Addicted to British Wool.

My passion for British Wensleydale wool fiber. Here's a little history, in pictures...

Felting all types of British wool into accessories...Summer 2009






...I was learning to felt. But I managed to do a photo shoot anyway with my new pieces and the Ellis daughters of Lancaster Yarn Shop!
Wensleydale it is:-)! I gave in. Just Wensleydale for me.

Here's my British Wensleydale flowers here in Pennsylvania on the old outdoor cooker.

my flowers in the making...on Grandma's neighbor Peg's pink retro table...that is now my work table. (but where my Grandpa once drank beer and played cards)


First show with my beloved British Wensleydale flowers...December 2009 at Eastern Market.



they loved them! Ran to yarn shop for more wool in snow storm after first day of show, then raced home to make more for the next day....

May 2010- Indie show in Allentown, Pennsylvania, more prepared this time!...




June 2010 Lititz, Pennsylvania show (can't believe i pulled this cuteness off at 5 months pregnant):


and in July 2010, British Wensleydale goes downtown to the My Aunt Debbie shop (surrounded by art from many of my Indie friends....Love)...

Wensleydale drying at home...



Thomas Brendle Museum show November 2010, Mimi 3 weeks old. A consignment show. Returned to pick up my pieces after show, worker went to look for my platters, couldn't find them...then found most of the platters under a table, EMPTY! elated as I drove home with my newborn Mimi (who has her ears checked for sequins and beads at her well baby visits!)



December show 2010 at Eastern Market. with Mimi, age 9 weeks.


Max, at Christmastime, right before I ran these to the shop downtown...


Mimi with Debbie at My Aunt Debbie, 310 North Queen Street Lancaster...

and with Jeri, of Flying Fibers, amongst Wensleydale Longwool Sheepshop yarns!

Window at My Aunt Debbie, February 2011:

(British Wensleydale in storefront window, downtown Lancaster, Pennsylvania!)

For Valentines of course...


and Debbie creates a cool display for my British Wensleydale...

It's spring, time for bright colors and ..bows!

Find my British Wensleydale Wool pieces at the following boutiques:

My Aunt Debbie Boutique (at Mommmalicious) Queen Street. Lancaster.
The Mandarin Rose Spa at the Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square, Downtown Lancaster
Hello Bluebird 609 Penn Avenue West Reading, PA
felt, 13 Cale Street, London

Crafts in the Park

Last weekend, I vended at Crafts in the Park in nearby Lititz, showing my new summertime hair things and pins made from British Wensleydale wool. It was the largest show I've done, with so many vendors set up amongst the trees. I borrowed a tent from my friend Jody, and my family helped me set up, and even took me to breakfast (sit down restaurant- how luxurious!) after getting my booth ready.

I just had to create a new sign for summer, reflective of the color of things cooking up in my kitchen studio. Using the rest of the felt, I made the banner. It's put together with glue! and it lasted! couldn't believe it. I reused my store display for the Lancaster Yarn Shop - the shutter with little torquise shutters on the sides, the top of my pot rack table (seen in the book, "1000 Ideas for Creative ReUse" published 2009) became my upper tabletop display, and the little magnet house I created for the Square One Coffee Indie Arts show turned into a brooch holder. I loved how everything came together and reunited at least a little of my old painting with my new accessories.

Here's my little famous hair clips, bigger now and all dolled up with felty balls in the centers, some with beads.

As my tradition now before shows, I went around the park looking for my favorite vendors- selling the things I think are coolest. I easily spotted the booth of Michelle McGinn from across the way, and fell in love with her wood paintings, all hung on a vintage door. Everything was in similar colors to my work...it would have been fun to be set up closer together.

I ended up taking home a precious painting of hers, a mother bird feeding her two babies.

New brooches at Lancaster Yarn Shop

It's been a busy week of recovering from my unexpected surgery, and getting back to normal with preschool and working at my part-time job. AND I'm up and making flowers again. I created a new batch for the Lancaster Yarn Shop these past few days, and delivered them to the store there in Kitchen Kettle Village this morning. See the finished result above, and the red one in progress. Each phase of felting is simple but interesting how fast you can get from A to Z. I think a lot of beginning a new art form is getting over a fear that you'll mess up your supplies. Once I get going though and practice a lot, it's very comforting for me to make things.

I have a few days off now, and will start another set of flowers...I'm truly considering a December show, but I'm holding off on my decision for a few days to see how it goes.

I am trying to stay calm and content and collected and restful...my new mantra after four nights in the hospital. No more coffee has really helped...but in a way, this is a chilled out way to end the year.

First Friday Lancaster July 2009

Rachel-Marie was the featured artist at the Lancaster Yarn Shop on Friday night. Max had so much fun dancing to the folk band...it was a very busy First Friday and I was so happy for RM:-) My brother Mark was in town from Boston to celebrate my Dad's 70th birthday!, so we all had fun hitting the town and checking out the great shops.

Rachel-Marie has been SO helpful to me! Last week, she helped me re-photograph my shop!!! and even modeled for me! check out my new and improved Etsy store: www.maggiefrenchfolkart.etsy.com.

Have a child? Have them join me for a Class this summer!

This summer find me teaching art camp here at the Grebinger Gallery!

Grebinger Gallery is excited to offer our

2009 Summer Kid’s Camps

Featuring Lancaster Artist Maggie French!

Week 1, Kid’s Camp…July 14th, 15th and 16th from 9:30 a.m.—11:30 a.m. OR

June 23rd, 24th, and 25th from 10:00 a.m. –12:00 noon

Felted Wool and Hand Spun Yarn Barrettes, Design and Make your Own Barrettes! we'll use left over handmade felt from an Idaho hat maker, vintage buttons, and hand spun yarn from a local Indie yarn spinner. All you might need to know is how to sew on a button (buttons are optional though)!

Create Your Own Modern Art for your Bed Room! Create a Set of 6 Painted Wooden Art Squares. Bring in 3 of your favorite things for inspiration! (a favorite shirt, a favorite bracelet, your favorite pillow, etc) Create art to match You and Your Room!

Time permitting… Make a Bohemian Inspired Pen Cup with Hand Made Felt! We'll use tin cans, the cuffs of wool sweaters, and handmade felt from an Idaho hat maker to create one cool Pen Cup!

Cost per student is $125.00, save $25.00 when you enroll 2 children from same family plus $15.00 material fees. Class sizes to be kept small– no more than 6 children. Fee is due at time of registration to hold your spot! Call Cindy at

(717) 569-9335 to register!

Week 2, Kid’s Camp… (for August-date to be determined…)

Paint your Own Fabulous Folk Art Chair! Using a new wooden chair from IKEA we'll paint and decorate our chairs however we like! Use your chair in your bedroom, at your desk, or even at the kitchen table!-and- (while the paint dries...!)

Make a Bohemian Inspired Pen Cup with Hand Made Felt! We'll use tin cans, the cuffs of wool sweaters, and handmade felt from an Idaho hat maker to create one cool Pen Cup!

Cost per student is $125.00, save $25.00 when you enroll 2 children from same family plus $35.00 material fees. Class sizes to be kept small– no more than 6 children. Fee is due at time of registration to hold your spot! Call Cindy at (717) 569-9335 to register!

You can also learn how to make barrettes and pen cups with me at classes I'm offering through the Lancaster Yarn Shop! I'll have a class downtown at the Prince Street location, and a Saturday class at Kitchen Kettle Village!

Saturday Aug 8 10:00 and 12:30 Kitchen Kettle Village Store
Friday August 21 at 5:30 downtown Lancaster, Prince Street

check out www.lancasteryarnshop.com for more information!