Publisher’s Notes:  The Yarnival last year held by Lexi Boeger, aka Pluckyfluff, was a life changing event for many last year.  This year, the event is taking place on July 13th through July 15th on the grounds of the Boeger Winery and promises to be even better. 

In Lexi’s words, “The focus of this year’s Yarnival will be to introduce and acknowledge five new or noteworthy hand-spinners, two fiber producers and one designer. Come and see the best talent in handmade and creative fiber work. Select works will be on display in a gallery exhibition.”  How fun is that going to be?  I’m so glad I’m going!!!

And, how much fun would it be to help someone get there who might otherwise not be able to.  The price of traveling is getting crazy and I was fortunate to find a couple of old expired flight credits that I could renew for a minimal amount, but that was just luck, really. 

Since part of the mission of Spin Artiste is to extend beyond the reaches of the internet and participate in the real world fiber arts experience, I offered to step up and provide a grant designed to help defray travel expenses for one of the featured artists.

Artists who went through the application process of submitting their work for consideration were informed of the opportunity to apply for the Spin Artiste grant and during this last week, the determination was made as to how to award the assistance.

It came down to two very deserving artists to decide between.  And, it was a virtually impossible choice…Should it be her OR her?

I remember when I was first knitting and I would go into the yarn shop with my knitting mentor, Maryann and I would say, “Should I buy this color or that color?”  And, Maryann would smile her Yoda-smile and say, “What ‘or’?  Give yourself permission to say ‘and’.”

So, in honor of The Yarnival’s Second Birthday, Spin Artiste is saying “and” to both of these amazing, talented people and going to help them get to The Yarnival this July.

Here are the deserving individuals and a sample of their work (not the Yarnival submissions):

Reiko Usuda

of Reikomono

from Kanagawa, Japan

Nicole Constantin

of Rose Nectar Fibre Couture

from Vail, Colorado

Congratulations to both of you!  I look forward to seeing you in July!!

In other news, I’m on the road again — taking a little vacation.  Today was Thomas Jefferson’s home, Monticello and tomorrow’s activity is a visit to Colonial Williamsburg.  In a minute, I will get busy on Google and figure out what fibery goodness I can work into my Williamsburg visit.  If all else fails, there is always knitting to be done. 

Be back later in the week and a special treat for you!  All my best, Arlene

Tagged as: Lexi Boeger, Nicole Constantin, Pluckyfluff, Reiko Usuda, Reikomono, Rose Nectar Fibre Couture, Yarnival