Midwest Fiber and Folk Art Fair returns to Lake County
Returning this month to the Lake County Fairgrounds, the Midwest Fiber and Folk Art Fair covers all the fiber arts, from fleece to finished fabric.
Celebrating the work of artists’ hands since 2007, this year’s fair is Friday through Sunday, June 21 through 23, in the Expo Center at the fairgrounds, 1060 E. Peterson Road, Grayslake.
Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $10 each day and $25 for three days; free for kids ages 10 and younger.
New in 2013 is an outdoor farmers market. The fair will continue to offer popular attractions such as workshops, fiber arts guild demonstrations, the indoor vendor marketplace, competitions involving fiber animals, fine art exhibits that use fiber as a medium and a runway presentation of original wearable art garments.
Among the instructors is expert hand-spinner and author Jacey Boggs. Author Beth Brown-Reinsel will teach classes in traditional international knitting techniques.
Workshops will also feature local fiber artists such as writer and designer Franklin Habit, of Chicago, and artist Tammy L. Deck, owner of TLD Design Center and Gallery in Westmont.
Classes offered will not only include knitting and crocheting, but also felting, beading, jewelry-making and basket-weaving. Several workshops will cover all aspects of hand-spinning, from preparing original fleeces to dyeing spun fiber. One workshop will even introduce yoga exercises aimed specifically at fiber artists.
For a full class schedule and to register online, go to www.fiberandfolk.com, and click on workshops at the top of the page.
The indoor vendor marketplace will feature materials needed for creating fiber artworks, equipment, books and handmade items. Outdoors, the farmers market will include a beekeeper, barrel-maker and a baker of all natural products, among other vendors.
Annual events such as the Fine Fiber and Folk Art Exhibit and the Vintage Handbag Exhibit will return this year.
The 2013 fair also marks the return of the Garment Extravaganza runway presentation at 1 p.m. Saturday, June 22. Sale of these one-of-a-kind wearable art garments will immediately follow the presentation and extend through Sunday.
The fair also will feature the Three Bags Full fleece judging competition. Last year, the fleece competition had the largest number of llama and alpaca fleeces of any competition in the country. It is sponsored by Toni Neil of The Fold in Marengo and Animal Acres in Dousman, Wis.
Throughout the fair, musicians will perform, courtesy of Off Square Music of Woodstock. Featured artists are Lou and Peter Berryman, Small Potatoes, Trillium and Compass. For a full schedule, visit www.fiberandfolk.com, and click on “music” at the bottom of the page.
The ILR sanctioned Llama Show and Open Alpaca show Friday and Saturday will include halter, showmanship and open obstacle classes, as well as an optional walking fleece competition.