About Tweedside Farm & LuxeFibers Studio
Our farm and studio are nestled near the Blue Ridge Mountains in northern Virginia.
MEET DEBRA DRAKE
I've always been passionate about fabrics and wool in particular. I love natural fibers — linens, cotton, and wool...especially wool due to its innate properties to keep you cozy, warm, and dry.
My mother was a member of a weaving guild and regularly participated in the “Sheep to Shawl” competitions at the fair. I inherited her spinning wheel — her Harrisville 48” wide weaving loom — and all her crafting supplies.
While learning how to spin and knit, my spinning teacher suggested I attend the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival. While touring the breed display barn, I bent over to pet a lamb and it reached up and kissed me.
That was it… me, a girl raised in the big city suburbs, I knew in a flash that I needed to buy a farm for raising little lambs. It was a pivotal point in my life. I spent the next three years looking for a farm property that had a large studio space for sharing with other creators. While searching for a farm property, I spent weekends taking shepherding classes from the local agricultural university extension offices and have never looked back.
Every day, I’m experiencing the adventure of living with the land, every day feeling loved by my sheep and Buttercup, their guard dog, and enjoying endless creativity.
A NOTE FROM DEBRA
As a Shepherdess
I enjoy raising this breed who are most affectionate, curious, and come when called. They love to have their tummies rubbed. You could say that they're the Labradoodles of the sheep industry.
As a Designer
I'm drawn towards subtle tones & color palettes that are easy to live with.
As a Fiber Artist
I love working with their lustrous long silver curls that spin beautifully for knitting, weaving, and felting projects.
