There’s no better fiber friend than one who surprises you with a vending opportunity. That’s exactly what my guild mate and yarn-dyeing-woman-extraordinaire Dagmar Beinenz-Byrd did during our latest AWAG hooking retreat a couple of weeks ago.
Because our guild is making rug mugs to sell (for charity) for next May’s Fiber Arts Fiesta here in Albuquerque, someone unfamiliar with the idea asked me to bring some in to show as examples. I brought their matching mugs even though buyers will just get the little rugs at Fiesta. Lucky for me, though, one member bought a set, and Dag invited me to sell them and some smaller mats at her house during the High Desert 8th Annual Studio Tour this coming Saturday here in Albuquerque. Woohoo! They make excellent Christmas and hostess gifts, you know.
If you live nearby, check out the High Desert website for a map of participating studios. There should be approximately 20 artists spread among the 13 sites. The tour includes painters, jewelry makers, potters, and different types of fiber artists – including Dag and me!
As I said, Dag creates fabulously colorific yarns at Zia Woolz. Check out her website and Etsy shop here. Not only that, she’s just fun to hang with. Plus she has absolutely AWESOME views of the Sandia Mountains from her living room window. And she makes a mean lentil soup.
If you’re in the area Saturday, stop by and say HI to both of us. Hopefully, I’ll have more info regarding yet another vending opportunity by then.
For those who might be interested, the Albuquerque Fiber Arts Council has put out the call for entries for next year’s Fiesta. Have a look or give a yell if you have any questions. Please join us for this great fiber event!
Wish I were going to be in the area, perhaps next year. Post pictures if you get a chance to take them. The projects are gorgeous, Yarn refl
ects the colors I see while I sit and have coffee on this lovely fall morning.
Would love to see your morning colors, Syl. Interestingly, I see red sunrises best as reflected in the windows of the homes behind my own. They’re a little higher up the hill and easily visible where I work out in the morning. Unless I’m out walking, then I can catch them with the dog. 🙂
Sounds like a wonderful event! We did some of the Hendersonville NC Open Studios and Greenville’s are in two weeks. The Greenville one is very strict – no galleries are included in the official tour and one must be in one’s own studio. We live too far away…
Some crafts, like hooking and quilting, are so portable and can be done anywhere. And we did find that most craftspeople were not demonstrating anyway. I think it’s important for people to see how something is made. I have demonstrated rug hooking once or twice and people were amazed. One little girl ran up and started running her hands over a rug. Her mother was horrified but I loved her need to feel the texture. I am sure you will have a great time!
I love doing demos, Deb. And we do a lot here in this guild. I laugh; kids come up to me all the time too. I just make sure their hands are clean, then they can touch all they want. What I really, really love is when dogs come to visit my booth and plop on the rug. I try to suggest to the owners that dogs all LOVE rugs and maybe they should get one for their dog. 🙂
Quilting is portable???