 |
|
|
Saskatchewan inDemand
After months of planning, fiber producers including alpaca, lama, sheep and flax hosted 27 booths including 6 for a common demonstration area. In addition to a Fashion Show featuring clothing made of natural fibers, a Fiber Challenge was held with entries received from across the province. The adjudicated first and second places in a variety of categories were awarded ribbons and the items were on display at the show. A Peoples’ Choice Award was given as voted upon by attendees. The Fibre inDemand Naturally group also arranged for on-going fiber related demonstrations in our “common” area. Hand spinning, drop spindle spinning, fleece preparation, punch art, needle felting and wreath making were just some of the talents showcased. Although not available in its finished form in time for the show, a Saskatchewan Fiber Directory was compiled and copies will be distributed to the SaskFlax office in Saskatoon in the near future. Saskatchewan Flax was well represented at Saskatchewan inDemand. Among those promoting food products was a booth showcasing some great prairie ingredients, namely Saskatchewan’s Flax, Mustard and Canola. This booth, hosted by Leslie Sanders with support from Linda Braun, provided taste samples of various dips as well as print material. In the fiber area, Randy Cowan demonstrated the traditional flax decorticating, hackling and scutching process. He was always busy, as people watched with fascination and asked a multitude of questions. Beside him as part of the Flax Group was Madelaine Walker from Christopher Lake. She alternated her demonstrations of spinning flax fiber into linen and weaving linen on a table loom between our flax booth and in the “common area.” I hosted the booth and provided attendees with a variety of SaskFlax print material. Also included within our space was Marie Saretsky of Burr. Marie provided demonstrations on the art of wreath making with a particular focus on flax. Using natural flax as well as flax dyed in a variety of colours, Marie mesmerized people as she transformed her homegrown plants and flowers into works of art. We received many compliments for our booth set up as we showcased flax from field to finished product. A highlight moment for me within our booth area occurred as Madelaine was taking Saskatchewan fiber directly from Randy’s hackling and scutching process and spinning it into linen before our eyes. And in the “common demonstration area” as Madelaine was spinning, several other spinners brought their wheels over and she helped them learn how to spin flax into linen, much to the fascination of onlookers (myself included). Both Marie and Madelaine had a variety of their own crafted flax/linen products on sale creating additional interest in our booth area and Randy had samples of some of the other products that could utilize flax fiber. A commonly overheard comment from folks was, “I had no idea flax could be used for so many things – and it’s grown right here in Saskatchewan!” Coupled with our food booth, trade show attendees had ample opportunity to appreciate the full plant utilization of flax – something we continue to showcase and promote. My thanks to Randy, Madelaine, Marie, Leslie and Linda for making the flax booths such a success. This was Saskatchewan inDemand’s first year and although attendance was lower than anticipated, most feel that with a bit of fine-tuning and perhaps a date change, this Trade Show will come to be one of Saskatchewan’s premiere events. Source: N. Lee Pengilly, Saskatchewan Flax Grower, Fall 2007, page 4. |
