The idea of "DIY" is definitely in vogue, bringing an upswing in popularity of knitting and crocheting, and there's no sign interest will wane anytime soon, says lifelong craftswoman Betty Hechtman.

"Pinterest and Etsy are two of the hottest websites online today, and they're brimming with hand-knitted items, from socks and scarves to purses and pretty much anything that can be made from yarn," says Hechtman, author of "Yarn to Go," (www.BettyHechtman.com), the first in a new cozy mystery series scheduled for publication in July by Berkley Prime Crime Books.

"The hand-knitted caps and sweaters that might have embarrassed us as kids are now a hip expression of artistry," she says. "Young adults appreciate originality and craftsmanship, and they're an innovative bunch. They're doing amazing things with yarn!"

Surprisingly, she notes, crocheting is even more popular than knitting. It's No. 3 on the top 10 U.S. crafts list compiled by the Craft and Hobby Association, with 17.4 million devotees. Knitting comes in at No. 9 with 13 million needle fans.

"What's interesting is people say they're drawn to yarn crafts because of the creativity," Hechtman says, citing a Craft Yarn Council survey of more than 5,000 knitters. "But once they get into it, they say they realize it also helps with stress."

That's just one of the unexpected benefits of time spent knitting and crocheting. Hechtman cites four more:

• Knitting (and crochet) actually produce beneficial physical changes! Spend enough time with your needles or a hook and yarn, and you can strengthen your immune system, lower your blood pressure, and change your brain chemistry to reduce stress hormones and increase the natural "happy" neurotransmitters, serotonin and dopamine. These findings were reported last year at an "academic study day" in England on the therapeutic benefits of knitting.

• It won't leave you feeling groggy in the morning. Having trouble sleeping? Instead of reaching for a pill, pick up a yarn project an hour or so before bedtime. The calming repetition of knitting or crocheting slows restless, racing thoughts and helps us transition from busy day to quiet, restful night.

• Keep your hands out of trouble. Are you trying to quit smoking and don't know what to do with yourself? How about biting your nails? Have you become obsessed with checking your social media? Crocheting or knitting keeps hands busy - and out of trouble - while you're traveling, waiting at the doctor's office or sitting at your kid's soccer game. And, unlike smoking, nail-biting and wasting time on Facebook, the result of knitting and crocheting is a positive one.

• Make new friends. An internet survey of 3,500 knitters found 90 percent made new friends through the craft. One of the beautiful aspects of yarn work is that you can do it alone or in a group. In fact, the opportunities to socialize seem to be driving the strong interest from young adults, who meet at bars, Starbucks and office lunchrooms for a good stitch session, according to the yarn council. People who are alone much of the time are more prone to depression and other mental health issues, getting together for a knit with friends is good for you!

About Betty Hechtman

Betty Hechtman is the author of "Yarn to Go," the first book in the Berkley Prime Crime Yarn Retreat mystery series, as well as the author of the best-selling Berkley Prime Crime Crochet  mystery series. The eighth book, "For Better or Worsted," comes out in November.  She has also written newspaper and magazine pieces, short stories and screenplays as well as a children's culinary mystery. She has a bachelor of fine arts degree and has been active in handicrafts since she was a small child. Hechtman divides her time between Los Angeles and Chicago.

Mount Carroll, IL-- Timber Lake Playhouse (TLP) opens its 52nd Season in rural Mount Carroll with the record-breaking classic musical, A Chorus Line on Thursday, June 6. Executive Director James Beaudry has brought in three Broadway performers from New York for this production and several of the best singer-actor-dancers from the past several summers to stage and star in the show for the first time ever at TLP.

Will Taylor, who played Bobby in the recent Broadway revival of A Chorus Line directs and recreates Michael Bennett's brilliant staging for the musical that tells the stories of performers with big dreams as they fight for a spot 'on the line.' The musical was an instant sold-out hit in 1975 becoming the longest running Broadway musical in history. Liza Minnelli famously couldn't get a ticket, so she sat in an aisle.

A Chorus Line still sells out almost 40 years later, because it celebrates the unlimited possibilities in all of us--teaching that even the lowliest members of any group have the right to stand up for their integrity and dreams. Marvin Hamlisch's score includes "What I Did For Love," "I Can Do That" and the classic "One (Singular Sensation)."

Pilar Millhollen, seen as Bebe in the first national tour of A Chorus Line and on Broadway in Chicago, stars as Cassie. In the role of Connie Wong, Geena Quintos comes directly to TLP from the most recent national tour. Quintos, who performed on Broadway in Miss Saigon, also serves as Assistant Director.

TLP favorites Tyler Sawyer Smith (Chicago, Sweet Charity, Sunset Boulevard), Erica Stephan (Footloose, Working, Guys & Dolls), Henry McGinniss (Footloose, Sweet Charity, Children of Eden), Tim Wessel (Guys & Dolls, You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown), Joe Capstick (Guys & Dolls, Cabaret), Adam Fane (Grease, The Wedding Singer) and Hanah Nardone (Guys & Dolls, Footloose) all return to Mount Carroll to fill out the cast. New York based actor Kaolin Bass leads the cast as Zach.

"TLP has never attempted to produce A Chorus Line because the level of talent and stamina required for this show is unmatched in any other musical," Beaudry said. "To do the show right, these performers must be athletes. As one dancer quipped, "It's like playing Monday Night Football 8 times a week."

"But after his successes with TLP's Oklahoma! and Guys & Dolls, I knew Will Taylor had the expertise to do the show right. It's always an honor to bring Will to TLP, and working with Pilar, Kaolin and Geena has also been a joy and a privilege. Watching rehearsals makes my jaw drop, because these people are so good."

Rounding out the company are 14 other performers new to TLP who were selected from over 1000 auditions all over the country. Abby Frank-Taylor, of Madison, plays Lois and has the distinction of being the first third-generation TLP company member. She is the granddaughter of Sheldon Frank, who served as Board President for two decades and was a founding board member in 1961. Abby's mother Leslie also spent several seasons with the company.

A Chorus Line runs June 6-16 for 12 performances only. TLP is located at 8215 Black Oak Rd. in rural Mount Carroll, IL. Tickets are $15-23 and are available at the box office, by calling 815-244-2035 or visiting www.timberlakeplayhouse.org. This Pulitzer Prize winning musical is not recommended for children, as it is based on actual interviews with real people and contains some adult language, humor and content. Later this summer, TLP will present Seussical and The Music Man which are perfect for all ages.

The Coralville Center for the Performing Arts stage will feature a variety of events in June 2013, giving members of the community many opportunities to participate in performances and enjoy cultural offerings.  Highlights include a free performance by violinist Tricia Park and pianist Conor Hanick on June 4; a production of Shrek: The Musical featuring more than 60 local teens; and Steinway artist Dan Knight's Iowa Farewell Concert.

The schedule includes:

·        Nolte Academy presents Jet Set, the dance school's spring recitals.  Performances Friday, May 31 at 5:30pm and 7:30pm; Saturday, June 1 at 10am, 2pm, and 6:30pm; and Sunday, June 2 at 2pm and 6:30pm.  Tickets are $14; $10 for children ages 3-12.

·        Tricia Park, violin and Conor Hanick, piano, present Leon Kirchner's Duo No. 2 for Violin and Piano on Tuesday, June 4 at 7:30pm.  This recital is free and open to the public.  This voluptuous and passionate composition was commissioned in memory of the great violinist and pedagogue Felix Galimir, and is being performed by Park and Hanick at the request of Judy and Richard Hurtig, who co-commissioned the work in their uncle's memory.

·        City Circle Acting Company of Coralville presents Shrek: The Musical June 14-16.  Based on the 2001 DreamWorks film, this musical is part romance, part twisted fairy tale, and all irreverent fun for the whole family!  This production features more than 60 local teen performers, directed by Chris Okiishi.  Performances are Friday, June 14 at 7:30pm, Saturday, June 15 at 2pm and 7:30pm, and Sunday, June 16 at 2pm.  Tickets are $12-$27.

·        Composer and pianist Dan Knight will present an evening of jazz to benefit the Crisis Center Food Bank on Tuesday, June 25 at 7:30pm.  Knight will be leaving Iowa to take a full-time faculty position at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte this summer, so this will be his "Farewell Concert" and will feature percussionist Nick George, bassist Scott Barnum, and vocalist Marcia Hughes.  Tickets are $10.

·        Step on the stage on Saturday, June 29 for an Impromptu Summer Cabaret, beginning at 7:30pm.  Participants are welcome to bring a song to sing or play, a work to read, a poem to recite, or to simply watch the impromptu performance.  $5 suggested donation at the door.

Further information on these events and details on other upcoming events are available at CoralvilleArts.org.

Tickets for most CCPA events are available by phone at 319.248.9370, online at CoralvilleArts.org, and in person at the CCPA box office at 1301 5^th Street and Coralville Recreation Center at 1506 8^th Street.

Owned and operated by the City of Coralville, the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts is dedicated to enriching the community and contributing to the vitality of Coralville by offering an accessible, affordable venue for a variety of performances, presentations, and public and private events.  The 472 seat theater opened August 26, 2011 and has hosted performances from City Circle Acting Company, Orchestra Iowa, Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre, Dan Knight, Lola Astanova, Lorie Line, Judy Carmichael, Jim McDonough, Nolte Academy of Dance, and many others.  Coralville schools are also able to use the Center free of charge up to three times per year; 13 school events took place at the Center in 2012. The Center was named 2012 Member of the Year by the Iowa City/Coralville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The German American Heritage Center announces the opening for its new exhibit, Land & Water. We will host Daryl Smith, Director of the Tallgrass Prairie Center at UNI for a presentation on "Our Prairie Heritage." Hear Smith speak about what made the prairie landscape so special for our ancestors and for Jens Jensen on Sunday, June 2nd at 2pm.

Land and Water is an exhibition about two figureheads in the conservation and preservation movement. These two individuals took their fields to new heights with their love of the natural world and cherished the beauty of their surroundings.  Jens Jensen and Ernest Oberholtzer, secured the beauty, power, and grandeur of the Midwest prairie and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area to their own generation and to those that followed. These two men and the landscapes they loved still inspire us today!

Smith has served as head of UNI Department of Biology, president of the Iowa Academy of Science, board member of the Iowa Chapter of The Nature Conservancy and National Association of Biology Teachers, director of the Twelfth and Twenty Second North American Prairie Conferences, and director of Iowa Prairie Conferences 1991-01. A native Iowan, Smith has been involved in prairie preservation, management, and restoration for 40 years.  His former students are active in prairie restoration and management, natural area assessment, resource management, secondary and collegiate teaching and natural history interpretation.  He founded the Tallgrass Prairie Center and serves as the Director.  The Center most recent project involves the utilization of mixtures of prairie plants as biomass feedstock.  Smith was also executive director and co-producer of the documentary film, America's Lost Landscape: The Tallgrass Prairie, winner of the Pare Lorentz Award from International Documentary Association and the Cine Golden Eagle Award.