I went to North Carolina for my grandson's graduation from High School. While I was there my grandson, son and I spent a wonderful day in a barn near the South Carolina border digging through great, dirty stuff! I found this, actually Andrew spotted it for me, old spinning wheel with such beautifully turned spindles. It's very unusual, not in great shape but I had to save it. So now it's in my livingroom safe as can be.

Look what I found

Black Sheep Gathering student work

The Black Sheep Gathering

I just returned from a wonderful 3 days in Oregon at the Black Sheep Gathering, held at the fairgrounds in Eugene. If you have never been to a big Natural Fiber Fair it's a good one. Lots of vendors and workshops. Our Natural Fiber Fair in Arcata is also a good one, more hands on and intimate. It's not so scary to ask questions. Nobody is in a big hurry and it's not as crowded. The first day of the fair I walked around and visited with my friends, some of whom are vendors and looked at what the vendors had to offer, bought too much as usual. On Saturday I taught a nuno felting class with 15 amazing students. I love teaching at a fiber fair because the students are so familiar with the fibers, they bring things from their farms to experiment with and we just have fun. Sunday I sat in the spinning circle all day and spun some bombyx silk and merino I dyed ages ago. It was the most relaxing day I have had in so long. Life is good.

Natural Fiber Fair

We are holding the 21st annual Natural Fiber Fair with some new changes. It will be held at the Arcata Community Center, September 10, 11, 2011. What I have always thought was wonderful about our fiber fair is that if you don't know a thing about the fiber world, you spend a day at the fair and you will have a pretty good idea what it's all about. You have the opportunity to watch and listen for free, to learn just about anything related to fiber from how to wash a fleece to spinning and knitting. We will have our usual vendor free demonstrations on just about everything you can think of and some hour long free classes in spinning, knitting etc. This year for the first time we are offering half day and day long workshops with a great line of teachers. Look at my class schedule page for info about the line up or we have a web site, naturalfiberfair.com. Bring your projects or your spinning wheel and join the Fiber Circle. There will be plenty of knowledgeable people there to offer their help.