Felted Faux Sheepskin Tutorial - No longer Available

 

This is for experienced wet felters. Step-by-step instructions on how to turn a raw fleece into a felted rug or luxurious lap blanket in an afternoon. Eleven pages with process photos. Access to my private Facebook group to ask questions and share project photos. I have taught my method of creating felted fleeces to hundreds of students over the past several years. There are many ways to create felted fleeces (a.k.a. humane sheepskins, eco-rugs, vegetarian sheepskins, faux sheepskins). This method is fast and efficient. It doesn't require a lot of equipment, just a  4'x8' solar pool cover, pool noodle, mosquito netting, and a laundry tub to rinse and full the fleece. You must have previous experience with wet felting (know how to layout fiber, how to felt, and how to full) and have the physical ability to maneuver a heavy, wet fleece.

 The tutorial is longer available, but if you're interested in taking a class in my Ogilvie, MN studio, shoot me an email for details.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays

 

Norwegian Skinnfell Traps

 

I got to use my new wood blocks from fjellform  Norway this week. They are such beautiful blocks!

I made this  chair cover (trap) using six of the eight blocks I bought. 

The printing is the fun part, the measuring, cutting and stitching is the work part. But the result is so worth the effort!

I'm making some large traps and some small chair pad sets this week. I will put some in my Square shop soon.

Felted Rugs!

 

I took an online class taught by Flora Carlile-Kovacs on rug making with pre-felts in traditional motifs. Thanks to the Minnesota Feltmakers Guild for hosting this class.

I learned some new things that I will definitely use again. I can't wait to make some natural colored rugs for the house!

Making the prefelt. I used Shetland Mule fiber I had dyed years ago. And some dark Indigo Ashford fiber given to me by a friend when she could no longer felt.

 

Deciding on the design placement

 

More design decisions after cutting out the motifs. I liked both sides so I had to make two versions, a positive and a negative.

Layout for the second rug

Second rug, love the edges on this one!

First rug, I intentionally wrapped the backing fibers around to the front, I thought it gave it the look of being singed by fire. Maybe the recent fire we had influenced this decision.

Pretty comparable in size and thickness. Can't wait to make some bigger rugs!

Sheep Fat or Mutton Tallow (from Fat Sheep)

Here is my first ever batch of mutton tallow soap. It's sparkling white and leaves your hands feeling SO good. I've been making soap for about 17 years but never tried using mutton tallow in it.

 

I guess I have overfed my sheep for a couple years now. Who knew Frankie, my 3.5 year old wether was so fat! I knew he was bossy at the feeder, but never have I seen so much fat on a sheep. 

 I was thinking of making suet feeders for the birds, but then I read about the wonders of mutton tallow for your skin.

I'll be rendering lots more of Frankie's fat and trying different blends and scents in soaps and lotions. The batch above is 100% mutton tallow with Lavender and Rosemary essential oils added for scent. 

I'm cooling down some Mutton tallow/olive oil balm now. I'll whip it up and put it in jars. I've read that mutton tallow is really beneficial for your skin. We'll see. There's always more to learn! 

Icelandic Lambs!

 

I used an Icelandic ram on my ewes last fall and was blessed with 25 lambs this year. 13 female and 12 male. Their fleeces are fantastic! 

But I can't keep them all, so if you're interested in a ram lamb or two, let me know. I do have two ewe lambs left also. Thanks to the beautiful ladies who purchased sheep from me this summer. I'm always happy to see my sheep go to good homes. 

Minnesota is in a drought this summer and the hay crop is much lower than usual. I was able to buy 25 big rounds which should be enough to get me through to next summer if I keep my flock down to 10 or 15 sheep this winter. I'm at 23 now, so some will be moving out one way or another. 

Sid and I did an art festival at our favorite winery this past weekend. It's always fun to see old friends and make new ones. 

I am not teaching as much this year or doing many sales events -- other than the monthly Art & Farmer's Market at Fraconia Sculpture Park in Shafer, MN and the Minnesota Fiber Festival in Cambridge, MN on Saturday, Oct 16th. 

I cashed in my 401k so we could buy a used RV. We love it! We took it up to North House Folk School in Grand Marais, MN when I taught the felted fleece class in July.

It was so nice to just drive and not have to worry about hooking and unhooking a trailer. The motor home is not as spacious as our travel trailer, but it sure is convenient! I love having everything we need in a compact package. We're hoping to take it on the road this fall.

And now we find ourselves in August with the garden producing like crazy and lots of projects to finish up before the snow flies again. There's never a dull moment when you live on a farm! 

I hope everyone is having a good summer and staying safe and healthy as the pandemic continues to ravage the US.

 

 

Spring 2021 - it's here!

 

I think it's actually spring time. The crocuses are up already and most of the snow is gone. 

The sheep are getting sheared this week and then lambs will be on the way in a few more weeks. 

Sid and I celebrated our birthdays with our first dinner out in almost a year -- Taco Tuesday, or should I say Margarita Tuesday. :-)

And at home with the delicious cheesecakes Sid made. My boys were here to have a traditional boiled dinner with us, so nice! 

 

We started watching Outlander on Netflix. It's stressful, but addicting. I'm spinning up a pound of sari silk in Blue Lagoon colorway as I watch. It's my favorite color.

And we put some Legbar eggs in the incubator for Easter Sunday chicks. That feels like spring to me!