Oregon Flock And Fiber Festival

Your Opportunities

AUDITIONS

Got what it takes for “The Full Monty”? — The Red Octopus Theatre Company is casting for the musical comedy “The Full Monty” at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 4, and at 7 p.m. Monday, June 6, at the Newport Performing Arts Center, 777 W. Olive St., Newport. Auditioners will be asked to read from the script; there is no need to prepare a monologue. Attendees should prepare a short vocal selection: one verse and a chorus of a contemporary song of their choice. Please wear comfortable clothing, as the audition will be followed by a brief dance audition. Information: www.redoctopustheatre.org .

CALL TO ARTISTS

Umpqua Valley Arts Center seeks photos — Submission deadline is Wednesday, June 8. Roseburg’s Umpqua Valley Arts Association invites photographers to participate in the second annual Best Photo Juried Show and Competition, scheduled to run from Sept. 16 through Oct. 28. Artists may submit up to three entries. Prospectus/information: 541-672-2532 or http://uvarts.com/call-to-artists.

Umpqua Plein Air Event seeks artists — Registration deadline is June 8. The Umpqua Valley Arts Association invites artists of all abilities to participate in the first annual Umpqua Plein Air Event and competition, “Location, Location, Location,” scheduled for July 14-15. Applications/information, call 541-672-4621 or www.uvarts.com .

Giustina Gallery seeks watercolors for invitational — Submission deadline is 4 p.m. Friday, June 10. The Oregon Invitational Watercolor Exhibit is a juried exhibit open for submission to all Oregon watercolor artists. The intent is to give these artists an opportunity to exhibit their best work alongside the Aqueous Media Touring Exhibit. The exhibit runs Aug. 1-31. Applications/information: Tina Green Price, 541-737-2402, or http://oregonstate.edu/lasells/gallery.

Nature of Words issues call for 2011 writing competition — Submission deadline is June 10. The Nature of Words is accepting entries for the 2011 Rising Star Creative Writing Competition, which welcomes entries in fiction, literary nonfiction, nature essay and poetry in three age categories: 15-18, 19-25 and 25-plus. Each entry should include a short biographical statement and cover sheet and be submitted to risingstar@thenatureofwords.org . Information: 541-647-2233 or www.thenatureofwords.org .

Linn County Kids Create seeks young artists and writers — Submission deadline is Wednesday, June 15. Linn County Kids Create, the local website for student art and writing, is now accepting submissions of art of any kind (photographed), photos, poetry, fiction and nonfiction for its fifth edition. Submissions should be sent to linncountykidscreate@gmail.com . Information: www.linncountykidscreate.org .

Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival: 2010 | Syne Mitchell

Last Sunday I went down to the Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival (OFFF) in Canby, Oregon.  This was the first time I’d ever attended the event and it was on a bit of a whim.  Several people had asked if I’d be there, and then my friend Selah told me about the Spinner’s Triathalon (more about that in a minute), and Kai opined that he’d really love to go to a fiber festival and do some yarn shopping (I think he’d been taken over by yarn-loving space aliens at that moment) and Eric suggested we take the bigger car, because it could hold more fleece (apparently the aliens got him, too.)

With nudging and support like that, how could I not go?  So Selah, Kai, and I hopped into a car and headed down to Canby for the day.

It was a rainy day, but the outdoor vendors were prepared for the wet. 

I got to meet Hazel of Hazel Rose Looms in person, and see the cute Christmas stocking that she wove for a WeaveZine article. 

After browsing around outside, we headed to the spinning competitions.  The first spinning contest was “strategic spinning” in which each contestant was given a set amount of fiber to spin in a set amount of time.  To win you had to spin every bit of fiber, finishing at exactly the ending time, and produce the longest yarn.  

I haven’t been to many sporting events, never once attended a Florida State University football game (much to my father’s dismay), but apparently I did get some vestigial cheerleading gene, because I couldn’t resist standing beside Selah during the strategic spinning and making up supportive little chants like: “Selah, Selah, she’s our gal; if she can’t do it we’ll hire Hal!” and “Spin, spin, spin, spin!”  Selah for her part grinned, turned beet red, and muttered under her breath: “I’ll get you for this Syne, you know that, don’t you?”  

Personally, I think she got off easy.  There was a lot of fiber in the room; you know how easy it would have been to whip up fleece pom-poms?

The strategic spinning event went on for a long time, so Kai and I went a-browsing.  He bought a bottle of rocks, and I talked to a couple of vendors about wholesaling copies of Andean Pebble Weave.  And I’m delighted to say the book will soon be available from Village Spinning and Weaving as well as Weaving Works !  (As I write this, the printer is a-humming in the background.

The Knitter's Book of Yarn, The Ultimate Guide to Choosing, Using, and Enjoying Yarn

Spin off

Home power

Fiber Gathering, Knit, Crochet, Spin, and Dye More Than 20 Projects Inspired by America's Festivals

Shuttle, spindle & dyepot