Southeast Ohio Fiberworks

10/28/2026

Something's cooking over at The Dairy Barn Arts Center's Witch Walk this Friday!

I am unable to be there, but I will drop off a walnut dye bath/bucket for visitors to use. A great assemblage of Southeast Ohio Fibershed Board members will be at the event to talk about what they're doing. Put Friday 4:30pm to 6:30pm on your calendar and enjoy some Halloween fun this week!

Please join us for a plant-based dye session at The Dairy Barn Arts Center's second annual Witch Walk!

THIS Friday, October 30
Dye session: 4:30p - 6:30p
Witch Walk activities: 5:30p - 7:25p

If you'd like to be involved, show up early with a small item to dye (must be 100% cotton, linen, or wool). Members of the Southeast Ohio Fibershed Board will be there to demonstrate plant-based dyeing techniques, including flower pounding, a fun activity you can get into 🌼🌿

Local artist and historian, Aubrey Jo of Contemporary Hand, will bring their indigo vat to show you the magic of dyeing with indigo!

10/24/2026

Hanging with some other artists at the Athens Art Guild's first Night Market! We're on the lawn at our new HQ in front of the Athens Community Center.

Get your Halloween festivities off to a good start with kids activities, your the gallery, or sit by our fire and roast hot dogs or roast marshmallows for s'mores! We're here until 9pm!

10/19/2026

Five years ago, in the height of the pandemic and after my Michigan mom passed away, I was up there visiting Dad and hanging with Finngarian when she told me she knew someone trying to sell a loom. Of course, no hesitation, lol, let's go see it! I took one look at it and had to have it. Seemed simple enough for a first loom, right?

Fast forward to this past weekend. The loom was in pieces because I stored it that way for five years. Did I remember how it went together? I jest...

The loom came with NO assembly instructions. NO parts list, either, and the company currently making them did not respond to my inquiry. A diagram on the manual was hard to read and missing some critical labels. After watching YouTube videos of people using the machine, but no one actually reassembling one, I knew I was in for at least a few days' work just trying to figure it out.

I decided now would be a good time to replace pretty much all the hardware on this old loom. After a half dozen or so trips to TSC for parts over the last three days, and hours of trying to puzzle through, I have only a few more pieces to attach, then I can attempt my first warp. Lucky for me there's already warp yarn on the loom, but that's only half the work. Wish me luck!

10/06/2026

I came across this lovely documentary tonight, and I thought I'd share it with you. The movie is 10 years old but still relevant today. "The Pacific Northwest Fiber Web" is where you'll find wool at the center of community.

This 12 minute documentary film describes the state of the niche wo...

09/25/2026

New drop spindles sealed with furniture grade walnut oil and hung up to dry! These spindles are the result of a creative collaboration with local wood turner Mike West.

I'll have these available online by the weekend, but if you're in or near Athens, you have an opportunity to learn how to drop spindle spin yarn this Saturday, September 26th at 10:45am.

Head over to the Old Time Music Gathering at Snow Fork Event Venue *this* Saturday morning (venue location is tagged), show up early, and sign-up for the workshop as you pay your entrance fee. The workshop starts at 10:45am and is limited to the first 8 participants. You get to keep your spindle and wool roving for practice. I look forward to seeing you this weekend!

09/17/2026

Hey Everyone! I've got a busy couple of weekends coming up, and this post is about the one *after* the Pawpaw Festival. Stuart's Opera House will bring you The Happy Hollow Old-Time Music Gathering at Snow Fork Event Center, the following weekend, September 24-27. If you love the kind of music that soothes your Appalachian soul, get this event on your calendar and I'll see you there! Read about the main event here:

https://stuartsoperahouse.org/happy-hollow-gathering/

What's happening on Saturday September 26th, you ask? I offer to teach you how to spin yarn using the ancient tool called a drop spindle! The workshop starts at 10:30am and goes until Noon. The number of attendees is limited to 8 people at least 12 years old and includes a hand-turned locally sourced wooden spindle that you get to keep, plus some wool roving to get you going. Sign up for the workshop at the entrance to the event on Saturday the 27th - first come first served!

09/16/2026

Hey everyone, just in case you haven't seen it, here is the map of the festival grounds for Ohio Pawpaw Fest this weekend.  

*Note: New Venue!

Snow Fork Event Venue
5685 Happy Hollow Rd.
Nelsonville, OH 45764

Look in the middle of the map and you'll see a double blue arrow. My spot is number 74. The Fibershed is number 73.

The Mother Earth news tent is at the top of the arrow and that is where the botanical dye workshop will be Sunday morning at 10:30a.

There will be a lot of learning opportunities at the Mother Earth News tent throughout the weekend, so be sure to check those out, too.

I'm off to finish winding new embroidery floss, and tonight I will start dyeing fresh yarn!

I look forward to seeing everyone this weekend!

09/14/2026

Have you ever wondered what botanical dyeing is all about? Come to the Ohio Pawpaw Festival on Sunday September 20 at 10:30am I to Noon to hear artist and historian, Aubrey Jo Blue of Contemporary Hand talk about dyeing textiles with plant-based dyes.

Then, you are welcome to bring a pre-mordanted piece of cloth to try your hand at at dyeing with indigo or madder, or learn what flower pounding is all about!

*A limited amount of pre-mordanted mini skeins of wool will be available for purchase.*

09/13/2026

Fresh madder, 1lb 1oz (500g!) harvested today Sep 12th 2026! Three plants with 2yo roots came up as expected, and I know another year would have done them some good.

Three hours of digging and at least an hour cleaning and chopping. The longer they sit in the air, the darker the red turns. These are headed to the dehydrator in the morning.

At Pawpaw Fest next weekend, I'll have madder seeds available in packs you can pickup in exchange for a donation to the Southeast Ohio Fibershed!

PSST! Make sure you visit Sunday morning of Pawpaw Fest for something special! Look for more details very soon 😊