A colorful Friday

On a snowy winter morning, this is what's on my kitchen table.



Mmm.



And this as well - very cheerful.

Well, some of you might have guessed that my package from the Swedish American Institute arrived. As soon as the Shop Swedish links from the Bohus exhibit at the Institute became active, I placed my order for a Forest Darkness sweater kit as well as for a Green Meadow Tam.

I didn't really expect them to arrive before the exhibit, "Radiant Knits: The Bohus Tradition," opened but I was worried that they might sell out so I chose safety over picking out my kit in person. And in person means I'll be at the Swedish American Institute's Radiant Knits opening tonight at 6 p.m.

And just in case you want to be there as well:

Weekend events include:

6 p.m., Friday, January 23: the exhibit Radiant Knits: The Bohus Tradition officially opens to the public.
6:15 p.m., Friday: Bohus Stickning designer Kerstin Olsson will be speaking informally about her designs.
7 p.m., Friday: master dyer Solveig Gustafsson will speak about her efforts to recreate dyes and designs.

These opening talks as well as showings of the film “Bohus Knitting – From Relief Work to World Success” will rotate throughout the weekend. The exhibit itself, however, will continue through March 29, 2009.

GFMelissa and I are stopping by on Sunday for the full day package - I think you can still get admissions at the door of the SAI. Oh, and just in case you were wondering. If there are any kits left over after the exhibit closes in March, the Minnesota Knitters' Guild has agreed to purchase the unsold kits and continue to sell them at our events. I seriously doubt that will occur but you never know . . .

Another event I heard about through the Textile Center of Minnesota:

BLUE SKY ALPACAS 10-YEAR SAMPLE SALE
Saturday, Jan. 31, Noon- 4 pm
Textile Center of Minnesota
Cash or credit card - All sales final.
Attention all fiber artists: Thousands of yarn hanks and other curiosities at 50-80% off retail. There are bulky alpaca/wool and sport weight 100% baby alpaca, organic cotton, natural fibers from around the world. Also Heather Bailey fabrics, French ribbons, beads, trims, sample swatches, baskets, small store displays, many one-of-kind items plus, framed photography by Chad Niemeyer. Finished trunk show items including scarves, hats, sweaters, coats, dresses, pillows, felted bags and more.

Just remember that I would never expect you to buy anything that I wouldn't buy myself! I probably won't have any money left by then but it does sound tempting.

Finally, for Friday Films, another interesting (but far less colorful - it's filmed in black and white) glimpse into wartime Britain, check out this film about Learie Constantine. Constantine was a famously talented Trinidadian-British cricketer who later had a long career as a broadcast journalist, administrator, lawyer, and politician. During World War Two, he worked as a Welfare Officer for the Ministry of Labour. He worked with immigrants of color who were employed in munitions factories in Britain.

Later in his life, he was the first person of African descent to be given a life peerage. There is no sound with the film but you can only wonder what he talked about as he went through his day.