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THE MAKERS’ COMMUNITY IN THE BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS OF WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND VIRGINIA

Our sixth issue features the creativity and community of the Blue Ridge Mountains. We travel west through North Carolina to the Smoky Mountains and the artists’ community of Asheville, then follow the Blue Ridge Mountains, up through the forests and farmland of western Virginia. Mountain mist, blossoming wildflowers, and rolling fields bring beauty in a myriad of early spring colors, reflected in the fiber and fabric of the artisans we meet. We chat with yarn designers and dyers, and a sheep-to-needle producer of locally sourced yarns. We visit with makers who use natural materials to make by hand products from fabric, wood, and soap. We tour a local yarn store that highlights North Carolina yarns, and we visit an artisan mill that specializes in local and recycled fibers. We tour internationally renowned craft schools that are dedicated to preserving and promoting all forms of making by hand. We hike into the foothills to photograph the natural beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and capture the charm of small Appalachian towns and villages, where the tradition of hand crafting runs deep. Take a photographic journey with us and explore the beauty and creativity of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Welcome!