Time For Sheep, Wool, Fiber Fest!

Claire Campbell of The Farm on Grindle Brook in Glastonbury will demonstrate how to shear an angora rabbit in Coventry this Sunday.

Some wonderful events coming up for those who love fiber arts, festivals, knitting, sheep, spinning - and being around other kindred fiber-obsessed folk.

The Coventry Farmers' Market fourth annual Fiber Twist event happens Sunday, Sept. 20 at the Nathan Hale Homestead located at 2299 South St.

Alpacas, sheep, llamas, fiber goats, and angora rabbits will be on site.

Events include (some inside the program tent in the Flag Field):

11:10, Claire Campbell of The Farm on Grindle Brook in Glastonbury will demonstrate how to shear an angora rabbit.

11:30, Regina Malsbury will demonstrate goat shearing.

11:00 to 3:30, Rose Ann will conduct a class covering several techniques including yarn sewing, knotting, shirring, and penny rug appliqué wool on wool. Registration and some supplies required. Call (860) 742-6917, or email hale@ctlandmarks.org.

11 a.m. Rose Ann Hunter will offer an introduction to rugmaking at her tent.

Noon, Leslie Wind will conduct a mini-lesson on shawl-making.

Noon, Dayna Mankowski will offer an art yarn spinning demo.

At 12:30, Kris Gonzales of The Painted Sheep demonstrates dyeing.

1 p.m., Gail Ignatowicz will demo her felted wool pocketbook techniques; 1:30 Fido’s Fiber show how to use a drum carder.

Throughout the market, there will be ongoing demonstrations on knitting, weaving, spinning and plus live music, food offerings, farmmarket, all afternoon.



Regional events:

Finger Lakes Fiber Arts Festival, Sept. 19 and 20, Hemlock Fairgrounds, Hemlock, New York. See www.gvhg.org/fest.html for details.

Southern Adirondack Fiber Festival, Sept. 26 and 27, Washington County Fairgrounds, Greenwich, New York.

The 21st Annual Vermont Sheep and Wool Festival, Oct. 3 and 4, Vermont Sheep and Goat Association sponsored event, Tunbridge Fairgrounds in Tunbridge, Vermont. For more, see www.vtsheepandgoat.org/festival.html.

Lake Champlain Small Boats Fest

Head for Vermont's Small Watercraft Festival, this weekend Aug. 8 and Aug. 9 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Lake Champlain.


The Lake Champlain Maritime Museum (LCMM) is a non-profit museum located in Vergennes, Vermont, with a mission to study, preserve and share the rich history and archaeology of Lake Champlain, which forms a portion of the boundary between New York state and Vermont.

Saturday (only) meet life-sized puppets of Henry Hudson and Samuel de Champlain at 11 a.m. These two life-sized puppets (with Carol Margolis of the Albany Heritage Area and Rebecca Goldberg of Fletcher Free Library) will share stories of their historic travels.

At noon, meet the authors of A Kayakers Guide to Lake Champlain - Cathy Frank and Margy Holden, who paddled the entire perimeter of Lake Champlain.

The "Kids Duct Tape Regatta" will feature launches of cardboard boats at 10 a.m.

Shipwreck tours cost $22 ($18 for children). Seating is limited, so advance registration is recommended; call (802) 475-2022.

A water taxi will shuttle morning and afternoon to link up events in New York with Vermont.

Sunday is the Lake Champlain Challenge Race, Participants bring a non-motorized boat, kayak, or canoe to row or paddle in this three-mile race. For details contact Nick Patch nickp@lcmm.org. Registration at 10 a.m.; race begins at 11 a.m.

Exhibitors include:

Middlepath Boats, Edinburg , PA
Edey and Duff, Mattapoisett, MA
The Little Boat Shop, Lincolnville Center, ME
Vermont Electric Boat Works, Alburgh, VT
Little Creek Stip Canoes & Kayaks, Greensboro Bend, VT
Skywoods Canoe
Classic Boatworks, Lake Placid, NY
Berkshire Boat Buildling School
Bob Dollar, Rigger & Ropework
Umiak Canoe Imports

Ongoing activities include tours of the historic tugboat Urger at the Basin Harbor Club; traditional and innovative watercraft; demonstrations of kayaking skills, and environmental stewardship presentation by Lake Champlain Basin Program. And much more. See http://www.lcmm.org/museum_info/special.htm for more details and event listings.