Written by Sasha Wirth and photographed by Paige Green A baby blanket, crocheted from soft and cozy alpaca fiber, was Charlene Schmid’s first glimpse into a new world of fiber. She was making it for her daughter, and the experience of working with such a silky, luxurious fiber left an indelible impression. “I didn’t want […]
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The Rhythm of Care at Rockstar Alpacas
Written and photographed by Koa Kalish Three days ago, Lisa Beatty woke up to see all of her female alpacas huddled together in a tight circle, facing inward. She knew that they must be circling around a newborn cria (or baby). “All of the moms love the babies,” she explains. “They all make a point […]
Read MoreA Relationship of Trust with Sierra Rose Alpacas
Written and photographed by Sarah Lillegard except as noted Sadie, at a week old, is running around the paddock dodging other alpacas as she makes her way up the hill and around the barn. She is one of two crias, (pronounced “kree-ah”) born this season at Sierra Rose Alpacas. Watching her unfettered laps through the […]
Read MoreHeavenly Soft Yarn at Valhalla Farms
Written by Amanda Fisk & Photographed by Paige Green Signe Ostby, the owner of Valhalla Yarns and Valhalla Farms, began knitting as a child. After many years of perfecting her personal knitting skills, she began searching for a high-quality yarn perfect for knit projects. She wanted a yarn that was a pleasure to work with, […]
Read MoreThe Hum of the Alpaca at Alpacas of Marin
Written by Amanda Fisk & Photographed by Paige Green Nicasio is a very scenic and attractive natural area, with forested and open ridge lines surrounding a wide rolling valley in Marin County, California. Oak, bay, and fir trees are common in the area, and wildlife is abundant. Nicasio is also home to Alpacas of Marin, a commercial […]
Read MoreSmall is Mighty at Macedo’s Mini Acre
Written & Photographed by Koa Kalish Four generations ago, two families immigrated from far away lands to settle in a small town in the Central Valley of California. In this town called Turlock, Larry and Maureen Macedo now continue the tradition of their ancestors: Larry’s from Portugal, and Maureen’s from Sweden. Upon settling in Turlock, […]
Read MoreFibershed Knitalong Wrap-Up
This is the second blog featuring the Fibershed Knitalong, a collaborative endeavor to support us all growing closer to the land that shelters us. If you missed the first blog, read about the project and the ‘Roundtable’ of knitters who joined in to kick off this community effort. Here, we checked in with Fibershed members and supporters to reflect on […]
Read MoreA Merry Menagerie
Written by Terra Christian and photographed by Alycia Lang Tucked in the golden, rolling hills just north of Vacaville, California, Menagerie Hill Ranch is a small, family-run alpaca ranch . Deb Galway and Kirk Howard, the owners and operators, started keeping animals with just a few sheep to keep the grass down some twenty years […]
Read MoreEye of the Stockwoman
Written by Traci Prendergast and photographed by Alycia Lang As I park at Spring Coyote Ranch, the first thing that comes into perspective is the sweeping view of Tomales Bay. In between the water and myself is Kelli and Ken Dunaj’s home. From the outside, it looks like a modern house mixed with elements of […]
Read MoreEmily Cunetto: Collaborative, Contemporary Knitwear
Written by Jess Daniels and photography by Koa Kalish, except where noted. The question “if not now, when?” has pushed many toward a leap of faith. For Emily Cunetto, it simply pushed her across the Bay, from her San Francisco residence to a studio space on the Emeryville/Oakland border. The narrow room is whitewashed and […]
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