I know some people have a problem with furs and hides, but animal fur is beautiful and it would feel disrespectful to me to just throw them away from the animals I raise for our food. Making use of their hides is my lasting gesture of respect for their lives.

I cure hides with time-honored traditions using vegetable tanning, natural fats and smoke. These beautiful hides can then be used in a number of ways, even by just keeping them as is to justly honor the spirit of the animal.

Interestly, like the felted wool wraps, a cured rabbit hide laid fur-down onto a strain, bruise or ache reduces - or even removes - the pain completely. Everyone in my family uses them when needed. We don't know why it works, but it really does provide near-instant relief.

(Most people don’t really know why pain pills work either. We just use them because they do.)

Not only hides, but bones are also a respectful way to celebrate the lives that go to feed our own. Bone has been used in artistic ways for a longer time than we can accurately measure. I use them to make large chunky buttons, windchimes, or even as rings and pendants. Bone is beautiful.