Tag Archives: shenandoah fiber festival

Shenandoah Fiber Festival 2014

Posted on September 30, 2014 by | Comments Off on Shenandoah Fiber Festival 2014
All set up and ready to go!







The weekend could not have been prettier.  Since my booth is in an outdoor pavilion, I have lots of good light, a nice level concrete floor and the ability to tarp off the outer edges (I am set up on a corner) if necessary.

This guy (I didn't get his name) was shopping with a friend at the booth next door when I saw his awesome shirt.  Get it?






And despite how crazy busy I was I managed to do a little shopping.  This is polwarth/tussah silk from Hobbledehoy Yarn and Fiber out of Pennsylvania.  Yummy!  I can't wait to spin it up.


As I was packing up to leave I met a woman who, along with her own homegrown yarns, was selling a few pots for her son.  He married a young Italian woman and moved to Italy where he makes pots.  I fell in love with this mug.  It was rather pricey but I couldn't leave with out it.  (Very reminiscent of the frechen, beardman or Bartmann jugs.)



Yesterday (Monday) I did all the necessary accounting and went to the bank.  More cash sales then usual this year I think, but credit is still where it is at.  Thank goodness for Square!  Then I relaxed the rest of the day.  I am still bushed!

The week is calling for dreary weather here.  I have my fingers crossed that this coming weekend and Fall Fiber Festival will be graced with weather similar to last weekend!

I love these festivals.  They are a ton of work and I am always exhausted afterwards, but it is worth it. Not only are they very successful shows for me, I also enjoy seeing old friends and customers and  meeting so many wonderful people.  Fiber lovers are awesome.

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What a Summer

Posted on September 12, 2014 by | Comments Off on What a Summer

I can't believe how quickly this Summer has just flown by.  There were even very few unbearable days.  And this is Virginia!  So I can't blame the heat on my lethargy.  I tried my best to get into the studio (or update this blog), but a good book, or our spartan garden or the couch seemed to continually call my name.  While Greg has worked like a dog every day both at work and still healing from his January knee injury (thank goodness for physical therapy he is now doing stairs again!) I have been busy trying to heal my heart.  You see, I lost my dear Dad to lung cancer in May.  For some people heart break raises a need to sink into clay, or paint, or paper or whatever creative outlet does the trick.  I have now, unfortunately, discovered that my creativity abandons me all together.

(My Dad working at the archaeological field school in Popham, Maine)

But.  Life continues to swirl and race around me.  Our old dog Layla nudges me to take her for her short walk every morning...(and she sheds like crazy so vacuuming has to happen) the farmers market calls me to buy all the luscious greens and veggies of summer (so healthier cooking is happening) and finally the tears are less and the paralysis has given way to a push to get stocked up for my two big Fall shows.

So despite the lack of posting I have slowly begun weaving again.




And getting my hands dirty in clay.




Two weekend shows in a row, where I sell quite a few pots requires a lot of preparation.  So the shelves are full of  pots in all stages.  And just yesterday was my last "wet day" of work.  All I have left to do is draw and fire.  And maybe warp another loom to squeeze in one more project?


If you are near by....Shenandoah Fiber Festival is September 27 and 28 in Berryville, VA.  Fall Fiber Festival (which includes the not to be missed opportunity to see competitive sheep dog trials) is the following weekend near Orange VA October 4 and 5.

Stop by and say hi!



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Counting Down!

Posted on September 11, 2013 by | Comments Off on Counting Down!
I'm determined to have all the sloppy wet work done by the end of this week.  That will give me two weeks to slip, decorate and double fire the work to be ready for Shenandoah Fiber Festival weekend.  I can manage to fire a bisque and 1 glaze between Shenandoah....and Fall Fiber Festival.  Working, working, working......

Greenware.  These need to be glaze fired by the end of next week for the gallery in Sperryville....







Some finished work.....

(If you don't already know, goats LOVE climbing things...)


Inventory!!!


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Just Pots

Posted on August 22, 2013 by | Comments Off on Just Pots
I am working away to stock up for my two biggest shows of the year.  September 28 and 29 is the Shenandoah Fiber Festival and October 5 and 6 is Fall Fiber Festival.  Shenandoah is a new one for me and yes, these shows are two weekends in a row.  I am still wondering if I am crazy.  I know there are artists out there that do an amazing number of shows each year, weekend after weekend, but I am not what you would call a "production potter".  So only trying it will tell!

Somehow the dates have creeped up on me.  We had a family gathering a couple of weekends ago for my Dad's 80th birthday and it seems, despite the event only being one day, that I was more distracted by the thought of 14 extra people in our small house then I thought....so now I am working frantically to throw, throw, THROW.  And I have sheep, alpaca and goats swirling in my brain!



AND I finally fired the glaze kiln full of all those piggies and cows I posted about earlier.  Sometimes it just seems to take awhile to gather a full kiln load.  (Mine is 7 cubic feet if you were curious.  Not too big, and not too small....)  I am happy with all the results.

























So now I keep my fingers crossed that my back will continue to behave and that the Kiln Gods continue to cooperate!

The next load drying.....


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