Alpacas in the spotlight for debut show at the NEC, UK

The UK's largest alpaca event is heading to Solihull in March for its first year showing at the NEC and AlpacaFleeces.com will be there.

The prestigious 2012 British Alpaca Futurity arrives at the NEC on March 16 for two days bringing together 350 of Europe’s leading breeders.

The show will give both experienced alpaca breeders as well as those who are new to the animals the chance to learn about all things alpaca.

See the best of British alpacas, meet the breeders and find out what can be done with their special fleece. There will also be workshops, seminars and stalls selling garments produced with alpaca fleece.

To buy tickets, visit www.thenec.co.uk.

The show is open to the public from 9.30am-6pm with tickets on sale now. Tickets are available on the door or booking forms will be available through www.britishalpacafuturity.com

Boosting sales with alpaca fibre

Alpacas are more than just friendly fertilisers, they can produce some of the world's most beautiful garments and are great for the environment too and many businesses are playing on this to boost sales.

Alpaca wool is not only about five times warmer than sheep's wool and causes less allergies compared to sheep's wool but it is also alot easier to process as it doesnt need to be chemically cleaned to rid itself of lanolin grease unlike sheep's wool, making alpaca fibre much more environmentally friendly. Fleeces can actually come off the alpaca relatively clean and ready to be spun bar a few strands of straw.

Erica Dwyer, the owner of an alpaca farm called Hamden Hills Alpaca Farm says "Like any harsh detergent, you don't like the harsh chemicals being used and going back into the environment itself. Alpacas [are] so clean you could actually spin it right off the animal being shorn, you don't even have to wash it"

Alpaca wool's environmentally friendly nature has been a great source to boost sales for alpaca wool producers around the world with many stores even replacing designer garments with alpaca wool garments.

"This is kind of a niche that we've found and this is what the people come in for, the alpaca clothing also has been great," said Kevin Lennon, the owner of Shoenique.

Do you sell alpaca wool or garments? Let us know!

Alpacas hold their heads high at expo

Alpacas descended on Sydney over the weekend for Australia's Alpaca Association’s National Show and Expo.

Hannah Fletcher, 7, travelled from Goulbourn with her family to enter her “baby” in the show held at Sydney Olympic Park.

“Alpacas are the best animals - they’re cuddly, they come to you when you call them, they are colourful and quiet,” Hannah said.

Sometimes Hannah’s mum even lets her take her red Alpaca to school.

Hannah entered Alpaca, Strawberry Shortcake Fletcher, in the competitions which are judged on fleece, walking, colour and how they stand.

“We never get nervous,” Hannah said. “We are connected. She is my baby.”

Hannah and Strawberry Shortcake have had plenty of wins at shows.

They belong to the Australian Alpaca Association and Hannah has been competing with Strawberry Shortcake since they were both babies. Hannah was only four and Strawberry Shortcake was just a few months old when they entered their first contest.

Hannah thinks that everyone needs an Alpaca in their life. “They are calm and love cuddles,” she said.

Article shared via Inner West Courier

Snuggly soft alpaca slippers by Samantha Holmes

Editor's Choice - Alpaca Mules

Fancy snuggling your toes into these?

These luxery warm fur mules by Samantha Holmes look perfect for the forthcoming colder months to keep your toes cozy warm.

Made from high quality alpaca fur they come in a multitude of earthy colours from ivory to fudge. They also come in a range of sizes, even for little baby feet!

I know we're tempted at AlpacaFleeces.com! Buy them now at: www.samanthaholmes.com

If you would like to see your products advertised through our Blog/Facebook and Twitter pages pre-launch then why not drop us an email and let us know all about your alpaca fibers!

New York sheep and wool festival this weekend

This weekend is the wonderful New York sheep and wool festival, are you heading on over?

The New York State Sheep and Wool Festival is one of the largest annual gatherings of fiber-arts enthusiasts in the United States and is held each October at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds in Rhinebeck, New York.

The festival was first held in 1972 and is attended by thousands of knitters, crocheters, handspinners and other craft enthusiasts. Owners of natural-fiber-producing livestock such as sheep, goats, angora rabbits, llamas, musk oxen and alpacas also attend.

For more information head on over to www.sheepandwool.com

Fleece First Exhibition in Devon 24th September - 13th November 2011

An educational exhibition all about farming, wool production and the countryside will be taking place between 24th September and 13th November 2011 in Devon, England.

The South West is known for breeding sheep, processing wool and making textiles. This exhibition shows colourful and unusual work by local textile artists whose material is wool.

Information, handling tools and resources tell us about natural production, crafts, sustainable processes such as weaving or knitting, and local industry.

Featuring: Yuli Somme, Jane Deane, Jenny Wilkinson, Claire Crompton, Lesley Prior. Curated by Isabella Whitworth.

FREE. Open daily. 10am-5.30pm. School/colleges/group visits welcome.

The Devon Guild of Craftsmen,
Riverside Mill,
Bovey Tracey,
Devon. TQ13 9AF
01626 83222
devonguild@crafts.org.uk
www.crafts.org.uk

Rare alpaca twin girls born to farm in Houston, US

Rootin Tootin Alpacas in Houston has enjoyed the rare opportunity to experience alpaca twin babies, something rather uncommon and even more so for them to survive.

Their four year old alpaca female named Skittles gave birth to twin girls just a few weeks ago and both little babies are doing well.

Owners Jim and Connie Root were at first reluctant though "We never really wanted twins because of the mortality rate," Jim said, "but they both seem to be doing pretty well. If you can get past seven days, you're usually in pretty good shape," Jim said. "Both of them are past that now."

The first baby twin was born Wednesday, September the 21st around midday weighing in at 11 pounds and 4 ounces. She has black fleece from head to toe and was named Pringles. Her little sister popped along almost exactly 24 hours later weighing in at 15 pounds and 2 ounces and was named Chipotle, who has rose gray fleece and a black-and-white head.

And being both female is an added bonus. "Since they're both female, there's a very good chance that they'll both reproduce," Jim said. "Most of the time if twins are a male and a female, the female won't reproduce. We might have hit the jackpot on this one."

Interestingly, the twins have very different fleece, or fibre, even though they share the same mother and father. Pringles' jet-black fleece has a soft and even texture, while Chipotle's is denser, with what Jim called a "popcorn" texture.

Alpaca 'stolen' from Bewdley farm in Worcestershire, UK

A one-year-old alpaca worth £1,500 is believed to have been stolen from a farm in Worcestershire.

Britney's owner initially thought she had run away from her farm in Bewdley, scared off by a low flying helicopter.

But a resident reported seeing flashlights when she went missing between 16th and 19th September and police now suspect the herd animal was stolen.

Britney is described as being about 3ft (1m) high at the shoulder and has a white fleece.

A spokesman for West Mercia Police said: "Even if she had managed to get out of the secure garden they don't think she would have gone any further for fear of straying too far from the herd."

Alpacas scare easily and can die if they become separated from their herd, police said.

If you have any information then do leave us a message which we can pass on to the owners.

How do I sell my alpaca fleeces, roving and hand spun yarn?

Launching soon is our invaluable resource at www.alpacafleeces.com where alpaca, sheep and other animal owners can advertise and sell their fleeces, roving and yarns direct to crafters such as spinners, felt makers and knitters and crocheters.

Alpaca festivals and markets can have attendances ranging in the thousands per day, this is a lot of craft interested people from spinners, knitters, weavers, felters and other fibre artists looking to buy direct from farmers.

That's a lot of enthusiastic customers who want to buy animal fibre so you don't need to be limited to selling only to commercial mills.

With alpacafleeces.com you can advertise your quality fibres to hand spinners, felters and crafters all around the world.

You will be able to source local spinning mills and shearers as well as upload detailed information about your individual animals and their personal fleece colour and textures.

Register your interest now and let us know who you are!