Stunning wild felted fleece ‘vegetarian sheepskin’ rug handmade from Pepsi’s 2020 fleece…

This wild rug is made from the fleece from the beautiful enigma that is Pepsi (pictured in the photos). Pepsi is an Icelandic cross sheep who lives here with her mum Phlox and many other sheep friends at our home on the Llyn Peninsular in North Wales. I sheared her myself with traditional blade shears as I do all my sheep taking great care not to harm Pepsi or her fleece. This vegetarian sheepskin rug is big and rugged with wild hairy locks that have natural sun-bleached highlights on the tips. This particular fleece is Pepsi’s 2nd shear fleece aka the second fleece that she has grown in her lifetime. It is unique as each sheep’s fleece is never quite the same each year, many factors affect it, weather, age, diet etc. Pepsi is going more grey as she ages and her next fleece will not be the same dark black/brown colour as this particular fleece. The proceeds from its sale will help pay for Pepsi and her flockmates’ food, care products, and any veterinary help they need throughout the year.

This natural 100% wool item is ethical and has great provenance it has been made in its entirety at our smallholding. The reverse of the rug is made from carded wool that is then hand felted to Pepsi’s fleece. Large rug’s like Pepsi’s are made over the course of 3-4 days from start to finish. Most of the carded wool used for the backing I bought from a small high welfare flock in Scotland and then washed and hand-carded here on the farm. The black is from a sheep called Charlie, the grey from is twin sister Wild Thing and the white is from our own sheep Noddy and Norbert. I wanted to make the reverse of this rug reflect the beautiful markings that are present in Pepsi’s fleece.

Pepsi’s fleece would look amazing as a display piece, photo prop, or floor rug. It is well felted and boasts beautiful long wild locks. This rug has an amazing rustic, rugged feel and looks about it. I would class it as a medium to heavyweight rug. I feel it would be best suited to light use and display purposes – this is because it is very hairy and does have a tendency to molt. It would be suitable to drape across a bed for display purposes. Being made of only wool (and the odd bit of hay…) it is completely biodegradable and kind to our planet…

Please note like most felted sheepskin rugs it does shed wool/fibers to some degree – as Pepsi is an Icelandic cross sheep with a very hairy rugged fleece it does molt/shed hairs if rubbed against rather like a big hairy dog… Therefore it would not be suitable to sit against or lie on (unless you don’t mind being hairy like Pepsi!)

Felted fleeces aka vegetarian sheepskin rugs are best suited to light use but will last for years and years if cared for and treated with respect.

Dimensions: Measurements taken on the fleece side are approx at the longest 150cm long x 85-95cm wide. The rug is a beautiful large size.

Wool texture: The feel of this fleece is mostly coarse, essentially like coarse hairs. It is dual-coated meaning there is a soft undercoat and coarse hairy outer.

Colour: The colour of this rug is a stunning ‘black mouflon’ this colour sheep have a dark body with lighter areas on their neck, underbelly and hind legs. The rug is technically black but has pretty sun-bleached brown highlights and lighter grey/white patches that are from Pepsi’s hind legs and a little lighter area from her neck.

VM(aka hay/grass seeds etc): I spent a lot of time removing the most noticeable bits of debris Pepsi collected in her fleece throughout the year, bits dried leaves mostly where she has foraged in hedges in the winter months.. However, you can still find little bits of dried leaves and grass seeds as this is a natural unprocessed handmade piece..  these are along the neck end and centre of the fleece if you part the fibers and look deep down you may find them. I have included a photo at the end to show what I mean. Please note there are just a few small areas like this not the majority of the fleece.

If you have any questions or queries at all please send me a message I will be happy to help.

——————————————————–

A lot of time, care and love go into all my items they are all individually made one at a time by just 1 pair of hands – from caring for and shearing the sheep, washing the wool and crafting an item to the packaging and posting – handmade in the truest sense of the word.

Any questions just send me a message.

Postage for this item is by myHermes courier Next Day Fully Insured and items are dispatched within 1-5 working days. If you require express postage please contact me before purchase to arrange.

Combined Postage I do combine postage on multiple items if it is not done automatically at checkout I will refund you any overcharges after checkout.

Post Packaging In an effort to be more eco-friendly most of the outer post packaging I send items in is reused aka recycled packaging that we have received parcels in ourselves or that has been gifted to me to put to good use.

OVERSEAS BUYERS will incur an extra postage charge which may vary depending on location.

RETURNS If you are unhappy with your item please contact me within 5 days of receiving it. All items must be returned in their original unused condition and buyer pays return postage.

If you have any problems with your order please contact me and I will do my best to help.

———————————————————

We keep a well-loved, high welfare flock of pet and rescue sheep on the Llyn Peninsular in North Wales. Our sheep are a part of the family and each is known by name. All our wool and makes are vegetarian-friendly as we do not breed or sell sheep for the meat market and our sheep live out their natural lives with us. I am a full-time mum and shepherdess. In my (none existent!) free time I make things from wool from the sheep in order to sustain them.

———————————————————