I had the pleasure of visiting with Fatima Showkatian about her recently formed yarn company. Tell us about what you make, including your processes and techniques. Abuelita Fiber Company focuses on naturally dyed fibers sourced locally in the Chesapeake Bay area. I aim to share my love of wool and everything I learn about […]
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A visit to Blue light Junction and the Annex Garden at Hidden Harvest Farm with Kerstin Zurbrigg
Tucked away in an almost shell-like architectural spiral of brick alleyways, in the heart of one of Baltimore’s residential neighborhoods lies a treasure of innovative community magic. Kenya Miles, artist, teacher, and visionary entrepreneur is pioneering a space for the intersections of making, teaching and co-creating with plants. Kenya is the initiator of an organically […]
Read MoreOur Fibershed Stories – Mary and Emma Kingsley of Lady Farmer
Mary and Emma Kingsley are the mother-daughter team behind Lady Farmer, a Maryland company that advocates sustainability in food, clothing and lifestyle. Lady Farmer began in 2016 with a Kickstarter campaign to develop a sustainable apparel company. Five years later, they have shifted from designing, sourcing, and marketing slow fashion apparel to curating already produced […]
Read MoreNatural Dyes – Where to begin
There’s a lot of information about using natural dyes. With so many books, blogs, and workshops available it seems a bit daunting to figure out where to start. To the rescue comes our own Janet Garman of Timber Creek Farm who will be the featured speaker at the July 18 Chesapeake Fibershed online meet-up. Janet […]
Read MoreOur Fibershed Stories – Lisa Check of Flying Goat Farm
Have you ever wondered about how someone ends up owning a farm and raising fiber animals? For Lisa Check of Flying Goat Farm, it all started with an interest in how to weave an ikat blanket. The ikat process requires dyeing of the threads prior to weaving so Lisa learned to dye. Then she won […]
Read MoreOur Fibershed Stories – Alex LeClaire
We caught up with Alex LeClaire, a Delaware fiber artist who believes in “living life in art.” Tell us about what you make, including your processes and techniques? I make a variety of fiber art. I usually start by envisioning a final piece then figure out what techniques will get me there. Sometimes […]
Read MoreOur Fibershed Stories – Heidi Lantz-Trissel of Simple Hill Farm
Last year while skirting fleece, Heidi listened to Fibershed by Rebecca Burgess. She was thrilled to learn about the fibershed movement to create locally based fiber systems to connect and educate how we clothe ourselves with caring for the environment. But this wasn’t a sudden revelation for this local wool producer. Ever since learning about global warming in […]
Read MoreOur Fibershed Stories – Patty Sanville of Budding Creek Farm
This is the first in a series highlighting the people who make up our fibershed. Patty Sanville wakes early. If it’s lambing season she checks the barn first, but most days she will start her day quietly knitting while she waits for the sun to rise. She relishes this time of day before it’s time […]
Read MoreWhy a Fibershed?
by Gretchen Frederick I am a person who avoids the why question like…the virus. In our capitalist dominated society, the why of things is answered by profit. Since we moved to a homestead size farm in 1991, any rational, financial evaluation would tell us to give the farm up. Why raise sheep when you […]
Read MoreOur Fibershed’s Vibrant Community: One Shepherd’s Perspective
by Martha Polkey, Black Sheep Farm, Luckett’s VA There is a wealth of activity on the fiber front in the Chesapeake Fibershed, particularly among producers marketing to fiber artisans—spinners, knitters, weavers, and felters. A number of area fiber festivals help connect buyers and sellers, offering classes to new and experienced fiberists, boosting enthusiasm and interactions. Some […]
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