Customer Reviews
- Preserving our Heritage Review by NULL NULL
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I knew sheep were important in my life,but this DVD made me realize just how important sheep are to the world at large! Too bad EVERYONE hasn't seen it yet. The information on the sheep breeds itself is extremely valuable to the handspinner and fiber artist. Add to that the wealth of knowledge about the characteristics of the individual fibers and their best uses and we have food for thought(and our spinning wheels) for decades, if not lifetimes! I have always been interested in spinning rare breeds but this video piqued my interest anew and I promptly got on the internet and found me another breed's fleece to try! Thanks, Deb, for preserving this knowledge for posterity and I share your love and desire for preserving our rare and varied gene pool in sheep. The only problem I had with the DVD at all is a minor one: in the beginning, Deb used too many "word whiskers"- Umms and uhhs,etc. I found this somewhat distracting as I am a public speaking student myself and probably noticed this more. However, it seemed as she warmed up to her topic and got used to being "on camera", they dissapeared and her speech flowed more smoothly. This is a minor problem and in no way negates the value of this DVD. It is a gem that belongs in every spinner's library. That being said I also purchased her book, "Fleece and Fiber Sourcebook". This is the single most important piece of material to happen to spinners in the 15+ years I have been involved with fiber. Between the DVD and book, I have been talking to my non-sheep friends about the importance of saving our rare breeds! Thanks, Deb, for preserving our heritage!!!
(Posted on 6/24/11)
- A rare treat and wonder! Review by Kris Paige
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Yet again, Deb manages to condense her encyclopedic knowledge of rare breeds to the point that we mere mortals can understand.She then infuses us with her passion for why these breeds are important, why they should be part of every spinner's and even every fiber artist of any type's vocabulary and possibility list. She's clear, concise, and her love of rare breeds comes across clearly. She shows us the pros and cons, then guides us to truly appreciate the pros of each rare wool. This DVD deserves a place of honor. It's almost like having a cup of tea with Deb, surrounded by the miracle of fleece--which would be a rare treat indeed.
(Posted on 6/12/11)
- Very charming and informative Review by Kj Anderson
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I am truly charmed by this informational DVD. I enjoy spinning rare wools but have never bothered to think about how I should approach each fleece or wool differently. Also, I've never truly known how to classify the wools I'm spinning other than long or downy, soft or scratchy. Deb opened up my understanding by systematically walking through different breeds of sheep, both geographically and technically. She also describes the criteria for what makes a breed "rare." For each breed, she shows how to prepare and spin the wool and shows examples of the yarn she created. Deb also shares her toolkit and favorite tools. But the main thing Deb shares is her great love and passion for preserving these rare breeds.
(Posted on 3/2/11)