Sara Dunham, Cynthiana, KY

Punpkin's Patch

fiber - wool sculptures

In 1992, Sara Dunham rescued a day-old lamb from the Bluegrass Stockyards. She didn’t know anything about sheep, but it seemed like the right thing to do. Sara put Punkin’ in a box in her bathroom, bottle fed him every two hours, and eventually moved him to the barn.

She learned to shear Punkin’ and saved his wool until she had enough to send off to be readied for spinning. The following year, Sara began spinning.

In 2003, Sara and her husband purchased five spotted, multi-horned Jacob sheep, an ancient breed. More sheep were purchased and babies came. Sara explains, “With one sheep, you save your wool. With twenty, you find something to do with it.” Sara discovered that the wool felted beautifully and began creating her own “collectible” sheep.

Sara’s work with sheep also led her to begin creating cut-paper art inspired by her sheep, creating each piece by hand using only a pencil, scissors and a sharp knife.

Sara’s work can be found at the Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea, Berea, KY; Punkin’s Patch in Cynthiana; Damselfly Gallery, Midway; Promenade Gallery, Berea; Gallery 600, Paducah; Gourd Patch, Cynthiana, KY.