Written by Dustin Kahn, Photography by Paige Green Marlie (center) spins yarns for her designs—modeled on the beach in her home of Bolinas (left) and in her lush garden (right). It’s an amazingly beautiful day in Bolinas, the little town in West Marin known for its unconventional inhabitants. I’m here to visit Marlie de Swart—and as I […]
Read MoreAuthor: Dustin Kahn
A lifelong love of fiber arts
Photography by Paige Green Colleen Simon has enjoyed an interest in fiber arts for as long as she can remember. She learned to knit as a child growing up in Minnesota, and recalls with fondness how she was intrigued by the spinning wheel in her mom’s attic. Today she owns a richly colored flock of ten ewes (CVM, CVM-Romeldale, […]
Read MoreFrom Sheep to Shop
Photos by Paige Green Jackie Post is living the fiber lover’s dream at her farm in Vacaville, California, where she settled around four years ago with her husband Leonard, who works as a scientist, but grew up on a farm in Michigan and raised sheep in 4H. The flock consists of 18 sheep of varying breeds (Shetland, Jacob, Navajo-Churro, Karakul, Herdwick and […]
Read MoreBarinaga Ranch — Inspired by Ancestral Traditions
Overlooking Tomales Bay, in the hills above the small town of Marshall, lies Barinaga Ranch. This special place in the Marin countryside grew out of a vision inspired by Basque ancestors and plenty of hard work by Fibershed producer member Marcia Barinaga and her husband Corey Goodman, a neuroscientist and biotech entrepreneur. The Barinaga family […]
Read MoreBrookfarm Alpacas — “It’s about the fiber!”
For anyone who has felt the incredible softness of alpaca fiber, it’s easy to understand why an avid knitter like Debbie Emery was instantly attracted to these peaceful camelids. She describes alpacas as “so gentle, and almost zen-like.” And points out that they are also very eco-friendly due to their soft, hoof-less feet. “But it’s the […]
Read MoreBlending Local Wool & Community in Valley Ford
photos by Paige Green For Ariana Strozzi and Casey Mazzucchi, partners in both business and life, ranching has been a lifelong pursuit. Ariana grew up on the Marin coast, and has been working on ranches since she was seven. Casey was born and raised on a sheep ranch in Valley Ford, property that has been […]
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