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Local Festival Shares The Love Of Fiber Arts

89.1 WBOI | By Julia Meek
Published May 5, 2017 at 2:49 PM EDT
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This year's Fiber Arts Festival at Salomon Farm features hands-on participation and demonstrations with wool, alpaca, silk and cotton.
Courtesy/Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation
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Going from "wool to wear" all starts here.
Courtesy/Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation
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One type of weaving, close up and personal.
Courtesy/Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation
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Local guilds provide demonstrations of every aspect of the textile making process.
Courtesy/Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation
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Engaging with yarn by needle and hook.
Courtesy/Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation
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Learning the fine art of hand carding
Courtesy/Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation
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Salomon Farm Park's historic barn makes a perfect indoor setting for celebrating the fiber arts
Courtesy/Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation

Salomon Farm's Fiber Arts Celebration is a unique way to participate in the process and art of making natural fiber products like wool, alpaca, silk and cotton. It's a free, two-day, family friendly event, sponsored by Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation and the Flax and Fleecers Spinning Guild of Fort Wayne.

Credit Courtesy/Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation
To Kelli Adkins, the fun and excitement had by participants at Salomon Farm's Fiber Arts Celebration makes this major undertaking well worth the effort.

Festival goers will have the chance to engage in every step of the textile making process, as well as purchase materials and equipment for their own textile projects, and hand-made fiber apparel and home goods.

Credit Courtesy/Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation
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Courtesy/Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation
Betty Barry, textile artist and teacher, and owner of Little Shop of Spinning sees the festival as a perfect opportunity for connecting, learning, and getting hooked on the craft.

Silkworm demonstrations are new to this year's activities, while festival staples like folk music, wagon rides and blacksmithing demonstrations will also be on hand.

For a sneak peek at this hands-on "wool to wears" experience, and its historic setting, WBOI's Julia Meek met with the Park Department's outdoor recreation manager, Kellie Adkins, and participating fiber artist, Betty Bary, to discuss the fine art of handmade textiles here in Fort Wayne.

Event Information:

Fiber Celebration @ Salomon Farm Park, Fort Wayne
Friday, may 12th, 2017: 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Saturday, May 13th: 10:00 a.m.  to 5:00 p.m.

For more information, visit the Fiber Arts Celebration Facebook Event Page.
Tags
Arts & Culture Julia MeekArts InterviewsFort Wayne Parks and RecreationSalomon FarmFiber Arts Celebration
Julia Meek
A Fort Wayne native, Julia is a radio host, graphic artist, and community volunteer, who has contributed to NIPR both on- and off-air for forty years. Besides being WBOI's arts & culture reporter, she currently co-produces and hosts Folktales and Meet the Music.
See stories by Julia Meek
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