This Woolly Island (2012)

At the turn of the 19th century, Cape Breton Island was home to thousands of sheep and over 20 carding and spinning wheels were in operation.  100 years later, sheep number only in the hundreds and no commercial mills are currently in production.  This piece was inspired by the proud history of textile production on Cape Breton Island, on both an industrial scale, and as on a subsistence level.  This piece also references the colonial roots of the Island, the current handcraft revivial, and Queen Elizabeth II's Jubilee. Needle-felted onto industrially-made wool felt. 

 Exhibited  at the Cape Breton Centre for Craft and Design, in their fall 2012 exhibition "Every Island has a Story, Ours is Handmade."

Please click through the slideshow below to view images of this wallhanging.