Hey it is fun to be blogged about!

I know Kathleen via the internet - she is a member of Phatfiber.  For those of you who know not of Phatfiber, it is a very cool sample box of all kinds of work from differnt indi-fiber artists about the country.  Phatfiber has a store on Etsy - check it out.  I have participated in eight so far, I think they are great.  Kathleen participates too.  Their home web site is:  http://phatfiber.com/index.htm.  I also read Kathleen's blog:  http://kathleenspin.blogspot.com/  Super blog.  Lots of write ups of different indi fiber artists.  So this time she wrote about me/Avalon Springs Farm.  Thanks Kathleen!

Review - Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival, 2011

In a word .... WOW!

This show is the "end all, be all" of fiber festivals.  Visit the website at:  http://www.sheepandwool.org/  for information about next year and getting on the show catalog mailing list.  The show is run by the Maryland Sheep Breeders Association (their website is:  http://mdsheepbreeders.org/default.aspx ).  It is mainly a sheep and wool show -- like the name says, :) , i.e. the animal displays, competitions, exhibitions, classes, vendors and even food are all about sheep, wool, chevron, and every conceivable sheep product.  

However, over the years some other fiber folks have managed to appear, so you will also see some llamas, alpacas, goats, bunnies, and dogs in all kinds of displays and activities too - particularly as their cottage industry relates to the sheep industry.  For example, there are sheep herding demos/competitions with dogs, and bunnies having their fiber combed, carded and blended with wool to make yarn.  This also means that fiber vendors will have every imaginable wool fiber blend that is out there -- bamboo, silk, cashmere, hemp, chiengora, and kitgut too. 

But that is not all... it is not just the diversity and volume of wool & fiber, it is also all the magnificent and creative applications for things to do with sheep, wool & fiber.  There are supplies for, of course, the knitter, but also the crocheter, felter, needle-pointer, bead enthusiast, jeweler, textile artist, weaver, spinner, and fashionista!  And all this material comes in every color under the rainbow!  There are also classes to take, demonstrations to see, a shearing competition, all the animal displays, sheep dog trials (as mentioned earlier), a fashion show, the sheep competitions for all the different breeds, and a country mile of food vendors to top it off.

I have herd it said that between 40 to 60 thousand people come to the show if you count them from Friday afternoon thru to Sunday evening.  When you glance up at the fields for parking, or down the main street of the fairgrounds -- it is absolutely believable.  But the point is, the visitors & shoppers are more than handily met with a fantastic variety of things to see and do, eat and buy.

I had a wonderful time as a new vendor there this year.  I was located at the base of the hill on the main walkway, in a section called "Lower Corral," (Booth LC19)  I was across from the dog trials.  It was lovely - green grass and shade trees about.  The weather was gorgeous, couldn't ask for better!  The shoppers were super and my vendor neighbors were delightful people.  My whole family had a great time.

Homespun Yarn Party

Wow, It is almost time for Homespun Yarn Party!!  It is at the historic Savage Mill Mall in their Great Ball Room.  It is so much fun and a delightful place to be.  I will be there in booth #9.  In order for you to read all about it and the different people there click on their blog at:  http://homespunyarnparty.blogspot.com/

You'll know your there by their logo with the yarn in the background.  I am also including a mall map and vendor map in this entry for your convenience.  If you decide to come -- hope you do -- please feel free to print out the coupon I am picturing here in the entry as well.  However, feel free to set your printer to "draft print or black and white print only"

This really is a wonderfully fun and social event, truly a blast. There are door prizes, a huge gathering of knitting, and tons of things to see and people to meet.  Hope to see you there!!

Hello World... I got in! I got in! I've been accepted...

Yes, I am so excited to be a part of Maryland's biggest fiber event, and perhaps the biggest fiber/yarn/sheep event on the East Coat - The Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival.

http://www.sheepandwool.org/index.html

It takes place at:

Howard County Fairgrounds
2210 Fairground Road
West Friendship, MD
21794-9604

Not hard to reach from major through ways, such as: Route 70, Route 32 or Route 144.

There is no under stating how comprehensive a show this is.  There are huge animal displays, competitions, a fashion show, classes, art gallery, food - food - and more food, and vendors galore.  Every thing sheep, fiber, and yarn related is there to be found in three sizes and colors.

The festival is sponsored by the Maryland Sheep Breeders Association:

http://mdsheepbreeders.org/default.aspx

I will come as a fiber vendor.  I will bring all my Wool, Mohair, Llama, Alpaca fiber, yarn, roving and felt!  I will display all my latest cottage mill spun yarn, my own hand-spun, and my newest dye work.  Colors! Textures! Cool fiber blends!

Come visit my booth.  I will be outside, down near the dog-trial arena.

Booth Number LC19!

I promise more information on this exciting news soon!

I participated in a TV show for WETA, On television now....

Some number of months ago a production company for WETA, Public Television came to the Montgomery Farm Women's Cooperative Market in Bethesda where I work (for two different Board members/vendors and I have a small display of my own).  The Board asked me to be the spoke's person for the market, so I had a video-taped interview with WETA at the market.  It was definitely a thrill.  There was a sit down interview part and a walk around the market part.  I was told that all the footage would be cut down to a few usable seconds here and there in the total show.  I just asked them to do what they could to make me look thin and young on camera -- ha ha.  The topic was all about the market - today and its history.  It was a lovely after noon and the shooting was fun.  Well, the project is complete and the little vignette about the market appears in the show.  I have not seen it yet myself, but I was given some promotional material (posted in the pictures).  I do hope eveyone who watches enjoys it and finds it interesting and informative.  Please feel free to let me know.
www.WETA.org

The program is part of a series called "The WETA Guide to.." and this one is the guide to Montgomery County  -- The WETA Guide to Montgomery County.

 http://www.weta.org/about/press/releases/401965
PRESS RELEASE

http://www.weta.org/tv/programsatoz/program/77622  
VIEWING TIMES

Unique opportunity - come find me!

---PRESS RELEASE---

Uniquities 4th Fiber Farmer's Market
Saturday, March 12, 1:00-5:00 p.m.

Join us at the Vienna Community Center
120 Cherry Street, SE, Vienna, VA  22180

Fiber exploration!
Our market features a unique selection of yarn, roving and other fiber supplies from local vendors and fiber producers, and admission is free!

The Spinning Circle, 1:00-5:00 p.m.
Spinners of all levels are welcome to bring their wheels, drop spindles and enthusiasm and join our Spinning Circle for the afternoon.  Participants are invited to bring (or buy) fiber for Otto and Joanne Strauch to card into an art batt using the Mad Batt'r drum carder during their carding demonstration (w/fee).

Fleece-t-Scarf Demo, 2:00-4:00 p.m.
A dedicated team of six carders/spinners will hand card and spin yarn from raw fleece donated by Solitude (volunteer will weave).

Vendors:  Avalon Springs Farm, Celestial Farm, Central Virginia Fiber Mill, Finnegan's Flock, Lawre's Laine, Mt.Airy Farm, Spirit Trail Fibers, Solitude, Three Bags Wool, Wild Hare Fiber Studio, Strauch Fiber Equipment, Uniquities Yarn Shop.

Contact Uniquities Yarn Shop at 703-242-0520 or on the web at www.uniquitiesyarnshop.com

ANNOUNCEMENT: Avalon Springs Farm has a booth at the Historic Montgomery Farm Women's Cooperative Market

For FEBRUARY:  Wednesday's & Friday's, 9:30a - 3:30p (regular weekday market hours).  7155 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda Maryland.  See link below for more details about the market.

Yes , It is true!  I am so excited to be there.  In downtown Bethesda, Montgomery Co. Maryland, is the historic Montgomery Farm Women's Cooperative Market (just a few miles north of D.C.).  It is a very neat old building, sitting right on Wisconsin Aveune, with large old windows and big double doors to welcome all those that want a taste of the past and a bit of an eclectic and multicultural collection of today.  The farm market offers a variety of vendors, staples include:  produce, butcher, fruit, baked goods, and flowers.  There are many other specialty foods as well:  a chocolate maker, French baker, farmstead cheese, authentic Indian food to name a few.  There is also a pretty neat mix of other goods:  a purse maker, several kinds of jewelers, and an entire flea market outside.

I am an inside vendor, located near the north exit.  I started coming in January.  I will be there for the month of February on the weekdays (every Wednesday and Friday) from 9:30 to 3:30.  I will carry a good selection of my inventory:  hand-dyed yarn and roving, family mill spun, hand-spun, dyed locks, and some felt.  Fingers crossed for good weather.  Come check it out.

The historic Montgomery Farm Women's Cooperative Market

7155 Wisconsin Avenue

Bethesda, Maryland

http://www.farmwomensmarket.com/

E.S.E., The Big E, New England Sheep Breeders Assn. Show Review (Blated)

The booth before people.

Mary with center pull bumps from Singleton fiber.

The view, vendors as far as you can see.

New feature, pay via PayPal w/ card on line.

With regard to this show, I couldn't have more nice things to say.

It is very accessible from major freeways and there is plenty of parking, nearby hotels and restaurants.  Coming in, you walk into a large exhibition room.  In this room are special fiber animal exhibits, a fleece sale and a great fashion show.  Then you pass through a large indoor hall into an adjoining building.  (A building large enough for you and several friends to park your jet airplanes inside.  Seriously!)  The adjoining building opens up immediately to your left and right with food vendors and classroom areas, then as far as the eye can see are several hundred fiber art & craft vendors.  Both structures are completely indoors, very good lighting, climate controlled, and handicap accessible.

I was there with my new friend who opened a new fiber mill in Md., Mary Singleton, Singleton Fiber.  Next to me was my dear friend and true mentor, Greta Dise of Persimmon Tree.  However, I saw many other fiber comrades - Lidya from Gurdy Run, Anita from Rose Spring, and Kate Bostic were there; I also met for the first time some folks I know through Phatfiber - so "Phun!".... but there were hundreds of us.  You could buy everything from buttons, notions, and needles to yarn of every flavor imaginable, to larger things like wheels and looms.  The place was a visual and kinesthetic wonderland.

The festival was extremely well attended - amazing in fact, for its' first year, several thousand.  However, I must say... whether it was because of really nice wide isles, big enough space, people spread out time-wise over the weekend, it retained a calm, friendly, community atmosphere.  So pleasant to shop, chat, enjoy.  Can't wait to go back.