To wear a piece of art is something else again. And to wear a piece of art derived from the alchemy of plants, natural fibers, place-based pigments and human creativity and craft - is the ultimate in true luxury and being of and with a place.

Made of 100% local wool from Lani’s Lana Rambouillet sheep of Modoc county, CA, this Sandy Fisher shawl is approximately 18 inches wide by 72 inches long plus fringe. It is handwoven and dyed using locally grown indigo/madder blended and pomegranate intermingled with the natural grey of the sheep.

Sandy Fisher is the Director and co-Founder of Golden State Linen. "Golden State Linen is proud to be the only small-scale processor of flax in the United States. We grow, harvest, and process the fiber on our 3.75 acre farm just outside of Chico, in the heart of Northern California. Our crop grows in healthy, carbon-capturing soil that we carefully tend, having worked hard to restore it to health after its previous life as a chemically-treated almond orchard. 

We are a socially and environmentally responsible organization, rooted in our local community and local fibershed. Chico State University recently acknowledged our efforts, recognizing us as mentor farmers in their Regenerative Farming Program. We host events, workshops, and volunteer opportunities on our farm, all aimed at revitalizing flax production in the region and preserving knowledge of this vital craft for generations to come. 

Whether you’re a farmer, a weaver, an artisan, or an environmentalist, we want to connect with you! There’s something for everyone in the process of transforming flax to linen. We are building a regional fabric one thread at a time!"

From Sandy:

"Weaving is a Passion for me that flows throughout each piece. Weaving is visual music, as each thread is set up in a rhythmic pattern on the loom. The weft creates the music, and the product becomes the score. The visual music I weave is in the line of fine home furnishings — tablerunners, placements, napkins, tablecloths and bath towels — which are marketed nationwide.

I have continued to keep alive the tradition of my craft for over 35 years. My inspirations come from many avenues; for example, seeing the painted desert of the southwest at sunset, I become excited by the large array of color combinations surrounding me. The early morning hours of a solitary bike ride become the venue to see form and texture in the hillsides I ride past. Everywhere I go, I see Nature’s woven elements in her patterns and design that I bring home with me to my studio.

Three elements are vital in my design process — color, texture and pattern. Color is introduced by hand dyed techniques, either from a controlled formula or in random fashion where anything could happen. Texture comes from natural fibers (cotton, linen and rayon), or from something as diverse as hand made paper, wood or cut up canvas. The woven structure or pattern comes from how I manipulate the threads in the warp, to best express the form and function of each piece.

Through my work I share my passion of weaving and for life. This is my way of giving."

This is true loving and comprehensive cultivation of art and place.

You can find out more about Sandy here: https://sandyfisherwoven.com/
and at Golden State Linen: https://goldenstatelinen.com/
and Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chicoflaxtolinen/