Fibrations Festival 2015

Fibrations Festival is a one day festival held in Victoria BC each Summer; the past few years it was housed on the grounds of St. Ann's Academy, this year it was at Robert J Porter Park.

This was my first year attending this event as well as volunteering both with the Fibrations crew and as a member of the Victoria Embroiderers Guild (despite not paying my dues yet) and I had some very mixed impressions of the day.

Volunteering as part of the Festival was an incredible experience and I was there for set-up at 8am and tear down at 4:30, on the whole it was great experience; watching the vendors arrive with their items to sell, setting up tents and tables, and watching as the donations for the Raffle table were being submitted and arranged.

I would do it again.



I also loved the demonstrations that were available for patrons to attend.  Although I volunteered for two shifts with Fibrations and on with The Victoria Embroiderers Guild I was able to attend at least one demonstration.  

The first demo of the day was the one I was most interested in: Basic Kumihumo.

What a skill to learn!  And so simple!  It has instant gratification for children; and in a world where gratification is instant this is a craft that will fill that need for a quick and easy completion of a craft AND help work on patience, fine motor skills as well as allow for a chance for children to work their creative minds a little.

                                                                        Now attending this event with the Victoria Embroiderers Guild is another story all together.

An experience that leaves me questioning why I would want to pay my registration fee for this year.  As an interested party in joining the Guild one can imagine my dismay when I was excited enough to volunteer to help out at the Guild table at the event only to be reminded that I was not yet a member.

I understand how that would look (in hind-sight),  however it would really impress upon the Guild to request that interested members are made fully aware of their position and told not to volunteer for events until after their registration fees are paid.

I am also well aware that the protocol for registering is that interested parties are able to attend 2 meetings before paying their yearly dues, and it was come to an agreement that my volunteering would be considered my second meeting.  However, it still leaves a bitter taste in my mouth and I will be taking the next few weeks to decide on whether I want to actually pay my dues (I really, really want to be a part of the Lace Special Interest Group and that really is the only reason for joining) However I think that it would be interesting to join and "shake things up a little".  Clearly it is time to add fresh eyes and a new perspective to the group thus improving membership: I hope.

As for volunteering with Fibrations: I am so on it for next year!!!