The Teaching Museum for the Fiber Arts and Textiles, 12637 Mount Olivet Road, Felton, will host an open house from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 18, and Sunday, May 19. The museum, at Shady Pines Farm, comprises historic display rooms with antique equipment that is used to teach classes in a variety of fiber arts, such as knitting, spinning, weaving, felting and sewing.
The event will feature animals, including alpacas, sheep, miniature horses, a miniature donkey, and border collies. At the entrance is a newly created fairy house, made from an old tree that needed to come down. The base was preserved and carved by a local chainsaw carving artist.
The gift shop will offer birds hand-felted from wool and alpaca fibers, along with an array of felting supplies and kits for all skill levels, including beginners. The shop also offers knitted, woven, and crocheted items, as well as roving, yarn, and advice from staff. The shop is a business run by student volunteers from the farm's youth program, and proceeds help enable the museum to teach the history of the fiber arts and textiles through hands-on demonstrations and classes for people of all ages and abilities.
Instructors will demonstrate their art in hand spinning, knitting, crocheting, wet and dry felting, weaving and sewing. Visitors may sign up for classes, with the help of instructors who will recommend the right class for each skill level. Homeschoolers, children's groups, businesses, and community organizations can also find information about using the facility for their meetings and programs.
The historic farmstead dates back to 1750. The museum occupies the farm's 18th-century barn.
The first floor focuses on fiber, including wool and alpaca fiber; local history; and a display of antiques. The Fiber Room also serves as a classroom.
In the middle reception area, different types of looms are displayed. Visitors may follow the vintage sewing machines upstairs to the Textile Room, where they may try out antique sewing machines and accessories. Photos and other displays illustrate the development of fiber arts and textiles through the centuries.
The museum is an outreach project of Y.O.U.T.H. Program Inc. The farm is located near Winterstown and is just north of Shrewsbury.
In the case of inclement weather, readers may visit http://www.teachingmuseum.org or http://www.facebook.com/teachingmuseum or email teachingmuseum@gmail.com.
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