Here we go, summer is fast on its way again and we've got lots of fun stuff on the schedule. This is a brief review of all the events you'll want to keep your eyes and ears open for!
Mill Tours
We are very pleased to once again offer guided tours at 2pm on Fridays and the last Saturday during the months of May through September. The guided tours are offered as "pay what you choose" with the proceeds going toward our newly established and ever expanding natural dye plant gardens. They run 45 minutes to 1 hour and cover wool processing at the mill, from raw fleece to finished item, as well as the history of our machinery. Visit our website to find the last Saturday dates and to send us an RSVP - each tour has limited space and some dates fill up quickly!
Slow Food meets Slow Fibre
Last year we were honoured to host Slow Food Calgary at the mill for a meeting of good, clean, fair, food and good, clean, fair, textiles. This year we are very excited for them to return! On June 24th, they'll be heating up the BBQ out here at the mill and a Summer Solstice party will ensue - great food and festivities. Stay tuned for more details and to get your tickets!
Midway Community Presents
As our communities get bigger and more people commute for work and shopping, sometimes we lose track of what is available right next door. Our rural Midway Community is full of great folks creating top quality food, art, and craft and this year we're collaborating with the local community association on an event that helps locals (and others from farther a-field) connect to those folks. Join us on Saturday July 29th here at the mill for "Midway Community Presents - a showcase of local goodness"....and maybe some u-pick saskatoons!!!
2017 Artist Millstay
This year for our Artist Millstay we will be hosting knitter, designer, and author; Sylvia Olsen of Salish Fusion Knitwear. Sylvia is a champion of the Coast Salish knitting tradition with over 30 years experience knitting and selling sweaters from her home in the Tsartlip community of Vancouver Island. She has travelled Canada and the U.S. telling stories of knitting resilience and teaching Coast Salish colour-work technique. Her book, Working with Wool, won the 2010 Lieutenant Governor's Award for Historic Writing. She will be at the mill for the month of September and while she here there will be opportunities to meet her and learn colour-work technique, so stayed tuned or contact us for dates and details!
Custom Woolen Mills Out and About
Of course we will also be attending a few events in the area this summer. The first to come is Olds College Fibre Week, June 16th to 19th, where we will have a booth at the Merchant Mall. Next we will be at the All Canada Sheep Classic in Red Deer, June 29th to July 1st, helping to run the fleece competition and selling our goods. Then you can join us for needle felting at the Carstairs Museum on July 15th as part of Carstairs' annual Beef and Barley Days. Lastly, we'll be spinning at the Didsbury Museum on September 9th as part of the Mountain View Arts Festival.
As you can tell, there are lots of fun events to look forward to - we hope to see you join us this summer!