Yay Yarn!

[Heleen de Vaan]

Yay Yarn!

Especially for the ones for whom yarn bombing takes too much time (by the sizes needed), Mail Art is the way to go!
You can knit and send lighthouses, snowmen, envelopes, or simply knit.
You can weave or even crochet mail art cards (thank you again, Thom!).

Some months ago I rediscovered Spool Knitting (also known as Punniken, Tricotin, Strickliesel, リリヤン, Caterinetta, Bobentrikilo - anyone who knows the word in other languages?).

While creating, suddenly this Snail Mail Snail shown above appeared.
Below there was a new snail-to-be born (temporary put on a public transport chair, here) but suddenly I decided to give the result to a little girl who was watching very interested and who might be our mail art colleague within 15 years or so :-)

[Valentine Mark Herman]

Thanks Heleen. I've looked at Instax, and the 'new' 'not-a-real-Polaroid-but-we-will-pretend-it-is-for-marketing-reasons-and-hope-that-you-will-be-fooled-and-buy-one'...but have never bought one.

I stick to the original Polaroids. The major problem with these is to get hold of some original film that still works. Sometimes it does, but most times it doesn't. I buy Polaroids when I find them in flea markets, but rarely come aqcross cameras that I haven't already gotten -- and can afford -- these days.

I'll stick to Punnekins for now...

[Heleen de Vaan]

Wonderful, and I am happy to see all of your creations, Katerina and Valentine!

And it may seem weird, but I never thought of making a snake out of a punnik thread, Katerina, even  not add eyes to  a single thread. He/she looks great!

Your works of Punnekins art are amazing and impressive, Valentine! I hope the lamp won't fall of the ceiling due too heavy loads :-)
Concerning Polaroid, did you ever consider an Instax, the modern, half-polaroid producing brother/sister of  the Polaroid?

[Valentine Mark Herman]

Here are some of my current Punnekins/Tricotaines hanging on an old metal candlestick.

I now add a Punnekin to every canvas I exhibit, and the Punnekins have become a bit of a 'Val Trade Mark'.

Behind the Punnekins and candlestick are some of my old Polaroid cameras -- of which i now have about 45 different ones.

With thanks to Suus and Heleen for inspiring and helping me to make Punnekins.

[Katerina Nikoltsou (MomKat)]

The Eternal Knitwork!!!

..back to spool knitting this summer :-)

[Katerina Nikoltsou (MomKat)]

[Katerina Nikoltsou (MomKat)]

The Eternal Knitwork!!!

..back to spool knitting this summer :-)

[Melissa Wand]

So cute!

[Heleen de Vaan]

Today the weather outside was grey, but I saw rainbows! Both outside and - thanks to Valentine - inside da house.

Thank you very much, Valentine, for this beautiful colourful spoolknitted punniked rainbow, and all other mail! 

[Valentine Mark Herman]

It's a fantastic foot, Heleen. Much gracias!

I'm going into Hospital next week to have (yet another, this is the fifth) operation on my left foot.

I'm going to take Heleen's Punnekin Foot into the Hospital with me, and hang it over my bed so that it brings me Good luck and Good Health.

The power of Yarn! Yeah

[Heleen de Vaan]

First wanted to post only this picture, and have you guess what this typing machine has to do with Yarn.

But the 'envelope' plus content already has arrived in France, so no need to surprise anymore: I can show you what's inside.

A punniked foot. For Val, with many {{{good luck}}} vibrations.

(The foot cover reminds me of an old sock. If so, remind that it's sustainable to practice recycling art. And no worries: know that this looks-like-an-old-sock has been washed thoroughly before (re)use.)