BRADLEY – A Fiber Arts Festival will mark National Spinning and Weaving Week during Living History Days, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 6-7, at Leonard’s Mills logging museum.

Spinners participating are Julie Eason of China, Carol Grant of Hudson and Nancy Holman of Greenbush.

Carol Grant was 20 years old when she became enchanted with spinning.

“I was first introduced to spinning at Common Ground Fair,” she said. But she learned the art from a group of spinners in Corinth. She will demonstrate spinning using the oak wheel her father Ken LaMore built for her. She has been a spinner for 15 years and has done demonstrations at Leonard’s Mills for the last 10 years.

“I grew up in Bradley,” she said, “so it’s very special to go to Leonard’s Mills and participate [in Living History Days].” Her daughter, Megan Grant, will demonstrate candle making.

Experienced spinners are invited to bring their own spinning wheels or hand spindles and share their skill and enthusiasm for the art at one or both events.

Weaver Mary Bird will demonstrate weaving on the antique barn loom, made of ash, at Leonard’s Mills. She has been a weaver for 20 years. The antique loom is a two-harness loom and does plain weaving.

“It’s simple,” she said. “One heddle goes down when the other goes up. It will have a woolen warp and a weft of hand-spun wool hand-dyed with plant dyes.” Dyers also will be on hand to demonstrate their craft.

Visitors will have a chance to try their hand at weaving on the barn loom and at dyeing yarn.

Bird said the weavers will talk about the history of weaving in America, where the fibers come from and how they are prepared.

“Each phase of weaving is a meditative process,” Bird said. “It has a pattern that is absorbing. You can’t be thinking about other things. In the process of learning to weave, I discovered how important mathematics is to weaving. I just love that. It’s pattern and puzzle.”

Other fiber arts, such as quilting and rug braiding, also will be demonstrated.

Leonard’s Mills, located off Route 178 in Bradley, recreates an 18th century logging village. Admission to Living History Days is $7 for those age 13 and up, $2 for children age 2-12, and free for members of the Maine Forest and Logging Museum.

For information about the Leonard’s Mills event, or to participate as a spinner, call 581-2871.