Fibrations 2017, Sunday August 20, 10am-4pm celebrates seven successful years.
The festival unfolds at Robert J Porter Park at Fairfield Gonzales Community Place, 1330 Fairfield Road
Fibrations 2017 is an outdoor marketplace celebrating the unique and diverse talents of 60 fibre artists. Fibrations is organized and sponsored by Knotty by Nature Fibre Arts. Other sponsors include Black Press, Thrifty Foods and all the vendors.
Visitors to this free family event will delight in the abundance of original creations, demonstrations and workshops. On August 20, the event unfolds in Porter Park, a spacious green area behind Sir James Douglas School. A site map is available this year to assist visitors. On Saturday August 19, two workshops are offered: Nan C teaches needle felting and Caitlan ffrench natural dying. Visit fibrationsvic.wordpress dot com for workshop info and registration.
Visitors to this free family event will delight in the abundance of original creations, demonstrations and workshops. On August 20, the event unfolds in Porter Park, a spacious green area behind Sir James Douglas School. A site map is available this year to assist visitors. On Saturday August 19, two workshops are offered: Nan C teaches needle felting and Caitlan ffrench natural dying. Visit fibrationsvic.wordpress dot com for workshop info and registration.
Stephanie Papik and Ryan Davis founded Knotty by Nature in 2008. Their award-winning business sells fibre supplies and hand-made items at 1704 Lillian road in Fairfield. Ryan Davis offers customers friendly, knowledgable service. A visit to Knotty’s creative mecca is always a treat. The cozy store overflows with colour, texture and intriguing hand-made items. It’s a social place, buzzing with activity, as people work on fibre projects or take classes. Through out the year, local instructors offer inspirational workshops on knitting, weaving, needle felting, crochet, wet felting and spinning. “Connecting people and creating community through the fibre arts is our ongoing mission,” says Papik.
Above: Emjay Bailey of Joma Yarn became fascinated by all things fibre as a child and hasn’t looked back. Her home-based business markets high quality yarns and fibres, many milled in Canada. At Fibrations, you’ll find Emjay at the Discovery Knitters booth. This group of friends meets once a week at Discovery Coffee. “We are a social group that shares ideas and resources while knitting together,” she says.
Building community through fibre is important to Emjay. Visitors to her website can download her patterns and designs for free. “It’s my way of giving back,” she says. This is Emjay’s 4th year at Fibrations, which she praises as inclusive and educational. Each year the demonstrations, workshops and classes offer a fun-filled learning environment. Emjay encourages the public to “come and see the eclectic and diverse talents of our local creatives.”
Nicole Bottles from The Spinnacle is excited to be back at Fibrations for her second year: “I wax poetic about Fibrations all year,” says Nicole. “Not gonna lie, it's a truly wonderful event!” At Nicole’s booth, shoppers savour her hand-dyed yarn, multi-hued batts and exquisite buttons. Inspired by nature, music and literature, her skeins sport evocative titles like Mermaid Scales and Princess Bride.
Nicole has a passion for colour and is happiest when dyeing or painting yarn. Gradient colour (gradual changes of hue in yarn) is very popular with knitters. Pictured below right is an example of colour shifts moving from grass green, to lime green, to soft celery. Ideas and information are shared at Ravelry, a social media site for knitters. Trained as a concert pianist, Nicole recently launched her first knitting pattern called Études. An étude is a short musical study and Nicole’s sampler cowl requires 16 different knitted textures.
Nicole has a passion for colour and is happiest when dyeing or painting yarn. Gradient colour (gradual changes of hue in yarn) is very popular with knitters. Pictured below right is an example of colour shifts moving from grass green, to lime green, to soft celery. Ideas and information are shared at Ravelry, a social media site for knitters. Trained as a concert pianist, Nicole recently launched her first knitting pattern called Études. An étude is a short musical study and Nicole’s sampler cowl requires 16 different knitted textures.
Nicole is 24 and developed Lyme disease nine years ago. She uses a wheelchair but doesn’t let health issues dampen her enthusiasm for life. For spinning, she uses a treadle wheel, finding the motion good physical therapy for her legs. Nicole teaches knitting at library outlets and donates the knitted items to local shelters. A year-round customer at Knotty by Nature, she praises their excellent support of fibre enthusiasts.
August 19 Workshops: At Gary Oak Room Nancy Wesley teaches how to needle felt a Viking character.
August 19: At Knotty by Nature, Caitlin ffrench teaches Intermediate Natural Dyeing
Fun Fabulous Festive Fibrations 2017 was a great success for visitors and vendors.
It was a perfect summer day to explore, learn, shop and socialize.
See you next year!
It was a perfect summer day to explore, learn, shop and socialize.
See you next year!
Web Design, Content and Selected Photos by Kate Cino Kate previewed arts events for 18 years at Boulevard magazine. She has a History in Art degree and Public Relations certificate from the UVic. This website and its content is copyright of Art Openings, 2009. All rights reserved. Written permission is required for reproduction of photos or text. [email protected] 250 598-4009 At right: hand-made treasures from Fibrations |