tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68267527215801984332024-02-18T17:46:15.361-08:00Lessard Wool and Art at Heron Creek Fiber FarmJudy Lesssardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03025930841719852807noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6826752721580198433.post-59320254688120373492011-02-25T10:46:00.000-08:002011-02-25T10:54:28.654-08:00Spinners Flock Winter Fleece Fair, Feb. 19, 2011<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNqqYFBvr1hlpG6jpArwDSSi2nvbsncwMNPZ605Zv_k2gRvTxVJOPuHg3fkv_VG78RZ0nLzwRx3Nwt0g5i8taFyOQierptsX0tHT061m0HfJTwsLL_0zXf0ioaEd_jnZwtg5pfV3twnGs/s1600/IMG_3786.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNqqYFBvr1hlpG6jpArwDSSi2nvbsncwMNPZ605Zv_k2gRvTxVJOPuHg3fkv_VG78RZ0nLzwRx3Nwt0g5i8taFyOQierptsX0tHT061m0HfJTwsLL_0zXf0ioaEd_jnZwtg5pfV3twnGs/s320/IMG_3786.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577702416332439202" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsBWjyxjxDk4V1U91RawONdxa6gTRLJnR5oQMzJjmogEepE1dYLFCyTLmaXzM5HaGisxr3-0k1N8O31XO43mpvsxCV3QqKpSmq-21iLxToo-ZrZqbE338I5z4d8ARcB8KsO6UaQ21_04A/s1600/IMG_3785.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsBWjyxjxDk4V1U91RawONdxa6gTRLJnR5oQMzJjmogEepE1dYLFCyTLmaXzM5HaGisxr3-0k1N8O31XO43mpvsxCV3QqKpSmq-21iLxToo-ZrZqbE338I5z4d8ARcB8KsO6UaQ21_04A/s320/IMG_3785.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577702411515061554" /></a><br />The Winter Fleece Fair hosted by the Spinners Flock was held in Chelsea last Saturday, and it was a huge success. Happy shoppers kept us busy the entire day and left with bags full of roving, yarn, needlefelting supplies, and everything else you can imagine as far as fiberarts are concerned!Judy Lesssardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03025930841719852807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6826752721580198433.post-84004725760980052011-02-25T10:23:00.000-08:002011-02-25T10:46:27.892-08:00Flowers<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ6Dm6-jjKEW7gA1-WsR6YNsmn3UtN3PwclSkX_OzUO1dvwzqgC39_jTUB_V-Qi_2QFHPoxUGaPtkGdAsiJ1BRQD2DzHAGLCS6GNFPT-ey_ZWNWvRYyTNmcHwd2tztjxqiZE2OfsR-LAw/s1600/IMG_3783.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ6Dm6-jjKEW7gA1-WsR6YNsmn3UtN3PwclSkX_OzUO1dvwzqgC39_jTUB_V-Qi_2QFHPoxUGaPtkGdAsiJ1BRQD2DzHAGLCS6GNFPT-ey_ZWNWvRYyTNmcHwd2tztjxqiZE2OfsR-LAw/s320/IMG_3783.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577700196035201154" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9grq5vZvjCxitmyY2w1snjxvDq0t-izqr79LH7QzeBHOKnnxO7xDYHDOw2swrKCZC_nY6Qw2lunvsjoXsUpX05hMCyuszJlrsGycyA7pi09k9Ao4Zz1EhxBM41DOTB0Ebip60PkV-v4Y/s1600/IMG_3781.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9grq5vZvjCxitmyY2w1snjxvDq0t-izqr79LH7QzeBHOKnnxO7xDYHDOw2swrKCZC_nY6Qw2lunvsjoXsUpX05hMCyuszJlrsGycyA7pi09k9Ao4Zz1EhxBM41DOTB0Ebip60PkV-v4Y/s320/IMG_3781.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577700188205212770" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB83t61z_WB-_qKpo1mKsPaPjEGO_gzBIBNRKfRiUSUS7fDZFBcMCnhQ5pYa0nP5XeMnjH1rjHiSnVjR5z_GuiyXlcZuUb0TMX5E0Uzmapa3QSJI49em5HFV54mnM9DgoKFw4cen5hhvw/s1600/IMG_3775.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB83t61z_WB-_qKpo1mKsPaPjEGO_gzBIBNRKfRiUSUS7fDZFBcMCnhQ5pYa0nP5XeMnjH1rjHiSnVjR5z_GuiyXlcZuUb0TMX5E0Uzmapa3QSJI49em5HFV54mnM9DgoKFw4cen5hhvw/s320/IMG_3775.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577700183912318322" /></a><br />Folks are starting to grumble about the winter weather, so I created several small wall hangings of "flowers," using Border Leicester wool and Angora goat mohair dyed locks, a few scraps of Italian wool yarn, little bits of dyed Angora rabbit fiber, and lots of beads. All of this lays over a small, colorful piece of heat bondable Angelina. The fibers are needlefelted on to a piece of needlefelted Romney wool base dyed dark purple. The photos aren't great--you have to see them in person to appreciate their beauty!Judy Lesssardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03025930841719852807noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6826752721580198433.post-86235447402106269962011-01-10T10:52:00.001-08:002011-01-10T10:59:17.157-08:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDVnMAwRSVnQvbc_EN6ybDxB9dzfDQH4j6c_lNyRE1vG6Uxi-rqPhA1r4-7RPnfeghtZ_BWHtSwf8kahoylDm90w8uKf7-UF62nGKIZpKtgZLePDenL-lU0k0hhmjqvKwKI8fZM5opT9Q/s1600/IMG_3765.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDVnMAwRSVnQvbc_EN6ybDxB9dzfDQH4j6c_lNyRE1vG6Uxi-rqPhA1r4-7RPnfeghtZ_BWHtSwf8kahoylDm90w8uKf7-UF62nGKIZpKtgZLePDenL-lU0k0hhmjqvKwKI8fZM5opT9Q/s320/IMG_3765.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560633759106768898" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU4FE-5wYVJWbYDaB9MclHGpro-akPqlW3KffuJ89pLckjk9wiXpqfG3nzFuk0v4ceHq5jUVnwxjJNncQD2W6kxoHGpusjRsL0gMRqWTkQvqaSm3RcYXODUEvfySY3P3yrP-oERyxZ-Ys/s1600/IMG_3740.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU4FE-5wYVJWbYDaB9MclHGpro-akPqlW3KffuJ89pLckjk9wiXpqfG3nzFuk0v4ceHq5jUVnwxjJNncQD2W6kxoHGpusjRsL0gMRqWTkQvqaSm3RcYXODUEvfySY3P3yrP-oERyxZ-Ys/s320/IMG_3740.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560633757934063634" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ2NTliyERL6oNHKlKnYcWQcHNTuW1gCr6in6Nz2asN24IeWdWQpKkQHwuMtrXfTWj_6__Kp4Ti8oHvBD-aA4Q2o3BYnG8DA44DAqncyHNq-sqE7__kuYQs9vqN1u4mptZRAUKKli3ZMQ/s1600/IMG_3749.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ2NTliyERL6oNHKlKnYcWQcHNTuW1gCr6in6Nz2asN24IeWdWQpKkQHwuMtrXfTWj_6__Kp4Ti8oHvBD-aA4Q2o3BYnG8DA44DAqncyHNq-sqE7__kuYQs9vqN1u4mptZRAUKKli3ZMQ/s320/IMG_3749.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560633748697915138" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5vVfNCFWev9oSr2XEPrwS1OcmE8qAsm8PQj3welUfcXg12_dxsnygQF08zrDhUCuxrq6ktY2hbvtIn74NjHfVB37_CAJEfY2yaZBDJlgYynGIt0_baEJ7zA6Oqrix3g5YBe_FHUkFP_4/s1600/IMG_3650.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5vVfNCFWev9oSr2XEPrwS1OcmE8qAsm8PQj3welUfcXg12_dxsnygQF08zrDhUCuxrq6ktY2hbvtIn74NjHfVB37_CAJEfY2yaZBDJlgYynGIt0_baEJ7zA6Oqrix3g5YBe_FHUkFP_4/s320/IMG_3650.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560633744844245602" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFmzj_75BvsvLsXvFGEyhyLkiZOA0oeAeOOCN6iDNa6_yJzG9H15rMXRX8rctambuRzrE8_kFW7lhVqiFfIMK9YeZbjTmbMiOEr53C5UARtAZ_nEj0PJbTONWUsqp6tKfSO1Oq_OmKiMA/s1600/IMG_3638_2.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFmzj_75BvsvLsXvFGEyhyLkiZOA0oeAeOOCN6iDNa6_yJzG9H15rMXRX8rctambuRzrE8_kFW7lhVqiFfIMK9YeZbjTmbMiOEr53C5UARtAZ_nEj0PJbTONWUsqp6tKfSO1Oq_OmKiMA/s320/IMG_3638_2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560633736251440098" /></a><br />I managed to make a few items in late 2010Judy Lesssardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03025930841719852807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6826752721580198433.post-36982937691331849532011-01-10T10:43:00.000-08:002011-01-10T10:51:04.003-08:00How to Needle FeltHistory: Felting needles have been used in the textile industry since the 1800s. In the 1990s, fiber artists came across these needles and have created ways to use them in the world of fiber.<br /><br />FUN: needle felting is fun and gives you a chance to be creative without a mess. I enjoy needle felting while sitting in front of the television in the evening.<br /><br />RESOURCES: just do a search on the internet for “felting needles.” Many sites will come up with photos giving examples of the many ways you can be creative with wool and felting needles. Many books are available with good instructions. <br /><br />FIBER: Support your local small farms. You can find an abundance of sheep’s wool, mohair, Angora rabbit, llama, alpaca, etc from local shepherds. Contact me for suggestions. The Spiners Flock which meets in Chelsea is a great source. I have Fiber Fun bags available--small amounts of many colors. You will get much more fiber for your dollar from local producers than at a retail outlet.<br /><br />THE SKY IS THE LIMIT: as to what you can do with felting needles and wool: you can make wall hangings or three-dimensional figures. You can also make wearables such as hats and scarves, but I recommend wet felting the final product--which is easy to do.<br /><br />FELTING NEEDLE RULES<br /><br />WARNING: These needles are sharp so be careful with them. <br /><br />NEVER leave a needle laying around. If you take a break from needle felting, gently push the needle into your foam, or put it in a storage container of some sort. Mini M&M containers are ideal. Just stuff a small amount of wool in the bottom of the container to protect the needle tips.<br /><br />TIPS are fragile and can break. Punch lightly.<br /><br /><br />HOW TO NEEDLE FELT A WALL HANGING<br /><br />LAY a piece of pre-felted wool base on a piece of foam or an old foam pillow<br /><br />DRAFT out your fiber by taking a hold of the end in your left hand and hold the roving a few inches below with your right hand. Gently pull the fibers a little, and perhaps a little more, to separate the roving without pulling it apart.<br /> <br />PUNCH the wool roving into the wool base with a gentle up and down motion, or at an angle. Do not punch in and then change the angle--this could break the tip<br /><br />WALL HANGINGS: You can make a wall hanging with thin wisps of fiber. Or you can apply several layers of fiber to create a more three-dimensional piece of art work. <br /><br />LIFT the wool base occasionally off of the foam to prevent the two from becoming attached.<br /><br />THREE DIMENSIONAL FIGURES: roll or fold the roving on the foam and punch<br /> <br />WHEN FINISHED: you may want to go over your wall hanging or three-dimensional figure with two or three needles held together in your hand and punch the entire area to give it a firm and finished appearance. <br /><br />MATERIALS needed: a piece of foam (source: JoAnn Fabrics) or an old pillow, felting needles, wool roving, and a piece of prefelted wool base if you are creating a wall hanging.<br /><br />FELTING NEEDLES have small v-shaped indentations near the tips which allow the needle to punch the fiber downward but will not pull the fibers back up again. <br /><br />GAUGE/SIZES: Fiber artists use a variety of needles. Size 36 are good for general use and are good for deep penetration--to initially apply the roving to wool base, or to start making a three-dimensional figure. Size 38 needles are a good multipurpose needle, with the indentations being a bit closer to the tip of the needle. Size 40 and 42 are smaller, more fragile needles where fine surface work is required and are good to use with fine fibers such as merino, or angora rabbit fiber. <br /> <br />To purchase different sizes of needles and to learn more about the different gauges, go to: http://www.blacksheepdesigns.com. For an explanation of the different sizes/types of needles written by one of the earliest needle felters, Linda Van Alstyne, go specifically to: <br />http://www.blacksheepdesigns.com/about_felting_needles.htm<br /><br />MULTI-NEEDLE HOLDERS: If you really like needle felting and want to make more wall hangings or large three-dimensional items, I recommend that you purchase a multi-needle holder. You can find a variety of them on the internet. I have a number of multi-needle holders, many of them are round ones, but my overall favorite and the one I use exclusively is the ten-needle aluminum holder from Felt Crafts (http://www.feltcrafts.com/. The ten-needle holder is item number 1004 at http://www.feltcrafts.com/needle-felting-supplies.htm.)<br /><br />LEARNING: I think the best way to get started is to just sit down, relax, and get started. It is recommended that you have a photo of what you would like to make. If you punch in your roving and then want to change what you are doing, just gently pull the roving up off of the felt base and start over. Sharon Costello (www.blacksheepdesigns.com) has a wonderful video for beginners<br /><br />RESOURCES: Do a search on the internet for “felting needles”--you will find all kinds of items that people have created using felting needles. There are a variety of books available with needle felting instructions. <br /><br />My favorite is New Felt Using the Felting Needle by Brigitte Krag Hansen. http://www.feltmaking.dk/english/book3.php. The book can be purchased from Susan’s Fiber Shop (http://www.susansfibershop.com/felting_books.htm).Judy Lesssardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03025930841719852807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6826752721580198433.post-82798352305137541392009-06-19T13:55:00.000-07:002009-06-19T13:59:42.254-07:00Wool Pin Cushions<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs79Uaku2KdMud200RSoDpfkcP-IpLiG_YYpcKGyVs8kfLUyp2tuloqFy1zT5kjnfLbxFzSg802vjEqXfaIhO9La3jOecTz2bJMjtHXsQvmDPIySS1UidP1WB97dz6TmVsOoyWi0CmIJ0/s1600-h/sheep+and+pin+cushions.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349146237880109538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 189px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs79Uaku2KdMud200RSoDpfkcP-IpLiG_YYpcKGyVs8kfLUyp2tuloqFy1zT5kjnfLbxFzSg802vjEqXfaIhO9La3jOecTz2bJMjtHXsQvmDPIySS1UidP1WB97dz6TmVsOoyWi0CmIJ0/s320/sheep+and+pin+cushions.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzh4B6O7g1MjTAHCKcjYYpdFD98h_XzxEeQnI9lUCGpWT3SgIsbPZbO5YH1hMR1E06Qq2C-BeSD0cW6J0eYu-1eA5tW9cNIs0OjJmNJiNxvFIZ2eOi58QfBIR4EY-HTKouhF88bq1V7B8/s1600-h/pin+cushions+in+yard.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349146233747762994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 220px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzh4B6O7g1MjTAHCKcjYYpdFD98h_XzxEeQnI9lUCGpWT3SgIsbPZbO5YH1hMR1E06Qq2C-BeSD0cW6J0eYu-1eA5tW9cNIs0OjJmNJiNxvFIZ2eOi58QfBIR4EY-HTKouhF88bq1V7B8/s320/pin+cushions+in+yard.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>A fun and easy use of wool is to make wet felted wool pin cushions. They are wonderful to use, make great gifts, and have been big sellers for many years. </div></div>Judy Lesssardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03025930841719852807noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6826752721580198433.post-40561376380085182762009-06-03T13:32:00.001-07:002009-06-03T13:35:39.698-07:00Handspun yarns<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBqNHzeFNzIUmAnMXqU9woCg-13fP6UChNuCDQPEd4lYgKl6Mrvr-YT7-ojNU4iQJ_zSJRX_MtlZBOU55KRThiN9r5jPH9NVpTyjdVCHrxd34sszDTnR6MOlY0uqTmP-pHlc8LKqhhoxM/s1600-h/Mohair+lock+yarn+on+heron+May+09.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343202658070458994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 172px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBqNHzeFNzIUmAnMXqU9woCg-13fP6UChNuCDQPEd4lYgKl6Mrvr-YT7-ojNU4iQJ_zSJRX_MtlZBOU55KRThiN9r5jPH9NVpTyjdVCHrxd34sszDTnR6MOlY0uqTmP-pHlc8LKqhhoxM/s320/Mohair+lock+yarn+on+heron+May+09.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVptL7nALuCw4YoNY1BYu8GOY4STSUTbM61cFRNMRKiN7GSAUWb_y8Xj8k6MzXxogtY2qgoAHbIKfe1OU4d2gITzAnCW4TiQNHRDR8s2KIRrBM3sYaWr4LVSqsB4Ep2glaHswanmf2bhM/s1600-h/Mohair+lock+yarn+on+sign.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343202655718667410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVptL7nALuCw4YoNY1BYu8GOY4STSUTbM61cFRNMRKiN7GSAUWb_y8Xj8k6MzXxogtY2qgoAHbIKfe1OU4d2gITzAnCW4TiQNHRDR8s2KIRrBM3sYaWr4LVSqsB4Ep2glaHswanmf2bhM/s320/Mohair+lock+yarn+on+sign.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuz4TTpPJRTJhOYyXF8BIYmMlIjvlKSb0hpGrToropKqk6iwfsiIFd6JqjZerYlTgajc1487Pv95e_FxP6woPyELdHjtjI15oEERodPdJSiWjmdP47o3ipbm4dg_Q10S3pLZ6k9am8WdI/s1600-h/mohair+lock+yarn+on+heron.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343202419160942546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 239px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuz4TTpPJRTJhOYyXF8BIYmMlIjvlKSb0hpGrToropKqk6iwfsiIFd6JqjZerYlTgajc1487Pv95e_FxP6woPyELdHjtjI15oEERodPdJSiWjmdP47o3ipbm4dg_Q10S3pLZ6k9am8WdI/s320/mohair+lock+yarn+on+heron.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div>Handspinning is an enjoyable and relaxing craft. These photos show handspun mohair locks plyed with a sparkly, quilting thread. Such fun to make!</div></div></div>Judy Lesssardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03025930841719852807noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6826752721580198433.post-19722337618551543682009-05-15T10:46:00.001-07:002009-05-15T10:57:13.341-07:00Needle Felting: Learning to be an Artist<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQVN1yrS10YilAaBw9ps4iv63shvMEmZRH80L5O7pFbojTUnoWtQ6vw6IxSBxTRdu0HY2e4Q46VsBETcaZdRiZU_w2V7WeZizFEVhMeVJ2tgXUHTVhj6yj6UCVyzYvdFgE4F-RRw2e30Q/s1600-h/SCcomingtownSleigh2002.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336109252503628962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 211px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQVN1yrS10YilAaBw9ps4iv63shvMEmZRH80L5O7pFbojTUnoWtQ6vw6IxSBxTRdu0HY2e4Q46VsBETcaZdRiZU_w2V7WeZizFEVhMeVJ2tgXUHTVhj6yj6UCVyzYvdFgE4F-RRw2e30Q/s320/SCcomingtownSleigh2002.jpg" border="0" /></a>Detail of below wall hanging </div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwjJFKrchDgJQw60cUU4Offgf0_VD3t5bHr3gbpQ-BqlKSPok8P2FFN9i2nDXBWlBdAdLOt5y0YK8uZY7H7OYld9Uu36I53sFTL_r_C445PhbSdo6NRLWtURLm_yATkjr7aFnQWdfeymU/s1600-h/SCcomingtownstars.2002.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336109246332986386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 210px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwjJFKrchDgJQw60cUU4Offgf0_VD3t5bHr3gbpQ-BqlKSPok8P2FFN9i2nDXBWlBdAdLOt5y0YK8uZY7H7OYld9Uu36I53sFTL_r_C445PhbSdo6NRLWtURLm_yATkjr7aFnQWdfeymU/s320/SCcomingtownstars.2002.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"><em>Santa Claus is Coming to Town</em></div><div align="center">18 x 32"</div><div align="center">In private collection</div><div align="center"><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmLOv4Rhxi4A4YeQdQdxj_Rqwd2xHo8AR6nRrXko2t81ONqjT1H2ipBpq7RLZJtsCljtBYtEIxcM5vVPO2YUer5TWkqMaDRSkyBsvB_Z5FNr0goFSZn2hfrBn1dZYTpvPMPNi7xz1WLq0/s1600-h/scblue.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336109244814812562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 220px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmLOv4Rhxi4A4YeQdQdxj_Rqwd2xHo8AR6nRrXko2t81ONqjT1H2ipBpq7RLZJtsCljtBYtEIxcM5vVPO2YUer5TWkqMaDRSkyBsvB_Z5FNr0goFSZn2hfrBn1dZYTpvPMPNi7xz1WLq0/s320/scblue.jpg" border="0" /></a> <em>Blue Santa</em></div><div align="center">10 x 16"</div><div align="center">In private collection in Atlanta, Georgia</div><div align="center">Coat trim is gorgeous dyed angora bunny fiber<br /><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidRLcenopmCfsbPTOJcOe-vUg3iibemcoc4ZWlsH1W1IU6vZMl8Of9gwjvAmoxCKWFelSWfuY9iNst1RIE-pwwbYPiMgbkPaJO-QnM-tzVIgELnfNE5x24UOp7w3LaWmlPif5KJ6lv41U/s1600-h/Red+Elf.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336109242993513026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 219px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidRLcenopmCfsbPTOJcOe-vUg3iibemcoc4ZWlsH1W1IU6vZMl8Of9gwjvAmoxCKWFelSWfuY9iNst1RIE-pwwbYPiMgbkPaJO-QnM-tzVIgELnfNE5x24UOp7w3LaWmlPif5KJ6lv41U/s320/Red+Elf.jpg" border="0" /></a> <em>Red Elf</em></div><div align="center">10 x 16"<br /><br /></div><div align="center">Needle felting is fun and easy. The only hard part is learning to be an artist. </div>Judy Lesssardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03025930841719852807noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6826752721580198433.post-43272778229124553032009-05-15T10:11:00.000-07:002009-05-15T10:46:15.495-07:00Learning to Needle Felt<div align="center">Below are some of the needle felted wall hangings I've made over the years.</div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiKqMApWRjf-ZypvO-aVlrgF73Iu0UoWr589S_r3AfgolwJdWAHspHzjGBWhxp4dtvv_bqVeQ_bIVeEodiin4RzNm_78iHgzkRkG_hD_neQAPtAYpY32Lz_ivnRAXI5MwgQ2OiAR1AiZs/s1600-h/SC+coming+to+Smoke+Rise+Farm.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336102772218041746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 216px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiKqMApWRjf-ZypvO-aVlrgF73Iu0UoWr589S_r3AfgolwJdWAHspHzjGBWhxp4dtvv_bqVeQ_bIVeEodiin4RzNm_78iHgzkRkG_hD_neQAPtAYpY32Lz_ivnRAXI5MwgQ2OiAR1AiZs/s320/SC+coming+to+Smoke+Rise+Farm.jpg" border="0" /></a><em>Santa Claus is coming to Smoke Rise Farm</em> </div><div align="center">28" x 32"</div><div align="center">Commissioned piece, in private collection in Georgia</div><div align="center"> </div><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih2Vdp9QZTpHz5PGQxZgus9kt1n3-a27bT5QKTSerCVuXJAIyOgUyAZ6qefdhM7SKY5tAp9MqhXEzEu1JBDveeCi-usGEsaYPdf41yNn6R3_Ej79NbwDBGp5Q2iKgOvtlUzNPs1NhyphenhyphenmfY/s1600-h/Santa+on+purple+IMG_1980.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336102775044958882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 219px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih2Vdp9QZTpHz5PGQxZgus9kt1n3-a27bT5QKTSerCVuXJAIyOgUyAZ6qefdhM7SKY5tAp9MqhXEzEu1JBDveeCi-usGEsaYPdf41yNn6R3_Ej79NbwDBGp5Q2iKgOvtlUzNPs1NhyphenhyphenmfY/s320/Santa+on+purple+IMG_1980.JPG" border="0" /></a><em>Santa on a Purple Night</em> </div><div align="center">10 x 16"</div><div align="center">In a private collection in Pittsburgh, PA</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ojmYucsjmqwVc_oHU8K2N7NlvvP9JYUzJqfR2BbmhRAU6eZ-Gyz1_2LrLwyChIgpgyPGjSVAFaYTi8KTdIuHuxG5XqMd9n4yQqXA1mLqvDBqf45n65PXfFKImwIbMMNyrXkxM3La_Aw/s1600-h/santa+beard+.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336102773318468946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ojmYucsjmqwVc_oHU8K2N7NlvvP9JYUzJqfR2BbmhRAU6eZ-Gyz1_2LrLwyChIgpgyPGjSVAFaYTi8KTdIuHuxG5XqMd9n4yQqXA1mLqvDBqf45n65PXfFKImwIbMMNyrXkxM3La_Aw/s320/santa+beard+.JPG" border="0" /></a> Detail of a Santa with beautiful Border Leicester locks<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJC2zdKQP31M-TY77nTfdlG5qqJj9kvJ3ul9cVQih0yFVAeZ2wh5htZCllaDDO2BsDVP6L7arEzPsoVhYrtk93gu0LvynWQZhwBAKjlSpi0Ct5YplUkiNgPSaWgXTOSLBYsXRbUTL46cM/s1600-h/Christmas+is+here+IMG_2130.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336102769928212418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 235px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJC2zdKQP31M-TY77nTfdlG5qqJj9kvJ3ul9cVQih0yFVAeZ2wh5htZCllaDDO2BsDVP6L7arEzPsoVhYrtk93gu0LvynWQZhwBAKjlSpi0Ct5YplUkiNgPSaWgXTOSLBYsXRbUTL46cM/s320/Christmas+is+here+IMG_2130.JPG" border="0" /></a><em>Christmas is Here!</em><br />8 x 14"</div><div>2007<br /><br /><br /><br /><div>I attended the Michigan Fiber Festival in 1997 and 1998, mostly to learn about sheep and goats, since I had started working at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Michigan State University in publications and media relations in 1996. I spent a lot of time visiting with the animal owners and learning about their animals. </div><br /><br /><div>In 1998 I took a little time to walk into the 4-H Building that was filled with fiber and fiber artists, and that few minutes changed the course of my life. I was in awe of the beautiful colors, textures, spinning wheels, and everything else that makes up the world of fiber. I came across the "Sheep Farm" booth, and met Suzanne VanNatter of Dexter, MI. She not only had roving and yarns for sale, but she had created something I'd never seen before: needle felted Christmas holiday wall hangings. I was estatic and wanted to learn more!<br /><br /></div><div>I joined the guild that Suzanne belonged to, the Spinners Flock, which meets in Chelsea, MI. Suzanne and I have become good friends and what fun I've had with fiber and needle felting!</div><br /><br /><div> </div></div><br /></div>Judy Lesssardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03025930841719852807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6826752721580198433.post-12390511526077631422009-05-15T10:07:00.000-07:002009-05-15T10:11:39.815-07:00Needle Felting Halloween Fiberart<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkmmO92NDHqmxSNY6-Cl8Qy0tKNGNJk-uRtQrlJmAhmj3jE-oKSETfogt7UjMr0_grbSw7g2D8eTdoGSB7dqalHiPFe3wn-purwIsdu85JjnRjpidNE5s3owqIumuAMAsIJ82m5zmouVs/s1600-h/IMG_2898.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336099513581344946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkmmO92NDHqmxSNY6-Cl8Qy0tKNGNJk-uRtQrlJmAhmj3jE-oKSETfogt7UjMr0_grbSw7g2D8eTdoGSB7dqalHiPFe3wn-purwIsdu85JjnRjpidNE5s3owqIumuAMAsIJ82m5zmouVs/s320/IMG_2898.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi8WgFIHAEJMa5tTAkTIdl13F1j3GqOuEcBFgNeEPIlA8tPyBSGK5xC4jXsDS6WA_TEwjTdFA67xc1D70oz0wZzJJvltH2rhbt2lFLTGRerLHjRCSDvyKX0zBb7pytzoCIyAsav040O9U/s1600-h/IMG_2899.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336099516188406914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi8WgFIHAEJMa5tTAkTIdl13F1j3GqOuEcBFgNeEPIlA8tPyBSGK5xC4jXsDS6WA_TEwjTdFA67xc1D70oz0wZzJJvltH2rhbt2lFLTGRerLHjRCSDvyKX0zBb7pytzoCIyAsav040O9U/s320/IMG_2899.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRWkU0KuHwcZ8a5vBXjQbCu7yCH4-eON8fhjNk9L4_LLvelqUg4gBwfqCvB1U9TSJ5bxRX5nLvsb5rg1jn8dAyBDp6ldvg4zZRzgbgxZLEmWhCIMTGASAp00D6CTUjCvXmSV3CNZbBQyw/s1600-h/Only+her+hair+dresser+resized+IMG_2034.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336099507314690386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 226px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRWkU0KuHwcZ8a5vBXjQbCu7yCH4-eON8fhjNk9L4_LLvelqUg4gBwfqCvB1U9TSJ5bxRX5nLvsb5rg1jn8dAyBDp6ldvg4zZRzgbgxZLEmWhCIMTGASAp00D6CTUjCvXmSV3CNZbBQyw/s320/Only+her+hair+dresser+resized+IMG_2034.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div>Needle felting is a fun hobby. Here's a 2007 wall hanging, "Only her Hair Dresser Knows for Sure," and two three-dimensional art dolls I made in 2008, "Wicked and Cruel" and "Cher, the Glamour Witch."</div></div></div>Judy Lesssardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03025930841719852807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6826752721580198433.post-21788835900605961452009-05-13T07:34:00.000-07:002009-05-13T07:47:49.569-07:00Fiber Festivals<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvZwoq9mJ5glYLVe3esDf9gnsUjWifwipD_y88tAMDp53Aj3hEt5Ign7E06WSw7nbjpJPS_PQeCVRIApSXyZHnrIxxODeXoSrf_TcGpdVj5MNpGaNzDBH1D4mHGtpMBg67DT8BUmOChP4/s1600-h/Alexis+red+hat+purple+scarf+close+up+IMG_1735.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335320093319410626" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvZwoq9mJ5glYLVe3esDf9gnsUjWifwipD_y88tAMDp53Aj3hEt5Ign7E06WSw7nbjpJPS_PQeCVRIApSXyZHnrIxxODeXoSrf_TcGpdVj5MNpGaNzDBH1D4mHGtpMBg67DT8BUmOChP4/s320/Alexis+red+hat+purple+scarf+close+up+IMG_1735.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ZFE1HY-FZ-32uPl9B6E9I2Fq_V4ZzEdc1D0VeWTDo2c1_DofPdri_pmp6cfoq27hHkrcjoT2Tik6wLqeIzrDMapF0aKWPbAxMwmZ4r61nX7aXJ9eqSpYtPZEP321J94XOYMhC3xsCOs/s1600-h/Alexis+close+up+purple+hat+scarf+IMG_1726.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335320093171152418" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 312px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ZFE1HY-FZ-32uPl9B6E9I2Fq_V4ZzEdc1D0VeWTDo2c1_DofPdri_pmp6cfoq27hHkrcjoT2Tik6wLqeIzrDMapF0aKWPbAxMwmZ4r61nX7aXJ9eqSpYtPZEP321J94XOYMhC3xsCOs/s320/Alexis+close+up+purple+hat+scarf+IMG_1726.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQQjURMLQ1618IZZCDXSAOyPxv24h_unxspWYhXfN0pU0EAuC1X0Mvuj8HLSY9YhLc8T2P4Z2x692wB6kZn9FV9XtZoepPL3Uo_QaYjyMAwuMLqOM5-E-wyhWUgXlMQkFKLnWh_69h6ho/s1600-h/Alexis+blue+scarf+eyes+closed+IMG_1694.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335320092629570386" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 280px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQQjURMLQ1618IZZCDXSAOyPxv24h_unxspWYhXfN0pU0EAuC1X0Mvuj8HLSY9YhLc8T2P4Z2x692wB6kZn9FV9XtZoepPL3Uo_QaYjyMAwuMLqOM5-E-wyhWUgXlMQkFKLnWh_69h6ho/s320/Alexis+blue+scarf+eyes+closed+IMG_1694.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">Summer will be here soon, and with it comes fiber festivals. Attending the Michigan Fiber Festival in August is an annual event. Held in Allegan, the festival offers many wonderful classes. But a special treat was attending the 2007 Midwest Felting Symposium in Madison, WI. I took several hat making classes from the incredible Hungarian artist, Judit Pocs. </span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">In the photos, my niece, Alexis Lessard, models a blue silk scarf embellished with blue merino wool, and a burgundy merino wool scarf embellished with silk, polyester yarn, and merino prefelts. The hats are fine merino wool and silk. The scarves were made in classes I took from Sharon Costello at the 2007 Michigan Fiber Festival, and the hats were made at the 2007 Midwest Felting Symposium in classes I took from Judit Pocs. </span><br /><br /></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">Just do a search for each festival to see what delightful classes they are offering this year!</span></div></div></div>Judy Lesssardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03025930841719852807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6826752721580198433.post-56962445238492589712009-05-07T10:46:00.000-07:002009-05-12T13:14:28.132-07:00Family history and oral historian<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9UsShfryCuYhkTOF9biwVrSqdcc2pQBFFCMVxkYL7SBOw-dYxSopEM0GNfuKstuYIRY-UVXM68U8-fQ5TvbsWcCNFKF8JTD9YsXy64fSAVSqtPJ6bhwDeIbyPStFXKflZXfddhZ5dqpA/s1600-h/James+McK+young+Picasa+Jan+28+09.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333144390430040434" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 242px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9UsShfryCuYhkTOF9biwVrSqdcc2pQBFFCMVxkYL7SBOw-dYxSopEM0GNfuKstuYIRY-UVXM68U8-fQ5TvbsWcCNFKF8JTD9YsXy64fSAVSqtPJ6bhwDeIbyPStFXKflZXfddhZ5dqpA/s320/James+McK+young+Picasa+Jan+28+09.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgthI381LavV91isEQOE0o3GOj9ba3VSNLfTNcw77Si72KAQDl9ArbIFHdl4dMjMSxYMF3I1hqohuBhVGOEQB-60PvT-Fx4c8jcK8eFDSR-Awq2dTwUOKUvz6Qrm98sg9pXX9GWj0EeNeE/s1600-h/LWL+in+crew+photo+ebert.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333144387524426050" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 93px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 154px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgthI381LavV91isEQOE0o3GOj9ba3VSNLfTNcw77Si72KAQDl9ArbIFHdl4dMjMSxYMF3I1hqohuBhVGOEQB-60PvT-Fx4c8jcK8eFDSR-Awq2dTwUOKUvz6Qrm98sg9pXX9GWj0EeNeE/s320/LWL+in+crew+photo+ebert.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><strong>Photos: Left, James McKeown, my dad's grandpa, who came from Ireland in the mid-1800s to Ontario, Canada.</strong></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"><strong></strong></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><strong></strong></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><strong>Right: My dad, Louis W. Lessard, bombardier with the 450th Bomb Group, Manduria, Italy.</strong></span></div><div><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"></span></strong> </div><div><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"></span></strong> </div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">I was born to be a family historian and oral historian. In the 1980s, I interviewed my grandparents about their young lives growing up in the late 1800s - early 1900s in the wilderness near Clare, Michigan. The resulting books were a labor of love since I prepared them on a typewriter! In the next few years, I hope to put them </span><span style="font-family:arial;">on the internet for the Michigan Gen. Web. project.</span></div><div><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">My grandmother's book, <em>Andrine and Ole Larson and Family</em>, (150 pages) is the story of her parents who came from Norway in the 1880s and settled near Clare, Michigan. </span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">Before preparing my grandpa's oral history, I wrote a basic family history, <em>The History of Our Kaul Ancestors</em>, (350 pages) which begins in the mid-1600s in Deidesheim, Germany, and ends in the late 1800s in the Frankenmuth, Michigan area.</span></div><div><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I finished my grandpa's oral history, <em>The Childhood Memoirs of Earl Kaul</em> (530 pages) in the early 1990s and it is my pride and joy. Grandpa had so many good stories!</span></div><div><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Since then, I've done quite a bit of oral history on video, including my dad's WWII memoirs and both my parents memoirs of surviving the Great Depression and WWII, and once done with that, getting on with their lives--marrying, raising a family, and the fun they had with friends and relatives in the Clarkston, Michigan area. </span></div><div> </div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">More recently, I've worked on my dad's mother's Irish family, the McKeowns and Writts from Kinkora, near Stratford, Ontario.</span></div>Judy Lesssardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03025930841719852807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6826752721580198433.post-86780859595294658892009-05-07T10:40:00.001-07:002009-05-12T13:02:58.643-07:00Horse Friends<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ5YmHcW-LaISv-wmg9H9afeere1VJrAqWvEEHb-3lzrpqpJMmOewONJX9w_K0q3S9rQQALAh6HfuJbQs16v6CW07cBECGXuo3-avd-7VEIQgLw-eOr_q_QQ4Xu_XemOgG30XTlmZo6Z4/s1600-h/TIMTOLTN.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333139797826375058" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 222px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ5YmHcW-LaISv-wmg9H9afeere1VJrAqWvEEHb-3lzrpqpJMmOewONJX9w_K0q3S9rQQALAh6HfuJbQs16v6CW07cBECGXuo3-avd-7VEIQgLw-eOr_q_QQ4Xu_XemOgG30XTlmZo6Z4/s320/TIMTOLTN.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family:arial;">A fond memory of living in Cody, Wyoming in the late 1970s was my friendship with Tim Tolton, a South Dakota cowboy. He spent the summer working on the Fales dude ranch, close to where I worked and lived in Wapiti Valley (halfway between Cody and the east entrance to Yellowstone). Here's one of my favorite photos of Tim. He'd been to a horse auction to purchase horses for the dude ranch. It was a fall afternoon, and he stopped by where I was living, to show me the youngster. He was taking him to join the ranch's other horses at winter pasture.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">Tim now lives in Big Piney, Wyoming.</span></div>Judy Lesssardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03025930841719852807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6826752721580198433.post-3615753658096534332009-05-07T10:19:00.000-07:002009-05-12T13:02:24.508-07:00Horses, Horses, Horses!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz1IucQC-4UwfswIPwZSwtSniS-Dh1XJGBh9463NtevSO8OOdz0rPVqO2xXRp7beZ1STwiVNBm_kO3J4UEh8YRjdmSIL3XF-PSW2MQe8lFQNYwB1QbqcDLKAh_iy-9WbmuN1wcL4XBD48/s1600-h/MacK+free+lunge+canter+IMG_1997.JPG"><span style="font-family:arial;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333136532408978738" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 298px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz1IucQC-4UwfswIPwZSwtSniS-Dh1XJGBh9463NtevSO8OOdz0rPVqO2xXRp7beZ1STwiVNBm_kO3J4UEh8YRjdmSIL3XF-PSW2MQe8lFQNYwB1QbqcDLKAh_iy-9WbmuN1wcL4XBD48/s320/MacK+free+lunge+canter+IMG_1997.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family:arial;">Here's a 2007 photo of my horse, MacKenzie, at RJ and Jane Smith's training facility in Clio, Michigan.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">I was born loving horses and the happiest times of my life have been spent with my horses and horse-loving friends. I bought my first horse while in college at Michigan State University, where I was a member of the Block & Bridle, and Rodeo clubs. I spent a few years in Cody, Wyoming, and Helena, Montana, where I rode in the mountains, worked as a race track groom and ponied race horses. I also spent some time with friends in South Dakota, herding cattle. In more recent years, I have learned some dressage basics and have spent a lot of time trail riding. </span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">My newest horse, MacKenzie, is a PMU from Manitoba, Canada. Born in 2004, he is mostly draft and a personable youngster. RJ and Jane Smith have had him off and on since 2005 for some "summer school activities," but he's now ready for some more serious education.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">I have the privilege of working in Publications and Media Relations at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Michigan State University. I enjoy writing basic horse health articles with Dr. Judy Marteniuk, equine extension veterinarian at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital. I also arrange equine health lectures for the public at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital. You can view our articles and power point presentations at <strong>cvm.msu.edu</strong> and click on "Animal Health Information."</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div>Judy Lesssardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03025930841719852807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6826752721580198433.post-75832015823605287612009-03-26T10:59:00.000-07:002009-03-26T11:07:04.675-07:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcJLXZLSLm6_TuYXm4LvQnCQOES-jwu0FWuTOsGcr0WCQugiaIoPyGwfrpUnVg1b7UFdjuq8LUn1BgXB-aMPv-bZCRLFfhdPERb6TAOFB0ptCr0LImnWhLy6qz-o_xdiiLYpaCtEZcSU0/s1600-h/Cocoa+face+shot+May+2006+image+762.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317559284974785970" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 237px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcJLXZLSLm6_TuYXm4LvQnCQOES-jwu0FWuTOsGcr0WCQugiaIoPyGwfrpUnVg1b7UFdjuq8LUn1BgXB-aMPv-bZCRLFfhdPERb6TAOFB0ptCr0LImnWhLy6qz-o_xdiiLYpaCtEZcSU0/s320/Cocoa+face+shot+May+2006+image+762.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">Greetings from Heron Creek Fiber Farm!</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">The birds are singing, the weather is warming up, and my sheep and horse are eagerly awaiting the grass to turn green. Shearing day will be here in a few weeks.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">I've enjoyed preparing some wild colored wool pin cushions lately, as well as needle felting wall hangings for my "Christmas at Heron Creek" series to debut this year.</span></div><br /><p>Pictured here is Cocoa, the Barn Yard Terror. She is quite the character, but has the "sweetest" fleece!</p>Judy Lesssardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03025930841719852807noreply@blogger.com0