Ithaca Sheepskin

Seriously, we appreciate it. You all are the best, and we love our Ithaca Sheepskin Family! P.S. Pandemics suck, and slippers and fleeces definitely count as #selfcare. Good choice for anyone who needs something cozy and reassuring at the moment. If you know someone who doesn't, please refer them to our research department. We want their secrets. #sheepskinslippers #sheepskin #makersofinstagram #solopreneur #workfromhome #supportlocalbusiness #supportveteranownedbusiness #womeninbusiness #ithagram #visitithaca #downtownithaca #flx

THIS is what I survived fucking #cancer for? This? Sitting in an empty shoe warehouse on a Sunday evening, missing my family and wrangling with a recalcitrant sewing machine?!?! Yup. It sure is. Last July, I was diagnosed with #cervicalcancer... Last August, I underwent a radical hysterectomy. There were some complications, but it seemed to be a success. I demanded @thepiggery pate and tenderloin from @autumnsharvestfarm while in the hospital, which was possible in Rochester thanks to @mccannslocalmeats I figured I would be plenty recovered to still see the sheep shop through the holidays. Last September, on the first day I could walk unsupported, I went to Jalaja Bonheim's final Circlework training, and without that massive blessing and the love of those women, I may have fallen apart in October, because... Last October, I found out that I would have to undergo more treatment, the surgery wasn't as successful as I hoped. I made charts calculating the odds of being alive and if so, enduring certain serious quality of life issues. We were working on a marketing project for the store with @mikehanlon and @shollenbeck1 and we had a photoshoot. We managed to look deceptively fantastic. This is because Mark calmed my hysterical crying and efforts to run away from the studio. He did a lot of this, because he is a wonderful man (unfair that he's so good looking, too). I also drove to @aurorashoeco a few times every week and trained their genius crafters to make our slippers. In November and December I had chemo and radiation. During this time one of our sons was sick for 10 days, and the other required emergency surgery and required a three day hospital stay, in a different city. I had mouth sores, I vomited, I pooped myself (twice), I was high as hell on the steroid they gave the president, I drove an average of three hours a day to treatments, I was exhausted and scared and it was horrible. I ALSO sat in an unfamiliar bedroom alone and answered your emails, created PDFs of shipping labels to email to the shop, answered phone calls, ordered materials, paid bills, and generally did everything I could to keep this business alive too. (continued in comments)

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT WE FOUND THE #MONOLITH !!!! It was in the #sheepshop all along.... Careful examination by our team of experts has revealed that it is full of #TheBestSheepskinSlippers This monolith will soon disappear, and reappear in miniature in the homes of folks who know how to treat their feet! If you are hoping to receive a pair before the winter solstice and the constellation of holidays that has sprung up around it... this is your official warning. You have until MIDNIGHT ON DECEMBER 10 to order online for holiday gifting. The store is open in a weird pandemic way, and you may still be able to snag a pair after the 10th... we just can't promise it. You ravenous slipper beasts are buying more slippers than ever before. It's like we're wearing them more than usual lately or something... Obligatory holiday shipping photo tradition You might notice that @cochellcrystal is worming her way into our hearts and our traditions here at the shop... #meetyourmaker #whomakesyourclothes #slowfashion #ithagram #visitithaca #sheepskinslippers #santaselves #workfromhomelife #madeinusa #madeinnewyork #flx #cornellalumni

Introductions are in order!!! In belated honor of her favorite holiday, we would like to present the brilliant, magical, and totally fabulous Crystal AND her fantastic sheepskin creation - the Sholero! Crystal is a talented seamstress and designer, an infinitely valuable and delightful presence in the shop, and someone who we are deeply honored to call a beloved friend. The Sholero is... a sheepskin bolero? A shawl? A scarf? A mini vest? All and none of the above! It is a... Sholero! It will keep you warm. It will make you look totally fabulous. You can wear it as part of your luna moth costume! Instantly make your rather standard witch costume intriguing and unique! (Also works with jeans and simple top, formal attire... pretty much anything other than rainy weather could be improved by a Sholero.) We hope to add them to the lineup for online sales in coming months. In the meantime, you can consider our equally fabulous boas! #whomademyclothes #downtownithaca #ithagram #ithacasheepskin #slowfashion #consciousfashion #indiedesigner #womeninbiz #sheepskin #tibetanlamb #madeinnewyork

WE'RE OPEN! It wasn't easy being closed for 111 days (or 9,590,400 seconds). At least I knew how to pass the time... Did you know that before Ithaca Sheepskin was Ithaca Sheepskin, it was "The Zen Bootist"?! It's true. Ithaca Sheepskin was founded by a Zen Buddhist priest, Yoshin David Radin. He taught me about sheepskin, of course, but the real learning was watching how he chose to BE, with people and with the craft.... If it wasn't for David, I would think my job was making and selling fabulous hats. We do that here, for sure. My job, however, is the same as what David was doing before I was even a twinkle in someone's eye: Heeling your soul. OR Healing your sole. Depends on the day, and whether or not you left with a pair of the world's best sheepskin slippers.