A community-based celebration of all things fibre.
 Hosted by Knotty by Nature Fibre Arts

August 17 2014, 10am-4pm on the grounds of St. Ann’s Academy 
835 Humboldt Street, Victoria, BC.

    
    Knotty by Nature Fibre Arts is an award-winning 
  family business located at 17o4 Lillian Road in Fairfield. 
              [email protected]   250 412-0198 

Entrepreneurs Stephanie Papik and Ryan Davis share their abundant skills and luxurious supplies with a growing fibre community. Their expert guidance has introduced over 2000 people to the joys of knitting, weaving, needle felting, wet felting and spinning. Knotty by Nature promotes local products and artisans at the 4th annual Fibrations.

“This year the event includes over 60 vendors,” says Ryan, “and we’re encouraging them to actively engage with the public.” Visitors can try their hand at wet felting, spinning wool, knitting and crocheting, saori weaving needle-felting. A children’s activity centre directed by Renée Sala from Crafty School of Art will delight and inspire younger folks. Ongoing demonstrations every 45 minutes offer instruction to seated guests.

At Fibrations see beautiful scarves made by Nuno felting. This process felts hand-dyed Merino wool and yarn on to silk fabric.

At Fibrations find Knotty by Nature’s hand-spun yarns in a wondrous array of colours and textures.

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Penny Lai is owner of Gala Fabrics, a family run business with stores in Victoria, Hong Kong and Vancouver. “We have a lot of interesting fabrics,” she says, “like Chinese silks, imported laces and Italian wools.” Gala’s booth at Fibrations offers eco-friendly fabrics like hemp, nettle and bamboo, as well as quilting and crafting cottons. 

Visitors can bridge the gap between fashion and quilting by purchasing kits (left) to make a stylish pillow, bag or scarf. “Fabric artists embellish these pieces with felting and beading,” says Penny, “adding a personal touch.” 

Penny Lai wears a vibrant top she created from a pattern from The Sewing Workshop called Helix Tee and Pants. www.sewingworkshop.com

Ryan from Knotty by Nature used this raspberry silk chiffon for Nuno felting a multi-coloured scarf, available at Gala Fabrics.

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May Sam is an elder and member of Tsartlip First Nations located in Saanich. May learned how hand-dye and spin wool from her aunt and father in the 1950’s. “My father was a great knitter,” she says, “he made sweaters and socks and vests with slanted pockets.” May recalls packing water from the river for the dying kettles, which were hoisted over an open fire.  

Now May passes these skills on to community members and others wishing to learn. Stephanie Papik and Ryan Davis learned about traditional dying and spinning techniques from May. Her sturdy, stylish toques come in a variety of colours. Many contain white, black and gray wool that she spins at home. May looks forward to greeting the public at Fibrations and meeting other vendors.

May Sam shows off her hand-spun knitted hats.

May Sam preparing wool rovings for spinning.

At Fibrations see many stylish and cozy creations by May Sam.

Leola Witt-McNie (left) with business partner Ann Lindwall at Whippletree Junction near Duncan.

Leola's Studio at Whippletree Junction
Leola Witt-McNie teaches textile arts at her studio near Duncan. She shares her expertise in weaving, spinning, knitting and crocheting, through classes and individual instruction. Leola is thrilled by the growth of Fibrations over the past four years. “This exciting festival spotlights our textile renaissance,” she says, “and offers networking and education for both vendors and visitors.” 

At the festival, Leola is always inspired by the creative ingenuity and dedication of her fibre colleagues. Visitors to her booth can try their hand at textile work and sample her supply of hand-dyed Cowichan Valley wool.

A gifted teacher, Leola allows her students' stories to unfold along the warp and weft of their creative path.

The studio invites weavers to participate in ongoing community tapestry projects.

Renée Sala, Director of Crafty School of Art, is in her fifth year of celebrating creativity with children. She learned how to felt at Knotty by Nature and now shares this and other skills with 5-12 year olds. “I’m very excited about bringing Crafty to Fibrations this year," she says. Renée promises lots of hands-on fibre fun from noon until four. The children’s projects are easily completed and make proud mementos of Fibratons 2014.

Vanya McDonell is Community Development Coordinator at the Fairfield Gonzales Community Association. This year, the association partners with a needle-felting group from Garth Homer for Fibrations. 
“We support community groups whose programs are inclusive and engaging,” Vanya says. Once a week, the Garth Homer group travels to Fairfield Community Centre and shares their felting skills with the public.

Marlene Luinstra is facilitator of the Pathways Program at Garth Homer. She explains that needle felting is tactile, engrossing and easily accomplished. “We offered a free workshop at the library and 30 people attended,” says Marlene. 

Potholders, tea cozies, egg-cup holders, ornaments and child-friendly toys emerge from the creative group. “There are no mistakes, only happy accidents,” says Marlene. We look forward to attending Fibrations and joining in the festivities. 

Needle felting group takes a tea break. Festive and colourful needle-felted items shown at left. Ken Bradford displays his handi-work in right photo.

The Q’ente Society booth at Fibrations sells textile items such as scarves, bags, table runners, bedspreads, bracelets and hair wraps. These exquisite items are made by indigenous Quechua weavers in rural Andean Peru. Q’ente supports local villagers who use centuries-old techniques and hand-dyed wool from Peruvian sheep or alpacas. Revitalization of the traditional knowledge and economic benefits go hand in hand, as weavers learn new skills and gain access to international markets.

Next to Lezlie Pascoe is Sarah Confer (in white jacket) who works for the Q’ente Society in Peru and lives in Vancouver.

Victoria volunteer Lezlie Pascoe teaches sewing and pattern-making at a June workshop in Peru.

Fibrations 2014 picked a perfect summer day to unfold at St Ann’s Academy. 
“This successful grassroots festival shows how community can come together to share, learn and grow,” says Ryan. 
Photos and comments by several vendors at the 4th annual event follow.

At left: Organizers Ryan Davis and Stephanie Papik at their Knotty By Nature booth. Right: Ryan busy with customers.

Tobias Tomlinson shows off his eclectic weaving, pottery and jewelery making skills. Phone: 250 383-3893.

Doreen Dufresne, a textile artist for 40 years, offers treasures. Phone: 250 595-6980.

Pam Liebick demonstrates Kumihimo Braiding. Later, she introduced Loom Knitting. Other topics: Tunesian Crochet, Needle Felted Fruit and Blending Fibres.

Gabrielle Vinay from the Modern Quilt Guild Victoria (right) holds up a quilt made by Isa Milman (left). Isa is an independent fibre artist supported by the guild. www.MQGVictoria.com, www.isamilman.com

Embroiderers’ Guild of Victoria show off their handiwork: From left: Bonnie-Lynne Ceriko with counter-thread: Diana Caleb, machine embroidery; President Pat Davis, blackwork; Barbara Gilbert, gold-work. www.embroiderersguildvictoria.ca

Monike Hawkes-Frost from Fibre Creations uses a foot treadle spinning wheel to make cotton thread. [email protected].

Patty-anne Lea stands with a collection of dolls and clothing from the estate of Pearl Payne. Pearl’s legacy supports infants with health issues, giving cash donations to families in need. [email protected].

Herb Katz tries his hand at Saori freestyle weaving with Terry Bibby. Terry offers classes and retreats at SAORI Salt Spring. www.saorisaltspring.com.

Debbie Katz surrounded by her unique “because I Felt like it” creations. [email protected]

Jenny Ambrose, owner of the Makehouse, offers a full schedule of workshops and classes at her Fort Street store. www.themakehouse.ca

Web Design, Content and Photos: 
Kate Cino previewed arts events 
for 18 years at Boulevard magazine. 

She has a History in Art degree and 
Public Relations certificate from the University of Victoria. 
For ten years, Kate operated an art & framing shop.

This website and its content is copyright of Art Openings, 2009. 
All rights reserved. 
Written permission is required for reproduction of photos or text. 

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