School Counselor turned alpaca farmer and fiber artist
After 20 years in the public school system, I traded my professional career for the life an alpaca farmer. I started with 2 alpacas in 2001, and currently have 38 on the farm. Using the fiber they produce, I learned to spin, knit, crochet, felt, locker-hook, lucet, and weave on 3 styles of looms. I started attending craft fairs and farmer's markets in the Skaneateles and Central New York area, and eventually established a small farm store. I sort and grade the alpaca fleece myself in order to produce a superior product (sorting and grading ensures uniformity and provides a much softer, smoother end product). In addition to my hand-made products, I also feature alpaca products from co-ops that I contribute fleece to, including the New England Alpaca Fiber Pool. As president of the Empire Alpaca Association I spear-headed a project to produce an Empire brand of yarn, 100% alpaca yarn raised and milled in New York State, and those yarns are also featured in my shop. Promoting alpaca products that are produced here in the U.S. is very important to me. My favorite thing, though, is producing my own one-of-a-kind items hand-made "From Critter to Creation"!