Where wool REALLY comes from…

It’s spring in Michigan, so a little less sewing, little less blogging, a few more outside chores, winter clean-up, daffodils finally blooming, and you know it’s SPRING when the sheep get their winter coats zipped off.

I have a friend with some sheep on her local farm, along with donkeys, goats, horses, and dogs.  This big fellow is Patrick, so named for being born on St. Patrick’s Day a number of years ago.  He’s a mix of ½ Shetland + ½ Corriedale, and his black wool is simply gorgeous!  Solid black, so deep a color it’s almost blue.  Just in case you are unaware…THIS is where real wool comes from!  When he’s all sheared, there’s about 8 lbs. of wool.

It’s hard to tell from this photo if this is Rambo or Ramlösa, but they are Shetland and Shetland mixes, so they are much smaller than Patrick.  Both Rambo & Ramlösa had between 4-6 lbs. of wool.

It’s also hilarious how once they are back out in the field how much they spring about, jumping, scratching themselves on low tree branches, calling to each other, etc.  They are like kids let out of school early!

On a completely unrelated note, April & May are just flying by!  I have been able to do trunk shows and teach classes in different areas, so a big thank you to everyone who made me feel so welcome!  Kudos to the Lansing, MI Capital City Quilt Guild – they had the most stunning and beautiful quilts going to charity!  If you know anything about me, I’m a BIG proponent of quilting for charities, whether it’s a hospice, children’s ward in a hospital, American Heart Association, or wounded veteran’s, but I have to say that the Capital City guild had simply the most beautiful & thoughtful quilts I’ve seen in a long time.  One quilt of valor simply took my breath away, so KUDOS to you men & women!

Keep making.  Keep sewing.  Keep trying new things!

Beth

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