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Howard Brush Drum Carder

With all this great alpaca fiber that we have around we decided to become a Howard Brush Drum Carder distributor.  We have been using The David Drum Carder, which has three drums, making processing the alpaca fiber faster than a normal two drum drum carder.  We got the fine toothed drum carder @ 90/120 TPI.

David Drum Carder
David Drum Carder

David Drum Carder

The fiber we dyed with Kool-Aid was carded with the David Drum Carder.  It makes wonderful batts for dying or felting, as well as hand spinning.

Click on the post header for the option to purchase this wonderful drum carder.

Fleece Lined Alpaca Skier Hat

Online store now open!

As a grand opening special we’re offering these alpaca skier hats for $18.00 each, normally they sell for $22.00 each.? This great price on this great hat is available for a limited time.

Colorful lined alpaca skier hat
Colorful lined alpaca skier hat

Colorful lined alpaca skier hat

These fleece lined alpaca skier hats are lined with super soft fleece covered with 100% alpaca in colorful patterns.? The brim is a traditional roll up.? Hit the slopes this winter with this great hat keeping your head toasty warm.? Adult sizes in two different color themes, blue or green.

Click on the title line of the post or here for the opportunity to order.

[Note:  12/21/09,  Special over, price changed back to $22.00]

Open House Recap

We had a good turnout for the open house.? We hope everyone had a good time.? We enjoyed meeting everyone, and sharing the alpacas with them.? Everyone, including us, had a good time talking to and seeing the demo of the The Sock Lady.

The bourbon red turkeys were also a big hit.

Bourbon Red Tom Turkey, a heritage breed turkey
Bourbon Red Tom Turkey, a heritage breed turkey

Bourbon Red Tom Turkey, a heritage breed turkey

Spinning Wheel and Drop Spindle Demonstration

I just received word today that we will also have someone here on the 7th and the 15th to demonstrate spinning alpaca fiber on a spinning wheel and a drop spindle. I’ll post more information as I get more.

2009 Open House Rapidly Approaching

Open House

November 7, 8 & 14, 15 2009

12:00 Noon to 5:00 PM

The first weekend of our open house is rapidly approaching. It looks like the weather is going to cooperate nicely. Hope you’re able to come! Call if you have any questions about the open house.

2009 Alpaca Farm Open House

Our annual open house will be November 7,8 & 14,15, 2009 from 12:00 Noon to 5:00 PM.? We have several new things for visitors to see.? There is of course the alpacas and this year we have our most exciting array of alpacas to view with the addition of Silver Ray and the fall crias to the herd.? An additional animal that we’ve added that you will be able to see are four Bourbon Red turkeys (2 toms and 2 hens).

We’ll also have a wide selection of alpaca products and apparel available for your Christmas shopping.

And we are very excited to announce that at this year’s open house (all except Nov14) we will be having “The Sock Lady” from Appalachian Sock Company here to demonstrate the use of a hand cranked sock knitting machine.? She will also have some of her specialty hand-dyed yarns available for sale.

She and her husband restore these wonderful machines to working condition.? This is how our fore-fathers got their socks, they couldn’t just run to the discount store and pick up a pack of 6 socks.

We can’t wait to see what she does with some of our 100% suri alpaca yarn.? We have an entire cone of it to use.? I’d like to keep some of for when I get a loom, but I can always get more if we turn it all into socks or something.? Actually she said the 100% suri alpaca wouldn’t be the best for socks so it will get made into something else.? You’ll just have to come to the open house to see.

We’re also hoping to get some spinners and/or weavers lined up to demonstrate those activities.

2009 Fall Alpaca Event Schedule

We have a similar schedule this fall as we’ve had in the past.

  • We started with East Berlin’s Colonial Day on Sept 12, 2009
  • We will be doing the Fall Harvest at Ashcombe’s all of the Saturdays in October (weather permitting)
  • And we will be doing our annual open house on November 7,8 and 14,15 2009 from 12 noon to 5:00 PM

Our Second 2009 Cria!

Rose had her cria on Monday, 9/21/09.? A very pretty multi boy.? He has been putting on weight nicely.

Rose's 2009 multi cria
Rose's 2009 multi cria

Rose's 2009 multi cria

East Berlin Colonial Day – Sept 12, 2009

We are again looking forward to being at East Berlin’s Colonial Day again this year. We should be at our usual spot or close to it, behind the food vendors and the post office. The time is from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. We’re hoping for nice weather.

Our first 2009 Cria – It’s a GIRL!!!!

We finally had our first cria for the 2009 calendar year, we didn’t have any spring crias.? Born August 20th while we were on vacation everyone is doing fine.? She was 16.5 lbs on the day of her birth, dropped a pound the first day and gained it back by the second.? We were hoping for some color and got white, maybe light fawn if she darkens up some like Gaston did.? But ‘IT WAS A GIRL!’, take that any day over color.

Snowfox with new baby
Snowfox with new baby

Snowfox with new baby