Crafting enthusiasts alike gathered for the Athens Fiber Faire
A warm atmosphere thrived inside the Athens Community Center during the weekend with those who celebrated and collaborated the art of fiber crafting at the 2nd Annual Athens Area Fiber Faire.
The event took place with more than 100 people at a time who traveled to Athens from all over Ohio and with vendors even driving to Athens from neighboring states.
Fiber crafting is a hobby known for the use of textiles and fibers to create items such as quilts, scarves and table runners.
While walking into the event, which was presented by ARTS/West and the Athens County Knitters, rows of colorful fibers such as wool and yarn filled the center to be showcased and sold. Other handcrafted items such as quilts, scarves and even socks could also be seen hanging around stalls.
“We’re hoping for more (people to attend) this year,” Kelly Lawrence, one of the organizers for the Fiber Faire, said.
Lawrence said almost 300 people had attended the previous year, and the event was also introduced to a new venue to accommodate its growing interest.
“We started planning (the event) nine months ago. It’s a lot of work,” Lawrence said. “It’s much bigger than it was last year.”
Many of the vendors could be seen exchanging stories and ideas about crafting among each other and attendees.
Jane Evans, owner of Valhalla Acres Fiber Farm in Zanesville, said how much she enjoys talking to different people at the event.
“I learn things from other vendors and customers even,” Evans said. “They’ll give me some ideas or tell me how they’ve done something that’s different from how I did it.”
Leanne Brown and Penny Stout, both from Parkersburg, West Virginia, said they agree that fiber crafting has its own special quality to it.
“When you work with products that come from animals and nature, it just kind of makes you realize there’s a purpose for everything,” Stout said.
Brown added you're also using your own hands to do it.
Gwen Brown, owner of Gwen Erin Natural Fibers, traveled three hours away from Athens from Hubbard, Ohio and spoke about the numerous options that could be done with fiber crafting.
{{tncms-asset app="editorial" id="7711efa4-670d-11e5-b6f4-93aef01d300c"}}
“There’s so many cool things to try,” Gwen Brown said. “You just get one of these little things and all of a sudden you’re just doing like a million amazing things.”
While there may be people who might be intimidated to try their hand at fiber crafting, Stephanie Hayes, another organizer of the event, said not worry about it.
“It’s only sticks and string, nobody dies if you make a mistake,” Hayes said. “Just rip it out or start over. It’s not brain surgery.”
Julianna Harris, a part-time student at Hocking College said she agrees with this kind of mindset for quilting.
“Don’t worry about getting all the fancy equipment,” Harris said. “Just get some old fabric, cut it up in squares and sew it together. It’s a lot easier than you think.”
Stout said many think fiber crafting is mostly for grandmas and no one else, but it is more than that.
“It’s not really a hobby for some of us,” Stout said. “It’s more of a way of life.”
@summerinmae
my389715@ohio.edu
