Rare Jacob fleece Hand made Felted sheep friendly "sheepskin" Hershey

Rare offering of an exquisite Jacob fleece...

* sheep/animal friendly
* 100% natural wool
* hand made by me
* hand washable
* Fleece side approximately: 15"x21"
* Back side approximately: 11"x16.5"
* Lock length average 3"
* Hand washable
* Indoor or outdoor use
* You are purchasing fleece shown.

ARTISAN PILLOW OPTION:
* store bought felt for back side
* premium polyfil interior
* hand stitched with embroidery thread
* PLEASE NOTE: 100% natural wool fil and hand made felt for back side available upon request. Please send me a message for pricing

DESCRIPTION:
This is Hershey's fleece which was shorn and felted for your pleasure and hers as she is alive and well, roaming free on her small family farm!

Hershey is a Jacob sheep: a rare heritage breed listed as threatened by the Livestock Conservancy. It is said that they take their name from the story recorded in the Old Testimate Book of Genesis Chapter 30 of how Jacob became a selective breeder of spotted (pied) sheep. It tells how he chose from Laban's herds every speckled and spotted sheep as his own and through selective breeding established an exceedingly fine herd.

What makes her fleece so special is her contrasting ivory & brown colors or spots which characterize Jacob sheep. Her fleece is thick, soft & fluffy & will make a stunning addition to any home decor.

DECORATING IDEAS:
* visually soften a counter stool, bench, ottoman or chair seat.
* fleeces make a great addition to your baby's room or nursery
* are the absolute best lap blanket or throw because unlike leather backed hides, my felted fleeces "breathe" allowing the air to circulate. Because they are 100% natural wool, (not synthetic) they warm up to your body temperature, will actually wick away moisture which makes them extremely comfortable for use all year long!
* add one, two or three to your bed pillows to add a touch of instant luxury to your bedroom!
* pet bed liner
...the options are endless

THE PROCESS:
* Felting is a labor intensive art with each finished piece involving many hours of work - all done by hand! The end result is undeniably lovely and because of the hand made nature, you can be assured that no two pieces will ever be the same (in fact, a sheep's fleece will always grow back in with subtle differences from year to year) - thus assuring you of original and functional art for your home

FIELD GRASS ETC:
* Prior to the actual felting process, I spend a great deal of time removing bits of bedding and vegetable matter from each fleece - after all: these are real sheep living their best life out in their fields. Some sheep will have virtually no vegetative matter, while others will be chuck full! Therefore, please expect to find some remaining vegetable matter such as hay, straw, grain, tiny twigs etc. in your felted art piece resulting in an earthy, organic quality. These bits shows up more evidently in light & dark colored feeces. If you are concerned or have special needs, please feel free to send me a message:)

SHEDDING:
* My felted fleeces are entirely hand made, with the wool locks held into place by the process of felting. They respond to use much differently than a leather backed, tanned hide. Each fleece has its own characteristics & some will shed more than others. If you have a particular use in mind, feel free to contact me so I can do my best to assist you in selecting the most suitable fleece for your needs.

CLEANSING:
* My felted fleeces are "washed" during the design process and once completed, I hand wash each fleece thoroughly using an all natural plant based cleanser which is safe for the environment and restores the natural pH of the wool. They are then set out under the sun to dry.

CARE AND MAINTANENCE:
* Because the structure of wool fiber, it is naturally dirt and stain resistant. It is best to gently shake (outdoors) and finger fluff to maintain loft. If necessary, your felted piece can be washed (or spot cleaned) in cold water with a gentle wool cleanser like Unicorn or white vinegar. The excess water can be gently squeezed out or spun in your washing machine on the gentlest cycle, then set flat to air dry. Combing or vacuuming is never recommended.

view more of my art at: jacksonstudios.etsy.com
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