weaving

Our blog today and next week will focus on the other ten fiber creatives who are welcoming people to the 13th Annual East Mountain Fiber Farm and Studio tour June 11th and 12th. As you will see, many of the six stops on the tour map have multiple artisans, so check them out in advance to be sure that you get to the locations with your favorite type of fiber arts.

Stop 1  is Sandra Holzman’s studio where she creates and sells her SandraSilk handpainted silk scarves, jackets and outfits. In addition to her elegant and colorful wearable art designs, she also will have yardages and remnants available and even has a silk sale!  If you haven’t seen her beautiful work before, be sure to check it out.  And be sure to thank her for her service as President of the Route 66 Arts Alliance.

Robin Pascal, about whom we have written before because she is the creative genius of Perfect Button (Whispirit’s artisan button creator) is also at Stop 1. She will have racks of her amazing buttons for sale. But there is much more to Robin than her buttons. She is also a master weaver, spinner, dyer, jewelry maker… the list goes on. Her products include handwoven garments, shawl pins, fiber earrings, for those looking for unique wearable art. She also sells hand painted yarn, roving, silk hankies and felted batts, prepared mixed and handpainted warps, and handwoven remnants and thrums for the discerning DIY.

You will also find Catherine Kelly’s hand hooked rugs at Stop 1. Catherine makes traditional hooked rugs in a contemporary style. She will also have a wide selection of custom dyed wools for hooking, applique or other projects. Rug supplies, like backing and hooks are available for purchase as well.

Stop 2 is Edgewood Yarns and Fibers.

Edgewood Yarns and Fibers is the best yarn and fiber shop in the Albuquerque area. Owner Ginny Zvoch knows her yarn and is a fiber creative. She also creates an atmosphere of fun and support, in other words not your typical yarn shop. This space is stuffed full of creative yarns with a constantly updating inventory. My favorite part of the shop is the circular table with comfortable chairs where drop-in knitters and crocheters come and share skills and chill out. If you are a fiber person, this should be on your routine visits. BUT, this time of year, it is also where you can see and drool over the Grand Prize basket containing donated items from each artisan on the Tour. This basket is awarded to an individual who visited each of the six stops (and gotten their map stamped) selected through a drawing after the event closes on Sunday.

Stop 3 is Garcia Shaggy Wagon and Baa-Baa Shop. This family owned farm features Navajo Churro sheep, mohair goats and sheep. It is chock full of events throughout the two days of the Tour, including:  sheep shearing demonstration at 11:30 AM, a demonstration with a circular sock machine at 2:00 PM. You can buy home made soaps, lotion bars, Churro roving, mohair fleeces and mohair kids and new lambs.  Yes, the real thing. AND this location has food and beverages for sale:  green chile stew, frito pie, homemade tea, lemonade and flavored sodas and chocolate dipped strawberries. Yum. I know where I would eat lunch if I did not have to be at our place.

Now, don’t you want to come out that weekend and visit? Lots going on out here in the East Mountains, just 30 minutes east of Albuquerque out I-40 and 45 minutes south of Santa Fe via Rt. 14.

Until next week “may the fleece be with you”….. Sandy