Two Sheep: a Woven Biography

The Two Sheep series is a group of rugs woven from the fleece of two sheep, "Olive" and "White Bottom" (shown right). For eight years these two sheep contributed their long, strong, hairy Karakul wool to my rugs. Their first year was spent with my flock in the hills of southern Indiana. When I returned to California they moved in with my Indiana neighbors who sent me their wool after shearing each year. These rugs represent their lifetime of wool production.

Enjoy your acquaintance with Olive and White Bottom, and I hope you will see something of their character in the rugs they have made.   --Barbara
 
 

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Not Knotted
51" x 35"

Karakul wool with tapestry borders dyed with "madder root red" and "blackberry shoots green". Woven from Olive's fleece shorn in 1993.
 
 

Red Sampler
48" x 34"

Karakul wool with stripes dyed with various natural red dyes: madder, madder and lichen, eucalyptus leuoxylon and eucalyptus pulverulenta. Woven from White Bottom's fleece shorn in 1993.
 
 

Ribbons in Her Hair
57" X 36"

Karakul wool with stripes of lichen, madder, weld and tea dyes providing ribbons of bright colors. Woven from Olive's fleece shorn in 1994.
 
 

Napa River Eucalyptus
60" x 36"

Karakul wool dyed with eucalyptus leaves gathered from the banks of the Napa River in Napa Valley, California. Woven from White Bottom's fleece shorn in 1995.
 
 

In a Moroccan Mood
65" x 36"

Karakul wool dyed with coreopsis flowers. Woven from White Bottom's fleece shorn in 1996.
 
 

The Last Two Years
74" x 36.5"

Karakul wool shorn from White Bottom in 1997 and 1998.
 
 

Sheep with the Blues
55" x 36.5"

Karakul wool with indigo-dyed stripes. The last rug woven from Olive's fleeces shorn in 1996 and 1998.
 
 
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