They scramble along the cliffs with the ease of stepping off an escalator; these men of the sea are part of the magic of caracol. A stunning purple dye produced from an otherwise unspectacular mollusk, the Purpura Pansathat was at the edge of extinction until 1988 when the Mexican government declared it a national treasure - and that's just the the beginning.

Our feature on German Angora rabbits continues in this issue in what is perhaps one of the most unlikely places to find hundreds of sweet furry faces, but behind the walls of more than 30 German concentration camps!

The fashion world is fickle by definition yet history indicates the distinctive nubby tweed has been a style that has withstood the test of time - at least on one side of the English Channel. But the "fiber report" of late suggests that Austria has developed a tweed of its own,  not so much for the sake of fashion but an effort to help preserve the native sheep.

Once a year Santa Fe, New Mexico, magically transforms into an unparalleled festival of sights and sounds, honoring the diversity of international folk art. Whether it's weavers from Indonesia, dancers from Oman, or the inspiring women behind Kandahar Treasure, the Santa Fe International Folk Art Market is a glimpse of the world that all too few will ever be able to see.

One would not be out of line to describe German Angora rabbits as ridiculously cute! They can easily grow to the size of a small Cocker Spaniel (also, ridiculously cute), and have personalities that equal parts mischievous yet endearing. But they are first and foremost four-legged fiber machines that have traveled a most unusual path in the annals of fiber history.

Much of northern Maine is comprised of uncategorized territories. No towns, no shops, no quaint little village squares , just acres upon acres of potato fields and moose and of course, Chris Devaney and his herd of yaks. Chris' "Yak Outback" is officially off the grid and then some and every summer when babies begin to drop, Chris becomes the self-appointed yak midwife. It is a task that clearly not all are a cutout for but clearly some are born into. You will have a new appreciation for the "Waiting Room" be it man or animal after Chris' latest adventure from the north.