Hello and welcome to The Living Rug Company
Hello! Welcome to The Living Rug Company.
Here you’ll find a little insight into who we are, what we do, and how this small — but very special — venture began.
The idea for The Living Rug Company first came to me in 2014. At the time, I kept a small flock of sheep who were mostly lawn mowers and much-loved pets. When shearing time came around, I was always struck by the beauty of their fleeces and found myself wondering what I could do with them. I wanted to create something truly different — something that wasn’t already commonplace.
After plenty of research and experimentation, I found my way to what became my favourite product: a felted fleece rug made from the wool of my own “home for life” sheep. While I loved the product, I struggled to find a name that truly reflected what it stood for. I wanted something that captured the essence of what I was doing and would resonate with people. That’s how the name Living Rug was born.
From the very beginning, it was important to me that customers understood exactly what a Living Rug means. Each rug comes only from sheep who have a permanent home for life and are raised here on our farm. This business was always intended to be a non-meat venture. Our sustainability comes from allowing the animals to live naturally, peacefully and fully — never at the cost of their lives or their offspring. A Living Rug is not a by-product of meat production; it is a celebration of the animal it comes from.
The journey to making Living Rugs wasn’t simple. It took months of research, conversations with experts — including trips abroad — and plenty of trial and error. Everything is still done here on the farm, by hand, exactly as I always intended.
Quality has always been at the heart of what I do. I only produce rugs I would be happy to keep in my own home. That means no tolerance for imperfections and a cleaning process that often takes longer than the rug-making itself. Each rug is made with care, patience and genuine respect for the sheep it comes from.
Thankfully, that care is appreciated, and Living Rugs have travelled to homes all over the world — from New Zealand to Canada, across Europe and throughout the USA.
Over the years, my flock has naturally aged. Some of my original sheep are now elderly, and as I have no intention of increasing the flock, the number of fleeces I work with has gradually decreased. I call it my “decreasing flock” — a group of much-loved characters who have been with me for many years and whom I am committed to caring for as they reach old age. With fewer sheep and a gentler pace on the farm, I now make fewer rugs than I once did, but each one is still crafted with the same dedication and affection.
In 2020, I trademarked Living Rug™ to protect the name, its meaning, and related wording, ensuring it remains uniquely connected to this farm and its ethical foundations.
So a true Living Rug can only come from here: from our flock, our farm, and our story. Each piece carries provenance, quality and a uniqueness that can only exist when the animal it came from is cherished throughout its entire life.
Our strapline still says it best:
No skin — just wool and love.
