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Fabric of Life

helping traditional skills flourish in our modern world

  • Fabric of Life
    • About Us
    • Directions
    • Staff and Directors
    • Gratitude
    • Employment Opportunities
  • Programs
    • 2025 Programs
      • June 14, 2025: Working Oxen Demonstration
      • June 28, 2025: Twilled Muffin Basket with Wendy Jensen
      • July 5, 2025: Romanian Play-Along with Ralph Iverson and the Romaniacs
      • July 26, 2025: Larry & Joe Concert & Workshop
      • August 30, 2025: Hand Stitching to Repair and Embellish
      • September 6, 2025: Natural Dyeing Workshop
      • October 4, 2025: Barnfest
      • October 20-24, 2025: Advanced Sprang Retreat with Carol James
    • Väv Immersion Weaving Intensive
    • Virtual Programs
      • They Keep Bees: Virtual Bee School
      • Recordings: Understanding Your Garden Series
      • Recording: Building and Maintaining a Raised Bed Garden
    • Past Programs
      • June 7, 2025: Planting the Dye Garden
      • May 17th, 2025: Fireside Orchestra Contra Dance
      • Fireside Orchestra Session: March 23rd
      • March 8, 2025: Pruning for Resilience with Walker Korby
      • February 26, 2025: Introduction to Sprang with Carol James
      • February 22, 2025: Biodynamic Land Healing with Elisha Poulin
      • February 16, 2025: Field Walk with David Fisher
      • November 2, 2024: Digital Printmaking Reception & Workshop
      • October 26, 2024: Broom Making Workshop (AM)
      • October 26, 2024: Broom Making Workshop (PM)
      • October 18, 2024: Väv Immersion Exhibition
      • October 13, 2024: Natural Dyeing Workshop
      • October 5, 2024: Barnfest 2024
      • August 18, 2024: Singing Ukulele Retreat
      • July 7, 2024: Tool Sharpening Workshop
      • June 29, 2024: Working Oxen Demonstration
      • June 16, 2024: Cape Breton Fiddle Concert
      • June 16, 2024: Cape Breton Fiddle Workshop
      • June 14, 2024: Planning a Dye Garden
      • April 28, 2024: Fireside Orchestra Contra Dance
      • March 14, 2024: Book Reading with Peggy Hart: Wool
      • February 25 & March 24, 2024: Fireside Orchestra
      • More Past Programs
    • Program Cancellation Policy
  • Videos
  • Shop
  • Blog
  • News
  • Donate
  • Fabric of Life
    • About Us
    • Directions
    • Staff and Directors
    • Gratitude
    • Employment Opportunities
  • Programs
    • 2025 Programs
      • June 14, 2025: Working Oxen Demonstration
      • June 28, 2025: Twilled Muffin Basket with Wendy Jensen
      • July 5, 2025: Romanian Play-Along with Ralph Iverson and the Romaniacs
      • July 26, 2025: Larry & Joe Concert & Workshop
      • August 30, 2025: Hand Stitching to Repair and Embellish
      • September 6, 2025: Natural Dyeing Workshop
      • October 4, 2025: Barnfest
      • October 20-24, 2025: Advanced Sprang Retreat with Carol James
    • Väv Immersion Weaving Intensive
    • Virtual Programs
      • They Keep Bees: Virtual Bee School
      • Recordings: Understanding Your Garden Series
      • Recording: Building and Maintaining a Raised Bed Garden
    • Past Programs
      • June 7, 2025: Planting the Dye Garden
      • May 17th, 2025: Fireside Orchestra Contra Dance
      • Fireside Orchestra Session: March 23rd
      • March 8, 2025: Pruning for Resilience with Walker Korby
      • February 26, 2025: Introduction to Sprang with Carol James
      • February 22, 2025: Biodynamic Land Healing with Elisha Poulin
      • February 16, 2025: Field Walk with David Fisher
      • November 2, 2024: Digital Printmaking Reception & Workshop
      • October 26, 2024: Broom Making Workshop (AM)
      • October 26, 2024: Broom Making Workshop (PM)
      • October 18, 2024: Väv Immersion Exhibition
      • October 13, 2024: Natural Dyeing Workshop
      • October 5, 2024: Barnfest 2024
      • August 18, 2024: Singing Ukulele Retreat
      • July 7, 2024: Tool Sharpening Workshop
      • June 29, 2024: Working Oxen Demonstration
      • June 16, 2024: Cape Breton Fiddle Concert
      • June 16, 2024: Cape Breton Fiddle Workshop
      • June 14, 2024: Planning a Dye Garden
      • April 28, 2024: Fireside Orchestra Contra Dance
      • March 14, 2024: Book Reading with Peggy Hart: Wool
      • February 25 & March 24, 2024: Fireside Orchestra
      • More Past Programs
    • Program Cancellation Policy
  • Videos
  • Shop
  • Blog
  • News
  • Donate

Videos

Fabric of Life

Fabric of Life
YouTube Video UCAz0AtY9LAnzINqswkM5oKw_KpMPJShilLg BARNFEST: October 5, 2024
Join Fabric of Life on Bassett Road in Shelburne for our biggest community event of the year! Barnfest is a FREE full day event that includes local crafters and artisans, musicians, kid’s activities, dancing, food, and the weaving together of an amazingly vibrant community.
-
We welcome all to join us beginning at 1PM for a variety of live demonstrations, interactive workshops, raffles, a buffet dinner, and after-dinner musical entertainment into the wee hours of the morning.
-
Barnfest is part of an ongoing series of events that ensure a strong future for Fabric of Life as we educate the young, and the young at heart, in traditional crafts, music, dance, agriculture and forestry.
-
More information on our website:
www.fabric-of-life.org/barnfest-2024

****
Fabric of Life is a 501(c)3 not for profit educational organization dedicated to the preservation and passing on of knowledge and skills that enrich our daily lives. We strive to see traditional skills flourish in our modern world and make these educational opportunities available to future generations. Working together creating practical things of beauty not only improves quality of life, but also strengthens communities.

Learn more about Fabric of Life at: https://fabric-of-life.org/
BARNFEST: October 5, 2024
Join Fabric of Life on Bassett Road in Shelburne for our biggest community event of the year! Barnfest is a FREE full day event that includes local crafters and artisans, musicians, kid’s activities, dancing, food, and the weaving together of an amazingly vibrant community.
-
We welcome all to join us beginning at 1PM for a variety of live demonstrations, interactive workshops, raffles, a buffet dinner, and after-dinner musical entertainment into the wee hours of the morning.
-
Barnfest is part of an ongoing series of events that ensure a strong future for Fabric of Life as we educate the young, and the young at heart, in traditional crafts, music, dance, agriculture and forestry.
-
More information on our website:
www.fabric-of-life.org/barnfest-2024

****
Fabric of Life is a 501(c)3 not for profit educational organization dedicated to the preservation and passing on of knowledge and skills that enrich our daily lives. We strive to see traditional skills flourish in our modern world and make these educational opportunities available to future generations. Working together creating practical things of beauty not only improves quality of life, but also strengthens communities.

Learn more about Fabric of Life at: https://fabric-of-life.org/
BARNFEST: October 5, 2024
Join Fabric of Life on Bassett Road in Shelburne for our biggest community event of the year! Barnfest is a FREE full day event that includes local crafters and artisans, musicians, kid’s activities, dancing, food, and the weaving together of an amazingly vibrant community.
-
We welcome all to join us beginning at 1PM for a variety of live demonstrations, interactive workshops, raffles, a buffet dinner, and after-dinner musical entertainment into the wee hours of the morning.
-
Barnfest is part of an ongoing series of events that ensure a strong future for Fabric of Life as we educate the young, and the young at heart, in traditional crafts, music, dance, agriculture and forestry.
-
More information on our website:
www.fabric-of-life.org/barnfest-2024

****
Fabric of Life is a 501(c)3 not for profit educational organization dedicated to the preservation and passing on of knowledge and skills that enrich our daily lives. We strive to see traditional skills flourish in our modern world and make these educational opportunities available to future generations. Working together creating practical things of beauty not only improves quality of life, but also strengthens communities.

Learn more about Fabric of Life at: https://fabric-of-life.org/
BARNFEST: October 5, 2024
Join Fabric of Life on Bassett Road in Shelburne for our biggest community event of the year! Barnfest is a FREE full day event that includes local crafters and artisans, musicians, kid’s activities, dancing, food, and the weaving together of an amazingly vibrant community.
-
We welcome all to join us beginning at 1PM for a variety of live demonstrations, interactive workshops, raffles, a buffet dinner, and after-dinner musical entertainment into the wee hours of the morning.
-
Barnfest is part of an ongoing series of events that ensure a strong future for Fabric of Life as we educate the young, and the young at heart, in traditional crafts, music, dance, agriculture and forestry.
-
More information on our website:
www.fabric-of-life.org/barnfest-2024

****
Fabric of Life is a 501(c)3 not for profit educational organization dedicated to the preservation and passing on of knowledge and skills that enrich our daily lives. We strive to see traditional skills flourish in our modern world and make these educational opportunities available to future generations. Working together creating practical things of beauty not only improves quality of life, but also strengthens communities.

Learn more about Fabric of Life at: https://fabric-of-life.org/
On Saturday, June 16, 2024, Fabric of Life welcomed award winning Cape Bretton fiddlers Troy MacGillivray and Mari Black to Buckland, Massachusetts.

Local residents filled the Buckland Public Hall to see these accomplished musicians. Some had ties to Cape Breton, others were also musicians, and all came for the pure enjoyment of the evening’s music. Once Troy, Mari, and accompanying guitarist, Noah Fishman took to the stage, the room went quiet, with folks nodding in time, tapping their feet, and clapping along to the music. During a waltz, the musicians encouraged dancers to get up from their seats and, as Mari put it: “Make dance music no longer theoretical.” Couples twirled throughout the hall, and spilled over into the entryway to find more space for their fancy footwork. And they weren’t the only dancers – both Mari and Troy took turns bringing the music to life as they played while also step dancing on stage.

The staff at Fabric of Life is honored to have been involved with bringing these talented and captivating musicians to our rural Western Massachusetts community and hope the memories and joy folks took home with them will last a lifetime. We hope to see many of the concert attendees at our future events and are humbled by the feedback from our community about the joy, music and connection we have been able to foster.

***
Fabric of Life is a 501(c)3 not for profit educational organization dedicated to the preservation and passing on of knowledge and skills that enrich our daily lives. We strive to see traditional skills flourish in our modern world and make these educational opportunities available to future generations. Working together creating practical things of beauty not only improves quality of life, but also strengthens communities.

Learn more about Fabric of Life at: https://fabric-of-life.org/
On Saturday, June 16, 2024, Fabric of Life welcomed award winning Cape Bretton fiddlers Troy MacGillivray and Mari Black to Buckland, Massachusetts.

Local residents filled the Buckland Public Hall to see these accomplished musicians. Some had ties to Cape Breton, others were also musicians, and all came for the pure enjoyment of the evening’s music. Once Troy, Mari, and accompanying guitarist, Noah Fishman took to the stage, the room went quiet, with folks nodding in time, tapping their feet, and clapping along to the music. During a waltz, the musicians encouraged dancers to get up from their seats and, as Mari put it: “Make dance music no longer theoretical.” Couples twirled throughout the hall, and spilled over into the entryway to find more space for their fancy footwork. And they weren’t the only dancers – both Mari and Troy took turns bringing the music to life as they played while also step dancing on stage.

The staff at Fabric of Life is honored to have been involved with bringing these talented and captivating musicians to our rural Western Massachusetts community and hope the memories and joy folks took home with them will last a lifetime. We hope to see many of the concert attendees at our future events and are humbled by the feedback from our community about the joy, music and connection we have been able to foster.

***
Fabric of Life is a 501(c)3 not for profit educational organization dedicated to the preservation and passing on of knowledge and skills that enrich our daily lives. We strive to see traditional skills flourish in our modern world and make these educational opportunities available to future generations. Working together creating practical things of beauty not only improves quality of life, but also strengthens communities.

Learn more about Fabric of Life at: https://fabric-of-life.org/
Weaving a Voyager Bracelet with the “Explorer” Frame Loom for creating exquisite textiles from around the world one thread at a time

We invite you to embark on a journey to learn valuable skills for weaving on a frame loom and create the charming warp-patterned Voyager Bracelet. Once mastered, this loom can help you explore weaving traditions from around the world while creating textiles to be treasured for a lifetime and beyond.

The Explorer Loom is an accessible entry point for young people and new weavers to experiment with weaving while creating beautiful and useful textiles. This loom is the result of a skill share hosted by Fabric of Life, funded by the Ddora Foundation, and with materials supplied by Vävstuga Weaving School.

For more information about the Explorer Loom:

Fabric of Life
www.fabric-of-life.org

Melvenea Hodge's Blog:
TraditionsinCloth.wordpress.com

Vävstuga Weaving School
www.vavstugaweaving.com

***
Fabric of Life is a 501(c)3 not for profit educational organization dedicated to the preservation and passing on of knowledge and skills that enrich our daily lives. We strive to see traditional skills flourish in our modern world and make these educational opportunities available to future generations. Working together creating practical things of beauty not only improves quality of life, but also strengthens communities.

Learn more about Fabric of Life at: https://fabric-of-life.org/
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Recent Posts

  • Working Oxen Demonstration
  • Cape Breton Fiddlers come to Buckland Public Hall
  • Book Reading with Peggy Hart
  • Singing Ukulele Retreat
  • Fabric of Life Hosts Retreat for Black Weavers

Recent Comments

  • Pat Bullen on Cooking on the Wood Stove with Becky Ashenden
  • Bethany Garner on Cooking on the Wood Stove with Becky Ashenden
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  • Mary Berry on Cooking on the Wood Stove with Becky Ashenden
  • Cynthia Landers on Cooking on the Wood Stove with Becky Ashenden

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Fabric of Life

80 Bassett Road
Shelburne, MA 01370
(413) 203-9448
[email protected]

Gratitude

Fabric of Life would not exist without the tremendous support of our donors, volunteers, and the Ddora Foundation.

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