Gift Ideas for Sheep Lovers
Sheep are amazing animals. As well as providing us with wool for everything from scarves, gloves, jumpers, mattresses and rugs, they are highly intelligent creatures. Their cognitive ability is much like humans and they form lasting bonds both within the flock and with the humans that care for them. Here, at Auchenstroan, we have taken a lot of time to learn about our sheep so that we can give them the best possible life.
So, ideas for gifts for sheep lovers? Here are a few, all of which you can buy from our shop.
Sheep Pictures, Prints or Original Paintings
Gifts for sheep lovers: we are pleased to offer a range of prints and paintings of Coloured Ryeland sheep out and about in the rolling hills of South West Scotland.
Coloured Ryeland sheep are incredibly cute, something often commented on by people both in person and on social media. Of course, being our sheep, we are only too happy to agree. In fact, Coloured Ryelands, being darker in colour and woollier than most sheep, are often referred to as “teddy bear sheep”. You can see why when you look at the pictures.
Being so cute means we have hundreds of photos of them. As well as us taking many pictures, my brother Matty who happens to be an artist, started sketch them when he came to visit.
So, we are pleased to be able to offer pictures of our sheep to hang on your wall and bring some countryside charm into your home. These are available to purchase as prints, (either framed or window mounted), or as one off originals (acrylic on canvas). The prints are high quality inkjet prints printed on smooth-textured, heavyweight matt paper. You can buy them either window mounted or framed. You can, if still available, buy the original painting. These are unique as once sold, it is unlikely Matt would paint the same picture twice. So it’s your chance to own a unique piece of art.
An example is shown below. This is a picture of Witchy and her lamb Yogi, soon after Yogi was born. You can see how it looks for each of the above three options, framed, mounted or original canvas.
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Full details of sizes, etc. can be found in our shop.
Gifts for Sheep Lovers – Felted Fleece Products
These days, it seems to be getting more important to give ethical gifts. So, if you are looking for something unusual, unique and ethical, then a felted fleece gift could be just the thing.
Felted fleece gifts are really special. Each rug has an ongoing connection to the sheep who provided the fleece to make it. The sheep carries on living its life and getting on with the day to day job of being a sheep. Every year the same sheep can go on to make a new product. This is why sometimes you will hear these rugs called “vegetarian rugs” because the sheep doesn’t have to die to produce one.
We offer a range including felted fleece rugs, cushions and scarves. The rugs come in various sizes, from a baby blanket through to a full size rug resembling the outline of a sheep’s fleece. They come in various colours as each sheep has its own unique colouring.
Visit our shop for more details.
Gifts for Sheep Lovers – Books on Small Holding
Tempted by the small holding life? Thinking of keeping sheep or other livestock? Wondering how to make money from a small holding? Want to know the reality? Then you might be interested in my book on that very subject. A real insight into smallholding life. It describes many of the challenges you will face – physical, mental and financial. This book offers guidance on what is really involved and what you need to think about when moving into this life. It will inspire you to take the plunge, but with your eyes open.
Beautifully Packaged
Everything we sell is beautifully packaged, all our items have specially designed boxes so they travel well as well and look lovely. The rugs come gently rolled up in special oblong boxes, wrapped in tissue and kraft paper. Cushions and scarves are similarly packaged.
Regarding the pictures, we take great care with the packaging for several reasons. First and foremost, pictures being delicate items, need to travel well and have plenty of protection so they arrive at their destinations in perfect condition. Secondly, we like the people who buy our pictures to enjoy unwrapping them as if they were a gift. For us, (Nicole mainly), the unpackaging is just as important as the packaging. Thirdly, we take care to use recycled and eco-friendly packaging materials wherever we can as this ties in with our planet-friendly ethos here on the smallholding
Here’s how we wrap our pictures, (please note, each picture is sent out flat, whether the original artwork, mounted or framed print). The picture is placed inside a special cellophane bag, then it is wrapped in a layer of acid free tissue paper. Next we wrap it in brown kraft paper and secure it with string. Then we pop on corner protectors and cocoon the picture between two sheets of protective cardboard. (The bottom layer of carboard is ultra strong and unbendable). Finally, it goes into a specially designed box where it is nestled in a bed of eco bubble wrap ready to start its journey. We send everything with a trackable service and add shipping insurance for anything going overseas.
