Fibre Festival Bicton College, Devon Aug 2011
A family day to meet and speak to people only met by email or on the telephone.
A lovely place and even better weather...Despite it being " change over day" in the South West of the UK, we managed the traffic and eventually arrived for Fibre Fest 2011.
Stepping out into bright Devon sunshine we met Robert & Kate from WestYeo Farm, http://www.westyeofarm.co.uk/default.asp, organic meat producers who also are passionate about conservation, traditional farming methods and education. They also produce their own yarn, mixed with alpaca.
Moving on to : Excelana, the result of an exciting collaboration between John Arbon of Fibre Harvest, http://www.fibreharvest.co.uk/ and Susan Crawford knitwear designer and author, http://www.susancrawfordvintage.com/Home.html. Bringing luxurious knittng yarn evoking vintage wools from the "Golden Age of Knitting".
Excelana is available in 50g balls in 4ply, DK, Aran and a unique 3ply, in a colour palette of 8, Alabaster, Nile Green, Cornflower Blue, Persian Gruby Ruby Red, Saharan Sand, French Rose and Powdered Egg.
Supported with a collection of exculsive patterns designed by Susan Crawford.
How could we miss "Above and Below the Waves" exhibition by Alison Murray, a whole handknitted sea and shore for RNLI.
Alison's latest project, The Big Books;
Book 1 Mythology - figures or creatures, witches, devils, gargoyles, fairies and angels.
Book 2 Nature through the Day - Spring - blossom, insects, butterflies
Summer - midday beach, boats, seagulls, shells
Autumn - leaves, twigs, deer, fungi, hedgehogs
Winter - snow, sheep, holly, owls, mistletoe, ivy
Book 3 Future & Scientific - to be confirmed.
For more info: www.all2knit.co.uk.
For those interested in needlefelting, I met Jenny, a talented artist based in Bath who creates ceramic and handmade felt animals,http://www.coriandr.com/shop/jennymade. I am hoping Jenny may teach a workshop for me soon.
Hi to Anni of http://www.yarnaddict.co.uk/ who has a new Easy Lace Collection out, to Laalbear http://www.thelaalbear.blogspot.com/ with her bright handdyed yarns, Emma from http://www.atomicknitting.co.uk/.
Which leaves me to show some pictures of the day;
My son, considering a climb!
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Bicton College host to Fibre Fest
WestYeo Farm Ram - what a beauty!
Knit by Numbers by John Arbon of Fibre Harvest