Blumz Gets Yarn-Bombed to Promote Upcoming Art Event

The outside of in Ferndale was "yarn bombed" on Sunday to help promote an upcoming Meet the Artisans event at the floral and gift shop.

Meet the Artisans will be held 6:30-10 p.m. April 27 at Blumz, where 21 local artists will offer their handmade work for sale while guests enjoy food, drinks and a silent auction. Proceeds will benefit the Boys and Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan.

To help promote the event, organizer Carol Jackson decided to bring in local crochet artist and vendor Jennifer Xerri to "yarn bomb" the outside of Blumz.

If you haven't heard of yarn bombing, a quick Google search will reveal photos of everything from cars and parking meters to tree stumps and other natural spaces covered in colorful yarn creations.

Also known as "guerrilla crochet" or "yarnstorming," the newer form of art is popular in other regions and is on the rise in Metro Detroit.

Xerri, who runs Starlily Creations, is one of the artists participating in Meet the Artisans April 27. She said she's been yarn bombing several areas in Royal Oak and Ferndale, including , and was happy to help promote the event.

"It's something to talk about, it's fun, it's exciting," Xerri said of yarn bombing. "It starts a conversation."

She and her friend Aletha Oberdier created the dispaly at Blumz. Xerri said the art would have been more extensive if not for the storms on Sunday.

Jackson said the event will not only benefit the Boys and Girls Club but also aims to support local artists. As for the yarn bombing, "it's just really fun," Jackson said. "[Xerri] is very talented."

For more information on Meet the Artisans, call 248.398.5130 or visit the event's Facebook page.