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Love Across the USA

  • Map
  • Installations
  • Workshops
  • Make Your Own Mini
  • Make Your Own Pattern
  • Instructional Videos
  • Press
  • Meet the Team
  • About
  • Sponsors
  • Contact
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A visit to the @phillipksmith3 studio was just what we needed before our first talk here in Palm Desert, CA. Our second and final event is today at 3p.m. at @createcenterpd come and have some fun! #handmade #craft #diy #Knit #knittersofinstagram #knitting #makersgonnamake #yarnpunk #ourmakerlife #Crochet #craftsposure #crocheting #crochetaddict #crochetlove #thehooknookers #bhooked #crochetersofinstagram #craftastherapy #yarn #yarnaddict #ganchillo #instacrochet #candyminimal #teamolek #loveacrosstheusa #pks3 Good morning #palmdesert โ˜€๏ธ๐ŸŒตโ˜€๏ธ Sending love to @yarnbalm. Great job on your mini Marian ๐ŸŒŸ๐Ÿ’œ๐ŸŒŸ๐Ÿ’œ๐ŸŒŸ #teamolekcats ใƒปใƒปใƒป Blocking the shot. #catsandcrochet #craftycats #catsofinstagram #catsofteamolek #crochet #crochetofinstagram #crochetportrait #crochetforacause #crochetlove #loveacrosstheusa #minimural #mariananderson #philadelphia #phillylove #teamolek #jorahlovesitandyou #PalmDesert here we come! Link in bio โฌ†๏ธโฌ†๏ธโฌ†๏ธ ๐Ÿ’™๐Ÿ’š๐Ÿ’›๐Ÿ’™๐Ÿ’š๐Ÿ’›๐Ÿ’™๐Ÿ’š๐Ÿ’› https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeq5sFBdkBUdl3Bu2hLerkbHLZfsyVmFPnX-NgM7569MMV6lA/viewform One hat a day, keeps the doctor away! Our #crocheted & #knitted gifts for @urbanpathways #Repost @rohnstrong ๐ŸŒน๐ŸŒธ๐ŸŒน๐ŸŒธ๐ŸŒน๐ŸŒธ๐ŸŒน๐ŸŒธ๐ŸŒน๐ŸŒธ ใƒปใƒปใƒป โ€œThere's no excuse for the young people not knowing who the heroes and heroines are or were.โ€โ € โ € - Nina Simoneโ € โ € Sheโ€™s taken a bit longer than expected but, sheโ€™s here.โ € โ € I hope your Monday is as wonderful as mine is.โ € โ € Pattern by @oleknyc and @loveacrosstheusa. Head to the website and get the download, put on some Nina, and crochet the day away.โ € โ € Yarn: @redheartyarns Super Saverโ € Hook: 4mm Susan Batesโ € โ € โ € #crochetcardigan #slowfashion #craft #diy #handmade #art #craftastherapy #instacrochet #ourmakerlife #thehooknookers #yarnpunk #craftsposure #scenefromtheceiling #knitting #knit #Crochet #crocheting #crochetaddict #crochetlove #crochetersofinstagram #crocheted #crocheter #crochetlover #crocheteveryday #crochetpattern #bhooked #yarn #craftastherapy_fave #crochetinspiration Thank you for sharing your progress with us!!! #Repost @margaretandbetty ใƒปใƒปใƒป This is what my Saturday night looked like. Thanks to @rohnstrong, Iโ€™ve taken on my first graph pattern. Last week, he shared his work on a mini-graph of Susan B Anthony and I was in love. Thanks for the inspiration! .*. This is a mini-graph of Nina Simone. Sheโ€™s going to be gifted to my husband for Valentineโ€™s Day! Iโ€™m really enjoying the bobbin technique and watching the picture grow. The color changes keep things interesting, but all the ends to weave in might kill me! ๐Ÿ˜† .*. Pattern: @oleknyc for @loveacrosstheusa Yarn: @redheartyarns and @michaelsstores Loops & Threads Art is like Love. It doesnโ€™t know gender; it doesnโ€™t know race; it doesnโ€™t know age. Congratulations @rohnstrong ๐ŸŒธ๐ŸŒน๐ŸŒธ๐ŸŒน๐ŸŒธ๐ŸŒน๐ŸŒธ and thank you ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿ™๐Ÿ™ ใƒปใƒปใƒป โ€œForget conventionalisms; forget what the world thinks of you stepping out of your place; think your best thoughts, speak your best words, work your best works, looking to your own conscience for approval.โ€ - SBAโ € โ € Iโ€™m so happy to have my second F.O. of the year AND itโ€™s gorgeous! I love how it looks and I canโ€™t wait to start another.โ € โ € I had a plan for it BUT I think Iโ€™m going to keep it a banner for now. Maybe.โ € โ € Maybe.โ € โ € Pattern designed by @oleknyc and available from @loveacrosstheusa sa for free! Go download it and check out some of the awesome pieces! I used all @redheartyarns super saver and a 4mm @furlscrochet hook.โ € โ € #Crochet #crocheting #crochetaddict #crochetlove #crochetersofinstagram #crocheted #crocheter #craftsposure #crochetlover #crochetgirlgang #crochetpattern #crochetlife #crochetbag #crochetersofig #crochetofinstagram #crochets #crochetinspiration #handmade #craft #streetart #thehooknookers #ourmakerlife #yarnpunk #ravelry #knittersofravelry #yarn #yarnaddict #handmadebag #instacrochet #ganchillo Meet @itswhitbit - Whitney Spivey has been knitting and crocheting for 20+ years. In 2014, a few days after moving to NYC, she met Olek and, on one of the coldest days ever recorded in New York's history, helped her install a piece called There's No Such Thing as Part Freedom. Since then, she has worked on many of Olek's projects, including a double-decker bus in NYC and an obelisk in Chile. Sheโ€™s comfortable crocheting in a cherry picker or at home designing sweaters. Since 2015, Whitney has worked for String Yarns in NYC as Marketing Manager and In-House Photographer. At this luxury knitting boutique, she has been able to combine her love for fiber crafts with photography and graphic design. She also designs accessories and garments for both the String Yarns brand and for Tahki Stacy Charles Fine Yarns. Whitney has degrees in art and photography and is currently pursuing a graduate degree in psychology. She thinks of the meditative skills of knitting and crochet as their own form of therapy. When she doesnโ€™t have yarn in hand, sheโ€™s cuddling with her rescue dog, Piper. #loveacrosstheusa #teamolek Kelly Kocinski Trager @kktrager was Olekโ€™s English teacher in Katowice, Poland a lifetime ago. She told Olek that Poland was not ready for her and encouraged Olek to move to New York City. Six months after Kelly returned to the United States, Olek was at her doorstep. A lifetime later, in addition to being a transactional entertainment, business, and intellectual property lawyer assisting artists, performers and arts-based businesses; working as a professor in the Design Management and Arts and Cultural Management departments at Pratt Institute in New York; and owning Trager Contemporary, a fine art gallery in Charleston, SC, Kelly is Team Olekโ€™s project manager for Love Across the USA . She is also a yoga and gyrotonic teacher, runner, and recovering professional modern dancer. ๐Ÿ’ž๐Ÿ’ž๐Ÿ’ž images by #robertpolkosnik from various performances choreographed by #rachelcohen @racocotogo; costumes and sets by #olek; #loveacrosstheusa #teamolek Mini Nina approved by Hank ๐Ÿ˜ป๐Ÿ’ž๐Ÿ˜ป Free patterns ๐Ÿ”๐Ÿ”๐Ÿ” http://www.loveacrosstheusa.com/make-your-own-mini/ #teamolek #teamolekcats #loveacrosstheusa Itโ€™s my pleasure to welcome a beautiful soul @reddread33 to our team. Our paths crossed 7 years ago when I needed helping skilled hands while wrapping a tractor and the gallery building. It was a challenging time for us both. We got back on our feet and continue the journey. Now we are going to spread our love across the country. Stay tuned for details ๐Ÿ’œ๐Ÿ’žโœŠ๐ŸปโœŠ๐Ÿฟ๐Ÿ•ท๐Ÿ˜˜ Ps. @victor_knight_tattoos โœŠ๐Ÿฟ#inournearfuture #Repost @reddread33 ใƒปใƒปใƒป My husband @victor_knight_tattoos can tell you that my journey to self love has been a rough one. 20yrs of up and down changes. Today I can say that I'm still here and the love is sooooo real! I found that thing, besides my family, that floods my heart. In crochet I found myself, but I also found others like me I can share this love and inspiration with. Not only Was I blessed to work with my favorite fiber artist. She came back and brought @loveacrosstheusa with her. Reconnecting and building on a friendship fueled by crochet webs that connect people of all sorts. I am so proud and humbled to announce that I have been invited to join the #loveacrosstheusa team. To travel from city to city connecting this web of love and adding color that's larger than life. Thank you @oleknyc, team Olek for this opportunity! A special thank you @kellymcchesney and @withouttrees for all of your love and support. Thank you to all my high vibing ancestors for all your love and guidance. #letsdothis @christabethunesmith @xtraedge18 @dartsky ๐ŸŒธ๐Ÿ’Ÿ๐ŸŒธ We are happy to welcome @lisacapogrossi as a new crew member of our growing team! In March of 2017, Lisa Capogrossi Schneider showed up at the inaugural Love Across the USA workshop in Rochester NY. A longtime admirer of public art, she was excited at the prospect of actually being able to participate in its creation. She didnโ€™t know how to crochet, but was eager to learn. After many false starts, and lots of encouragement from Olek, Lisa finally produced not one, but three beautiful squares for the Susan B. Anthony mural. The energy used in creating those squares resulted in a very dedicated volunteer. She became one of our lead people who helped to manage, finish, and install the mural in Rochester. Among her favorite moments was her time on the roof of the building, standing side-by-side with Olek, getting the piece in place. Considering this project a life-changing experience in many ways, she has since volunteered for a number of other public art projects. Lisa is now serving as our outreach director, and is thrilled to be tasked with finding other communities to experience the magic of Love Across the USA. #loveacrosstheusa #teamolek #teamlatusa Itโ€™s official! @rohnstrong is joining our team. Stay tuned for more updates ๐ŸŒธ๐ŸŒน๐Ÿ’ž๐ŸŒธ๐ŸŒน๐Ÿ’ž #Repost @rohnstrong ใƒปใƒปใƒป In 2017 I met the amazing @oleknyc when @loveacrosstheusa came to Raleigh. I didn't know just how important that time would be. Our team of amazing crocheters from Raleigh created a banner honoring the life of Nina Simone. It was serendipitous.โ € โ € Now, almost two years later I'm honored to be joining the @loveacrosstheusa team. Iโ€™ll be traveling around, teaching, crocheting...all while celebrating women, art, and diversity.โ € โ € I'm excited about what the future holds and can't wait to start this journey. Don't worry, I'll take y'all along the way with me and hopefully, we'll be coming to a city near you soon! โ € โ € โ € โ € โ € โ € โ € โ € #yarnpunk #crochetcardigan #slowfashion #craft #diy #handmade #art #craftastherapy #instacrochet #ourmakerlife #thehooknookers #yarnpunk #craftsposure #scenefromtheceiling #knitting #knit #Crochet #crocheting #crochetaddict #crochetlove #crochetersofinstagram #crocheted #crocheter #crochetlover #crocheteveryday #crochetpattern #bhooked #yarn #craftastherapy_fave #crochetinspiration #everysunday xxx #gowanus #brooklyn Spreading love locally ๐ŸŒธ๐Ÿ’Ÿ๐ŸŒธ every year we meet somewhere in #brooklyn and #crochet (or #knit) scarfs and hats for less blessed people in our neighborhood. Start your own circle wherever you are ๐ŸŒธ pic by @jsc_500 ๐ŸŒธ #loopafterloop #spreadlove What to do when in Tryon, NC? Visit Nina at the Tryon Arts Center, of course! Had a fantastic audience for our talk and amazing support for our visit. Thanks to St. Luke's Hospital/ St. Luke's Hospital Foundation; MS Hammett Construction (@mshammettconstruction);Tara & Drew Brannon (@drew_brannon);Mary Ann Claud & Olin Sansbury;Gayle & Scott Lane; Elizabeth & Bailey Nager; and Lucy & Tim Brannon. See you soon!! Love Me or Leave Me Nina moved to her home town!thank you for everyone involved ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿ™๐Ÿ’–๐Ÿ™๐Ÿ™ #Repost @mshammettconstruction ใƒปใƒปใƒป So grateful to be apart of this installation! We put together the absolute best team possible to get this large mural placed in downtown Tryon! #loveacrosstheusa #oleknyc #givingback #tfac #ninasimone