Fiber Shows & Summer Plans

Peter and I just took a walk and it barely feels warm enough for Spring, much less Summer, but I continue to get e-mails about shows and thought I would share again. Should you want to enroll in classes, it’s always wise to do it as soon as you know registration is open.

June 24-25      Midwest fiber & Folk Art Fair Grayslake IL

• Celebrating its 5th year, this is a wonderful and growing show. There are lots of great vendors, a show to enter and classes. I am teaching primitive rug hooking  this year.

July 9                Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show Sisters,OR

• This is a very famous one day show where about 1300 quilts (!) are hung all over town! I believe there are other events connected to this show.

July 13-16       American Quilter’s Society Knoxville, TN

• This show is in its 3rd year at this location. Sounds like there is a lot to see and do there!

July 29-31       International Quilt Festival Long Beach,CA   (March 23 online registration)

• This is still a fairly new show for the Quilts, Inc. people. I always want to go to take the tours to fabric designers’ workshops and see all the amazing local quilt stores.

Here’s an idea : have you ever considered going to a crafts camp for a week or two? I went to the Penland School of Crafts in North Carolina many years ago for a two-week weaving workshop. It was a fabulous experience. Working in the studio every day, I was able to look out over a large field with the Smokies in the background – a piece of heaven for sure! Studios are open for 24 hours so you can work as much or as little as you like, and there are so many interesting people to talk to. Classes include hot glass, ceramics, paper, jewelry, blacksmithing, and more. The food was wonderful. There were nightly lectures by the teachers and I went to every one, regardless of craft. It is overwhelmingly stimulating and you will be buzzing with ideas for weeks after. Here are some other notable places like Penland to check out:

Arrowmont in Tennessee

Haystack on an island in Maine

Pacific Northwest Art School on Whidbey Island near Seattle

Peter’s Valley Craft School in New Jersey

Harrisville Designs in New Hampshire (weaving & knitting)

And while we’re talking about summer plans,  don’t forget to check out when your county and state fairs are to see quilts! Peter and I went to the Iowa State Fair a few years ago and were amazed at the number of quilts displayed (see photo above) as well as a lot of beautiful needlework. Our Lake County Fair had some quilts last summer, but I think perhaps I should enter this year… Something else for the to do list?