New Directions, Times of Change

After getting hit with the desire for spinners not to pay for information of owners wanting spinners and getting my ideas shot down critically, I have decided to take the business into a new realm. Rather than looking for hand spinners, I have decided to look into getting a mill and dedicating it to mainly alpaca with owners buying into a cooperative or stock in the mill in return for processing locally and without long waits. I am working on another business plan and will be going after grants to make this happen. Since Obama has decided to give away my money, I think I will be happy to get a little of it back rather than it all going to his cronies.

Economy Affects Private Business

In the 6 months since Mr. Obama became president and started ramming through spending bill after spending bill, it has become difficult to be able to effectively promote a business. Until the economic forecast improves, I do not believe that it is time to work on an innovative system. There is no way I could hire anyone to do certain parts which are difficult for me, which would allow me to do what I do best, so I am going to have to take a step back and wait until after elections next year or possibly 2012 when I feel things will be on an upturn.

When the government, our CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC, is involved in takeover of businesses, banks and more, then one must put things on hold. Presently, I am working on my own arts and improving my skills to be ready for a more favorable future.

Spinners beware, bwahahaha

I am going to check out a farm with 140 alpacas, He has separated the blankets into groups by color. OMG, this is going to be too much. I just need those people who would like to spin for trade to contact me. For a little money and postage, they get colors, whites and incredible blankets to play with. Just as long as some of them get back to the owner. So, how many pounds do YOU want?????

Anyway, just contact me at beth@alpacaspinsters.com and we can set you up.

Suri Yarns

So what do you do with incredibly soft suri fiber that is 12 inches long? These are some of my trial and error techniques. I am finishing up some yarns just for the owner of the animals who provided this luscious fiber. Just cleaning suri has a definite learning curve. That I will save for another post.



I have been working on a number of suri yarns which have been quite an experience. These are absolutely luscious yarns and are a result of much trial and error on how to best utilize this fiber. This first one is a combination of thick/thin and nubs on a thread base. It looks to be quite fun.



With this one, I added some fun sparkle yarn fibers and just let them wind on as I went. I did not comb these into the yarn because I wanted the texture to change with the materials. I worked these with the 12 inch locks and so there are some loose ends and elements of texture that you would not find with a smooth yarn.




It is a little difficult to see, but this has some fire star in it which gives a pinkish tinge to some areas of the yarn. This is a smooth yarn and I have 2 skeins of it. I liked it very much because of the delicacy of the color change.



It is a little difficult to see the sparkle but this was plied onto a silver thread and had a wrap of gold over the top. It is essentially a single yarn with the gold sparkle predominant. Comes out just loverly.




My first attempt at tailspun long suri. I used it with a single for the core and it was a little heavier than I wished. It is incredibly soft and would make a wonderful shawl.

AAAARRGH!

I hate waiting. Now that the paperwork has been signed and the time is ready to get started, we have to wait more. It is driving me crazy. After getting all the paperwork done and signed, DVR has to figure out how to do the money thing because I used the internet to pick out things I need. I mean, you cannot just go into a regular store to get things for prepping and carding fiber.

I have been rather handicapped since a fall in January where I landed on my kneecap and tore things up. The only reason I can walk at all is due to a cortisone shot. I had to do my shopping on line.

So now I have a cart I borrowed from a friend who has MS and have been traveling via bus. It is extremely frustrating to have to do this and one trip takes all day. A 15 minute drive will take an hour or more. Plus our bus only runs twice an hour.

I will be putting pictures up of some of the yarns I have made with the suri I have been spinning for Judy Steele in California. Suri is such a beautiful fiber but interesting to work out the techniques for. I like some of the yarns I have done but they are definitely not your normal yarn. Well, with 14 pounds, I figure I can try just about everything I want and hopefully Judy will like them too.

Are we there yet?

I feel like a little kid on a long drive. Are we there yet? Closer and closer. Supposedly I am to go in and sign papers on Monday. Keeping my fingers crossed. After all, my name will expire on April 1st.

I was going to let my SIL do my website but we have come to a crossroads and I don't think I can deal with the vexation. So, off I go, working on it by myself. Probably will be better since I know what I want. The question is, do I sell my art yarn there or on my other site? I think I will keep the 2 separate and get the damn thing going.

I am having issues walking and typing, I have fingers and toes crossed, as well as legs, arms and eyes. Hopefully it will do what it is supposed to do right away.

It's time!

I am now taking applications for information at beth@alpacaspinsters.com. I guess it is now time to believe that if you build it, they will come. It is so exciting to see the interest climb and see that there is now a way for spinners to make money while at home. This whole concept of a barter system is a win-win situation for both owners and spinners.

TIME TO OPEN

I have just sent out the first message to the spinners on my Ravelry group to come join in and play with alpaca. It was just 9 months ago when the idea first came to me and now it looks as it is going to become a reality. It will take a little time for setting up and getting the matches going but I know that as it goes on the refinement will take place so that everyone can benefit from this marvelous fiber.

I find myself a little in awe regarding this, that it actually has come to fruition from a flicker of a thought to the finale. Sigh, I know that I have a LOT of work to do in the coming days, to get ready for alpaca and fiber festivals, getting the trades organized and a logo. But all in all, we are off.