Bandon Oregon Field Trip

On Tuesday we took a mid day field trip, out and about, our first stop was at Art 101 & Washed Away, South of town, only to find out they had moved into a store front in "Old Town." Further South we stopped at Wild River Wool Shop, in Langlois, Oregon. She had a wonderful selection of fleece, wool, dyed roving, and various specialty fibers, mohair, silk, and angora. She also had small packets of mixed colors for needle felters. Her framed needle felted picture, was textile art we could learn a lot from. She had made 3 Dimensional pictures of sheep, horses and dogs, that leaped out of the frame, with darling expressive faces.

She had smaller pictures, of cats, fish, and flowers. Quick and easy little projects for us to try, in assorted small frames.

A large assortment of finished knit hats, scarves and mittens, along with "Insta-Dreds" a dark wool twist, made to be added to the hem of a hat, Meredith modeled for us.

After a few purchases, we headed back into town. We found the new location for "Washed Away" a very well done, professional museum quality space. We were given a tour by a nice young man from "Ameri-corp" who was volunteering for the summer. He explained the quantity of garbage, plastics, metals, tires and miscellaneous stuff, that is dumped in the ocean, local groups do "Beach Cleanups" and bring all the stuff to them to be cleaned, and recycled into art sculptures.

They have a lot of hands on workshops where locals, tourists, and school groups get together and make the sculptures. Last summer, Pat had been there with her grandkids and they had a blast, working on the Starfish. Many of the pieces are loaned out to environmental shows/festivals and events to promote clean beaches, clean oceans and the dangers to wildlife all the trash poses. On the way back to the retreat center, we stopped next door to the newly built "Face Rock Creamery" that replaces the Bandon Cheese Factory, to try cheese sampling, ice cream and sandwiches, as well as a full window view into the factory.