Madrona

~ smyoo
A view from Hotel Murano

For the last three years I migrate down to the Hotel Murano in Tacoma Washington to attend Madrona Fiber Arts Festival. It was the 1st year I signed up for a class and I was really excited. It was a total fluke I got in but I had put my name on the waitlist and was able to get in to Catherine Lowe’s “The WOW Factor class”  I was really excited because the level of detail she has in her sample garments is amazing.

Catherine is extremely detail oriented, and while that level of detail may not be for everyone, I was excited to better learn things that contribute increasing the quality and look of a hand knitted garment. I learned a lot. It was pretty jam packed and it was a day long class and kept my mind engaged, which made for a long day.

The marketplace was nice as always and I picked up a fair amount of spinning fiber. This event features a lot more spinning fiber, weaving and other fiber arts. It was really great toes people bring their beautiful wheels to the hotel and spin in public…… Not sure when my new fiber will get spun up but is sure was pretty.

My favorite thing about the festival has to be the people and getting together with friends…. While I had thought I would bring my knitting I ended up working on my granny stripe blanket… I had a moment to measure it and the width of each row is 92 inches (WOAH!). I think it will be really nice when it done, right now it is the width of a belt.

Oh and cool things in the marketplace? These were a few of my favorites:

  • Carolina Handspun’s booth had the spinner’s version of a mini yarn sampler. With a sample of 4 colors of fiber.
  • Tuft Woolen’s lotion bars/body balm… This has to be the best one on the market that I have seen. It absorbs quickly and there is no  lotion residue left on your hands when you apply it to your hands… The other thing I like is that it is small.. The small size  makes it easy to add to your project bag and not take up a lot of space or add weight.
  • Abundant Earth’s booth was really nice and while they don’t sell retail, the owner did mention that their place of business on Whidbey Island is available for tours and you can buy yarn if you stop by.
  • CORMO! CORMO! CORMO! I tried to empty and grab every 2 ounce package of the roving that was available ion Sincere Sheep’s booth.