Felting – A Magical Process at Overland Park Arboretum
Fiber, (alpaca or wool) hot water, soap and agitation. Put these all together and you can create felt. Felting is an almost magical process turning [...]
Sorting and Grading Alpaca Fiber
Why sort and grade your alpaca fiber? The main reason is to improve the quality of the end product. This can make you stand out from your competitors when it comes to sales!
Your Best Friend – Your Alpaca Veterinarian
Finding a good alpaca veterinarian is a top priority for your alpaca farm. As you become more experienced in handling your animals and dealing with [...]
Alpacas – the ‘golden oldies’.
I read recently that the oldest sheep recorded in the Guinness Book of Records was 28 years and 51 weeks old! That made me think [...]
Alpacas in Winter
It may not be officially winter but the cold weather with it's freezing blasts has certainly arrived. After the long stretch of above average temperatures [...]
Alpacas: the antidote for election blues!
For those of us who are worn out by this Presidential election or upset about the result here are some pictures of alpacas to ease [...]
Dealing with the loss of alpacas.
We have lost two alpacas within the space of a week, both of them in their teens. The first was a fourteen year old [...]
Blending alpaca with other fibers
I love when my alpaca fiber comes back from the mill. It really is 'Christmas in August'! I use Shepherd's Mill in Phillipsburg, Kansas and [...]
Preparing alpaca fiber for the mill.
You've made the decision to send your alpaca fiber to a mill for processing. Now what? How do you prepare it for the mill? Carefully [...]
Fleece Shows
The AOA National Fleece Show is taking place this coming weekend, July 21 to 24, in Arlington, Virginia. Volunteering at a fleece show and the [...]