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On Location: A Model and a Donkey Walk into a Barn
Our recent photo shoots were shot on a real farm—of course! Meet shepherd Hope Horn, visit her shop Hope’s Favorite Things, and learn more about the beautiful Pennsylvania farm you’ve seen in Farm & Fiber Knits.
Driving through the crossroads hamlet of Richmond, Pennsylvania, I noticed a charming-looking storefront. Located in a former general store building, the window displays of Hope’s Favorite Things featured antiques and spinning wheels. Inside the shop, I found a treasure trove of vintage furniture and display fixtures and two huge rooms of fiber-y goodness. We became instant friends and have worked together on various projects ever since. Her beautiful farm has been the location for two Farm & Fiber Knits photo shoots.
Hand-dyed yarns and fibers, antique quilts, and other vintage finds on the porch of Hope’s Favorite Things, in a building that once housed the general store run by Hope’s great-aunt and uncle. Photo by Hope Horn
Both Hope and her husband have deep roots in Northampton County, Pennsylvania—in fact, the general store that became her shop was at one time run by her great-aunt and uncle. Although Hope made the difficult decision to close the storefront during Covid, she now runs The Wool School in a one-room schoolhouse located on the same property. I recently took my spinning wheel there, and while we spun, we chatted about some of “Hope’s favorite things.”
Hope Horn’s geese came to greet me, crossing the wide green field from the farm’s barns. The geese are just a few of the animals who have welcomed us to photo shoots at the farm. Photo by Hope Horn
Karin Strom: You grew up in the antiques business. Did you always want to have your own shop?
Hope Horn: My parents were antique dealers for 40 years. I learned so much from being with them and working in their shop, so I understood the basics of shopkeeping. When the general store building came up for sale, my husband and I decided to buy it, and in October 2015 we opened Hope’s Favorite Things.
Get a closer look! Click on any image below to view it in full-screen mode. Photos by Hope Horn
KS: What was your inspiration for the name, merchandise, and vibe of Hope’s Favorite Things?
HH: I have a lot of interests, and I didn’t want to limit myself with the name of business. I sold antiques and gift items as well as fiber equipment and handspun yarns and accessories—my favorite things! Growing up in my parents’ business, I was always surrounded by wonderful eclectic vintage items, and I’ve always been drawn to primitive pieces.
Driving through the crossroads hamlet of Richmond, Pennsylvania, I noticed a charming-looking storefront. Located in a former general store building, the window displays of Hope’s Favorite Things featured antiques and spinning wheels. Inside the shop, I found a treasure trove of vintage furniture and display fixtures and two huge rooms of fiber-y goodness. We became instant friends and have worked together on various projects ever since. Her beautiful farm has been the location for two Farm & Fiber Knits photo shoots.
Hand-dyed yarns and fibers, antique quilts, and other vintage finds on the porch of Hope’s Favorite Things, in a building that once housed the general store run by Hope’s great-aunt and uncle. Photo by Hope Horn
Both Hope and her husband have deep roots in Northampton County, Pennsylvania—in fact, the general store that became her shop was at one time run by her great-aunt and uncle. Although Hope made the difficult decision to close the storefront during Covid, she now runs The Wool School in a one-room schoolhouse located on the same property. I recently took my spinning wheel there, and while we spun, we chatted about some of “Hope’s favorite things.”
Hope Horn’s geese came to greet me, crossing the wide green field from the farm’s barns. The geese are just a few of the animals who have welcomed us to photo shoots at the farm. Photo by Hope Horn
Karin Strom: You grew up in the antiques business. Did you always want to have your own shop?
Hope Horn: My parents were antique dealers for 40 years. I learned so much from being with them and working in their shop, so I understood the basics of shopkeeping. When the general store building came up for sale, my husband and I decided to buy it, and in October 2015 we opened Hope’s Favorite Things.
Get a closer look! Click on any image below to view it in full-screen mode. Photos by Hope Horn
KS: What was your inspiration for the name, merchandise, and vibe of Hope’s Favorite Things?
HH: I have a lot of interests, and I didn’t want to limit myself with the name of business. I sold antiques and gift items as well as fiber equipment and handspun yarns and accessories—my favorite things! Growing up in my parents’ business, I was always surrounded by wonderful eclectic vintage items, and I’ve always been drawn to primitive pieces.[PAYWALL] I wanted to share it all!
KS: When did you develop an interest in fiber?
HH: I feel like it’s always been part of the fabric of my life, so to speak. When I was young, an aunt taught me to knit and crochet, and she gave me my great-grandmother’s wool stripper for rug making. Then, around 1996, a lady came into Mom’s shop and taught me to spin on an antique Saxony wheel that Mom was selling. And I’ve been spinning ever since.
Photographing the Zig Zag Tunic by Amy Tyler, we settled into a barn with some of Hope’s donkeys. The donkeys appreciated Ruthann’s pats and brushing, but one wanted photographer Gale Zucker’s attention—and told her so with a strong head butt! On the left side of the photo, some of the sheep’s fleece awaits processing. Photo by Gale Zucker, styling by Karin Strom
KS: One thing leads to another—now you have your own sheep.
HH: You are so right! I was raised on a dairy farm, so I’m comfortable with animals, and once I started to spin, sheep seemed like a natural progression. As my kids got older and I had more time, I researched sheep breeds and the natural-looking fleece that I’m drawn to. I immediately knew I wanted the longwool breed Teeswater. I love their luscious curly locks, which I spin into the funky art yarns I make.
Speaking of one thing leading to another, I recently acquired a vintage cottage carder from a friend and mentor. I’m having fun with that and would like to process wool for myself and local hobby farmers on a small scale.
Hand-dyed wool and handspun yarns on display at Hope’s Favorite Things. Photo by Hope Horn
KS: What are your plans for The Wool School?
HH: I originally opened it as a place to host spinning, weaving, knitting and crochet, rug hooking, sewing, basketry, and weaving classes. Since we closed the retail shop, I’ve moved my retail space into the schoolhouse. I plan to have small group classes and open for shopping seasonally and/or by appointment.
In 2023, I was awarded a Special Focus Award by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for my work in preserving the schoolhouse and teaching traditional textile techniques there. I’m excited about continuing to spread the word about my two biggest passions, history and the fiber arts!
Hope Horn with one of the spinning wheels she sells at The Wool School. Photo courtesy of Hope Horn
Find More from the Farm
Hope’s farm also provided the backdrop for this great shot of Faina Goberstein’s Butte Meadow Top, which subscribers can access in the Farm & Fiber Knits Library.
Photo by Gale Zucker
Follow Hope on Instagram @hopesfavoritethings or visit her website, hopesfavoritethings.com.
