The hot July sun was no match for the cool green grass and gentle breezes which made the perfect setting for the dozen or so vendors from as far away as Durango, Colorado Springs and New Mexico, taking part in the first annual San Luis Valley Folk Arts & Fiber Festival in Monte Vista Colorado.  

The event started on Friday the 13th with some very lucky students taking part in classes from spinning to sculpting fabric dolls. Saturday and Sunday visitors were treated to booths filled with eye candy in the form of gorgeous fibers, yarns and hand made items which included weaving, cloth dolls, pottery and rustic furniture. Dozens of spinning wheels whirred throughout the day as ladies and gentlemen demonstrated their talents to the delight of passersby.

Serious spinning was the agenda Sunday when the competition got hot and heavy as Christina Perry, Laura Murphy, Kay Rasdahl, Ellen Sibelius, Sandy Hopkins and 11 year old Mianna, competed to see who could spin the longest and  then, the heaviest pieces of roving.  Ellen Sibelius was the champion for the longest and Christina Perry's 22 ounces in 3 minutes won for weight. The ladies had just ten minutes for the Speed Knitting Contest.  Despite having to borrow needles and yarn, Lynde Fluke took top honors knitting just over 17 rows. Jan Oen was hot on her heels with 16 rows. Everyone who entered was a winner however, as the competition was as much laughter as anything.  Videos of some of the fun may be seen on the web site. 

Ruth Garcia of Mechanicsville, Maryland won the raffle drawing for a beautiful Ashford Scholar spinning wheel.

All in all the Festival was a grand success with a couple of hundred people from young children to senior citizens enjoying all the sights and sounds.  Festival planners Laura Murphy and Crystal Mascarenas can be proud of all their hard work, and are already making plans for an even bigger festival next year.