Storied Sheepskins: From our family to yours
We welcome you into the story of your Stewards Tannery sheepskin we share below. When you, your child or pet or a visiting adult friend wants to cozy up to a Stewards Tannery sheepskin- know that every step of the way we have chosen eco-friendly agents and you can feel safe letting them cozy up close. Let that moment draw you into the realness of life, shared moments and that warm cozy sheepskin held close. May it be grounding for you in the knowledge that you are sharing in a moment that has been repeated for generations before you.
When we began raising sheep we always had sheepskins in mind. Javan had grown up sleeping on a sheepskin and had a fondness towards sharing that experience with our children. Sheep are a lovely animal who can gift us fiber, milk, meat and their lovely hides.
However, when it came time to prepare the sheepskins from our own animals we found that very few artisans were available to transform this animal hide, usually treated as just a byproduct of a meat harvest, into a beautiful sheepskin on which to lay one’s head. On further research it became clear that many “modern” methods rely on heavy chemicals (chrome) to prepare sheepskin and leather products.
Javan began to research and experiment with different ways to tan our own sheepskins. As he was doing this we were having our children and alongside that was a strong desire to let them be part of the process. We found tanning with strong bark or leaf teas (veg tanning) felt like the best way to stay true to our values of creating beautiful products that can give back to rather than degrade our environment.
Additionally, this method allows our children to be fully involved in the process. Over time we at Stewards Tannery have honed this craft and can produce heirloom products you will want to share with your own family and friends. If you have a sheepskin or other hide (deer, rabbit, some cows) that you would like to save as a keepsake for your crew, you can find more information here.
