Tuesday, March 1, 2016

Wooly Sheep and Lovable Lamb | Gift Guide

Sheepishly Cute and Clever Gifts



Sheep and the little lamb are favorites in all forms. Children love them in nursery rhymes and as plush pets. Sheep are popular as décor and decorations. The sheared wool is favored by yarn crafters who spin their own yarn.



Sheep are raised for fleece, meat and milk and sheep husbandry is practiced throughout the world. There are more than 200 breeds now in existence.

From Big Horn Sheep to the tiny baby lamb, this gift guide will introduce you to many sheep-related items, along with some fun facts about sheep.


From Big Horn Sheep to tiny baby lambs....


*A sheep from birth to one year of age is called a LAMB.

*Adult female sheep is an ewe.

*The male is the Ram.




Brief Facts in the Sheep World



  • Sheep are probably one of the earliest animals to be domesticated for agricultural purpose.
  • Sheep are raised for fleece, meat and milk. A sheep's wool is the most widely used animal fiber, and is usually harvested by shearing.
  • Meat from young animals is called lamb. Meat from older ones is known as mutton.
  • Sheep husbandry has been practiced all over the world, but today sheep production is most well known in Australia, New Zealand, the southern and central South American nations, and the British Isles.


Suffolk Sheep are a Well-Known Breed


They are a black-faced, open-faced breed of domestic sheep from England



The Suffolk Sheep Originated in England

 

Suffolk Sheep Pair - Photo Print on AllPosters


  • Suffolks were developed in England by crossing a Southdown ram and a Norfolk Horned ewe. The end result was an improvement over both parent breeds.
  • They have black faces and legs, and a large frame, with the rams weighing between 250 to 350 lbs. and the ewes around 180 to 250 lbs.
  • Suffolks are mainly raised for their wool and meat.


A Plush Stuffed Suffolk Sheep...


Aurora® Adorable Miyoni® Tots Suffolk Lamb Stuffed Animal - Lifelike Detail - Cherished Companionship - White 8.5 InchesAurora® Adorable Miyoni® Tots Suffolk Lamb Stuffed Animal - Lifelike Detail - Cherished Companionship - White 8.5 InchesCheck Price
Soft & Cute. This suffolk sheet is cuddly, with soft curly coats and realistic appearance. It is well-made and serves as a perfect gift for all ages. It is particularly appreciated as a baby shower and baptism gift.










Big Horn Sheep


The Big Horn Sheep is native to North America and got its name from their large horns. The horns can weigh up to 30 lbs. on a 300 lb. ram.


Coming to North America originally across the Bering Land Bridge from Siberia, they became the most admired animals of the Crow people, and what is today called the Bighorn Mountain Range was central to the Crow (Apsaalooka) tribal lands. The sheep were hunted for their meat and for their horns, which were used in ceremonies.


Plush Big Horn Sheep


The Petting Zoo Big Horn Sheep Stuffed Animal Plushie, Gifts for Kids, Wild Onez Wildlife Animals, Sheep Plush Toy 9 inchesThe Petting Zoo Big Horn Sheep Stuffed Animal Plushie, Gifts for Kids, Wild Onez Wildlife Animals, Sheep Plush Toy 9 inchesCheck Price

This adorable cuddly plush toy Big Horn sheep makes a great gift for children. 
 have very distinctive features, including endearing gestures and expressions.

It has a soft, cuddly texture and is a quality stuffed. animal.

This Big Horn Sheep by The Petting Zoo measures 9 inches tall in a sitting position. A fun wildlife animal in the form of a plushie!



Black Sheep

 

Black Sheep
Black Sheep (source: Pixabay)

In sheep, a recessive gene sometimes results in the birth of a sheep with black, instead of white coloring. These sheep stand out in the flock and is probably where we got the expression 'black sheep of the family' used to describe an odd or disreputable member of a group.

Sheep in the Kitchen...

 

Sheep Potholder!


Black Sheep Potholder on Etsy
Bring a sheep into your kitchen with this Black Sheep potholder handmade in crochet nice and thick. 

Cute country kitchen decor, this Lamb potholder measures 9" x 7"  and is made from 100% cotton yarn.  It is the creation of Michelle of California and can be found in her Etsy Shop Littledarlynns.



Have your Coffee with a Sheep

CafePress Black Sheep, White Sheep Mug 11 oz (325 ml) Ceramic Coffee MugCafePress Black Sheep, White Sheep Mug 11 oz (325 ml) Ceramic Coffee MugCheck Price

 




This makes a really cute gift for the sheep-and-lamb-loving people on your gift list.



Baa Baa Black Sheep...




Aurora® Playful Shaun The Sheep® Stuffed Animal - White 17 InchesAurora® Playful Shaun The Sheep® Stuffed Animal - White 17 InchesCheck PriceShaun the Sheep Cuddly Plush Toy, Black & White, 12inShaun the Sheep Cuddly Plush Toy, Black & White, 12inCheck PriceAurora, 61420, Shirley, Shaun The Sheep, Soft ToyAurora, 61420, Shirley, Shaun The Sheep, Soft ToyCheck Price

 



This soft plush sheep is based on the animated television series called "Shaun the Sheep".   Shaun is the very curious, clever and cool leader of the flock.  This 19" soft squeezable plush sheep will bring the lovable character of Shaun the Sheep to life for children who are fans of the animated Shaun, both in the TV series and in the Shaun the Sheep movie.

  

Shetland Sheep

 

Flock of Shetland Sheep (Wikimedia)


Flock of Shetland Sheep on the Shetland Isles

  • The Shetland Wool is commercially important to the wool industry of the Shetland Isles
  • Shetlands occur in many different colors and patterns.
  • The wool produced by the Shetland is a valued commodity. Shetlands produce numerous shades of wool colors .
  • Shetland sheep can show almost all possible sheep colors and patterns and eleven main colors are recognized. These are light grey, grey, white, emsket (dusky bluish-grey), musket (light greyish-brown), shaela (dark steely-grey), black, fawn, moorit (reddish brown), mioget (honey-toned, yellowish-brown), and dark brown.

Shetland wool yarn

 


Handspun Wool Yarn
Handspun Wool Yarn

Bulky Weight Yarn - PRISM - Hand Dyed Bluefaced Leicester, 165 yards, hand spun.

This Shetland wool yarn is available in the Etsy Shop of Black Sheep Goods.


Border Collie Herding Sheep - A Working Sheepdog

 

  • The Border Collie is a herding dog breed developed for herding sheep and other livestock.
  • Border Collies come from England and Scotland.
  • Sheepdogs are extremely energetic and acrobatic, and are noted for their intelligence.
  • Border Collies need considerable daily physical exercise and mental stimulation.


Max the Pet Border Collie


A Border Collie named Max - A Family Pet
My brother-in-law has a pet Border Collie (not working) named Max who is confined to his (large) yard by an invisible fence.

His home is in the country and the property is surrounded by a forest. Deer often come out of the woods to nibble grass along the edge of the lawn. Max cannot leave his yard (and the deer seem to know this), but he just quivers with excitement, wishing he could go 'herd' the deer. :)

Meadow, the Border Collie



Border Collie in Plush


A plush stuffed version of a beautiful Border Collie

Douglas Chase Border Collie Dog Plush Stuffed Animal | 16-inchDouglas Chase Border Collie Dog Plush Stuffed Animal | 16-inchCheck Price
This is an 8 inch plush Border Collie named Meadow, who enjoys herding and traveling everywhere with you!

*From the Douglas cuddle plush toy line. 








Thank 'Ewe' for Visiting my Sheep Gift Guide






© 2011 Wednesday-Elf





Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.”

11 comments:

  1. There's something very relaxing about seeing sheep in a lovely green field :)

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    1. Yes, isn't there, Barbara? Sheep grazing on a green hillside is such a pretty sight.

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  2. Awwww, aren't they cute! Even the ram is pretty! Until I visited Scotland, I had only seen very small clusters of sheep. But in Scotland, there were gloriously large herds that covered the mountainsides. It was a fabulous sight for sure.

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  3. My favorite dog breed is border collie - but my childhood stuffed animal was a lamb named Lambie. (I know, very original.) I like the stuffed toy lambs with music boxes inside, that play Jesus Loves Me...

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    1. I'm fond of the Border Collie, too, Linda. My brother-in-law has one. "Lambie" is a really cute name for your stuffed toy lamb.

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  4. So cute, going to have to hare this with my sister, she loves sheep.....and then pin it too!

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    1. Thanks for visiting, and sharing, Olivia. Sheep are cute, I agree.

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  5. Great photos of the sheep, with some great sheep-related gift ideas.

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    1. Thanks, Barbara. Glad you liked them. Thanks for visiting.

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  6. What a joy this was, I'm sharing it with my sister who is "sheep" crazy.....Her home is filled with sheep related items and she will surely appreciate all these goodies too.

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  7. I am loving this listing of sheep gifts. I don't know why...i just love sheep items.

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