locker makeover

Create cool stuff to organize and fix up your locker!
Keep pictures and reminders up front and center with a batch of marble magnets or personalize envelopes to keep schedules at hand.

Drop by Traverwood, Saturday 19, from 2:00-4:00 PM, for grades 4 - 8.

Bring your collected content from that memorable event, and we'll provide the paper and extras to pull it all together on the page.

Wednesday, July 1 | 2:00-3:00 PM | Pittsfield | Grades 4-8

Lego Contest year 2

If it's summer it must be time for our annual Lego and Manga Contests! Use the summer to focus your creativity and maybe you will win! In order to enter either contest participants must read and follow the rules and guidelines. Children and teens aged preschool to 12th grade are invited to enter the 4th Annual Lego Contest. This year the Lego contest award ceremony will take place at Weber's Inn (3050 Jackson Ave) on Monday, August 10 @ 8:00 PM. For complete submission guidelines and the talent release form click here. Top finishers will receive gift certificates to Toys R Us, and we'll have medals for winners of the special categories!

It's our 3rd Annual Manga Drawing Contest for grades K-12. The award ceremony will be on Monday, July 27 @ 7:00 PM in the Downtown Youth Room. For complete submission guidelines and the talent release form click here. Top finishers will receive gift certificates for Wizzywig Collectibles!

I have decided that my summer project will be canning and drying: preserving as much food from the farmers' market and garden so that I might eat local throughout the year. Books like The Omnivore's Dilemma and Animal, Vegetable, Miracle have inspired me to try to reduce the amount of food that I eat that comes from far away.

I figured that I could allay my fear of food poisoning by finding the right books and just diving in. A farmer friend recommended Putting Food By: a classic which I am glad to say was also suggested in Preserving Time in a Bottle (or a Jar), a recent New York Times article. The Times talked to Eugenia Bone about her new book: Well-Preserved (there are many holds on it which proves how many AADL patrons read the Times).

Sunday, April 26th at the Pittsfield Branch, Knitgrrl Shannon Okey - Author, knitter extraordinaire, shop owner and an expert dyer will give a primer on hand-dyeing for knitters and fiber enthusiasts.

Tips and tricks on materials, supplies and tools will be discussed. Yarns and dyes will be available for a hands-on experience. Recommended for teens and adults.

The program starts at 2 p.m. A book signing will follow, courtesy of Nicola's Books.

Saturday at 2pm in the Malletts Creek program room, Ann Arbor Brewers' Guild member Jeff Renner will be presenting a variety of basic homebrew tips, as well as advice for experienced brewers. In case you'd like to do a little reading on your own, either before or after Jeff's presentation, check out the Complete Joy of Homebrewing by Charlie Papazian, a book referred to by many homebrewers as the "Homebrew Bible." Since summer is one of the best possible seasons (in my opinion) to enjoy a pale ale, you might want to learn how to make your own. Terry Foster's Pale ale: History, brewing techniques, recipes can help guide you through your first batch. And if you're a first timer for whom this all seems like a whole lot of mess, John Palmer's How to brew: Everything you need to know to brew beer right the first time might help you demystify the process. Cheers! Here's to your health!

Duct Tape Baby

Teens: if you're looking for something fun (and FREE) to do during the school break plan to attend Duct Tape Re-Dux on Wednesday, April 15: 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm @ the Traverwood Branch. We have an awesome array of duct tape colors on hand from camouflage to the elusive plaid. We'll provide a few patterns, but you're only limited by what you can create in the time period! Prom season is also upon us and many teens make their prom outfits completely out of duct tape - take a look at this teen who knitted her entire dress out of duct tape.

All supplies will be provided. No registration required. Teens in grades 6-12 are welcome!
Wednesday, April 15: 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm @ the Traverwood Branch

Over at Inhabitots they posted about a pet groomer putting all the cut hair to use by making yarn and knitting items with it. Some breeds likely work better than others. Here is a video about her business originally aired on Animal Planet:

While you may or may not want to do it with your pet's hair, if your interested in making your own yarn we have Start spinning : everything you need to know to make great yarn and Dyeing to knit : how to use and create your own beautiful hand-dyed yarns. Then get started on your project with A fine fleece : knitting with handspun yarns and our very large collection of knitting pattern books.

With some of the winter storms that have gone through the area this season you could almost mistake the view outside as an arctic landscape. One thing that may be missing is the traditional shelter of an igloo. Luckily this Canadian documentary will show you how one is built.

If you are like me, you are interested in being more socially responsible, like going beyond simple recycling and doing your part to help save our planet for future generations, but you don't have lots of money and time to devote to "going green". Sound familiar? If so, then you need to get yourself a copy of Renee Loux's Easy green living : the ultimate guide to simple, eco-friendly choices for you and your home. This lifestyle guide is PACKED with information about the simple, affordable choices we can make to avoid toxins, conserve natural resources and generally be more eco-smart. Whether you choose to take tiny baby steps or completely overhaul your wasteful self, you will find the answers you need. One of my favorite easy eco-tips is the following: "About 100 million trees and 28 billion gallons of water are used annually to produce the 5.8 million tons of catalogs and unsolicited wads of preapproved credit card offers and other junk that arrive at our homes - 44 percent of which are thrown away unopened....Stop credit card offers. Go to www.optoutprescreen.com, where the consumer credit report industry lets you opt out of receiving preapproved and prescreened credit card offers." Now imagine if we all did that!