The change of seasons is evocative. Whether it’s the smell of pumpkin pies baking or the sharp clear Alberta blue sky in contrast with crisp yellow aspen leaves something signals that fall has arrived. For me, it’s the moment that I slip on my favourite sweater. It’s super soft, cozy, and fits like it was made for me; which it was or at least that’s what I always tell myself. I bought it three years ago from the Sheep Creek Weavers Annual Sale. It was hard to decide if I loved the knitted sweater more or the woven shawl. So, I got the sweater and my sister bought the shawl. The tradition of hand- crafted items made by creative women who live in and around our beloved foothills continues Saturday and Sunday October 17 & 18, 2025 in the Hall at the Millarville Racetrack.

The artistry of the guild members includes items from all the conventional fibre art techniques: weaving, knitting, felting, quilting, embroidery, rug hooking and branches out into woven baskets, roving, fleece, dyed locks, and hand-spun yarn from local sheep. I always buy a ticket for the raffle baskets and bid on the items in the silent auction. The best part of the sale is the opportunity to talk to the guild members and hear the story that inspired the creation of the beautiful object that they brought to the sale. If you see me there please say hi. I’ll be the one with an arm load of socks, a hat or two, a new scarf, a tea towel, new Christmas ornament, and a special something just for myself chatting in line and admiring what everyone is purchasing.

From the pen of an Anonymous Admirer of Handcrafted Fibre Arts