1 00:00:07,880 --> 00:00:11,920 Speaker 1: From WBZ News Radio in Boston. This is New England Weekend. 2 00:00:12,200 --> 00:00:14,720 Speaker 1: Each week right here, we come together and talk about 3 00:00:14,720 --> 00:00:17,160 Speaker 1: all the topics important to you and the place where 4 00:00:17,200 --> 00:00:19,599 Speaker 1: you live. Thanks for tuning in again this week. I'm 5 00:00:19,680 --> 00:00:22,720 Speaker 1: Nicole Davis. One of the benefits about such a bitterly 6 00:00:22,800 --> 00:00:24,840 Speaker 1: cold winter is that you've got plenty of time to 7 00:00:24,880 --> 00:00:27,560 Speaker 1: sit inside and get under a cozy blanket, grab a 8 00:00:27,640 --> 00:00:30,680 Speaker 1: warm cup of tea, and work on fiber arts projects. 9 00:00:31,000 --> 00:00:35,320 Speaker 1: Fiber arts are anything from knitting to quilting, crocheting, weaving. 10 00:00:35,360 --> 00:00:38,000 Speaker 1: There's all kinds, and honestly, they're a great way to 11 00:00:38,040 --> 00:00:40,720 Speaker 1: calm your mind and keep your hands busy. For me, 12 00:00:40,920 --> 00:00:42,920 Speaker 1: they are also a really good way to test your patients. 13 00:00:43,240 --> 00:00:46,280 Speaker 1: I mostly am kidding here now. Salem, of course, is 14 00:00:46,320 --> 00:00:49,080 Speaker 1: a city that's got deep ties to all things supernatural 15 00:00:49,120 --> 00:00:51,639 Speaker 1: and witchy, but it's also home to fiber artists who 16 00:00:51,680 --> 00:00:54,760 Speaker 1: love to integrate all things mystical into their work. So 17 00:00:54,800 --> 00:00:56,680 Speaker 1: in Salem next a month, you're going to find the 18 00:00:56,720 --> 00:00:59,640 Speaker 1: Fiber Witch Festival setting up. Let's learn all about it 19 00:00:59,680 --> 00:01:02,120 Speaker 1: now with the founder of the festival on a campus. 20 00:01:02,440 --> 00:01:04,840 Speaker 1: She is also the owner of Circle of Stitches and 21 00:01:04,880 --> 00:01:08,000 Speaker 1: the Toil and Trouble Studio in Salem. An, it's great 22 00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:09,800 Speaker 1: to have you here on the show. So tell us 23 00:01:09,840 --> 00:01:12,320 Speaker 1: a bit more about this festival, how you came up 24 00:01:12,319 --> 00:01:14,199 Speaker 1: with the idea, and how it all came together. 25 00:01:14,520 --> 00:01:16,640 Speaker 2: Well. So, I think that sometimes people get a little 26 00:01:16,680 --> 00:01:19,640 Speaker 2: bit scared when they hear witchcraft and what that means, right, 27 00:01:19,680 --> 00:01:22,040 Speaker 2: And so when we say witchcraft, we're really talking about, 28 00:01:22,600 --> 00:01:26,600 Speaker 2: you know, being in tune with nature, with the elements, 29 00:01:26,959 --> 00:01:30,160 Speaker 2: with you know, the movements of the earth. But also 30 00:01:30,240 --> 00:01:32,600 Speaker 2: it's a space for people who sort of feel like 31 00:01:32,640 --> 00:01:35,680 Speaker 2: they're on the fringes, right, Folks who feel like they 32 00:01:35,680 --> 00:01:38,200 Speaker 2: are outsiders and don't have a place where they belong. 33 00:01:38,360 --> 00:01:41,520 Speaker 2: They tend to be attracted right by all the different 34 00:01:41,520 --> 00:01:44,319 Speaker 2: things that witchcraft can mean, because there's not just one definition. 35 00:01:44,840 --> 00:01:47,000 Speaker 2: And so it's really a place where people can come 36 00:01:47,160 --> 00:01:49,960 Speaker 2: and feel comfortable being themselves and knowing that they're going 37 00:01:50,000 --> 00:01:54,440 Speaker 2: to be seen and held and supported. I own Circle 38 00:01:54,440 --> 00:01:57,360 Speaker 2: of Stitches, which is the yarn shop here in Salem, 39 00:01:57,520 --> 00:02:00,560 Speaker 2: and Circle of Stitches is a play on Circle of Witches. 40 00:02:01,160 --> 00:02:04,880 Speaker 2: You know, I cracked myself up, but for many years 41 00:02:05,000 --> 00:02:07,800 Speaker 2: I sort of wondered if people would be interested in 42 00:02:08,160 --> 00:02:10,720 Speaker 2: visiting Salem in sort of a different way than what 43 00:02:10,760 --> 00:02:14,120 Speaker 2: we usually see the usual tourism. Folks who are into 44 00:02:14,200 --> 00:02:16,959 Speaker 2: knitting and crochet and fiber arts tend to be really passionate, 45 00:02:17,000 --> 00:02:20,000 Speaker 2: and we have big events all over the country, and 46 00:02:20,080 --> 00:02:23,280 Speaker 2: I really wanted to do something that was our special 47 00:02:23,320 --> 00:02:26,760 Speaker 2: flavor of what we could offer. I love Salem and 48 00:02:26,960 --> 00:02:29,840 Speaker 2: I love yarn, and I figured other people might as well. 49 00:02:30,360 --> 00:02:30,720 Speaker 1: Yeah. 50 00:02:30,720 --> 00:02:34,840 Speaker 2: So I really percolated on this idea, honestly for several 51 00:02:34,919 --> 00:02:38,240 Speaker 2: years before I even did anything, because I had, you know, 52 00:02:38,360 --> 00:02:41,400 Speaker 2: all the self doubt of would anyone even care about 53 00:02:41,400 --> 00:02:44,120 Speaker 2: this idea? And then a few years ago I was 54 00:02:44,160 --> 00:02:48,400 Speaker 2: sitting down with my amazing friend Emily, who co organizes 55 00:02:48,480 --> 00:02:50,959 Speaker 2: with me, and I said, Hey, I'm thinking of doing 56 00:02:51,000 --> 00:02:54,120 Speaker 2: this sort of witchy fiber festival in Salem. What do 57 00:02:54,160 --> 00:02:56,680 Speaker 2: you think? And she says, that sounds amazing and I'd 58 00:02:56,680 --> 00:02:59,399 Speaker 2: love to help you. And so, you know, we got 59 00:02:59,440 --> 00:03:01,440 Speaker 2: to plan it and sort of figuring out what we 60 00:03:01,520 --> 00:03:04,280 Speaker 2: wanted to do. And here we are going into our 61 00:03:04,760 --> 00:03:07,160 Speaker 2: third year and you know, I'm based here in Salem, 62 00:03:07,160 --> 00:03:10,720 Speaker 2: my own circle of stitches, but Emily's actually based in Louisville. 63 00:03:10,760 --> 00:03:12,840 Speaker 2: She owns a business called Kitty with a Cupcake and 64 00:03:12,880 --> 00:03:15,560 Speaker 2: she helps organize remotely and then she flies up the 65 00:03:15,560 --> 00:03:17,000 Speaker 2: week before for the event. 66 00:03:17,240 --> 00:03:20,760 Speaker 1: Oh wow, that is dedication right there, because Louisville's not close. 67 00:03:21,240 --> 00:03:21,440 Speaker 2: Right. 68 00:03:22,520 --> 00:03:25,320 Speaker 1: Well, let's talk then a little bit about what exactly 69 00:03:25,520 --> 00:03:28,240 Speaker 1: goes on when it comes to planning a festival like this, 70 00:03:28,360 --> 00:03:31,160 Speaker 1: because festival planning is not easy as it is, but 71 00:03:31,240 --> 00:03:33,520 Speaker 1: there are a lot of different moving parts here when 72 00:03:33,560 --> 00:03:36,560 Speaker 1: it comes to okay, how do you find people who 73 00:03:36,640 --> 00:03:38,760 Speaker 1: are going to sell stuff? And how do you find 74 00:03:38,800 --> 00:03:41,200 Speaker 1: people who are going to demonstrate things? What has it 75 00:03:41,240 --> 00:03:42,360 Speaker 1: been like putting this together? 76 00:03:42,680 --> 00:03:47,720 Speaker 2: Been really fun and challenging in different ways. You know, 77 00:03:47,800 --> 00:03:49,760 Speaker 2: the first time that we did this, we're going into 78 00:03:49,760 --> 00:03:51,480 Speaker 2: our thirtyear now, but the first year, I'm going to 79 00:03:51,520 --> 00:03:54,520 Speaker 2: be really honest. You know, we put this out there 80 00:03:54,800 --> 00:03:57,720 Speaker 2: and I said, well, I hope people show up. And 81 00:03:57,760 --> 00:03:59,640 Speaker 2: then when we went to open the doors, we had 82 00:03:59,640 --> 00:04:03,400 Speaker 2: a line going down Essex Street around the corner and 83 00:04:03,520 --> 00:04:05,840 Speaker 2: we were just like, oh my goodness, what have we done? 84 00:04:08,040 --> 00:04:10,320 Speaker 2: And so from there we really got the idea of 85 00:04:10,400 --> 00:04:13,640 Speaker 2: you know, people really obviously people want to come to Salem, 86 00:04:13,680 --> 00:04:16,560 Speaker 2: but our target audience knitters and crochetters they want to 87 00:04:16,600 --> 00:04:20,240 Speaker 2: come too, and so from there it's kind of grown. Right. 88 00:04:20,240 --> 00:04:23,560 Speaker 2: The main event was the market, which happens at Old 89 00:04:23,560 --> 00:04:26,960 Speaker 2: Town Hall, and it's a mix of indie yarn vendors 90 00:04:27,200 --> 00:04:31,159 Speaker 2: and folks who do sort of witchy art and things 91 00:04:31,200 --> 00:04:33,640 Speaker 2: that are adjacent to knitting, but all with that same vibe. 92 00:04:33,960 --> 00:04:37,719 Speaker 2: And since then we've expanded to do private trolley tours. 93 00:04:37,760 --> 00:04:39,800 Speaker 2: We rent out the Salem Trolley and so folks can 94 00:04:39,880 --> 00:04:42,400 Speaker 2: knit and crochet on the trolley tour. We have our 95 00:04:42,400 --> 00:04:45,920 Speaker 2: own walking tour. We have a whole ball that happens 96 00:04:45,920 --> 00:04:49,400 Speaker 2: at the Hotel Salem. This year, the theme is Song 97 00:04:49,440 --> 00:04:51,800 Speaker 2: of the Sea, so everything is about you know, like 98 00:04:51,920 --> 00:04:54,599 Speaker 2: sea witchery and ocean magic, and so we have the 99 00:04:54,640 --> 00:04:57,480 Speaker 2: Sware of the Sea at the Hotel Salem. So it's 100 00:04:57,520 --> 00:05:01,160 Speaker 2: really really grown. I've been in the fiber industry for 101 00:05:01,200 --> 00:05:03,760 Speaker 2: a very long time. I opened my shop in twenty fifteen, 102 00:05:03,880 --> 00:05:06,640 Speaker 2: and even before that I was hand dying yarns under 103 00:05:06,640 --> 00:05:08,599 Speaker 2: the label Toil and Trouble. I have a die studio 104 00:05:08,640 --> 00:05:11,880 Speaker 2: here in Salem, so we had a lot of industry 105 00:05:11,920 --> 00:05:15,800 Speaker 2: connections as well, and so for our first year we 106 00:05:15,920 --> 00:05:19,000 Speaker 2: put out a call to vendors, but I also just 107 00:05:19,120 --> 00:05:21,480 Speaker 2: reached out to people that I knew in the industry 108 00:05:21,520 --> 00:05:23,839 Speaker 2: who sort of had that witchie vibe, who were creating 109 00:05:23,880 --> 00:05:26,640 Speaker 2: their own yard, and said, hey, we're doing this festival. 110 00:05:26,680 --> 00:05:28,560 Speaker 2: It's the first year. Are you willing to sort of 111 00:05:28,600 --> 00:05:31,840 Speaker 2: take a chance on us? And now we have folks 112 00:05:31,880 --> 00:05:34,240 Speaker 2: who apply from all over the country, and people fly 113 00:05:34,360 --> 00:05:36,919 Speaker 2: in from all over the country and also abroad, so 114 00:05:37,000 --> 00:05:38,839 Speaker 2: it's really amazing and exciting. 115 00:05:39,040 --> 00:05:41,680 Speaker 1: Sure, Salem is so popular. I mean it has been 116 00:05:41,720 --> 00:05:44,360 Speaker 1: for so long anyway, but I know so many people 117 00:05:44,360 --> 00:05:46,800 Speaker 1: who live in Salem who tell me these days it 118 00:05:46,839 --> 00:05:50,360 Speaker 1: seems like September first comes around and Salem is packed. 119 00:05:50,400 --> 00:05:53,839 Speaker 1: It's not just for Halloween anymore. Frankly, Salem is getting 120 00:05:53,880 --> 00:05:57,280 Speaker 1: busy all year round, and it's not just for your 121 00:05:57,320 --> 00:05:59,880 Speaker 1: typical Halloween stuff. I think that people are finally coming 122 00:06:00,120 --> 00:06:02,560 Speaker 1: to see everything that the beautiful city of Salem has 123 00:06:02,600 --> 00:06:03,000 Speaker 1: to offer. 124 00:06:03,240 --> 00:06:06,400 Speaker 2: That's definitely true. And honestly, when I looked at the calendar, 125 00:06:06,480 --> 00:06:09,000 Speaker 2: are sort of went, Okay, when is Salem not busy? 126 00:06:09,120 --> 00:06:11,359 Speaker 2: And that's when I want to bring folks here. So 127 00:06:11,440 --> 00:06:13,760 Speaker 2: that's why we picked April. And now we have close 128 00:06:13,839 --> 00:06:15,200 Speaker 2: to two thousand people who come. 129 00:06:15,560 --> 00:06:20,160 Speaker 1: Wow, okay, two thousand people. That is a lot, and 130 00:06:20,200 --> 00:06:22,719 Speaker 1: you said from all over the country. So it's probably 131 00:06:22,720 --> 00:06:24,880 Speaker 1: a good thing that you've got all these different venues 132 00:06:24,920 --> 00:06:26,360 Speaker 1: that you're working with, right. 133 00:06:26,440 --> 00:06:29,599 Speaker 2: So we have hotel blocks at four hotels around town. 134 00:06:30,120 --> 00:06:32,680 Speaker 2: You know, we've really created a lot of partnerships, and 135 00:06:33,320 --> 00:06:34,719 Speaker 2: you know, we didn't expect it was going to be 136 00:06:34,720 --> 00:06:36,760 Speaker 2: this big when we started the first year. So when asked, 137 00:06:36,800 --> 00:06:38,520 Speaker 2: you have hotel blots and I was like, I didn't 138 00:06:38,520 --> 00:06:41,640 Speaker 2: think him one would be coming from that far. So no, 139 00:06:41,760 --> 00:06:44,040 Speaker 2: but for next year, yes, you know, last year we 140 00:06:44,120 --> 00:06:48,840 Speaker 2: rented out two trolleys. This year we're about to contract 141 00:06:48,839 --> 00:06:51,159 Speaker 2: our sixth because we've already sold out with five of them. 142 00:06:51,600 --> 00:06:53,240 Speaker 1: Sounds overwhelming, but in the best way. 143 00:06:53,560 --> 00:06:55,680 Speaker 2: Yes, that's a good way to describe it. 144 00:06:56,000 --> 00:06:57,760 Speaker 1: Here on the show. I've talked about five or arts 145 00:06:57,760 --> 00:07:00,280 Speaker 1: a couple times before, but if you could, because you're 146 00:07:00,320 --> 00:07:02,480 Speaker 1: somebody who's been in this industry a long time and 147 00:07:02,560 --> 00:07:06,000 Speaker 1: been surrounded by fiber arts, what are you noticing when 148 00:07:06,000 --> 00:07:08,839 Speaker 1: it comes to people taking to the arts in that way? 149 00:07:09,120 --> 00:07:13,680 Speaker 2: Well, there, it's really really healing in a way, right, 150 00:07:13,720 --> 00:07:17,040 Speaker 2: it's something that allows you to slow down and you know, 151 00:07:17,160 --> 00:07:19,600 Speaker 2: make something with your hands, and there's so much research 152 00:07:19,760 --> 00:07:23,720 Speaker 2: on the psychological and emotional benefits of that. But for me, 153 00:07:23,840 --> 00:07:27,720 Speaker 2: it's also very special because it's an opportunity for like 154 00:07:27,800 --> 00:07:32,720 Speaker 2: cross generational gathering and communication, right because we have customers 155 00:07:32,760 --> 00:07:34,560 Speaker 2: that are you know, in their teams in their early 156 00:07:34,600 --> 00:07:37,640 Speaker 2: twenties up through their eighties and nineties, and there's not 157 00:07:37,680 --> 00:07:41,280 Speaker 2: really a lot of opportunity for that kind of intergenerational gathering. 158 00:07:41,720 --> 00:07:45,040 Speaker 2: I think people really really enjoy that. But there's also 159 00:07:45,160 --> 00:07:47,400 Speaker 2: something that is a bit of an act of resistance 160 00:07:47,440 --> 00:07:49,720 Speaker 2: to say, I'm going to create something by hand that 161 00:07:49,800 --> 00:07:52,080 Speaker 2: is made for me exactly the way that I want, 162 00:07:52,280 --> 00:07:53,960 Speaker 2: so that I can show up in the world as 163 00:07:54,000 --> 00:07:55,000 Speaker 2: my authentic self. 164 00:07:55,360 --> 00:07:59,360 Speaker 1: Individuality is so important, especially as I feel, you know, 165 00:07:59,480 --> 00:08:02,559 Speaker 1: with society, we watch our architecture get a little more 166 00:08:02,720 --> 00:08:06,680 Speaker 1: standardized in gray, or our retail shops get a little 167 00:08:06,680 --> 00:08:10,040 Speaker 1: more standardized in gray. But I love when a city 168 00:08:10,080 --> 00:08:12,440 Speaker 1: embraces arts. Salem is so great at that. But the 169 00:08:12,480 --> 00:08:16,560 Speaker 1: fiber arts community, especially with like TikTok and Instagram, I mean, 170 00:08:16,600 --> 00:08:18,640 Speaker 1: I think that people are embracing this in a whole 171 00:08:18,680 --> 00:08:20,600 Speaker 1: new way that we didn't see before. 172 00:08:20,880 --> 00:08:24,040 Speaker 2: Yeah. So I actually used to work in architecture before 173 00:08:24,360 --> 00:08:26,760 Speaker 2: I left to open my shop and do this full time. 174 00:08:26,880 --> 00:08:30,720 Speaker 2: So I really feel what you're saying. And you know 175 00:08:30,800 --> 00:08:33,839 Speaker 2: fiber arts well, I mean in times of turmoil, right, 176 00:08:33,960 --> 00:08:38,280 Speaker 2: people really turn to the arts and the creativity, right, 177 00:08:38,320 --> 00:08:40,720 Speaker 2: It's really what keeps us going, what gives us hope, 178 00:08:40,760 --> 00:08:43,600 Speaker 2: what keeps us fueled. And so in a way, the 179 00:08:43,679 --> 00:08:47,360 Speaker 2: harder things get and the more people are struggling, the 180 00:08:47,400 --> 00:08:50,360 Speaker 2: more they tend to turn to creativity because they need 181 00:08:50,360 --> 00:08:53,400 Speaker 2: that kind of healing and that kind of safe space 182 00:08:53,480 --> 00:08:54,120 Speaker 2: to exist in. 183 00:08:54,679 --> 00:08:57,880 Speaker 1: Let's talk about your theme. Song of the Sea is 184 00:08:57,920 --> 00:08:59,920 Speaker 1: this year's theme for the festival. Why did you go 185 00:09:00,160 --> 00:09:00,840 Speaker 1: in that direction? 186 00:09:01,440 --> 00:09:04,480 Speaker 2: We implemented the idea of a theme for our second year, 187 00:09:04,520 --> 00:09:07,800 Speaker 2: which was last year, and last year the theme was 188 00:09:08,080 --> 00:09:11,040 Speaker 2: the coronation of Persephone, Queen of the Underworld, and all 189 00:09:11,040 --> 00:09:14,080 Speaker 2: our vendors really embraced it. So everything at the festival 190 00:09:14,160 --> 00:09:17,040 Speaker 2: was really scened and really amazing and really special. And 191 00:09:17,080 --> 00:09:19,200 Speaker 2: so for every year we're sort of trying to connect 192 00:09:19,280 --> 00:09:22,680 Speaker 2: to different aspects of what the witchcraft practice can be. 193 00:09:22,960 --> 00:09:26,040 Speaker 2: We looked at mythology last year, we are an ocean 194 00:09:26,080 --> 00:09:28,480 Speaker 2: front town and that's a beautiful thing about Salem, and 195 00:09:28,520 --> 00:09:31,360 Speaker 2: so we wanted to explore be an ocean magic in 196 00:09:31,440 --> 00:09:32,440 Speaker 2: this year's festival. 197 00:09:32,720 --> 00:09:34,600 Speaker 1: Give us a little bit of a rundown really quickly 198 00:09:34,679 --> 00:09:37,200 Speaker 1: of what people can expect. You've got the market, you've 199 00:09:37,240 --> 00:09:40,439 Speaker 1: got the get together, you've got the trolleys. What can 200 00:09:40,480 --> 00:09:42,160 Speaker 1: people expect if they decide to show up? 201 00:09:42,240 --> 00:09:46,560 Speaker 2: We kick off on our Friday night of April twenty fourth. 202 00:09:46,640 --> 00:09:49,880 Speaker 2: We kick off with one of our first trolley tours. 203 00:09:49,880 --> 00:09:52,080 Speaker 2: It actually goes from Old Town Hall, which is going 204 00:09:52,120 --> 00:09:55,160 Speaker 2: to be our venue, and goes around Salem and ends 205 00:09:55,200 --> 00:09:57,920 Speaker 2: at Pickering Wharf where my shop, Circle of Stitches is 206 00:09:58,480 --> 00:10:00,920 Speaker 2: and then there we kick off with hour sip and shop. 207 00:10:01,000 --> 00:10:03,040 Speaker 2: So it's just you know, like a fun hangout party 208 00:10:03,120 --> 00:10:06,480 Speaker 2: at the shop where you can meet other attendees and 209 00:10:06,640 --> 00:10:09,240 Speaker 2: you know, meet some of the vendors there. We actually 210 00:10:09,320 --> 00:10:11,360 Speaker 2: have a group that comes every year now and they 211 00:10:11,400 --> 00:10:14,240 Speaker 2: all get like a group kattoo together, so Hooks we'll 212 00:10:14,280 --> 00:10:16,920 Speaker 2: be meeting it for that, which is so special. And 213 00:10:17,000 --> 00:10:19,920 Speaker 2: we also have an introduction to Tarot Workshop on Friday 214 00:10:19,960 --> 00:10:23,760 Speaker 2: evening with a lease Grim who is a local witch 215 00:10:23,840 --> 00:10:28,040 Speaker 2: and a tarot teacher. And then on Saturday we kick 216 00:10:28,080 --> 00:10:30,400 Speaker 2: off the morning with another trolley tour. The tour in 217 00:10:30,440 --> 00:10:32,560 Speaker 2: the morning leaves from Pickering Wharf and then it ends 218 00:10:32,600 --> 00:10:34,600 Speaker 2: at Old Town Hall right in time for the market 219 00:10:34,640 --> 00:10:38,360 Speaker 2: to start. The market opens at eleven am. It runs 220 00:10:38,440 --> 00:10:41,280 Speaker 2: until five on both days. We do have you know, 221 00:10:41,280 --> 00:10:43,800 Speaker 2: a tier ticketing system, so it's more expensive in the 222 00:10:43,840 --> 00:10:46,400 Speaker 2: morning if you want first DIBs, we have a masked 223 00:10:46,480 --> 00:10:49,800 Speaker 2: hour because a lot of our attendees are compromised. But 224 00:10:49,840 --> 00:10:53,320 Speaker 2: then after three pm on both days it's free. And 225 00:10:53,400 --> 00:10:55,839 Speaker 2: at the market you have you know, all these indie 226 00:10:55,960 --> 00:10:57,720 Speaker 2: arn't creators, and what that means is that these are 227 00:10:57,760 --> 00:11:01,720 Speaker 2: people who are hand dying yarn and small batches, either 228 00:11:01,720 --> 00:11:04,320 Speaker 2: in their kitchens or small dye studios, or folks who 229 00:11:04,360 --> 00:11:07,680 Speaker 2: have their own farms and work with micromills, and so 230 00:11:07,840 --> 00:11:10,000 Speaker 2: these are things that are you know, the people that 231 00:11:10,040 --> 00:11:13,120 Speaker 2: are there selling these yarns created them themselves. And then 232 00:11:13,160 --> 00:11:16,640 Speaker 2: we have folks who you know, make their own project bags, 233 00:11:16,679 --> 00:11:18,840 Speaker 2: you know, sew them on their own sewing machines, and 234 00:11:19,040 --> 00:11:21,920 Speaker 2: you know, they're designing their own like knitting notions and whatnot. 235 00:11:21,960 --> 00:11:25,160 Speaker 2: And then we have like folks who make beautiful handmade 236 00:11:25,160 --> 00:11:27,839 Speaker 2: brooms and folks who make candles by hand. So it's 237 00:11:27,960 --> 00:11:32,280 Speaker 2: very much focused on you know, artism work, and so 238 00:11:32,360 --> 00:11:36,680 Speaker 2: that happens both days Saturday and Sunday. Saturday evening we 239 00:11:36,880 --> 00:11:40,360 Speaker 2: have our Square of the Sea Witch at the Hotel Salem, 240 00:11:41,080 --> 00:11:43,680 Speaker 2: which we which is a you know, really fun party. 241 00:11:43,720 --> 00:11:46,120 Speaker 2: We had that party for the first time last year 242 00:11:46,480 --> 00:11:48,079 Speaker 2: and we sort of said, you know, dress code is 243 00:11:48,120 --> 00:11:50,680 Speaker 2: whatever you want, and people came decked out in the 244 00:11:50,760 --> 00:11:54,760 Speaker 2: most amazing, like Perseephony inspired outfits. It was amazing, and 245 00:11:54,840 --> 00:11:58,320 Speaker 2: folks are already all over Instagram now creating their like 246 00:11:58,440 --> 00:12:02,400 Speaker 2: Sea Which inspired outfits. So it's really fun, really spectacular. 247 00:12:02,720 --> 00:12:05,640 Speaker 2: And then we also have both Saturday and Sunday afternoon, 248 00:12:05,679 --> 00:12:08,600 Speaker 2: we have the Fiber Witch Walking Tour, which is hosted 249 00:12:08,640 --> 00:12:11,280 Speaker 2: by aj who's a local witch who actually works part 250 00:12:11,280 --> 00:12:13,880 Speaker 2: time at My Dye Studio, and he takes everyone for 251 00:12:13,920 --> 00:12:16,120 Speaker 2: a special walking tour that you can actually nit in 252 00:12:16,160 --> 00:12:18,440 Speaker 2: criste along the time and you actually get to do 253 00:12:18,520 --> 00:12:21,240 Speaker 2: a little bit of like divination and spillcasting on the tour, 254 00:12:21,679 --> 00:12:27,160 Speaker 2: which is really wonderful. And we have on Sunday we 255 00:12:27,320 --> 00:12:31,040 Speaker 2: have a Going Deeper with Tarot workshop and we also 256 00:12:31,120 --> 00:12:33,400 Speaker 2: have a rune crafting workshop that are happening at my 257 00:12:33,480 --> 00:12:37,319 Speaker 2: studio at Shtland Park. Right again, the market's happening again. 258 00:12:37,440 --> 00:12:40,440 Speaker 2: There's another trolley tour on Sunday morning. On Sunday, we 259 00:12:40,520 --> 00:12:44,400 Speaker 2: also have a private tour of the witch House and 260 00:12:44,600 --> 00:12:46,800 Speaker 2: we do that in partnership, you know, with a witch House, 261 00:12:46,800 --> 00:12:50,440 Speaker 2: and we actually donate a portion of the tickets to charity. 262 00:12:51,080 --> 00:12:53,160 Speaker 2: This year we'll be donating to I don't know if 263 00:12:53,200 --> 00:12:55,800 Speaker 2: it's pronounced loose or Loosey in Massachusetts, which is the 264 00:12:55,800 --> 00:12:59,720 Speaker 2: Immigrant Support Network, which we're really excited about. And so 265 00:12:59,760 --> 00:13:02,880 Speaker 2: there's all these different things happening. Right there's the market, 266 00:13:03,040 --> 00:13:08,160 Speaker 2: there's parties, there's trolley tours, walking tours, and then honestly 267 00:13:08,480 --> 00:13:11,640 Speaker 2: that town is just packed with folks mini and crocheting everywhere, 268 00:13:11,679 --> 00:13:14,240 Speaker 2: and so you know, there's a lot of community happening 269 00:13:14,320 --> 00:13:16,840 Speaker 2: even outside of the official things that we are hosting. 270 00:13:17,040 --> 00:13:19,600 Speaker 1: As a crocheer myself, the fact that I will be 271 00:13:19,600 --> 00:13:22,800 Speaker 1: able to go to Salem and see people crocheting outside 272 00:13:22,840 --> 00:13:25,760 Speaker 1: all over the place, it warms my little crochet heart. 273 00:13:25,800 --> 00:13:26,959 Speaker 1: I think that's the coolest thing. 274 00:13:27,240 --> 00:13:29,880 Speaker 2: It's really fun. I actually found a ball of yarond 275 00:13:29,880 --> 00:13:32,319 Speaker 2: that someone lost on SX Street yesterday during the weekend, 276 00:13:32,440 --> 00:13:34,760 Speaker 2: and that's just I got it back to them. But 277 00:13:34,800 --> 00:13:36,520 Speaker 2: it just made me so high to me to be like, oh, 278 00:13:36,520 --> 00:13:37,840 Speaker 2: we're here, we have taken over. 279 00:13:38,360 --> 00:13:42,440 Speaker 1: Yes, worse things, frankly worse things. And it's important to 280 00:13:42,480 --> 00:13:44,040 Speaker 1: note I think that, like, if you want to go 281 00:13:44,080 --> 00:13:45,760 Speaker 1: to this, you don't have to go to everything. You 282 00:13:45,800 --> 00:13:48,480 Speaker 1: can buy tickets to individual events. You don't have to 283 00:13:48,520 --> 00:13:50,160 Speaker 1: sign up once and attend everything. 284 00:13:50,480 --> 00:13:54,000 Speaker 2: Absolutely, And also for the market, you know, we do 285 00:13:54,040 --> 00:13:57,040 Speaker 2: sell some advanced tickets online, but there are tickets available 286 00:13:57,040 --> 00:13:59,200 Speaker 2: at the door, so even if it says sold out online, 287 00:13:59,240 --> 00:14:02,960 Speaker 2: don't worry. Come on down. The line moves surprisingly fast, 288 00:14:03,280 --> 00:14:06,000 Speaker 2: and again both days after three pm it's free. So 289 00:14:06,080 --> 00:14:08,120 Speaker 2: if you're like, you know, I'm not sure if I'm 290 00:14:08,160 --> 00:14:10,160 Speaker 2: interested in this or not. I don't really want to 291 00:14:10,200 --> 00:14:13,320 Speaker 2: pay twenty bucks for a ticket, just come after three pm? 292 00:14:13,400 --> 00:14:16,559 Speaker 1: Beautiful, all right? Where can people go and get tickets? 293 00:14:16,600 --> 00:14:19,240 Speaker 1: Find out more about the festival? And you know, you 294 00:14:19,360 --> 00:14:21,920 Speaker 1: and your yarn dying and everything else you are up 295 00:14:21,920 --> 00:14:22,600 Speaker 1: to these days. 296 00:14:22,760 --> 00:14:25,280 Speaker 2: So for the festival, we have the website which is 297 00:14:25,360 --> 00:14:28,200 Speaker 2: Fiberwitch Festival dot com and all the information and the 298 00:14:28,240 --> 00:14:30,760 Speaker 2: tickets are there. You can also follow us on Instagram 299 00:14:30,800 --> 00:14:34,680 Speaker 2: at Fiberwitch Festival. My shop is Circle of Stitches and 300 00:14:34,720 --> 00:14:37,240 Speaker 2: you can find our website at Circle of Stitches dot 301 00:14:37,280 --> 00:14:41,680 Speaker 2: com and we're on Instagram at Circle Stitches without the o's. 302 00:14:42,480 --> 00:14:44,560 Speaker 2: There's a whole story with Twitter and that back in 303 00:14:44,560 --> 00:14:47,240 Speaker 2: the day, but I won't get into that. And my 304 00:14:47,360 --> 00:14:50,120 Speaker 2: yarn dying studio is called Toil and Trouble. It's at 305 00:14:50,120 --> 00:14:54,640 Speaker 2: Shetland Park in Salem and our website is Toil Dash 306 00:14:55,280 --> 00:14:58,360 Speaker 2: and Dash Trouble dot com. We do have you know, 307 00:14:58,400 --> 00:15:00,560 Speaker 2: open hours if the studio folks want to visit, but 308 00:15:00,720 --> 00:15:03,000 Speaker 2: during the weekend of the festival we're going to be 309 00:15:03,000 --> 00:15:05,080 Speaker 2: hosting workshops here so people will have a chance to 310 00:15:05,080 --> 00:15:08,720 Speaker 2: see it. And my co organizer is Emily. Her website 311 00:15:08,800 --> 00:15:12,960 Speaker 2: is Kittywitthcupcake dot com and she's an artist and illustrator 312 00:15:13,000 --> 00:15:16,720 Speaker 2: and she creates like the cutest like pins and charms 313 00:15:16,760 --> 00:15:19,720 Speaker 2: and flare for folks, So definitely worth checking out. 314 00:15:19,880 --> 00:15:22,040 Speaker 1: Anna, thank you so much for the time on the show, 315 00:15:22,080 --> 00:15:24,160 Speaker 1: and I hope you have a great festival. And it 316 00:15:24,240 --> 00:15:27,040 Speaker 1: sounds like you've already got some wonderful turnout, and I 317 00:15:27,080 --> 00:15:28,760 Speaker 1: hope the weather holds and you have a great time. 318 00:15:28,960 --> 00:15:30,440 Speaker 2: Thank you, and I hope that you come to check 319 00:15:30,520 --> 00:15:31,000 Speaker 2: us out too. 320 00:15:33,000 --> 00:15:35,000 Speaker 1: Have a safe and healthy weekend. Be sure to join 321 00:15:35,080 --> 00:15:37,400 Speaker 1: us again next week for another edition of the show. 322 00:15:37,640 --> 00:15:41,400 Speaker 1: I'm Nicole Davis from WBZ News Radio on iHeartRadio.