Shades of Nature

Shady Grove Farm is the home of my fiber and art venture “Shades of Nature.” It is also home to a growing herd of alpacas in an assortment of colors. Alpacas come in two types, huayaca and suri. Most of my animals are huayaca which are characterized by dense body fiber that grows straight out. Their fiber gives them a puffy appearance like a sheep. Suri alpacas have long silky locks that hang straight down. Shearing day in June was quite exciting for all! They were thankful to cool off, as their fiber is warmer than sheep’s wool.

Two of the females have been bred so we are hoping, again, for crias (alpaca babies) late next summer. Alpaca gestation is 350 days; it is a long time to wait!

My angora rabbit collection is also increasing. I carefully harvest their super soft fiber every three months. Baltasar’s wool is creamy white tipped with champagne and Blimunda’s is a beautiful silver and gray. Their fiber is so soft, it feels like spinning clouds!

October brought heavy frost, spelling the end to this year’s gardens. The last of the marigolds and dahlias have been dried for use as dyes during the winter months. I am finally weaving with my own handspun natural dyed alpaca yarn. What a great feeling!

Shown here is Alfonso, my only suri alpaca. The rest of the gang are huacaya. Boo has gorgeous, crimpy white wool that will be perfect for natural dyeing. Chicopee is black and Antonio and Catawissa are shades of caramel.

This past year I was able to expand my fledgling organic natural dye garden and I have great ideas for 2009. Woad, weld, yarrow, dock, coreopsis and madder are some of the dye plants that survived the drought conditions last summer. The snow is still falling but the seed catalogs have arrived and plans are underway for this year’s garden beds.

I have been busy in my farmhouse studios as well. The loom room has been a productive place. I’ve been weaving pillows, blankets, table runners, placemats and scarves. The spinning wheel has been occupied with targhee, Shetland and my angora. The dye lab has an indigo vat bubbling in the corner and a huge new metal sink for felting. Check out the Art page to see what I’ve been doing in the painting studio.

Site designed and hosted by Cyberhenge, Inc.