tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-315333182011-12-05T18:35:32.176-08:00The Shepherd's Rug is a book about braiding a rug using wool roving. We are conducting workshops throughout the country to sell the book and teach others about the process. This blog will describe our experiences, so keep up and braid on...Letty and Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00344236312482905995noreply@blogger.comBlogger221100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31533318.post-22152870124449256572011-11-27T11:03:00.000-08:002011-11-27T11:03:11.065-08:00

Adding-On Roving Strands Since we keep our torn strands of roving only about 2-3 feet long, there comes a time when we have to add on the next strand. You'll notice that the torn strands have tapered ends. It's these tapered ends that are overlapped when adding-on. Braid down until you have a 3-4 inch tail left on the braid I like to do my add-ons when the short strand comes to the center Just

Letty and Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00344236312482905995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31533318.post-13906957256662500832011-11-27T10:41:00.000-08:002011-11-27T10:41:45.565-08:00

Adjusting Strand Thickness Ideally, I like to have my braids"Thumb-Thick". This means that the braid will be about the thickness of my thumb. Since roving comes in several thicknesses, some adjustment my be necessary. Look at the photo, you'll notice that the  Lilac-colored strand is composed of several pieces of very thin roving, about 8 strands  Teal-colored strand is quite a bit thicker, only

Letty and Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00344236312482905995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31533318.post-15734399836868315462011-08-23T10:58:00.000-07:002011-11-27T10:11:38.079-08:00

Braiding correctly is the most important start to a beautiful rug. Braiding must be done tightly with an even tension.  Photo 1 Start by selecting 3 strands of roving, each should be a different length, see photo1.   Secure the ends with a rubber band and fasten to a solid object with a spring clamp.    Photo 2 When you braid keep the strands separate with your fingers and

Letty and Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00344236312482905995noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31533318.post-19168501633169846002011-03-30T10:08:00.000-07:002011-03-30T10:08:48.871-07:00

We would like to introduce The Shepherd's Rug Bleats. Every so often we will post a TSR-Bleat on this blog. TSR-Bleats will highlight tips and techniques that will hopefully make your rug braiding ventures more enjoyable. Please be sure to post your comments and questions. So here is the first one:  Here is a photo of my braiding chair. It is a patio chair with a high back. Each revolution of

Letty and Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00344236312482905995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31533318.post-42034594480689939742011-02-14T12:16:00.000-08:002011-02-14T12:17:54.899-08:00

THE BOOKS ARE IN! You can order from Letty or Annie. Check or money order should be made out to "The Shepherd's Rug" Price is $24.95 plus $5.65 for Priority Shipping with delivery Confirmation: Letty Klein                                    Ann Brown 6881 N Sprinkle Rd                     4034 Grassy Lick Rd Kalamazoo, MI 49004                 Mt Sterling, KY 40353 269-381-0980

Letty and Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00344236312482905995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31533318.post-19330496561494967372011-01-29T07:36:00.000-08:002011-03-30T09:50:31.728-07:00

Annie Brown has two workshops scheduled so far, more details later: Kentucky Sheep and Fiber Festival: May 20,21 & 22, 2011, Masterson Station, Lexington, Ky. Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair: October 21-23, 2011, Asheville, NC. I will be teaching a rug braiding workshop at the Wisconsin Sheep & Wool Festival on Friday, September 9, 2011, then judge the fleece show on Saturday and give a fleece

Letty and Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00344236312482905995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31533318.post-24905064696302162812011-01-05T11:35:00.000-08:002011-01-05T11:35:15.003-08:00

Good News! Our book will soon be back in print! As soon as I have copies in hand, I'll post it on this blog and have copies available on our etsy store - so keep watch!

Letty and Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00344236312482905995noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31533318.post-65566103899698767492011-01-01T17:01:00.000-08:002011-01-02T05:45:58.815-08:00

Here are three oval spiral rugs, each done in a different technique.   This is an Icelandic Rug, roving was donated byMarty Favre, Fence Row Farm, Charlotte, MI. It is anoval spiral rug in 3 colors and weighs about 4 pounds.       I started this rug by braiding 40 yards of white roving from a commercial flock of sheep. Then I "Painted" the braids, using the same

Letty and Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00344236312482905995noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31533318.post-61084859222874489392010-12-29T11:09:00.000-08:002010-12-29T11:09:25.083-08:00

Here's some nice ideas. They made great Christmas presents...  This set of Mug Rugs were for a Pittsburg Steeler fan  This oval rug was for a special person who loves the color "Blue". 

Letty and Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00344236312482905995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31533318.post-91485530877652791902010-12-28T09:24:00.000-08:002010-12-28T09:24:53.567-08:00

I thought you'd like to see some additional rugs that I've made in the last few years.  Two are breed rugs for display and the third is an artistic endevor for competition. Finn Sheep: this consignment oval rug is in two natural colors of Finn Sheep fleece. I found the Finn fleece very easy to braid and sew, plus it felted nicely. The owner from Pennsylvania, sent fleece from her own sheep to

Letty and Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00344236312482905995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31533318.post-28234550413638349632010-11-16T09:23:00.000-08:002010-11-16T09:23:59.756-08:00

I just returned from a great trip to Vermont. Traveling companion, Amy Tyler from Interlocken, Michigan, and I were both invited to teach three workshops at the biennial retreat of the Northeastern Handspinners Association. This 3-day event was held at the Grand Summit Resort and Conference Center on Mount Snow near West Dover, VT. With Amy's Subaru packed with a spinning wheel, fiber and class

Letty and Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00344236312482905995noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31533318.post-44937529110978599752010-09-24T07:05:00.000-07:002010-11-16T09:28:04.572-08:00

Cornflower Blue Swirl, Pumpkin Fog and Forest Moss We have roving for sale, here are just a few examples of dyed roving, but we also have every natural color imaginable. The roving is blends of breeds from our own sheep which includes Karakul, Cotswold, Leicester Longwool, and Dorset. Contact us for a specific color and we will let you know what is available. You can purchase through our etsy

Letty and Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00344236312482905995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31533318.post-26444829098987469372010-09-18T12:29:00.000-07:002010-09-18T12:29:34.790-07:00

The Shepherds Rug announces an exciting new rug design. This is an Annie Brown original technique. The rug is rustic, light-weight and durable, perfect for that cabin in the woods or cottage on a lake as well as in your own home or apartment. Annie worked many hours developing this new and very unique technique for making a wool rug. She first felted batts of wool from our own sheep’s fleece,

Letty and Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00344236312482905995noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31533318.post-6906627015704467612010-09-17T12:06:00.000-07:002010-09-18T12:09:58.534-07:00

Well, I'm back from the Wisconsin Sheep & Wool Festival in Jefferson, WI. This event just gets bigger and better every year. No rug workshop this year, I judged the Fleece Show (almost 200 fleeces) and gave a 2 hour lecture on The Perfect Fleece.I'll be home now until the first weekend in November when I'll be teaching at the Northeastern Handspinners Association meeting at Mt Snow, West Dover,

Letty and Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00344236312482905995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31533318.post-13503444148997471622010-02-22T09:24:00.000-08:002010-02-22T09:28:48.698-08:00

Go to our NEW etsy store at http://shepherdsrug.etsy.com to see all the items and materials we have for sale.

Letty and Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00344236312482905995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31533318.post-1159056413340711052006-09-23T16:56:00.000-07:002006-09-23T17:06:53.363-07:00

We had a workshop at the festival all day Saturday. The class was full with 15 students, all ended up with beautiful chairpads to take home. Just look at all these happy faces and colorful chair pads.On Monday after the festival we had a workshop for 15 of the festival volunteers. A wonderful time was had by all.

Letty and Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00344236312482905995noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31533318.post-1159055761578611722006-09-23T16:47:00.000-07:002006-09-23T17:12:52.683-07:00

Finger Lakes Fiber Festival was wonderful. Friday evening Letty judged the Fleece Show, about 30 fleeces were entered. The Supreme Champion Fleece was a Natural Colored Romney exhibited by Liz Russell of Alloway, New Jersey. This very clean fleece had wonderfully even crimp, lots of luster and the best handle of all the fleeces.

Letty and Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00344236312482905995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31533318.post-1157798903794265122006-09-09T03:29:00.000-07:002006-09-09T03:48:23.820-07:00

On September 5, 2006 Ann was interviewed on a local radio station by the Kentucky Arts Council. Our book will be showcased in the Gallery for the Arts for one month. Ann had received a grant from The Kentucky Arts Council through the Kentucky Craft Market to develop the book.

Letty and Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00344236312482905995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31533318.post-1157453681155275202006-09-05T03:45:00.000-07:002006-09-09T04:32:21.306-07:00

We are preparing for our next workshop which will be The Finger Lakes Fiber Festival in Hemlock, NY September 15-17, 2006. Letty gets to judge the Fleece Show on Friday evening. Sounds like our workshop on Saturday is quite full. Sunday we will do demos and sign books. On Monday after the festival we will have another workshop for the FLFF volunteers.Sept. 30 - Oct 1, 2006, Letty will be at the

Letty and Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00344236312482905995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31533318.post-1157365123160240162006-09-04T03:10:00.000-07:002006-09-05T04:12:35.056-07:00

Here is a photo of some of the rugs we have made. There are round rugs, oval rugs, rectangle rugs, stair treads, chair pads, and mug rugs. We use natural colored wool roving, as well as wool dyed with natural plant dyes or commercial dyes, to add color to the rugs.The rug making technique is simple and well described and illustrated in our book.

Letty and Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00344236312482905995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31533318.post-1157280791051412972006-09-03T03:26:00.000-07:002006-09-05T04:01:03.926-07:00

The Shepherd's Rug was published in April 2006. Our first outing with the book was the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival. We sold and signed books from Letty's sheep pens in the sheep barn.Then we went to the Hoosier Fiberarts Festival in Franklin, IN the first weekend in June. Two weeks later we were bound for The Wool Market in Estes Park, CO where we had a full workshop and a booth to sell/sign

Letty and Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00344236312482905995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31533318.post-1153653965187866192006-07-23T04:18:00.000-07:002006-09-05T03:58:28.923-07:00

The Shepherd's Rug is a book about braiding a rug using wool roving. We are conducting workshops throughout the country to sell the book and teach others about the process. This blog will describe our experiences, so keep up and braid on...

Letty and Anniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00344236312482905995noreply@blogger.com0