Life as A Fiber Processor Part 2.... Enter in Cesar and Mastermind, our very first alpacas. Oh how much fun and nervous it was. I have always been around livestock but my husband hasn't. We just sat and watched them wander around the pasture. It was so beautiful to watch them, and exciting to see them both roll in the grass, and get up and run and kick up their heels. It was truly a wonderful moment....

That night we could hardly sleep, we were so excited to be alpaca owners and have these amazing critters on our farm. We talked about future plans, and laughed about just that we are farmers now. It must of been late before we both finally fell asleep. The next morning we both were like little school kids, hurry up and get outside to tend to the animals. The kids were quick in tow as well, so neat that this is going to be a family affair. Awesome!!!!!! Yay, until this moment happened which took our small kids a few steps backwards.... So It was kinda funny because we thought these pacas were going to be similar to other livestock. Well mostly me, so here I am thinking aghhhh these cute furry critters were gonna let me love on them regardless of what all the farmers had said. But it's interesting how you put all those to the waste side and you have to learn the hard way, at least I do I am afraid.... So Cesar was my favorite and Mastermind my husband's. Mastermind is always so curious like a big cat and always in your business. Were Cesar was kinda like, " Yeah your pretty cool, but on my own accord". So of course I knew how to read animals, I went to school for awhile learning animal behavior and what not, or did I, Hmmmmm BUT... Didn't pay attention this one day. I am taking hay out, no problem'o, tossed the hay all is good!. Went for the bucket of grain and instead of putting the grain into the feeders I thought. Ohhhhhh I am going to hand feed these boys. With my husband and Kids watching, I call the boys, they run over I slowly put my hand in the bucket, start to feed them and " WHAM, out of the blue Cesar, My favorite slammed me with spit, all over my face, shirt". I stood there in shock, Oh my goodness did this just happen to me. My husband busted out laughing and my kids, they were like " Deer in the headlights, with mouth open wide, jaw dropping to the floor kinda look". The smell got one of my kids, and he started to gag, Daughter took off to the house. Older son who is special needs. All he could say is " Ewwwww mom, that's just wrong". So what to do, bail the scene or just keep going, I can't stop now, I quickly fed the boys in their feed buckets and off I went to clean myself up. All I wanted to do was drop the bucket and run for the hills. This hurt me because I will do anything for animals, I mean I am the crazy chick that will run out in Major traffic to save a turtle while my Husband is screaming, " Your gonna get yourself killed"!.

In hindsight I wasn't upset at Cesar, I had read Marty McGee's book, Marty is Like the Alpaca/Llama whisper she is amazing, so I read the signs to look for and she really explains it in the animals point of view. So I truly wasn't upset at Cesar, what was going on here was My feelings were so hurt that he spit at me. He is my favorite!!!!!! Well after I cleaned myself up a bit, I knew that the reason he spit, it wasn't at me, it was because Mastermind was coming up next to him, going " Hey, I want some snacks too, and Cesar was like, Heck no buddy these snacks are all mine". This is what happens all the time, the alpacas or camelids use spit as a form of communication, and us farmers get into the cross fire... So after really puttng my feelings aside, they weren't hurt after all, because Cesar and I had this connection from the start. Later that same day, I was brave and took grain out to Cesar while he was alone and guess what no spit, we were best buds again. Mastermind was quite upset, but not for long either because my husband took snacks to him as well. It was a really cool moment for the both of us. Our kid's on the other hand, up at the house playing games, they needed to see it was safe. " Yeah, let Mom and Dad be the guinea pigs. We told the kids we were going to attempt to give snacks again, we were like you all wanna come down. Out of the mouth's of babe's way too funny actually our son said, Not right now Mom, not in the mood to get slimed like the dude in Ghostbusters... HA HA HA HA

Life As A Fiber Processor

I've been asked over and over how did your Fiber Journey begin. I thought it was time to start from the beginning so there will be a better understanding on who I am and the type of artist that I've become. So here it goes... In 2005 Our family moved to The beautiful rolling hills of Brooksville. We came from a beautiful riverfront home on The Peace River in Port Charlotte. We loved living in Port Charlotte, but after Hurricane Charley devastated much of the area and us having only two bridges to get to our home. That was a pivital moment for our family, our home was only 9 feet above sea level. We needed to move to higher ground that wouldn't flood. So fast forward, we sold our home and bought a older farm house on 4 acres. We were in Hog Heaven!!!!!!! We had all this land and at that time I was an exotic bird breeder for 14 years and had well over 250 birds. This was the perfect place to raise birds and run a great business.

On a beautiful Fall Sunday Morning, We noticed an article about Alpacas from a local farm. My husband said Hey want to go check it out. I of course was like " Heck yeah "!!!!. What is so funny is while we were living in Port Charlotte we had been getting The Farm and Ranch Guide and Alpaca Magazine from AOBA. We saw a television commercial and always thought that if we purchased land someday that this would bea neat thing to possibly raise. So with that being said, my husband made an appointment and just driving up to the farm. I knew I was smitten with these alpacas. The rest of the family fell in Love with these beautiful big eyed gentle furry critters. Our children were so excited so we came home decided this was the avenue we wanted to take. This was going to take alot of work on all of us. We visited more farms, got ideas and found our first two alpacas that we wanted. We bought our two Boys right on the spot. The journey home, that is when the reality of what we just did set in. " OH MY GOSH, we are now going to be alpaca farmers"!. The next few months were going to be intense, we had to take Woods, I mean thick woods and make a barn, pasture, run-in's and so much more. Plus attend seminars on Alpaca Farming, Finding a vet and Finding a farm that would mentor us. I can tell you that after those month's of hard work, Our family never, I mean never wanted to see another shovel or rake again. All that hardwork was so worth it, because looking back at that now. We did everything right, we wanted everything finished before they arrived. The excitement was building, because it was down to just a few weeks till our boys made the trip to our farm. Enter Cesar and Mastermind

Life On the Farm.

Hello Crafty Fiber Folks,
I haven't blogged in a few months, life on the farm has kept us very busy. I will be posting new and exciting things on the my blog about Alpaca Farming, Fiber Processing, New things that I'm working on and much much more. So check out the new videos that will be popping up on our blog and sit back have a snack and enjoy.

I am in the process of uploading new videos. You can also check my youtube channel. For more exciting videos and Fiber Tutorials.

Sunshine State Fiber Arts Guild

Wow, What a hit, our guild was a smoking hot environment with Spinning Wheels, Drop Spindles, Knitters, Crochet going on. It was awesome, what else was super cool was we had a few awesome demonstrators this time. We had Steve showing us his amazing 200 year old walking wheel and weasel. What an incredible experience it was to look at this machine work. It gives you great respect for our ancestors who had to make yarn in this manner. Steve gave everyone, the opportunity to work the wheel. Thank you Steve for enlighting us with this awesome demonstration.




Then we had Reene, a talented artist do a needle felting demonstration. She is so talented and did such a fabulous job showcasing her work and it was a honor to watch her. Renee has alpacas and teaches a variety of classes at her studio in Spring Hill. Check her out www.crofutalpacas.com


I look forward to our next guild meeting, it will be a hoot to see everyone again. I am very excited to learn navajo plying. Eileen will show us how at the guild. Thank you to all that came to the guild, without you our guild wouldn't be what it is today.

Many Blessings always,
Kimberly

January Craft Challenge is Here!!!!!!

Oh My Gosh, Just got my shipment today and I'm so excited. I am frothing at the mouth to get started!!!!!!

I've missed the last challenges and was so bummed. So this time, I am participating.
My dear friend, Pat Riesenburger with Aussie Threads & Fibers put together this fantastic challenge. The Felted Crystal Cuff.

Folks get the opportunity to let their creative side run wild, and then once finished with the project. Submit for judging.

So, I will embark on this crafty endeavor starting tomorrow and will be posting pictures up along the way.

Blessings, Kim

Woodland Yarns Are Here!!!!!!

Whoo-hoo. I finally have taken that big step and started with my own yarn brand. I am so excited. My yarns are beautiful and everyone is in love with them. We offer so many blends and I just can't wait to see our new palette and new combinations that we are creating.

We are doing some really cool blends as well. 100% alpaca, alpaca merino blends, angora blends, silk blends, bamboo blends, and much more. Also plenty of weights to please everyone.

So excited!!!!! My Dreams are coming true...

One Day At A Time

Well haven't blogged in a while, and first and foremost, need to say that I am looking forward to this new year. Our family had a rough 2010 year. My father was diagnosed with Squamous Cell Carinoma in December 2009. Sadly after a long year of battling the disease, he passed on December 28th, 2010. I must say that it left me sad, angry, confused, and many other states of mind that I just could not explain to myself or to my family. It isn't easy no matter what, but it left me feeling so alone and scared. After all of this that has happened, I had to pick myself up move forward, and take one day at a time. My father would be saying, Quit that cryin and move on gurl. I do know that my father is in such a better place, no more suffering, no more of laying in that bed unable to move. Now he isn't in pain, his spirit can go anywhere he wants to go and do anything now. I know he is watching over me and my family. I LOVE YOU DAD!