Arts & Crafts Treasures from the Holiday Folk Fair in Milwaukee (and then some ...)

Me, Vicki and Oliver with an Uly - Little Beehive from the Czech Pastry Stand.

Most years my family tries to attend the annual Holiday Folk Fair in Milwaukee.  It's always the weekend before Thanksgiving.  When I was in junior high / high school, the language clubs always took several buses down to the Folk Fair.  That's where I fell in love with it!   The food, the costumes, colors, dancing, music.  For me, it is America's rich tapestry of Immigrants and cultures coming together -- and we are ALL Immigrants here unless you're a Native American.

Latvian Mittens (Wool)

This year, I was on a mission to get a pair of Latvian or Nordic knitted wool mittens.  The kind with the pointy (as opposed to rounded) ends.  Why?
     1) For practical reasons to keep my hands warm this winter, and
     2) to study them -- the patterns, shape, color work.   I want to figure out how to make these on a circular loom. [Stay tuned!]  I picked out this blue-white-green pair.  Aren't they pretty?    A lady in the booth says she knows the woman in the Old Country whom makes these, along with weavings on sale in their booth.  They are a little thin to be practical for the coldest days here, but I can add an additional lining.    

I've been following Latvian / Nordic mitten patterns on Pinterest and Ravelry.  I think I can use my circular looms to make these -- once I figure out how to do the color work elegants.

They also have a section where people demonstrate traditional crafts such as spinning or knitting.    Some years, they've even had a loom with someone weaving.  My husband particularly likes the Wisconsin Wood Turner's Booth, where they do demonstrations, and sell wooden items.

 Seam Ripper with Maple Burl Handle

At the Wisconsin Wood Turner's Booth, I picked up a beautiful seam ripper with a maple burl handle.  The sharp tip can be hidden away for safe-keeping, when not in use.  After a lifetime of sewing (and un-sewing when necessary), I thought it was about time I gifted myself a pretty seam ripper.  Now I can retire the cheap extruded plastic handled one I've been using all these years.

PHOTO - yarn bowl
The gentleman was also selling a beautiful cherry yarn bowl.  I convinced CL to purchase this for me for Christmas -- since I"m making him a pair of socks.  What can I say -- I'm partial to cherry wood.

PHOTO
CL purchased a couple of ceramic items from the Polish stand.  We were also looking at butter dishes (Turns out our old elegant silver butter dish is full of lead, so it has been retired.), but settled on a couple of smaller dishes to replace a few that broke at home.

Woolen Sweater from Poland

Ok -- So not purchased at the Folk Fair by me, but perhaps someone did at some time?  I picked this up in a trek through the local St Vincent de Paul thrift store.  What else would I do on a vacation day? You never know what one-of-a kind treasure you'll find there!  And I did drop some things off. 

100% Wool, and big enough to fit me.  Not felted and shrunk up.  I saw the tag and interpreted Pollak as Poland.  Now I see it was made in Hong Kong.  Sigh!  Not Poland after all.  Still -- It fits in with the northern European style, and is something I can plan on wearing to the Folk Fair next year.  ;-)    100% wool for only $12.  It's still a deal in my mind!

100% Alpaca Wool Sweater, cut out from Lands End at StV for $8!

And it's in my colors with that olive green. 

The Bolivian stand at the Folk Fair was selling alpaca sweaters for $240.

We used to have a Lands End Outlet Mall here in town, so my guess is that it had been returned and someone purchased it at a bargain, but surrendered it for whatever reason.

So again -- Not purchased at the Folk Fair proper, but very much in the style.  Very much wool!

When I went to check out at St Vinny's, the girl asked me if I was going to an Ugly Sweater Party.   I said, "No -- These are beautiful sweaters and in classic styles.  Not ugly at all!"  I think she realized she'd put her foot in her mouth.  But I understood where she was coming from.  They'd put together a couple racks of winter sweaters, some of them suitable for an ugly sweater party.  But not these treasures!

Now for some swirls of color and costumes from the dancers.  I know these are not great pictures.  My phone is old, so you'll have to be satisfied with the abstract versions, that pristine perfect action shots. 

 The Polish Dancers

The Scottish Dancers (along with the Pipers)

 

Mexico  -  Wow!  What a head dress!