Putting Maine's Fiber Arts On the Map ; Maine Farms, Studios, Stores and Galleries Involved with Fiber Will Showcase Their Artistry Next Month, On a Grand Scale.

Summary

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Honey. Butterscotch. Vanilla. Standing along the sheep barn fence at Shearbrooke Farm, Karen Smith greets her fleecy boarders by name. Inside the farm's yarn shop, Smith shows off bags of wool roving, ready to spin. Looms and spinning wheels fill the weaving studio, and an assortment of scarves, sweaters and rugs tie together a story about rural tradition and a way of life: A barn filled with animals, an artist's skill and a handmade garment.

It's a personal connection that Smith and 143 other Maine farms, studios, stores and galleries involved with the artistry of fiber hope to share next month, on a grand scale. That's when they'll welcome hundreds of visitors, Aug. 4-6, for the first Maine Fiberarts Open Studio & Farm weekend. Participants are planning 100 demonstrations that include natural dye gardens, a wind-powered spinnery and a hand papermaking mill.

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Extract

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Putting Maine's Fiber Arts On the Map ; Maine Farms, Studios, Stores and Galleries Involved with Fiber Will Showcase Their Artistry Next Month, On a Grand Scale.

They'd also like to do some business.

Open studio weekends are an expanding strategy for promoting art appreciation. They also can be a powerful lure for attracting art- buying tourists.

Artists in Vermont have conducted an open studio weekend on Memorial Day for 14 years. Last year it generated $355,000 in direct sales at 264 tour s...

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