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Olympia loves art. From the twice-yearly Arts Walk celebration to galleries galore, it’s a creative, mixed-media dream. Even the streets, buildings, traffic boxes, and plinths downtown are becoming a celebration of art. With sculptures, murals, and public art all around, there’s something everywhere you look. New addition Holy Lamb Organics is jumping into the scene hoof-first with their mural and multitude of multicolored chalk sheep.

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Holy Lamb Organics sells mattresses, bedding, and textiles made locally from PNW wool. Come feel their amazing products at the new downtown Olympia shop. Photo courtesy: Holy Lamb Organics

Since their grand opening in August 2018, the Holy Lamb team have been updating the vintage Steam Plant warehouse to accommodate merchandise and more. Owners Jason and Mindy Schaefer want the refurbished building to maintain its classic beauty, but also want it to create something eye-catching.

This is where employee Lauren Burroughs-Haines stepped in. An artist comfortable in many mediums, Lauren teaches part time at the Tacoma Art Museum as well. She paints in oils and watercolor, crafts in ceramics and mixed-media, and has been an artist for the past 15 years.

Lauren sketched up some ideas and got to work on a mural that tells the story of their business, history, and livelihood through—you guessed it—sheep. Holy Lamb sells mattresses, mattress toppers, comforters, pillows, and textiles galore, locally made with zero waste from organic cottons and sustainable wool.

The mural shows rolling hills, dotted with rollicking sheep, with the Capitol dome welcoming them into Olympia. The front has a small red shed to represent the 1902 Little Bit general store in Oakville, their manufacturing center and showroom since they started in 2000.

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Artist Lauren Burroughs-Haines painted the new Steam Plant mural welcoming Holy Lamb–and their wool–to downtown Olympia. Photo courtesy: Holy Lamb Organics

But Holy Lamb knows that art is best when shared, so to bring in new customers and sheep fans alike, staffers go out into the community—weather permitting—and draw chalk sheep galore. These lead back to the store, and “people always come in smiling,” laughs Customer Service Manager Dawn Youmans. “It’s like we herded them in.”

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Co-workers Lauren and Parker draw sheep all over town to guide visitors to Holy Lamb’s centrally-located showroom. Photo courtesy: Holy Lamb Organics

The sheep have cavorted their way around the popular 222 Market, downtown bus station, and on streets around the historic Steam Plant. They encourage guests to come in and touch, feel, and enjoy their pillows, mattresses, comforters, and fabrics.

Holy Lamb and their sheep can also be found in some of the classic Olympia festivals and celebrations. Their team is signed up to participate in Third Thursday fun, Twinklefest 2018, Spring Arts Walk, and events with the Olympia Symphony, Hands On Children’s Museum, and Olympia Farmers Market.

Not familiar with the wonders of wool? Worried it’s scratchy and smells like slightly damp sheep? Drop by and experience its amazing properties. Renewable, sustainable, breathable, and resistant to microbes, bacteria, dust mites, and fire, it’s soft, warm, and locally produced.

They’ll offer promotions on Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and every time the Seahawks play. If the ‘Hawks win, enjoy 10 percent off all Holy Lamb products the following Monday,” says Jason. “If they lose, come “cry in your pillow’ with 10 percent off all pillows the Monday after a game.” Wool comforters are 10 percent off before kick-off on game day, and the next day, receive a free pillow with mattress purchase if there’s an interception by the ‘Hawks defense.

While there, take a selfie with the new mural and add the hashtag #HolyLambOrganics to be included on their vibrant Instagram page.

The Steam Plant shop is perfect for last minute gift giving, big or small. Many Holy Lamb products can be made to order within a day and home delivery is available. Look for informational flashcards around the store and downtown. You just might learn that the world record for fastest shearing of a sheep is 39.31 seconds or that the primary source of certified organic wool is from New Zealand.

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Let chalk sheep guide the way during festivals, store promotions, or days when they won’t wash away in the rain. Photo courtesy: Holy Lamb Organics

Know any crafters? Scrap wool, fabric, and other raw materials are available through the website or in-store. Visit their Oakville location for tours every Monday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. You’ll see how locally raised wool from the Pacific Northwest is turned into all manner of amazing textiles.

Art is all around us. Thanks to Holy Lamb Organics, a visit to 113 Thurston Avenue NE in Olympia blends artisan crafters, murals, sidewalk chalk, and local flair with community, quality, and plenty of bouncing, fluffy sheep.

Holy Lamb Organics
113 Thurston Avenue NE, Olympia
Monday – Thursday: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Friday and Saturday: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Sunday 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

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