into stable housing is a big step forward, but how
comforting is a place to live if you don't have a bed, or a lamp, or a chair
to sit on?
 
While giving someone a kitchen table and a set of dishes may not sound like
much, to the hundreds of people who walk through our warehouse each month,
it's a start toward making a home, and just maybe, a nudge toward a more
hopeful future.

Events, Organization of the MonthBittyMarch 18, 2010Tools + NotionsComment

Community Warehouse, our organization for March

This is from Gayle, our liason to Community Warehouse, the March featured organization.

Thanks, Gina for this opportunity to introduce the Bolt Neighborhood to Community Warehouse.

We are a local nonprofit that accepts donations of gently used furniture and household items at our warehouse in NE Portland, and then redistributes those items to people in need. By working with over 80 social service agencies, our staff and volunteers serve an average of 200 people per week. Clients include women escaping domestic violence, families moving out of homelessness, people recovering from substance abuse, and individuals with mental and physical disabilities.

What type of items do we need? Mattresses, small dressers, kitchen tables and chairs, pots and pans, alarm clocks, lamps - the things that help an individual or family turn a small house or apartment into a functioning home. It's amazing how much inventory comes in and goes out each week, and we accept donations 7 days a week, 10-4pm.

We have a great website with more information, so please visit www.communitywarehouse.org. Thanks for your interest in Community Warehouse.

Remember, the sale to benefit Community Warehouse is on Saturday, March 20th. All cutting supplies in stock are going to be 25% off--all scissors, pinking shears, rotary blades, mats and rulers. Bolt will donate 10% of the day's total sales to Community Warehouse.

Organization of the MonthBittyMarch 11, 2010Comment

Bolt Neighborhood Blog