Here come the First Manitoba Fibre Festival

One of my unrealized dreams is to be a fibre artist, felting specifically.  As I hope I still have another 50 years of life in me it may happen.. However,   in the meantime I will continue to work on collaborations with fibre friends like Margaret Brook of Cloverleaf Art and Fibre.

This weekend is the first festival of Fibre for Manitoba, and I am a vendor with buttons, yarn bowls , mugs and necklaces. 

I am really enjoying making these items and seeing them be used by creative people to enhance their creations.  Thanks to Wolseley Wool for carrying both my yarn bowls and buttons. Just had a great email from someone who picked up buttons for their creations and as for gifts for other knitters.  So cool!

New ideas new products

This is a Diz.  It appears that it is a niche group of fine folks who know what it is.  I wasnt one of them until June of this year when I did my first fibre festival. Now I am trying to make clay ones for the poel e who take fleece into rovings before it is spun into wool. Who knew  so I will be trying these out in my own colours and shapes before the Manitoba Fibre Festival in September. 

Also, a request to help support my aim to get votes in the Manitoba Garden Makeover contest which I entered my Urban farm in,  here is the link for gardens who are converting to edible landscape;  http://manitobagarden.com/2013-entrants/winnipeg-entrants/nancys-casi-cielo/

Festival du Voyageur

Two days  to Festival. I am working on the theory that being sick this week is better than next.
I will be at Festival du Voyageur in Voyageur  Park in Winnipeg (corner of St. Joseph and Messager) in Saint Boniface.  There is ample parking available.  We will be in what is known as the souvenir tent.

February 17th 9-3 and 5-12 midnight
Feburary 18th 10-12 midnight
Feburary 19th 10-12 midnight
February 20th 10-7 Louis Riel Day, come and bring the kids.
February 21st 9-3
February 22nd 9-3
and so on until the 26th.
It's a marathon, and I hope a great event.

I will lots of new mugs, wine tumblers, loads of yarn bowls, butter keepers, pendants, etc...Come and Celebrate winter with us.  Louise will have handmade soap, cheese making class gift certificates, wool from the alpacas and lots more.

Will they like them??

So it's all well and good to be moving ahead with all these new pots and new colours, etc..But now, will people like them...I am always second guessing myself on this.  I don't want to be stodgy and just repeating the same colours that I like and that sold well last year,,, that seems way too "civil servanty" for me.

However, it was a good year financially in spite of the"economy" and now am I messing with that, is that sado masochistic, or brave??? i am not quite sure and am probably using energy on worrying about it, that might be better invested in something else, and I don't mean eating more pretzels or ice cream bars.  Only 12 days till the Big Festival du Voyageur show begins.. this is a first and a cooperative venture, so lots of new ground. Nervous doesn't quite describe my feelings and so I will just wait and see.  I hope the weather stays cold enough for the snow sculptures but not so cold that I need to buy more outerwear.  Did I mention this Festival is outdoors for 9 days in a tent. I think I am trying to forget that part, since I shiver at Farmer's Market in September sometimes. I hope all my fellow Winnipeg and WEST artisans come out to visit, maybe group hugs can help keep me warm.