Fiber Fests!!

Fiber Fests are heaven! Actually, I've only been to one, but it was super cool. And I totally plan on making attending fiber and knitting festivals a habit. Mom and I spent hours roaming the vendor stalls, displays of spinning and fiber carding, and the outside barn stalls full of animals at the October 2013 Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair (SAFF) at the Western North Carolina Agricultural Center. It was a large event. The main arena at the Ag Center has two levels and both were packed solid with vendor stalls, except for the very center at the lower level, which was reserved for the raw fleeces being judged. 

I have lots of pictures to show, but I don't have the proper attributions to go along with the llama and alpaca breeders or the fiber or equipment makers, unfortunately. I'm going to make a better effort at getting all the details with my pictures at this weekend's fest. That's right! We're in Sanford, NC for the annual Carolina Fiber Fest this weekend! This event will probably be smaller, but just as full of beautiful fiber, animals, and creativity. I am also especially excited about seeing the border collie sheep herding demonstrations. (I once was a border collie mother. I love them.)

So, the following pictures are those I took at the Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair last October:

Giant balls of fleece bat.

Wee animals made from felted fibers.

Bits of dyed fibers that will be spun as-is or combined into bats for smoother spinning.

This was created totally from felted fiber!

This one, too!

Abstract felted fiber art.

Drop spindles. This is just one way to make string from fibers.

More drop spindles.

She's actually spinning yarn with one type of spinning wheel (with a treadle wheel) straight from that angora rabbit!

Both levels of the arena are packed!

Can you tell I loved the animals?

Mom and I are staying with my aunt and family in their home in Sanford. We arrived late last night. My original plan had been to work my tush off to finish my Moshup cropped cardigan to wear (show off) on Saturday morning at the festival. But, unlike the mountains we left behind us, it is 80 degrees Fahrenheit here. And humid. Even early tomorrow morning should be between the 60s and 70s. Sanford is in the flat, eastern part of the state. I used to live near here (in Chapel Hill and Durham) for about ten years. I should have remembered. Oh well. At least I can relax on getting one more project complete. 

P.S. As we were packing to leave yesterday afternoon, we learned that the mountain just beside ours was on fire. As in, my grandmother stood on her back porch and saw red light during the middle of the day. I'm really hoping it was a "controlled burn". I heard no sirens. But the winds were coming in powerful gusts all week that any burning was risky. Let's pray we still have a home when we head back.