I was inspired this week by this patriotic handspun yarn from Mona’s Etsy Shop.  Mona has a dog named Elvis and says that she spins and knits everyday so she sounds fabulous to me! Visit her Etsy shop, and while your there visit the Alpaca Farmgirl Etsy shop. (I always forget to tell you about it). You can also visit Mona on her blog, Knitting II.

Today is a bank holiday today. We’re all getting ready for the 4th of July tomorrow. I’m not going to bug y’all to participate in Fiber Arts Friday. But if you wanna share your fiber art, we wanna see it!

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!
4. Double-check to make sure your link works and goes to the right page so it doesn’t get deleted.

Alpaca Fiber is made into luxurious garments. Watch as sumptuous alpaca products are strutted down the runway at the 2nd Annual World Conference and Fashion Show. See more fashions in our Slideshow.

"Brownie & Ella" - Alpacas Get Married

drawn by  5 year-old alpaca farmgirl

Participating in Wordless Wednesdays

Watch this video for an overload of cuteness! It was submitted to Alpaca Social by Amanda Barrick of Two by Two Alpacas.

Alpaca Kisses!

Andy Bowen of Humming Star Alpacas and our very own Fairhope’s Dexter.

Knits For Needs is a knitting and crocheting charity that accepts and donates any and all knit or crocheted items.  They are based in Atlanta, but they will donate warm items to homeless shelters, hospitals, food banks, and to other people in need all throughout the United States.  This group was only formed in January of 2009 and have already donated around 120 items to charity.  Knits for Needs members and supporters include people from all over the world and from most of the 50 states.  They accept donations of knit/crocheted items, donations of yarn, and they hope to receive monetary donations as well to help with shipping costs.

Knits for Needs will provide any knitter or crocheter with yarn for their charitable projects if they don’t mind paying for shipping.  They will accept pretty much anything that has been hand-knit or crocheted with love.  People who would like to donate specifically to chemo patients do not need to worry about washing their items and bagging them because Meredith does all of that…even if you have pets and/or smoke.  See the Knits for Needs blog and other various sites for more info on chemo caps and other information. We are currently collecting items and our goal is to have donated 400 items by the end of the year!
We are thrilled to be able to help this wonderful charity started by Meredith Zelaya (pictured above). How can you help?

• Follow Knits for Needs on Twitter.
• Join their group on Ravelry: http://www.ravelry.com/groups/knits-for-needs
• Join their Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/merfzel#/group.php?gid=46599648838
• Spread the Word about Fiber Arts Friday! For every participant in Fiber Arts Friday this week - Alpaca Farmgirl will donate $1 to Knits for Needs to help them with shipping.
• Spread the Word about Fiber Arts Friday! For every 5 participants in Fiber Arts Friday this week - Alpaca Farmgirl will donate a skein of alpaca yarn to Knits for Needs.

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!
4. Double-check to make sure your link works and goes to the right page so it doesn’t get deleted.
5. If YOU DON”T BLOG - but you TWITTER - You may upload a TwitPic and post the TwitPic’s URL in the URL spot. Enter your name however you would like it to appear. If you do enter via TwitPic or other Twitter venue - you must Tweet “I’m participating in #Fiber Arts Friday at http://www.alpacafarmgirl.com via @AlpacaFarmgirl” or some other similar tweet that includes this URL and @AlpacaFarmgirl. The more you Tweet, the more people visit and see your Fiber Arts entries!

Pat Green Three Drum Supercard

So I’m having a dilemma. I’ve come to a crossroads.

My goal this year is to work the Fiber side of my alpaca business. To that end, I have tried new things. I have begun to knit again. I’ve learned to dye my fiber and yarn, and I’ve even tried Spinning. The idea was to try the different things and see what I liked and what I could live without.

I’ve discovered that I LOVE dyeing fiber the best, and wet felting it the least. In my fiber dreams I would love to create beautiful, colorful batts the way that Loop and Hobbledehoy do. Only my batts would be alpaca because alpacas are my life! *Sigh*
I thought I was well on my way to doing this when I learned that:

1. I have the wrong kind of drum carder. Mine is not designed for fine alpaca fleece . (I cluelessly bought it about 9 years ago from an alpaca breeder and never used it.)
2. I need a picker. Badly. To help with the process.

I did learn to wash the fleece, and that’s good. I also found this cool drying device that allows me to dry fleece indoors quickly.

I love it and it was 75% off!

Triple Picker

Before I go much farther with my tale, I have to mention that we harvest at least 300 lbs. of fleece each Spring at Fairhope Alpacas. I have been advised by my friend and Fiber Artist Sherry that I really need commercial equipment.

I know that I will need that. When we relocate the farm I will set up a Fiber Studio where I can have all the equipment and fiber, but for now, space is an issue. So we’ll hold off on investing in the big machines.

First I will get a picker. Then I want to get a drum carder. My dilemma is whether I should just fly way ahead to the Supercard (which will require some saving too) or if I should start with a smaller fine toothed drum carder.

A few of the smaller/non-commercial ones that have been recommended have been Deb’s Delicate Deluxe and those made by Strauch.  Strauch even has a page on their website - Which Drum Carder is Best for Me? Alpaca Meadows sells carders on their website.

Strauch Motorized Drum Carder

Sherry recommends a chain drive over a belt drive. I am seriously considering a motorized version. Hmm. That almost takes me back to the Supercard. But then space is an issue again…

While I hem and haw, please chime in and let me know your thoughts. I welcome all the input I can get! My biggest questions are:

• What drum carders have you used that you liked/disliked?
• What (if anything) can you do with a smaller carder that cannot be done with the larger ones?
• What benefits do you see to the various carders?
• What else do I need to keep in mind?

Participating in Wordless Wednesdays!

Photos by Cheryl Bowen. Sierra Echo Alpacas‘ female came by for a breeding.

"Nade" Comes Home to Fairhope Alpacas!

Welcome to this adorable alpaca! Promenade joined us just after the World Alpaca Conference. She is from Alpacas of Alagaesia in Indiana. Leann of Alpacas of Alagaesia blogs about her alpacas and their fiber at The Fiber of Alagaesia. Leann is quite the Fiber Artist.

Here’s Promenade before her haircut this Spring. She’s called “Nade”. Rhymes with “Katy” which helps me remember how to say it. This girl has a sweet, easy temperament. We love having her on the farm.

We traded two of our handsome alpaca males, Fairhope’s Royal Cantigny (below) and Fairhope’s Pink Cyclone for Promenade.

Fairhope's Royal Cantigny - Blue at AOBA!

Nade is a perfect match for our signature sire, SCA Peruvian Magnum. I can’t wait until we can breed them in the Fall. Magnum can’t wait either. Notice his intent, ahem, interest, in Nade (below).

Yep, Magnum Loves the Ladies!

Back to the Fiber Arts. This week on Twitter there has been discussion over the rumor that Russell Crowe knits. Is he using the knitting needles (below) as a prop or is he really a knitter? The debate had me thinking about Father’s Day and wanting to feature Dads that knit, or at least men who do fiber arts. A great guy who comes to mind is Chris who blogs at Vtknitboy. He’s a generous, knowledgeable spinner and knitter who brightens my days.

This week, please urge the male fiber artists you know to participate in Fiber Arts Friday. We would love to see what the guys are doing with their Fiber! I will leave this edition of Fiber Arts Friday open for a week to give us some time to get the boys over for some fiber fun. Happy Father’s Day!

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!
4. Double-check to make sure your link works and goes to the right page so it doesn’t get deleted.