Welcome to Shepard's Pride. 
I am Barb Uhrig and my studio is located on the prairies of western South Dakota with  views of Bear Butte and the Black Hills  and is located outside of the town of Newell, which is the Nation's Sheep Capital.
The inspiration for  Shepard's Pride came from  my love for my flock of purebred  Cheviot Sheep and Santa Claus.  Being a western and leather artist I have created numerous types of artwork the one-of-a-kind art dolls are my favorites.  I create each doll one at a time so each one is truly one of a kind.  The heads and hands are sculpted of polymer clay  and attached to a wood and PVC pipe armature which is covered and stuffed.  I then sew and design each piece of clothing with the embellishments sewn on by hand. The boots are made from leather with leather and fur trim.  The hair and beards are made from wool which I have shorn from my Cheviot sheep.  The eyes in each sculpture are glass to give each the look of  realism.
     Any size Santa or art doll can be made from 21" to lifesize.  My artdolls and Santas start at $125.00 and go up depending on what is involved and the size.  Some of the sculptures available are Santa, Mrs. Claus, Elves , Cowboys, Shepherds with sheep, Indians, and Sheep.  Some of my Santas have been dancing, riding sheep or in sleighs.  They come in various themes such as Victorian, Woodland, Needle  Felted wool outfits, with patchwork coats with hand painted leather coats and cowboys.  Along with the dolls I also make masks or wall hangings which start at $25.00 and go up.  Timbernicks which are faces fixed on to pieces of fence posts and adourned with greenery and trim.  These are fun for the collectors with limited spaces.  They start at $25.00 and go up.  Spindlenicks are clay faces fixed onto the top of antique wooded wool  spindles and secured on a wooded base.  These range from $25.00 and go up.
Different decorations are used in completing an item.  Masks are put on sleds or in wreaths to make the special wall hanging.  Wool Spindles are added to the sculptures to keep with the sheep theme.  I try to keep each and every sculpture unique to insure ;that each sculpture or piece of art coming from Shepard's Pride is truly one-of-a-kind.
  Thank you for viewing the Shepard's Pride art dolls and Santas.  If you have any questions or would like to see more sculptures call, write or e-mail me at;
Barb Uhrig
Box 444
Newell, South Dakota 57760
1-605-456-2802
thranch@sdplains.com                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

                  Custom orders are greatly appreciated and are always at the top of the list.

     Please enjoy browsing through the shops photo gallery.  Visit the artist page for more on Barb Uhrig.