Our First Art Show Installation!

On April 30, 2010, we celebrated the Opening Reception at the Brazee Street Studios, the opening of MOLD DIGGER exhibition at gallery One One, AND our first Artist Open Studios- all during the first Oakley After Hours of 2010. Each resident artist at the Brazee Street Studios contributed an installation to the show, including Fiori del Campo!

During the renovation of the building that is now the Studios, over 50 graphite molds were discovered stashed in the ceiling.   Beautiful and complex in both form and history, these graphite objects inspired a lot of questions by the Studio’s owner and staff:  What were they used for?  Why were they hidden in the ceiling?  How can they be used now?  There answer was to turn them over to their new group of studio artists, including Fiori del Campo.  Each artist had responded to these molds in their own medium, which were gathered to create gallery One One’s break out exhibition MOLD DIGGER.  As the Studios mark the transition from old to new, the show is presented in the spirit of scavenging, re-purposing and building on what was.

The event was a huge success with an amazing turn out. Many thanks to everyone that participated!  brazeestreetstudios.com/home/biome_gallery.html

Don’t Get Fleeced on Your Alpaca Fiber!

Want to get the MOST from your fiber and Alpaca herd? Who doesn’t? Why wouldn’t you?

Have your fiber Certified Sorted™. You can’t afford not to!

• Certified Sorting increases the usable fiber per alpaca and increases the quality of the product produced.
• Sorting can pay for itself through the use of leg, chest and belly fiber alone.
• The superior products created command superior prices, which also helps to cover the additional cost incurred with sorting.
• The valuable information received about each animal during the sorting process will help with management and breeding decisions as well as sales and marketing.
• Stop throwing away over 50% of your raw product – no other successful industry does!
• Use all of your fiber, including cheeks, tail, legs, chest and belly
• Lower your production costs by pooling your fiber with others
• Join a cooperative to take advantage of combined processing costs. Small producers pay the same price as large producers
• $40/pound (a typical fee for small lots processed in mini mills) for processing is too much! You can’t realize a profit when the processing cost is so high!
• Breed for more profitable fiber animals
• Improve density and uniformity of grade (micron), length
• The use of the individual sort record provided by your certified sorter can help you achieve this goal
• Your fiber sitting in your barn, attic and guest house, isn’t making you any money
• You have to do something with it to make a profit from it. Most farms do not have the ability to retail products. That is why NAAFP has retail outlets for its members

Contact us to discuss the tremendous impact that the Certified Sorted™ system can make on your fiber profits and herd management!

Our new Fiber Sorting and Grading Services!

Fiori del Campo is pleased to announce that it now offers alpaca fiber sorting and grading services using the Certified Sorted System

I just returned from a 4 day intensive class to train with Coarse Broads, Inc. to learn their system of fiber sorting and grading. I am now an official Certified Sorted™ Apprentice that will lead to becoming a full-fledged, card carrying Certified Sorter.

The Coarse Broads Sorter class is intense and rigorous and not for the faint of heart; not only is it choked full of data and information gleaned from lots of research, but there is a lot of after-hours study, a final exam that must be passed, and lots of practice sorting and grading. It can be a dirty, difficult and tiring job and is not for everyone. However, it is a service that is vital and mandatory for the current North American alpaca fiber industry.

Our mornings were spent studying sorting theory and the ins and outs of fiber, including but not limited to fiber basics, histograms and skin biopsies, fiber characteristics that affect the processing, understanding grades, and the value and advantage of Certified Sorted™ fiber, among many other topics. After lunch, the class worked on the hands-on part of learning the

Certified Sorted ™ system, including but not limited to learning to identify micron/grade, sorting fleeces utilizing the system, using the sort records and sort summaries to assist the breeder and more. As I stated earlier, there was also evening homework, not to mention a final exam that must be passed in order to become a Certified Sorted™ apprentice. Fortunately, I passed the final exam with a very high score – what a relief!

I am so glad I had to opportunity to attend and complete this difficult class; it has considerably expanded my knowledge base with respect to the commercial processing of alpaca fiber, as well as given me a whole new perspective on my own herd’s management and breeding decisions.

Big Move

Today is a big day for Fiori del Campo – we have started the move into our new workshop production space at the Brazee Street Studios in Oakley! The studio is a completely green building, being LEED Certified and solar powered. The space is exactly what I was looking for when considering expanding the scope of our business as we work towards expanding the success of the North American Alpaca fiber industry. I wanted a green building, preferably in Oakley (near my home), in the upscale Oakley retail district, with foot traffic, easy access to the public for classes and participation in monthly Oakley After Hours. On December 23 discovered that the old abandoned T-Shirt Factory on Brazee Street had seemingly overnight transformed into a glowing, thriving new artist’s space. To make a long story short, I called them right away and found out they had only *one* workshop space remaining in the building. And lo and behold, it met *all* of the requirements I was looking for – it is LEED certified and solar powered, is right across the street from my house, is in the Oakely retail district with foot traffic. Our workshop is located on the first floor directly on Brazee Street with its own private entrance for my customers and staff and is the perfect spot to participate in Oakley After Hours!

In the early phases the workshop will be offering fiber arts classes to the community both at the workshop and at external sites, and will eventually be employing designers and artisans from UC’s DAAP as we design and produce luxury Suri alpaca garments and accessories. The workshop will also house our new fiber sorting and grading operation. I continue to write my business plan, which includes very ambitious 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 10 year goals which will involve incredible growth. I will be continuing to look for assistance with marketing, production, financing, and all the other aspect involved in growing a new business. I am very optimistic and have very high hopes for Fiori del Campo as well as the North American alpaca Commercial fiber processing industry. We hope that you will continue with your support and encouragement, and make sure that you do check the website for upcoming classes, events and announcements!

Another Great Suri Network Fiber Seminar

I was so jazzed to be able to participate in the Suri Network’s latest fiber-centric educational seminar, “The Facts about Your Fiber and Its Success in the Marketplace”. The seminar is being held at Suri Alpaca farms across the United States in order to give as many Suri breeders as possible the opportunity to participate and learn. I attended the seminar on Saturday, December 5 at Ravada Hills Suri Alpacas in Portland Indiana, hosted by owners Sandy and Hendricks. Fortunately this seminar was only a 2 hour drive away from Cincinnati, and even more fortunately for me it was being taught by The premier Suri fiber *Goddess* in America, Mary Lou Clingan. In my opinion, Mary Lou is a true Suri Fiber Diva, and I am convinced *no one* in America knows Suri fiber better than her. Mary Lou has been the manager of Alpaca Jack’s Suri Farm Country Store since the store opened in 1999. She is also the head of the Fiber Department at Alpaca Jack’s, responsible for all fiber and fiber related activities, on and off the animal, as well as special fiber projects such as skirting, sorting / grading, and preparation for processing. Each year Mary Lou typically prepares 30 – 50 Suri show fleeces, collects 400 representative fiber samples for micron testing, and shears and skirts 400 + fleeces for distribution into yarn, roving, and fabric. Mary Lou serves on the AOBA Judges Training and Certification Committee and is the past chairperson of the Suri Network Product Development Committee. She is currently on the Suri Network Research Committee working on the Suri Luster Study. Mary Lou provides workshops and seminars on a regular basis.

The seminar is a one-day course designed for us Suri alpaca breeders to give us a better connection between the fiber animals we produce and the end product that is sold in stores. It is a very “hands-on” course that covers several topics to give an overview of the entire fiber production process. We looked at individual locks as well as whole fleeces to understand uniformity, microns, lock structure, guard hairs, and other aspects of the raw fiber. We also studied the process of turning raw fiber into yarn with actual examples of fiber through every step of the milling process. Additionally, we received an overview of histograms and how they play a role in improving fiber production. We also reviewed negative fiber traits such as fiber breakage, too many guard hairs, lack of uniformity, etc and how these traits negatively impact the end product.

It was an incredibly fun, educational and invigorating day for me. As always, is was wonderful to be in the presence of a group of passionate Suri breeders, and intoxicating to be physically immersed in scrumptious, silky and lustrous raw Suri fleece all day. Those who know me are aware that I have a serious disease – its commonly called “Fiberholism”, and I seem to have a particularly severe reaction around anything Suri J Aside from leaving Sandy and Ron’s farm fiber drunk and happy, I also came away with a greater sense of how the decisions and direction of my breeding program will positively or negatively impact our national fiber clip.

Grand Opening of the Brush Factory!

Finally, and happily, the Brush Factory at 2019 Central Avenue in Brighton staged its grand opening on Friday, December 11. The opening was a huge success, with attendees and well-wishers jamming the rafters (literally!) – There was barely room to move. Owner/Founder Rosie Kovacs’ response? “It was AWESOME, amazing… there were SO many people there, and I don’t know where they all came from. Most of the people were complete strangers to me!” Apparently many came through word of mouth, which in my opinion is sometimes the best form of advertising. Additionally, the opening spurred requests for interviews and more information by several major Cincinnati media players. I was extremely happy that my hand spun Suri alpaca and other exotic fiber yarns were displayed beautifully, and *all* of my hand felted soaps sold out that evening as well!

The Brush Factory is open Monday through Friday, 2 – 9 PM, Saturday from Noon till 9 PM, and Sunday from 2 till 8 PM.

Stop by to shop, commission a garment, jewelry yarn or fiber arts piece, or to have a garment altered and support an important and vital fashion artist forum in Cincinnati!

October 2009 Alpaca Fiber Symposium

I just returned from an amazing weekend at the October 2009 Alpaca Fiber Symposium held at the Embassy Suites in Denver, Colorado. The weekend was full of wonderful energy, exchanges of ideas, dissemination of new information, and lots and lots to take home and digest as we all figure out where it fits in to the future development of the North American Alpaca Fiber industry. In attendance as participants and presenters were various groups that are already making and marketing products out of alpaca fiber and those involved in the wool and cotton industries on a large scale. Their representatives shared their background, how they go about doing what they do with alpaca fiber, and their expectations and hopes for the future of the industry.

On Friday we had the opportunity to tour the Yocum McColl Laboratories and learn about the services they provide to the wool industry, as well as the particular testing that they provide for us alpaca breeders. Then that evening, participants were treated to a Meet and Greet where we were all able to meet, chat, network and meet new friends.

Saturday was a long and exhausting day for me since I was being exposed to a lot of information that was new to me. I was intent on absorbing every little detail, which coupled with my jet lag made me quite tired; not because it was boring, but because it was such pertinent and timely information and I was experiencing “brain overload! The morning sessions were filled with presentation by representative fiber groups, include AFCNA and NAAFP (two of the larger alpaca fiber co-ops), the Alpaca Blanket Project (producers of American alpaca blankets), Back to Back Fiber Products (specialists in alpaca batting and felt), The Shepherd’s Mill (who is doing some wonderful weaving of Huacaya and Suri fabric and garments), the Suri Network (us Suri breeders’ affiliate organization) and Rocky Mountain Weaving Company (producers of woven alpaca blankets and scarves. It was these presenters’ jobs to tell us about their businesses, how they developed and where they are going. The afternoon sessions showcased a number of Featured Speakers. David Schmidt, President of Kraemer Textiles and Jack Donovan of Jack Donovan and Company which represents Kraemer Textiles for 100% wool carpet yarn spoke first. The focus of their presentation was the production of yarns on a
large scale. Following them, Dr. Merle Rhoades of the spoke about the importance of business planning as the key to a successful business. Next Scott Grey of Jagger Brothers, a custom sales yarn spinner, spoke about fiber procurement, the importance of quality sorting and further processing into a worsted combed top for spinning.. Finally, Sam Buff of the Gaston College Textile Technology Center talked about the importance of textile testing.

Sunday was another great day of learning as we listened to more informative Featured Speakers. Dr. Catherine Keske, a specialist in agricultural economics, discussed repositioning products along with opportunities and risk management. Dr. Keske was followed by Ron Cole of Cole Consulting which functions as a consulting firm for the American Sheep Industry Association and Steve LeValley, a sheep and wool specialist from Colorado State University. They discussed marketing wool today and the use of co-ops, and how we can learn about large scale alpaca fiber production from the wool industry. These speakers were followed the symposium’s Keynote Speaker, John Anderson, Director of the Textile Technology Center at Gaston College. He offered his marketing point of view on how the alpaca community can establish alpaca as the “hot new fiber” for apparel on one hand, and how teaming up with technical fibers might be the route to holding onto value for producers in technical markets.

Then a panel discussion followed focusing on “Learning From the Wool Path”, and featured Dr. Keske, Mr. Cole, LeValley, Anderson, Bob Woodbury and Angus McColl of Yocum McColl Laboratory. The panel took a number of excellent questions which involved some spirited dialogue. And finally, the attendees participated in an open forum which mainly focused on key learnings, next steps, the future of the Alpaca Fiber Symposium, and the value of continuing symposiums like this one.

I am very glad that I was able to attend this Alpaca Fiber Symposium, and do regret having missed the previous Symposium that took place this past April. Unfortunately I missed the information that was presented at that time, as it is the intention of the Steering Committee that each subsequent Symposium builds on the learnings of the last Symposium. The Committee did an excellent job of organizing the event; it was very “tightly” run, all sessions began and ended on time, and for all intents and purposes the ladies seemed to pay a great attention to detail. I do hope to be able to attend the next Symposium, and would be very appreciative if more information specific to the Suri alpaca and Suri breeders be included in the weekend.

From Pia

Pia’s Blog will be full of advice, stories, and helpful hits from Pia.  She will share her experience in alpacas, fiber arts and life…