The minute I read that artist, Maria Wulf of Bedlam Farm was making dryer balls from the wool of some of her sheep, I sent her an email. I didn’t want to miss out on being one of the first to be on the list.
I’ve followed her and her writer husband, Jon Katz for I can’t even tell you how many years now. It seems like forever. Interesting to note that as Maria grew in her confidence and added a blog to her website, I tend to now read her blog posts first before Jon’s. She is so connected to the animals and the earth. It resonates with me and what I admire about Maria.
No wonder I had to be one of the first for a chance at the dryer balls, right? It was fun to watch this all unfold because Jon, and Maria, in some ways, were surprised at how many people wanted in on a set or two of the dryer balls.
But it’s so much more than that. I will likely never have a hobby farm in this lifetime – for various reasons. But having followed Bedlam Farm all these years and reading about (and seeing photos and videos) of their sheep, donkeys, dogs, and cats over the years, this is in a way in which I feel connected to the spirit of the farm and the essence of the animals.
When the dryer balls arrived I had to place them in a special pedestal that was sitting empty in a cabinet in my living room. After placing them in my laundry room next to my tin of laundry soap – I make my own laundry powder – I realized I wanted a sheep totem of some sort to go with it.
That’s when I found, through Etsy, the adorable colored, puffy sheep (the last one!), made by an artist in Canada. It arrived today and I just adore how it all looks together. Doing laundry isn’t my favorite chore to do, but now it has an added appeal to know that when I open the doors to my laundry room I’ll be greeted with this special vignette.
I sent Maria a photo and shared with her that I like the idea of my clothes being dried with the dryer balls as a way in which I will carry the essence of the sheep with me. I also did joke with her when I ordered a set of dryer balls saying, “Now if only the donkeys could make dryer balls too!”
XO
Barb
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