Wool fair in Bulat-Pestivien !
Wool fair in Bulat-Pestivien! HOORAH!!!
I am usually a bit shy to post pictures of myself, but this time, I had to…
Last month, I attended the wool fair in Bulat-Pestivien. I was absolutly ecstatic and I cannot help but share with you that ear to ear smile! So happy because I had just acquired a few local homespun and hand dyed skeins of wool. As if that was not enough, those yarns are produced in very small quantities. So I can imagine some absolutly UNIQUE creation !!! Ha, what a joy!
In the early morning, I left home to go to Bulat-Pestivien, in the center of Brittany. For about 20 km, I followed the sinuous back roads from my home, flanked by wild and lush green fields, sprinkled with large boulders. Those were deposited during a geological process, a few hundred of millions years.
It is in the heart of picturesque small village that takes place an annual wool celebration. Numerous artisans meet here, in order to valorize this noble material and the ancient professions linked to it.
The wool fair starts with the sheep, of course !
Here in Bulat-Pestivien, wool is celebrated from A to Z.
Of course, it starts with shearing sheep. It was the first time that I witnessed a demonstration, complete with an explanatory commentary.
I pull my (woolly) hat to those amazing women. They are passionate and very knowledgeable.
It has been quite a journey to get to that level of expertise. Indeed, they explained that the apprenticeship was rather long. When starting, the shearing is not done in a few minutes! To get to work and manage only to sheer one or two sheep a day does not really bring home the bread… It takes a lot of practice, to their own cost, a lot of tenacity and patience to get to practice the trade.
They also explained the differences between different breeds. The fleeces may be short, long, curly… Also, some breeds are placid, others more belligerent. So the shearing is more or less easy, takes more or less time and effort. The sheep on the photo on the right was rather calm and seemed to enjoy it, very chilled out…
The shearing of the sheep was demonstrated with hand and electrical shears. Here, the fleece has been physically thrown in the air and spread on a table. Her gesture was as impressive as her muscles! The picture captured is misleading. The young shearer is not dumbfounded. No fault to her expertise.
Savoir faire demonstrations
During the event, I strolled among the many art displays, workshops and boutiques. The vibe was very amicable and the participants very willing to share their passion and knowledge with the public
A few traditionnel spinners, part of the association La Fibre Textile. It is their unique skeins I have acquired and am so eager to start working with. commencer à utiliser.
Here, I buy some more beautiful yarn spunned and coloured with a vegetal dye by Brin de Malice. Some some produced ethically and in Britanny, of course!
The Centre-Bretagne Guild. Orignially for Great Britain, these ladies are settled in Brittany, where they transmit their knowledge. They spin, weave and dye their yarn.
Here, Heloïse Sentito demonstrates wool weaving..
A self-taught and accomplished weaver, she has been coming to France for a good few years and has been living here for about a year, in the beautiful Monts d’Arrée.
You can learn more on her site These Isles.
And finally, B and B Kerlouet.
Settled in the same village than I, Plourac’h, Bruno is a felt specialist.
He and his companion produce homespun yarn, some neddle felted and wet felted works, as well as knitted and crochet articles.