FiberME 2015 -- We're getting excited!
Find out more, daily visits, maps, and more:
Mon, August 3, 2015
•Maine Top Mill, in Waldoboro, ME.
Owners Bob Weintraub and daughters Erin and Kira produce fine worsted top on
repurposed commercial textile machines. They process 13 – 21 micron count
sheeps wool and Vicugna pacos – Huacaya (Alpaca) fibers for both hand and
commercial spinning. They also own Cloud Hollow Farm (we visit later in the day)
that partners with the top Mill. They started the mill in production in 2012.
•Swans Island Blankets, in Northport, ME.
Here we will see the several steps used in producing the award winning
(Smithsonian Blue Ribbon for craft in 1996) Swans Island blankets. Our visit will
include interacting with the weavers, visiting the dyehouse and the many detailed
steps employed in finishing the woven blankets (and other products too). We will
also have the opportunity to see the different varieties of organic and naturally
dyed wool, silk and wool, and alpaca and wool yarns.
•
Lunch at In Good Company, Rockland.
And some time to poke around Rockland!
•
Katharine Cobey Studio, Cushing, ME.
Here we will visit Katharine in her charming studio gallery located on the edge of
a lovely coastal cove. Her studio is filled with her large knitted sculptural works,
fiber, spinning wheels, tools and books. Katharine will demo her long draw
spinning technique and will talk about her career, her inspirations and her writing.
You will see many models shown in her book Diagonal Knitting: A Different Slant.
•
Sara Hotchkiss, Old Point Comfort Gallery, Waldoboro, ME.
Rug weaver Sara Hotchkiss will show us her 10’ and 12’ Swedish looms where she
weaves room size rugs and her many smaller American made looms on which she
samples ideas and uses when teaching weaving. Next door, or at the other end of
her home, we will visit her gallery full of rugs, wall pieces and other fiber art
works. Sara has been weaving since 1971. Her work has been featured in several
publications: House Beautiful, Maine Home and Design and the Boston Globe. Sara
has also exhibited her work in shows such as ACC Baltimore Winter Market and
Craft Boston.
•
Cloud Hollow Farm, Waldoboro, ME.
Bob and Erin Weintraub started Cloud Hollow Farm with the desire to breed
beautiful alpacas with fine and uniform fiber. They have decided after years of
show competition to concentrate their efforts on breeding animals for the best
fiber possible and then process it (and that of other small producers) at The
Maine Top Mill. They are very forward thinking on the farm using solar energy to
produce power and ducks to eliminate pesky bugs. You’ll marvel at their beautiful
farm buildings.
C. H., Sammamish, WA