Because we have new yarns arriving, we are putting some of our long-running yarns on sale this month to make room for new yarns. Below is a list of yarns that are included in this sale, though we are likely to be adding to it as new yarns arrive this month.

Cotton blends:

• Austermann's Summer Tweed -- A textured worsted-weight cotton/rayon/nylon yarn, 96 yards, now $6.65.  
• Dream in Color Classy -- A hand-dyed, machine-washable worsted-weight 100% wool yarn. 250 yards, now $13.27.  
• Kertzer's Coolspun Cotton -- A worsted-weight "dishcloth" cotton, now $1.58.
• Kertzer's/SMC Down to Earth Cotton -- This is an organic sport-weight cotton yarn. We have sweater quantities but only limited colors. 142 yards, now $3.47.  
• On-Line's Tequila -- A heavy worsted/aran-weight textured yarn with unique coloring. It is made of cotton/rayon/acrylic, 87 yards, now $5.25.  
• Shibui's Hechi -- A heavy worsted-weight yarn of 100% silk. 105 yards, now $9.77.  
• SMC's Catania Fine Color -- A 100% cotton, fingering-weight self-striping yarn. We have a shawl as a model, but it makes great baby garments -- especially a baby hat. 180 yards.

Wool blends:

• Imperial Yarn's Tracie Too -- This 100% sport-weight wool yarn is made in the United States. (The worsted-weight version of this yarn was used to create the US Olympic Sweaters this year.) It is a lofty 395 yards, now $14.70.  
• Marisol's Tuhu -- A worsted-weight llama/merino/angora yarn. 109 yards, now $6.97.  
• Swans Island 50% merino/50% silk -- This is a luxurious sport-weight yarn. Hand-dyed with natural dyes. Made in Maine, 175 yards.

We will also have a basket of assorted sock yarn at 30% off and a table of books at 40% off.

Helen wanted to try out the Egyptian Cotton by Sublime. (And the fact that it is Egyptian can be felt in the hand while knitting and in the finished knit.)

She is not sure how she settled on making the Tunique Boule
from Ravelry, but she had trouble with the setup of the pattern. Upon returning to Ravelry and reading that other knitters had problems, she decided to rewrite the pattern. Although it has not yet been tested by others, she feels comfortable sharing her version of Tunique Boule here. She hopes to add specific yarn amounts and the directions for a larger size and long-sleeve version in the future.

We have eight shades of this yarn, retailing at $7.50.

We have a small selection of exotic fibers that should not be missed. What is the definition of "exotic"? Our definition of exotic fibers is that the fiber is hard to get in volume due to the origin of the fiber or how it is processed. We have ordered some other exotic fibers to arrive in the late summer, but we have a new stock of two lines.

Jade Sapphire is known in the industry for its cashmere. We stock their 4-ply (dk-weight) 100% cashmere in six colorways and their 400-yard heavy lace/fingering in just one, natural. In the 4-ply, a 55-gram skein contains 200 yards.

We also stock Reywa Fibers' 100% yak down, called Embrace, in five colorways. Each 90-gram skein contains 200 yards of dk-weight yarn heaven. It may be difficult for you to tell which yarn is which if you felt them unlabeled.

Because the cost of these skeins reflect their exotic labeling, $45.00 and $39.00 respectively, we keep our eyes out for projects that can be made with just one skein. One skein makes a great gift, knit up or not, to give someone you love (or to yourself).

Need a reason to buy yarn? We didn't think so! But here's a little incentive to splurge on your next visit to our shop:

Through Friday, July 18, anyone who participates in Berroco's Summer Splurge can earn a coupon code for a free single-pattern download from the Berroco Web site. You'll also be entered to win the grand prize.

How it works:
Buy $25.00 or more of Berroco yarn from your local yarn shop (for instance, Heavenly Socks Yarns) and e-mail a copy or photo of your receipt to info@berroco.com. They will send you a one-time coupon code for every $25.00 spent, which can then be used to purchase any of the single-pattern PDFs from their Web site. (Example: $25.00-$49.00 = 1 coupon code, $50.00-$74.00 = 2 coupon codes, etc.)

Timeline:
Qualifying purchases must be made in store by Friday, July 18. You will have until Thursday, July 31 to email your receipt(s) to info@berroco.com.

Grand prize:
Everyone who submits a valid receipt for the Summer Splurge promotion will be entered to win the grand prize: Berroco's entire pattern collection for Fall/Winter 2014.

Each receipt is valid for one entry. One winner will be chosen at random and notified on Friday, August 1. Must be 18 years old to enter. Patterns will be distributed in PDF format.

Go ahead, splurge a little!

On July 4, Brooks Booster Club Hay Days will include many homestead and farm workshops and demonstrations. Bring some knitting and spinning and come sit for awhile. (Fiber events are flagged in bold type.)

11 am
Growing Apples and Other Fruit in Waldo County: Featured speaker is John Bunker, guru of local fruit growing and founder of FEDCO Trees.
Learn to Milk a Cow or a Goat: Carrie Whitcomb or Mike Switzer.
How to Skirt, Wash and Card Wool: Have a sheep fleece? Here's how to prepare it for spinning with a skirting (no, sheep don't wear skirts!) and washing demo; and try your hand at carding. Meredith Toumayan.
 
Noon
Backyard Pigs: A good summertime project with many benefits. Rose Rapp.
Make Yarn with a Drop Spindle: Learn how yarn was made with drop spindles long before the spinning wheel in this demo, try your hand at spinning. Meredith Toumayan.
Learn to Make Butter: Great for all ages! Roxy Hall.
Tour and Learn in the Community Park Orchard: Did you know that there is a developing Community Orchard in the park? Get an introduction to the many species of perennial fruiting plants currently growing in the park; as you walk, you will learn about soil health, pest and disease management, and general growing tips for producing fruit in Maine. Bill and Lauren Errickson.
 
1 pm
Chickens for the Home: Insect eaters (get those ticks!), layers and lawn mowers. Rose Rapp.
Avoiding Cancer; Avoiding Cancer's Return: Herbalist Joan Willey.
Traditional Haymaking and Scything: Lao Gillam.
 
2 pm
Working Horses and Oxen: Learn and Share Knowledge at a Teamster's Roundtable: Ed Hammel, Lauren Errickson, Don Nickerson, Jen Ries and Bennet Verbeck.
Wine Making from the Stuff Around You: Delicious dandelion and rhubarb wines, rich elderberry and blackberry ports. Betsy Garold.
Felt Your Wool: Learn the wet process to make beautiful wool felt. Rose Whitehead.
 
3 pm
Introduction to Timber Framing: Basic techniques. Bud Menard.
Traditional Rug Braiding: Kris Beirne.
Indian Corn to Cornbread: Growing, shelling, grinding and eating. Bob Klein and Kim Jacobs.
 
4 pm
Beekeeping: Sophia Lindsay.
Homestead Resiliency and Adaptation with Climate Issues: Peter Baldwin.
Come Hand Churn Ice Cream: Sarah Vatter.

For more information from the Brooks Park Boosters, find them on Facebook.

On July 25-27, Good Karma Farm will open their farm and mill to old friends and new. Bring your wheel, drop spindle and knitting, and enjoy a weekend in Belfast, Maine. They will help you create beautiful batts and roving with their fiber or yours. Space is limited to the first 30 people to sign up.

Friday, July 25: Carder and pindrafter available all day, spinning, knitting or cranking. Wine and cheese meet and greet (lots of great local restaurants).
Saturday, July 26: More carding, pindrafting, and spin,spin spin! Sunday, July 27: Spinning, carding and more.

$25.00 registration fee holds your spot. Friday night is provided by Good Karma. Please bring something for a potluck on Saturday. Carder will be available at $50.00 per half hour. Run as much fiber as you want. Bring your own fiber or get some from Good Karma, but most of all have fun and meet new people with fiber fever.
 
These fibers will be available to play with:
Alpaca, Romney, Icelandic, llama, Scottish Blackface, Angora,
silk and sari silk, all ready to be blended into batts and roving by you.

For more information, phone 207-322-0170 or visit Good Karma Farm. Mailing address: Good Karma Farm, 67 Perkins Rd., Belfast, ME 04915.

Calling all knitters, sewers, weavers and crafters! Here is a chance to turn your unused stash of yarn and fabric into gold to support high-quality learning experiences for Waldo County's youngest learners.

A Fiber and Fabric Fair will be held on Saturday, September 27 from 9 am-1 pm in the Abbott Room of the Belfast Free Library. The fundraiser, which will support Broadreach Family and Community Services' Early Childhood Program, will feature a wide array of yarns, fabrics and supplies for the fiber craftsperson. Broadreach is asking all those fiber and fabric aficionados who have yarn, wool, fabric, patterns and other supplies they wish to contribute to contact Broadreach at 207-338-2200, ext. 201, to arrange a donation. Local businesses such as Heavenly Socks Yarns, Fiddlehead Artisan Supply, WORKS and Purple Fleece will be donating door prizes for this exciting fiber event.
 
The Fiber and Fabric Fair is free and open to the public. All those who knit, weave, sew and quilt, or those who would like to become involved in these crafts, are encouraged to attend. There will be people of all skill levels in attendance and fiber creativity will be free-flowing.

Broadreach Executive Director Kate Quinn Finlay shared, "September is the perfect time of year to stock up on your yarn and fabric supplies. Just as the first crisp days of autumn begin, we start to think of our holiday and winter projects. Whether you are an accomplished fiber artist or a beginner, there will be something for everyone at this Fiber and Fabric Fair and all the proceeds will help support Early Childhood Education. We encourage those who wish to contribute some of their accumulated supplies to contact our office to arrange the donation of their materials for this first-time event."

For more information about the event, phone either Sue diRosario or Deb Schilder at 207-338-2200 at Broadreach Family and Community Services.

Broadreach is a not-for-profit organization serving the people of Waldo, Knox and Lincoln counties with Early Childhood Education, Behavioral Health/Case Management Services, Youthlinks after-school and summer programs, and family strengthening and child abuse and neglect and substance-abuse prevention services. For more information, visit Broadreach.

The Fresh Cup Gallery, located at 33C Main St., Belfast, features handcrafted contemporary pottery made in Belfast by Adam Bogosian and Cory Upton-Cosulich. Mostly functional pottery is displayed in a lovely, casual space. Come see how some beautiful pottery could enhance your everyday life. Brand-new work comes in daily; new artists featured in June included Paige Pride and Nathan Willever, both local Maine ceramic artists.

Ask the gallery about taking a class. For more information, find them on Facebook.

Belfast's free outdoor music series, Belfast Summer Nights, is in session again.

On Thursday, July 3, from 5:30-7:30 pm, at Steamboat Park in the Gazebo, Bridget Matros, singer/songwriter will perform, followed by the Tom Luther Quintet, who will be featuring two alumni; and Belfast favorites Noah Fishman and Jeff Densmore. Join them for a great evening of song and original jazz. Bring your chairs and your picnic.

For more information about Belfast Summer Nights, find them on Facebook, or phone 207-322-7123.

On Friday, July 4, there will be an evening of contra dancing at the American Legion Post #43 in Belfast, 143 Church St. Dan Pearl will be calling dances, with music by Riptide.

Riptide wowed BFS dancers for the 8th-birthday dance (December 2013). Born on a rundown side street in Portland, Maine, Riptide has spent the past few years roaming the United States searching for barbecue ribs and bothering dance communities with strange chords and hollering. Featuring dance favorite Glen Loper on the mandolin; Irish-style fiddle player Alden Robinson; and Owen Marshall, Notary Public, on guitar, Riptide  plays vivid, imaginative music that has been thrilling dancers throughout America.

Dan Pearl, contra caller from Southborough, Mass., has decades of experience: He has called for dances and camps from coast to coast, and you may have seen him at the Nat Hewitt memorial dance in Falmouth in June 2013 or at the NEFFA Festival, which Dan has helped produce for over 30 years. Dan is a sucker for kitschy roadside attractions and is planning on visiting Perry's Nut House while in Belfast.
 
The evening begins at 6:30 pm with a community dance and music by the All-Comers Band. All musicians are welcome to sit in. The contra dance begins at 8 pm and runs till around 11 pm. For more information, call Chrissy at 207-338-0979 or visit Belfast Flying Shoes.

Arts in the Park in Belfast is in its 19th year and has grown to be one of the best arts festivals on the coast of Maine. Set downtown, on Belfast's waterfront, the venue is undeniably beautiful with the harbor and Penobscot Bay as a backdrop for the 80 or so artists and artisans exhibiting their original art. The variety is huge -- paintings, metalwork, photos, jewelry, stone work, fiber, pottery and the list goes on. As well as all the fabulous art, live music played by different musicians continues throughout the weekend of July 12-13. The Belfast Bay Fiddlers kick the event off on Saturday, July 12 at 10 am, followed by the Aurora Jazz Project at noon, and then The Bad Daddys Band from 2-4 pm. On Sunday, July 13, the Leaky Boot Jug Band plays from 10 am-noon, the 195th US Army Band takes over at noon, and finishing up is the Uke Group at 2 pm.

Every year the committee selects an Artist of the Year from the many talented exhibitors. This year's winner is Scott Perry of Farmington, Maine. His quirky photo of one of Belfast's downtown blocks is featured on the 2014 poster. Perry's expansive, panoramic photos  encompass an entire vista, more than the eye can capture at a glance.

For a number of years, Perry worked as a freelance photographer for the Associated Press and the Maine Times. His photos have appeared in Newsweek, the New York Times, USA Today and National Geographic.

Perry travels throughout Maine, New Hampshire and well beyond to create his art. His panoramic photo subjects include the Maine legislature in session, the main street in small towns across New England, and many scenic mountains of the area, but also the occasional  vista on a tropical island. Perry will be at the 19th Annual Arts in the Park on July 12 and 13.

For more information, visit Arts in the Park.

The 8th annual Maine Celtic Celebration will take place on the weekend of July 18-20 on the waterfront in Belfast.

The Celebration has developed a reputation for presenting outstanding examples of traditional Celtic music. This year it starts at 6 pm on Friday, July 18 on the Main Stage with music and dancing from three groups. Food and craft vendors will also open, along with the Front St. Pub's Beer Tent. Music will continue through Saturday and Sunday on two stages, with both new sounds and old favorites. Many groups will perform twice during the weekend at different times on different stages.

If you love competitive sports, you can register for the Kilted Canter 5K Road Race/Walk, chase a wheel of cheese down a hill in the New World Cheese Roll Championship, or grab a partner and race up the same hill in the brand new Manx Three-Legged Uphill Race. Dress in traditional Celtic garb and participate in the newly restored Kilt Kompetition. The Highland Heavy Games, including events such as the Caber Toss and the Scottish Hammer Throw, will again be a centerpiece event. For the younger members of your group, there are even "Not So Heavy Games" like the Wellington Boot Toss and the Wheelbarrow Race.

For educational offerings, enjoy the traditional Celtic dog parade and show, Bob McCormick's performance of traditional Cape Breton step-dancing, presentations on Cornish gig rowing and on the Gaelic language, and local instrument maker Chris Pinchbeck's teaching about Scottish small pipes. Finally, many of the performers will offer workshops on their instruments. Bring along your fiddle, bodhran (drum), whistle, flute and voice, and join the group.

Of course, no outdoor festival would be complete without food, crafts and fireworks. Food vendors will provide traditional treats like BBQ, fish and chips, subs and sandwiches, beer, smoothies, and ice cream (sorry, no haggis!). Craft vendors will offer items such as clothing, jewelry, books, toys and Celtic gifts. Finally, Belfast's only fireworks display of the summer will commence over the harbor at about 9:20 pm on Saturday.

This entire weekend of music, games, food, and fun is brought to you by the volunteer Maine Celtic Celebration Committee. Your suggested donation of $10.00 per day will help ensure the future of this premier summer event in Belfast. Full details and a complete schedule is available at Maine Celtic Celebration.

Click Belfast, Maine, We Are Happy to watch Our Town Belfast's music video production. Twelve thousand views and counting! Hundreds from our community came to town to dance and show that Belfast is Happy. Thank you to Mike Hurley, Ned Lightner, Kathleen Coleman, and Maryjean Crowe for organizing, coordinating, filming and even dancing.

For more information, watch Long Version and Making of Happy.

For more great Belfast events, visit Our Town Belfast and find them on Facebook.

Please join Aarhus Gallery for an opening reception on Friday, July 4, 5-8 pm, as they kick off their summer season with guest artists Islesboro potter Hilary Kahrl and Belfast painter Eric Leppanen. The show runs from July 1 through July 27.

Hilary Kahrl has covered a lot of territory in her study of ceramics: Seattle; Hawaii; Portland, Maine; and Bangalar, India. It appears that her approach to the surface of her ceramics follows suit. Her exquisite line freely travels the landscape of her clay work revealing not only a story, but the delicate quality and confident contours that only talent, hard work and the ability to relinquish control and let fire meet clay can bring to light. She now works out of her her own ceramics studio, Dark Harbor Pottery on Islesboro.

Eric Leppanen is an artist living and working in Belfast. He was born in 1970 and grew up on the beach in Owls Head, Maine. He attended Suffolk University, where he studied business and marketing while studying and experimenting with art on his own. Upon graduation he put his artwork aside and immersed himself for 16 years in the corporate banking world. Since leaving that world he found his passion again, and now paints and creates prolifically. He considers himself to be an action painter who recycles old paint, giving it a new life and purpose.

Aarhus Gallery, located at 50 Main St., Belfast, is open Tuesday through Sunday, 11 am-5:30 pm, and Mondays by chance. (Please note that Belfast Arts Friday art walks this year will be on the last Friday of the month. Aarhus Gallery will be open for the art walks; however, their opening receptions will continue to be held on the first Friday of the month.)

For more information, visit Aarhus Gallery or phone 207-338-0001.

Featured Artist: Bennett Konesni Konesni's exhibit, Cut Time: Simple, Paired Papercuttings, will be on view in the Co-op Cafe through late July. His work can be viewed at Bennett Konesni.

Round Up for Community Recipients
July 1-14: Habitat for Humanity of Waldo County;
July 15-30: Waldo County Humane Society.

Senior Discount Day
Every Tuesday, Belfast Co-op customers 62 years young and up receive a discount upon informing the cashier of their eligibility. Co-op member-owners receive a 10% discount; non-member-owners 5%.

Co-op Grill at City Park
Open daily 11 am-4 pm offering a menu of Deli favorites including Caldwell Farm (Turner) burgers, Amy's veggie burgers, Applegate hot dogs, sandwiches, panini, quesadillas, salads, snacks, beverages and Stone Fox Creamery (Monroe) ice cream. For more information, visit Co-op Grill at City Park.

Eastside Shore Herbal Garden Tour
Friday, July 11, 3-5 pm, carpool from Co-op, 123 High St., tour herbal and perennial gardens with Bindy Pendleton at her East Belfast home while she shares growing and usage tips. Samples provided. Free, pre-registration required (8-participant limit) at register or by phone at 207-338-2532.

Guided Store Tour
Saturday, July 19, 10 am, Belfast Co-op, 123 High St.: Meet near the Co-op entrance for guided store tours (every third Saturday of the month) which highlight the benefits of joining the Co-op and how to take best advantage of shopping here. All are welcome.

Sweetgrass Farm Winery and Distillery Tour
Thursday, July 24, 12:15-3:45 pm: Meet at Co-op, 123 High St., for guided behind-the scenes production tour, sampling and purchasing opportunity. $10.00 pre-registration required; transportation provided. Reserve your seat at any register at the Co-op, or phone 207-338-2532 with a credit card. For more information, visit Sweetgrass Farm Winery and Distillery.

Love LOCAL Day
Friday, July 25: Between 11 am and 3 pm, Tide Mill Creamery (Dennysville) will provide free samples of their dairy products produced in small batches with certified organic milk from Tide Mill Organic Farm's herd of cows; lunch special will highlight local ingredients, 10% off all Maine-made products throughout the day.

Wine Tasting and Art Opening
Friday, July 25, 7-9 pm, Belfast Cafe: Free wine tasting of highlighted seasonal wines and art opening. Featured wines will be 10% off during the tasting; participants must be 21 years of age or older to attend.

For more information about Belfast Co-op events, please visit Belfast Co-op Store.