I really love drawing and painting even though most of my friends know me as more of a fiber artist. Those closest to me have always known that drawing was my first artistic medium. Over time, I expanded out into rural photography and eventually did portrait photography for a few years for close friends and family and by word of mouth. When my youngest came along, I stopped booking appointments and just focused on my kiddos and Little Dixie Fiber.

This past winter, while my daddy was still with us, I started experimenting with sewing and making project bags to offer in my Etsy shop. I couldn't really do a whole lot do to making sure we spent as much time with my dad while he was still here. But a little seed was started in my mind, just like after I learned to knit. I thought, how can I create something from start to finish? So I learned how to knit, then I learned how to spin, and then I started raising sheep...and the rest is history. Same with sewing...How can a create a project bag where I use my own designs and have them printed onto fabric?

​https://www.spoonflower.com/profiles/littledixiefiberco

This particular design was first drawn by hand. Two sheep standing in the field.

This design was also one of my favorites because of the teal and maroon colors...and of course, the sheep!

I love woodland themes and so I created this design from all the little doodles that I have done over the years and incorporated them into this little design.

The little foxes also stayed with the woodland theme.

And finally, this little design called Woodland Hare, was inspired by a dress my oldest daughter has. I think this one is my favorite.

I found that I haven't had the time to create my bags in the fabrics just yet. But I found a site where you can order products made from these designs called Society6. The products are already made and shipped by the company.

I really hope to continue this little little experiment and add more products to my Etsy shop!

​This little cutie is Zorro. He was the first baby born this spring.  His mask is so cute! He is a little mischievous boy and loves to chase our hen out in the pasture. He's always jumping and playing and we get a kick out of watching him every night. He will be for sale as a registered ram and would bring lovely color to any flock. His mama is Barakel Farm Delightful, and his sire is Belle Manor Buckeye. 

This little cutie has been named Cookies 'n Cream by my oldest daughter. A little Shetland ewe, I think the name is perfect. Her mama is Barakel Farm Thumbelina and site is Belle Manor Buckeye.  I just love her markings!  Unfortunately, we will be trading her for another ewe due to her bloodlines. I can not breed her to either of my Shetland rams next fall because they are related.

Another set of Shetland twins! These two are both ewes. My oldest girl has named them Moonshine and Ebony. Mama is Rebels Ridge Molly and Site is Belle Manor Buckeye.  I will be retaining my ewes this year to build up my Shetland numbers, however, I will consider trades for other ewes with different bloodlines.

This tiny girl is named 'Amber'. Her mama is 75%Shetland/25% Mini Cheviot and her daddy is 100% Border Leicester. I'm curious how her fleece will turn out! She is a doll!  I think she is smiling in this photo! I think that I will need to sell both Amber and her mama Trixie due to the fact that I can not breed them to the rams that I have next year (too close in relation).  So if you are interested in lovely fleece, on a small stature, these two would be perfect for your flock!  Buckeye (Trixie's sire) is a small Shetland and most of his babies have remained on the smaller size.  Amber 'may' be a little bigger than mama just because her daddy is a Border Leicester.  Trixie produced a soft fleece this year due to her being 75% Shetland.  The fleeces dye up beautifully as well.

We ended up with 17 babies this spring! 2 Shetland Rams (Zorro and Fynn), 5 Shetland Ewes.

All my white lambs are Border Leicester crosses:  2 Border Leicester/Miniature Cheviot/Shetland wethers, 4 Border Leicester/Mini Cheviot Ewes, and 4 Border Leicester/Shetland/Minature Cheviot Ewes.

The rams are for sale, the wethers are for sale and my border Leicester crosses are for sale as well.  I will be registering my purebreds later this summer.

Also, last weekend we traveled to south Missouri to pick up 2 more ewes to add to our flock.  Barakel Farm Nettie is a grey katmoget Shetland ewe, and we also bought a purebred silvery grey border Leicester ewe named Rosie. Her fleece is gorgeous! So next year I will be breeding her to my white border Leicester ram and will have at least one purebred Border Leicester lamb for sale.  I will add additional pictures soon!