Creative in the Countryside: Felted Sheepskins
Rosie Anderson, along with her Mum, makes ‘felted sheepskins’ from her farm in rural Devon. We talk to Rosie about her creative business and all that being a creative independent entails.
Firstly, could you tell us a bit about yourself and Felted Sheepskins?
My Mum and I make ‘Felted Sheepskins’. Felted sheepskins are 100% wool and have no skin. They are sheep-friendly because we only use the shorn fleece to make them. They are also self-renewing as a single sheep will provide us with a new fleece each year.
I live on a smallholding just on the Devon and Cornwall border and started keeping sheep about five years ago. We needed sheep to graze the land so we bought our first flock – 17 Whiteface Dartmoor ewes. Felted Sheepskins was then created out of a need to add value to keeping the sheep whilst maintaining a creative existence. Since then my flock has expanded and I breed specifically for unique and interesting fleece.
What’s unique about the brand?
Felted Sheepskins is great for people who love the look and feel of traditional sheepskins but don’t necessarily like the idea of where they come from. People can buy felted sheepskins in the knowledge they are made from animals that are well cared for and that they are made in a sustainable way. In fact, they couldn’t be more natural and I am proud to produce something that is not only really beautiful and practical but something that doesn’t leave an environmental footprint and is animal friendly.
Can you give us an insight into the process of making felted sheepskins?
It’s really simple in terms of raw materials. All we use is wool, olive soap and water. We take the whole fleece just as it has come off the sheep. We then shape it and add an extra layer of wool on the back to create a felt backing. This is what holds the fleece together. It’s then a process of adding water, soap and agitation. It’s almost like magic the way it works. They are then washed, dried and perfected by tweaking and brushing.
How did you learn the process?
My husband’s aunt who comes from the Isle of Arran taught us the basic process. She is a very experienced felt maker but she had only ever made a few of these rugs quite some time ago. She came to Devon and taught us what she knew. Since then it’s been a process of trial and error. No two fleeces are the same so it’s a constant learning process.
What's been your favourite commission so far?
We have done a few commissions. It is really nice working with other smallholders as they appreciate the qualities of fleece and have a real love for their sheep. My favourite thing is receiving positive feedback from clients, which makes all the effort seem worthwhile.
Describe your workspace:
I am so lucky to have a great workspace. I was able to roughly convert a bit of barn space into a workshop. It’s just across the yard from my house and is quite rustic. Making the felted sheepskins is a messy process but it has everything I need. It has an old butler sink in the corner, which I reclaimed from the garden, a radio, and a huge window overlooking the countryside. I’m able to work with the sheep fleece whilst looking at the same sheep still wandering around in the fields – that feels good. In the middle of the space sits a huge table where everything is made. I have a corner of the room where I can photograph my finished products. It’s generally pretty messy – I’m not a tidy person and there is always a dog asleep in the corner keeping me company.
Are there any challenges you face running a small independent business in Devon?
It can feel quite isolating and you have to work hard to get the product out there to reach the right audience - I think that’s the hardest part. Being a maker comes naturally but you also have to be a social media expert, salesperson, photographer, business-minded, accountant, writer, and in my case, a farmer. Making is the fun bit but it is really only a small part of the bigger picture.
What impact would you like to create with your work?
I guess I’d like my work to have an environmental impact as an alternative to a real sheepskin, which are made with harmful chemicals. I’d like to spread the word about wool and what an amazingly natural product it is in a world full of micro plastics.
