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FAF: Lollypop Yarn for a Cause

Hello Fiber Arts Friday Fans!

Last spring I had helped our local humane society re-home an alpaca.  While I was there they were kind enough to give me several bags of wool sheared from their sheep the weekend before.  I made the promise then that I would process the wool and sell the yarn and give back the profits to Lollypop Farm.

The road to getting the yarn was a bit bumpy.  I had no clue that I was allergic to wool!  After skirting 2 fleeces I had totally broken out in hives from head to toe and stayed that way for over a week.  Yuck.  I guess that’s one reason why I raise alpacas.

I then shipped out the yarn to Battenkill Fiber Mill and thanks to one thing or another I didn’t have the funds to have them process it so there it sat.   Back in November I gave them the go ahead to work the fiber and the finished product just arrived at my door step.

Of course I have to fret the hives issue one more time as I wind the yarn up into skeins, wash, dye, dry, re-skein or wrap into center pull balls.   Whatever, it’s all for a good cause.

So, here it is!  The skeins are priced at $20  1/2 is for processing fees the other 1/2 goes right to Lollypop Farm.

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I’ve also got some nice Cranberry currently cooling in the dye pot.  It should be ready by tomorrow.  If anyone would like a custom color let me know.

Lastly, Here’s a photo of my dog Brindee.  She just looked so happy on all those pillows.

 

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WIP: Leftovers Scarf

Guess what! My SD Card on my phone randomly started working again.  So knock on wood my HTC Thunderbolt has 100% survived my washing machine.

That means I now get to show you what I’m working on.  Since I had left over yarn from my dreadful blanket project I decided to make a scarf out of it.  Since I already knew working with Lion Homespun totally sucks both on the needle and hook I opted to toss it on my blue loom.  So far no swear words!  It looks like the Homespun works up very nicely this way.

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FAF: Oops

Hello Fiber Arts Friday followers.

So why the Oops?  Well you might notice a lack of photos on today’s post.  Why? Because I sent my cell phone through the washing machine.  It has been thoroughly cleaned.

I let it sleep in rice overnight but it was still dripping by morning so I set the phone on a stool in front our coal stove the next day and that cooked all the water right out of it.  Put the battery back in and POOF it WORKED! Unfortunately my SD card which houses all of my photos.  Dead.  So I’m shopping for a new one.

I have been very crafty lately though

  1. I’ve ripped up 3 old sheets into 1 inch strips and have been slowly connecting them and winding the strips up into a big ball of awesomeness.  The goal is to make a new rag rug for my kitchen.  My store bought rug practically fell apart last time I put it in the washing machine so it needs to go.
  2. I’ve started on a new scarf using up all the scraps of homespun left over from the hateful blanket project.  It’ll probably be another year before I finish it too.
  3. Rope!  I have been making iCord like made lately and have been braiding up new alpaca rope.   Here’ the latest set of 7′ split reins that are currently for sale in my Etsy Shop.  Yes I actually have a photo!
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Alpaca Chili

This recipe is courtesy of my brother Brenton.

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs ground alpaca
  • 2 tbsp Butter
  • 1 large yellow onion
  • 1 tbsp ground cumin
  • 1 tbsp dried oregano
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 tbsp salt
  • 1 can crush tomato
  • 1 can black beans
  • 1 can kidney beans
  • 1 can tomato paste
  • 1 green bell pepper, chopped
  • 1 jalapeno pepper, chopped
  • 1 cup sweet white corn
  • 2 clove garlic, crushed
  • 1/4 cup chili powder
  • 1 tsp black pepper

Directions

  • Brown alpaca mean in large skillet with 1 tbsp of the butter
  • In separate skillet saute garlic, onion, cumin, oregano, bay leaf and salt with remaining tbsp of butter.
  • Mix all the ingredients together in a slow cooker.  Heat on low for 6-8hrs.

Click Here for printer friendly PDF

 

 

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Mini Alpaca Meatloaf Bites

I recently used this recipe for a neighborhood “house crawl” we were apart of.  I wanted to offer our guests something fresh from our farm but also made some from beef for those who were a bit squeamish about eating a fluffy.   The end result? I only had beef bites left over and all the alpaca ones were gone!

Ingredients:

  • 1.5 lbs Ground Alpaca
  • 1 finely chopped onion
  • 3 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 tsp “better than bullion” beef
  • 1 egg
  • 1/3 cup seasoned bread crumbs
  • 1/4 cup Ketchup
  • 1/4 cup your favorite marinara sauce
  • 1/3 cup shredded mexican flavored cheese

Mix the better than bullion, egg and lemon juice together and blend well.  Add onion, cheese and ground alpaca and mix with your hands.  Lastly add in the bread crumbs and mix thoroughly.  Let mixture rest in your refrigerator for 2-3 hours.

Pre-heat oven to 350

Using cooking spray, grease a standard 12 muffin pan

Place round balls of the loaf mixture into each muffin cup and make an indentation with your thumb in the center.  Mix the ketchup and marinara sauce together and place a dollop into the indentation of each loaf.

Bake in oven for 35 minutes

Remove and place shredded cheese on top of each loaf, return to oven and bake for an additional 10 minutes.

Serve and enjoy!