The Ann Arbor Fiber Arts Expo is calling all crafters and artists as the event takes place at the downtown library in Ann Arbor on Sunday, February 8, from 10am to 5pm.
The focus this year is on the origins of various fiber arts, with a fiber-filled day featuring presentations, local vendors, hands-on weaving and quilting activities, and much more.
“This is really a celebration of all things fiber and yarn related,” Christopher Becker of the Ann Arbor district library said. “We have a lobby full of 35 Michigan vendors selling everything from macro may to crochet and knitting supplies, beautiful weaving and finished art, and so much more.”
Artist, Sophia Adalaine, featured her “Taneko Says Hello” company as one of the local vendors you can see at the event. Adalaine’s creations feature handmade plush toys and art that’s inspired by the idea of playing with your food, words, and animals. Nurturing yourself with a bit more softness in a sometimes harsh, hard world is their main value.
“Taneko is a word I made up, from the Japanese words for octopus and cat, so those are tako and neko,” Adalaine said.
Joining Adalaine was artist Lisa Borum, who showcased her company, “Yarn Nerds.” The business was created with a mission in mind to spend more intentional time making things together. Offering hand-dyed yarns, designed patterns, and creative workshops, Borum wants people to come together over her products.
“I started with my three girls, and we decided to have a craft club,” Borum said. “Saturdays, we would sit down, and we learned how to knit, crochet, and sew, and one day I said, ' Hey, girls, let’s try to dye some yarn.”
To see more of Taneko Says Hello, visit tanekosayshello.com, and to see more of Yarn Nerds, visit yarnnerds.com.
To learn more about the event, visit aadl.org.
To watch the full segment, click on the video above.