Kid 'n Ewe & Lamas, Too
Steve Harris called me this morning to ask about Kid 'n Ewe and I realized I should describe it a bit for anyone who isn't aware of the show or hasn't had the chance to attend. Steve is the person who bought my huge Cranbrook loom and as a beginning weaver he is thirsty of information. I'm so pleased he will be coming to KNE. It's not a bad drive from the greater Houston area, there are lots and lots of vendors with fabulous things for sale - fiber, yarn, tools, spinning wheels, spindles, finished goods - and there are lots of classes to take and demonstrations to watch.
Kid 'n Ewe & Lamas Too Fiber Festival began as a backyard get-together in 1989 by a group of natural colored wool growers to promote Texas Fibers. The festival has outgrown several locations over the years and now calls the Kendall County Fairgrounds in Boerne, TX home. Every year on the second full weekend in November, llamas, alpacas, sheep, goats and the people who love them make their way to the festival. This year it is November 9, 10 and 11. The show starts at noon on Fri and runs all day Sat and Sun.
There are over 30,000 square feet of space in three buildings for the 40 vendors. There are animals to be visited in the barns. Parking is plentiful and close. The fairgrounds property is full of trees and grass along with the buildings - it's a lovely spot for a fiber festival. The buildings are what you would expect at a county fairgrounds - cement floor, corrugated metal walls and roof, limited heating and fans for air movement. Dress for the weather as the vendors are under cover but not in what you would call climate controlled conditions. We love it. Sky Loom Weavers' booth is on the far left side of the center building. Just beyond our booth is a large roll up door so we can exert some influence over the wind and temperature.
Many of the vendors teach classes at this show. This year there are over 50 classes in all manner of fiber related skills - spinning, crochet, knitting, caring for fiber animals, etc. This is not a show where we have ever taught a class but we talk about it and think about it every year. I think if we could add one more person to the staff we might be able to handle it. This year there was a real possibility that Peggy wouldn't be able to make the show. Yikes! It's hard to imagine doing this without her - not to mention she is 10 years younger than me which is making more of a difference as I get older. I talked to my daughter about stepping in to do the show with me and despite the fact that this is hunting season and all rural men will be out finding food for the winter, Katy will be able to make the trip with us. Fortunately for all of us, Peggy will be at the show after all but I'm tickled that Katy will be there too.
Boerne is located northwest of San Antonio. It used to be very rural but as San Antonio has expanded, Boerne has in part become a bedroom community for those working in San Antonio. There are great restaurants, good coffee shops with wonderful pastries, a lovely river. Can you see why we love to visit Boerne? Especially in the fall when we are more likely to have sunny days with a brisk, cool, dry breeze. OK. Sometimes it's right out cold. We always hope for cold.