RE: [AlpacaTalk] Re: Recent AOBA activities
A big YES and THANK YOU Pam!
You hit it on the head. The only way to increase the value of alpaca fiber is to get it into the hands of the general public. I do hope the "new AOBA" will be more receptive than in the past to bringing value to alpaca fiber. Well, I almost said something else, but in remembering what my wife, Carol, keeps telling me, I backed up and erased that part of the post.
To this date, I have not seen AOBA support any fiber-related activities unless they are AFCNA. Wow, talk about trying to put all the eggs in one basket when they will not fit. The Alpaca Blanket Project (ABP) was started because of this tremendous hole in the alpaca fiber industry. I am pleased to say that after only two seasons, the ABP is paying for fiber and producing high-end 100% American, 100% natural, 100% alpaca products.
It always gives me great pleasure to hear from farms like yours that promote alpaca fiber and get end products (or even raw fleece) into the non-alpaca owner's hand. We do not expand our industry nor demand by selling only to each other.
Thank you again for what you are doing for our fiber industry.
Peter Lundberg
Alpaca Blanket Project
10868 Siegmund Rd SE
Stayton, OR 97383
503-551-5015
AlpacaBlanketProjec
www.AlpacaBlanketPr
To: AlpacaTalk@yahoogro
From: pam@heartofdreamsal
Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 12:33:25 -0800
Subject: [AlpacaTalk] Re: Recent AOBA activities
Judith Korff said, "If you want to reduce show costs, you need to speak with show organizers, not AOBA. Tell them you're happy with an outdoor tent show (like the one you attended a year or so ago in Cuba). Tell them you don't need a 24" ribbon. Tell them don't bother with a Saturday
night dinner and fashion show (you're too tired by then to enjoy it anyway). Let them know that cost control is more important than image."
I agree with everything except doing away with the fashion show. This can be an amazing opportunity to introduce tomorrow's designers to alpaca fiber and can be a great market opportunity for farms sponsoring the designers/artists. I use alpaca fiber for both wearables as well as artwork – felted vessels, dolls, wall hangings etc.
That's been my biggest issue with AOBA – the lack of encouragement for the use of alpaca fiber now and in the future. I never understood the AOBA fee for the Fiber Arts competitions because it seemed like a lost marketing opportunity for all alpaca breeders.
I gave up on showing a long time ago because my suris are shorn yearly and invariably I was up against animals that hadn't been shorn for years. Even with the lock length requirements now it still seems a very whimsical judging system.
So we're going about it the slower route – using our fiber and getting out to the markets, art shows and festivals to show the public what can be done. Last year I actually caught myself saying I was running out of fiber – yep, before last year's shearing I only had a few pounds of white huacaya left. I'm determined to say the same thing this year about both my huacaya and suri fiber, but I'm still exploring projects involving 100% suri. I've made a gorgeous suri scarf with silk hankies at the ends that I'm very happy with. The problem is that suri doesn't respond well to wet felting, but it seems to do well with needle felting.
Anyway – imho we need to get alpaca fiber into the hands of the general public and stress the green aspects of alpaca farming/owning alpaca pets.
Pam in Duvall, WA
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posted by Chaddo at 4:30 PM
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