In order to tell you about Thistleworks Designs, I need to tell you about my passion.

Thistleworks Designsis a small business started by myself, artist, Heather Johnsgaard. I wanted to follow my passion and sell my art as a way to raise money to help wildlife.

Inititally, I built web sites which helped two-fold. Firstly, it provided me with funds to help wildlife immediately, and secondly, it allowed me to purchase the supplies needed to create my designs. The creation of my designs and hand crafted items took a back seat until now.

I have taken the plunge and no longer create web sites and am focussing my efforts towards creating new designs for stitcheries, quilts, totes, and more, and turning them into patterns.

I continue to help wildlife and am a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.The funds I earn from my business helps to pay for the costs involved to continue this worthwhile cause. I rehabilitate wildlife on a completely voluntary basis, as wildlife rehabilitators do not receive any funding to perform this necessary work. Costs can be high due to vet costs, supplies, housing and caging requirements, and food costs. Looking after wildlife is not an easy task and consumes many hours of one's time, leaving little time for other tasks. But I take on this challenge freely with passion and for the love of wildlife.

I am a member of the Wildlife Rehabilitation Society of Canada, and am currently the editor of their newsletter. I also supposrt many other organizations including the Wildlife Federation of Canada, World Wildlife Fund, International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council. I have taken, and continue to take, several courses and have obtained several certificates in the care of wildlife. Caring for wildlife is not the same as looking after domestic animals and requires special knowledge of their needs, habitat, zoonosis (transferance of diseases between animals and man) and most importantly, the necessity not to habitualize them.

The decision to sell fabric and other accessories as part of my business arose for many reasons. The most important one being as another means to continue my passion for helping wildlife. One of the other reasons was that when I purchase fabrics for my deisigns I purchase full bolts... this allows me to offer kits. I would like to be able to continue adding current and fresh fabrics to my designs, and therfore must look to selling the stock I have on hand.

I hope you enjoy both my designs and the fabrics I have to offer. When you buy anything from Thistleworks Designs, you can be sure the funds are going to a cause beyond earning an income.

Thanks for visiting... I hope you come back often.