Felt and Fiber

Since my animals produce fiber, I use it to create felted rugs, blankets and
wearable art. My fiber is sent to small processing mills and returned to me as
'felting batts'. I then design and felt the piece here at the farm.

My fiber comes from different animals and even different breeds of the same
type animal. I have a rare breed of sheep called, Churro. Originally the Churro
came with the Spanish conquistadors. Eventually they became the sheep of
the Southwestern Native American tribes, most notably the Navajo. The Churro
have an unusual wool with their thick, long outer coat and soft downy undercoat.

The East Friesian produces a coarse wool suitable for rugs, blankets and
outer wear clothing. I often mix their wool with a softer fiber such as angora or
cashgora. In this way I can create a much softer product.

Recently I have introduced six Blue Faced Leicesters into my flock. They have
beautiful fiber which will increase the softness and drape of my blankets and
coats.

My goats produce fiber also. I have cashmere and cashgora ( a cross between
cashmere and angora) goats to provide fiber. The fiber is very soft and
blended with wool makes for a lovely mix to create blankets and coats. Warm,
soft, silky and with a nice drape they feel and look great to use and wear.

I use mostly natural colored fiber. My animals have wide variety in their fiber
color. Various shades of whites, creams, browns, greys and blacks help me
create a wide color palette. When I dye my wools I use natural sources such as
onion skins, lichens, indigos and fruits.

Another way I use the fiber from my animals is in creating the Medicine
Shields. I use felted wool for the base and various yarns for the pieces hanging
from the Shield. I may use man made embellishments or stones, pieces of
wood etc. I very rarely use something from dead creatures.
Felt and Fiber
Come talk to me about any custom pieces
you are interested in having made.

custom@wisewomanwaysfarm.com
Wise Woman Ways Farm located in the
Texas Hill Country
Fredericksburg, Texas
432-413-3412
This Medicine Shield is entitled "The Eye of God". The central
image is from the Hubble telescope looking into another universe.