I came to Lopez in 1987 to work on a sheep farm and became obsessed with wool. The tactile pleasure of working with wool and other natural fibers is what draws me to spinning, knitting, and felting. In 2002, inspired by Lopez Island`s rich resources of beautiful fleece, Debbie Hayward and I started Island Fibers, a small textile business that aims to promote Lopez Island wool. At shearing time we buy fleece from local growers and turn it into yarn, then hand knit, hand weave, and hand felt rugs, blankets, and wearable art. It is immensely satisfying to be involved in all stages of the process, from sheep to yarn to dyeing to final product.