Creative Shearing Competition

Join us for our second annual creative shearing competition. Not everyone can shear a sheep, but even fewer folks have either incentive or opportunity to show their imagination and expertise. This competition is intended to reward the shearer’s creativity with awards and public acclaim. This competition aspires to re-direct the shearer’s mastery as sculpture, landscaping, haute couture, or a journey of craft and art. Judging will be based on artistry, originality, humor, and skill. Group efforts are permitted. Judging will be done on Saturday at noon in the Show Ring. Come see what our shearers have come up with!

To be avoided:

  1. Standard show ring conventionality of presenting a naked or nearly naked sheep in a beautiful, magazine-quality style.
  2. Heavy coloring, and especially dye, mousse, or paint that might be considered toxic. This is not a body-painting project.
  3. Any treatment that, although creative, causes discomfort to the animal. Embarrassment to the owner is okay.
  4. Entries mocking public figures and causing cultural division will be ineligible. Benign humor is, of course, what it’s all about.

Please have the majority of the shearing done before arriving on site by 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 6. Pens will be available if needed. Minor touch ups can be done if necessary that morning. Alternatively you can lead your masterpiece sheep in later as long as it arrives by 11:30 a.m.

All sheep must have approved interstate or Maryland health papers. See Animal Health Regulations.


Prizes:

1st – $250

2nd – $150

3rd – $75


How to enter:

Pre-registration is required. To register, send name of owner/artiste(s), location of farm, breed of sheep, name of sheep, and the title of your creation to Mara Mullinix, 5209B Green Valley Rd, Monrovia, MD 21770.

Registration deadline is April 20, 2023.

2023 tickets and catalogs now on sale!

Tickets and catalogs for the 2023 festival are now on sale at https://mswf2023.eventbrite.com.

Schedule of Events

Search schedule by:

Event Type

Day

Fiber Art Seminar Spotlight - In Needle Felted Whale with Kristen Walsh, you will make this needle felted whale that packs a lot of different techniques! You will master color gradation, creation of texture, using bead eyes, building “pieces” of your work on your work surface and then adding it to your project and using wire as an armature. All of that while making a wonderful whale that will grace your home for years to come. This is a half day class on Friday morning.Find full class details and register online at www.lessonface.com/sheepandwool. Be sure to check out our full lineup of classes while you are there. These are in-person classes!Looking to buy tickets or order a catalog? Find those at mswf2023.eventbrite.com/.#marylandwool #marylandwoolfestival #marylandsheepandwool #marylandsheepandwoolfestival #marylandsheepandwoolfestival2023 #mdsw #mdsw2023 #celebrating50years #wool #felt #felted #feltedwool #feltedanimals #handfelt #handfelted #handfelting #handfeltedwool #roving #handdyedfiber #farmtofiber #farmtofelt #wool #ilovewool #ilovefelt #ilovefelting #woolfelt #needlefelted #needlefelt #cutefelt ... See MoreSee Less
View on Facebook
Fiber Art Seminar Spotlight - In The Intersection of Fiber Preparation and Color, Jill Duarte will teach color theory and how to use it to your advantage when preparing fiber for spinning and while handspinning. Participants will leave the workshop with an expanded toolbox on how to manage color in fiber preparation, dyeing and hand spinning, as well as a color wheel fiber kit. This is a full day class on Wednesday, May 2nd.Find full class details and register online at www.lessonface.com/sheepandwool. Be sure to check out our full lineup of classes while you are there. These are in-person classes!Looking to buy tickets or order a catalog? Find those at mswf2023.eventbrite.com/.#colorlove #handdyedfiber #ilovecolor #wool #neverenoughyarn #handspinnersofinstagram #handspinner #handspin #handspunyarn #handspunstagram #handspunwool #roving #handspunyarn #yarnporn #yarnlove #handspinning #colorinspiration #neverenoughcolor #neverenoughtime #tourdefleece #spinmorewool #spinnersgonnaspin #ilovespinning #spindles #spinningwheels #marylandwool #marylandsheepandwoolfestival #marylandsheepandwoolfestival2023 #mdsw #mdsw2023 #celebrating50years ... See MoreSee Less
View on Facebook
Our Fleece Show & Sale is celebrating it's 50th year, having been a mainstay of the Festival since the very beginning. New this year, there will be a breed-specific class for Valais Blacknose fleeces, as well as special prize money awards for Champion and Reserve Champion Jacob fleeces (in honor of Jacob as our Featured Breed for 2023).Complete information on the Fleece Show & Sale is now available on our website at sheepandwool.org/festival/fleece-show-sale/, including:--2023 Exhibitor Information Packet--Entry Forms (both Excel and pdf versions)--Statistics from last year's sale, including average, minimum, and maximum sales prices for each breed--Information Sheet on our special class for down-type fleecesEntry forms (accompanied by the entry fee) must be RECEIVED no later than Thursday, April 27, 2023. There is no online entry option. This is a good time for a reminder that members of the Maryland Sheep Breeders Association pay a reduced commission on fleeces sold at the Fleece Show & Sale. Find more information at marylandsheepbreeders.org/membership/join/. You don't have to live in Maryland to become a member! #mdsw #mdsw2023 #celebrating50years #fleeceshowandsale #yarnonthehoof #ilovewool #farmtoneedles ... See MoreSee Less
View on Facebook
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpFtt0J2tmsmUmt3Jzr5t3uz6wg3H4DV_