Woollygathering - Yarn and Natural Fibre Supplier in Co. Clare

Jennifer Lienhard is a supplier of yarns and fibres, felting, knitting, spinning, fibre art in general. You can currently purchase through woolfinchstudio.etsy.com

“My beliefs are in natural materials and all my stock is based on pure wool, linen, cotton, silks; natural and dyed to high Oeko standards, plant dyed or vinegar based. Some products are organic, too.”

But she will be opening a shop at her home. The shop will be open on Thursdays and Fridays from 9 am - 4 pm starting from Thursday 20th of May 2010.

Jennifer Lienhard
Caherhurley,
Tuamgraney
Co. Clare.

T: 061 640735.
E: woolfinchstudio@hotmail.com
W: woolfinchstudio.etsy.com

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Jenny, along with another fibre artist, Mia, create a range of needle-felted toys. You can purchase their work through www.woollywings.etsy.com They also run workshops in and around Co. Clare.

“We create and teach with natural materials, inspired by myth and nature, especially the magic of the woodlands of County Clare that surround us. We're also inspired by the Steiner philosophy of encouraging creative, imaginative play through tactile handmade toys. We are passionate about working with Wool, and exploring its creative possibilities. We create needle felted figures and pictures, which we hope will enrich the nature corner of your home, be displayed as pieces of folk art or used gently as inspiring pieces for storytelling with children.”

UN International Year of Natural Fibre

2009 has been designated by the UN as International Year of Natural Fibres

Objectives:

• Raise awareness and stimulate demand for natural fibres;
• Promote the efficiency and sustainability of the natural fibres industries;
• Encourage appropriate policy responses from governments to the problems faced by natural fibre industries;
• Foster an effective and enduring international partnership among the various natural fibres industries.

Check out the website for a wealth of information, and also for a Calender of Events
They also give some great links to other major textile websites.



Competition

It was while looking for info on this I came across Keep the Fleece

They are organising an international competition, The Longest Scarf, to raise 250K for the largest fiber flock in the world in partnership with Heifer International.

A team is made up of five or more knitters, crocheters, felters or weavers. Each team needs at least one captain (someone to take responsibility for signing the team up on Keep the Fleece and Heifer International and for making sure the money raised gets sent to Heifer International). Start by signing the team up on Keep the Fleece(www.keepthefleece.org) and Heifer International (www.heifer.org, follow the link to “Team Heifer.")

Anyone interested is to email them to register your team. more info here

Heifer International is very similar to our own Bother, but on a bigger scale.
They run programmes to help people around the world obtain a sustainable source of food and income.