Text from here. Photo from here.

On Monday I got an email, followed by a phone call with Bill Harris who works for the city.

He was very nice, and said the city’s hands were tied and they tried to find a way to keep them — but they have to go.

Councilmember Lorie Zapf is collecting emails of support at loriezapf@sandiego.gov to show community backing and find a way to keep them in Clairemont. Send her your story, and let her know how much you like them!

Bill Harris gave me this statement to post:

The City is forced to announce that the Stop Sign Flowers must come down. Even with the great community spirit this effort has generated, there are just too many restrictions to overcome. City staff looked through state law and local policies trying to find some way of allowing the flowers to remain in place. Unfortunately, particularly with traffic control signs and including all other City assets, there is just no way to retain the works where they now are.

We hope that the flower-makers will work with other site owners – private businesses, other agencies, business improvement districts and community groups – to find new homes for the flowers. This is a fun program that should easily capture the imagination of our communities in other, less restricted, locations.

City crews will not remove any of the installations for the next ten days unless they become a hazard. It is hoped that those who originally installed the flowers will take that time to remove and preserve the work. Following the ten day period, City crews will be instructed to remove and dispose of anything affixed to City assets as it is seen or reported. The yarn and leaf structures cannot be saved when removed by City staff.

I will be available to answer specific questions about the City’s direction via email from billharris@sandiego.gov

For a map of San Diego street flowers go here.

See how you can make more here.

One of the sweetest things about this project is that the self-proclaimed “knitting guy” started to learn to knit “to teach my daughter. She received a “learn to knit” craft kit as a present, but the instructions were sparse and hard to understand. So, I decided to learn how in order to show her. I had thought about learning for a few years, so this was just the push I needed. That was about four years ago, and we have both been knitting off and on since.”

Also, there have been several awesome articles online about craftivism lately:

*Stir to Action piece from the Wellington Craftivism Collective
*Crafting the Future We Want over at Tck Tck Tck
*A lovely interview with the lovely Craftivist Collective over at HUCK magazine

And if that isn’t enough, and you’re STILL feeling crafty, go check out the the Blood Bag Project. Click the pic to see the gallery of submitted blood bags. You can also follow the project’s progress here

Now go and make somethin’ now, won’t ya?

x

What struck me most about the Project Craftivism post was the inclusion of Terry Quick’s statement that the uterus is “the room we all came from;” hence, it’s literally our first embrace and introduction to home.

So I clicked the pic, which led me to the following text and photo:

I am asking participants to be a part of The Uterus Flag Project. I discovered this need while doing my MFA- Feminism, Fiber Arts and Craftivism and for my final grad show, July 2012, I’d like to double (want 100 more). My personal political concerns are about the over medicalization of women, and specifically having an unnecessary hysterectomy. There are lots of other concerns regarding women’s health. You have a story, please share! Please participate. Send me your postal address, and I’ll send you a packet!

So if you feel like celebrating your first home, too, consider clicking on the second photo above and getting involved with Terry’s project.

And if you feel like further celebrating everyone’s first home and getting political while doing so, go check out the Snatchel Project over at Goverment-Free VJJ! This project comes from the brilliant talented Donna Druchunas and Annie Modesitt. The knitted womb below is by MK Carroll and is a pattern from Knitty.

However, I wanted to post this for the people who haven’t seen it or who don’t already know about the work of Hanne Bang, as this project introduced me to her, too!

For those that are familiar with what I write, you won’t be surprised to see this. I’m from a military family, have a cross stitch series of anti-war graffiti, and am deeply saddened by what my country is mired in, although do applaud the many kindnesses that have been done by our soldiers without praise or media attention or selfishness.

Growing up my mom always told me, “No one wants peace time like a soldier.” A shortened version of the longer quote by Douglas MacArthur quote.

I’ve been meaning to write this post for awhile now, but recent news events regarding the war have left my heart heavier than it’s been in a long time. And I know, with all my heart, that my mom and MacArthur were right.

Text and photo from here:

This art project is called “In a war someone has to die”.
I am going to find women from all over the world who will be a part of it.

Mail: hannebang444@gmail.com
Website:www.hannebang.com

Bonus answers!

Sylvie suggested “transcendental craft” as a name for this.

Judith left a comment that added What you wrote about is a sort of art therapy, where we can express ourselves in ways that help us heal. I know knitting means a lot to me, helping me center and relax in the midst of stress. However, I think sometimes helping others will allow us to open wounds and heal ourselves.

And around the web regarding craftivism-ishness:

Casper ter Kuile wrote an excellent post regarding “strategy and craftivism” here.

Heather who’s been tearing it up over at Counter Craft wrote an excellent post called Adventures in Mindmapping Craftivism *and* then let me know about this sweet post over at Trend Tablet called When Design and Craft Meet.

And because it’s Friday, here’s a lovely post over at EcoSalon called 20 Pickup Lines for Knitters (Thanks, @snufkin!)