BY BETTY FREEMAN
Whidbey Life Magazine contributor
Oct. 30, 2013
Fiber artists and enthusiasts are in for a treat this weekend with the Island-wide moveable feast of “FiberQuest with a Twist.”
FiberQuest with a Twist features 11 stops ranging from Oak Harbor to Clinton. New participants this year include Frosen Acres Alpacas in Oak Harbor, Lavender Wind Farm in Coupeville, and Whidbey Island Winery, Whidbey Island Soap and Sweet Mona’s Chocolate Boutique in Langley.
“What could be a better combination than wine, chocolate and fiber?” said Mary Donaty of Paradise Found Fiber Farm in Clinton.
Donaty said organizers wanted to add the soap, chocolate, wine and lavender options to the tour because many people come in pairs, and one half of the pair may prefer wine and chocolate to the endless quest for just the right skein of yarn.
A visit to WhidbeyFiberQuest.com will provide directions to all 11 locations on the tour. Obtain a FiberQuest ticket at your first stop, have it initialed, and turn the ticket in at the last farm or shop you visit. Completed tickets will be entered in a Nov. 8 prize drawing for gift certificates good at participating farm stores and fiber shops.
“Each place on the tour will have their own guessing game or grab bag activity too,” Donaty said.
Fiber artists and farmers participating in FiberQuest are happy to give you a tour of their farms, explain the history and the husbandry of the animals they care for, and show you their artistry in the handmade goods they sell.
Five alpaca farms — Fern Ridge Alpacas and Paradise Found Fiber Farm in Clinton, Pronkin’ Pastures Alpaca Ranch in Greenbank, and Frosen Acres Alpacas and Island Bliss Alpacas in Oak Harbor — will participate this year. Each has its own farm store offering rovings, hand-spun yarns, dyed spinning fibers and clothing.
Two yarn shops are also on the FiberQuest tour — Knitty Purls in Langley and Whidbey Isle Yarns, Gifts & Teas in Oak Harbor.
FiberQuest is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 3.
FiberQuest with a Twist gives fiber enthusiasts and their friends all kinds of options, Donaty said.
“Not only is it a chance to share our art with the public and remind them that we’re here, but it’s a great way to kick off holiday shopping.”
Visit WhidbeyFiberQuest.com for more info.
Whidbey Isle Yarns, Gifts and Teas in Oak Harbor will also offer free angora bunny hugs (bring your camera!), drop spinning demonstrations AND 20% off of all of our ecofriendly, hand dyed rovings and our handspun yarns… All from Whidbey fibers.