Day Tripping To Fiber "U"

Saturday was Day-Tripping time again.

Michael and I headed South to Lebanon, Missouri to visit a fiber event that has started to become a July tradition-Fiber "U".

A selection of Whirlwind Alpaca yarn from Liz's herd.

Fiber U is the brainchild of Liz Mitchko of Whirlwind Alpacas, which is the largest and most colorful Alpaca herd in Missouri. While the event is Alpaca-centric, there is a cornucopia of classes and a variety of vendors to satisfy every fiber need (and just have to have?). So let the tour begin..........................

Visiting with Lux Felt.  Why Needle Felt with just one needle when you can have over 1.000?

Carol Leigh of Hillcreek Fiber Studio leading a workshop using Hillcreek's Mini-Mod looms.

Carol Leigh's husband Denny, minding the shop and helping me decide if I wanted
a walnut or cherry Mini-Mod.  I took home the cherry.

Darlene Megli, who with Judy Crouch has A  Twist In Time Fiber Shop.
We were asking Darlene about her newest  entrepreneurial venture, Megli Fish Fibers-alpaca fibers for fly fishing lures.  

Leslie Carol on the left teaching rigid heddle weaving and Janet Wray on the right, demonstrating an electric spinner. They are the creative duo behind Jwrayco.  Check out their gorgeous colorways for  sock yarn on ETSY

So many pictures and so little space.  My favorite photographer took quite a few good pics, so the here is a collage of of Fiber U, 2012.

Fiber "U"  for 2013 is July 13 & 14th. Come join the fun and learn something new.

Day-Tripping To Crafts National 2012

There is an interesting exhibit currently at the Mulvane Museum, located on the Washburn University campus in Topeka, Kansas. 

From 1089 works submitted from across the US & Canada, only 100 pieces were selected. A full variety of media are present but I was especially excited to see the fiber works. Here are just a few:

Nowhere To Hide, Pieced vintage clothing embellished with metallic thread. 33" x 52" x 1.5", Libby & Jim Mijanovich, Marshall, NC

Passage IV, Handmade felt, 15" x 15" x 3", Sharron Parker, Raleigh, NC

Andrea's Tree, Sewn & cut felt, pins, 48" x 36" x 2", Timea Tihanyi, Seattle, WA

Ties That Bind-scarfs, Digitally printed cotton voile and silk, 54" x 18", Marianne van Ooij, Brooklyn, NY

And, couldn't leave this one out (on the far wall).

Can't See The Forest For The Trees, Cotton & Polyester Thread, 36" x 108", Rachelle Gardner, Mission, KS

 A detail of Forest. Can you find the frog?