Come one, come all! To the Chippewa Valley Museum’s Fiber Arts and Folk Life Festival!
Every February, the Chippewa Valley Museum hosts its annual fiber arts and folk life festival. This is one of my favorite events to attend, as it’s a great place to learn about new media, interact with like-minded crafty-folk, and support local artists.
Want to see someone demonstrate how to use a loom? They have one!
How about a wagon wheel loom? There’s one of those too!
Inkle weaving? Knit? Crochet? Yup. Yup. Yup.
Spinning? Uh-huh.
Soap or needle felting? You betcha! (Yes, betcha. We’re in the midwest, after all!)
One year there was even someone making bags from duct tape. (There’s fiber in that too!)
Artists and vendors come from around the region with yarn from wool and flax; vases, bowls, and ornaments from wood; knit, sewn, and crocheted stuffed animals; art made from various media (one woman even upcycles dryer sheets and tea bags!), rugs, bags, hats, cards, and thunder gourds (come see — they’re really cool!).
The fiber arts have a long, rich history, so I can’t imagine a better place to host such a festival than our local history museum. Many of the vendors that attend — in keeping with the mission of the museum — have a strong knowledge of the history of their art. Many of them are farmers, raising their own materials; and most of them are a great source of learning, not only about the process behind their art, but also as to where to take a class (I encourage you to check the museum first!) or how to find a guild or social circle that engages in the activity.
Last but not least, attending the Fiber Arts and Folk Life Festival is a great activity to get you out of the house on a cold Wisconsin winter day in the middle of February. It’s a great place to hang out with your mom, daughter, or crafty friends, have some lunch, gather some inspiration, and enjoy being in the presence of other fiber arts lovers.
I hope you attend! The Fiber Arts and Folk Life Festival is on February 16, 2019 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
I LOVE fiber festivals, and all the good ones are so far away!!! I have the best time in Holland when I get to catch one while visiting family. I’ll admit to you that I am a wool hoarder.
Holland?! That sounds amazing! I bet they have really good ones.
What is it about wool that makes us hoard it? I, too, have quite a stash.