Hi everyone! The Eighth Annual Oxford Fiber Arts Festival was a huge hit! I am REALLY late publishing this and I do apologize. Does “better late than never” apply here?
And here to tell us all about it is my fiber fest and travel buddy, Jules!
(This is her first guest post. She will be doing some more this year…won’t you , J? Hee).
Take it away, Jules!
Skoogs Sheep & Cattle Farm
https://www.skoogssheepandcattle.com/
Located in Fernando, Florida, Martin and Annette Skoog run and operate Skoogs Sheep and Cattle farm specializing in Gotland Sheep from Sweden. Their webshop hosts exquisite handcrafted items with Gotland Sheep lambwool as the star to blankets, purses, belts, scarves, capes and more. If you would like a more personalized touch they also do custom orders. When I came across this vendor I was in awe at how beautiful the wool looked as it glistened. They were in a dark corner area of the venue and not much light –but that wool sparkled! I was scared to touch it. But once I did it took everything in my power to not bury my face in the blanket. There are nights I dream of how it would feel to fall asleep on a cloud… I no longer have to use my imagination because I experienced floating on a cloud that Saturday afternoon. My new dream is to own one of those blankets and wrap myself up in it and drift off to sweet bliss. I know I looked a little weird touching all the purses and muttering to myself that I would just use the purse as a portable pillow and that my dogs would probably confiscate the blanket.
Gerschubie
This love-for-dyeing chic has her business straight off an RV. That’s right folks she’s on the road traveling and dyeing fabric as she scoots along!
Named after her two dogs, Gerschubie is known for its uniqueness in not only the dyes but in their names. Have you ever heard of a color named Chicken Fried Pizzicato? That sounds like a food item you would find at the carnival! Walking along enjoying eating your Pronto Pup and you see the a sign that says Chicken Fried Pizzicato and you think is that chicken and pizza fried together with a side glass of wine? I must get that and devour it!
Now to take you to my favorite name and color – one that doesn’t ignite the desire to eat – Unicorn Farts !! What color is that you ask? Well, you need to go to the website and check it out because it is beautiful!! I had no idea Unicorn Farts could be such a pretty color. If only I knew how to knit or crochet or do whatever handcrafted thing one person must do to use this fiber I’d be wrapped up in Unicorn Farts with a side of Chicken Fried Pizzicato!!!!
Two Dog Designs
https://www.facebook.com/twodogdesignsbyemilyrennie/Â
By far one of my favorite vendors! As a rescue person I tend to gravitate to all things dog or cat. She was located at the back of the venue and sitting with her sewing machine going ninety miles an hour. I had no idea what she was making but she was doing it fast and with too much perfection for such speed.
The first thing I noticed in her display was the soup bowl potholders in all types of fun print.
My fiberarts festival junkie ride or die friend Ally latched on to them and convinced me I needed one. It wasn’t that hard to convince me especially once Emily told me she uses it to keep her hands from being cold while eating ice cream! SOLD! Another nifty option is to use it in the microwave. Yes – her soup bowl potholders are microwave friendly! Smart smart smart – because I wondered how in the world I would put my hot bowl in this contraption without burning myself and spilling my soup, stew or ravioli all over myself. Never would I ever imagine it would be microwave friendly!
As I perused her handmade goods I saw these bowls. All sizes of bowls made of fabric.
She saw how I was looking over them and told me that these are memory bowls. She makes bowls out of the fabric of baby dresses, old ties from grandpa, or any memorable fabric you want to keep and recycle in a very memorable way. What a neat way of remembering your loved ones. 
Then I cruised on around and found dog bandanas! All sizes, all types of patterns from Skulls, super hero, and even Mississippi State Bulldogs BABY! HAIL STATE! Of course she had Ole Miss too but BLAH I’m a Starkville chic so BLAH to Ole Miss. I’m sure if you asked her she would make any bandana from your favorite sports team or fun fabric!
Her claim to fame…the peddling of the bookmarks. Let me tell you – she’s creative. Bookmarks? Why yes you need a wonderwoman book mark and a superman and a skull one and all types of cute fun sturdy bookmarks! You need to check her inventory out at her facebook page Two Dog Designs and she also has a blog. Emily Rennie is one to follow!
Debie Deaton – Mixed Media Artist
I am in no way an artistic person so when I happen upon creative people I tend to get the touch of the jealous bug. I stumbled upon Debie Deaton’s sculptures as they were sitting on what appeared to be a freezer? Not the proper way to display cool art but it made that freezer look absolutely refined and hip. The sculptures on freeze display were cute and whimsical. I took a few pictures and sent them to my 13 year old niece. My niece has the incredible knack for just taking random abstract pictures and sending them to me via snap chat. So I decided to send her a random piece of real abstract art! She loved it! Score one Aunt Jules! So, if you are into art and like a little whimsy – check out Debie Deaton.
Bebe’s Babydoll Sheep Farm
Follow them on facebook to see all the cute videos!
https://www.facebook.com/Bebesbabydollsheep/
Located in Como, MS this farm is worthy of a road trip or if you can’t physically go there take a trip to their facebook page! As we walked up to the festival we were greeted with Bebe’s Babydoll Sheep in a pen with their trusty Great Pyrenees, Hank, keeping guard.
I do believe I am speaking for Ally when I say to begin the festival petting sheep is the highlight of our festival madness! We know when we see the animals its about to get real up in here! The squealing the ooing and awwing over them eating and being super cute and fluffy soft – yup two grown women acting like the world revolves around these beautiful creatures. Add in the little bitty underbite cutie Alpacas and poke me I’m done.
The pictures I took do not do these cuties any justice! Between my lack of photo taking skills and their not cooperating didn’t make for good photo op. I assure you the facebook page has them captured and you will want to love on them and feel their soft fluff! OMG is all I have to say about these underbite cuties. I swear – they are snaggle raggle tooth and you just wanna hug them!
I highly encourage you to follow them on facebook. It will brighten your day!
Thatched Roof Cottage 