Welcome to Sheep Farm Felt! Wooly love for everyone!
FEATURED! A Sheep Farm Felt garland was selected for baby Samuel Lowe's celebrity nursery! (Parents on Season 17 of the Bachelor) See here: http://usm.ag/2fL29AI
FEATURED! One of our garlands was featured on MarthaStewart.com See here: http://bit.ly/1Nwsw1Q
FEATURED! I was selected to be a Featured Artisan on Handmade at Amazon in 2016: See the short film of when the Amazon crew came to my studio and farm! www.amazon.com/dp/B01GM6M7Z6
And now for the story… grab a cup of tea and enjoy! :)
My parents met in a living Colonial history village, my mom-a weaver and spinner, my dad-a woodcarver. After repeatedly fixing her loom (he was also the one sneaking in her shop early and breaking it), they fell in love, got married, and had 3 daughters. (The middle one being the most amazing, of course.)
We lived in Port Republic, a small historic town (pop. 1200) in South Jersey where my dad is the mayor and where generations of my family have lived since the early 1600's. When my sisters and I were 2, 4, and 6, we had a house fire and lost everything we owned.
The town rallied together and bought us everything we needed to begin again- books, toys, winter coats, pots and pans, gift certificates to the grocery store- everything you can imagine. Overwhelmed by the generosity of our town, my parents did the only thing they could think of to give back to the community they loved.
When our house was rebuilt, they added a classroom and opened up a folk art school and sheep farm so they could teach their skills to anyone who wanted to learn.
They taught woodcarving, basketry, quilting, candle making, weaving, doll making, and little girls came to our home for Colonial tea parties for their birthdays. My sisters and I were invited to teach the children’s classes along side of my mom when we all turned 12.
It was during these classes that I learned a vital life lesson:
If you want to connect with someone, create with them.
When people are making something to put in their home, or give away as a gift, they are essentially crafting a new piece of their history- something one-of-a-kind that they have made with their hands that now has a story.
Fast forward MY history...past getting an art degree, marrying my high school sweetheart, moving down the street from my parents’ farm, becoming an art teacher...to having my own little flock- 3 littles 4 and under.
I was blessed with the opportunity to stay home with them full time, and I found myself in the daily routine of filling up sippy cups and stepping on Cheerios, and wanting so desperately to do the two fundamental things I was taught: connect with people and create.
I had seen wool felt ball garlands on Pinterest, and thought it was the perfect project for me- simple, free (if you happen to have a never-ending supply of wool being grown down the street), and something I could make for people who wanted to add a bit of color and natural fiber into their homes.
I would felt and felt and felt little wool balls when my children napped, and after they went to bed I would string them a few in fun patterns, and then take photos of them the next day while my littles clung to my legs. I listed a few on Etsy....and I could never have imagined the response I would get.
After six months, my “never-ending supply” was not as “never-ending” as I had hoped, and I had a difficult time keeping up with demands doing all the felting myself. I found a supplier to partner with from Nepal who is free-trade, ethical, and uses the most lovely, colorful, wooliest wool from a sheep farm in New Zealand. I love that I get to help supply employment for marginalized women in Nepal, and we have now grown to six employees at Sheep Farm Felt!
I am in awe with what I get to do everyday. At the essence of each purchase is a celebration- a new baby, a birthday party, a dorm room to decorate, Christmas, or just a fun pop of color to add to a mantle. I am so blessed that I can make something that is a part of each of those stories.
My job is more than just selling bits of colored wool on string, I am supplying people with a handmade treasure that will become a piece of their home and history.
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Thanks so much for stopping by! We hope you have a blessed day and may you be inspired to make your own creative messes!
<3 Megan
©Sheep Farm Felt
[Video of a lovely Sheep Farm Felt customer @justinemadesign. Video credit: www.andreahanki.com]
