Artwork stolen from Laguna Beach arts festival

Thieves have made off with the "yarn bombs" that were displayed at the Sawdust Art Festival in Laguna Beach.

The colorful knitted or crocheted bombs had been on display at the festival entrance, the food court and the entertainment deck. When a couple of the designs were vandalized last week, festival officials contacted the needleworkers who created them and suggested their removal.

However, when members of Twisted Stitchers knitting class arrived Aug. 4 to take down their art, they were told all of the pieces had been hacked off the previous night.

Michelle Boyd, who teaches the class and organized the display, said she not only wants the pieces returned, she wants the thieves identified and punished.

"All of this is so disturbing, awful, shameful, and sad," Boyd wrote to the Coastline Pilot.

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-- Barbara Diamond, Times Community News

Photo: One of the trees that was "yarn bombed" earlier this summer at the Sawdust Art Festival. Credit: John Krill