alpaca samples

Last summer I realized that, when conducting a demo at an alpaca farm, it is a good idea to have samples made from alpaca fiber. Otherwise you are continually correcting people and saying, “no, actually this is all sheep’s wool.”

The plan to create more alpaca samples got under way… this week!! When is the demo?? In three weeks!! Am I awesome at getting things done ahead of time? NO. Did I do this last-minute scramble all through high school and college? YES.

After scouring my stash, I discovered many more bunches and balls of alpaca fiber than I thought I had. I also found one ball of spun yarn to get some knitting going too. That was turned into a pair of fingerless mitts (I can sell them in December too! Even I’m impressed!) and the remains I’m hoping to be able to make into a tiny beret.

These three skeins are brand new this week. From left, we have a very heavy skein of grey alpaca spun and navajo-plied. It’s actually rather scratchy and unpleasant. I purchased it as combed top. Next to that is a cream-colored skein that I spun from locks, which may have been unwashed. The floor was quite dusty afterward. I like to spin alpaca messy since I don’t think people do that very often. And finally is a pinkish-grey bulky weight skein. This one is very soft, spun from a mound of fluff. Not exactly sure how it was processed. The locks were not distinguishable, so maybe something like a batt?

Must keep going! What else is good to make for samples?

where to find me!

Come visit me this month at two different events:

• September 12, 2009
  • Saxon Summer IX, Chestnut Ridge Campground, Hubbard OH
  • I will be hosting a Spinners Roundtable: A time for spinners to gather for learning, sharing, spinning. New spinners wishing to learn are welcomed to attend.
  • Saxon Summer is hosted by Rivenvale and is an official event of the Society for Creative Anachronism, therefore an attempt at Medieval garb is required in addition to a fee payable on-site. However, it is open to the public.
  • For more information about Saxon Summer, please visit Rivenvale’s website.

• September 26-27, 2009
  • National Alpaca Farm Day, Ramblin Rose Alpacas, Conneaut, OH
  • I will be conducting an all-day demo both Saturday and Sunday. Spinning, weaving, knitting and yarn samples will be available for viewing. This event is free.
  • Please visit Ramblin Rose Alpacas’ website here for directions.

sharing is caring

I am exhausted! Today I spent 5 hours demonstrating spinning for groups of 1st grade students at my old elementary school. Each class came in one at a time – about 15 to 20 kids. I was a little nervous beforehand; not sure how receptive they’d be, or how comprehensible I would be. But wow! They were just so interested in the whole thing.

Luckily I happened to have the same fleece from raw wool to finished product. That allowed me to have a visual chronology of the process. I started with unwashed locks and passed those around. Of course they had to wrinkle up their noses and exclaim how stinky it was while waving their hands in front of their faces. Then I showed them the same wool after it was washed. Next I used my hand carders to demonstrate how a rolag was made and talked a little about roving, which I also had. After that I picked up my handspindle; and from there I mentioned the great wheel. That led into discussing my current wheel. They really enjoyed watching it go round and round. I ended with passing some skeins around (supervised) and showing off a few knitted items.

They had so much to say. Lots of questions, but mostly, “My grandma knits”; “my grandma made me a blanket”; “I don’t remember what I was going to say”. It was hilarious. One kid raised his hand and said, “this is awesome”. How fantastic is that??

At the end of the day, I was leaving just as they were all lining up in the hall to go home. I had my Sonata backpack on, which I had showed them earlier. As they saw me, they shouted, “It’s her! Look at her backpack!” I felt like a celebrity and to them I was. I waved and they waved back. It was such a wonderful experience. They are so positive and open. Even the teachers enjoyed it. It feels good to be able to share with people, especially ones who want to learn!

home again

I had a great time at the Farm Day open house. Even though the weather wasn’t superb, we still had a sizable number of people visit. I really enjoyed getting to talk to folks, meet secret lonely spinners, old knitters, curious youths, etc. Of course, there were a few terrorizing youths also – ugh. One kept putting his dirty shoe ON MY WHEEL. I told him very firmly not to touch it, but that didn’t stop him. Overall it was fun, though. They want me to come back and teach classes.

Originally I set up my table under a lovely tree. Behind me were some youth group kids selling hotdogs. They were very interested and wanted to try out all of my toys. I let them spin on a drop spindle and wind a ball of yarn using the umbrella swift. Eventually I moved into the garage when it started to rain.

Undeniably, I work primarily with wool. I only had two skeins of alpaca yarn and no finished projects to show. This caused some confusion because I was demonstrating at an alpaca farm. Folks would walk up and say, “This is all alpaca fur/hair/wool/skin?” “No, I work with wool mostly.” And then I’d point out my two lonely skeins.

I see it this way: I like variety and wool gives me that. Alpaca is the same thing all the time. It would be similar to someone spinning the same breed of sheep all the time. I do a little romney, a little columbia, a little BFL, a little alpaca. Doing all of any one thing is dull. I want lots of options and I get that more with wool than alpaca.

They were really impressed by my yarn and the colors. I laughed to myself. Sure, this looks nice because you’ve never seen anything like it before. If you were on Flickr and browsed through the yarn groups, your brain would explode! This is nothing! But I still appreciated their enthusiasm and positive comments.

And of course I had to snap a few shots of the animals. These are all the female alpacas; the males are kept in a separate area. Isn’t that baby cute?

alpaca demo!

National Alpaca Farm Day, here I come! This weekend is said open house at the farm and I am really getting excited. Since I’ll be staying up there overnight, it’ll be like a mini fiber getaway. Yesterday I started gathering things together that I want to take. Today I had to warp my small loom. I also want to make tags for different items like “wool yarn, 2-ply” or “handknit hat with colorwork”. The funny part is that I very rarely work with alpaca. I only have two skeins of alpaca yarn and no finished objects. I told them this, but they didn’t seem to mind. What else am I taking?

• Spinning wheel
• Spindles
• Nostepinne
• Niddy-noddy
• Yarn swift
• Small weaving loom
• Knitting projects
• Spinning fiber
• Knitting samples
• Weaving samples
• Spun Yarn
• Identification tags
• Business cards
• Books
• Table cloth
• A smile ;D

Did I miss anything? I love doing demos! I’ve been thinking about getting in contact with the local schools to see if they’d be interested in having me come in. Children are annoying, but they are definitely the most intrigued by these things. The main problem is keeping their fingers out of the flyer and making sure yarn samples don’t get tangled. Unfortunately I think it’s supposed to rain this weekend. Sound familiar?

where to find me

Mark your calendar for these upcoming appearances! In the next few months I’ll be showing up in various places, demonstrating, teaching, or selling. So far, there is only one of each of those things occurring, but that might change. If you are in any of these areas and want to come visit, please do. If you have further questions regarding any of these events, please email me and I will clarify.

Saxon Summer VIII – September 12-14, 2008

• “Every Lady Should be Spinning” – a spinning class with a historical and geographical perspective; introductory lessons and trouble-shooting will also be discussed
• Location: Chestnut Ridge Campground; Hubbard Ohio
• Time: 10 am, September 13
• Website: Saxon Summer VIII
• Specifications: Event, though open to the public, requires payment of a site fee and wearing of medieval clothing; this event is put on by the Society for Creative Anachronism

National Alpaca Farmday – September 27-28, 2008

• Spinning, weaving, general fiber demonstrations
• Location: Ramblin’ Rose Alpaca Farm; Conneaut Ohio
• Time: 12-6 pm both days
• Specifications: Farm is open to the public at no cost

Holiday Fine Arts & Crafts Sale – December 2008

• Selling handspun yarn and knitted items
• Location: McDonough Museum of Art; Youngstown, Ohio
• Time: 10-5 pm (Saturday); 12-5 pm (Sunday)
• Specifications: Craft sale is free

sharing

With only 10 days 4 hours 16 minutes 8 seconds before Pennsic, I am getting so ready to go. In fact, this weekend I finished packing and we even began to load the truck. On Saturday our group did a demo at an arts festival on campus. It was really hot, but at least we’re used to it. I brought my yarn and spindles to show off. It was really fun to talk to people and show them what I love to do. Hanging out there all day got me really excited about going!!

Set up under the shade-fly, waiting for visitors

Closer view of the display table. My little pile is there in the middle – yarns, spindles, niddy noddy, etc. The wooden chair in the back had my wooly woven chair rug too.