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friends of the Fair: the flock

Woo Hoo! It's the 5th Anniversary of our membership, The Flock, in 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. The 2011 recipients, with two exceptions, were at the Fair on the day they won. The members who won are: Ellen Black, Janice Clingman, Jody Cull, Ruth Darelius, Bill Dineen, and Karen Ortland. Congratulations everyone! Click here to see what our totes may have included (each was different) in 2011

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 acknowleged on our web site; (click here to see current members) members who sign up or renew before MARCH 15, 2012 will be listed in our program book, AND will be given early registration privileges on our Workshops!

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 (if
  before March 12, 2012)
-10% Off Fair Wear
-Yearly Commemorative Pin
"Green" Members - $25
New & Renewal
-Workshop Pre-Registration (if
  before March 12, 2012)
-"No Frills Support"
Business Memberships:
Level/Amt
Benefits  
Nurturing Members - $100
New & Renewal
-Link on Web Site
-Workshop Pre-Registration (if
  before March 12, 2012)
-One Weekend Pass
-10% Off Fair Wear
-Yearly Commemorative Pin
"Green" Members - $50
New & Renewal
-Workshop Pre-Registration (if
  before March 12, 2012)
-"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 participate in the Fair and a level that is a supporting membership for those guilds who wish to support, but not participate. 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
-3 Day Participation
-Reserve space (@ 10x10 space) for demonstrations, raffle sales (with valid Grayslake/Lake County Raffle License) and guild membership information
-Receive 3 3-day passes to the Fair for guild demonstrators (9 single day admission passes - 3 each day)*
"Green" Guilds - $50
New & Renewal
"No Frills Support" (includes
  link)

thank you for your support!!!

 

2011 Member Appreciation Totes May have included:
~3 skeins Recyled Cotton from Lion Brand Yarns
~3 skeins Superwash Merino Cashmere from Lion Brand Yarns
~3 skeins Angora Merino from Lion Brand Yarns
~3 skeins 100% Baby Alpaca from Lion Brand Yarns
~5th Year Anniversary Commemorative Pin from the Fair
~Yummy 2-ply sock yarn from MissBabs Hand Dyed Fiber, booth 208-209E
~Bags & buttons from Bergschultz Studios, booth 101E
~Fleur de Fiber and Tough Love sock yarn from Windy Knitty, booth 135I
~Fiber books & notions from Windy City Knitting Guild, booth 219-221F
~Handpainted yarn & knit kit from Weaver's Loft, booth 204, 205E
~Louet drop spindle & fiber from Vintage Fibers, booth 113G
~Handmade basket from Village Crafters, booth 120G
~15% Off coupons from Sun Valley Fibers, booth 237, 238H
~Original vase from Stoneware Pottery, booth 114F
~2 bars of handmade soap in pretty bags from Simple Soapworks, booth 125H
~Shawl Pin from Purdy Thangz, booth 250I
~Merino and silk felted artwork from Spectral Glass and Artworx, booth 127H
~Oddest Goddess Pincushion Doll from Oddest Goddess, booth 213F
~Egyptian, Green, Brown and Upland cotton seeds from MRC Seeds
~Poster of "Ground Zero" quilt & cd of Rust Tex Collection from Rust Tex, 214-216F
~Merino superwash sock yarn from Knitting Notions, booth 102, 103E
~2 Schacht drop spindles from Karen Poulakos Fiber Arts, booth 217F
~Round original stoneware container with stamp from Nanten Pottery, booth 202E
~Calendar of Patterns & Notecards from Helen Hamann, booth 322, 323H
~Handmade felted pins from Hardcastle Folk Art, booth 324I
~Merino combed top and "Moxie" sock yarn from Fiberstory, booth 252I
~Porcelain buttons, necklace and vase from Claymates Pottery, booth 319H
~Nuno Scarf Kits from All Sewn Up, booth 249I
~"Cia" pattern & yarn to make it from Louet, NA
~$100 gift card from WEBS
~3 pins and 1 earrings set from Gita Maria, booth 206E
~Felting set from Beyond Basics Bears

sign up for our email 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!



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