Rehab Marcia's Community Fiber Barn

A big "Thank You" to you!  The roof is on...when it's raining out, it's not raining in!

The last year several close friends and I reached out for your help in restoring my old barn which has been my home, shelter for my goats, studio for yarn dyeing, yarn shop and gathering place for classes and events.  The roof leaked and there was no heat.  Our goal...to raise funds through GoFundMe to create a dry classroom for fiber classes and events, work space/dye studio, and shelter for the goats...AND YOU CAME THROUGH!  The new green metal roof (with insulation) is on, new goat shelter is complete, the Great Room has a beautiful new LEAK PROOF ceiling, new insulated walls, new and additional windows and welcoming new doors!  Lastly, the Great Room and studio have a new mini-split heating/cooling system so that you will ALWAYS be comfortable here and I can work and hold classes downstairs year-round!

Donations came in varying amounts, each dear to me and to my group of precious tireless friends!  Donations came in, as well, from all quadrants of the fiber community as you donated pieces of your fiber art specialty for sale here at the farm.  It was thrilling to see your pieces go home with new friends and to see our fund growing.  Our goal was set intentionally high hopefully to assure that we would have what we were told would be needed.  We worked, you donated, the fund grew steadily but still a far cry from the needed figure.

Deeply concerned, I was talking to the local phone repairman/long time friend about my frustrations with finding someone to fix my roof!  He said, "you should call a friend of mine right here in Barnardsville!"  I made the call as soon as he left, and his friend was at my door at 8:00 the next morning!  Fair price, terrific job and wonderful new friend!  That set a trend for others to come in and do the jobs specified at fair prices with joyful hearts!


How lucky am I!  Please know, there is no one whose role in this immense project is not significant and held dear to my heart!

You are my stars and my darlings and I thank you!

Very special thanks go to my special ever-lovin', fundraising friends who worked tirelessly - and with your help, turned possibilities into reality!



Marcia





























Good Fibrations' Gratitude








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Good Fibrations' Mission Statement

Connection, Quality, Conservation are my core values which are actualized by inviting visitors to share my close connection to my goats and by hosting classes and events;  by creating imaginative high-quality mohair based products, while leaving a light footprint on the land.


My Good Fibrations Life

It makes my heart sing to introduce folks of all ages to my goats and to the fiber farmer lifestyle of raising them.  I love sharing the wide range of fiber arts and crafts that are a great part of everyday life on the farm.  It is a pleasure to mentor those who want to raise goats and begin their own journey into the world of fiber farming and fiber arts.  I facilitate this by offering classes here at the farm with me and by hosting visiting artists' classes, special farm events and taking on interns.  It is an incredible delight to be invited to take my goats to libraries and schools and to have local schools bring their students out to get to know the goats through helping on the farm.

I love the old adage, "it's what you do with what you've got that counts"!  When I found this 100 year old barn in 2003 it was the beginning of a journey!  Work was done to make livable the (tiny old hayloft) apartment upstairs, enclose the downstairs and create stall space for the goats.  A well was drilled giving me an independent source of water.  And then the critter-safe fencing and then, and then!  Simultaneously, through selective breeding, my goats started producing finer, more lustrous mohair in denser fleeces.  With just a little knowledge, I started having their mohair spun into yarn.  Then began the rewarding journey into the enchanting art of kettle dyeing and hand painting my own locally grown yarn.

From the beginning, this area called Appalachia has drawn folks with a fiber background...settlers from England, Ireland, Scotland brought their fiber animals and their rich heritage of fiber arts.  They raised the animals and processed the fiber, step by step, into clothing.  I replicate that process as closely as possible - raising my goats for their mohair, having their fiber spun into yarn, dyeing the yarn for customers and for my shawls.  We like to say, "from pasture to product" and "goat to garment"!  Now this region has many fiber artists and would-be fiber farmer/artists who are finding inspiration and knowledge in the Good Fibrations' community barn.

It's time to complete the work to make this barn a safe, dry, year-round weather proof facility for visitors and classes, for the yarn shop and for the goats.  On the top of the list is replacing the very leaky roof, then leveling the floor (both roof and floor are original) adding heat and lighting - preserving a barn and a legacy!

I'm inviting you to join me here at Good Fibrations where "fiber makes friends"!

- Marcia Kummerle






"For years, Marcia has continually given her time and resources to promote and sustain our growing community of artists, students and farmers.  She has shared her talents and her farm with the Weaverville Art Safari, Local Cloth, SAFF, Fiber Feel Day, ASAP annual farm tour, Colored Angora Goat Breeders Association, Smoky Mountain Knitters Guild, Piedmont Fiber Guild, Holiday Art Party in the Barn, The Gallery at Grove Park Inn, Fiber Field Day at WNC, Community Shearing Days, Purl's Yarn Emporium, Knitty Gritty Day, Timbersong Girls Academy, Western Piedmont Intern Program, and a plethora of fiber classes taught by fellow artisans in her beloved historic barn and on the farm.  Now she needs our help in order to continue doing this.

- Claudia Muse
fiber artist - Amusing Farms


 "I have had the privilege of getting to know Marcia and Good Fibrations over the years through a professional capacity, but right away she felt like a dear friend.  Marcia embraces everyone she meets with her full attention and kind spirit, and her deep passion for her goats and fiber.  She is a passionate educator who quickly turns her farm visitors into long term friends and often fiber enthusiasts.  I believe given the resources to grow her classroom and gallery spaces that she will touch many more lives and provide a valuable learning and gathering space for our fiber arts community."

- Robin Lenner
community supporter and farm visitor


"Timbersong Academy has been a partner with Good Fibrations for almost four years now.  We are a boarding school with a passion for experiential learning opportunities and we love helping out our community when given a chance.  Over the years, hundreds of students and staff members from Timbersong have gotten the chance to visit the farm, get our hands dirty, and learn about how a goat farm works all the way from the birthing of the Angora kids to the dying and weaving of their Mohair fibers.  Marcia has provided some amazing opportunities for our students, and many of them have developed a special passion for animals - no doubt a reflection of their time spent at Good Fibrations.    We cherish our relationship with Marcia and the farm, and hope to continue working together for more years to come!"

- Dan Horseman
Adventure Therapy Director
Solstice East & Timbersong Academy

                                                                                                                      


                                                                      Good Fibrations Renovation Project

- replace original old tin roof (storm took off part of the roof and water is leaking into studio area)
- install new gutters
- repair roof over entrance porch (wet/icy area is hazardous)
- insulate ceiling and walls of great room and replace wall material (insulation will keep great room functional in     cold and hot weather)
- level and seal concrete floor in great room (big difference in floor level has proven hazardous for visitors)
- replace lighting in great room and small studio (current lighting is inadequate for classes and displays)
- add shed with translucent panels at rear of barn (will allow artist displays on rear wall)
- install heating and cooling system (will allow classes and events to be held year round)



                                                                   


 
"A trip to Good Fibrations is a delightful opportunity to spend a lovely time in the quiet of the North Carolina countryside, get to know some goats in an up-close and personal way and purchase some amazing fiber, either ready for you to create or in lovely creations already made"

- Bee Adams


"I am in awe of Marcia, her artistry in yarn and her dedication to her goats and the community.  She was so generous to us artists with her time (and zinnia seeds), I look forward to giving back in the same spirit."

- Susan Dawkins


"Good Fibrations is a little slice of farm life not to be missed.  It is filled with beauty outside and in - Marcia's dedication and personal touch to her fiber art is stunning and her love for the goat family is infectious - you feel the connection to this wonderful place."

- Lisa Murphy


"Marcia and her goaties are a source of joy to the community,  Her hand dyed angora has been sent all over.  She is generous, hard working, caring and involved in her community and the environment."

- Meryl Meyer


"I have known Marcia now for over eight years.  As a budding shepherd with fine wool sheep and just learning the ropes about selling raw fleeces, she took me under her arm to help me learn the best uses and blending fibers for my wool.  I didn't initially ask Marcia for her help, she volunteered it with no strings attached. I have since visited her as time would allow, learning so much about the art of working with wool;  blending and dyeing wool (of which she is a master craftswoman), and marketing skills.  She has helped me work through dealing with fiber mills without asking so much as a penny for her efforts.  Marcia has a great capacity for love and is a lady I am very proud and humbled to call Friend."

- Susan Proctor


"Marcia Kummerle is an amazing woman and a vital piece of our local fiber community.  She always makes time to share and build community in Western North Carolina that we are all richer for."

- Rik Schell
Purl's Yarn Emporium








"Whether it's a fiber shopping excursion, a class, an event, or just to visit with the gorgeous, curly angora goats, an experience at Good Fibrations is enchanting.  Authentic starts where the heart is and one can't help but respond to Marcia Kummerle's love for her goat family, processing their fleece, and hand dying their locks and yarn.  Located in the serenely beautiful Barnardsville valley, Good Fibrations farm and studio is a true treasure for the whole family."

- Barbara McGuire
polymer class teacher