Monterey Bay Aquarium
tannertan36
if i look back, i am lost
blake kathryn
he wasn't even looking at me and he found me
YOU ARE THE REASON
#extradirty
No title available
macklin celebrini has autism
trying on a metaphor
shark vs the universe
occasionally subtle
🪼
I'd rather be in outer space 🛸
d e v o n
roma★
DEAR READER
PUT YOUR BEARD IN MY MOUTH
祝日 / Permanent Vacation
dirt enthusiast
seen from Malaysia
seen from Nepal
seen from Philippines
seen from Lithuania
seen from Egypt
seen from Poland
seen from United Kingdom
seen from Bangladesh
seen from United Kingdom
seen from India
seen from Uzbekistan
seen from Nepal
seen from Russia
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
@zalpacas
Adventures in natural dyeing 2020 using dye plants from our own property. From top to bottom: native goldenrod, native jewelweed and home grown indigo. The yarn is our own home grown alpaca yarn. Very pleased with the results! The indigo is stunning and the goldenrod & jewelweed required no effort in the growing and provided lovely colours.
These lovely lace weight yarns are available. Lots of white skeins but only one each of the natural marigold and natural indigo - dyed here at Ziraldo Alpacas.
Contact us through our website if you would like more information on this yarn.
www.zalpacas.com
Indigo Dyeing Workshop
On May 28th, Louise Patterson and I facilitated an Indigo dyeing workshop at Ziraldo Alpacas farm - Thorndale. The weather was perfect, the dyeing results outstanding and the women who participated just amazing. What a great day!
Me (Debbie) with two of my favourite girls - Florinda and Lacey.
They are always happy to greet farm visitors and enjoy a little cuddle!
Photo credit Colin Ziraldo
Mothers Day gift idea!
Treat your mom to a set of our beautiful and functional dryer balls. Our 100% Wool Dryer Balls reduce drying time, decrease static and soften clothes without the use of fabric softener and dryer sheets. All natural, Eco-friendly aid to clothes drying .... Mom will love them!
Our dryer balls are available at several places: -Ziraldo Alpacas Farm - Thorndale - (open by appointment) -Bella Vita Spa - Thorndale -The Emporium St Marys -Prim & Pauper Co. Makers Market - Hyde Park, London -Local Luxuries - Lucan -The Healthy Lifestyle Store Dorchester (starting today!)
$28 per set of 3 dryer balls
#wooldryerballs #local #green #ziraldo #LdnOnt
2016 Workshops at Ziraldo Alpacas Farm - Thorndale
2016 Workshops at Ziraldo Alpacas Farm -Thorndale
Come on out to the farm this spring and join in on one of our enjoyable workshops!
Make a Set of 3 Felted Wool Dryer Balls & Felt 2 Bars of Handmade Soap April 17th 1- 4:30 pm
Visit our website under "workshops" for more details
www.zalpacas.com
Wool Dryer Balls
Our Eco-friendly Wool Dryer Balls are available at Ziraldo Alpacas Farm Store, Thorndale, Knit Stitch in London, Bella Vita Spa, Thorndale and the Emporium St Marys, ON.
Benefits of Wool Dryer Balls: - hand made of 100% natural Canadian Wool - replace the use of dryer sheets & fabric softener - decrease your drying time by 25 - 50% - naturally soften clothes, decrease wrinkles & lessen static - are chemical free & fragrance free - should last at least 2 years under normal use
Fibre Field Trip to Ziraldo Alpacas by Sarah Jean Harrison
Meet Florinda and Rockabella
Who among us doesn’t dream of someday owning a little herd of cuddly fibre-producing animals?
After 30 years of raising Standardbred horses, making the switch to alpacas was less a dream and more an easy progression for Debbie Ziraldo of Ziraldo Alpacas.
I visited Ziraldo Alpacas’ 10 acres outside of Thorndale, Ontario this Spring, arriving just in time to see the huacaya alpacas pronking about in full fleece before their scheduled shearing that week. Debbie greeted me outside of an old bank barn complete with picturesque tractor parked off to the side. I spent the afternoon meandering around pastures with Debbie, meeting alpacas with names likeFlorinda and Rockabella.
It’s All About Playing With Fibre
An accomplished spinner, weaver and knitter, Debbie launched into the alpaca world 9 years ago with an initial focus on breeding stock. After a few years of showing at the annual Alpaca Ontario Spring Show in Orangeville, Ontario, Debbie scaled back her breeding program and began to focus primarily on fibre production. The urge to maximize the benefits of fibre-producing animals, namely having lots of fibre to play with, is difficult to ignore.
Developing Our Local Fibreshed
But rather than keeping all that glorious fibre to herself, Debbie is working to develop and support the local fibreshed in a multitude of ways. She welcomes individuals, families and groups for farm tours, teaching them about caring for alpacas, using alpaca fibres and creating sustainable on-farm practices, such as composting alpaca waste into fertilizer for the kitchen garden and flower beds. Debbie also hosts on-farm workshops from February to April that include farm tours and instruction in various techniques such as making felted soap and reusable dryer balls.
Debbie also takes great care to invest in local and Canadian production for all of her fibre products. Her yarns, alpaca mixed with 15-20% merino to improve the yarn’s memory, are processed atLegacy Lane in New Brunswick and her rovings are processed at T&K Fibres in Muirkirk, Ontario. Her socks and insoles are processed byShears to You in Palmerston, Ontario. All of her finished knit products, ranging from mittens to shawls, are handmade from her yarns by Debbie and other local knitters.
Christmas Shopping at the Farm
By far my favourite aspect of Debbie’s support for our local fibre economy is her on-farm Christmas Shopping Days. During the first two weeks of December, when all the shopping malls are bursting with crowds and cheaply made sweaters, Debbie opens up her farmhouse kitchen. Visitors are welcome to drop by, have a cup of tea and peruse the selection of alpaca rovings, yarns, knit items, dryer balls, felted soaps and bird nesting balls. I can already feel the relief from the maddening crowds.
Continuing to Choose Local
Ziraldo Alpacas clearly contributes to our local fibreshed by employing local and Canadian processors and emphasizing sustainable farm practices, but I think its Debbie’s willingness to open up her kitchen (and farm) that is her biggest gift. For those of us that are city-bound, the opportunity to visit a fibre farm and experience a slice of the dream is just the sort of treat that keeps us choosing local for all our fabulous fibre art projects.
Location: 21370 Fairview Rd., Thorndale, Ontario
Farm Visits: Please Contact to Schedule a Tour and Visit the Farm Store
Fibres: Alpaca
Products: Yarns, Rovings, Scarves, Shawls, Hats, Mitts, Socks, Insoles, Bird Nesting Balls, Wool Dryer Balls, Felted Soap
Available At: Farm Store
Christmas Shopping Days:
Sat. December 5th 10:00am – 5pm
Sun. December 6th 11:00am – 5pm
Sat. December 12th 10:00am – 5pm
Sun. December 13th 11:00am – 5pm
Contact: www.zalpacas.com / 519-461-1582
Be sure to check out Sarah’s blog to learn more about our fibreshed - http://www.peaceflaghouse.com/
These fingerless gloves are a custom order knit with our new yarn "Mocha Magic", a lovely blend of 80% alpaca and 20% merino wool.
The woman I made them for is a world traveller. I wonder about all the places they will go!
Some of the vendor booths at the Thorndale Community Farmers’ Market:
Ziraldo Alpacas
Turning Leaf Ecological Farm
Edible Acres
Zach’s Snack Shack - healthy snacks
Shake the Sugar Tree - handmade caramels
From my Garden - preserves
Homestead Country Market - meats
Thank you to our community members who stop to look, chat and buy!
The market is open every Saturday 8 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. through until October. Every week there will be more and more produce as the crops mature.
Ziraldo Alpacas will be at the Market two Saturday’s per month.
Next time - October 10th, 2015
* The last market day of 2015
Discovering our “Fibreshed”
Two weeks ago, Sarah Jean Harrison, visited Ziraldo Alpacas while on one of her field trips to discover our “Fibreshed”.
Sarah is a fibre artist from Toronto who is enrolled in the Spinning Certificate Program at the Haliburton School of the Arts. She is on a mission to “visit fibre farmers, producers, processors, artisans, makers and sellers that are all working to recreate a vibrant, local fibre and textile economy.”
Sarah, who grew up on a farm in Grey County, seemed at home as I introduced her to our alpaca family, Luna, our Livestock Guardian Dog and our friendly barn cats. She had a look at our Canadian alpaca products created from the fibre of our animals.
Have a look at Sarah’s website and interesting blog. Keep an eye out for her story of her field trip to our farm and other members of our Upper Canada Fibreshed and beyond! http://www.peaceflaghouse.com/
Some of Ziraldo Alpacas beautiful Rainbow Lopi. Alpaca/Bamboo/Merino Each skein is unique and is enough to make a one of a kind hat or scarf.
Ziraldo Alpacas Wool Dryer Balls
“Beautiful and Functional” only $28/ set of 3
www.zalpacas.com
Ziraldo Alpacas is Eco-friendly
Wishing to lead a more eco-friendly lifestyle?
You may be interested to know that at Ziraldo Alpacas:
- We use little or no packaging for our products
- All of our farm work and fibre sorting is done by hand.
Farm chores are done on our own steam with the help of fork
and wheelbarrow
- We support other local businesses for our feed, shearing and vet care
- All of our processing is done at small Canadian mills
- Our alpacas are not harmed when we harvest their fibre by yearly shearing.
They can live happy, comfortable lives for up to 20 years
- Alpaca fibre is a biodegradable, renewable resource
- The large selection of natural colours decreases the need for dying
- Alpaca manure is high in nutrients and aids in soil regeneration
- Alpacas have a low environmental impact, being very gentle on the soil
- Pesticides are not used on our alpacas and no harmful chemicals are used
during the processing of their fibre
- Alpaca socks are so warm and comfortable that you may be able to turn
down your thermostat!
- Ziraldo Alpaca products are warm, comfortable, durable, local and proudly
100% Canadian.
What we will make during our 2015 Spring Workshops!
Ziraldo Alpacas - Spring Workshops 2015
Sunday March 22, 2015 1 pm - 4 pm
Felt a Bar of Handmade Soap & Assemble a Bird Nesting Material Holder
$44 for adults, children 18 and under $36, children under 12 must be accompanied by a participating adult. All materials included.
Sunday April 19, 2015 1 pm - 4:30 pm
Make a Set of 3 Felted Wool Dryer Balls & Felt a Bar of Handmade Soap
$50 for adults, children 18 and under $42, children under 12 must be accompanied by a participating adult. All materials included.
Design your own Workshop!
Gather together 4 - 6 friends or colleagues for a fun afternoon workshop at our alpaca farm!
Contact me with your wishes & to arrange a date & cost
10 % discount for groups with over 4 participants.
Workshops include a free tour of our Alpaca Farm