That's a wrap!

 Thanks to the organizing committee (Bev, Polly, Kim, Lesley, Jean, and Dawn), participants, volunteers, businesses, and donors for making this year's festival everything it could be. We would not be able to do this without you. The support from the Town of Amherst (financial and logistical), the Municipality of Cumberland County, and the Christie-Smith Community Fund is immeasurable. We genuinely appreciate Deanne Fitzpatrick's support of the festival and the committee itself. Thanks to the Cumberland County Museum & Archives for joining in this year, and to Sheila Graham for organizing the Fall for Us Home Tours to support the Cumberland Hospice Fund.

If you are interested in joining the organizing committee, please reach out. We are always looking for more helpers and fresh ideas.

Fall for Us Home Tours - Updated with photos!

Once again, this was a wonderful event - and I was so enjoying myself I completely forgot to take pictures! (ETA: Photos added below) Thanks to the home owners for welcoming us in to your beautiful spaces, to the volunteers for taking the time to learn about both the homes and the fibre arts pieces they were featuring, to Sheila Graham for all her work pulling this together, and to everyone who purchased a ticket in support of the Cumberland Hospice Fund.

Oh - and to Mother Nature for changing her mind about that torrential rain we were expecting. It was cool but lovely.

We have photos!!! Thanks, Sheila! (if I have any misattributed or you would like to send me any you took, please let me know!)

10 Rupert

21 Rupert

36 Regent

Northport Loopers Rug Show Winners

 The Northport Loopers also held their annual rug show this Friday and Saturday. The variety of hooking styles and chosen image are impressive. 

My favourite display was the Brown Bag Challenge. Participants are given a bag containing supplies that they have to use in a certain way. This year's challenge bags contained a mug and supplies to create a mug rug. They were fabulous!

This year's vendors were: Donna Legere - The Cranky Sock Lady (ask for a demo if you see her- that sock machine is amazing!), Vicky Comeau Designs (all the things!), and Loopy Wool from Salisbury, NB (who may have added to my crafting stash by "teaching" me the art of needle felting).

If you're interested in learning more about the group, please contact Polly Verstraten at pollyverstraten@yahoo.ca. 

Winners of the People's Choice vote:

1st Place: "Peace in the Night" by Mary Ellen Pottoello

2nd Place: "Grams Painting" by Barb Murray

3rd Place: "Cat Nap on a Dog Day Afternoon" by Irene Rogers

And the winner of the rug raffle was Wayne Lines. I absolutely love this piece - the colours and the geometric lines. I am feeling inspired!

 

Cumberland Quilters Guild Show and Raffle Winners

 The Cumberland Quilters Guild show was amazing once again! I am always in awe of the imagination, craftsmanship, and sheer quantity of beautiful quilted pieces displayed on the perfect backdrop of the First Baptist Church. Even works that start from the same pattern, can be interpreted in totally different ways. I am always tempted to come come and dig into my fabric stash and get something new started.

We were also happy to host Sew Karen-ly Created and Spruce It Up Quilt Shop as vendors at this year's show. They both brought a great variety of items with them to get you going on your own project.

If you would like more information about the guild, contact Sharon Snook at ssnook1963@yahoo.ca.

My favourite piece this year! I love a good scrappy quilt, and the green background on this appealed to my love of older quilts. Maybe this year, I'll actually get around to making something!

Winner of the double sized quilt: Pansy Pye

Winner of the twin-sized quilt: Jon Cecchetto

It's Here!!

Welcome to the 17th Nova Scotia Fibre Arts Festival! While we are small this year, we are still mighty. Please check our Facebook and Instagram pages for daily updates, each morning at 9:00 am. And if you take photos, be sure to tag us so that I can share them! 

https://www.facebook.com/FibreArtsFestival

https://www.instagram.com/nsfibreartsfestival/

All the events together in one place!

 Here are all the events together! 

Fall For Us! House Tour

You've been patiently waiting, and here it is! Another wonderful opportunity to stroll through some beautiful Amherst homes, featuring pieces crafted by local artisans.

The participating homes this year are: 10 and 21 Rupert St, and 36 Regent St. All are within walking distance of each other!

Tickets are limited to 100 and are $15 each, available at: Copper Tree Boutique, Deanne Fitzpatrick Studio, the Hospice Shop, and Buds to Blossoms.

The countdown is on!

The 17th annual Nova Scotia Fibre Arts Festival is just around the corner and things are heating up! While we are still smaller than previous years, more events are being added as we go. Please be sure to check the schedule tab for all the details!

Just added is the opening event at the Train Station on Wednesday evening. Join us for camaraderie, crafts, and yummy nibbles provided by Duncan's. Bring your needlework, or just visit with like minded individuals - and admire the beautifully renovated building! 

Also on Wednesday, at the Amherst Theatre, an afternoon screening of the short film, Hooked, by Catherine Bussiere, featuring Deanne Fitzpatrick. Tickets are $10 at the door, and there will be a Q&A afterwards.

2 months to go!

2026 Update

Good afternoon fibre enthusiasts! We've had a few people reaching out lately, and I wanted to give an update on this year's festival. 

As mentioned previously, we have decided to narrow our mandate this year, and focus on showcasing the amazing works the crafters in this region create, starting with our local guild members. The Quilt Show and Sale and the Rug Show - along with select vendors - will be back again this year on Friday and Saturday. Victoria Quilts is once again hosting their Friday luncheon.

The Sew-In is happening again on Wednesday, however, I believe it's already filled up! This event has a very loyal following.

The house tour, supporting the Cumberland Care Hospice Palliative Care Society, will be back as well - moving to Saturday afternoon and evening. More details - including the all important addresses! - to be shared soon.

New this fall are a couple events at the Cumberland County Museum & Archives. Chair pads of Cumberland County and a plein air rug hooking demonstration are both on the schedule.

We are hoping to add a few more events, and will post here and on social media when we do. Be sure to check the 2026 Schedule page as well for details.

Call for Proposals!

Our 2026 call for proposals is now open. Have an idea for a class or demonstration? How about an event? Please fill in the Google form linked here and tell us all about it! 

Change is good!

Change is good...even - especially - if it feels challenging. While we cannot go back to the heydays of the Nova Scotia Fibre Arts Festival, we do want to play to our strengths. This year, we will focus on those things we do well - rug hooking, quilting, and other fibre-y things - and leave the wool-related things (yarn, dyeing, spinning) to those folks that excel in that. (See our Atlantic Fibre Festivals page for more information.) The rug show and quilt show - along with their vendors - will continue, and we are open now for proposals for other events. We hope you will continue to come along for the ride!

Please let us know what we are doing right, and what you would like to sse change. Comment below, or send us an email: fibreartsfestival@gmail.com.

Happy 2026!

Welcome everyone! 2026 is well underway, and the planning committee is hard at work. The 17th Annual Nova Scotia Fibre Arts Festival will take place Tuesday, October 13 to Saturday, October 17, 2026, in Amherst, Nova Scotia. Be sure to mark your calendar and join us!

If you have any suggestions for events or workshops, please let us know. More information coming soon.