Ashford Dealer Spotlight – Sheeping Beauty Fibre Arts
Welcome to the Ashford Dealer Spotlight! Where we highlight Ashford dealers from around the world, giving you a chance to learn more about their journeys and businesses. We’re excited to introduce you to these individuals, and we hope you enjoy getting to know them better. Our fourth dealer in the Spotlight is Lucille Williams of Sheeping Beauty Fibre Arts, Wisconsin, USA.
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NAME: Lucille Williams
BUSINESS NAME: Sleeping Beauty Fibre Arts
ADDRESS: W500 Nevada Road, Hartford, WI 53027
Tell us a little about your business and how it all began?
I grew up on a farm in Southern Minnesota. My father was a farmer/businessman and mom was a homemaker with five kids. She came from a Mennonite family and did everything from scratch. My mother and grandmother taught me to crochet at age 7, I taught myself to knit a year later. I married at age 18 to a fishing guide from Wisconsin. Life was very hard and between homesteading in Minnesota and renting a farm in Wisconsin we struggled to feed our five kids. My brother told me to try raising sheep and I later met ladies at our church knitting with unusual yarn. They were European ladies and invited me to join their spinning and weaving guild.
What motivated you to become an Ashford dealer?
I couldn’t afford a wheel so a wonderful German lady borrowed me her “Ashford Traditional” Wheel. I couldn’t stop working on it and in the meantime, I worked part time at an outdoor museum called “Old World WI”. Here I could work on their wheels as I interpreted the old homes. They were very old and sometimes fell apart as you talked to visitors. I continued to borrow my friends Ashford. This is one of the best wheels for beginners.
How long have you been working on Ashford products and what has your journey been like so far?
I began my business teaching others to spin, selling my handspun and spinning other people’s fiber. I once spun 8lbs of Qiviut from Greenland. As my home business grew, I decided to rent a store and almost 40 years later I have owned 13 stores with many stories in each as I taught spinning, weaving, crochet, knitting, rug hooking and dye workshops. I don’t remember when I first started carrying Ashford but do know it was one of the first. My largest store was in Cedarburg, Wisconsin where I had instructors teaching workshops from as far as Russia doing classes.
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- Coat of many colours
What do you enjoy most about being an Ashford dealer and working with the Ashford community?
Ashford communications have always been kind, supportive and efficient for my business. Whenever my students have questions or need repair parts, Ashford always come through. They have been my go-to company from the very beginning.
Is there anything that makes the crafting community in your region unique?
Customers here in Wisconsin enjoy coming to the farm for “hands on” teaching and many times I’ve entertained guilds on my lawn spinning and doing dye workshops. Our tea parties have been the “best”. I have my shop in our new (old) farm house that we are restoring. We are planning on getting sheep to graze this five acres and I continue to teach and sell products from around the world.
Which Ashford products are you customers most excited about?
Over the years, the Traditional and Traveller wheels have always been favorites with my customers. Trends come and go, but the Country Spinner continues to delight those who love creating thick-and-thin or novelty yarns.
Can you share a memorable customer story or piece of feedback that really stood out to you about Ashford products?
I have so many interesting customer stories but the one that stands out is when I first got started spinning and a dear friend showed her handspun sweater to me and had spun it on an Ashford. It leaned to the right. I asked why and she said you can fix that by really stretching the corner. That’s when I began self teaching in spinning and wheels before I started teaching.
Have you worked on any personal projects with Ashford equipment that you’re especially proud of?
My coat of many colors is a hand spun, hand knit sweater I’m particularly proud of but I’ve made many projects on Ashford wheels and looms. I teach a class in all forms of spinning now and novelty yarns which is the fun art form in spinning. One student spun chicken feathers and made a dress. I enjoy weaving table runners, placemats and dish towels. Smaller projects but I really love teaching spinning/weaving classes.
What advise would you give to someone just starting their craft journey, whether it’s spinning, weaving or any other fibre craft?
My advice to a person wanting to do this as a business is to plan on putting in a lot of time. Start small, do demos, art shows, smile and share what you learn. Our next generation needs to enjoy this lost art.
How do you stay inspired and connected with the crafting community? Any tips for keeping your creativity flowing?
I find getting together with like minds and comparing projects really helps to motivate me. But sitting by a beach or overlooking my sheep has the same effect. Reading my Bible and all the verses pertaining to sheep and a Virtuous Woman has been my greatest drive.
Where can people find you-online, social media or at your store?
I’m home at my store most of the time but I have a website: sheepingbeautyfibrearts.com
I coordinated Wisconsin Spin In for 8 years.
