Thursday, March 22, 2012

High Tech and Low Tech

We have 3 pregnant ewes that needed shearing, and we were able to take them to Dianne's farm at the same time her flock was being shorn.  We'll have our other 3 done when the alpaca shearers come on April 18th, but it helps to get the fleece off before lambing so the fleeces stay cleaner, and it's easier for the lambs to find their mama's udder.
This is my favorite ewe (top), and its pitiful but she still doesn't have a name!  Any suggestions?  She's a sister to Dianne's "Birdie" and she has the most gorgeous, lustrous white locks which I look forward to using in lots of felting projects. All three mature ewes are bred to an amazing Wensleydale ram, I can't wait for the lambs!
Shelby is our daughter's ewe, and she is soooo friendly since Mirian handled her a lot as a lamb.  She sheared 12.5 pounds of lovely grey wool! I'm thinking of making a felted rug for Mirian from her fleece. 

I love felting with raw locks, the natural, organic look is very unique so I decided to combine "low tech" with "high tech" to make an iPad cover from some of our own sheep's locks.  First I had to wash the fleece... a process I enjoy for a short time, but it takes patience since the wool has so much lanolin and requires lots of hot water (I use the utility sink at the barn).
 Here's the finished product! It's reversible, and has merino and tussah silk on the inside, with just the right thickness and cushion.
 And yes, I'm one of those drink-the-koolaid Apple "sheep" that went right out and bought a new iPad (I sold my 2). How do I like it?  I LOVE it! The enhanced camera allowed me to take all but this last photo, the retina screen is amazing, and I like having the availability of fast LTE with Verizon data access when I don't have wi-fi available.  It does seem to burn up battery just a little faster, but it still has remarkable battery life!  There's just something a little humorous to me about combining high tech and low tech like this!
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17 comments:

thecrazysheeplady said...

Gorgeous iPad cover!!!

Lindy and Paul said...

Thanks, Sarah. It reminds me of some of your Jacob's sheep!

Ali said...

OOh Lindy thats fantastic..love all those shades, tones, twirls and textures - do you think apple will be the first to invent feely-vision?!
Also that fleece looks fab - wish I had hair like that...mines soooo straight!!
Ali x

Ruth said...

Love your cover!

Unknown said...

Oh my! The crimp in that fleece is incredible! No wonder she's your favorite. :)

Your felted iPad cover is lovely! I agree, that the organic look is totally unique and it is fabulous!

Dutch Hollow Acres said...

Awesome iPad cover! Great color contrast, love the texture too. Fab job.

Sandy said...

Very cool, the way the colors turned out patchy like. The ewe looks like it's posing, lol. Great photo.

Lindy and Paul said...

Thanks, all! Sandy, I probably didnt make it clear that the ipad cover is made with fleece from several different sheep/colors :)

Unknown said...

I love your iPad cover, how unique and wonderful.

x

Carol said...

I want an IPad! The picture quality is really great. Feels like I could lean over and touch that fleece.

Spinster Beth said...

That is some fabulously crimped lockage ... wow! Gorgeous!

Love the ipad cover :-)

WonderWhyGal said...

LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE
I love the raw lock cover!
I love the photos of that fleece!
I want a couple of those sheep.
Beautiful!

Unknown said...

Wow! The felting is gorgeous.

AllyB said...

Beautiful animals! Your ewe has such a puritanical look perhaps you should call her by a pilgrim name. What was John Smith's wife's name? Your iPhone cover is awesome. Enjoy your new equipment. Best wishes for your lambing.

FeltersJourney said...

Great ipad case! I LOVE felt with curly locks, it has so much character. Speaking of character.. your daughters sheep certainly looks like one :) She is adorable!
x

phaedra96 said...

You need to name the nameless sheep "Apple". Needless to state why....

Lindy and Paul said...

Phaedra, I love that idea! Apple she is :)