On October 3rd the Sunshine Coast Spinners and Weavers Guild had a display at the One Straw Society’s Fall Faire. The Faire was a celebration of community, local ecologically sound sustainability and the harvest of local food producers.
There were booths with delicious baked goodies, herbal remedies, seeds and plants and a diversity of locally grown squash. There were ongoing workshops on topics such as water conservation and seed saving and fun events such as pumpkin carving for children.
The Guild’s display focused on the Sunshine Coast Fibreshed’s activities involving local dyes and local fibres.
We had a colourful display of wool dyed with plants that grow on the Sunshine Coast, showing the diverse range of beautiful colours available from our local plants and mushrooms.
We also featured fibres produced by animals raised on the Sunshine Coast. As well as some wool from local llamas there were knitted samples from the various Icelandic sheep.
Shawls and a skein of yarn made from the local sheep Olivia were also on display. The shawl was dyed with Japanese indigo and the yarn with Lobster mushrooms.
To help connect up Certified Producers with people wanting to buy Fibreshed products, we had a Fibreshed Marketplace section where cards and pamphlets from local producers were available.
Visitors admired the beautiful colours produced by our local plants and mushrooms.
On display was a bit of fleece from local llamas Oreo and Rosie.
People were surprised and delighted when they felt the amazingly soft fleece!
It was a wonderful day to enjoy our vibrant Coast community, spread the word about the Fibreshed and network with individuals and groups concerned with ecologically sound local sustainability.