Prince Edward Island is home to many artisans and craftspeople. Having recently travelled along the Points East Coastal Drive and Green Gables Shore, I discovered that the arts and crafts culture arose from a need for self-sufficiency in an island community. I could see that both heritage and the coastal and pastoral vistas have a huge influence on the products made by hand.
Although not exclusively, fibre arts was my focus. Here are a few of my many experiences. At the Messy Crow Studio in Souris, I met Lisa whose needle felting art is whimsical and colourful. I was describing some of the hats that I make and she immediately embellished the beanie of my chosen funny-faced ball ornament with a flower.
In Belfast, Kim of Fleece and Harmony introduced me to a locally sourced wool of Prince Edward Island. The fleece comes from the Canadian Rideau Arcott sheep, a Wildwinds Pasture mixed flock and prolific breeders. Fleece and Harmony has a small mill on the same site as their shop.
The wool is lightly processed and hand dyed using “a non-hazardous, non-chrome, low impact, heavy metal-free acid dye.” The resulting wool is versatile and light and the range of colours produced is amazing.
At the Makers Place in Mayfield, Brenda has a collection of goods created by over thirty makers.
Brenda is a knitter of cozy throws, sweater shawls, messy bun hats, headbands and neck warmers. Her favourite medium is bulky yarns, but she also knits up things like mug warmers in lighter weight fibres.
“How we all love to create! It is a little bit of the divine in us.”
(From the Complete Journals II: 100, April 19, 1904 of Lucy Maud Montgomery)
Hats by Tracy J 
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Great information glad you had a good trip
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