Here in Eugene, Oregon we are lucky enough to have the premier fiber festival called The Black Sheep Gathering. Folks from far and wide come out to show their animals, sell their wares, take classes, demonstrate a facet of fiber worldom, have their fiber creation judged…. or buy stuff! I fall into the last category (if you didn’t guess by now). Oh, I forgot to mention that lots of us show up with our spinning wheels or knitting projects and just hang out and create. I also fall in that category.
I live only a few blocks away from the fairgrounds, and for me it is like a retreat. I reluctantly come home to eat dinner and sleep in my own bed, but then I come back and spend every possible moment lost at the fair. I arrive bright and early each of the 3 days that the event is open, park my spinning wheel in the spinner’s circle, and bask in the fiberglow. The above photo shows my spinning wheel on the left, and my friend Beki Ries Montgomery (a drop-spindle diva who teaches several spinning and felting crafts) on the right.
Eye candy eye candy eye candy.
Color inspiration is all around you. I always feel inspired by the saturated colors!
For 3 days I live in a daze of yarn, spinning fiber and everything that goes with it!
Above was a new booth selling stitch markers and tiny tins for storing them and other tools.
I love it all! Next post I want to show you what I bought and projects I have started!
Be creative ~ Karen
primitivespirit 
Thanks for the post….I felt like I was “almost” there.
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Thanks for SO many photos to just look at and feel inspired by… ahhhh! Great post!
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Thanks for the wonderful eye candy. Fiberfests are such wonderful touchy feely pleaces and the COLORS just say “buy me”!!!
Happy Fourth.
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you are so right. somehow i am satisfied that even if i can’t take a sheep home, at least i can take a skein of hand dyed yarn back to hug!
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Thanks for sharing! It reminded me of the days when I used to vend at Maryland Sheep & Wool. Your mind & body get saturated with color and wool.
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jean, i am sure that you have a basketful of memories from that festival. someday i would love to attend it.
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How inspiring! I wish my hometown had something wonderful like this! We have only a yarn shop and it has had its struggles in this economy! I’m just hoping they can keep their doors open!
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yes, it is important to keep our loving businesses in business. shop local when possible!
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How fun that would be! My friend and I go to one in Bowling Green, Ohio in the spring and it’s a feast for the eyes ~ this one looks like an endless banquet! Especially, since I learned to knit last Thursday! All these beautiful fibers are so tempting! Can’t wait to see your purchases!
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i am happy to hear that you have learned to knit as it is a peaceful pastime and just another way to be touching fiber!
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What simple Glory!!
rebecca
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Karen, do you hook with yarn? I use both wool cloth and yarn, especially the chunky yarns. Happy 4th.
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i use mostly wool fabric, but i am gearing up to use some hand dyed yarns. we should not limit ourselves.
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yes, the whole time i felt so at home. the memories will have to sustain me until next year!
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Love it all!! Can’t wait to see your new purchases and projects.
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yes, fiber has to be in my hands daily!
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Ack! I live only about an hour from the fairgrounds, but I never seem to remember exactly when this festival is being held! It looks like you had a wonderful time…thanks for posting the drool-worthy photos. 🙂
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remember: june june june! in the spring, google them for the dates. and then mark your calendar and come! so sad that you missed it!
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This was like “Fifty Shades of FIBER” for sure. I ooooohhhhhed, aaahhhhhhhed, right along side everyone else. How beautiful. I have never been to a Fiberfest and I surely don’t knit (but would love to). What gorgeous pictures. And “gorgeous” sounds like so small a word for what I gazed upon. Thanks KK.
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so happy to share the moment with you, the photos can go on inspiring us, and that seems magical to me. thanks, ter’e!
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Karen, Did you enter those things into the fiber arts competition?
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hi jodie! no, those were some things i really liked from the show. and because of the yarn, it has inspired me to do some 2 ply blending 2 color ways. thanks for commenting!
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