OUR SMALL HERD

Our original four boys came from Ardo Alpacas in Aberdeenshire. We are not alpaca breeders and have our boys purely as pets. Our experience is that you don't need to be a breeder and that a 'batchelor herd' can give much pleasure to the owner. We have 5 acres including our big garden and grazing for the boys, 15 miles north of Inverness, Scotland. I spin, knit, felt and crochet with the fleece from the boys.

Clicking!!

Just a reminder that clicking on (most) of the photos will show them greatly enlarged.

Sunday, 14 March 2010

Find the boys - and find the time!

This shot was taken this morning, Sunday, and shows that the snow is slowly melting.  Dotted around the two paddocks are the six boys - can you spot them all?  This photo is looking in a westerly direction over the two field shelters, over our house then away towards Cannich, Glen Affric and the Glen Strathfarrar range in the distance, in the cold looking clouds.

Just to show that I haven't been hibernating all winter during the snows here are some items I have made.  These are two felted handbags, the one on the left is from Fidget and has a button fastener hand made from a Birch branch by Robbie. This bag was knitted then felted. The bag on the right is from Fergus and has a needle felted Alpaca image and felted button fastener.  It was felted from carded fleece.
The curly-wurly scarf on the left is crocheted from Ricardo (Ardo Alpaca).  The middle brown, crocheted curly wurly scarf is baby Alpaca from Hamish (Ardo Alpaca). The scarf on the right is a knitted bubble scarf with tassles taken from a free pattern on the internet (http://www.berroco.com/) and is also from Ricardo.  The knitted white head band is from Fergus and also has a Birch button fastener. I found the basic idea at http://www.knitty.com/.
The hat at the top left is from Fidget, it is knitted and felted and the turquoise colour was achieved by using natural dyes. The top right hat is of mixed fibres from all the boys, spun at random and crocheted, then felted.  A crocheted flower from Faro is attached.  The bottom hat is from Ricardo and is knitted and felted. Three knitted flowers from Faro, Hamish and Fidget are attached.  The basic idea for this hat came from the current British Alpaca Society, 'Alpaca' magazine.
Posted by at

2 comments:

  1. Anonymous14 March 2010 at 18:03

    I had a hard time finding the sixth one, but after blowing up the photo as large as I could I finally found somebody dressed in white standing on the snow on the right paddock. Had a devil of a time finding him!! Your felted handbags are so pretty! And I love all the hats! They are so pretty! You've been busy and you've done a beautiful job!! Can't pick a favorite as they are all so nice! The photo of the area is just beautiful. Your view from your property is just breath taking!! Lucky you!!...debbie

    ReplyDelete
  2. Shirley15 March 2010 at 19:57

    Hi Debbie, Correct - Fergus is on his own down on the right, doing his own thing as always! Being a white boy he is hard to see from a distance in the snow. Thanks for your comments and we agree that we are lucky to live in a beautiful area. Hope Ernie is OK! Take care. Shirley & Robbie

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)