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

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!

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.

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!

• Introduction to Hand Spinning
• Introduction to Knitting
• Not So Beginner Knitting
• Intermediate Knitting
• Intro to Scrumbling and Novelty Knit/Crochet
• Intro to Dyeing Yarn
• Intro to Felting
• Fiber Arts Boot Camp