Saturday was the day of the long-awaited Climate Beneficial Fashion Gala presented by Fibershed. The first year there was a Fashion Show was in 2011. What a long way Fibershed has come since then. There was a second celebration in 2013 but I don’t find a blog post about that one. The third fashion show in 2015, Grow Your Jeans, featured jeans grown and sewn in California accessorized with “grassfed” tops.
I look forward to these celebrations. I only wish that my photos were better. Intense mid-day sun didn’t help and once the event started I was too busy at my booth to take more photos.
This year’s fashion show celebrated the production of the cloth grown by sheep on the Bare Ranch in northern California and sold by Lani’s Lana.
I was there as a vendor and the first thing to do was to unload the truck and set up my booth.
Other than all the weaving I have been doing (to be seen later) my newest products are wool wreaths. After setting up I took a little time to wander around and see other vendors.
The event was held at Big Mesa Farm in Bolinas. They are an organic farm and also rent 4 “glamping” spaces on hipcamp.com .
While I was wandering around the rest of the venue was being arranged.
Seating for dinner. The tent on the right is where the models changed and the garments were displayed and sold in a silent auction.
Chefs worked in this outdoor kitchen.
Food was set out.
Tables and chairs were arranged in front of the stage.
Models listened to instructions and practiced.
This is where the public entered the venue.
Huston Textile Company in Rancho Cordova wove the cloth that was grown by Lani’s sheep.
That’s Carol peeking out from behind her leather and felt hats and bags.
Sheepskins.
Wool sponges.
Cotton goods.
There was a natural dyeing demonstration going on.
As the main event started Rebecca welcomed everyone and spoke about the Fibershed concepts.
Lani spoke about her part in this project.
It was getting late (low light) and I was standing in the back, so I did not get good photos of the show itself. This is an enlargement of part of an iPhone photo that shows the shawl that I wove for the show. That shawl features Anderson Ranch yarn dyed with coreopsis and dahlia.
The colors range from rust to gold, the wool is soft, and the piece has fabulous drape. It was sold in the silent auction but I have one that is similar that will be in my show at the Artery in November.
The next Fibershed event is the Wool Symposium in November. That is one of my favorite events each year. If you want to go get your tickets early as this event sells out.
The handwoven Jacob wool goodie bags were ready, filled with locally made or grown products.
The friendly parking attendant was ready.
Sheep were given last minute instructions about behavior. (Karen Lobb from bide a wee Farm in Oregon)
Guest were arriving.
Our first gathering was a welcome by me and then a talk/book reading by Farm Club member Stephany Wilkes. 
She read passages from her book, Raw Material, Working Wool in the West, to be published in October. This introduced the attendees to the concept of Fibershed and to Farm Club all at once.
Next it was time for dinner. Farm Club member, Kim, provided background music throughout dinner and we were told how much people enjoyed listening to her.
Most participants led sheep (some willing and some not so much) down the barn aisle…
…but Dona led Rick…
…willingly?
Doris was the recipient of the People’s Choice award.
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