Cloverleaf Art and Fibre

Year of the Dragon

2012-01-22T23:48:00.000-06:00

Here is the latest addition to Linda's mythical creature creations, just in time for Chinese New Year.

The Dragon has gossamer thin wings in a rich deep red colour.

The eyes, fangs, and tail are highlighted with bright beads.

Dragons are reputed to be powerful, if somewhat capricious.

I'm hoping that this one is a harbinger of good things to come!

It's a Shetland Sheep Heid

2012-01-10T23:52:00.001-06:00

I bought myself a wonderful gift -- a kit from Jamieson and Smith wool brokers, on the Shetland Islands. I was ridiculously excited at the very idea that wool from "real" Shetland sheep actually living on the islands was on its way to my house. And look at this beautiful hat pattern "Sheep Heid " by Kate Davies. (This picture is from their website. I haven't even cast on mine yet. )There is a circle of ewes around the outside, and a pattern of ram's heads on the crown. "Heid" is Scots dialect for head.

The pattern is described as "a celebration of Shetland sheep in their marvellous, many-hued variety", and the kit includes nine different natural colours of wool. Soon after the package arrived I took it out to show Linda, and we had fun comparing the balls of wool to our flock. Of course we concluded that we need more sheep, as we don't yet have the full range of colours!

Now, in actual fact, this little hat is way beyond anything I have accomplished as a knitter. I am extremely slow at that skill. In the last two years I have managed exactly one and three-quarters socks, and nine-tenths of a scarf. It may be some time before I get past the front page of this pattern, where they have listed all the names of Shetland sheep colours and patterns in their delightful Gaelic glory. It's a poem, really:

black, yuglet, sponget, krunet, moorit, bersugget, sholmit, bioget, blaeget,

musket, emsket, bronget, skeget, shaela, mioget, mooskit, marlit, ilget, flecket,

kraiget, fronet, moget, katmollet, smirslet, gualmogot, sokket,

snaelit, mullit, mirkface, white

Aren't sheep wonderful? The not only provide us with boundless raw materials, they also inspire us in many ways. And they are always ready to pose, showing off their perfect comic shape. Here is one of Linda's needled felted sheep designs on a little pocket purse. It has great texture, especially on its fuzzy "heid".

Doesn't that fact make you smile? The picture of innocence! I must try to remember that the next time they all decide to do exactly the opposite to what we are asking ... like the other day when some opportunistic butt-head squeezed through a gate and the whole herd went bounding gleefully around the yard, pursued by three enthusiastic but decidedly unhelpful dogs; Linda on her one good leg; and me bellowing out something that sounded like "get away from the blaeget flecket burrs you snaelit mirkface fleece brains!"

Yes, I think the sheep get their fair share of entertainment from watching us, too.

Cats in Sheep's Clothing

2012-01-04T01:16:00.000-06:00

This trio of needle felted cat sculptures is on their way to their new home.

There they will meet Roxy, Burt and Pongo, the three real cats in similar colour schemes

belonging to Deanna.

These fleecy cats have pipe cleaner armatures inside, which allow for posable limbs and tails.

Deanna said the black and white cat was a bit on the chubby side,

so this one got a few extra layers of fleece!

Linda has created needle felt sculptures of a great variety of dog breeds, cats of many colours, and of course horses of all kinds. If you would like a custom creation of a favourite animal just let us know.

Peace on Earth

2011-12-23T22:59:00.000-06:00

Happy Holidays,

Linda, Margaret, and the Leafhaven Flock

Woolly Warmth on a Grey Day

2011-12-19T12:17:00.000-06:00

One of the wonderful things about dyeing naturally coloured fleece is the shading of colours achieved with one colour of dye. Everything is looking grey under our overcast skies lately, but you can still get the idea of the variations in these fleeces: clockwise from top, Pearl (white), Bowmore (light light brown), and Jasper (grey).

After dyeing with a pink dye, they looked something like this:

Then carded together and pulled into roving, they evolved into this (well, as close to this as the colour balance on computer monitors allows):

You can just make out a few little snowflakes on the fleece in this picture. It is definitely time to get a proper photography set-up inside. The camera and I both work better if we aren't frozen solid.

There is so much to learn about colour blending! In the finish I did not include much of the darkest fleece in this roving. The dark fleece is beautifully heathered on its own, and would look lovely with some lighter highlights, but adding small amounts of the dark colour to the bright pink was not as successful to my eyes. But my eyes are getting tired of seeing everything in flat grey. More clean snow and more sunshine please!

This roving was a custom order for someone making thrummed mittens. Thrumming adds pieces of unspun roving every few stitches for a simple design on the surface of the knitting, and abundant comfy fluffy warmth on the inside. Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, the Yarn Harlot, published a great description on her blog along with links to free patterns. Check it out here . Everyone I know who has these mitts says they are the warmest thing ever. I think it is time I made myself a pair -- preferably not in grey.

- Margaret

Off to "Club BJ"

2011-12-12T11:43:00.000-06:00

Here are the lucky winners of the "Who Gets to Meet BJ the Shetland Ram" contest. On Saturday morning Shirley and Cairo made the short trip to Rayan and Tammy's farm for a little something different.

Rayan and Tammy also raise Norrbottenspets dogs. You can read more about these sharp looking little dogs on their website Manjusha Kennels. Here is part of the welcoming committee:

Shirley is used to getting her own way. After the absolute indignity of being carried from the truck by Rayan (because she refused to use her own four feet), and the gales of laughter from the humans, she decided playing dead was the only logical reaction.

Cairo played shy and hid behind Linda.

She was a lot less coy once she got inside the pen with BJ though! That handsome moorit gentleman brought out the flirt in her right away. Shirley may need to recover her dignity before she entertains his advances. In Shirley's case, that will probably mean finding somebody smaller and less agile to bash around for awhile. Watch your back, Cairo!

We are counting the days until spring, with visions of lambs dancing in our heads ...

Last Craft Show of the Year

2011-12-05T23:52:00.000-06:00

This show is in the hotel next to the casino on Regent Avenue, next Sunday afternoon. This is a new event for us and we are looking forward to the experience. Although I do find the name "Last Chance ..." rather ominous!

There is a $2 admission fee. Half of the admission goes to Cancercare Manitoba. If you are in the neighbourhood, please come by and say hi. We will be set up in the "Blue Lagoon" room on the main floor.

Green Monday

2011-11-28T15:01:00.000-06:00

Green suits all seasons, doesn't it? I know we are into the winter festive season, but Linda still has visions of summer meadows flowing through her felting needles.

We are out of sync with the season in some other ways too. Neither Linda nor I are much interested in shopping, and the commercial frenzy of the so-called Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping "events" is really foreign to our world views. So marketing does not come naturally to us! What we are discovering is the joys of connecting with a community, and the fun of meeting people who share our enthusiasms and appreciate what we have to offer. The Manitoba Crafts Council sale last weekend offered many wonderful moments like that.

We met many crafters, including people formerly known only through cyber space. What fun to put faces and names together! We visited with friends, and babies of friends, and friends of friends. We met Ashley, a fellow shetland sheep owner, who once bought her Mother a ram for Christmas, sneaking him into the barn all decorated with ribbons for Christmas morning. Ashley went home with a much smaller present for her mom this year! Lots of people purchased unique, locally made woolly items from us, for presents or for themselves. We choose to create using almost entirely home grown or recycled materials, and we are so grateful when they find appreciative homes. We love to hear back from people about what they made from our materials, or how one of Linda's classes inspired them. And we can only assume that the sheep are very happy when we exchange their fleece, however transformed, into cash; because as far as they are concerned cash equals hay, and lots of it, for the winter months still ahead.

Have a GREEN winter holiday!

Support your local small businesses and artisans, and keep your community growing.

Manitoba Craft Council Handmade Holiday Sale This Weekend

2011-11-24T22:52:00.000-06:00

Come see us! Friday evening 5 - 10, Saturday 10 am - 5 pm

318 Ross Avenue in the Exchange District, just west of Princess

Here's one of the new bags ready for this sale:

"Kalahari King" Finds a New Home

2011-11-20T22:17:00.000-06:00

The highlight of the Festive Artisans Market for us was the sale of this wall hanging. This is one of the first needlefelt pieces that Linda created; the early stages of her love affair with fibre as an art medium.

I never tired of looking at this piece. I have to admit I am going to miss it at our displays!

Gilligan the backyard cat is offering himself as a model for another feline in felt ... considerably less wild and imposing, but he does have that same hundred mile stare, doesn't he?

Festive Artisans Market this Friday

2011-11-16T13:54:00.003-06:00

We will be at the new Hydro Building downtown on Portage Avenue this Friday from 11 am to 8 pm for this annual Manitoba Crafts Museum and Library event. Come by and say hello!

I Think We Have A Focus Problem

2011-11-07T12:48:00.005-06:00

It's not just me and the camera ...

It's about these dogs who are supposed to be learning to be "sheepdogs". They seem far more interested in wrestling over who gets to be "It" in the endless game of chase around the dugout. Hazel prefers to be Sheep and have Trixie play the role of Dog.

Their antics don't seem to be causing much concern among the real sheep.

The peanut gallery enjoy the show, until something more interesting goes by, like maybe a willow leaf.

Focusing on their digestion, I suppose.

How to Frame Your Dragon

2011-11-02T22:20:00.010-05:00

Linda needlefelted this brilliant dragon onto a piece of dark brown recycled wool. I want to feature it on a tote bag and plan to applique it to a piece of hand dyed blanket fabric. Which background piece do you think works better? This one is bright, bordering on garish ...

This one is more muted but still picks up some of the dragon colours:

Another delightful challenge before me is this little wall hanging of a graceful hummingbird done on dyed blanket fabric. I photographed it wrong-way-on, I'm afraid. Linda intends it to hang with the narrow end at the top so that the bird is hovering beneath the flower.

Needlefelting Workshop at Wolseley Wool

2011-10-23T22:30:00.006-05:00

Linda will be teaching her "Painting with Fleece" workshop at Wolseley Wool, 162 Lipton Street in Winnipeg on Sunday, November 13. The three hour class runs from 1:00 to 4:00 pm. The cost is $20 instruction fee and $20 for materials. You will be supplied with everything you need to make your first needlefelted picture, as well as inspiration for future projects. Class size is limited to 10. Please call the shop to register at 772-5648.

Thanks to the lovely people at Wolseley Wool for the invitation!

Sweet and Fading Light

2011-10-16T23:37:00.008-05:00

A honeybee on heliotrope flowers in my front yard, feeding on the last sweet juices of summer. We have had an astonishing series of unseasonably warm days this October, and all living things seem to be drawn to soak up as much of this glorious golden light as we can. We know the sun is heading further south every day, taking easy warmth and sustenance with it.

Mary Rose O'Reilly talks about sitting on a bench in her garden, "eating light". This is what plants do with photosynthesis; it sure seems to be what that honeybee is doing; and it is how Mary describes her own moments of contemplation of the natural world. Her book "The Barn at the End of the World: The Apprenticeship of a Quaker, Buddhist Shepherd" contains many thought provoking observations as well as plenty of laugh-out-loud moments. This is a wonderful book, brimming with her compassion for animals and for people, while asking many interesting and difficult questions about how we all live (and die) together.

We had our first death in our flock this month, a young ewe born at Linda's in our first year of lambing. We are still waiting for test results to help explain this death, but they may not be conclusive. More difficult questions. What more could we have done? Shetlands are tough little sheep - that is one of the reasons they are a good match for beginner shepherds like us - and we have been very lucky so far. One of the gruff barn supervisors in Mary's book observes: "They die, we die." A sentiment in tune with the autumn season, and perhaps useful in the long run, but at this moment we are missing our sweet Anemone.

Works in Progress

2011-09-28T23:40:00.009-05:00

There are a lot of steps in the journey from sheep's back to fibre art. We tend to add a few miles to the process because of the collaborative nature of some of our projects. Materials travel back and forth between Linda in Cloverleaf and me in the city, so documenting any one 'work in progress' is a challenge.

Right now I am working on cleaning Shirley's fleece. On the left is an unwashed sample; on the right a cloud of lovely clean silver grey fibre. Well, cleanish. You don't have to look too closely to find stray bits of vegetation still in there.

I was pleased with the first trials of dyeing the grey fleece. The green sample here has an interesting depth of colour, with some nice variations. These carded batts, along with other recently carded natural colours , are now with Linda, waiting for the next step in their evolution.

Maybe more one-of-a-kind felt pieces, which Linda creates as the starting point of her wall hangings...

Or on a smaller scale, some wearable art cuffs...

Here are a couple of other works-in-progress:

Both Trixie and Hazel have started actual herding lessons, thanks to Faye at 4-U Farms in St Norbert. We all have a long way to go! Hazel just figured out today that, unlike those bully Shetlands of ours, Faye's sheep will actually run away if you look at them right. Oh the joy on her face when she found herself actually chasing sheep, instead of the other way around!

Shirley says "Don't get any ideas, pipsqueak, or I'll knock flat on your skinny dog butt again."

Shetlands on the Prairie, or The Search for Seaweed

2011-09-07T23:20:00.008-05:00

Sheep living on the islands of northern Scotland naturally supplement their diets with seaweed washed onto the rocky shores. No such option here on the landlocked prairie! The dugout is low after weeks without rain, the rushes are unpalatable, and no matter how long Archie stares at that downed willow it is not going to sprout anything green.

Llamas have an obvious advantage when it comes to browsing.

The sheep love to munch on any willow prunings we can provide. As part of a varied and balanced diet, willows encourage resistance to internal parasites. Recently we mixed up a concoction of garlic juice and grapeseed oil for the flock, also intended as a wormer and general tonic. Wish I had a video of the process of getting that mixture into the sheep. It's not that they disliked it really, but somehow I went home with a lot of garlic flavoured gel holding the straw in my hair ...

But our best discovery yet is a local supply for kelp meal. Just down the road! After one phone call they were right over with a large bag of kelp, a great book on natural sheep care to lend us, and lots of encouragement. Some shepherds find their flocks aren't interested in kelp, but our sheep love it. They dove right in to the free choice container and have been happily devouring it for the last couple of weeks. Linda says they have been noticeably quieter and more settled since the kelp arrived. It is possible that all their usual bellowing for food has really been calling for seaweed and we just weren't getting the message. Once they have satisfied their craving for whatever minerals and sea magic they have been missing they will likely slow down their kelp consumption.

Here is our kelp supplier, the lively, bright-eyed and cheerful Mrs Hayward, talking with Linda at the Cooks Creek market last weekend (Linda was busily creating an entire pack of needlefelted border collies that day). Mrs Hayward certainly seems to be the epitome of good health, and the sheep are happy, so what the heck ... I came away from that market with a supply of kelp pills for myself!

At the Market

2011-08-31T22:45:00.006-05:00

Here is Linda demonstrating needlefelting at our booth at the Pineridge Hollow Farmers' Market last Saturday. Many people have never seen needlefelting before, and everyone is fascinated by the way in which designs flow through Linda's fingers.

When working on the small pockets on the front of these purses, Linda uses a piece of scrap wool fabric inside the pocket to keep from felting the pocket shut as she works on the design. She still has to regularly stop and detach the pocket from the backing fabric.

We have really enjoyed the casual market atmosphere at Pineridge Hollow. We get to visit with horse friends, sheep friends, and craft friends old and new. While Linda is busy needlefelting, I get to drink coffee and sample all the wonderful baking at the market. We have proven to ourselves that we can more or less work together to put our little canopy tent up and down, even though I refuse to read the directions but still insist on directing the procedure. Linda is extremely patient! She laughs in the face of my ill humour when we meet at these early morning events....although she does encourage me to hurry down to the coffee vendor.

Here is the same little brown purse from Saturday's demonstration after I worked on it today, adding a shoulder strap made from the same woolen sweater,

some bright orange batik lining to go with the sassy gecko, and a couple of covered buttons just for fun.

It's all ready to go for next week's market, which will be the Cooks Creek Harvest Homecoming, held in the Cooks Creek Grotto, 9 -4 on Sunday September 4. We are especially looking forward to this event because Angela is going to be there with Acer and Bruce, two Shetland fibre pet wethers. Originally from our flock, these boys now are leading the good life with Angela and are gathering a lot of fans of their own as they travel around the neighbourhood. Hope to see some of you there!

All the Best Dressed Horses Wear Wool

2011-08-25T23:27:00.004-05:00

Linda's passion for horses is obvious in so much of her artwork. The first thing she wanted to do with fleece when the sheep arrived was make felted saddle pads for the equines in our lives. We haven't quite gotten around to that project, yet. But when I gave her a thrift store book on macrame, and some handspun shetland yarn, these amazing browbands started to appear.

Each one is a unique combination of natural coloured and dyed yarn accented with beads and other treasures. The yarn is tightly spun from the coarser sections of fleece, and then securely knotted, so these browbands are surprisingly strong. These two are modeled for us by Myste, Linda's homebred Arab/Friesian mare. Judging by her ears, I'd say she prefers the second one.

If you are around Oakbank, Manitoba, you can find an assortment of these browbands for sale at Horse & Co.

Linda is also happy to make custom versions, in case you know a horse who might appreciate a little shetland wool in their wardrobe.

Fibre Festival in Neepawa, Manitoba, August 13 & 14

2011-08-02T23:36:00.007-05:00

Here is the schedule for the weekend sheep show and sale, including the fibre festival events.

http://www.mbsheep.ca/uploads/show_schedule_-_2.pdf

Looks like a great weekend! Come meet some sheep, sheep dogs and shepherds. For local fibre enthusiasts, there will be a fleece auction as well as vendors.

Linda will be teaching a needlefelting workshop on Saturday from 1:00 - 3:30 pm. In "Painting with Fleece", students learn to use fleece and special needlefelting needles to create their own pictures. The fee is $45, including all materials.

Let us know if you are interested and we will give you the registration information.

A Dazzle of Dragons

2011-07-04T00:42:00.008-05:00

What is the collective noun for a bunch of dragons? Dazzle seems to fit. Linda has been having fun playing with some fiery colours. The little purse is made from a felted mohair scarf, and the felted cuffs are made from our own fleece. The elastic closure, which loops over the button for an adjustable fit, is felted securely into the cuff. Each cuff is a unique shape, size and colour combination.

A Delight of Dragonflies:

Geckos and ladybugs:

Watchful companions:

This cuff project is an excellent way to find homes for my cherished button collection, too!

Shearing is All Done!

2011-06-21T23:38:00.006-05:00

No more line-ups at the Leafhaven hair salon!

Even the boys are trimmed and looking good.

Celebration time! Doesn't Angela look great in her Shetland boa?

Slow Fibre

2011-06-09T22:48:00.006-05:00

You may have heard of the Slow Food movement, which celebrates regional cuisine, heritage varieties, organic farmers, small scale processing, and generally sounds like a sane antidote to much of our hurried and scattered lives. It occured to me that what we are doing with the Leafhaven flock is creating Slow Fibre. This makes me feel much better about the amazingly long time it can take to produce a few ounces of clean, picked and carded fleece. I'm not foolish and inefficient, I'm Slow!

This Slow process includes shearing. We meant to be quick and efficient this year; I booked a shearer and lined up help and watched the weather, and got annoyingly fixated on making the whole thing happen. Then, for various reasons, the shearer did not show up, and we were looking for plan B. Luckily, our friend Angela is learning to shear and willing to help. Angela has the grace of a dancer and the patience of a saint, and the animals love her. She also has a recently fractured elbow which limits how long she can work at the shearing in a day. So we are not sprinting through this process. We will do a few sheep on each day that Angela, Linda and I can get together at the farm. We'll take time to admire fleece, and to scratch those newly shorn backs so the sheep wag their tails in delight.

This is Bryn's lamb fleece coming off.

We'll stop to pose for silly pictures.

Yes, Bluebelle, that all came off you!! (Although I have been calling her Pigpen and the Walking Compost Pile for months, quite a bit of usable fleece came off that yearling girl.)

And some of us will take breaks for snacks in the shade. This is Beatrix, demonstrating her passion for regional cuisine and her lack of interest in standing up to be shorn.

Maybe, if we are patient, and the weather warms up, more of the sheep will 'roo'. That's when the fleece naturally breaks and can be pulled off by hand. It's Slow ... and very satisfying.

- Margaret

Horses in Wool

2011-05-29T23:19:00.005-05:00

Recently completed pocket purses, featuring one of Linda's favourite subjects portrayed in two very different styles.

Elegant on black:

Fanciful on dark purple:

I found the wonderful batik fabric used for this lining and handle at Nancy Blokland's de-stashing garage sale last weekend.

I love how the world wide web has led me to kindred spirits in my own hometown. Nancy is a potter -- check out her work here -- a gardener, and as it turns out, lives only a few minutes walk from me here in town. I came home from her sale with two bags of fabric and my new favourite handmade coffee mug. Thanks Nancy!

Conversations on a Spring Afternoon

2011-05-25T00:32:00.013-05:00

My young dog Hazel and Linda's pup Trixie are still working out how to play nicely together. Their interactions are a fascinating study in dog body language.

Meanwhile, the sheep girls gather for an afternoon gossip session, perhaps with a plan for a sneak attack on the dogs while they are distracted with their games. Notice waaay off to the left, Archie is all by himself. Who will talk to Archie?

Oliver?

Lady?

Ball?

Ahh ... now that's communication, and a happy sheep in any language.

When Archie met Katlyn

2011-05-08T22:51:00.011-05:00

We are so lucky to have the local vet clinic just a mile from Linda's house, especially since the vet knows sheep. The staff have been very gracious, and perhaps somewhat entertained, when one of our sheep hops out of the back of Linda's car and walks in to say hello. They have stitched up our shearing accidents, and wethered our fibre pets, and offered lots of good advice to the shepherds and scratches for the sheep.

So we were very happy to be able to return some of that good will recently, when a student at the clinic needed some "hands-on" flock time. Katlyn Cook, an Animal Health Technology student just finishing her internship with Dr. Vivien Jacobs, dropped by Leafhaven Farm to practice taking the vitals on various critters. Although the llamas proved to be typically elusive, Leafhaven Archer, affectionately known as Archie, was more than pleased to trade his heart-rate for a few scratches in the right places. Katlyn commented on the small size of the Shetlands and the copious amounts of fleece on their small frames. She was also surprised at how friendly Archie was. Archie is certainly not your typical flighty ovine! In fact, if you sit quietly for a few moments near our flock, you will soon find yourself surrounded by willing 'lap sheep'. Katlyn has experience with a wide variety of animals but this was her first Shetland experience. We wish her luck with her future animal endeavors!

I think Katelyn got Archie's whole heart along with the heart rate!

Our Easter Basket

2011-04-24T14:25:00.006-05:00

Linda is having fun making these felt cuffs, delightful accessories that sparkle with needlefelted dragons, dragonflies, and other flights of fancy.

Each one has a button and elastic closure so the fit is adjustable.

We are using our finest fleeces for these so they will be super comfortable to wear.

I'm carding shades of orange and yellow for Linda's next batch of cuffs. Can't wait to see what appears!

New bags for Spring

2011-04-11T23:32:00.003-05:00

Here are a couple of Linda's latest designs for pocket purses. Flowers and bees abound!

Bruce Goes to Town

2011-03-17T09:33:00.005-05:00

This story comes from our friend Angela, a woman of many talents, who has adopted two of our wethered Shetland boys into her fibre flock. As any of her animals could tell you, that is a very lucky place to land! Here is Angela's account of young Bruce's latest adventure:

"Residents and Staff at Kin Place in Oakbank seemed pleasantly surprised to have a four-legged visitor sheep-walking in the halls of their Personal Care Home on Monday, March 14th. Bruce, a 10-month old Shetland lamb, wore his red bandana and customized diaper (to prevent any mishaps on the floor) and proceeded to happily introduce himself to all who beckoned. This was Bruce’s first indoor session as part of Animal-Assisted Visits by Lala’s Littles, a small business owned by Angela Temple. Bruce may not have fleece as white as snow, but he sure is a softy! He demonstrated how he could butt the beach ball and shake a hoof, but not once did he say “baa”. He made up for it as he cried all the way home while being transported inside the truck cap. Don’t worry, he was cuddled and made a fuss of once he returned to his barnyard."

I love how everyone's hands are drawn to Bruce's lovely fleece. That's a wonderful tactile experience any day, and must be particularly appreciated by folks whose lives are constrained in many ways.

Now that's comedy!

Bruce is partially polled, which means instead of big impressive horns he wears these teensy "scurs". Some people prefer to breed for sheep without horns to lessen the potential damage they can do to farm infrastructure and each other.

Here's a picture of Bruce and his twin sister Bryn with their mother Poppy, last May. Both the lambs have their father's katmoget pattern, which gives them the interesting face markings. Their fleeces are a luscious fawn colour.

Thanks to Angela for giving our baby such a good home!

Simple and Cheerful

2011-03-14T22:44:00.005-05:00

These little wool felt bags are just for fun.

They are sewn from recycled woolen sweaters and decorated with Linda's needlefelt art.

Each pouch is about 2 1/2 x4 inches and is intended to hang around the neck. They can hold a cell phone and credit card, or keys, or be worn just as themselves.

Because they are small there is not room for a lot of detail in the design, but Linda still manages to give each one a full measure of charm and character.

The Last of the Winter Birds

2011-03-07T10:08:00.002-06:00

This felt vest was made here in Manitoba by Seine River Shepherds. Linda decorated it with a needlefelt design of blue jays on snow covered branches.

We're showing you this today, because by mutual agreement there will be no more snow scenes featured on these pages until we are sweating in the summer heat and longing for a cool breeze.

From here on, it's going to be all flowers and sunshine and bright summer birds.

These jays are gorgeous though, aren't they?

Survival of the Blissfully Innocent

2011-02-28T22:26:00.007-06:00

A few weeks ago, as the snow piled up, Jasper decided to climb over the fence and join the ewes. Since he was successfully wethered last summer, Linda let him stay. It is interesting to note how he likes to look after his girls. Between Jasper and the llamas nobody could sneak up on that flock! Which is a good thing, because while most of the ewes have that feisty self-reliant Shetland attitude and pay close attention to the arrival of people and strange dogs, dear "special " Beatrix obviously needs somebody to watch her back.

Perhaps, like an ostrich, she feels safest with her head buried in the hay. Not likely a successful evolutionary tactic though.

What can possibly be so interesting at the very bottom of the hay pile, Bea?

Love that ground-in vegetation look in the fleece ... oh I get it, it's camouflage! Being the smallest, whitest sheep in a flock calls for very special survival skills.

You can open your eyes little Bea, the dogs have gone.

Local Farmers to the Rescue

2011-02-24T23:26:00.005-06:00

I had the pleasure this evening of hearing Joel Salatin speak at the first night of the "Growing Locally" conference in Winnipeg. Joel and his Polyface farm in Virginia have been featured in many articles, interviews and discussions in recent years with a focus on sustainable farming and healthy food. He is the sort of thoughtful and articulate person that gives one hope for the future, especially because his words grow out of a lifetime of innovative, practical and productive work.

Coincidentally, tonight CBC radio was re-broadcasting the thought provoking Ideas series "Have Your Meat and Eat it Too", which includes interviews with Joel Salatin. Definitely worth a listen.

Joel describes Polyface Farm as being "in the redemption business: healing the land, healing the food, healing the economy, and healing the culture." He maintains this positive vision in outspoken opposition to the entrenched problems of industrial agriculture. I particularly appreciate his clarity about the moral and ethical boundaries to human cleverness, and the wisdom of understanding and following nature's patterns in a farm system.

The choices we make when buying food have a huge impact on our communities and our environment; and reveal our own ethical convictions. Of course, the "buy local" concept easily extends to other items as well. If you love to work with wool, find a source for locally produced fleece and yarn, and get to know your farmers and their animals. These are the connections that enrich all of our lives.

Joel Salatin at Polyface Farm

Spindle, Spindle, Spindle .... Yarn!

2011-02-14T18:41:00.007-06:00

That was fun! Thanks to Joanne Seiff, there are now ten new spinners in southern Manitoba. Everyone went home with their own handspun yarn and lots more roving for practice. Amazing little tools, those spindles. As Joanne says, what they may lack in speed they make up for with portability and convenience. Not to mention a rich and varied history, and oh yes, the many, many beautifully crafted styles, shapes and colours of spindles to be discovered. I find the Turkish style particularly enticing, especially as demonstrated by Michelle of Boulderneigh. She has a delicious collection!

Bring on the Colour

2011-02-07T22:22:00.004-06:00

The fibre kits are almost ready for the needlefelting class Linda is teaching for the Manitoba Craft Museum and Library on February 19. There is a nice lilac colour in the dye pot right now, and plans for one more shade of green. Each kit includes a variety of dyed colours, and a generous helping of natural shades. Linda's technique for needlefelting includes sketching or underpainting the design first in the natural shades before adding the final colours. This gives each piece great depth of colour and texture.

I love the colours in this sweater, one of the latest acquisitions from the thrift store. Certainly brightens up the winter landscape!

February Light

2011-02-01T12:05:00.002-06:00

Right now we are balancing at the half way point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. In these northern latitudes, you suddenly realize, yes the days are getting longer, and the sun is growing stronger. This time of hope and light has been celebrated for thousands of years, through ancient pagan traditions, through the Christian observance of Candlemas, and most obviously now with the widespread and peculiar rites of groundhog day. Whether your local groundhog sees his shadow or not, we are six weeks away from official spring!

To celebrate, I put together an Etsy treasury, a gathering of handcrafted items that glow with the special promise of February. You can check it out here.

It's Beautiful, Now Let it Go

2011-01-27T23:08:00.006-06:00

This is what things looked like in our corner of the world this morning, thanks to a moisture laden warm front rolling in from the west. Gray frosted with gray, on a background of gray.

Hoarfrost is at its most dramatic when the sun breaks through and for a few glorious moments the air is full of shattering crystal. Today stayed overcast though, and the vision just gradually faded away.

All those shades of gray reminded me -- of course -- of Shetland fleece, particularly this lamb fleece of Jasper's. I've been hoarding it away, because there will never be another Jasper lamb fleece, and it is lovely, and I want whatever comes of it to be worthy, and I fear I might somehow wreck it.

This morning I brought it out into the frosty gray light of day, and I promise not to put it away in the dark again. Time for this fleece to make the next step in its evolution, and whether the results sparkle brilliantly or with a more subtle charm, I will be pleased to have had a chance to play with it.
Besides, as Linda and I keep reminding ourselves, we now have 15 sheep to shear and we really need to learn to part with fleece. Our agreed upon goal is to process all the fleece remaining in her house and mine by spring. And that mild air this morning held a distant promise of spring, somewhere beyond the gray horizon.

Staying Warm in Winter

2011-01-05T22:08:00.003-06:00

This time of year I often get the urge to make a big pot of soup; something to warm the house and nourish the body on a cold day. Then I remember ... this is what's cooking in the crock pot around here:

It seems a reasonable trade-off. No more soup pot, but I have a rainbow of fleece to keep me warm!

Peace, Love and Hay

2010-12-23T09:33:00.006-06:00

Wishing you all the best of the season: a warm safe place to hang out, the company of friends and family, and abundant opportunity for carbohydrate loading while waiting for the sun ...

And no, this is not the sanctioned eating spot for lambs, but Bluebell (aka Pigpen) has a flair for revealing all the weak spots in one's plans and fences. Her twin sister, the ever-innocent Beatrix is always close behind.

Happy holidays, from Linda, Margaret, and the whole Leafhaven flock.

Learn to Spin with Joanne Seiff

2010-12-19T00:10:00.006-06:00

Cloverleaf Art & Fibre and Joanne Seiff present a class:

Learn to Spin!
Taught by Joanne Seiff*

Handspinning with a spindle is an ancient craft that is still important even today. Everyone in a household, including children as young as four, used to help spin yarn that clothed the family and kept them warm! Join Joanne and learn a bit about wool and learn to use a handspindle to make your own yarn. When you leave this class, you’ll own a spindle, some practice wool, and you’ll be able to practice spinning at home.

Note: This class is all you’ll need to begin spinning. It’s also a great introduction to the skills you’ll need if you decide to learn to spin on a spinning wheel.

When: February 13th from 1:30-4:30 pm
Where: Henderson Library
1-1050 Henderson Highway, Winnipeg, MB
Cost: $60
This includes: a $30 materials fee for a beginner’s spindle, wool, room fee and other materials & a $30 class fee per person
Spaces are Limited! Register by February 6th to reserve your spot!
email us at cloverleaf.fibre@gmail.com

Want to stock up on fibery goodness while you learn? Cloverleaf Art & Fibre will bring a selection of Shetland wool fleece, roving and art straight from their lovingly raised Shetland flock! Also purchase signed copies of Joanne’s books as well as other goodies…all while learning to spin in a friendly, hands-on environment.

*About the Instructor:
Joanne Seiff is the author of Fiber Gathering, a book about fiber festivals, and Knit Green: 20 Projects and Ideas for Sustainability. She’s been spinning for over 25 years-- and knitting longer than that! Her handspun yarn and fiber art has been sold in galleries and won awards at state fairs and in art competitions. She teaches throughout North America at sheep shows, fiber festivals, and yarn shops.

We are so lucky to have Joanne living in Winnipeg now, and here at Cloverleaf we are very pleased to work with her to offer this class. Hope you can join us!

Felt takes Flight

2010-12-10T22:33:00.004-06:00

These two pieces of handmade felt (pictured front and back) are on their way to their new home in British Columbia, where they will be the canvases for someone else's needlefelt creations.

The felts are all natural fleece colours from our flock of Shetland sheep.

This is the first time Linda has actually parted with an unadorned piece of her felt. Usually by the time the felting is completed she has a clear image of her design for the next stage and can't wait to get to the needlefelting.

But these are part of a custom order, and it will be wonderful to see how they speak to the next person to hold them in their hands.

Enjoy, Darlene!

Sharing the Joys of Needlefelting

2010-12-07T10:11:00.005-06:00

Linda at the November 27 "Painting with Fleece" workshop, taking a quiet moment to watch inspiration strike. Once students grasp the basics of needlefelting they can't be stopped! The results were as interesting and varied as the great group of people who gathered that day. More classes will be scheduled for the new year, including 3-dimensional needlefelting. And for those of you interested in learning to spin, we will soon have good news -- stayed tuned!

Felt Set in Stone

2010-12-02T00:08:00.004-06:00

Linda is creating a series of small works that explore the contrasting textures of handmade felt and stone. Recently she was given a number of pieces of polished granite, all with smooth mottled faces and one rough broken edge. They make wonderful foundations for the flowing dynamic contours of the felt. Many carvers talk about releasing a form from the stone, and that is what Linda says about finding her creatures in the felt. This piece contained two little owls. With some deft needlefelted details they open their eyes and spring to life.

Winter and Wool

2010-11-20T08:27:00.004-06:00

Winter has really arrived, and with it the excitement of seasonal craft sales. Linda will be at the Lac du Bonnet sale in eastern Manitoba today. She has created some new festive felt sculptures -- so new I don't have pictures yet! -- to brighten up the winter home. Or if natural colours are your theme, how about a lively woolen animal for the tree? Linda's animal sculptures feature a unique wire armature which make it possible to move and pose the limbs. Nothing like the first snow of the year to get those horses kicking up their heels!

Raw Materials

2010-11-16T23:03:00.006-06:00

It's not that I need more fabric in the house, but a half-price sale at Value Village is not to be ignored. My contribution to the lovely purses that Linda decorates is finding and preparing the recycled sweaters. I've developed a sharp eye for picking out the prized wool sweaters from amongst the endless racks of acrylic in the thrift stores. I am also learning to recognize which knits are likely to felt well (technically of course they are fulling, not felting. Felting is what fleece does. But you know what I mean). Linda likes a good solid fabric on which to work her needlefelt magic. Among my favourite finds are the cardigans made from what is called "boiled wool" , which are partially fulled already and have a lovely texture to begin with. The red sweater in the photo is that style, with the bonus of little pockets that are great design elements in a purse. The yellow and light green sweaters are very soft and a bit on the lightweight side. This makes them less than ideal for felting, but I love the colours. I think they would make a lovely scarf or baby blanket. I have high hopes for the dark green sweater turning into a lovely dense fabric.

Pure wool blankets in good condition are another sought after prize. This one has a tag I haven't seen before. It's a "Saskatchewan Deluxe," made in Moose Jaw. I wish the tags had dates.

Step one for any wool item that comes into the house is a good hot wash/cold rinse in the washing machine. I really do not want to bring any moths or other pests into this house of fleece! After the first wash, I cut the sweaters into pieces and wash them again so that they can continue to felt without the restriction of the seams. After sewing the purses together I wash them once more and block them before presenting the artist with her "canvas". It is always a treat to see what designs Linda creates for each purse. Then I have the fun of choosing a lining fabric to finish off the piece. This collaborative effort is great for me, because left to my own devices I might never actually finish a project. And being part of this team means there is always a good reason to drop in at the thrift store in search of the perfect sweater!

-Margaret

Sheepish

2010-11-09T11:22:00.005-06:00

Many shepherds offer pumpkins to their flocks in the fall. They are a nice change in the diet, fun to play with, and there is some anecdotal evidence that a good feed of pumpkin helps to control intestinal parasites in sheep as well.

I've had this pumpkin in my backyard for a couple of weeks waiting for a day when I could get out to the farm. (I have this hope that if I bring treats the sheep will be more tolerant of my fleece fondling habits. )

This morning Hazel finally got tired of waiting! I wonder what effects this much raw squash will have on a dog's intestinal tract? I must stop telling her she is a sheep dog ...

Who, me?

Spirits of the North Wind

2010-11-05T00:03:00.004-05:00

This is one of the new wall hangings Linda took to Art Expo. The show opened tonight, and this piece is now sold!

For a shepherd, Linda seems to have an awfully strong affinity to wolves! She says she has heard wolves howling out at the farm this fall and I guess they have entered her dreams. I think it is fascinating how Linda can turn fleece from our gentle sheep into such a powerful portrait of their eternal predator. The history of sheep and wolves has been entwined for thousands of years, but this combination of fleece, artistic vision and wolf spirit is unique. Let us hope that it will have protective powers for our flock and keep the real wolves well away.

Manitoba Art Expo

2010-11-03T00:09:00.004-05:00

Assiniboia Downs, Winnipeg

Thursday, Nov. 4: 6:00PM - 9:00PM
Friday, Nov. 5: 1:00PM – 9:00PM
Saturday, Nov. 6: 10:00AM - 8:00PM
Sunday, Nov. 7: 12 noon- 5:00PM

Linda will be at this art show all weekend with her unique felted wall hangings. Stop in and say hello!

Another "Painting with Fleece" Workshop

2010-10-29T15:38:00.004-05:00

We've set the date for another of Linda's popular needlefelting classes:

Painting with Fleece

"Merry Midwinter"

Saturday, November 27, 2010

1:00 - 4:00 pm

Henderson Library

1-1050 Henderson Highway in Winnipeg.

Looking for a new craft for the winter, or something different for seasonal gift giving? This is your opportunity to explore texture, colour and design through the art of needlefelting. The technique is simple – strands of coloured fleece are applied to a woollen fabric background using a special barbed needle – but the possibilities are endless. Linda will provide a choice of designs as inspiration for the picture you will create in this class.

Your new skills can be used to decorate clothing and accessories , to embellish quilts, and to create your own unique fibre art.

The fleece provided is from the Leafhaven backyard flock of purebred Shetland sheep, in a delightful range of natural and hand-dyed colours.

Cost: $45 (includes fabric, designs, fleece in a variety of colours, and needles)

To register, email cloverleaf.fibre@gmail.com

Exploring the Idea of "Fibreshed"

2010-10-25T10:23:00.005-05:00

That's fibre-shed, (or "Fibershed" for those of you south of the border ...) as in watershed, a concept that will get you thinking about where your textiles come from, and the impact of farming and processing on your local environment.

This site, "Fibershed", is inspirational and thought provoking. The project was launched last March with the goal of creating and wearing clothes whose fibres and colours were all sourced within 150 miles of the Bay area in California. The blog chronicles the process bringing together fibre ranchers, cotton farmers, designers, mills, spinners, weaver and knitters. The photo above shows a designer modeling a hat while petting the sheep that inspired her design.

This thoughtful approach to living lightly on the earth can be adapted to work anywhere, and what a wonderful way to connect with your community. It allows for marketing with integrity and focus; and for shopping with pleasure. People are so ready for this!

I'm going to keep thinking about ways in which Cloverleaf Art and Fibre can connect with our local fibreshed. What connections have your made in your community?

Shetland Wool Week

2010-10-21T00:17:00.012-05:00

Jamieson and Smith, the iconic wool brokers on the Shetland Islands, are celebrating Shetland Wool with special events all next week.

Shetland Wool Week 25 - 31 October 2010
a week dedicated to Shetland wool
Monday - Thursday afternoons Knitting and spinning at J&S
Wednesday evening Textiles in Focus at Bonhoga Gallery
Thursday evening Creative Textiles with local designer-maker
Friday evening Celebrations, knitwear and yarn launch
Saturday Shetland Flock Book. Wool, tea and cake at J&S
All week Wool Scavenger Hunt at the Shetland Museum

Come and see us anytime at our newly renovated Yarn Store for cosy drinks, bakes and a sneaky peak behind the scenes at the hub of Shetland's wool industry.

Doesn't that sound lovely? They are also running a photography competition "inspired by the transformation of Shetland wool". Those of us who can't get to the islands can look forward to viewing the winning pictures of the little sheep in their native landscape.

The Tail End of Summer

2010-10-13T08:48:00.003-05:00

Canadian Thanksgiving has come and gone in a glorious stream of sunny days. It's easy to see what our flock is most thankful for! Although the pastures are fading away with autumn, the sheep are pleased to have plenty of hay to munch on. Good hay is at a premium this fall after such a miserable wet summer. But don't worry girls, there will be enough! No shoving!

Busy Hands

2010-10-04T23:09:00.004-05:00

Ten of us had an enjoyable afternoon playing with fibre at Linda's needlefelting class last Saturday. Thanks for coming out ladies! The basics of the craft are straightforward -- place fleece, poke, repeat -- but under Linda's guidance students explore design and colour, shaping and texture, light and shadows, and the pleasure of working with fleece from animals you know by name.

We also realized that there is a real demand locally for needlefelting supplies, so we are stocking up on needles and foam as well as preparing more fleece. If you are in the Winnipeg area and in need of these supplies, let's get connected.

Not Exactly Fall Colours

2010-09-30T11:54:00.005-05:00

Some of the colours we have ready for the "Painting with Fleece" needlefelt class that Linda is teaching this weekend. Linda's designs for this workshop are of butterflies, flowers and tropical fish, so all these colours will get put to good use.

There will be more workshops offered in the new year. If you are interested, please follow this blog or send us your email so we can put you on the mailing list for future events.

Yes, These Are Pet Sheep

2010-09-26T22:26:00.011-05:00

Linda and I had some great "hands-on" sheep time this afternoon, finally cornering all the youngsters in the barn and giving them a good going over. Hopefully the more skittish little girls learned that it is actually quite pleasant to get a nice scratch in those hard to reach places. We like our sheep to be friendly. Because, while we have a lot to learn about what makes a perfect Shetland sheep, it is clear we have a few who need to emphasize their charm over some of their physical characteristics. They may not be included in future breeding plans, but they all have something to offer our fibre flock.

Take Beatrix. She was so tiny at birth we dressed her in a sweater (the cut-off sleeve of a sweater actually). Even though she grew quickly and is a healthy lamb, we still think of her as Special.

The Shetland breed standard calls for wool on the top of the head and on the cheeks, and Beatrix is smooooth. Her tail, though, is too wooly. Her legs aren't as straight as they could be. But she likes to get her chin scratched, and there is some lovely crimp in that white fleece, and white is such fun for dyeing.

Bea's sister, Bluebell, is a walking bad hair day. There is great diversity in Shetland fleece types but I think this girl may be on the way to defining a whole new category. Let's reserve judgement until next spring. Here's what we are looking at right now though ... warning ... this photo will make the handspinners wince ...

Yes, she is definitely packing her lunch in there. What a mess! Her fleece has open waves rather than tight crimp and that seems to let the vegetation settle in more. On close inspection I thought I could see some crimp coming in at the base of the fleece, so this could be a different story by spring.

There is so much to learn about how to judge sheep conformation and fleece. It's a lifetime project. Meanwhile, we are going to enjoy every one of these fleecy beasts, and we love it when they enjoy our company too.

Archie says: "Just a little to the left, Linda .... ahhh bliss!"

"Elephant Dreams" goes to Gibsons

2010-09-19T21:36:00.011-05:00

Linda's felt wall hanging "Elephant Dreams" was accepted for display at the Juried Exhibit at Gibsons Landing Fibre Arts Festival , on British Columbia's Sunshine Coast, last month. (Sadly, neither Linda nor I got to go with it!)

The judges' comments included "very detailed and original, fabulous concept, beautifully achieved".

Here is what Linda has to say about the piece:

" Elephant Dreams – Do elephants dream? I believe they do, and this needle-felted work, created in 2007, provides a glimpse into their possible dreams: perhaps memories of travelling with long-lost friends on a clear moonlit night.

This detail shows a close-up of the elephant’s eye, with its very long, dreamy eyelashes – the wrinkles of the skin were worked with the needle until you could feel them when touched; one of my early successes with introducing the 3-dimensional texture into a 2-dimensional piece. "

Dyeing with Pearl

2010-09-11T22:16:00.000-05:00

Our ewe Pearl tends to look rather grubby most of the time. It's hard to keep a white fleece looking otherwise when you live outside. If I really wanted to embarrass her I would post a picture taken this spring, when she was pregnant with twins, and we were half way through the process of "rooing" her. Rooing is a trait found in some primitive sheep breeds which allows the fleece to break and be stripped off by hand, rather than shorn. It is hard to time it right, and not all Shetlands roo easily, and it is very time consuming. Sometimes one sheep will roo in sections over a period of time, which is how Pearl ended up looking like this:

Sorry, Pearl. Couldn't resist.

Usually Pearl is a keep to herself kind of gal. But this spring hormones got the better of her, and she decided that having her fleece pulled off was as good as pickles and ice cream. She actually lay down beside me with her eyes rolling back in her head while I gleeful bagged handfuls of fleece. That was fun while it lasted.

It may be hard to imagine from that picture, but Pearl's fleece washes up to a lovely soft, bright white fibre that is wonderful for dyeing. This week I started dyeing some fleece for the needlefelting course that Linda is teaching in October. I do small batches of fibre in the slow cooker. Here are some finished batts and some uncarded fibre in the afternoon sun:

Pearl's fleece has a lovely lustre, or sheen. As I understand it, lustre is connected to the way the scales lie on each strand of wool; the smoother the scales the more light the fleece reflects, and the brighter the colours possible when dyeing. Smooth scaled fleeces don't felt as quickly as ones with more open scales, which makes sense when we compare Pearl's fleece to that of Poppy. Poppy's dark fleece doesn't have the same shine, and it felts in a heartbeat. Sometimes while she is still wearing it, sadly!

Does lustre persist even after dyeing? Seems to me it does, because these samples really sparkle.

Partly the magic of that precious September sunshine, perhaps?

- Margaret

An Unexpected Addition to the Fibre Stash

2010-09-06T22:41:00.000-05:00

We've been given an amazing gift of fibre to play with. The first is roving, ready for spinning, that looks like maybe an Icelandic wool, in lovely shades of gray. Part of this will go to another local shepherd who is learning to spin.

Then there is this pastel rainbow of SILK pieces which I can imagine sparkling up either felt or yarn. Does anyone have any advice on including silk fibre in felt?

The gift bag also included this already spun super-chunky eye-popping pink and purple silk yarn.

Thanks to Sharon for this inspirational gift! Sharon trains border collies and wants to bring a couple of young dogs over to meet the Leafhaven flock. She knows that Shetlands are not particularly co-operative when it comes to herding, but nice controlled meet-and-greet might do everyone some good. (If it comes to a showdown, my money is on Pearl everytime. She loves a good game of butt-the-dog any day.)

The Results of a Rainy Monday

2010-08-30T23:16:00.000-05:00

Well, it is very much a work in progress still, but Cloverleaf Art and Fibre now has an online shop on the Etsy site. There is a link on the right hand side of this page, if you want to check it out.

Just for fun, here's one of our favourite pictures of Leafhaven Archer, better known as Archie, as a lamb last year. Archie (now wethered) is our mascot, and is always Very Helpful around the farm.

Meanwhile, back in the pasture ...

2010-08-28T16:59:00.000-05:00

Weaning seems to have gone successfully with a minimum of fuss, thanks to a friend hosting the trio of mothers for few days. The youngsters were distracted by the new girls getting out of quarantine and into the flock. I had no idea sheep could have such expressive body language! Here is what things looked like when Shirley, the new yearling, greeted our usually sweet-faced Anemone:

Followed quickly by the sound of cracking heads. Not sure who won that round.

Shirley met with fewer objections when she thoroughly inspected Bowmore's tail:

And finally settled in for lunch with Avalon:

The little brown shadow in the background is Kenora, who likes to keep very close to Shirley, but just out of reach of people. I do hope she warms up to us soon. I have yet to actually run my fingers through that lovely moorit fleece!

The Textile and Fibre Art List

2010-08-26T22:15:00.000-05:00

Cloverleaf Art and Fibre has been accepted as a member of TAFA, the Textile and Fibre Art List, an international online gallery connecting artists, suppliers, and admirers of the fibre arts. TAFA is only a few months old, but under the direction of the dynamic artist and entrepreneur Rachel Biel, it is really going places. Check it out at TAFA

Needlefelt Workshop "Painting with Fleece"

2010-08-23T17:00:00.000-05:00

Saturday October 2: enjoy an afternoon with Linda learning the basic techniques of needlefelting.

Explore texture, colour and design in a whole new way through the art of needlefelting. The technique is simple - strands of coloured fleece are applied to a woollen fabric background using a special barbed needle - but the possibilities are endless. Linda will provide a choice of designs as inspiration for the picture you will create in this class.

Your new skills can be used to decorate clothing and accessories, to embellish quilts, and to create your own unique fibre art.

The fleece provided is from the Leafhaven flock of purebred Shetland sheep, in a delightful range of natural and hand-dyed colours.

Saturday, October 2, 2010
1:30 - 4:00 pm
Munroe Library
489 London Street
Winnipeg
Cost: $45 (includes background fabric, fleece in a variety of colours, and felting needles )

To register, email cloverleaf.fibre@gmail.com or phone 231-4321

The Gathering of the Flock

2010-08-20T23:20:00.000-05:00

We really enjoyed our day at the Prairie Shepherd's 4H Sheep Show and Sale in Neepawa last weekend. This was the first year that the event offered fibre related workshops, and there is lots of excitement about next year already. We were pleased to be able to display information about Shetland sheep and fleece samples. Best of all, thanks to Linda Wendelboe of Fibre Works Farm in Alberta, we had some beautiful handknit articles, including a prize winning scarf Linda had acquired at a show in the Shetland islands; and this amazing lace shawl:

This shawl was created for the 2007 North American Shetland Sheep Association Annual General Meeting. The wool, a fine moorit, is from the Firth of Fifth flock, Cynthia Caillagh-Allen. The yarn was spun by Linda Wendelboe. The shawl was designed and knit by Catherine Thompson, a renowned Shetland lace knitter from Victoria, B.C.

Linda Wendelboe says it took over 75 hours to spin the 2 ounces of 2 ply yarn for this shawl. Amazingly, the finest yarn traditionally spun by the master Shetland spinners could be 2 or 3 times finer than this. Oh, my. That means it may have taken a spinner as long as a year to spin enough yarn, maybe 3 or 4 ounces, for a wedding veil or other ultra fine project. Spinning can be wonderfully meditative; an all-absorbing, in-the-moment experience, but 3 ounces in one year?! That is mastery of the art on some kind of mythic scale. Such patience and focus are rare in this high speed, cluttered world.

Thank you Cynthia, Linda, and Catherine for creating this beautiful shawl in celebration of Shetland sheep and Shetland artisans.

Visions

2010-08-08T22:46:00.000-05:00

"The Mind's Eye"
Chaotic multi-coloured horses flow through this vision. Needlefelted on handmade shetland wool felt. 20"x18", for sale at $800.

"Mystique"
Out of the swirling patterns of the felt emerges the riveting eye of Horse.
13 x 15 inches, for sale at $175.

Settling In at Leafhaven

2010-08-03T00:02:00.000-05:00

The new girls are a little camera shy yet, but here's a few pictures to give the idea of the lovely fleece colours they are bringing to our flock.

The dainty Shirley Booth:

The delicious Willow Garden Kenora: (originally known on Bill's blog as Woodstock, but now named after the Ontario town closest to Manitoba)

The delightful Windy Grange Cairo, reaching out to try the treats Linda is offering:

Shetlands Across Canada, 2010, the Manitoba Story

2010-07-30T22:37:00.000-05:00

It's been an exciting couple of days for Leafhaven Shetlands as we have welcomed new sheep into the flock. Thanks to Bill Stearman, of Willow Garden Shetlands in Ontario, who orchestrated the great sheep shuffle and made the deliveries in all directions. Yesterday he brought us Willow Garden Shirley Booth, a yearling gray ewe, and Willow Garden Kenora, a moorit ewe lamb. After a rendezvous further west with Vicki of Windy Grange Shetlands, Bill and Pete headed back east and today dropped off Windy Grange Cairo, a "moorit gulmoget smirslet sokket" ewe lamb, which for those of us who don't speak the lingo, seems to mean "brown, with white markings, kinda like a cow". But waaay cuter! We'll get pictures of the girls after they've had their beauty sleep.

Of course, Linda was away today at the Sioux Narrows Arts Festival, so that left it to me, Leafhaven's intrepid reporter, to pick up young Cairo. I'm game, but here's the thing... this is what Bill drives to transport sheep:

And here's what I drive ...

People, we are here to tell you it can be done. One small sheep, one just right sized dog crate, a short 30 minute trip to the farm, and all was well. We had a good conversation on the way, too.

Here's Pete, Bill, and Rayan, another Manitoba Shetland fan picking up sheep today:

And here's Bill counting heads again.... and again .... seems one of Rayan's lambs managed to avoid getting put on the truck at the other end, and is still romping around in Alberta. No, Bill is not going back to get her!

Sioux Narrows Arts Festival

2010-07-28T23:12:00.000-05:00

What a great place for a summer art festival and sale!

Linda will be at the Sioux Narrows Art Festival this weekend, July 31 and August 1 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day at the Sioux Narrows Curling Rink. Admission is by donation.

Sioux Narrows is south of Kenora, Ontario on Highway 71. If you are in the area, or looking for a good reason for a drive, make this unique show part of your August long weekend.

While you are there, get a close look at this new wall hanging, "The Yin and Yang of Equus". The handmade felt includes the first fleeces from our yearling Shetlands. The natural colours of the Shetlands are wonderful.

Linda will also be selling hand made felts and fleece for needlefelting, in natural and hand dyed colours, for those of you who want to try some hands on fibre art!

Off to Spruce Meadows

2010-07-08T09:51:00.000-05:00

Cloverleaf Art and Fibre is on the road today, heading for Spruce Meadows equestrian centre in Alberta. This weekend's "North American" show jumping Tournament attracts thousands of visitors, and includes the Equifair Market where Linda will be displaying and selling her work. She's been busy creating some stunning new wall hangings; a new line of unique knotted and beaded browbands for horse enthusiasts; and of course lots of horse-themed items such as this prancing pony pocket purse.

Watercolours ...

2010-06-24T10:43:00.001-05:00

It's been raining ... and raining ... and then raining some more. The dugout has flooded, there are ducks in the pasture, and goodness knows how many of Linda's boots are mired out there somewhere. Luckily the sheep have some relatively dry ground.

Good inspiration to dye some fleece in colours suitable for water scenes!

Unicorns and Ram Lamb Horns

2010-06-09T00:27:00.000-05:00

This brilliant unicorn dances on a pocket purse made from a forest green sweater trimmed in blue. Lined with a print of rich gold and silver.

Young Bowmore showing off his tiny horns. Clearly he considers himself superior to any one-horned mythical creature!

Manitoba Night -- Rendez-Vous Canada

2010-05-16T14:35:00.000-05:00

Linda was one of the artisans invited to Manitoba Night at the Centennial Concert Hall, part of the Rendez-Vous Canada, an international tourism and trade show recently held in Winnipeg.

Of course, Penny chose that day to deliver her twin lambs! That wraps up lambing season at Leafhaven Farm for this year. Now the real fun begins, as six little lambs hit the pasture running.

Happy Mother's Day

2010-05-09T22:23:00.001-05:00

Poppy tending to her newborn twins, one ram and one ewe, both an intriguing mix of colours in the katmoget pattern. Thank you Poppy!

Pearl's Baby Girls!

2010-05-02T19:07:00.001-05:00

Pearl delivered twin ewe lambs this morning while Linda was off at the Artisans Market. Welcome to the latest additions to our purebred Shetland sheep fibre flock! Yes, that little white girl is the tiniest lamb imaginable, but she is feisty like her mum and eating well.

It's Spring!

2010-04-30T23:30:00.000-05:00

Come out to the Artisans Market this weekend

The Manitoba Crafts Museum and Library will be holding their annual Artisans Markert featuring 20 tables of high quality craft, all made by artists from Manitoba.

When: May 1 & 2, 10am to 5pm

Where: Fort Whyte Alive, 1961 McCreary Road

Linda will be there with her latest creations, including these sparkly little pocket purses.

New this spring: needlefelting kits featuring 'homegrown' Shetland wool in a variety of natural colours.

Needle Felting Class in Winnipeg

2010-02-17T15:01:00.000-06:00

Linda is teaching a needle felting class for the Manitoba Craft Museum and Library.

March 13th, 9am - 12 noon

Cost: $25, or $20 for MCML members, plus kit fee of $25.

With this method of dry wool felting you will learn how to make designs on a flat felting surface, or create a three-dimensional felted piece. Linda will provide shetland fleece in a variety of colours to spark your imagination. She will also share her unique approach to creating a simple wire structure which allows for posable limbs on the finished sculptures. Extra felting kits and fleece will be available for sale.

To register, contact the MCML at:
1B-183 Kennedy St.
Winnipeg, Manitoba
R3C 1S6

Phone/FAX
204-487-6117
e-mail mcml1@mts.net

Linda's work featured at Craft Council Exhibition

2010-02-05T22:41:00.000-06:00

CRAFTS COUNCIL OF MANITOBA
2010 Member Showcase - Feb 5-16 2009
Opening Reception Friday, February 5th at 7:00pm
Exhibition continues February 5-16, 2010
Featuring new work by over 30 MCC members
Cre8ery Gallery
2nd floor, 125 Adelaide St, Wpg
Gallery hours
Tue - Sat: 12 - 5 pm
Mon & Thu: 6 -10 pm

Linda's pieces at this show include:
Wallhanging:
In the Garden with Anna
Shoulder bag:
Hummingbird on White

Wall Hanging: In the Garden with Anna

2009-11-24T00:15:00.001-06:00

A charming scene needlefelted onto handmade felt. Truly a unique piece of artwork, "In the Garden with Anna" is about 14"x14" in size. Price $500.

SOLD July 2010

Wall Hanging: The Nomad

2009-11-24T00:08:00.000-06:00

This lovely fox with the mesmerizing eyes is needlefelted onto a felt background, handmade of shetland wool and llama fibre. Size about 11" by 17". Price $375.

Wall Hanging "Wild Hearts"

2009-11-06T19:39:00.000-06:00

Needlefelted on handmade felt of Shetland sheep and llama fibre. Approximately 24"x28", $800. On display this weekend for the first time at Manitoba Art Expo, Winnipeg. SOLD

Wall Hanging "Free Spirits"

2009-11-06T19:36:00.000-06:00

Needlefelted on handmade felt in a Shetland wool and llama fibre blend. Approximately 28"x24". Price is $750. On display for the first time this weekend at Manitoba Art Expo.

Wall Hanging "Runaway"

2009-11-06T19:27:00.000-06:00

Needlefelted on handmade felt of Shetland wool and llama fibre. Approximately 16"x24". Price is $600. On display this weekend for the first time at Manitoba Art Expo, Winnipeg. SOLD

Wall Hanging "Dancers on Air"

2009-11-06T19:19:00.000-06:00

Needlefelted on handmade felt of Shetland sheep and llama fibre, 14"x14". Price is $300. On exhibit for the first time this weekend at Manitoba Art Expo, Assiniboia Downs, Winnipeg.

Featured this weekend at Manitoba Art Expo

2009-11-06T19:12:00.001-06:00

"Pride Goeth"

"The Volunteers"

These two colourful wall hangings are needlefelted on handmade Shetland wool felt. They are about 12" x 13". Priced at $350 each.

Wall Hanging "Bright Eyes"

2009-11-05T11:01:00.001-06:00

Handmade alpaca felt, approximately 20x20 inches. Price $450.

Shoulder Bag: Hummingbird on White

2009-11-01T01:00:00.000-05:00

A larger than life-size hummingbird, captured in needlefelt, on a background of soft white felted wool. The bag is lined with a green cotton print, also used for the covered button closure. Price $75.00

Wall Hanging "Snow Runners"

2009-10-30T18:34:00.000-05:00

Handmade felt of white Shetland fleece (thanks to our ewe Pearl!) provides a perfect background for this dynamic wolf pack running through the snow. Approximate size 24"x14", price $300.

Wall Hanging: "Kalahari King"

2009-10-28T23:53:00.000-05:00

The swirling colours of this hand made alpaca-fibre felt inspired an intricately detailed needlefelted lion design. Approximate size 20" x 20". Price $450

Red Pocket Purse "Abstract"

2009-10-28T00:17:00.001-05:00

Sparkling beads and a tangle of needlefelted yarns decorate this bright and sassy little bag, complemented with a striped lining and a multi-colored handle. This purse is 6.5” square with a front pocket and a 54” handle. Price is $45. Code P32

Wine-red Pocket Purse "Tree Frog"

2009-10-22T01:06:00.000-05:00

This cute tree frog is about to consume two tasty moths with his rather elaborate tongue! A batik print lining and hand-knit handle wonderfully enhance this purse, which is 5.5” square with a front pocket and a 46” handle. Price is $45. Code P33
SOLD

Dark Green Pocket Purse "Equus" Stylized Horse

2009-10-22T00:59:00.000-05:00

The spirit of the horse is captured in silver and gold in this needlefelted design. Lining is gold sateen and the handle is a lovely deep silver grey felted wool. Purse size is 6.5” square with a front pocket and a 51” handle. Price is $45. Code P27

Wall Hanging "Howlers"

2009-10-22T00:56:00.000-05:00

The wild gaze of a wolf stares out at you as his brothers welcome the night sky with song. How many wolves answer back from the dark? Only you have the answer! Size is 10” wide by 13” high. Price $300. Code H32

WALL HANGING: "Black Wolf Watching"

The texture of this felted wall hanging is a delight to the touch as well as the eye. The green eyes of this black wolf gaze out from a dense network of snow-covered branches. Size is 11.5” tall by 17” in length. Price is $375. Code H33

Wine-red Pocket Purse "Dragonfly"

2009-10-22T00:53:00.000-05:00

Glass beads enhance this hungry dragonfly and his small insect meal. The vivid colors are mirrored in the printed interior. Purse size is 5” x 5..5” with a square front pocket and 53” handle. Price is $45. Code P30

Sculpture: Mustang Stallion, Blue Roan

2009-10-22T00:38:00.000-05:00

A handsome fellow with free-flowing mane and tail, and a soft, fully posable felted body. Size is 6.5” x 6.5”. Price is $50. Code D5
Currently on display at Horse and Company, Oakbank, Manitoba

Shoulder Bag "The Great Escape" Sheep & Border Collie

2009-10-22T00:16:00.000-05:00

These frisky sheep refused to be corralled in this whimsical piece. Purse size is 8x 8.5” with a 52” handle. Enhanced with wooden buttons and a gold striped cotton lining. Price $65. Code B44

Sculpture: "Paint Warmblood"

2009-10-22T00:08:00.000-05:00

This fellow is a little larger than the mustangs, as warmbloods tend to be large horses. His mane is just as long though! He is finished with very soft llama fibre for his red-brown spots. Size 6.5" tall by 8.5" long. Price is $50. Code D6
Currently on display at Horse and Company, Oakbank, Manitoba

Burgundy Pocket Purse "Floral Bouquet"

2009-10-21T23:24:00.000-05:00

Bring summer home full-time with this wonderful pocket purse, lined in indigo to match the daisies! The purse is 6” x 5.25” with a 4” square front pocket and a 53” handle. Price is $45. Code P29

Navy Pocket Purse "Mice in Pocket"

2009-10-21T23:13:00.000-05:00

These rascally rodents have invaded the pocket on this purse and are happily spilling its glass bead contents everywhere! Complemented with a lovely striped lining this purse is 5” square with a 3” square front pocket and a 45” handle. Price is $45. Code P31 SOLD Sioux Narrows 2010

Green Pocket Purse "Scaevola Flower and Bee"

2009-10-21T23:06:00.000-05:00

The unusual, blue-pink flowers of scaevola are attractive to many pollinating insects, including this inquisitive honeybee. Lined with a coordinating leaf print. Purse size is 6.5" x 6" with a front pocket and a 48” handle. Price is $45. Code P26

"Elephant Dreams"

2009-10-20T00:50:00.000-05:00

This stunning wall hanging is needlefelted onto handmade felt. Not for sale.

WALL HANGING "Shades & Shadows"

Delve deeply into this hanging and you will start seeing horses everywhere! The spirit of this animal is reflected over and over in this hanging. Size is approx. 15" square. SOLD
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