Another June is in the books, which means we are home from two festivals that have become mainstays on our schedule: the Estes Park Wool Market and Black Sheep Gathering. We attended the Wool Market for the first time in 2012; BSG for the first time in 2010.
Estes Park Wool Market
The Wool Market in Estes Park is easily the most scenic fiber festival in the country. Its held in the mountain village of Estes Park, west of Denver, Colorado, at an elevation of 7,522 feet. The entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park is just outside the town and besides the stunning views, we almost always get to see some wildlife. Early June is calving season for the local Elk population, and this year was no different. Pregnant Elk cows wander down from the surrounding hills to have their calves in the Estes Park valley – often using the grass of the golf course as both food and a soft place for their babies to land. Here are a couple of Elk cows just outside the Starbucks:
As always, the Wool Market was loads of fun, with two days of workshops followed by two days of vending. I taught a half-day blending board workshop while Henry taught two days of drum carding workshops. The carding workshops were in a second story boardroom in the Estes Park Event Complex that overlooks the market floor, so our students got a birds eye view of the booths being set up, but everyone setting up also got to keep an eye on them!
Our booth in Estes Park is always right inside the front door, so we get to chat with folks on their way in and out of the market. We love seeing what people pick up at the wool sale and at other vendor’s booths!
There weren’t as many sheep in the barn as in years past – understandable with the price of fuel these days – but the ones that were there left an impression.
Mark your calendars for the next Estes Park Wool Market: Saturday and Sunday, June 12th and 13th, 2027, with workshops taking place on Thursday and Friday, June 10th and 11th.
Black Sheep Gathering
The Black Sheep Gathering is one of the oldest events of its kind in the U.S., with over 50 gatherings having taken place. Affectionately referred to as BSG by many of its patrons, the festival now takes place in Albany, Oregon after being held in Eugene for several decades. While a location change for an event is rare and does require vendors (and instructors, and attendees, and event staff…) to figure out new logistical solutions, it also means a new area to explore. Albany is home to the Historic Carousel and Museum, and we finally booked some extra time this trip to take a visit ahead of BSG.
With a little sightseeing behind us, it was time to get back to the mission at hand: BSG. Like at the Wool Market, we had a 30 foot booth with plenty of room to spread out. We also participated in the {Among Friends} passport game, wherein attendees collect stamps for a chance to win a prize basket. We’ll participate in the {Among Friends} game again at both DFW Fiber Fest and Lambtown Festival later this year, so be sure to grab a postcard and play along if you are going to one of those festivals!
Saturday at Black Sheep Gathering was a real treat. It was one of our fellow vendors’ birthday, and she handed out presents as part of the celebration – including cupcakes! If you have met Carolyn Greenwood of Greenwood Fiberworks, you probably already know how kind she is, but this was over the top. Later, she donned a “Birthday Queen” sash and tiara to add to the celebratory atmosphere.
The birthday girl was all smiles.
Cupcake selections included double chocolate, German chocolate, and carrot cake. Yum!
We taught all three days of the Gathering, with Henry handling the drum carding workshops on Friday and Saturday (including the debut of a Fine Wool Sampler we’re also teaching at DFW Fiber Fest and Wisconsin Sheep and Wool later this year) and me running a beginning blending board class. One of my students struggled early on, but by the end of the morning was making beautiful rolags. It was pretty awesome to see her rolags lined up to tell the story!
From foreground to rear: a student’s progress in making rolags in just three hours.
After nearly a month of being on the road, we were ready to get headed back home. Seeing Mount Shasta is always a treat, and I caught this fun shot of the mountain peeking between the truck and trailer at a rest stop.
