The Bird Nesters REALLY Work

My husband Karl , as much as I love him, is ALWAYS the skeptic.

When I told him I was making Bird Nesters from the discarded alpaca fiber so that the birds could pick from them to make their nests; he thought I was a little loopy.

Well the other day he was cleaning out our gazebo and he came across a nest that unfortunately could not stay where it was located (directly above our picnic table). 

Next thing I know he is telling me to get the camera - he could not believe it - inside the nest was alpaca fiber from the bird nester! 

Whose the believer now.....

My Big Sister

Have I told you about my big sister, Linda Walsh?

She is an amazing woman, extremely talented, creative, smart; a little crazy and a fantastic sister!

When I told her I was going to become an Indie Pattern designer and wanted to create frame or quilt fabric wall art designs amongst other things; she jumped right in and offered me TONS of advice and even set up my blogspot for me - Inspired Creations By D.

Then when I told her that my husband Karl and I were going to become alpaca farmers, breeding and selling alpacas along with alpaca fiber products, she again offered TONS of advice and set up the blogspots for them  - Rock Garden Alpacas and Rock Garden Alpacas Fiber

Well you would think that she has all the time in the world to do this but that is the really amazing thing; she is really QUITE busy with her own adventures.  You see, my sister is THE Linda Walsh - and these are some of her sites:

• Everything E -Directory
• Gray Is Beautiful Gallery
• It's Raining Baby Showers
• It's Raining Doll Parties
• Linda Walsh Originals
• Linda Walsh Originals Dolls
• Linda Walsh Originals E-Patterns
• Linda Walsh Originals Fabric Designs
• Linda Walsh Originals Handmade Dolls & Crafts
• Linda's Crafts Bookstore
• Linda's Doll Bookstore
• Linda's Spoonflower.com

Why am I writing this now - well it is because she has done something amazing at  Linda's Spoonflower.com she has created a fabric line in honor of our alpacas, it is absolutely fantastic!

Take a look at what she has created - just click on the link  My New Alpacas Rock Fabric Collection.

I think you will find she is as amazing as I do!

BIRD NESTERS

Don't let this happen in your yard!!!

Help your birds build wonderful nests for their little ones. 

BIRD NESTERS made entirely from materials I have recycled. Hang in a tree during nesting season and watch the birds pick from the fiber to add to their nests. For more information about us visit our website: Rockgardenalpacas.blogspot.com

BIRD NESTER W/REFILL BAG  $10.95

Each nester is approximately 3"x4" made from moss covered grapevine, tied together with baling twine that was used to hold the hay bales together that we fed to our alpacas, and then filled with the fiber remnants from our alpacas after shearing.

Each nester comes with an additional bag of fiber - enough for approximately 2 refills!

If you would like to purchase this bird nester and refill bag simply click the BUY NOW button below:

Nester and Refill Bags

Bird Nester $6.00 USD Bird Nester With Refill Bag $10.95 USD Additional Refill Bag $4.95 USD

Please refer to our Order/Shipping page Roving & Bird Nesters  for Continental U.S. shipping rates.

All product prices are payable in U.S. Dollars. Additional shipping & handling, insurance charges, and other applicable international shipment fees will be added to all Canadian and International orders, and orders outside of the Continental United States. Please Email us for the applicable rates.

Our PayPal shopping cart is not set up to handle international shipping. Please do not use the PayPal shopping cart if you are ordering outside the Continental United States. For more information please see International Orders on our order information page.

The nester and refill bag will be mailed to you via the United States Post Office (USPO) within 1-3 business days of my being notified by Paypal, possibly sooner. Once your package has been shipped you will be notified via e-mail with the tracking number.

Spinning Lesson #5 - The Last One

I showed up for this lesson with a gift for Jan.  My fiber was done at the processing Mill and my husband and I had picked it up during the weeks in between my lesson.  I had tried spinning some of the roving that was from the blanket of our alpaca Zinnia; which is considered the prime fiber. 

WHAT A DIFFERENCE from spinning blanket roving instead of seconds like I had been using.  I truly could not believe how easily it spun and how strong it was with just the single ply; but of course, I did Navajo ply it because, I REALLY like doing that.

I brought Jan 4 oz. of that roving; like she really needed any more roving - what a stash! - worse than my quilting fabric stash!

I sat down at Jan’s spinning wheel again and this time I did much better than the first time; I was able to get into the rhythm of the wheel and actually keep the fiber spinning.

I practiced on the carding machine again and created some thick batts; then Jan had a surprise for me – we made felt out of the batt – there goes my mind creating again!!!

Jan and I are becoming GREAT friends...

Spinning Lesson #4

I showed Jan the yarn I had spun from the batts I had carded.  

I noted that I had first spun the single ply and felt that the yarn was not very strong so, since I really enjoyed the Navajo plying; I decided to do that to strengthen the yarn; which it did.  I believed that the reason the yarn was this way was because I had not done enough when carding it into a batt.  Jan was pleased I had noted that.

We decided to try spinning on Jan’s spinning wheel; this brought me back to the first day I spun with the drop spindle – oh my, it looks so easy when you are watching someone but believe me it requires a lot of coordination. 

I truly admire those who make it look so easy….

Spinning Lesson #3

This week Jan showed me Andean Plying – where the people in the Andes would wrap the newly spun yarn single around their hand in a way that both ends of the yarn would be accessible thus plying a single yarn into a two ply.

It was very interesting but I found myself more excited over the Navajo Plying – this was where you would spin your single ply yarn and then using your ball winder you would wind it off the spindle into a ball.  This could also be done using an empty paper towel or toilet paper roll and wrapping the yarn around that to make a ball. 

Next you take and tie an end of your yarn onto the spindle and create a loop that your hand can fit through.  You originally spun your single in a clockwise direction so you are now going to spin in a counterclockwise direction.  Reach through the loop and pull the single through til it forms a new loop and proceed to spin again; you are basically creating a chain and spinning.

This week’s homework was to practice the Navajo plying and to then spin 4 single plys clockwise (z), then take two of the singles and ply to the other 2 in a counterclockwise (s) direction while also applying much more twist. Then take those 2 2-plys and ply them together in a clockwise direction (z); this creates a “braided” ply that I find I also like VERY much.

Jan also showed me her carding machine and we carded some batts, (of course hers were much MUCH better than mine).  I was to take home the batts I made and spin from them.

Spinning Lesson #2

I had practiced with the single plying –  spinning thicker yarns, thinner yarns, yarns with more twist and yarns with less twist. Now it was time to ply them together.

Jan also gave me a couple of different types of drop spindles to see which  I preferred;

  

and I purchased a top whorl spindle that I really liked on Etsy.

I am finding I really enjoy the ease of spinning and how relaxing and portable it really is.  It is amazing how the difference in the twist makes all the difference in the yarn.  (Oh so many ideas in my head!)

Jan had shown me how to spin 2 ply – that if your two single plys were spun in the clockwise direction (z) then when you spun the two together you needed to spin in the counter clockwise direction (s); and also spin 3 ply – again each single clockwise and then the three together counterclockwise.  

I was sent home with homework that involved spinning singles to get ready for the next weeks lesson which would be Andean and Navajo plying.

Spinning Lesson #1

I have become really intriqued with all the possibilities that lie ahead with the processing of my alpacas fiber. 

I am a quilter (Inspired Creations byD) by nature and work with fabric but now that I have my alpacas and have felt what their fleece feels like – my head is (pardon the pun) spinning with ideas of what to do with the fiber.

I started taking spinning lessons – first on a drop spindle.  When I got to my lesson Jan (the woman teaching me), told me I would be spinning in an hour and I responded with “I truly doubt that”.  Well sure enough, I was; albeit NOT VERY WELL but just the same spinning.  Jan filled me in on the basics of the drop spindle and how to get the fiber to twist; how you spin in “z” and then “s” if plying – always opposite; how to “draft” out your fiber for a consistent yarn – as shown below I had that down real well (ha, ha, ha).  

I was sent home with some homework for the following week. Basically I needed to practice my single ply spinning and try to become more consistent.

Our Girl Zinnia's Medium Fawn Prime Alpaca Roving

2 oz. or 4 oz. bag of 100% Natural, lanolin free, no dyes added, incredibly soft with NO prickle factor, very clean, Medium Fawn Alpaca Roving from the prime blanket fleece of our alpaca Zinnia a Perucoyo (half Accoyo, half Full Peruvian), Huacaya with a micron count of 20.6, spin fineness of 19.8 micron and a comfort factor of 98.2%. Her fiber took 3rd Place at the 2012 American Fiber Rally with the judge noting “Good Character – above average fleece weight” and it took 2nd Place at the Empire Alpaca Trifecta Spin-Off.

                                            2 oz.  $6.95            4 oz.   $12.95

This package of gorgeous alpaca fiber comes from the prime blanket fleece. It can be used individually or carded together into batts.

Luxuriously soft yet strong; Alpaca is soft enough to be worn next to your skin and strong enough to make hats, gloves and socks.

It is perfect for spinning either on a wheel or drop spindle, can be felted, dyed, woven, needle-felted or even used for doll hair.

Alpaca fiber is hollow and therefore, warmer than wool and will keep you comfortable on those cold days and nights.

Please keep in mind that colors may very slightly on your screen. If you are not sure of this color please e-mail me at rockgardenalpacas@gmail.com for a free sample. Please include your name, address and color sample requested.

For more information about us visit our website: Rockgardenalpacas.blogspot.com

Please refer to our Order/Shipping page for Continental U.S. shipping rates on ROVING.

Order $75.00 or more roving and shipping is FREE in Continental U.S.

All product prices are payable in U.S. Dollars. Additional shipping & handling, insurance charges, and other applicable international shipment fees will be added to all Canadian and International orders, and orders outside of the Continental United States. Please Email us for the applicable rates.

Our PayPal shopping cart is not set up to handle international shipping. Please do not use the PayPal shopping cart if you are ordering outside the Continental United States. For more information please see International Orders on our order information page.

If you would like to purchase this roving simply select the size from the window below and then click the ADD TO CART button.

Bag Sizes

2 Oz. $6.95 USD 4 Oz. $12.95 USD

The roving will be mailed to you via the United States Post Office (USPO) within 1-3 business days of my being notified by Paypal, possibly sooner. Once your package has been shipped you will be notified via e-mail with the tracking number.

Our Girl Sunflower's White Prime Alpaca Roving

2 oz. or 4 oz. bag of 100% Natural, lanolin free, no dyes added, incredibly soft with NO prickle factor, very clean, White Alpaca Roving from the prime blanket fleece of our alpaca Sunflower a Full Accoyo, Huacaya whose micron count at age 2 was 18.1; this blanket fiber is from age 4.  It has been washed, picked, carded and then processed into roving.

                                            2 oz.  $6.95            4 oz.   $12.95

This package of gorgeous alpaca fiber comes from the prime blanket fleece. It can be used individually or carded together into batts.

Luxuriously soft yet strong; Alpaca is soft enough to be worn next to your skin and strong enough to make hats, gloves and socks.

It is perfect for spinning either on a wheel or drop spindle, can be felted, dyed, woven, needle-felted or even used for doll hair.

Alpaca fiber is hollow and therefore, warmer than wool and will keep you comfortable on those cold days and nights.

Please keep in mind that colors may very slightly on your screen. If you are not sure of this color please e-mail me at rockgardenalpacas@gmail.com for a free sample. Please include your name, address and color sample requested.

For more information about us visit our website: Rockgardenalpacas.blogspot.com

Please refer to our Order/Shipping page for Continental U.S. shipping rates on ROVING.

Order $75.00 or more roving and shipping is FREE in Continental U.S.

All product prices are payable in U.S. Dollars. Additional shipping & handling, insurance charges, and other applicable international shipment fees will be added to all Canadian and International orders, and orders outside of the Continental United States. Please Email us for the applicable rates.

Our PayPal shopping cart is not set up to handle international shipping. Please do not use the PayPal shopping cart if you are ordering outside the Continental United States. For more information please see International Orders on our order information page.

If you would like to purchase this roving simply select the size from the window below and then click the ADD TO CART button.

Bag Sizes

2 Oz. $6.95 USD 4 Oz. $12.95 USD

The roving will be mailed to you via the United States Post Office (USPO) within 1-3 business days of my being notified by Paypal, possibly sooner. Once your package has been shipped you will be notified via e-mail with the tracking number.