This weekend is the Driftless Area Fibre Arts Faire at Shake Rag Alley.

This fun-for-the-whole-family event is sponsored by Arlene Byrne’s local fibre art gallery de la Pear and brings together artisans from throughout the Midwest including:

– Sandy’s Palette

– Prairie Oak Artisans

– Kimmett Croft Fiber

– Carpool

– Spry Whimsy

– Lazy O Alpacas

– Bleating Heart Haven

– What A View Farm and Fiber

– Galpaca

– Alpacas of Prairie Station

There will be sheep-themed art for sale by several local artists, including Audrey Christie, Bruce Howdle, Tom Kelly, Steve Swagerle and Connie Morrison.

You’ll have the chance to watch fibre artists weaving, knitting, felting and creating all kinds of fibre-related items from sweaters to teddy bears.

Live alpacas and sheep will be on hand and on Alley Stage there will be a “Sheep to Shawl” demonstration in which a wooly sheep is sheared, the wool is cleaned, spun, and knitted and voila!  It’s a shawl!

Local food, cheese and wine will be available for purchase. Admission is free. The faire runs Saturday and Sunday, June 1 and 2 from 10am-5pm at Shake Rag Alley.

If you’re wondering why “fibre” and “faire” are spelled in the fancy British way, let us remind you that last fall Mineral Point was named by the BBC as one of the 10 Most British Towns in America.  So we’re just doing what we can to stay on the list.

– Contributed by the Hays