Meet the Supplier: Dreamspin Fibres
We would like you to meet one of our sponsors and a friend of mine Maureen Harding of Dreamspin fibres. We met a few years ago at a fiber conference and became friends. We live far enough apart that we only get together a few times a year but we always have a great time felting and trying new things. She doesn’t mention it here but she has a sale on select fibers at the moment.
Q-4 Three types of fibre you can’t live without?
Merino, silks, silk fabric but other fibres depending on the project
Q-3 Have you always been a felter?
I’ve been felting for 15 years, before that I was spinning and knitting.
Q-2 Two tools you use all the time?
Pool noodle and plastic window screening. (and ball brause)
Q-1 One fibre art technique you love the most?
I have to say felting. But also enjoy spinning and knitting
What is your business?
We sell wools, prefelts, fabrics for nuno felting, a few felting tools, mostly for felters.
Why and when did you start selling fiber?
It was an outgrowth of my interest in sheep and wools. Initially I raised sheep, learned to spin, learned to felt, and started buying other fibres wholesale for my own purposes. After a while I started selling fibres at fibreart venues and would make up articles to show what can be done with the fibres. People started asking me if I would teach them how, and this led to doing workshops in felting.
What kind of items do you sell?
As well as fibres for felters, I also sell felted articles such as nuno scarves, felted hats, and felted bags at various shows throughout the year.
What do you think makes your business different from similar ones?
We pride ourselves on our fast service, orders are made out the same or the next day. We offer free shipping on orders over $100 in North America. And we are always happy to offer assistance and advice over the phone, or email.
Where are you located?
Near Campbellford in Ontario
Where can we find you on the internet
18 thoughts on “Meet the Supplier: Dreamspin Fibres”
I wouldn’t mind being locked in your store room! It’s scrummy with all those soft fibres and pretty colours.
Your scarves and wraps are beautifully designed and made.
Always the best service from Maureen.
I’d be really interested for your suggestions, or anyone else’s about working with pre-felt. If I shove it in the washing machine will it produce a solid felt for example?!
It depends on the thickness you start with, Liz. I’ve had commercial prefelt from World of Wool which is so thick it feels almost felted to start with 🙂 I’ve seen lots of people use the thicker stuff for dyeing in pots and that alone can felt it enough to use for book covers etc.
Yes I might have had the same stuff and hence the question. I just wasn’t sure how I could work it.
Cut a 6 x 6 inch square off and just felt it, or try one layer and two layer samples. I think I tried trapping dandelion seeds between two layers and it turned out quite thick. I bought it for dyeing but never got around to it yet.
That makes me think. I’ve always wanted to try trapping small stones. Maybe….?
I think the prefelt Maureen has is between the 2. She does dye it and then use it later. You can also peal it apart if you are careful to get 2 thin peices. This is nice to do if you are overlapping peices and don’t want it twice as thick.
Liz, working with prefelt is a real time-saver. Imagine you have just laid out several layers of your wool, wet it down and rolled/rubbed enough so that it is starting to felt enough to handle…..and that is where you start with a commercial prefelt, it’s ready to be formed into your project and needs to be felted/fulled further, until you have your desired shrinkage. If you just ‘shove it in the washing machine’ you have no control of the rate of shrinkage and will end up with a very unevenly shaped piece with wavy edges. Depending on what you are making, you can wrap the piece in damp towels and put it in the dryer on cold for a while (there are instructions for this technique on Treetops Colour Harmonies)
Thanks. I must try it.
I used Dreamspins white prefelt for the autumn challenge. It is a time saver and helps to manage the edges. Although with all the embellishments I had on it was still hard to completely control. Maureen’s prefelt is a nice thickness. I’ve used others that are thinner and require more layers. I used two on the autumn piece along with another layer of mixed colors and it worked out great.
Thank you. That gives me more of an idea. I just wasn’t sure if it would ever produce equal results.
You’re welcome Lizsville. I can’t wait to see how you use it.
Excellent service and wonderful fibers. Just perusing her brochure makes you want to start a new project. Thanks for sharing Maureen! The storeroom is a felters dream spot.
Your scarves, bags and hats are just gorgeous. Thanks for telling us about your business.
Maureen is wonderful to deal with…
I’d enjoy a good look around that store room too! The slideshow has some gorgeous photos 🙂
Yes going to Maureen’s to play is fabulous. so much to choose from. I always say I will not buy anything, I have enough at home but I always do.