In collaboration with Quilted Strait and The Artful Ewe, Port Gamble is destined to become a fiber artists’ paradise with the third annual Fibers and Fabrics Festival set for April 26-27.
This extremely popular festival attracts visitors from all over the Pacific Northwest and will include prizes and stunning quilt and fiber arts displays at the Hood Canal Vista Pavilion and the historic St. Paul’s Church. Visitors to the festival can participate in classes and demonstrations while visiting numerous vendors at the famed Walker-Ames House.
Kris Cornell of Quilted Strait is excited to add an antique sewing machine collection to be on display in the basement of St. Paul’s Church. The collection is courtesy of Don Elliot of Gig Harbor.
The Artful Ewe opened in 2006 at the old fire station and moved to its current location, 32180 Rainier Ave., in 2007. Owner Heidi Dascher opened The Artful Ewe II in 2009, a few doors down from her main shop. She wanted to provide a dedicated space for people to learn the art of weaving and spinning.
Heidi always encourages people to sit in the “Cozy Corner” of her shop, which is set up with instructional books, comfy chairs, a spinning wheel, and a friendly atmosphere. She also gives free knitting and spinning lessons to anyone while she is open for business. The Artful Ewe II weaving and spinning studio offers six to eight classes a year, each lasting six to eight weeks. The walls of The Artful Ewe are covered with countless, vividly colored skeins of yarn which are all hand–dyed by Heidi.
Heidi hand-dyes easily more than 125,000 feet of yarn a year — that’s almost 25 miles of yarn!
The Artful Ewe is open Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. To learn more about this wonderful shop and classes, go to www.theartfulewe.com.
Quilted Strait opened its doors in April 2010 after moving from Port Angeles. With more than 3,100 square feet of merchandise, display and class space, owners Kris and Jerry Cornell have enjoyed much success as one of the largest quilt shops in the region.
Quilted Strait has been a Featured Shop in the national publication “Better Homes and Gardens Quilt Sampler.” Quilted Strait is not only home to more than 4,000 bolts of fabric, it has a large classroom space that hosts more than 100 classes each year.
Quilted Strait is located in the historic Stables building, 32280 Puget Way NE, and is open daily from 10 a.m. 5 p.m. To get information on classes or to sign up for their newsletter, visit www.quiltedstrait.com.
New production at Port Gamble Theater
The Port Gamble Theater Co. is set to run its exciting new production, “Pygmalion,” every weekend from March 28 to April 13. The show will run Friday and Saturdays at 7 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. To purchase tickets ahead of time, go to www.portgambletheater.com.
Did you or someone you know get engaged over the holiday season? Why not consider Port Gamble, one of the Puget Sound region’s 10 best wedding venues for that special day?
Port Gamble Weddings offers great off-season pricing November through April on our beautiful and unique venues for weddings and reception. Port Gamble Weddings also has some great summer dates available for 2014 and 2015.
Call one of our experienced venue coordinators at 360-297-8074 and find out why Port Gamble Weddings was voted Top 10 for wedding/reception venues in the Evening Magazine Best of Western Washington 2013 Contest. You also can visit www.portgambleweddings.com or tune in to Port Gamble Weddings on to learn more!
Busy spring with two ribbon cuttings
No. 7 Books and Psychic Medium Ankhasha Amenti started March with a ribbon-cutting ceremony to announce their new businesses in Port Gamble. As town manager, I attended both ceremonies to welcome the new businesses.
Ankhasha has moved into Suite G at the Community Center/Post Office and can assist those looking for spiritual guidance through personal consultations and psychic readings. First-time clients who book a reading with Ankhasha at the Port Gamble office will receive a special rate of $50 for the first 30-minute appointment and $100 for the first one-hour appointment. Appointments are available during these weekends in Port Gamble 2014: March 22-23, May 2-3, May 29 to June 1, July 4-6, Aug. 9-10, Sept. 26-28, and Oct.24-26. To register for a class, sign up for a reading, or check office hours in Port Gamble, call 425-281-3667.
No. 7 Books celebrated its grand opening in March. This new, used and rare bookstore is the second location opened by owners Danya Simkus and Rik Scott. Danya specializes in appraising rare and unique books, so you can imagine some of the rare selections residing in the store. Danya and Rik opened the doors to this unique bookstore in October in the historic House No. 7, which was built in 1863.
One room that sets this bookstore above the rest is the new Writer’s Room, a creative sanctuary for reading and for those who practice the writing craft. After participating in National Novel Writers Month in November, a Writer’s Room was the perfect fit to round out the unique experience that No. 7 Books provides to its customers.
Rik has a background in writing education and he aims to challenge his skills by providing writing classes in the serene atmosphere of the Writer’s Room.
Look for No. 7 Books to install a large interactive chess set on the exterior grounds of the book store this summer. Danya and Rik are also looking to provide a website soon and may be joining the online book market as well.
For more information on store hours, classes and in-store events, call No. 7 Books at 360-881-0489.
Port Gamble’s 2014 event calendar
Port Gamble is set for an exciting year of events — from the NW Adventure Sports Festival, hosted by Olympic Outdoor Center, and Old Mill Days Americana, to monthly trail activities. You can stay up-to-date with activities and happenings by subscribing to the monthly e-newsletter.
For information or to sign up for the newsletter, contact the events office at 360-297-8074, or email portgamble@orminc.com. You also can find details at www.portgamble.com.
— Shana Smith is general manager of Port Gamble. Contact her at ssmith@orminc.com.
