Threads 116 - Taking basketry to the local fairs

In many parts of rural Canada agricultural fairs are part of the summer scene. It is a chance for local country people to get together to display their vegetables, their flowers, their livestock and for many of their crafts.

Lanark County is no different, our fairs usually start in August and continue until Thanksgiving. My village, McDonald’s Corners is celebrating their 172nd anniversary of their fair this year. 

Last Saturday, I took a selection of baskets from the Basketry Museum to the Maberly Fair to share a booth with Melissa Cornacchia with her Honeybee Homestead. We had many interested visitors, with whom we shared our interest in basketry and homecraft. Many had never seen homemade baskets.

Attending a fair is also an interesting opportunity to demonstrate your craft. I have Steffi, a Workaway visitor from Germany staying with me for a month, and she demonstrated how to weave a frame basket. 

A fair is also a great opportunity to show people the different natural materials that can be used for basketry, for example cattails, cedar bark, and grapevine. Many fairs also provide a good opportunity for selling baskets or for advertising basket classes.

If you would like to come and see me and my booth at one of the local fairs, I will be at the Middleville Fair (Sep. 13th) and McDonalds Corners (Sep 27th).

If you are looking for fall activities, there are upcoming workshops at the basketry museum that you can learn more about here.