1. Write. Calling all aspiring John Cheevers: Do you think you have a winning short story? There’s still time to submit works for Short Story Smash, a fiction-writing contest hosted by the Whidbey Island Center for the Arts in Langley. The deadline is Aug. 1.
Stories need to be 100 words or more, but there’s a special prize for a winning story that is exactly 100 words long.
More at www.wicaonline.org.
2. Pedal. Go for a bike ride with the community and learn something new.
A free educational program, Bike2Health, offers weekly and monthly rides for residents living in Edmonds, Lynnwood and Mountlake Terrace on Thursdays and Saturdays through September.
The Cascade Bicycle Club will teach basic bike-handling skills, route navigation and group etiquette during leisurely rides on bike paths and low-traffic streets.
More at www.cascade.org/bike2health.
3. Craft. The West knows it as tie-dye, but Japan calls it shibori.
The ancient cloth-dyeing technique dates back to the eighth century when Emperor Shomu donated his tie-dyed fabrics to a Buddhist temple in the city of Nara.
Shibori involves binding, stitching, folding, twisting or compressing fabric to create colorful patterns with indigo, a tropical plant used as a dye. Today, the style is used on T-shirts, tote bags and tablecloths.
You can learn shibori techniques from 2 to 4 p.m. Aug. 8 at Everett Public Library, 2702 Hoyt Ave., Everett. The free class is for adults. Kids 12 and older can sign up with an adult. Supplies will be provided.
Call 425-257-8000.
— Evan Thompson, Herald writer
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