At the end of each day I can honestly say we have some of the coolest farm visitors on earth! During the daylight hours we have farm visitors that want to see alpacas and learn all things surrounding alpaca ownership. But the human farm visitors are only one piece of our lives. The spots [...]
There are times when thoughts creep into my mind and simply will not go away. They totally nag at me to take action and continue to spur me onward until I act on the instinct, regardless of how foolish I might feel afterward. Late one night, one such wild thought hit me. We normally feed [...]
Using Wild Goldenrod as a fiber Dye I truly love using wild, natural plants for dye. Experimenting with common pasture plants can be so rewarding, especially if it’s a brand new adventure with plant material you have never used to dye with before. Yes, it is easier to purchase commercial dyes but where is [...]
Back in the day, I used to pride myself with photography and camera skills. I practiced taking hundreds of photographs of leaves, trees, sunrises and sunsets, clouds and anything else that would stand still long enough for a photograph. It was easy. And it was fun. Then I bought alpacas and the fun really began! [...]
Completed in June, 2013, my new fiber studio really is a dream come true in every way imaginable! It required a lot of thought and a lot of planning but it has become a much needed "retreat" in my hectic life. It's a place where creativity takes over and where passion fuels the flames of production. [...]
When we moved to this property in 2002, we literally had to cut through eighty years of wild forest to create pastures for the alpacas and in order to build barns near the existing home and its surrounding yard. We often heard unsettling nightly noises in the remaining forested areas that made us wonder what [...]
I had an awesome adventure in the fiber studio today! Although I have been commercially processing various fleece types and fibers for a very long time, I am always watching and listening for new ways to share my passion with others. In the process of creating meaningful and educational articles, I find fun new ways [...]
I wash a lot of fleece here in the fiber studio. With a large herd of alpacas, the annual clip ranges from 800 to 1,000 pounds of fleece each year. In order to process that much fleece, there are obvious steps to be taken in order to make final, high-quality end products. Washing the fleece [...]
it Starts with the Fleece! This is what 12 pounds of 100% alpaca in medium brown looks like when the picking room is filled to overflowing! Like me, many of my friends process fiber and fleeces at home with cottage industry equipment, then hand-spin their own yarn. I really enjoy being able to process [...]
I am so blessed to have a grandchild in my life. Now that my own children are adults and they are enjoying their own lives and successes, it affords some very special time to spend with our grandson, watching his personality develop. It is sincerely an awesome experience and we cherish each moment spent with [...]
