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August 1, 2, 3, 2014 at the Lake County Fairgrounds, Grayslake, IL


friends of the Fair: the flock

"This event truly has changed my life for the good, and I am thrilled to be considered a charter member." --Lorna White, IL 2012

Many of us begin our journey into fiber arts as children. Our skills honed over the years, the techniques and materials become second nature. We lose sight of its value—the art—in the motion of the creation.

Some of us begin our journey as fiber artisans later in life. We are eager for each new drop of learning, each new tactile adventure into new materials, each new opportunity to share what has sprung forth—the art—from our hands.

Because we understand so well both of these kindred artisans, we have made our goal for The Midwest Fiber & Folk Art Fair about making people feel GOOD about the work of their hands.

The result has been almost magical.

But events like this cannot survive on admissions alone. Help us keep the magic going. We need supporting members! Membership dollars help us to grow the Fair. We purchase things like easels for classrooms, signage, facility expenses for new features of the Fair. They even help fund awards for new exhibits and features. And, our membership fees have not increased at all in our 5 years! Become a member today and help us grow the Fair (see below to sign up now!) Click here to see current member list.

 

member appreciation:        we wanted to show our appreciation for our Fair members, who have gone above and beyond to invest in the Fair. Our members are our grass roots sponsors. Membership dollars go toward improving everyone's Fair experience. Things like buying easels for our classrooms, buying exhibit materials for our exhibits (fabric, tables, hangers and pins, white gloves, etc). It even helps to fund some of the awards! We are thankful for all our members. So we create, with the help of Fair vendors, several membership appreciation totes each year. We cannot afford to give one to every member, but each year a few receive our tote of appreciation. Everyone who joined the Fair as a member during the period from Fair to Fair have an opportunity to participate in the drawing for the totes.

thank you to ALL our members...you are appreciated!

the flock: Our membership is called "The Flock", and we are the best of the best - we are "Merino"!

Because incentives don't appeal to all, we've put together two levels for each kind of member - a nurturing level, which includes all the incentives, and a "green" level, which is "no frills"—just pure support! All members deserve our thanks and recognition, so all members will be listed and acknowledged on our web site; (click here to see current members) members who sign up or renew before March 15, 2013 will be listed in our program book, AND will be given early registration privileges on our Workshops! Our membership levels are the same great deal and price they have been for the last 6 years!

To download our Membership Flyer to print and share with others, or to sign up through the mail and pay by check, click here. To sign up online or to use a credit card—see below.

Individual Memberships:
Level / Amt
Benefits  
Nurturing Members - $50
New and Renewal
-One Weekend Pass
-Workshop Pre-Registration (date sensitive, see above)
-10% Off Fair Wear
-Yearly Commemorative Pin
"Green" Members - $25
New & Renewal
-Workshop Pre-Registration (date sensitive, see above)
-"No Frills Support"
Business Memberships:
Level / Amt
Benefits  
Nurturing Members - $100
New & Renewal
-Link on Web Site
-Workshop Pre-Registration (date sensitive, see above)
-One Weekend Pass
-10% Off Fair Wear
-Yearly Commemorative Pin
"Green" Members - $50
New & Renewal
-Workshop Pre-Registration (date sensitive, see above)
-"No Frills Support" (includes
   link)

guild memberships

An amazing number of fiber arts guilds share teaching and talent with artists and hobbyists throughout the Midwest. Their presence allows the beauty of fiber work to endure across ages, genders, and cultures.

In order for our fiber arts guilds and the Fair to create the most advantageous partnerships we offer a Guild level of sponsorship for those who wish to make announcements to our Fair enthusiasts and a level that is a supporting membership for those guilds who wish only to support. All member guilds are invited to have information at the Fair Info Booth and will have a link on the Fair’s web site as well and a listing in the Program Book.

Guild Memberships:
Level/Amt
Benefits  
Nurturing Guilds - $200
New & Renewal

-will put guild announcements in our Enews going out to over 5,000 Fair enthusiasts for one year! Contact Carol for details.

-link on our web site

"Green" Guilds - $50
New & Renewal
"No Frills Support" (includes
  link)

thank you for your support!!!

 

sign up for our e-mail list and we'll keep you up to date with Fair plans. PLUS, your demographic information is helpful to us as we gain sponsorship. You'd be helping the Fair grow and we PROMISE that your information will be kept private. Click here to read our privacy policy.

 

" thoroughly enjoyed the show, spent enough grocery monies to go on a diet "
   comment from member

merino

Wool from the Merino sheep is the most prized wool in the world. The Phoenicians introduced sheep into Asia Minor and North Africa. They reached Spain in the 12th century. Spain began breeding sheep for wool quality and softness - resulting in the Merino sometime in the 14th century. Fine wool became a source of income for the Castile in the late Middle Ages. Exportation of a Merino sheep was a crime punishable by death until 1723, when the first Merino flock was exported to Sweden. In 1765, a large Merino flock was given to Saxony. A small flock of Merino sheep was the prize possession of Thomas Jefferson. Merino prices vary according to the fineness of the wool. Our "flock" is the finest of the fine!