PCC is proud to announce the first in a series of knitting circle classes.

This class is set up so that you can bring whatever you’re working on and I’ll help you learn to fix your mistakes, give you the support you need to progress, and assist you in whatever way we can!  You can also bring a new project to start, or an idea and we’ll try to help make it happen.

Location: Cosy’s house in Squirrel Hill.  [address provided after registration]
Time: 7 - 9 pm
Date: Friday, December 19th

This class includes:
Hot tea!  Coffee!  Christmas cookies!  And plenty of good healthy wool. Okay, and a bit of knitting instruction, chatting, and support for any level knitter [beginners to advanced knitters].

The Knitting Circle fee is:
$10 for members of the PCC
$12 for non-members

*Class is limited to 6 people.  Please RSVP with your name and contact information to pghcraftcollective@gmail.com.

Artists Bio:
Cosette Cornelius-Bates is a full time fiber artist based in Pittsburgh, PA.  She spends much of her time designing, knitting, spinning, dyeing, and recycling sweaters.  She regularly appears at craft fairs in the Pittsburgh area and surrounding cities, selling her one-of-a-kind handknit hats and handspun yarns.  Her patterns have been collected in a book called “Knit One, Embellish Too: Hats, Mittens, and Scarves with a Twist.”

it seems that as the holiday’s get closer, the crafting events become more plentiful! and that’s a good thing.

not only is today day two of the tiny canary show in columbus. today also marks the sweater supply swap at the children’s museum that is being hosted by the Etsy Pittsburgh group.

here is some more information about the event:

Calling all Crafters! Swap your supplies (and sweaters too!) Clean out your closets and bring your unwanted sweaters and craft supplies to trade. Enjoy demos from the Etsy Pittsburgh Street Team, who will happily use any leftover supplies in their various community crafting projects.

Holey or shrunken sweaters will become creative creations and wearable sweaters will help the Mister Rogers Sweater Drive keep local families warm.

the event runs from 12-4 pm.

we bet you’re wondering why we are writing about the tiny canary considering it’s not in pitsburgh. but, we have a great reason. there are quite a few local crafters like cosy knits (literally), oh melisa!, cleo dee’s and tugboat printshop that are representin’.

if you happen to be in the columbus area, please stop by junctionview studios and say hello. the show is november 15-16 (saturday AND sunday) from 10am - 6pm each day. click here for directions.

the application deadline for the holiday arts & crafts show is coming quickly. you have until tomorrow, november 15th to submit your application and send in the $25 application fee.

all proceeds go to the CC Mellor Library.

The PCC is pleased to announce our newest Fused Glass Workshop where you can create your very own one-of a-kind glass pieces to give as gifts or keep for yourself to enjoy!

The 411:

Location: Dozen Bakeshop [3511 Butler Street in Lawrenceville]
Time: 6:30-9:00 PM
Date: December 4, 2008

The 2 1/2 hour workshop includes:

• Step-by-step instruction for cutting, scoring and breaking glass with teaching Artist Jennie Stephens
• All the glass, tools and supplies needed to make up to 10 pendant-sized pieces of glass (System 96 glass)
• Kiln firing of the glass

The Workshop fee is:

$25 for members of the PCC
$30 for non-members

*Pre-registration is a must, as this class is only able to hold up to 15 people

Interested in signing up? Please send an email with you name and contact information to pghcraftcollective@gmail.com

Artists Bio:
Jennie Stephens is a Teaching Artist who lives and works in Pittsburgh. She has a Bachelors in Studio Art (Painting and Printmaking) and Art History, and a Masters in Archival, Museum, and Editing Studies. Jennie has been teaching in the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh for the past 9 years, as well as the last year and a half with Gateway to the Arts.

Though Jennie still paints, creates fiber art and mosaics, she was bitten by the glass bug while attending a workshop at the Pittsburgh Glass Center and has never looked back! It was less than a year before Jennie bought her own kiln, and turned her fascination with glass into something more!

T’s Upholstery Studio welcomes crafters of all types to stop in and reap the goodness of sample books and other items that owner Cindy Kaufman Leckenby has available for reuse.

The studio has a bright and cheerful feel with shelves filled with upholstery fabrics you would not believe. This little gem of a storefront is located at 3611 Butler Street in Lawrenceville and also sells trim, accessories, window treatments and fabric.

Tell Cindy the PCC sent you!

we just added a new events page, complete with a groovy calendar to keep track of all of the great events that are coming up. and believe you me. there are a lot.

you’ll also notice that we have a fun widget [ie - thingy on the left side of the page] that says upcoming events. it lists the 5 most current events that are on the calendar. yep. pretty cool. we know.

if you have anything that you want added, please email us at pghcraftcollective@gmail.com. we are more than happy to put you up there!

it’s never too early to post about fun happenings for the weekend. particularly when it’s about a great local artist. one that can be found at local craft shows like I Made It! Market.

when carolyn pierotti contacted us about her show, we were thrilled to be able to write about it. so, we asked her to send us more information about herself, how she got started, and what inspires her work. the following came from that conversation.

carolyn’s background in art is non-existent.

I have had no formal training. I have a wonderfully supportive husband and three precious children. Without them I would have never pursued my passion for the arts. I paint and sketch for the simple joy that it brings me.

carolyn also talked about where her inspiration comes from:

My children and husband inspire me. Life in general inspires me! I am also inspired by the people who told me that I would fail. I hope that everyone can join me on my colorful ride. If not, they can keep on movin. I’m too old to try to impress everyone.

finally, the last thing that carolyn wrote, is perhaps the most touching. i think you might agree when you read it:

I always promised myself that by the age of 40 that I would be doing what I loved. My birthday will be the weekend of the reception. I suppose my wish came true.

here are the official details:

location: beehive - south side
exhibit: nov. 16th - dec. 15th, middle gallery
reception: nov. 16th from 6-9pm