The annual Fibrations Festival is back and better than ever with up to 60 vendors expected in its new location.
“That’s the big news,” says Ryan Davis, co-owner of Knotty By Nature and co-organizer of the event. “Unfortunately, we could not continue at Saint Ann’s due to multiple issues. The good news is the new location will be better and we have room to grow Fibrations – and Fibrations has been growing.”
In addition to the beautiful Gary Oak Room of Fairfield Gonzales Community Place, 1330 Fairfield Rd., Fibrations will be held in the adjacent, picturesque Porter Park on Aug. 16, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
It’s a community-based celebration of fibre with vendors sharing their knowledge and enthusiasm through demonstrations and hands-on-activities.
All of the organization is done by volunteers with a focus on making it artist friendly and widely inclusive. Costs for vendors are kept low and all the money raised, aside from money earned by the vendors, goes right back into the event.
“We’re able to have better programming with the added indoor space,” says Davis. “It’s still an outdoor event, but the Fairfield Gonzales Community Centre has a great room with a built in PA system where we can have lectures and workshops, actually, more than ever before.”
Woven, knit, needle felted and other finished products will be in abundance. This includes practical items such as scarves and hats, but also more creative display works.
Supplies will also be plentiful. Wool, knitting yarn, tools and all the other items needed for fibre art will be for sale. Local hand-dyed knitting yarn producers will be there selling products and food vendors will also be on site.
There will also be representation from five non profits and a variety of guilds including embroidery and quilting.
“Workshops are the bigger trend in the burgeoning industry,” says Davis. His wife, and Knotty By Nature co-owner, Stephanie Papik, has branched out to a new venture called Moonrise Creative which will be hosting two workshops on Aug. 15, the day before Fibrations.
“There’s a charge for that but on Sunday at Fibrations, 100 per cent of the lectures are free. There will be lots of demos all day long,” says Davis.
Go to fibrationsvic.wordpress.com and moonrisecreative.ca for more information.