SOPHIA VAN DER HARST

Born in a small village in Holland, I was raised the old-fashioned way, both at home and in school: the boys learned woodwork and mechanics, the girls learned to sew, knit. embroider, and even darn socks. Although I use all these skills in my current teaching, the jewelry, bead, and sewing projects that I have developed at the Planet were then unheard of.

Through dance and music I landed in New York City, and after many years of world travel I came to California. I became an assistant fashion-designer, but in 1995, when The Planet rented the site we are at now, I became involved, helped it set up and ran the business while developing the bead room projects.

Quickly it became clear that my mission in life is to teach children through the arts. In 2006 I took a two-year sojourn from the Planet to finish my studies with the Waldorf Teacher Training. After graduating in 2007, I took the first grade at Marin Waldorf School. By the end of the year it was clear that children benefit the most from my talents and experience, when I can do my own thing, so I returned to the Planet in the summer of 2008. Completely re-inspired, I have overhauled every aspect of our business and breathed new life into the bead room.

I plan to keep the Planet going at least until my retirement, which is still a long time away...