Your Hosts
Chris Armbrust & Teresa Perleberg
Dakota Fiber Mill was founded by Chris Armbrust and she has been making yarn and roving from sheep, alpaca, goat, camel, Bison etc since 2010. A collaboration with 4 NDSU engineering students brought a felting machine to the mill in 2017, and all waste and short fibers are felted into a variety of products. The mill also has a line of yarn called Dakota Spun. The Mill moved from Chris’s farm by Kindred, ND to the lower level of the Nome Schoolhouse in 2021. Mill tours can be scheduled by contacting us.
Bear Creek Felting founded by Teresa Perleberg has been in business since 2008. Teresa designs and sculpts 3D needle felted sculptures using the wool from her flock of sheep. She has also designed
DIY Needle Felting Kits that include instructions and all the materials to help others learn how to Needle Felt. In 2017 Teresa launched an online
Needle Felting Academy where members have access to a full library of Needle Felting courses and personal help from Teresa. In 2017 Teresa and Chris developed the Bear Creek wool felting cushion, a natural needle felting work-surface. Teresa is a shepherd to 250 sheep by Fort Ransom, ND.
Teresa and Chris have brought their businesses together and formed Shepherd Industries, LLC. They purchased the Nome Schoolhouse in 2018 to house their current businesses, as well as a retail store showcasing their products, classrooms for makers of all kinds, fiber animals on site, Boutique hotel, in house chef and Event Center. A beautiful setting for retreats, weddings, graduations, reunions and a relaxing place to get away. Follow their adventure on
Facebook and
EweTube !
The
Nome Schoolhouse Non-Profit is also housed in the school to provide a rural, inclusive, farm to needle experience that educates and inspires future makers, artists and growers.