Fiber on the Farm

So how did the fiber fair that our 2nd Monday weavers group sponsored, turn out? Well, first we froze our butts off; oh wait that was last. First Elin and her husband Bob agreed to host the fair at what I consider the most beautiful ridge top farm around. Then we were fortunate in having a masterful organizer like Denise who managed to pull it all together in a very short time span.

There was everything from a fleece skirting demo table, a display of heritage sheep fleeces to hands on apple carving and a trellis loom for the young and old to give weaving with natural objects, a try. Along with our 11 vendor, Olga, Jan and Judith organized a display area featuring the woven and knitted items of our fiber group. Judith’s beautifully written poem put into words some of why the fiber arts are an important part of our lives.

Elin’s natural dye workshop and Bonnie’s Sheep Raising 101 were both well attended. I wish I had been able to join in, but I was busy introducing a few lovely ladies into the world of spinning and hopefully gave intermediate spinner Jessie some help with improving her long draw technique. For me spinning is one of the most relaxing and magical of the fiber arts. You handle every fiber that goes into the creation of a thread, that becomes a yarn, that can turn into a woven or knitted garment, that wraps you or someone you love in wooly warmth. Of course as beginners, that thread concept takes awhile to achieve. At first it is more like you are trying to shove a sheep through a really tiny hole. Not so relaxing. However lumpy, bumpy, crazy over twisted energized beginner yarns are some of the most beautiful and are rightly cherished. Paitence grasshopper, it eventually gets easier.

For me personally, my expectations for this fair were, to have a fun day with our fiber group and share my love of spinning with some fellow fiberholics. However despite the blustery cold day, people actually came to share our fiber adventers in ELin and Bob’s cozy barn. So hopefully, as our group inspires our creativity with each other; we were able to share a bit about why the fiber arts are important to us. Until next year????