Free Alpacas Newsletter- How to Profit from Alpaca Farming

Friday, January 22, 2010

Re: [AlpacaTalk] Re: Processing fiber question

 

OOooooo! I have been wanting to find info on processors in the region who do felt or prefelts. I love felt, but I have learned that I can't do a large quantity of it single-handedly. At least with the rudimentary manual supplies that I have.


Do they have a website and/or email address? And do they do primarily alpaca fiber, or at least have a lot of experience with it?
Heather

Heather Zeleny
White Lotus Alpacas
Oregon

Holistic Farm and Elite Fleece

On Jan 22, 2010, at 10:13 PM, pjwilmot1 wrote:

You don't say if you have huacaya or suri, but I sent a bunch of both to RachAlpaca a while ago and it came back as very nice roving and yarn. I'm sold out of the yarn and I'm now spinning up the suri roving. They did a great job!

If you want your fiber processed into laminate felt or just cleaned and carded into batts or clouds you should check into Superior Fibers up in Edmonds. I haven't used them but another farm I know swears by them, Lost River Alpacas. I'm considering sending some of my hairier blanket fiber up to to them for cloud or batt processing.

Most processors will wash the fiber, but that won't remove any VM. Unless they specifically say that do that as part of the washing. Your best bet is to prepare the fields your animals are in so there's minimal vm they can pick up and then a few days prior to shearing get them away from any dust rolls, use a blower if you have one or simply rinse the animals thoroughly and then let them dry. If you're showing the animals and/or fleeces the do NOT wash them as this may damage the staples or locks.

Good luck,

Pam in Duvall, Wa

--- In AlpacaTalk@yahoogroups.com, "danimac2711" <edana_mckenzie@...> wrote:
>
> Caryn,
> 
> In addition to Heather's recco's, I would also check with Gretchen's Mill over in Monroe (probably the closest mill to you).
> 
> Cheers,
> Dani
> 
> Dani McKenzie & Hovey Moore
> Longbottom Meadows
> Roy, WA 98580
> 360-400-0348
> 


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Message posts are the opinion of individuals posting and are not necessarily endorsed or approved by Yahoo! or the moderator of this group. The purpose of this discussion group is to ensure that all points of view can be aired. It is the responsbilty of all individuals who post to treat others with respect and civility.
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[AlpacaTalk] Re: Felting Machines

 


i have a Celtic Moon Princess felting machine and I wouldn't be without it. It's a rolling machine vs. a flat machine vs. a needle machine.

Pam in Duvall, WA

--- In AlpacaTalk@yahoogroups.com, Heather Zeleny <alpacatalk@...> wrote:
>
> I don't have any experience with them, but I sure want one! Someone
> is/was selling one on Alpaca Market a couple of weeks ago, I think.
> It may still be available.
>
> Heather
>
> Heather Zeleny
> White Lotus Alpacas
> Oregon
>
> Holistic Farm and Elite Fleece
> http://www.whitelotusalpacas.com
> http://whitelotus.openherd.com

__._,_.___
Message posts are the opinion of individuals posting and are not necessarily endorsed or approved by Yahoo! or the moderator of this group. The purpose of this discussion group is to ensure that all points of view can be aired. It is the responsbilty of all individuals who post to treat others with respect and civility.
.

__,_._,___

Free Alpacas Newsletter- How to Profit from Alpaca Farming

[AlpacaTalk] Re: Processing fiber question

 

You don't say if you have huacaya or suri, but I sent a bunch of both to RachAlpaca a while ago and it came back as very nice roving and yarn. I'm sold out of the yarn and I'm now spinning up the suri roving. They did a great job!

If you want your fiber processed into laminate felt or just cleaned and carded into batts or clouds you should check into Superior Fibers up in Edmonds. I haven't used them but another farm I know swears by them, Lost River Alpacas. I'm considering sending some of my hairier blanket fiber up to to them for cloud or batt processing.

Most processors will wash the fiber, but that won't remove any VM. Unless they specifically say that do that as part of the washing. Your best bet is to prepare the fields your animals are in so there's minimal vm they can pick up and then a few days prior to shearing get them away from any dust rolls, use a blower if you have one or simply rinse the animals thoroughly and then let them dry. If you're showing the animals and/or fleeces the do NOT wash them as this may damage the staples or locks.

Good luck,

Pam in Duvall, Wa

--- In AlpacaTalk@yahoogroups.com, "danimac2711" <edana_mckenzie@...> wrote:
>
> Caryn,
>
> In addition to Heather's recco's, I would also check with Gretchen's Mill over in Monroe (probably the closest mill to you).
>
> Cheers,
> Dani
>
> Dani McKenzie & Hovey Moore
> Longbottom Meadows
> Roy, WA 98580
> 360-400-0348
>

__._,_.___
Message posts are the opinion of individuals posting and are not necessarily endorsed or approved by Yahoo! or the moderator of this group. The purpose of this discussion group is to ensure that all points of view can be aired. It is the responsbilty of all individuals who post to treat others with respect and civility.
.

__,_._,___

Free Alpacas Newsletter- How to Profit from Alpaca Farming

[AlpacaTalk] Friday Market! Add some Elite Fleece to your herd!

 

We have a lot of really nice alpacas available. I don't have too many of my own  listed for sale, since I have a small herd, most of those below are my mom's. All live on site and we can take fleece samples from last shearing or off their backs, or both. We probably have some samples from past years on older alpacas, too. I'm trying to get new and more pics of them all, it's tough because the weather has been typical Pacific Northwest weather. :)

Amadala: Dark fawn, full Peruvian. 3 years old. Sire is dark maroon Benchmark's Peruvian El Capitan, blue ribbon winner at MIAF. Bred to a gorgeous white Ivano grandson. 
$7500

Camellia: White yearling. Her bloodlines include Ivano, Pachacuti. Personality galore with this beautiful girl! 2 breedings included.
$5000

Peony: Beige 2 year old, ready to breed! 7/8 Peruvian. Serono, Guellermo, Yupanqui in pedigree. 2 breedings included.
$5000

Rosemary: Medium brown (red) proven 5 yr old. Felix granddaughter, Trinidad great gr-daughter. Open, ready to breed. 2 breedings included.
$ ***Price reduced*** Please see her listing!

Shasta: White 7/8 Peruvian yearling. Aladdin, Hemingway in pedigree. Superfine dense fleece. Very large girl! 2 breedings included.
$7500

Snowbelle: White 1/2 Peruvian. Pachacuti, King Solomon grandsires. We think she'll be a champion maker, like her full sister. 2 breedings included.
$5000

Armani: 2nd place halter AOBA Nationals 2001, behind Aussie Rockford. Super light silver grey. Under utilized here. We are waffling over selling him or not, actually he produces awesome crias.
$3500

Mesquite: 3rd place ribbons for halter and fleece. Full Peruvian, medium fawn vicuña pattern. Guellermo, Yupanqui lines and his dam is an Alianza import. Very dense, excellent conformation and heavy bone. Gorgeous topknot and typey face.
$2500

Infinity: 1st place halter. Grandson of Jolimont Peruvian Ivano. White. Awesome topknot, conformation, crimp, density, staple length. Plus super sweet personality! You can walk up to him in the pasture and halter him. I love this boy.
$5000

Maharaja: dark fawn, full Peruvian. Super silky fleece, 6" staple at 5 months. 82 lbs at 6 months. He's just about as big as the yearlings. His sire's fleece tested at 21µ at 5 years. Very good bloodlines. Really nice boy. Fleece is looking very nice.
$3000  And if you're interested, really do act fast. His fleece is great even soaking wet. Amazing crimp in a wet fleece!

Leonardo: med. fawn, 7/8 Peruvian
Sire: Snowmass Sumar Escobar, son of the famous Escobar and grandson of Hemingway.
2 time blue ribbon winner for fleece. Pedigree includes Yupanqui, Guellermo, and Aladdin on dam's side. 17.4µ at one year, 19.8µ at 4 years! We have his sire and two blue ribbon winning brothers on the farm. This fleece trait is dominant! 
$6000 cash or best offer. We think he'll be every bit the pre-potent herdsire that his father is.

Sienna Illusion, tested at 20.8µ at 4 years, with amazing zipper crimp. He has three cria on the ground so far, two maroon boys and one true black girl. One more cria due next spring. He has one blue ribbon for fleece at Estes Park, and one red ribbon, high scoring fleece in his class. We missed 1st place by 1/2 a point, and the judge's comment was better skirting would have raised the score. 
He's available for breeding services and is tentatively for sale, but I do think I have his price way too low. 
$5000 cash.

Hotblack: true black full Bolivian. Junior herdsire.
His pedigree includes Acero Marka's Alfonso, and almost nothing but black, and those listed as brown were actually black. :)
He placed 1st of 4 for his fleece at Alpaca Mania a couple of weeks ago. 19.4µ at a full year old! Super-fine, super luster, super crimp, super staple length. He also has just about perfect conformation and generous leg coverage. Pretty face, sweet personality.
$5000 cash.

Woodland Meadows Sequoia: dark fawn, 1/2 Peruvian
Sire: Snowmass Sumar Escobar. Sequoia won a blue ribbon for his fleece at Alpaca Mania under judge Amy Bliss-Miller. First year micron report afd:16.9 sd:3.5 cv:20.7 %>30µ:0.5. Very typey, excellent conformation, and of course, beautiful dense fleece.
$5000 cash

Woodland Meadows Solaris: medium fawn.
Another stunning son of Snowmass Sumar Escobar. He is also a blue ribbon winner for his fleece. What can I tell you? Dense fleece, super fine, heavy bone, generous leg coverage, full topknot, and sweet personality.
$5000 cash.

Also, we're putting the two Rockford sons up for sale at $5000 each to start. We love them and think they have potential, but we just need to make room. Breedings will be reserved!
Julian 
Dark silver grey Rockford son. Quite fine fleece, though we haven't had a micron test done yet. 
$5000

Bruegel 
Medium silver grey Rockford son with very uniform color. Very nice crimp.
$5000

Fleece samples are available for all upon request. Make an offer!

Heather

Heather Zeleny
White Lotus Alpacas
Oregon

Holistic Farm and Elite Fleece

__._,_.___
Message posts are the opinion of individuals posting and are not necessarily endorsed or approved by Yahoo! or the moderator of this group. The purpose of this discussion group is to ensure that all points of view can be aired. It is the responsbilty of all individuals who post to treat others with respect and civility.
.

__,_._,___

Free Alpacas Newsletter- How to Profit from Alpaca Farming

[AlpacaTalk] Free Stuff @ Beyond the Sidewalk--check out the new additions

 

Beyondthesidewalk.com now has new articles, great links for farmers/crafters and new fun stuff—all FREE--all at the fun and useful page     http://beyondthesidewalk.com/fun_useful.shtml
 
Plus short vignettes about marketing/business strategies to grow your life beyond the sidewalk found (free) at Ellie's blog   http://marketingwithellie.blogspot.com/
 
And....
How To Sell MORE, even in a soft economy!  100% Money Back Guarantee!
 
 
    "Growing Your Rural Business"  http://beyondthesidewalk.com/growing_rural_business.shtml
 
    "Economy Proofing Rural Business"  http://beyondthesidewalk.com/economy_proof.shtml
 
 
Or...put on a workshop in your area
 
What they are saying:
      
"Ellie, I am fired up!! Your workshop was exactly what I needed. I liked best the "work" time. I actually came home with some ideas I could immediately use."
 
"I feel passionate about what I am saying. It has opened up a whole new way of looking at marketing."
 
"I just spent Saturday in your workshop. I was motivated and inspired. I spent last night discussing our farm goals with my family and intend to take another look at our website home page soon. It's my intention to start applying the principles I learned in your workshop right away."
 
"I really enjoyed the scripted parts of your presentation on Saturday. I practiced them and the next day closed a deal on trading a breeding for my alpaca herdsire with another quality herdsire. Thanks for the knowledge and savvy!"
 
And always--CD's, or DVD's to help you be more successful   http://beyondthesidewalk.com/books.shtml
 
Best wishes,
Ellie



Marketing Workshops, Books, blog/free newsletter & consulting:
Growing Your Rural Business: From the Inside Out
Marketing Farm Products: and How to Thrive Beyond the Sidewalk
Economy Proofing Rural Business
Making Money With Goats
 

__._,_.___
Message posts are the opinion of individuals posting and are not necessarily endorsed or approved by Yahoo! or the moderator of this group. The purpose of this discussion group is to ensure that all points of view can be aired. It is the responsbilty of all individuals who post to treat others with respect and civility.
.

__,_._,___