Merry Christmas

The view from my kitchen window on this Beautiful December 25th, 2013 ...
Best Wishes from London-Wul fibre arts.

Tucked in For Winter

Here is Hazel Nut the Angora goat. She's been groomed, primped and primed for winter. Nail clipping and shearing are not her favourite activities.
(Read she will try to eat you alive if you attempt the above. Hard to believe isn't it?)
Despite her discontent with the process Hazel Nut is always happy to settle in with her warm winter gear.
When all is said and done she is back to her congenial self.

My "Escape" quilt

My latest challenge quilt, prepared with the theme "escape" in mind..
This was a rather fun piece for me. It is a self portrait at 10 years of age. References include a menagerie of much loved characters such as Stormy Misty's Foal, Kavik the Wolf Dog and cast members of Peterson's field guides to birds, insects, reptiles and amphibians.  
... Ahh life is good.
Perched on my shoulder is what was my ever constant companion, a hand-raised starling named Chicken Hawk.
Today I live with yet another orphaned starling named Birdy and I still love to escape into books. Not much has changed really!

Hand drawing (portrait)
as well as photo transfer for the starling, frog, butterflies and wolf.
Hand and machine stitching.
Prisma color pencil and textile medium throughout.

With special thanks to Laura Kemshall who taught me that sketching is not just for paper.

To see more escape quilts visit our international creative challenge group: Latitude Quilts

Something New to Make

A rigid heddle loom is a simple loom. Weaving on a rigid heddle loom is your basic user friendly, non-threatening, stress free, all around happy textile experience. Janet is teaching a beginners class this month so that you can
1. Learn a fantastic new skill
2. have your very own hand-woven scarf by the end of the day!

Intro to Weaving on a Simple Loom 

* this class is scheduled for Saturday November 30th, 2013

10am - 4pm

for more info click HERE

Felting Workshop...

Book now with felt artist extraordinaire, Jacqueline Leblanc! She will be teaching on November 23rd and 24th. This class will be for those who are new to wet felt.
details: http://workshopsatlondonwul.blogspot.ca/p/wet-felting.html

Two Things I Know


So I've been on a little road trip and I have to share. Here are two thing that I know...
If you find yourself in the state of New Hampshire you MUST visit Badger Brook Farm.
What more could a rug hooker ask for? An absolutely stunning farm setting, a gorgeous shop brimming with wool fabrics, patterns and threads and a cozy stitching circle by the fireplace. Patti will welcome you, she will make you feel at home. Patti also has a little troupe of rescued dogs that are always up for a visit if you like ( so you know I felt right at home). You will love it. You will want to stay and stitch a bit and I dare say you will have many, new treasures to work with when you leave. Punch, hook, applique ... just everything.
See for yourself : https://www.facebook.com/pages/Badger-Brook-Farm/134766936710340
Another thing that I know; if you find yourself in Rollinsford New Hampshire you must visit Wool and Goods. Oh my goodness! This shop is housed within an old mill building along with many other art studios and similarly creative spaces.
Kathy is marvelous. She is incredibly generous with her time, expertise and enthusiasm for making rugs...  AND she's a rug hooking Daily member. Yay!
The shop is loaded with wool fabrics, hooking supplies and patterns, patterns, patterns. Kathy pays great respect to the late Patsy Becker and continues to make Patsy's patterns available to the Rug Hooking world, a wonderful service to us all. If you have the opportunity do go to Kathy's shop. You'll find classes and gatherings and woolens and gadgets and bits and pieces. You will be welcomed and you will be inspired.
Check it out here: http://www.woolandgoods.com/
Happy weekend everybody,
XO,
Heidi

New Brunswick Roads

October ...

 On making things

Knitting is my go-to relaxer. With the addition of a new pup to our family it has become a little more challenging! I have managed to follow the current  Westknits mystery KAL without being left too far behind! Clue # 1 got off to a rough start when I found my work strung throughout the house by my new little "helper".
Despite the help, I was also able to finish up my second "barndom" shawl. I do love this pattern and have I mentioned just how much I love, love, love our new Shibui merino/silk?

Also complete, another little challenge quilt for the Latitude group. This time around our theme was "the sound of silence". When contemplating "silence". my thoughts settled on... how do I find some of that?! I did mention that we have adopted another puppy making a total of 2 young pups and approximately 75 squeaky toys in the house?
My project developed into this little piece called "Trying to Find My Silent Space".

Happy October everyone,

xo Heidi

Busy Bees

A month's work in the dye shed has been followed by rinsing, drying, skeining, tying and tagging a host of new yarns for the shop. Moving onto the shelves today are some lovely new sock colors, mohair colors and our new Polwarth/silk blend which I have to admit I've already dipped into! Dreamy.
We have also been spending time moving into our new expansion. A little overwhelming at first with a great deal of new space to manage. I quickly realized, however, how much we really needed it! The new rooms are so cheerful in teal, yellow and lime. This is a space where you can't help but smile.

xo Heidi

August Ends

August has been a colorful month. I've dyed loads of wool fabric for rug hooking and wool applique.
There has been lots of freshly dyed yarn as well. We are excited about the  Fall season with workshops in full swing and new fibres, yarns and fabrics arriving for the "nesting season".
How would we possibly make it through the long Canadian winter without stitching?
I have been knitting up a storm not being able to resist temptation with all the lovely new yarns in the shop. there is still time, by the way to join me in my first Mystery Knit Along by Stephen West.
We have 32 absolutely gorgeous colors in Shibui's Merino/silk  "Staccato",  perfect for Stephens "Color Craving" MKAL.

As the weather cools off I am looking forward to quilting  the top that I put together this summer. As well I am keeping up with my quilt challenge group. This month's challenge theme is "the sound of silence". ... still thinking on this one. Life on the farm is anything but silent!

There are  hooked rugs 'aplenty in my life at the moment as well. Several in various stages of completion as is how I like to tackle a series. As well I am off to visit the US again as I continue to explore punch needle hooking. In the meantime, punch hooks, monks cloth and, of course, yarns are available in the shop for those who would like to give it a try.

 XO Heidi

Fibre, Fleece, Fabric and Visitors

Our new "Open Studio Days" are off to the races.  We are having great fun sharing projects of all description with visitors who come to stay for a day ... or three.
The response to this program has been so very positive that I am overwhelmed and really quite touched by your interest and enthusiasm. Thank you!
Here's how it works;  our new teaching schedule is flexible so that those who are interested no longer have to wait for a body of students to accumulate.
Come by yourself, with a friend or make it a group party.
We have added an expansion to our building. The first of two new classroom spaces has been opened and is waiting just for you!

For my Quilt Challenge group...

The Summer holds a challenge for me to read as much as I possibly can. For our June/July challenge themed "memories"  my mind turned to novels, conjuring characters and creating their fictional memories. Next life, a novelist! Oh to have such a talent.
In the meantime here is my summer novel, created in the form of a small, whimsical quilt. "The factory girls" Can you imagine their story? Can you imagine their memories?

Image transfer, piecing, applique, machine stitching.
With special thanks to Betty London for providing the photograph that was used in this piece.

 

           

more Latitude challenge Quilts here: http://latitudequilts.blogspot.ca/

New at London-Wul

... alpaca lace, shibui knits,  wooley sock yarn, wheels and looms. Hooking hoops, fabric and bits, squishy fibres and puppy toes!  That's what's new at London-Wul.

OPEN STUDIO

Featured class:
Hand Hooking Rugs: Make it Your Own

Over the years I have taught (and taken) many classes and workshops.
In doing so I have learned much about art, craft and about myself.
I have learned that I do love to teach. I also found that most of all I enjoy small intimate groups where I can fully concentrate on a student's specific goals.
This year, after having expanded our physical space,  I have opened my studio to just that learning format. Choose the date that is most convenient for you, choose from our greatly varied list of available disciplines. Join me and our team of accomplished instructors in an intimate and intensive learning experience.

Learn about all of our available sessions here:
http://workshopsatlondonwul.blogspot.ca/p/about-classes-and-workshops.html

Learn about my new rug hooking sessions here:
http://workshopsatlondonwul.blogspot.ca/p/rug-hooking.html

OPEN STUDIO: you choose the date
SKETCHBOOK SESSIONS FOR TEXTILE DESIGN
http://workshopsatlondonwul.blogspot.ca/p/about-classes-and-workshops.html