I'm so happy with this wooly piece of art I could cry. Literally. It's a case of loving something, walking away, thinking and dreaming about it, and going back to get it.

A few months ago, I was in Thunder Bay for work. I ate at an organic veggie restaurant for lunch to get my healthy fill of lentils and sprouts and juice. I came out and found myself in a little area of shops that all feature handmade, free-trade, and ethical products. I went into the place that caught my eye first - it had Craft in its name(!) - The Craft Collective.

Opening the door, I saw the shop was up a flight of stairs. The owners of the shop had put things on the wall in the stairway, not only to entice you up the stairs, but to brighten up the space. Well, it worked, as I was smitten with the place before I even got to the main area. This felted wool hanging caught my eye immediately and I fell in love. I reached out and touched it and let out a contented sigh. However, it didn't have a price tag, so I wasn't certain that it was for sale.

I went upstairs and was delighted with the rest of the space as well. It turns out it is used for both a retail space and a workshop. The Craft Collective is exactly that - a collective of young women who came together with the same passion - making beautiful things. Although not always at the same time, they all work and sell their wares in the shared space. What a great concept: not only is it a great way to get their business roots settled, they've also built in their own support system as they grow and put themselves, and their creations, out there.

I asked the woman working in the workshop area about the wool art in the stairwell. It turns out it was hers! She made it in Art School in British Columbia, while studying in fibre and textile design at the Kootenay School of Arts. It turns out she dyed all the wool by hand before felting it, and worked with different layers to give the final effect. I asked her if it was for sale, and she said she hadn't thought about it as it was mainly put there to decorate the stairwell, but she was open to the idea.

Many people would have just said that they wanted to buy it, right then and there, and would have negotiated a price.

Me? I got freaked out a little by trying to negotiate a fair price, and so I let her know how great her shop was and left!

I thought about that wall hanging for weeks. Maybe a couple of months.

I was back in town a while ago, and found myself at the same restaurant next to the craft shop, and I thought of the wall hanging again. I decided that if it was still there ("Please be there still!") I would make it mine. So, I went in again, and the same woman was there working on a project and the Hanging Was Still There! Ohthankgod. So this time, I struck up a conversation with the lovely woman who's name is actually Tuija Hansen. I had found out by this point that she knew my sister-in-law, so that was a good start. We also talked about linen, so then I knew for sure she was a kindred spirit. She makes amazing clothes out of cosy, often recyced fabrics. I brought up the wall hanging again, and within a few minutes we had agreed on a fair price. Not so hard at all and we're both happy! It is now hanging in my living room, where I can look at it and sigh every day!

If you are in Thunder Bay, definitely check out the Craft Collective. There are several lovely ladies there who would love to show you their creations! If you are going to the Winnipeg Folk Festival this summer, go and say hi to Tuija - she got chosen to be one of the talented people in the artisan section!