Wooly boots

Raising sheep is so wonderful to me. I love the way they never fail to say *good morning* or *hello* to me whenever I go for my pasture walk. They serve me well with their wonderful wool .... so many things I do with it and want to do it. I love, love farm life .

Today I want to show you something that I made and plan to use this coming Winter. It is a pair of wool boots. It is so incredible warm and comfortable I don't know how to explain. It does not itch at all, just very very comfy.

I first made a flat felt by layering the wool... first layer was horizontal , the second vertical then I repeated several times to achieve a thick , layer.... I think I did this 8 times. Sorry , this is not a tutorial as I hardly remember to get my camera when I am working.

You can look at you tube for videos that says * wet felting* or search on line... is not not hard to find.

Okay, after I wet felt I end up with a relatively thick wool sheet. I am missing pictures for the next step...sigh... I made a pattern by stepping on a piece of paper and draw the bottom of my foot and the side of my foot/leg. Well that second one is hard to explain , but here You will find some instructions , I think, and also this is where I bought my sole. I highly recommend this artist , this soles are perfect and so easy to finish the boots.

Once I had the boots on shape ( they were bigger at this stage) , I added lots of soaps and hot water. Felting begins here . I squished and rubbed as much as I could then I rinsed with cold water . I repeated the same thing over and over until the wool felted and shrunk. It is a *feeling* type of thing but is not difficult at all.

Final rinse. I wasn't sure if the wool was going to be next to the skin so I left my boots a little larger . I thought perhaps I would wear some socks . It turned up that I don't need socks at all ... the boots are very comfortable .

The boots were placed on my clothes line to dry. it is important to *shape* like your feet , then remove the boots very carefully so the shape will maintain during the drying process.

I was thrilled when my soles arrived. The artist made then from rubber and leather . I loved it!*grin*'

She included an instruction and everything I needed to finished this pair.

I can not wait until a cold day that I can wear it . I think I will make a second pair... my children already asked me about it!!

I will leave you with a picture from my porch. It is so very lovely here . I love to sit here and watch the animals , while I draw or sip on a cup of tea.... It is one of mine and Mark favorite place to be.