Cindy Telisak is the owner of Jacob’s Reward Farm, home to the South’s first fiber CSA. I’ve known of Cindy for a couple of years, but I’ve really started to get to know Cindy and her farm this last year. She hosts a fiber get together every third and fourth Saturdays in her Little Red Barn. I’ve attended a few of the fourth Saturdays and it’s always a good time. Everybody is working on something different - spinning, knitting, crochet, weaving - and the conversation and creativity boost is a balm to our over scheduled lives. On top of this, Cindy will gladly give you a tour of her farm. You’ll meet sheep, chickens, alpacas, and livestock guardian dogs. In fact, Cindy has just taken ownership of two adorable puppy LGDs. You can read all about them on her blog.
Cindy is teaching Take Charge of Your Yarn: Make it Yourself, an intro to drop spindling, and Unique Yarns with Art Techniques, making art yarn with a spinning wheel.
DFWFF: How did you get started teaching?
Cindy: I have taught many things throughout my life, depending on my current passion. For several years I was a certified natural childbirth teacher, and I enjoyed the privilege of helping couples bring their children into the world. Whatever I love, I love to teach. This past year, I was very excited to teach over a hundred people to spin on a drop spindle, and a dozen people to knit, at the studio (the Little Red Barn) at the farm. I love the challenge of coming up with just the right way to explain a concept so that the learner catches on and succeeds. Our farm hosts quite a few homeschool groups, scout troops, and interested families, and I get to teach them about farm life and the fiber process from hoof-to-hat, so to speak. I love to see their faces light up!
DFWFF: What inspires you most?
Cindy: I’m inspired by the idea that spinning, knitting, crocheting, and returning to a lifestyle closer to our raw natural resources, can help bring people together into meaningful community. There is something very powerful about cutting out a lot of extraneous middle-men and connecting hands and fiber, hands and simple tools, hands and dirt, and hearts and hearts. I love how friendships and bonds grow in the fiber community.
DFWFF: What project are you most excited about right now?
Cindy: The Fiber CSA at our farm has exceeded all my expectations and continues to grow. The support, fun, camaraderie, generosity, artistic inspiration and synergy will change your life if you hang around long enough. This growing group of fiber friends humbles and inspires me every day. They are welcoming and joyful. It’s an honor to get to nurture it along. The fiber is important, and a common thread in our community life, but it’s the people who keep the heart beating.
DFWFF: Have you been to the DFW Metroplex before? If yes, what did you like most about our area? If not, what are you looking forward to most?
Cindy: I have lived in the northeast DFW area for the past 20+ years. For a girl who moved around with a military family growing up, this is a big change and I have loved the opportunity to finally put down roots. I love being an adopted Texan, except in the worst of the hot summer! My city of Parker, TX is famous as the home of Southfork Ranch, of “Dallas” fame, so we get our share of tourists out seeing the sights.
