JaniceWhitfieldofValleyViewFarm with

by TeDi Jansen

HOW DID YOUR BUSINESS GET STARTED?

My first animal love was horses and I passed that on to my daughters We did pony club and had several horses on our farm. I got a couple of cashmere goats to eat the weeds down In the horse pasture and realized that I could do something with their fiber. I also had an Angora rabbit. One day I went to visit a local woman who had fiber rabbits and a shetland sheep followed me all over her farm. I was so taken by this friendly little sheep and her sweet personality. A few weeks later "Ewenice" and her half brother came to live on my farm. Now I have over 60 sheep and 25 spring lambs I've come a long way!

HOW DID YOU LEARN YOUR CRAFT?

I didn't really have a mentor that guided me In my path but I have had wonderful people that I have learned from along the way. Unlike many fiber artists, learning the craft came after the sheep. In a nutshell, I developed a love of fiber and how to use it because I loved the animals

WHAT IS YOUR BUSINESS'S MISSION?

My mission is to be the best possible steward to my special little sheep I raise Fine Fleece Shetlands in the 1927 tradition. I want more people to realize how wonderful these sheep are. They have such amazing fiber and are a wonderful family farm sheep with their bright and endearing personalities.

For a long time now, my favorite fiber has been Shetland. I love growing it, processing it, dyeing it and spinning it. In addition to Shetland, I dye commercial fibers in braids, batts and "Yak Yummies". My favorite commercial blend Is Targhee/Bamboo/Silk Commercial fibers allow me to add a variety of textures to my fiber offerings and maximize my time in processing the few fleeces I select from my sheep every year Color excites me and I love to create combinations that I want to spin and share with other fiber artists

We have had over 25 lambs so far this spring!

The people are so Incredible, so generous with their time and Information. It Is such a warm and caring community.

I have recently branded the fiber part of my business "One Woman Wools". I do It all in my business, both the fiber animal and fiber art sides. It Is a lot of work and I am proud to be an Independent shepherdess and fiber artist. Along with adding this side brand I have also just relaunched my website with lots of new Information about my fiber and sheep.