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My
alpaca bibles:
*Alan Froome at Chakaya:
*Caring for
Llamas & Alpacas - a Health & Management Guide by C
Hoffman & I Asmus:
*Natural Goat
& Alpaca Care by Pat Coleby:
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 Right now: In Sydney for a few days - movie, gallery, live comedy What's
ahead? Friends birthday party end of July;
Geeveston Yarners
4th Wednesday; Kingston Spinners 1st Tuesday; ... stay well and keep walking the banks
of the Huon river in the early mornings. Oh yes, and get something
ready for the Perth Royal Show in September! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Felt workshop was GREAT, click GREAT to go to the pic~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tour de Fleece during Tour de FranceTour
de fleece was great fun, I managed to learn a new skill, and improve on
art yarn spinning. It has been fantastic sharing news and
knowledge with the Team of Wonder. I am in awe of the yarns and
garments produced. My efforts will probably be in the stash for years
to come.  Uh
oh, another Aussie casualty - Majacraft Suzie takes a tumble and is
currently convalescing. She is a trooper tho', still managing to spin a
yarn from our alpacas.  Week 1 wrap up:  
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am joining the Team of Wonder to participate in the Tour de Fleece.
Yep, they spin those wheels in the Tour de France, and we spin our
wheels alongside them. July 3rd - 25th, who will wear the yellow
jersey! We all will of course, we are all winners in the Tour de
Fleece. Team of Wonder will spin alpaca, mostly American alpaca, but I
shall spin Aussie alpaca and provide an international element in 2010. | | | 
 | Stage
8 of the tour de fleece and I had to indulge in colour for the
mountains. Some pumpkin and violet over white huacaya fleece and
violet over grey fleece. I am navaho plying to get solid runs of colour
rather than a barber-pole look. We thank Rivervale Ivory, Rivervale
Elvis and Liberty Patterson for the fleece. In between this spinning I
have put 18" of fabric on the loom. My colour threads are on loose
spools, and finally I have perfected those weight-wise. I have
foam hair curlers weighted with 1/2" galvanised nuts, I love
improvisation when it works. Those curlers and nuts are now a permanent
part of my weaving tools. |  | Stage
4 of the tour de fleece and I am spinning Rivervale Ivory, an alpaca of
outstanding attitude and beautiful fleece. Also in this pic - the Team
of Wonder logo, and another of my favourite things, my felt slippers -
mix of alpacas Chester and Elvis, and some wooly brown sheep. Stage 4,
Cambrai --> Reims, how I would LOVE to take a walk thru Reims today.
I can taste that Campari & Soda. |  | Stage 3 of the 2010 Tour de Fleece and I have 100m (41gm) of lace
weight alpaca/nylon filament. The nylon component honours the men in
lycra! Spin those wheels... |  | Warped
loom ready and waiting for pale fawn alpaca weft, in which I am going
to make crazy colour shots by pulling the warp colours horizontally at
random intervals. The colour threads are on loose hanging spools to facilitate this manipulation. Will it work, I'll keep you posted. Should realise about 5m of cloth. |
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A great felting workshop
day with Guild members. I had a go at baby booties. The multi-coloured
ones are actually Heidi's, made from Bothwell Blend. My pink ones and
green ones are all Rivervale Alpaca, thank you Ivory and Elvis.

Another
colour burst with which to play. See the fire red suri in the front,
that is crepe paper with vinegar, fast as you like. This pic has a mix
of wool rovings, Huacaya alpaca and Suri alpaca.

right Royal Alpaca drying on the fire. Jacquard dye - Violet

Crazy art yarn - still lots of room for improvement

Having fun in the kitchen

got the essential sustenance - bubbly to dye by

Frypan 1, and the fun begins

Frypan 2, Queen food colouring makes great dye

Spun dry and finished off over the fire

Some of the finished product.

Wool rovings sitting atop a heavenly heap of alpaca (thank you Ivory) dyed Pumpkin colour

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Here
are our adorable alpacas, move the mouse over each one, if you
get
a hand then click to see the garments/yarns we have crafted
from
their fibre.
ELVIS -
our alpha male wether

CHESTER -
the loyal adjutant

MATHEW
- rescued & now loved

IVORY
- a great mother

RASBERRY
- love that girl

ZOE - our first born

ZEKE - our second born

ZSAZSA - our third born

ZENA - our fourth born

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