MWGBG Will Have a Double Booth
at the
Vista Fiber Arts Fiesta 2025
Antique Gas and Steam Engine Museum
2040 North Santa Fe Avenue Vista, CA, 92083
Date of event: Saturday and Sunday, May 3 & 4 from 10 am to 4pm.
Set up of booths: Friday, May 2 at 1pm. Come help if you want.
In addition to the sales/demo booth, the May Guild meeting will also be held at the Antique Steam Engine Museum Sunday, May 4, at 11am in their Board Room (more info on Events Calendar page).
Sale of your gourd and basket artwork during the Fiesta: Bring your gourds and baskets that you would like to sell.
Bring to the booth during set up on Friday between 1-3pm or Saturday or Sunday any time.
NOTE: you need to be in the booth selling your own work (or have a designated friend selling for you) and taking your own payments. There will not be anyone to do this for you. You will need a California State resale license (it’s free). You are welcome both days — or parts both or either day. REMEMBER to pick up your artwork at the end of the event (or ask a friend).
Demonstrating: Bring something to work on if you wish. Be ready to talk to the public about the Guild and/or what you are working on. The Guild will have a simple Make and Take for a small fee for our guests. See Carol Lang to help with this. Bring your own folding chair. We will have tables. We will not have electricity. You will be in shade.
Parking at the venue is free. Tell the people at check in that you are with the MWBGB booth and you will NOT need to pay the entrance fee on Saturday and Sunday. Wear a name tag if you have one.
The Fiber Arts Fiesta takes place outdoors. Most of the booths will be set up on a lawn that is often damp and uneven in places. Shoes suitable for walking and a hat are suggested. There will be food for sale.
If you have never been to the Antique Steam Engine Museum — you should. It is a real treat. There you can see examples of mechanical ingenuity and crafts associated with the early days of the American farm and rural community; the Weavers Barn, the Spinners Cottage, Blacksmith & Wheelwright Shop, Short Track Railroad exhibit, and the Clock & Watch Museum.
We Need Your Entries in San Diego County Fair
“Summer Pet-tacular”
June 11 – July 6, 2025
Save the baskets and gourds! It’s important that our Guild members keep the San Diego County Fair exhibit on their radar. We encourage everyone in the Guild to enter at least one basket or gourd into the Home Arts & Hobbies competition. This year’s Fair will celebrate the special bonds between humans and their pets and is being held in cooperation with the San Diego Humane Society.
The deadline for submitting your gourds and baskets to the Fair is April 30th, 2025, by 8pm. Here is the link if you have not done that already: https://www.sdfair.com/p/participate/entry/home-arts/home-arts-decorative-arts. To help make this easier for you, we will be offering members a group delivery and pick-up service! If you would like to have Grace Swanson take your San Diego County Fair entries to Home Arts & Hobbies for you bring your BOXED entries (NO SHOPPING BAGS -- MUST BE IN BOX WITH YOUR NAME OUTSIDE and your entry form inside) to May Guild meeting on Sunday at the Antique Gas and Steam Engine Museum or leave in the Guild booth either Saturday or Sunday during the Festival.
In addition to the Home Arts & Hobbies competition, which is not juried, you can also enter the juried Fine Arts coopetition (deadline April 28). This is not a part of the group delivery option.
MWGBG will have a make-and-take table at the Fair on Wednesdays: June 11, June 18, June 25 & July 2. For more info and to volunteer contact Carol Lang (info@baskets-gourds.com).
Low entry numbers in a class threatens it’s viability to be an entry class in the following year. We have experienced a number of classes being eliminated as a result of this. You have plenty of time to get your Fair entries prepared, and we hope all of our Guild members will be able to participate this year.
Participants receive 1 free Fair ticket for each entry (Fine Arts receives 2 tickets). Assuming they will continue the practice, the Fair gives cash prizes for Place winners and MWGBG awards a $50 prize for the Best Gourd and the Best Basket. So why not take your chances and enter?
As we have for many years, we are planning to participate in Home Arts and Hobbies demonstrations at the San Diego County Fair. There’s free entrance and parking for the volunteers. Members always have a good time, meet a lot of nice people, and have time to take in the Fair. We hope many of you can join us this year.
Information about demo dates and signing up will be shared when available. We typically have been assigned four dates, so hopefully you can find a one that works for you. Overall, this is one of our best community outreach opportunities to educate the general public about gourd and basketry art.
