Here on the West Coast of Canada we are having a protracted summer with warm days and no rain. This is a mixed blessing as the lack of rain is having a disastrous effect on crops, fish, and wild fires. I never thought I would say this but “please bring on the rain”.
A fall tradition in many communities across the country is the local fall fair. These events bring folks together to celebrate what makes their area special. The Tzouhalem Spinners & Weavers Guild supports community events throughout the Cowichan Valley. We organize the fibre exhibits at the Cobble Hill Fair including a spinning demonstration and of course we enter our fibre projects for judges feedback and perhaps a blue ribbon. A member shared that the children visiting the Cobble Hill Fair were fascinated by the spinning wheels. They stared as if it was magic as the fleece became yarn. They just might be right as it does feel like magic sometimes when that perfect skein is produced.
“Arts on the Avenue” is another annual event that brings many artisans to Ladysmith on an August Saturday. This year’s booth had members demonstrating spinning, inkle and rigid heddle weaving.
Our final event of the season is the Cowichan Exhibition. Guild members organize the Spinning and Weaving exhibits for adults and juniors. After a couple of tough years with limited attendance rules this year was so much fun. The exhibits were top notch and many entrants earned ribbons for their creations. The junior entries were especially wonderful! It was great to see so many children and teens creating with fibre,. Could they be future guild members? We hope so!
I’ll end this post with some fair photos and an encouragement to support your own local fall fair by entering your creative projects, baking, garden produce or whatever entry fits for you, consider volunteering in some way and finally attending the fair to admire your community member’s exhibits.
