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April 13th, 2010 | Tags: Alpacas, alpacas on Today Show, baby boomers, retirement | Category: Alpacas, Farm Business, Notes from a Newbie, The Alpaca Lifestyle | Comments (15)

This is a new weekly feature with a tidbit of wisdom picked up along the way after ten plus years breeding alpacas. A nugget of knowledge that you don’t have when you are new to alpacas, but years down the road seems like a pretty important piece of info worth sharing.

Not to Pick The Most Handsome Male Stud

or

Don’t Judge A Book By It’s Cover When It Comes to Choosing A Herdsire.

It pays to look past the flash of good looks and ribbons and look at the science behind the male you are considering breeding to your female alpacas. Look at his offspring, his histograms, his skin biopsies, production records, etc. The “look” of a pretty face can set you back years behind the competition if you aren’t careful.

For more specifics read How Do You Know Which Sire To Hire by Alpaca Farmgirl Katy Spears

February 22nd, 2010 | Tags: alpaca farmgirl, Alpacas, breeding alpacas, Choosing a Herdsire, Fairhope Alpacas, herdsire, histogram, How Do You Know Which Sire To Hire, Judge, Katy Spears, newbie, production records, skin biopsies, ten years breeding alpacas, wisdom | Category: Alpacas, Business Matters, Farm Business, Good Breeding, Words of Wisdom | Comments (6)

I just caught the tail end of Tuesday night’s AgChat on Twitter. But they came up with a super idea about how we can thank farmer and ranchers for the hard work they do growing our food. With Thanksgiving this week, it seems like the perfect time to thank the hard-working farmers out there.

On Wednesday morning use the hashtag #thankafarmer to share what you are thankful for on Twitter. This will begin in the morning from 10am-12pm CST. The goal is for it to be a trending topic, but go ahead and thank farmers all day. We want people to reflect on what great things farmers and ranchers produce that we should be thankful for  each day. It will also remind folks where their food comes from.

If you don’t have a twitter account, you can do the same thing on Facebook, or a blog about it. As Troy Hadrick said on his blog, Advocates for Agriculture, “The point is we need to take the day before Thanksgiving to give thanks for all of our blessings, especially the safe, affordable, abundant food supply we enjoy in this country. It doesn’t happen by accident, it happens because of the world’s greatest farmers and ranchers that live in this country.”

Happy Thanksgiving!

November 24th, 2009 | Tags: #agchat, Advocates for Agriculture, agriculture, Facebook, farm, farming, thankafarmer, Twitter | Category: Alpacas, Farm Business | Comments (2)

Last weekend at SAFF I took two classes on dyeing. It fascinates me how many ways you can dye things. Different people use different methods. Some use acid dyes, while others use plants, Easter egg dyes, or food coloring. Some use kettle dyeing, others use steam, a crockpot, or a microwave to activate the color of the dyes. I find the whole process magical, and I enjoy hearing of other cool ways to dye!

Dyeing Supplies

Immersion Dyeing

Dyed Roving

What’s your favorite way to dye? Any cool techniques that you have to share? Leave a comment and tell us.

Time to share what you’ve been up to with your fiber this week.

Fiber Arts Friday Blog Carnival!

To participate:

1. Add the permalink to a specific blog post that features something Fiber Art related, rather than your general blog address and not your Etsy store. (Please DO put a link in your blog post that takes us to your store though.)
2. Link back to Fiber Arts Friday from your post so that your readers can come and see everyone else’s projects! Use the button or a text link to http://www.alpacafarmgirl.com.
3. Visit as many of the other participants as possible and leave comments! That’s what helps us all connect!

October 30th, 2009 | Tags: Blog Carnival, crockpot, dyed roving, Dyeing, Easter egg dye, fiber arts fridays, kettle dyeing, microwave, SAFF | Category: Events, Fiber Arts, Fiber Arts Friday | Comments (10)

Angora Goat

These were some of the animals that I saw at SAFF last weekend. It was difficult not to bring some home with me.

Jacob? Sheep

Rather intense looking sheep

Child with her Angora rabbit

Young Llama at the llama show

Angora bunny with carrot

Check the horns on these guys

Romney sheep Layla and Sally - my favorites!

Shetland? sheep

Angora Bunny

Girls with their Llama transportation

Participating in Wordless Wednesday!

More from SAFF 2009:

SAFF – Friday

SAFF – Saturday

October 28th, 2009 | Tags: angora rabbits, angora sheep, Jacob sheep, llama show, llamas, Romney sheep, SAFF, sheep, shetland sheep, Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair, Wordless Wednesdays | Category: Events, Fiber Arts | Comments (3)

Airy Fairy scarf and button

On day 2 of the Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair (SAFF), I took two dyeing classes, and fell in love with sheep. Here are some of the pictures I captured with my phone at SAFF last Saturday in Asheville, North Carolina.

Dyed boucle yarn

Young girl spinning

Banana Fiber and Recycled Sari Silk

Dyed braids of fiber

Dyed fiber locks

Sparkly, shiny, colorful yarn

Alpaca crochet purse cover

More from the Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair:

SAFF Day 1

The Animals from SAFF.

October 27th, 2009 | Tags: alpaca, dyed, felting, fiber, fiber growers, merino, mohair, needle-felting, ornaments, Painting with Wool, Ravelry, SAFF, Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair, spinners, yarn | Category: Alpacas, Events, Fiber Arts | Comments (1)

Bundle of Yarn at SAFF

SAFF (Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair) is the first fiber fair I have ever attended. My reaction?

WOW! I didn’t know there was that much yarn…

(I took these pictures with my phone so please forgive the quality. Hoping to bring my real camera tomorrow.)

view from the "stands" - which is a great place to eat banana pudding btw

Shiny fiber at SAFF

Cute alpaca needlefelting ornaments at Frostglen's booth

I tried hard to meet up with some Twitter buds today. In fact I managed to accost a nice red haired lady with glasses and the right aged baby – mistaking her for @PixiePurls. Yes, I was mortified. Fortunately she (and her friend to whom baby belonged) were very gracious and I made a new Ravelry friend. One who likes alpaca fleeces.  Good thing fiber lovers are such a nice bunch.

(Fiber growers – I’m not suggesting you accost strangers in order to sell fleeces, but…whatever works.)

This booth was all about felting supplies!

I took an all-day needlefelting class today called “Painting with Wool”. It was super fun, I learned so much, and I’m now exhausted. Blog post on that coming up soon…

Artistic Skeins

For wannabee artsy spinners like me – THESE are fabulous. They spoke to me. They said, “We want to go home with you. We love alpaca, and we will fit in your carry-on luggage quite nicely.” They have ribbons and feathers and all sorts of “crazy” stuff. In love….

Dyed Mohair locks by the ounce

Dyed Merino top

This was my favorite picture of the day. I love colorful fiber! Don’t you? Gorgeous and full of possibilities….

See also:

SAFF 2009 – Saturday

The Animals from SAFF

October 23rd, 2009 | Tags: alpaca, dyed, felting, fiber, fiber growers, merino, mohair, needle-felting, ornaments, Painting with Wool, Ravelry, SAFF, Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair, spinners, yarn | Category: Alpacas, Events, Fiber Arts | Comments (9)

Alpaca Barn

Our farm is finally listed for sale. It took me forever and a day to do it, but we finally have it listed. Don’t worry. We’re just moving to a bigger alpaca farm. We ran out of room here and really want to be able to grow the herd.

You can find official listings and more information here and here.

Pictures of the farm in the Spring:

Pictures of our property in the Fall:

If you know anybody looking for a farm in lovely Fairhope, Alabama – I’m happy to pay a finder’s fee.

October 19th, 2009 | Tags: Alabama, Alabama alpaca farm, alpaca, alpaca farm for sale, farm, farm for sale, for sale, land for sale | Category: Alpacas, Moving the farm, Our Farm Story | Comments (9)

Fairhope Alpacas

Join us this weekend for Fairhope Alpacas‘  Alpacas 101 class.

Would you like to learn more about the alpaca business? Do you know someone who does? Our Alpacas 101 Seminar covers all you need to know before getting started. We talk about how to care for the alpacas, how to make money with alpacas, and we have a hands-on portion where you can get your hands on some alpacas and learn all about them.

This Saturday’s class still has spots available.  See recaps of last April’s Alpacas 101 class here. Read what people are saying about Alpacas 101. Ready to sign up? Click here to register.

October 6th, 2009 | Tags: alpaca business, alpaca classes, alpaca seminar, Alpacas, Alpacas 101, Fairhope Alpacas, Topknot to Toenails | Category: Alpacas, Events, Farm Business | Leave a comment