When Astrig Tanguay Facebook messaged me last year about applying to Fiber College of Maine, I had no idea what this was, where this was, and what this was about. The website looked like a lovely throwback to the 80’s craft fair days, but full of classes, lots of color, and enthusiastic participants. I applied to teach some basic classes and that was that.
Fast forward to this past weekend, I left Thursday morning just after dawn, popped in my Kindle and listened to Davina Porter reading the next installment of the Outlander series. I swear I read this book before and remembered none of it. (I’m rereading book 3, Voyager). The time flew, and after a couple of stops for gas, and a quick sandwich, I made it up to Maine from Northern Jersey in just about 8 hours.
The “College” takes place in Searsport, ME, coastal, cooler, in a secluded campground, with lots of beautiful gardens, goats, cabins, rec buildings, and a beach, though very rocky by Jersey shore standards. I’m spoiled. This is an annual event, full of food, vendors, classes, lectures, demonstrations, evening events, a dye tent, and a lot more stuff I was too busy to experience.
The flowers were gorgeous, and there was the funniest plant as we exited our studio the first day of class, which someone called Emerenth, but that didn’t net me anything in a google search, though I did find similar photos for a species of the Amaranth plant. I swear it was giving us the finger every time we walked by. 🙂
Friday I taught an all day class in color and inspiration. This particular group did some amazingly beautiful yarn wraps, not all of them were weavers, but all of them use yarn except for the quilters of course.
Saturday I taught an all day class in shaft loom weaving for beginners. I hauled 10 Structos up, and prewound their warps. They sleyed, threaded, beamed and learned to read a draft all in one day. They were exhausted but happy. I work my students hard…
Saturday night we wandered down to the beach for a lovely and warm bonfire. The local historical society provided chowder, biscuits and homemade pies.
At night I was snug in my little travel trailer with my roommate, knitter extraordinaire Mary Germain, whom I knew from the teaching staff at Sievers. She is an expert in Estonian and Latvian knitting, written a couple of monographs, and we sat together on the little couch, and chatted and knitted until late in the evenings. The wine flowed…
Sunday I taught an all day class in Inkle Loom Weaving, also beginner. I swear I thought I took more photos, especially at the end when they were doing some beautiful pick up, but this is what made it home.
There was a vendor who sharpened scissors, and I happened to have a handful of some of my less than sharp Ghingers and Fiskars. He did a great job and I was disappointed to learn he did not mail order. Next year?
I really enjoyed myself here, there were some wonderful conversations, and some lovely gatherings of creative spirits. I would come back, even though the drive is annoying. Davina Porter read to me all the way back home as well.
On to the next event, a five day class at Harrisville in NH. I leave Sunday and continue listening to Davina another five hours.
Stay tuned…
What fun! I’m sorry to report that the Outlander series goes downhill from there, to my way of thinking. Try every one of Louise Penny’s Inspector Gamache series, and Jacqueline Winspear’s Maisie Dobbs. ? one of these days i will sign up for your inkle loom class. I Really kind of enjoy John Malarkey’s cards. Hugs to you!
Have you found the Lord John novellas (fascinating insight on British point of view) and The Scottish Prisoner (what happened to Jaime after Claire left) or the Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows’ (about Roger’s father)? All great listening when driving and fill in some of the gaps. And look for the anthology Virgins which has a short story of Jamie and his best friend Ian when they were mercenaries. I think Diane is secretly a weaver, she is great at creating a master warp with so many structures in it.
What a wonderful location and event. Devina Porter is such a wonderful reader, have listened to the entire outlander series more than once. LOL, I do better with repeat listens when driving, miss fewer turns.
Those flowers look like amaranth to me, there are many interesting varieties.
Sounds wonderful! And amazing! Beautiful colors, flowers and fiber wraps!
it’s a variety of amyranth 🙂
It was so very nice to meet you Daryl. I do hope you come to Fiber College again next year. Your classes were excellent!
What a treat to take your inkle weaving class! You gave me enough confidence to pick it back up at home. 🙂 (That doesn’t happen for many classes I’ve attended throughout the years at all kinds of fiber festivals) — Hope you’ll return to FC next September! People were certainly abuzz about your classes!