My other half is currently stuck in Toulouse, France, thanks to the almost weekly strikes that see all flights in and out of the country grounded (grrrr), it’s incredibly frustrating but it does mean I can play with my unwashed fleeces without complaints about the “sheepy smell” pervading the whole house 😉
Yesterday and today were spent working on a new ram hat, I can’t quite put my finger on it, but something about this one reminds me of black nosed Valais, may favourite breed of sheep, they are so cute I defy anyone to not love them:
Image from http://www.lazerhorse.org/2014/05/08/valais-blacknose-sheep/
Every time I pass this new hat I have to give it a little pat on the head 🙂
I have also been playing with some wool that came as a free “goody bag” from World of Wool, to be honest, the first one is not colours I would have chosen myself but I was curious to see what the pink and green stripey wool would look like when felted… it is a lot better than I expected!
Sheepy hat is fabulous! And that ‘sheepy smell’ is divine…once you get used to it.
Those two lots of wool felted very differently from expected – they’re actually very attractive.
Thanks Lyn, I’m not sure my OH will agree with you about getting used to the sheepy smell but to be honest I don’t notice after the first hour.
Your hat does look like the black nosed Valais. Very cool 🙂 And I’m amazed at the felted colors because I wouldn’t have chosen those colors either.
Thanks Ruth, I suspect the base colours had a strong influence on the final surface colour, I think you can just see them peeking out from the openings; fuchsia pink for the first one and blue for the second. I am surprised by how green the green is still, it is slightly muted but I was expecting something closer to brown.
I love, love the Valais hat! It’s always fun to see what surprises felt holds when you use those goody bags. Both look great.
Thanks Marilyn, the results from the goody bag wools were a pleasant surprise 🙂
What a fabulous hat! ..and love those horns!
Thanks Cat, he / she is rather cute 🙂
Love your hat and I agree, those colour mixes turned out far better than they looked before they were felted.
Thanks Karen 🙂
Love the Valais hat – just like the sheep! Have you worn it yet? 🙂
Thanks Kim, unfortunately I made this hat for sale at some hat / music festivals I have coming up but I am so sorely tempted to keep it! it’s like having a very well behaved pet in the house! 🙂
They are the cutest sheep ever! I’ve not come across them before. Your work is always lovely and inspiring!
Thanks Carol, I was introduced to the Valais at the IFA AGM in Switzerland a couple of years ago and instantly fell in love, they are just too cute! 🙂