www.FiberArtFest.com

The belief that the June event is over is only further reinforced by how tired I still am after several days of downtime.  The weather did cooperate though it was very hot and humid.  Everyone asked for no rain and it was replaced with humidity instead.  The temps were only in the 80s; but, with the humidity nearing 90%, it felt much, much hotter.

A few minutes after opening on June 12th, 2010.

This picture seemed to capture the growth we have seen over the last several years.  There were over 30 assigned spaces this year.  It was a great site.  As we have come to expect, there were power shoppers looking around right at 10 AM.

Demonstrating how hand made brooms to a young person Three generations of one family petting Moose our Icelandic Ram

These two images I thought truly captured the mission of our festival, passing on fiber artistry and the sources of those skills of years past to others.

With all the great fiber art throughout the entire day, it was hard to find just a few images to include here.  However, these two great pieces shows the amount of work, skill and patience it really takes to care and create these wonderful and often practical pieces of art.

Hand Braided Rug

This rug would easily bring alive a whole room with its brilliant use of shades of red.  The tight weave would allow for many years of use.

Rovings

This is a great example of the many different natural and hand dyed rovings that were available.  This is mostly the basic start of most projects, the roving.  From here, you can do just about anything from knitting, spinning or felting.  You’re only limited by your imagination. 

A Lucet is a 16th century braiding tool.

This was the simplist tool I have seen and be used in fiber art.  Through a series of twists and pulls, using this tool, you can make a square looking, long braid.  The braid is then used for rope, rugs or a variety of other items.  This tool was used back in the 16th century.

One of our great festival friends and volunteer, Pennie Christie, brought her bottle lamb.  This little (or not so little) ewe lamb allowed many people to see how friendly lambs can be when properly handled.  Shadow was great to see by everyone.

We received some great feedback from the exhibitors.  At the end of the day, I made my usual rounds and talked to each exhibitor individually.   In 2011, we are likely to see similar attendance.  With our added customer base this year, we had a couple issues with traffic and lack of bathroom space.  We plan on correcting these problems.  Sales were mixed but attendance was way up.  I am likely to get the approximate attendance from the owner of Side Track in the next few days.   Overall, exhibitors and customers seem to have a good day.

The task list to accomplish before Saturday is not as large as I had thought.  However, everything seems to be taking hours to complete if all goes well.  Getting a flat tire yesterday just about completely absorbed all my day. 

We have tried to expand the advertising again this year and already have received some wonderful feedback.  The multi-media (radio, TV and newspaper) appears to be the best approach.  Now, to refine the mix to reach everyone effectively without breaking the bank is going to be our goal next year.

I am building a set of eight-foot-square stall panels for the June even as sort of a prototype for the stall panels we will need for the October show.  The design is simple and sturdy.  We are going to try it out this weekend and see how it goes.

Thursday night and Friday during the day, I will be creating the final layout for the booths.  I wait to the last possible second to make sure everyone is ready to go.  I start calling everyone personally this evening to determine when they will arrive and finalize any special requests.  So many festivals do everything via mail or e-mail or some other non-personal communication.  It is amazing how much a few minute conversation can put so many questions to rest.

This year we once again have our priceless volunteers doing so much.  Our signs will go out early on Saturday morning throughout town and at the end of the exit ramps.  That’s another map I need to generate.  We will have another volunteer getting exhibitors to their assigned spaces.  In year’s past, we have been able to move people around due to one reason or another at the last minute.  It all works out well in the end.

The weather looks like it is going to cooperate.  I was getting a little worried.  However, for the last several days the forecast has been getting progressively better.  I think we need to be prepared for a little rain.  But, it shouldn’t be a big deal.

Looking through the list of exhibitors this year, I have noticed we have quite a few first-time exhibitors not only to our festival but they have chosen our festival as their first-ever event!  This is truly exciting to me.

After FAAF, I am likely going to sleep for a week and then get the pictures uploaded.  There is always a great number of folks with smiles and fiber to show off for the camera.

Over the next two weeks, our advertising will start.  We have print and radio ads throughout the area.  It is truly exciting to see everything come together.  Our exhbiitor’s listing has grown and have some new first-time exhibitors. 

If you haven’t checked us out on Facebook, please do.  We post snippets just about every day now about one thing or another.  Most of our exhibitors have Facebook pages as well.

We are now on Ravelery.  I have put an entry there for our June 12th event.

The days are clicking down quickly.  The advertising is out and I have already received several comments about what people have heard or seen.  What is great is that our customer focus is on the new fiber artist.  Our advertising and our mission are tightly wound (excuse the pun) and are working together well.

A few days ago I received a call from one of our exhibitors.  There was a discussion about payment, placement, weather and everything about the June 12th show.  Since we do not manage by committee and I can bend my own rules whenever it fits the need of the festival, I was able to work with this exhibitor about their placement.  I feel that we can be more responsive to our exhibitor’s needs since I don’t have to consult with anyone or worry about last-minute changes like so many other festivals need to do.

The 10 day weather forecast looks great.  Right now, they are forecasting upper 70s and low 80s with partly cloudy skies.  I’m crossing my fingers that it stays that way.

We will again have a special menu for the exhibitors this year.  I am working with Side Track Ice Cream to produce a portable lunch in a box that the exhibitors can order with several options.  It will be delivered personally to everybody’s booth.