African-Americans Greening the Nation

In an effort to continue with the celebration of Black History Month, I wanted to share a slide presentation posted at the Mother Nature Network on 12 African-Americans who are making a difference in their environment. Building awareness for a more sustainable world and enjoying what they do. Take a moment to read about what each person is doing and let your brain go wild with ideas of what you too can do. The slide presentation can be found at Mother Nature Network.

Jean-Michel Basquiat - Artist

Jean-Michel Basquiat was a neo-expressionism artist who got his start doing graffiti art in NYC. A Haitian-Puerto Rican-American he spoke three languages and showed great propensity for art at a very young age.

Jean-Michel Basquiat's career spanned approximately 10 years, but in that time he became known as one of the finest American neoexpressionists of his era. Although he passed away in 1988, his legacy lives on in the many retrospective exhibitions presented on his work and most recently by the new Basquiat Couture line started by his estate and managed by his sisters.

If you'd like to find out more about Jean-Michel Basquiat click the link to visit the official website of his estate.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Martin Luther King, Jr. is certainly the most prominent name when it comes to celebrating black history, however, he is only one voice among many. As we celebrate black history month, I hope to bring you more names and faces to add to the long list of those who've worked around the world!

This treasury is created to showcase the items that are being sold on Etsy featuring Martin Luther King, Jr. to view the items more closely or to purchase an item Click Here and you'll be taken to the actual treasury on Etsy.

"We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal." - MLK

Celebrating Black History Month

February is already here and that means it's Black History Month! Here at Yarn Obsession we'll be celebrating in a few ways!

- Purchase anything from my etsy shop this month and get 11% off by using this coupon code when checking out "BHM0111". Feel free to share with your friends



- We will showcase as many "Artisans of Color" as we can fit into one month and let you know how to contact them and show support to their artistry.

- We'll also be posting new and exciting items, both patterns and completed wares, that can be purchased for all the special occaisions coming up in your life.

There'll be something new almost every day so come by the blog, the shop or the facebook page to keep up!

Let's celebrate!

February - Celebrate!

February is, as are all the months of the year, a celebratory month for many organizations. It's the American Heart Month sponsored by the American Heart Association, it's the Children's Dental Health Month sponsored by the American Dental Association and it's the Weddings Month sponsored by the Association of Bridal Consultants of America. With all those and so many more celebrations this month how do you choose which to "honor"? Well it's totally up to your sensibilities and what you'd like to support. Isn't it lucky that next year, you can switch it up and it won't matter at all.

Every year I honor the athletes, inventors, philosophers and civil rights activists that went before me so that today, I have opportunities beyond my grandparents dreams. Black History Month is not sponsored by any one organization, but is recognized by many. This Black History Month I'd like to take the opportunity to recognize POTUS (President of the United States).

On January 20, 2009 Barack H. Obama became the first black man to be sworn in as the President of the United States. Throughout the country people held Inauguration viewing parties, Inauguration balls and other celebrations in recognition of this historic achievement. However, Mr. Obama himself will tell you that he got to the position of President standing on the shoulders of the great men and women who paved the way before him. People like Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass, Martin Luther King, Jr. and countless others. People who put their lives and loves at risk because they believed in a better future for the generations to come. He'll also tell you that he went from the shoulders to the wave of this generation's belief that things could get better.

I, like many, was apprehensive when Barack Obama threw his lot in to run for President. He was smart, willing to speak against the "establishment" and growing in popularity. Surely he was risking life and limb for this quest. Then It occurred to me that all those who paved his way, did it in this same way. They knew what the worst case scenario could be, and they moved forward anyway. Because the value of the outcome has to always outweigh the fear of the outcome. So today the United States of America is led by a black man, raised by a white family in Hawaii and abroad. Whether you voted for him or not, it should be a point of happiness to know that we, as a country, are moving in the right direction, where maybe we can all allow the value of the outcome to outweigh the fear of the outcome.

In my simple place in the world, I push forward with my adventures in yarn everyday, with the idea that the fear that creeps up now and then, is not my boss, but the rotor that keeps me moving! Happy February Celebrations!