New wool store is all natural

Lovers of the fiber arts whose inner wool gatherers are ar4h bnm longing for expression have an outlet in Sisters at Baabaabara's Wild and Wooly. The store, located on South Oak Street, stocks: hand-spun fiber from sheep, alpaca and angora rabbit; mohair, silk and cotton; rovings (fiber ready to spin); and a variety of knitted and felted goods. Consignment sales are offered, as long as the products are produced from hand-spun fiber.

Owners Pam Moss and Barbara Peters chose Sisters because of the artistic appreciation present here.

"This is a unique town and this (fiber arts) is a unique art form," said Linn Moss, Pam's daughter who helps out in the store.

Moss and Peters are on the executive board of High Desert Woolgrowers, a group that promotes local fiber producers and offers a support and education network. Both own fiber animals. Moss has sheep and angora rabbits and Peters has alpacas and sheep. Both purchase local fiber to supplement their supply. With that in mind, Baabaabara's Wild and Wooly stocks fiber only from Central Oregon and offers demonstrations and classes.

Every Thursday in April, demonstrations are scheduled from 3 to 4 p.m. with classes from 5 to 6 p.m. There are also some Saturday classes scheduled. Felt covered Easter eggs, dyeing techniques, needle felting and knitting are some of the topics to be covered.

Moss teaches the classes. "You will go home with a completed project or at least get a good start," she said.

Her expertise is in felting of rovings and knitting, and her enthusiasm of the art form is infectious. The store stocks her felt-covered soaps and pin cushions, felted purses and hats and supplies and kits for needle felting. Not sure what needle felting is? Visit the store and check out the flock of needle felted peeps, just in time for Easter.

Peters has an educational table set up on one wall. On it are several examples of fibers from sheep, alpaca and various blends. Each example contains a skein of hand-spun yarn, a sample of the raw fleece, the fleece as rovings and a knitted swatch. She is the spinning expert, and the yarns available in the store all come from her inventory. Other products created by Peters include shawls, cotton dishcloths and hats.

"I'm willing to teach beginning spinners," she said. "I spin by feel, but if someone wants to learn a more technical method, I know who to send them to."

The store carries limited spinning supplies but Peters and Moss will special order for customers. They're planning on obtaining a variety of spinning wheels for prospective spinners to try before making the investment in a wheel of their own.

Peters and Moss have found a niche in Sisters and are looking forward to introducing others to an ancient and satisfying art.

For information on classes and store hours, phone 549-9665. A grand opening is scheduled for Saturday, April 7.