It's not all about pianos and yarn.

... sometimes it's about pianos and paint.  Or pianos and mirrors.  But for me, especially today, it's mainly about pianos and smiles (and videos!  Click my links, I'm serious - I got this stuff on video)!

At first, I thought it was simply going to be cool to cover a piano with knitting (oh, I'm right about that; but I digress).  I was tickled when I'd find crochet pieces in my mailbox, and pleased as punch every time one or more of our merry band of "fiber enthusiasts" would join me at a "piano knit night."  And how nice to walk into the LYS (local yarn shop) and find someone had left a knitted piece or a ball of yarn in the "Pink Piano" basket!

Then I started to notice as I would encounter other artists or Women's Fund staff or their families in the workspace, every single time they saw our pink, yarny piano, they smiled.  They touched it.  They told me they wanted to hug it.  Then they smiled some more.  Sure, I thought, these are people on the journey with us.  Of course they are being supportive.

There were two preview events for for the pianos today, and I went to both - these were the only chances people would have to see all 20 in one room!  At the first one, there were lots of kids... and they loved our piano (especially the pom poms).  One toddler tapped on the keys for a minute, with a big smile on her face, and then she looked at me very seriously and said, "Thank you for making this pretty piano."  I swear, I teared up!  I thanked her for playing it, and I had to look away because I didn't want a baby to know I was a crybaby!    

At the second event, people were admiring "Tickled Pink, Tickling the Ivories" and all the pianos, taking pictures, smiling all the while.  Then, as a gracious speech was winding down, we were told that for 18 months, the GO Give Back students had really put their heart and soul into this project... and someone started playing Heart and Soul at a piano behind us.  People smiled.  Then Tim (yes, Tim the intrepid piano tuner) started playing it on Cheryl Anne's piano beside us.  More people smiled, and then another person joined in playing on our "neighbor," Nancy's piano... and then another in the corner of the room... there were huge, wide smiles all over the place.  It was really a wonderful moment!

I can hardly wait to experience random passersby reacting to pianos all over town!  I hope people will want to see as many as they can... and I especially hope that a certain pink piano on The Circle makes them smile.

Drum roll, please!

[Insert big official announcement music here!]  The Yarnburners' piano (titled Tickled Pink, Tickling the Ivories) will be on Monument Circle in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana!  She's yarn-clad and tuned up and ready for everyone to visit August 1-18, 2013! 

The exact location will be 40 Monument Circle (Southwest quadrant - right in front of our sponsors, radio stations 93.1 WIBC FM and Soft Rock B105.7).  Here's a link to the interactive map.
 
Keep in mind, she has 19 piano friends in the area and all around town - transformed with everything from paint to paper, sculpted to carved - who would also love to see you!    If you're like me, you'll want to print out the downloadable map so you can plan your trips to see each one!  Play a song, take some photos, have a seat and sing a little ditty anytime - and when you're tweeting, instagramming, pinning, etc., use "#indypianos" so we can see how you like her!

When in doubt: YouTube!

So, The Yarnburners' GO Ahead & Play piano is done!  At least, that's what I've thought since the last work day (June 30).  However, we hit a little snag.  We stitched (very securely, I might add) over some parts that had to be opened for piano-tuning purposes!  Silly me, I thought it was just the top that had to open!  I should have paid attention when my childhood piano was tuned; failing that, I should have looked on YouTube just to make sure.  I swear I have learned so many things from YouTube, I don't know why checking there didn't occur to me!  Tim the Tuner sent me a link to this informative video - isn't it amazing?

I went and removed some of Kev's delightful seam stitches yesterday, and will go back tomorrow to alter the design ever-so-slightly, so "Betsy's" innards can be easily accessed for future tunings... we want her to sound her best!  It's just a few minor adjustments; she's still going to be breathtaking when people in Indianapolis see her in public (August 1 through 18 - stay tuned for location specifics, coming soon!)

Here's another sneak peek for you:

Yarnbombing a piano in Indianapolis!

Remember when we tagged the inside and outside of the Harrison Center for the Arts with yarn?  Well, there's a new project on the horizon - I submitted a proposal, it was accepted, and work has begun (let me know in the comments if you want to join in; there's still plenty of time)!

First, a little bit about our group: the Yarnburners are a group of central Indiana knit graffiti (“yarnbombing”) artists. We enjoy beautifying and bringing attention to the beauty in everyday objects by dressing them in knit, crochet, and weaved yarns.

And now, about the project: we will be fitting an upright piano with a custom-made yarn wrap for the Women's Fund of Central Indiana's GO Ahead & Play pop-up pianos public art project.

The overall theme of our installation will be “Tickled Pink, Tickling the Ivories,” and the main colors of the knitted/crocheted work will be various joyous shades of pink! The choice of colors was made to symbolize women and honor their vibrancy and strength, while at the same time inviting passersby to smile, gather together, and maybe even sit and play for a while!  Here's our "concept image":

We have three workshop times set up in the next couple of weeks:

TODAY: Tuesday April 30 from 5-7 pm
Thursday May 9 from 6-8 pm
Saturday May 11 from 10 am-3 pm 

Bring: knitting needles or crochet hooks and a folding chair or something comfy to sit on. We have some yarn, but bring any stash you want to contribute and/or knit with.  Can't join in, but have some pink yarn to contribute?  You can drop it off at Mass. Ave. Knit Shop!

The workspace where the piano is being housed is at 5358 W 38th St, Indianapolis (in Honey Creek Plaza at 38th and Moller Rd.). The space has been donated, so when you see a “for lease” sign and white-papered windows, you’ll know you’re in the right place! It’s between Machu Picchu and the tepanaki place.

The completed piano (ours is one of twenty working uprights, each showcasing a different artist or group's medium) will be placed around Indianapolis in August, for the public to enjoy and interact with.