The 17th Annual Maine Fiber Frolic, Maine's premier sheep and wool festival, is happening this year on June 3-4 at the Windsor Fairgrounds. For more information, visit Fiber Frolic or find them on Facebook.

The 2017 Maine Yarn Cruise is a yarn crawl, not a sail on the ocean!

We are so excited to be participating in a yarn event this summer. The organizers of this event are calling it a yarn cruise. It is now underway with plenty of time left, and there is a dedicated website for this event -- Maine Yarn Cruise.

The buy-in to participate is $9.50, which gives you a canvas tote (made in New Hampshire), a small gift from this shop and your "passport." We are interested in knowing how many people want to participate, because we need to prebuy the totes and passports. When you visit other participating yarn shops, you will be given a small gift at these shops. You will have an opportunity to win other prizes as well. This is a great way to explore the beautiful state of Maine.

Please call, come in or email us if you would like to participate. Of course there is no pressure about how many shops you visit or when you do it, although the event is scheduled to run through September 4.

In April, Fiber of Maine subscribers received the Freeport Baby Vest. This vest can be made without any fussing when finishing, such as picking up stitches for the armholes and neckband. (There is only minor seaming at the shoulders.) The measuring is easy too -- just count the garter ridges on the buttonhole band and the armhole band. The pattern has two slight variations that make one more typical of a boys' style and the other a girls' style.  Both styles had Melanie West's fabulous polymer clay buttons!

Fiber of Maine subscribers received Jaggerspun's Super Lamb with their pattern -- a machine-washable worsted weight wool. We knit a shop sample in Pima 100, Berroco's new worsted weight cotton. Cheryl really enjoyed working with the Pima 100. She said it is nice to handle and doesn't split -- she even took what was left of the skein to swatch for a project for herself! You will need only one 100-gram hank (219 yards) to make this vest. We think you will knit this pattern over and over!

You may have seen the Sumner Shawlette -- Fiber of Maine's easy garter stitch crescent shawlette -- in our April 2017 Newsletter.

We enjoyed making this easy pattern so much that we decided to try it in cotton. We can now report that it came out beautifully, and we think you will find it quite versatile as a year-round accessory. It is here at the shop on display.

We had great fun choosing a metallic contrasting yarn (approximately 100 yards) with a soft cotton as the main color (approximately 200 yards). Get into your stash and see what you can use. Although the pattern is written for worsted weight yarn, you can try knitting it with a different weight of yarn. We also have a lot of choices for both novelty/metallic yarn and cotton here at the shop. Get a jump on holiday gift making with this relaxing and rewarding knit.

We looked around our shop for a lightweight yarn that is not too woolly that could be used in a shawlette to wear on a cool summer day. We like Elsebeth Lavold's Silky Wool for many reasons -- softness, durability and value. We looked on Ravelry and saw it knit up using the free pattern, Striped Scarf. It knits up great with one skein each of two colors on a #5 or #6 needle.

The pattern is a Japanese translation and is pretty brief, so it may be a tad frustrating for those knitters who like detailed explanations. It uses short rows, but once you knit up an inch or so of the pattern, we think you will find it easy.

Another yarn that would work really well with this pattern is Cascade Yarns' Venezia Sport. It is the same gauge as the Silky Wool and like Silky Wool, it is a versatile fiber made of 50% wool and 50% silk. We used it when we made our Twist Again Shawl, which we showcased in our February 2017 Newsletter.

Indigo Social with Jackie
On Saturday, June 25 from noon-5 pm, Waterfall Arts will host an Indigo Social led by fiber artist Jackie Ottino Graf. Indigo is an unassuming leafy plant that has been used for centuries to dye textiles every shade of blue, from the palest sky blue to the deepest blue-black. Jackie will teach participants how to make an indigo vat, and traditional Shibori and Ikat techniques to create beautiful designs.

Fiber Camp for Kids
On Monday, June 26 to Friday, June 30 from 9 am-3 pm, Waterfall Arts will be hosting a Fiber Fun summer art camp for 8- to 12-year-olds with fiber artist Jackie Ottino Graf.

Fiber Fun kids

Campers will learn about fibers from sheep, goats, alpaca and bunnies, and learn how to dye them, spin them into yarns to knit and weave with, and have some fun with needle felting. Students will also try out drop spindles and spinning wheels, make looms, needle felt animals, and forage for plants to dye yarns and fibers. Old skills, new fun! Cost is $225. Sibling discounts and need-based scholarships are available.

Waterfall Arts is located at 256 High St. in downtown Belfast. For more information and to register, call 207-338-2222 or visit Waterfall Arts.

The Chemo Caps for Kids program is an ongoing project. There are no deadlines. A single handmade hat is a powerful demonstration of kindness and compassion for a sick child.
Multiply that by hundreds of people knitting, and the result is thousands of such special moments for children who feel the joy of knowing someone has given them a gift handmade with love and care.
 
Employees at Allen Insurance and Financial are participating in the Chemo Caps for Kids program started by their colleagues at Commonwealth Financial Network, their broker-dealer partner in Boston.

Design Suggestions

• Handmade: knit, crochet, sewn. loom, machine knit.
• New, unworn.
• Baby, Toddler, Children, Pre-Teens and Teens.
• Washable fibers and fabrics preferred.
• "Soft" means comfort to a bald sensitive head.
• Avoid wool, mohair or afghan-type acrylic yarns; they don't soften enough for a stressed head.
• Seamless hats made with lightweight yarns and fabrics are ideal year-round and make good sleep caps.
• Fleece, heavier yarns and fabrics are best for late fall and winter. (Please send heavier-weight hats in the August-October timeframe, so they can be sent to centers while the weather is crisp and cold.)

Best Sizes
Baby: 6 to 12 months: Head Circumference: 16-17 inches. Toddler-preschooler (12 months-3 years): Head Circumference 18-19 inches. Child (3-10 years): Head Circumference 19-20.5 inches. Pre-teens and Teens: Head Circumference 20.5-21 inches.

If you would like to knit a cap, donate yarn and/or help coordinate donations of caps or yarn, phone Kimberly Edgar at 207-230-5831 or email [email protected]. The  Chemo Caps for Kids brochure includes a free sample pattern. For additional information and resources, visit this Chemo Caps for Kids page.

Local artist Jude Spacks will be exhibiting recent works at the Kramer Gallery of the Belfast Free Library, June 1-July 3. There will be a closing celebration on Friday, June 30, 5:30-7 pm in the gallery.

Spacks makes large portrait hangings including hundreds of pieces of cloth. The fabric faces meet your gaze, inviting you to marvel at how your own awareness makes sense of the vast variety of light, pattern and color you see. Lately, Jude has also been creating small, quirky flower sculptures -- blooming fiber beings -- which have appeared on the circulation desk of the Belfast Free Library since Dr. Seuss Day last year. She'll be sharing these unusual artworks during the month-long exhibit, which is titled Faces and Flowers.

Jude Spacks has been an innovator in contemporary fabric/fiber arts for 35+ years. The University of Maine honored her with the Hartman Award for her contributions to women's culture. Her work offers a connected, liberating perspective, welcoming the viewer as an unique expression of the fabric of life. A seasoned mentor, Jude also coaches people going through changes, facilitating creative insights from their open mind -- more at Truth and Dare Coaching. More on Jude's artwork at Jude Spacks.

On Friday, June 2, from 9 am to 1:30 pm, the public is invited to the free grand opening of the Hills to Sea Trail, a 47-mile trail from Unity to Belfast, created by the generosity of over 60 private landowners. The opening will take place at the Waldo County Technical Center, 1022 Waterville Rd., Waldo, Maine.

Event Schedule
9 am: Trail hikes led by Outdoor Leadership class members, with a  2- or 4-mile hike option.
10:30 am: Early hike returners or new arrivals can get a tour of the short access trail and bog bridges built by the Outdoor Leadership team.
Noon-12:30 pm: Cookout behind the Tech Center, with outdoor demonstrations and displays, as well as speakers and social time.
12:30-1:30 pm: Indoor and outdoor activities, demonstrations and displays. Ames School and WCTC buses depart as scheduled at 1:30 pm.

For more information, visit Waldo County Technical Center or email [email protected].

Join Belfast Flying Shoes on Friday, June 2, for an evening of contra dancing at American Legion Post #43, 143 Church St. in Belfast. The evening begins at 6:30 pm with a community dance called by Chrissy Fowler. The contra dance begins at 8 pm.

Calling for this month's dance will be Bob Isaacs of New Jersey. A caller since 1999 at dances, weekends, and camps across the country, Bob is known for a clear, enthusiastic teaching style that works for dancers of all levels. Returning to the Flying Shoes stage with Bob will be Nor'easter. The popular Boston-based trio Nor'easter joins the talents of fiddler Cedar Stanistreet, mandolinist and guitarist Max Newman, and pianist and accordionist Julie Vallimont. Thoroughly steeped in New England music, the three share musical interests that range from classical and jazz to rock and techno. Sound provided by Eric Weest Johnson.

For more information, phone 207-338-0979, email [email protected], visit Belfast Flying Shoes or find them on Facebook.

On Saturday, June 3, from 9 am to noon, there will be a Belfast Rail Trail 5K Fun Run/Walk/Stroll/Roll. Day-of registration and check-in: 8-8:45 am. Come out to the Belfast Rail Trail and celebrate National Trails Day with Coastal Mountains Land Trust.

The trail follows the Passagassawakeag River and provides a beautiful, flat and wide surface for running, biking and walking. This is an out-and-back race for three miles with the turn-around just before the trestle bridge.

Join in for a family-friendly event! Wheelchairs, baby strollers, dogs on leash are all welcome. Runners, joggers and walkers will enjoy a relaxed morning on the trail. The event will be timed with age-group winners awarded.

Ukulele enthusiasts will gather for the fourth annual Belfast Uke Fest on Saturday, June 3, at Steamboat Landing on the downtown Belfast waterfront.

The day will be filled, from 10 am to 6 pm, with ensemble performances, headline acts and a variety of fun and informative ukulele workshops. There will be food, refreshments, and music vendors set up throughout the event area for attendees to enjoy.

Belfast Uke Fest is hosted by the Belfast Parks and Recreation Department in partnership with Our Town Belfast and the Midcoast Ukes.

Funds raised will support the continuation of the Belfast Uke Fest into its fifth year in 2018. In addition to the $5 general admission at the gate, there will be a ukulele raffle and festival t-shirts for sale. For more information, visit the Belfast Uke Fest page at Our Town Belfast.

The Friends of the Belfast Free Library Car Park Tag Sale will be held in the Troy Howard Middle School parking lot on Saturday, June 3, from 10 am to 2 pm. The gate will open at 9 am for cars and trucks to gather and set out their treasures. The fee to bring-to-sell is $10 per vehicle, no advance registration needed, just show up! There will be hot dogs, drinks and tasty goodies for sale. Do come to sell or to buy, and help this be another success for the Friends of the Library.

For more information, email Carol Gater at [email protected].

On Tuesday, June 6, at 6:30 pm, join Rhonda Feiman, licensed acupuncturist and Chinese herbalist, for a talk, Stress: The Enemy Within, at the Belfast Free Library, on how East Asian medicine and Qigong can help us strengthen the immune system, calm the nervous system, and support emotional and physical well-being in times of stress and uncertainty. The talk is free and open to all.

Rhonda will demonstrate some gentle and simple Qigong movements, gentle techniques that you can take home and start using immediately, regardless of your physical ability, which can be practiced in a chair or while standing.

Rhonda Feiman is a licensed acupuncturist and Chinese herbalist and educator, in private practice in Belfast, Maine since 1993. For further information, visit Rhonda Feiman's professional website.

For more information about the program, phone the Library at 207-338-3884 ext. 10.

Linda Greenlaw will celebrate the launch of Shiver Hitch, her third book in the Maine-based Jane Bunker mystery series, at Left Bank Books in Belfast on Tuesday, June 6, at 7 pm. This will be Greenlaw's first midcoast appearance on her promotional tour throughout New England. ( Shiver Hitch goes on sale on June 6.)

New York Times bestselling author Sebastian Junger says of Shiver Hitch: "Greenlaw proves that she's as skillful a mystery writer as she is a fishing boat captain -- and that's saying a lot! A fantastic read!" Before becoming a writer, Greenlaw was the captain of a swordfishing boat, the career that earned her a prominent role in Junger's "The Perfect Storm." Greenlaw's three previous bestselling books about her life as a commercial fisherman have climbed to as high as #2 on the New York Times bestseller list.

To reserve a seat, phone 207-338-9009 or email [email protected]. Left Bank Books is located at 109 Church St. in downtown Belfast.

The Penobscot Bay Singers present Nostalgia from the Great American Songbook. The Great American Songbook, also known as American Standards, is the canon of the most important and influential American popular songs and jazz standards from the early 20th century. The Singers will swing you through the WWII era with favorites like "Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree" and "Chattanooga Choo Choo." If you prefer a gentler tone, "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square" might be more to your liking.

Two evening concerts will be offered on Friday, June 9 and Saturday, June 10 at 7:30 pm at the Belfast United Methodist Church, 23 Mill Lane, East Belfast. Low-key cafe seating and refreshments will be provided. Suggested donation is $15, accompanied children free.

For more information, find them on Facebook.

The Waldo County Shrine Club will be hosting the Anah Shrine June Ceremonial, which will bring one thousand Shriners and family members to Belfast, from June 15-18. This event is held in different cities and towns each year, and Belfast was chosen this year. There will be an hour-long parade on Saturday, June 17, at 1:30 pm, for everyone to watch and enjoy, starting at Belfast High School and ending at the Waldo County Shrine Club.

To watch a video of last year's parade in Belfast, filmed by Belfast Community Television, visit 2016 Shrine Parade.

On Tuesday, June 20 at 6:30 pm, Aislinn Sarnacki, outdoor reporter for the Bangor Daily News, will discuss her new guidebook, Family Friendly Hikes in Maine, at the Belfast Free Library.

In this illustrated talk, Aislinn will describe some of the trails from her new book, especially trails within easy reach of Belfast. She'll also talk about the essays she wrote for the front of the book, including an essay on "the scariest creature in the Maine woods" and an essay on her own outdoor experiences as a child and how she believes those experiences continue to influence her today. Her presentation will include photos and video clips, a Q-and-A session, and book signing, during which the guidebook will be available for sale (by cash or check only).

This program is free and open to all. For more information, phone the Library at 207-338-3884 ext. 10.

he Belfast Fourth Friday Art Walks have returned for the 2017 summer season, on the fourth Fridays of every month  through September. The art walks take place from 5:30-8 pm.

Sites on the Belfast Fourth Friday Art Walks will include:
Belfast Bay Shade Company
Belfast Clay Studio
Betts Gallery at the Belfast Framer
Evolve: Sanctuary for the Soul
Finch Gallery (June through August only)
Front Street Pottery
Kris Engman's Studio
Lewis Cisle's Studio
Maine Farmland Trust Gallery
Parent Gallery
Randall Jason Irvin Studio
Small Space (June through August only)
Waterfall Arts

Art walks will take place on June 23, July 28, August 25 and September 22. Details about each Fourth Friday Art Walk will be available at Belfast Creative Coalition before the event.

A Summer Dance Camp will take place at Belfast Dance Studio, July 24-28. Instructors are Sunny Hitt, Ballet and Modern; Jenny Cobuzzi, Hip-hop and Jazz; and Shana Bloomstein, Composition + Choreography, Creative Dance Fusion. Times: Kids ages 8-11, all levels, 9-11:10 am (pickup by 11:30 am); Teens ages 12 and up, all levels, 9 am to 3:10 pm (pickup by 3:30 pm). Informal showing: Friday, July 28, 3 pm.

Early Bird registration is by June 15. Partial scholarships are available (apply by July 1). To apply for scholarships, to register by July 15, and for more information, phone 207-338-5380. For class descriptions and teacher bios, email [email protected].

We have a customer who doesn't use the Internet, so we thought we'd post this for her.

Harmony Knitter (sock knitting machine) for sale, all tuned up, with lessons. Maine address. Phone Pete Betts at 207-876-3220.