Wild felted fleece rug ‘vegetarian sheepskin’ handmade from Gem’s 2021 fleece…

This stunning large rug is made from the fleece of beautiful Gem (pictured in the photos wearing this very fleece). Her fleece is a beautiful slate blue-grey colour with darker edges. She has a gorgeous shaggy wild-looking fleece. The back of the rug is thick and smoothly felted with a unique design felted into it using handspun wool. I also needle felted Gem’s name on the back so you’ll never forget who grew this beautiful fleece. This rug is a lovely medium-heavyweight. It is ideal to use as a rug thanks to its weight and texture but would look equally amazing draped on a sofa or bed. This is a very good versatile example of a felted fleece – perfect to add a touch of the wilderness to any home!

Gem is a Black Welsh Mountain cross Jacob/Shetland mixed breed sheep who lives with many other sheep friends at our home on the Llyn Peninsular in North Wales. I bought her from a local smallholding to save her from going to the abattoir as a cull ewe because she wasn’t able to have lambs. I was offered her because the smallholder was fond of her and said she has a stunning fleece – they weren’t wrong there! She is one of the few sheep I own who won’t approach me for a fuss. But she will come over for food and eat from my hand, she loves her grub. She is a very funny cheeky character who is always annoying the other sheep by picking play fights with them. I am so happy I was given the opportunity to buy Gem and give her a home for life with my flock – it wouldn’t be the same without her!

All my sheep are hand-shorn by me with traditional blade shears taking great care not to harm the sheep or fleece.. Gem is getting on in years now but she still grows an amazing fleece each year. It is unique as each sheep’s fleece is never quite the same each year, many factors affect it, weather, age, diet etc. For example, this is the most grey fleece Gem has ever grown! I also think it is the most beautiful fleece I have had from her since she has lived here.

Gem’s fleece is all natural 100% wool – animal friendly and over a year in the making it has great provenance.

The reverse of the rug is made from carded wool that is then hand felted to Gem’s fleece. That felted wool is a mix of wool from some of my other sheep. It has been especially blended and arranged to match Gem’s fleece and some handspun wool has been felted into the back to give a beautiful unique pattern.

This is a completely handmade product every element has been created by myself and Gem and the flock at our farm in Wales. The sale of it directly sustains the sheep and enables them to live out their whole lives here munching away growing beautiful wool. You can’t get more ethical than that.

Felted fleeces aka vegetarian sheepskin rugs are best suited to light use but they really will last for years and years if loved and treated with respect and care. Being made of only wool (and the odd bit of hay…) they are completely biodegradable and kind to our planet…

Dimensions: Measurements taken on the fleece side are approx at the longest 155cm long x 100-110cm wide.

Wool texture: The feel of this fleece is wild and shaggy. It is hair-like, not super coarse but not super soft and silky either.

Colour: The colour of this rug is a stunning slate blue/grey colour with darker edges.

VM(aka hay/grass seeds etc): I spent a lot of time removing the most noticeable bits of debris Gen collected in her fleece throughout the year, bits dried leaves mostly where she has foraged in hedges in the winter months.. However, you may still find little bits of dried leaves and grass seeds as this is a natural unprocessed handmade piece..

All felted fleeces moult or shed to some degree some more than others. With this particular piece it is minimal.

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

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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 with UPS 2 working day delivery aim 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 7 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.

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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.

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