Perennial

Our annual Repair Fair is this Saturday, June 13, from 11a-2p in the reuse studio + wood shop. Handy friends of Perennial will have the following stations set up for on-site advice + repair: bike, computer (hardware + software), darning + mending, electronic + small appliance, stuffed toy (limited hours), jewelry, leather goods, plant, sewing + alterations, and wooden items. RSVP + let us know what you need repaired at https://perennialstl.org/event/repair-fair-2/

How does it work? RVSP (encouraged but not required) and let us know what item you need repaired. On Saturday, bring your item to the appropriate station for in person advice, guidance, or quick repair. The shop will be open for anyone who needs to purchase repair or replacement supplies! Some stations may request payment, others may offer free repair. Find the full event details at the link above.

We have ONE spot open for each of our classes this upcoming week - composting, weaving, sewing, soap making, power tools, and mending! Which new skills will you learn? Grab the last spot at https://perennialstl.org/events/category/classes/

**Due to weather, the Perennial Picnic will be held at Perennial (not Tower Grove Park as originally planned).** You can still count on crafts, games, and good company from 4p-7p tomorrow. This is a free and family-friendly drop-in event. If you feel inclined to RSVP or make a donation to support our transition, you can do so at https://perennialstl.org/event/perennial-picnic-welcome-farewell/

We look forward to see you there!

🔍 ISO: reclaimed or leftover hardwood in good, usable condition! 🔎

We're low on supplies for our upcoming Custom Cutting Board class on June 23, so we're asking for hardwood donations before then - we need unpainted/unstained hardwood that is at least 3/4" thick, 2" Wide, 14" long. Anything near that size or larger, we'll take!

Species we use most for cutting boards:
🪵 Walnut
🪵 Maple
🪵 Teak
🪵 Ash
🪵 Cherry
🪵 White Oak

We don't have much use for red oak, but will happily take the above or any other hardwoods. Give us a call at (314) 832-2288 or stop by the shop if you've got wood for us!

⭐ SPECIAL SHOP HOURS THIS FRIDAY: 11a-3p ⭐

We're closing the shop a little early this Friday to get ready for a special community event, Perennial Picnic: Welcome + Farewell. We invite everyone to join us at the Old Carriage Shelter in Tower Grove Park (4214 Main Drive) between 4-7p for a free, fun, family-friendly event where we welcome Allison to the crew + wish Katie well in future adventures.

Learn more + RSVP at https://perennialstl.org/event/perennial-picnic-welcome-farewell/

Our theme for June is 🛠 REPAIR 🪡 - take one of our many classes that offer DIY repair skills + come join us at the Repair Fair on June 13! What are you aiming to fix this summer?

Grab your Repair Fair ticket at 🔗 https://perennialstl.org/event/repair-fair-2/

We have a small number of spots open for a few classes this week - come learn with us: https://perennialstl.org/events/category/classes

SAT - Dyeing with Indigo: learn Shibori dyeing, kumo and itajime resist techniques.
SAT - Springtime Dried Floral Wreath: learn floral wreath design, how to dry and store flowers + foliage.
TUES - Simple Sewing: Neck Scarf: learn how to use a diy pattern, invisible ladder stitch, sewing a curve.
WED - Copper Rings + Bracelets: learn wire-stripping, wire-shaping techniques, jewelry sizing.

BYOB (bring your own blanket) + pack some snacks for ✨ Perennial Picnic: Welcome Allison + Farewell Katie ✨ on Friday, June 5th, from 4p-7p at the Old Carriage Shelter in Tower Grove Park. This free and family-friendly drop-in event includes a few crafts, lawn games, and sweet treats. Stop by to meet Allison, connect, share stories, and help us thank Katie for her leadership!

More details to come... grab your ticket to reserve your spot at https://perennialstl.org/event/perennial-picnic-welcome-farewell/

Friend of Perennial, Mollie Beth, recently shared this beautiful poem about the ocean with us. Mollie makes decoupaged sun-catchers and jewelry holders using shells from the retail shop.

We love when you all share your art with us - we look forward to seeing what else you create!

⋆｡𖦹 ˚ 🌊 🐚 🫧 𓇼 ˚｡⋆.

"The Ocean Keeps What We Cannot" by Mollie Beth

The ocean is not gentle because gentleness is too small a word.

It drags moons by their throats. It hollows stone into prayer. It takes shipwrecks and softens them into glass fit for children’s pockets.

Still—I walk toward it every time like something answering a bell.

Salt gathers on my skin the way memory gathers in old houses. The tide reaches for me with the patience of something ancient enoughto know I will eventually return.

I build castles anyway.

Ridiculous little kingdoms with dripping towers and shell doors and walls thin enough for one determined wave.

The sea destroys them lovingly.

Not punishment—instruction.

See how even ruin can be beautiful. See how nothing held too tightly survives. See how the world remakes itself endlessly.

Women lay in the sun like offerings. Children scream into the surf. Someone walks by with a cherry-blue frozen drink melting faster than grief.

The gulls argue overheadlike old gods.

And beneath everything—the pulse.

The giant breathing thing that asks nothing of me except that I arrive.

For one impossible moment the nervous system quiets.

The body remembers it was once mostly water.

The ocean keeps moving. The ocean keeps singing. The ocean keeps carrying all the broken glittering things home.

What an amazing turnout for this past Saturday's Community Clothing Swap! We had an impressive number of folks come through, even in spite of the rainy weather. Check out the final stats below + save the date for the next swap on Saturday, August 15th: https://perennialstl.org/community-clothing-swaps/

♻️ Volunteers: 53
♻️ Attendees: 141
♻️ Pounds Diverted: 3,459
♻️ Community Closets Served: 2
♻️ Cookies Eaten: 152
♻️ Coffee Drank: 384 Ounces