Guerrilla gardening is a form of nonviolent direct action. The gardens are planted on an abandoned piece of land which they do not own to grow crops or plants. Guerrilla gardeners wish to reclaim land from neglect or misuse and assign a new purpose to it.

important: Always try to use native seeds! Not native species can be invasive and harmful to the surrounding eco-system. (from the Toronto guerrilla gardening group)

more: inhabitat article on guerrilla gardening : join the guerrilla gardening pool : check out guerillagardening.org for events and tips : read primal seeds :: and you grow girls adventures in street gardening : Brussels farmer : green guerrillas educate - advocate and organise for community gardens :

email whipup(at)gmail.com for ideas, articles and links in ephemeral creativity

MindBites.com is a new instructional video community, self-publishing platform and marketplace where people can teach what they know and learn what they need to know. They have a contest beginning 15 May - called Spread the Craft - with $1500 in prizes. Spread the craft has a 6 week submission period, ending 23 June. Videos will be open for voting until 7 July and winners announced the next day. The link for the Spread the Craft will not be live until 15 May.

One of our contributors Susan Schwake who runs artstream studios in Rochester is participating in a public art project - art speak - overnight art- her illustrations are being taken from the 8×10 inch realm and blown up into public art pieces - her work: dialog was one of five works chosen for a summer long public art installation. She says of this work: Dialog is a large scale window banner featuring birds and vegetation. It was conceived to enliven the parking garage’s facade by adding a bit of whimsy and delight to a utilitarian public space, creating an enjoyable pause in the task of finding a parking spot. The piece asks the viewer to pause for a moment and consider the idea of nature larger than life size, thus fostering a momentary daydream.

Don’t miss this months guest lecturer at the Textile Study Group of New York - Cyrilla Mozenter who works with handmade paper and wool felt, creating 2-D and 3-D objects. Its on Wednesday, May 21st at 7 pm at Community Church of New York Unitarian Universalist 40 E. 35th St. betw. Park and Madison, New York City (thanks Marci)

Be a Part of The Pillowcase Challenge Book! The common pillowcase is experiencing a creative transformation - being repurposed into everything from fashionable clothing and accessories to chic home décor items. Lark Books are publishing a book tentatively called The Pillowcase Challenge, and they would like submissions from readers. Share your favorite memory of a pillowcase past: perhaps it’s the one you couldn’t part with as a child, a cherished heirloom piece created by a loved one, a delightful patterned number that you simply had to have. If Lark select your written reminiscence for inclusion in the book, you’ll receive credit in the book and a free copy of the book. Send your pillowcase passion in 200 words or less by June 7.

For pillowcase collectors: here’s your chance to shine a spotlight on your fabulous stash and share it with the world. Send Lark a snapshot or two of your prettiest, most beloved pillowcases: floral, striped, polka-dotted, embroidered, whatever. They will then select the best of the pillowcase bunch to be shipped to us, photographed and then featured in the book. Send your stash shots to Lark by May 21. Yes, that soon. To enter visit the Lark Books web site, and click on the Submissions page. (image show in via Bella dia)

Great little tutorial for a sexy fabric basket. Link.