Sponsor: Old Homestead Alpacas is a beautiful homestead built in the 1870’s, located in Walla Walla Washington and now owned and operated by Elaine Vandiver and her husband. They’re creating a wonderful and welcoming place, with visions to live off the land and share their goods with their local community and beyond, including their gorgeous alpaca fiber and yarn. But their dreams go much deeper, and their story even deeper still. Elaine is an Iraq War vet and her husband a soldier in the National Guard, and as members of the Farmer Veterans Coalition, they are hopeful that this year they will be able to partner with their local VA hospital to start a program to bring returning combat vets suffering from PTSD and other service related trauma to the farm, sharing with them the incredible opportunity and purpose a career in farming can bring…something they themselves have found to be positively life changing. I encourage you to visit Old Homestead Alpacas on Facebook at Facebook.com/oldhomesteadalpacas, on Instagram @oldhomesteadalpacas and their lovely shop full of alpaca goodness at etsy.com/shop/oldhomesteadalpacas
Fiber folk: Max Bainbridge and Abigail Booth have built a life and business together in East London. Max is a woodworker and Abigail a natural dyer and quilter, and despite their individual practices seeming very different – their roots in traditional craft and the natural environment make them a perfect combo. It’s been a pleasure to follow their journey this past year as they’ve built their business and explored the different facets of making. You can find them at forest-and-found.com and on Instagram @forestandfound. And with that, here’s Max and Abigail…
Sponsor: 6 Bits Storybooks, is a digital quarterly publication for knitters who love to immerse themselves deeply in their knitting experience…from the mouths of story tellers: knitters, photographers, writers, designers, friends & nature. These storybooks incorporate designs, imagery, location, words, learning and tools to create an deeply engaging experience, taking readers on a journey. 6 Bits was created by two incredibly passionate and inspiring folks within this community, Melissa and Melody, and this week they’re releasing their second issue Dwell, a beautiful digital editorial magazine, featuring articles from international knitters and dyers, where you hear the ‘whole’ story behind the designs and modeled in beautiful environment tied to the issues theme. So make sure to visit 6 Bits Storybooks at 6bitsstorybooks.com to subscribe to this stunning new publication and experience the newest issue Dwell and follow along on Instagram @6.bits.storybooks.
Giveaway: The winner of last week’s giveaway is, Erica Garris. You’ve won a skein of the beautiful Pamiri yarn from Kismet Fiber Works. Congratulations!
This week’s giveaway is sponsored by Old Homestead Alpacas and they’re giving away a skein of their small farm Suri Alpaca yarn, homegrown in Walla Walla Washington. To enter this giveaway, leave a comment on today’s episode’s blog post at woolful.com.
Music by Jónsi.
78 Comments
Thanks for introducing me to Forest & Found, I wasn’t aware of them before. I’ve already been admiring their amazing products & will be listening to them on the podcast on my journey home this evening
I just love this podcast and blog! it has been so inspiring to me! These two on this episode are no exception. I love their story! thank you for this!
Wonderful podcast! Relaxing to listen to. Really felt like I got a great sense of place. Loved learning that wood chips can be used as dye! Great partnership! Thank you!
Oh my gosh what a great giveaway prize!
Would love to win! I so enjoy listening to this podcast. Your guests are always interesting and I relish hearing their stories.
What a wonderful interview and introduction to a lovely partnership! Their products and work are absolutely beautiful! Thank you for the chance to win one of their gorgeous skeins … keeping my fingers crossed! 🙂
Great podcast! So happy for a chance to win!
Beautiful! Thanks so much for sharing.
I hadn’t heard of Forest and Found. Thank you for sharing!
Very interesting episode. I particularly enjoyed hearing about how crafting is in the UK as opposed to here in the US.
Very nice to hear about young artists making the transition from school to work studio, especially having failed to do so myself I have a lot of respect for their success. A refreshing inspiration, maybe this will be the year I return to textile dying, or finally get my whittle on. Thanks!
Lovely as always!
Great to listen to, as usual!
Lovely giveaway prize
Lovely! I’m following Forest and Found now, such a great IG account. Thanks for the chance to win, alpaca is one of my favorite yarns to work with.
I recently found your blog and podcast and I have to say I am loving it! I may be binge-listening to all your episodes starting from the beginning… They’re so great to listen to while I relax and knit in the evenings 🙂
After every podcast I look up all the people you talk to and all the yarn brands, shops, and makers. Thank you for introducing me to so many wonderful fiber folk! I think I’ve started following 20 new Instagram accounts in the past week, haha!
I’m currently living in Oregon while I go to grad school, so I love hearing about Pacific Northwest yarns. And alpaca happens to be my boyfriend’s favorite fiber, he always requests I make him things with it. Definitely going to be checking out Old Homestead.
I found your podcast 3 weeks ago and have been listening to almost all of them. They are so inspiring and I love that I learn new stuff from them or hear about brands that I did know about
Thanks for a wonderful podcast
What beautiful woodworking pictures. My husband loves to use his lathe and makes beautiful bowls, too.
Lmecoll on Ravelry
Very inspiring. Thank you for sharing.
What a wonderful thing to do for our vets! They deserve this and so much more.
Lovely podcast! Sometimes I find the beautiful items of Forest and Found on some website but hearing about them, the way they met at Chelsea, the way they decided to build a career in crafting, gives a totally new perspective. Thanks!
Thank you for another wonderful episode!
Wonderful show this week!
Suri alpaca! I’d love to win. Thanks for the chance!
Lovely to hear their story, and I really love their aesthetic. Thanks!
Inspiring story of young makers! Thanks!
I love the studio of Forest and found. Thank you for a lovely interview!
Absolutely loving the alpacas on the Old Homestead Alpacas IG feed!
Love working with alpaca! Thanks!
The photos on the website have brought the podcast to life. I am particularly taken by the beauty of the naturally dyed fabric
Another great interview. Thank you. Learning so much every time.
Discovered your podcast through Soulemama and am loving catching up on back podcasts. Excellent job! Excellent people and stories!
I love this podcast, discovering all the crafty people that I am not aware of and listening to how they made their dreams come true.
Look forward to listening to every episode.
loved listening to the Max and Abigail story. So cute how they finished each others’s sentences
Thanks for this interesting and, once again, inspirational podcast episode, Ashley. I appreciate the commentary by Abigail and Max regarding people wanting to step back from a largely technology based life and taking pleasure in and valuing finely crafted items made by others or by themselves.
Great podcast as usual. I would love to hear more about the work Old Homestead Alpacas is doing, especially with veterans. I hope they will be a guest on a future podcast. Thank you so much for this delightful and educational podcast!
Inspirational work, all of it & stunning photography 🙂
Love Old Homestead’s mission! Would love to win!
Very interesting. I checked the links and was enjoying visiting their websites.
What a beautiful story, and inspirational couple. I love the beautiful wooden implements, quilts and yarn that they produce – they give a glorious taste of times in the past where the amazing household goods makers produced were simply necessities, and were probably taken somewhat for granted because these objects were just a daily part of their lives, and to have them they needed to make them. Beautiful.
Absolutely beautiful episode. Thank you for the amazing quality and quantity
Thanks for the opportunity, would love to win!
Thank you for continuing to bring great stories!
Thanks for another great episode!
So excited to be listening to this episode – very inspiring and I can relate a little as my husband and I make our living working with wood and wool too.
Thanks for mentioning the Old Homestead Alapas: I love learning about local farmers here in Washington, especially those that help veterans.
Another interesting and wonderful podcast! Thank you.
Great episode! Really inspiring to hear from those able to pursue their passion. I also hope to hear more about Old Homestead Alpacas and their work with veterans. There seem to be wonderful connection themes lately – with domestic wool sourcing by the military and veterans interested in farming.
What an inspiring business. They make such beautiful things.
Max and Abigail’s work is beautiful! I love how they are using traditional crafts in a modern world and creating items that people today will use.
It’s so interesting to hear how every makers story is so different form other makers. There is something very special about hearing others voice’s tell a bit about their own journey. I look forward to every podcast and post.
Those quilts are beautiful, very inspiring!
Alpaca yarn is my absolute favorite – so soft and squishy! Thanks, as always, for another great podcast!
Natalie
@oystersandpearls
@maidensouth
I am enjoying your podcast episodes so much. Thank you for bringing stories of dedicated fiber artists to your listeners. It helps me to appreciate their work even more.
I am excited to learn more about Old Homestead Alpacas. We spend summers in Washington state, so I am happy to learn about their work, their mission and their wonderful story. I would be proud to win a skein of their alpaca yarn.
LOVE!
I think the Homestead Alpaca’s veteran idea is a viable idea. Being on the farm with a small, intimate crew will still give the veterans that team feeling that is very important in the armed services, but in a natural environment. I hope they can find healing in physical, outdoor work surrounded by plenty of animals (and maybe convert a few to fiber enthusiasts).
I haven’t yet ventured into knitting with alpaca, but I hope to try soon!
As always, super interesting and inspiring!
When I listen to this podcast on my way to work it starts the day off peacefully! Thanks so much.
It always makes me smile when I hear about someone who is living the dream. Thank you.
I just happened upon your blog…and as a fell knitter and fiber enthusiast…I have officially fallen in love with your blog!
Thank you so much for sharing!
Love this episode. Thanks for introducing me to yet another great pair of creators!
So inspiring!
great podcast! very inspiring!
So beautiful pictures! 🙂
I loved this episode! I can’t wait for the next one!
Great Interview! I’m really enjoying the posts..
Yet another great and informative episode. Thank you so much to you and your amazing guests!
I love the woodworking and the natural colours of the alpaca.
I loved this episode too…
Thanks again for the giveaway.
I love alpaca! And listening to your podcasts is so informative. Thanks.
What a lovely podcast! So interesting to hear how Forest & Found uses natural materials to create such beautiful things, especially reusing the wood chips to dye fabric.
Just discovered your site; thank you for so much fabulous information – and such a generous giveaway!
I am glad that you are enjoying spinning so! That’s how I still feel about knitting–voracious appetite for it and everything else falls to the side. Thank you for this podcast and for inspiring so many of us! Oh–I made it to Idaho once; I can just imagine it in the winter, and how beautiful it must be! : )
lovely as always
Thank you for such a beautiful giveaway. I’m not sure if the contest is still ongoing – if so, would love to win. If not, I won anyway by being connected to your amazing website and listening to your most recent podcast.
Oh my goodness! Your website is so incredibly comforting and “like home”. Exactly what I have been searching for on my maker/creative journey. I crave connection to fibers of all kinds. I am pretty certain that your love for your craft will provide the guidance I have been looking for. From my heart and soul to both of you – thank you!
[…] from the forest in the hands of awesome creative craftsmen. I stumbled upon their work through this podcast episode, and admire it so […]
Since I discovered your website and podcast, I am always very much looking forward to listen to it as soon as it’s released. It’s very inspiring and informative for any yarn and fiber enthusiasts. Thank you very much for all your hard work you put in there !