Tag Archives: Shenandoah Vally Fiber Fest

2013 Shenandoah Valley Fiber Festival

If there could be a theme for this year’s Fiber Festival in Berryville, VA, I think it would be “friends.” 

We saw so many old friends and made so many new ones.  From one moment to the next, there would be lively chatter in the booth, and surprise visitors popping in throughout the day. 

Meduseld's 2013 Booth

Meduseld’s 2013 Booth

It was terrific to meet some of the other vendors that we had not had a chance to meet in previous years.  Kellie Tatem with Lizard Toes where they make awesome drop spindles, Allegra Studnitz with One of Kind making her darling fiber angels and fairies, Connie DeLamater, Andrea Thornock (who in addition to selling wooden yarn cubbies is also a professional singing instructor), and so many more interesting and informative vendors.

I was finally able to meet Kate Blaney with Gourmetstash.com who makes punis for spinning.

Kate Blaney with Gourmetstash

Kate Blaney with Gourmet Stash

Here are some of her punis.

Gourmet Stash Punis

Gourmet Stash Punis

Opposite our booth was Lynn Blake with Mayhem Farm.  In this picture you can see her stunning handmade shawl creations behind her.

Lynn with Mayhem Farm

Lynn Blake with Mayhem Farm

Fiber arts were not the only skills represented.  There were also some woodworkers who had gorgeous works of art.  If you are looking for a present for your spouse for Christmas, you might want to consider one of the wooden pens handmade by Becky and Dave Lloyd of Timber and Whimsy.

Becky and Dave Lloyd of Timber Whimsy

Becky and Dave Lloyd of Timber and Whimsy

Another highly skilled woodworker was Bill Hardy of Turnstyles.  He made exquisite boxes with drawers and hidden drawers, in addition to drop spindles, crochet hooks and even ice cream scoops!   Notice the butterfly box on the left.

Bill Hardy of Turnstyles

Bill Hardy of Turnstyles

We saw familiar faces such as Emily Estrada of the  Fibretown Podcast, and Judi and Clyde DeWitt, the historic bobbin lace makers.  And, we were delighted to have a visit from Sue Groundwater who used to have the locally famous FrogEye Fiber Emporium in Winchester.  Sue gave knitting, spinning, and weaving lessons there for years and has probably instructed half the fiber artists in Winchester.  She taught me to spin and taught our son Gavin to knit.

Patricia Culver, Sue Groundwater and Gavin Culver

Patricia Culver, Sue Groundwater and Gavin Culver

It was fun to watch all the creations worn by Festival attendees.  There were so many shawls and sweaters handmade by their owners.  It was truly eye candy.  Here is one visitor to our booth in a shawl of her own creation.  In addition to being loaded with stunning fall colors, it used up ends and pieces of yarns from other projects. 

Spectacular Shawl Creation

Spectacular Shawl Creation

We also had on hand to give advice our knitting expert Kate Rabjohns in one of her diaphanous beaded creations in alpaca.

Kate Rabjohns

Kate Rabjohns

Even Miss Clark County was there with her mother.

Miss Clark County 2013

Miss Clark County 2013

 

Sincere thanks to all who stopped by and especially to our repeat customers.  Thanks for helping to support our farm and our dream!

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Meduseld Makes Home Furnishings!

Meduseld has started making wool filled items for your home!

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These are wool-filled pillows made of opulent fabrics with elaborate trims.  Each is one-of-a-kind, and come in an assortment of colors to match any decor.  Shown above are brocades, damasks, and tapestry fabrics.

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Here is a trio of matching pillows made of damask in pewter and bronze shades, with trim in gold, bronze, pewter and black.  Their neutral shades would match most decors.

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Inspired by a recent trip to the Frontier Culture Museum, I decided to make comforters for my children that would have no petroleum-based products, and that would look as comfortable as the beds in the centuries old homes.  I thought that if someone could make a bed  fluffy and inviting hundreds of years ago despite the technological obstacles, that I ought to be able to make something even better for my own family.

Ticking and Down Beds in Virginia Homestead

Ticking and Down Beds in Virginia Homestead

Here is a prototype comforter that I will be bringing to the Shenandoah Valley Fiber Festival this weekend.  It is unbleached muslin filled with cleaned and carded Jacob wool.  This twin sized comforter holds over two Jacob fleeces!  Dr. Mercola has been advocating the use of wool products for their health advantages. 

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The pillows are available for sale this weekend at the Fiber Festival.  Please stop by our booth, #4 in the open area.  I invite feedback about the comforter, especially about its weight, fabric covering, marketability, and price considerations.  The feedback you provide will help me decide whether to add these to our store!

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P.S. Meduseld’s store will be closed during the weekend so that none of the inventory is sold twice.  It will re-open several days after the Festival.

Meduseld Store Back On-Line

Ok – So it took me longer than I said to get the Store open again, and I do apologize.  I have done some inventory based on some of the items sold or given away at our Open House.  You will also find some other changes – LOWER PRICES.

maple yarn

Yes, for the next month until the Shenandoah Valley Fiber Festival September 28 and 29, I am lowering the prices on many of the yarns to about cost.  You will find that several of the skeins are now reduced a dollar or more each!  Some of the yarns were already so close to cost that I was not able to drop them further.

Please share word about Meduseld’s natural wool and alpaca yarns!  Buying locally and supporting your local farms helps to keep the U.S. economy strong.  Buying natural fibers is better for your health and better for the planet.  It’s good all around.

Honey reserves are not as high as last year, and we are all but out of maple syrup – there are only six bottles left.  We will not be selling any at this years’ Fiber Festival.  So if you have a sweet tooth this would be a good time to purchase honey and syrup before it’s all gone.

For more information don’t hesitate to email!

Gratefully, Patricia

Meduseld Jacob Roving Featured in Fibretown

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We were thrilled (and grateful) to learn that Meduseld’s Jacob wool was recently covered in Emily Estrada’s blog, Fibretown.  I remember Emily at the Shenandoah Valley Fiber Festival and I think there’s another bottle of maple syrup in her future:)  She discusses the roving and even our maple syrup at about minute 13:00.   Watch until she talks about the maple syrup!

FibreTown Video

Emily is a serious fiber artist with many skills and she profiles projects and different kinds of yarn and roving that she uses in her knitting, weaving, and spinning projects. 

She is also on Ravelry.com where she has a strong following.   On Ravelry, look for chainoffools in people or fibre town podcast in groups.

And here is a link to her blog.  http://fibretown.blogspot.com/

We still have some roving available in our store.  This particular roving was a mix of two lavender grey jacobs we have.  These two Jacobs  are also the source for Meduseld’s pale grey Jacob yarn.  Click on the link to the Meduseld Farm Store to to your right.  In the next few days, you can also find the maple syrup :)