Jumping Back In...

I'm jumping back into the water!  I have had many requests to re-list some of my patterns so I have stocked up my Etsy shop with some of my patterns and a few kits I still had on hand.  I am also playing with a few new designs so maybe there will be some fresh new projects popping up around the corner!  I'll try to share updates here, on my Black Sheep Woolens facebook page and on Instagram @myart365   I'm also investigating selling downloadable pdf patterns on Craftsy.  That may be the direction I move to save time folding patterns and provide immediate access to patterns for all of you!

Hope you are all stay warm and cozy this winter...

Or happy in whatever weather is in your neck of the woods!

Happy Stitching!

Spring Open House!

Black Sheep Woolens

Spring Open House

May 7, 2016

10am - 2pm

We won't have new kits as we have done in the past... Keeping things simple and wooly!  Lots of pretty hand dyed wool and some off the bolt felted wool as well.  We look forward to seeing what you have been up to and sharing that creative spark that happens when we makers gather together!  We will have a few bins of patterns and books at great prices and some kits from last fall's open house that are discounted as well.  We still have a fairly nice selection of Valdani threads and pretty ribbon {discounted as well} Bring a pattern you want to work on this summer and we'll help you find what you need for your project!  

I did sell a large portion of my inventory in January - I'm not currently taking special orders or having weekly open studio days.  I decided to have an Open House just because I know there are many who wished they could have come shopping before I sold my inventory.  And wool has a way of multiplying :)  So I hope I don't have everyone confused about my business.  Let's just say things are in flux and the only sure about this life is change.  Change is good and we grow with it.

Hope you are enjoying Spring!  Such a beautiful time of year!

Looking forward to seeing you all soon :)

Big Changes

I was recently approached by the new owner of My Girlfriends Quilt Shoppe in Midway to purchase my business inventory.  I have been trying to decide how to transition my business for quite some time and felt this timing was perfect.  I think you all understand what it means to know when the timing is right, and as difficult as it is to enter a new chapter in life, I feel the timing is right for this. 

You can watch for the exciting updates on this wonderful new quilt shop here:

https://www.facebook.com/My-Girlfriends-Quilt-Shoppe-Midway-940456099357840/?fref=ts

I want to thank everyone for the support and encouragement I have felt for my past 13 years of business. I'm hanging on to my trusty dye pots and my desire to continue to create and learn.  For the time being I plan to continue my design work and online sales. 

Keep your eye on my blog for updates in the studio.  

I anticipate my online sales will be here in my etsy shop:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/blacksheepwoolens?ref=search_shop_redirect

I don't think I will keep our new website up too much longer:

https://blacksheepwoolensstudio.com

If you would like to follow me on instagram (my favorite social media) you can find me @myart365 

I understand that there are still a few of you who have gift certificates.  If you could please contact me as soon as possible, I will be happy to refund your certificate or try my best to fulfill your wool needs.  

I spend a lot of time in my studio, so don't be a stranger!  I welcome visitors! I treasure our association and have learned so much from each of you. Many, many thanks from the bottom of my heart!

Much love and all my best,

Leisa

Thank You!

A very big THANK YOU to everyone that stopped by our Fall Open House!  

It was a beautiful day inside and out! 

My family is amazingly supportive and I couldn't have done it 

without them and some very sweet friends!  Thank you!!

Mark helped me hang a few quilts outside on the house an in the trees.  

I just never have time to snap like I should on these busy days!  

Thank heavens for our cell phones!

The quilt hanging by the front door was made by my sweet friend, Jolene.

The rest hung were mine with the exception of the antique ones who were made by 

Mark's great grandmother!  Such treasures :)

We had a mini trunk show from a designer I just recently discovered, Sandra at 

1894 Cottonwood House

I still have a few kits left of her Celebration's project hanging in the window above this photo.

You meet the nicest people in this industry!!

Can you believe it's already time to start thinking about projects for Christmas?

At least for me it is, if handmade gifts are involved!!

These are the cutest little acorns ever!  Pattern by Wooden Spool Designs
Modified a wee bit by me, adding wooden stems.

A special thank you to dear friends who let me borrow projects 

they have beautifully stitched for  samples!

Leslie B. made Autumn Reflection by Lily Anna Stitches

Lisa F. stitched the darling With Thy Needle project by Buttermilk Basin

Kaye N. let me borrow her playful Cold Days table runner

And Jolene H. generously shared anything she had 

that she thought I might could use!

(and I don't have photos of all of them here)

I thought I better post a photo or two of the samples 

I made up for our thank you gift.

I wanted to share where I took my inspiration for these little projects...

Ya gotta love Pinterest!

 This photo linked back to  Winding Vine Wanderings Her blog is so much fun!!
 I think she did such a beautiful job with these!!
I loved the wool on the ticking!!

At the Open House we gave everyone a little bag of inspiration with an 8 x 10 piece of 

ticking, two die cut leaves, an acorn and piece of pretty yarn to play with!

The little one shown above is in a 5 x 7 frame and the one below is an 8 x 10.

We hope we inspired you to start feathering your nest for the holidays and to get going on...

(Little Witch was an Etsy treasure I found a few years ago) 

the best kind of gifts you can give...

(Pincushion was a gift from Carol A. her own design)

 Handmade with love!

Hope to see you soon!  xo

Fall Open House

Wow!  How do our calendars fill up like they do??  This year our Fall Open House almost didn't happen.  I looked at my calendar in August and thought there is just no way! I have had so many inquire of the date that I decided to see if there was any way possible to pull it off.  I'm going to give it my best effort!  It is always so rewarding to see what you are working on and share some of the beautiful shades of autumn through wool!  It is energizing to share this studio with so many creative souls. I'm thinking simple yet inspiring.  Prayers and positive vibes can be sent our way :)  We are really looking forward to some time with each of you darling wool gatherers...

Friday September 25th

10 am - 2 pm

Black Sheep Woolens Studio

Fall Open House

...I will keep you updated on our progress!

Sunflower

Those cool nights are signaling one of my favorite times of the year!!  

I curled up for a few hours with my sketchbook, wool and needle & thread this past week.  

This is what I came up with.  

Kit and pattern for Sunflower will be available in my studio and on our website. September 1st.

It really works up quickly and is something you can leave out September thru November!

Happy stitching everyone xo

Rejuvenated!

Well, I have really been missing in action here!
Taking the summer off from a lot of business stuff has been really rejuvenating for me.
It feels great to be back to work in the studio.  Lots of ideas percolating :)

We got to take an amazing trip to Italy this past June.

We loved every minute of it! Cinque Terre is so unique.

There were quiet places filled with color and inspiration at every turn.

The trip was centered around cycling for Mark.  It was a trip he has been dreaming of for years.

I was lucky enough to go and enjoy the sites and time with him...and make art :)

Venice was like a dream and I hope we can go back one day.  

There is so much to explore!

Probably the most romantic place I have ever been.

I got to wander around the small towns and sketch and watch the people and take hundreds of photos!

The Northern area of Italy where Mark did all of his riding was magical.  

It the boasts the highest number of castles anywhere in Europe.

The scenery was truly breathtaking.  

These Alps would swallow up the Tetons.

Seeing his smiling face as he rode up these amazing climbs was the best view ever!

Getting away anywhere is always inspiring!

I'm feeling very blessed.