Barn Bazaar Part Two – recap

Posted on November 27, 2012 by cliffhousealpacas

The weather on the day of our final barn bazaar, last Saturday, was not quite as nice as it has been, but it started with a treat.

Seven hot air balloons launched from the valley below the ranch as we had breakfast! It was a good omen for a good day.

It was quieter this Saturday, but we still got to hang out with plenty of friends, family, and new friends. We had a number of folks stop by after seeing our signs, which is always encouraging.

The sunset on our last planned holiday show of 2012 was suitably breathtaking. As much fun as the other craft fairs have been, the barn bazaars were a much more efficient use of our time.

Next: online store! I hesitate to even commit those words to virtual paper, because I know we’ve already missed our planned launch by a month, but we are making real progress on it now.

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Barn Bazaar Part One – recap

Posted on November 19, 2012 by cliffhousealpacas

Our first barn bazaar day was a complete success. The weather was warm, the sun was shining, and our friends and neighbors came out to support us and our artist friends. It was the most fun I’ve had in weeks, hands down.

I got to talk to so many folks about spinning, Dad got to show everyone his alpacas, and Mom turned the barn into an extension of our home. Actually, it’s always an extension of our home to us, but to make everyone feel welcome, even people who don’t have animals, was quite a feat.

We have talented friends. I suppose I knew that already, but it was mind blowing to see all their beautiful work gathered together. I personally came away from the day a couple of dollars poorer than I started, but with half my Christmas shopping done.

We’ll be repeating the whole event again this Saturday, on small business Saturday. Which was totally planned *crickets chirping*. So if you’re in the Castle Rock, Colorado area, and interested in seeing some of the best photography, jewelry, beading, pottery, painting, and of course, fiber art, come see us.

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Artist bio – Laura Grisham, Jewelry, Bead and Glass Artist

Posted on November 16, 2012 by cliffhousealpacas

Tomorrow is the first of our big bazaar days! I can’t wait. And I can’t decide whether that’s because I’m looking forward to it, or looking forward to it being done.

Out last, but certainly not least, artist is Laura Grisham. Laura is one of the genuinely kind people you don’t meet very often, but treasure when you do.

Laura has always been interested in a variety of crafts including bead art, silver smithing, metal smithing and stained glass work. The pieces she creates reflect a keen interest in shape, color and texture. Laura will have on display Swarovski crystal and bead earrings and bracelets, jeweled eyeglass necklaces, scarf pins and zipper pull charms.

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Artist bio – Lin Miklas, potter

Posted on November 15, 2012 by cliffhousealpacas

The countdown to the bazaar continues! Things are in high gear around the ranch, with cleaning and decorating, on top of crafting, going on around the clock. I know my next three days are planned out down to the minute.

Today’s bio is of Lin, the wonderful woman who helped us find the ranch. Lin has worked as a Realtor® for over ten years and was awarded Realtor® of the year in 2006 by the Douglas/Elbert Realtor Association. Lin works with natural gemstones in her jewelry and creates pottery both functional and collectible as a hobby. Lin will have her pottery pieces on display.

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OMG so cute…I mean “New Products”

Posted on November 14, 2012 by cliffhousealpacas

Mom always has an eye open for new alpaca products. She recently found these 100% alpaca stuffed animal cuties! I want to hug them.

In addition to those awesome little guys, Mom has branched out a bit with her products. I love the different colored fringe on the brown scarf particularly. I think…yes, I think I spun that brown yarn.

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Artist bio – Donna Ferris, photographer

Posted on November 14, 2012 by cliffhousealpacas

Donna is another friend who has become a part of the family, mostly because we share so many of the same passions, but also for her vivacious personality (and because she can cook 🙂 ). I only wish I had more of her photos to show off!

Donna has been a serious student of photography since 2006 when she began attending workshops in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Her primary area of focus is equine photography. Recently, with the help of her friend Laura Grisham, Donna has become involved with crafts that include bead and metal work. Donna will have her note cards and beaded bracelets and crafts on display.

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Artist bio – Aunt Geri

Posted on November 13, 2012 by cliffhousealpacas

Today’s bio is of my Aunt Geri. She is one of those amazing people who is an artist in many mediums.

Geri has a life-long passion for art and horses. She has been drawing as long as she can remember, beginning with sketches of horses in elementary school. Geri held “one-man” art shows in high school and has continued to enter her work in local art shows with resulting awards and commissioned pieces.

Aunt Geri discovered the art of needle-felted alpaca fiber from my trials and tribulations. She has joined Cliff House Alpacas, offering her significant knitting skills. In addition to knitting Geri has more recently taken up the art of spinning.

It’s hard to even list all the pieces at the show that Aunt Geri worked on. There will be scarves, hats, felt art, and yarn, at least.

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4 tons of fill dirt later…

Posted on November 9, 2012 by cliffhousealpacas

Fall chores have a sense of urgency that spring cleanups never do. “Before the snow flies” is the deadline on many maintenance tasks, because after that point…it gets much harder.

Last weekend, Mom and Dad moved 4 tons of “grey breeze”, a gravel fill dirt, into the turnouts for the horses and alpacas. They took a few rails out of the fence and backed the truck up to the turnout. Dad dumped the fill dirt over the fence into the boy’s turnout.

“Wait. We had this all uneven and dangerous, just the way we wanted it.”

When he let them back in, they had some serious investigating to do. They weren’t sure what they thought of the whole thing.

“We are not amused. We are over here, and you are over there, and the entire situation is wrong.”

But the girls were really miffed when they were cajoled into the far paddock while Dad did their turnout.

He’s got that I’m-driving-a-tractor smile.

After a couple of pickup loads, some alpaca herding, and a whole lot of driving the tractor around, everyone had nice and level turnouts to enjoy.

Tulip: “I’m still not entirely sure what I think of this whole ‘level ground’ thing.”

Wow. I love the animals and my family, but sometimes I’m really glad I live 2 hours away from the ranch. It looks like a lot of work.

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Artist bio – Denise Sokol, Jewelry and Bead Art

Posted on November 8, 2012 by cliffhousealpacas

Our next bio is of a dear family friend, who whose work will also be at the barn bazaar on November 17th and 24th.

Denise discovered the world of beads and their cultural and ethnic heritage by attending a silver working class. She is particularly fond of bead weaving, which combines her love of stitching with her passion for beading.

Denise also crochets, quilts, embroiders and does needlepoint. She will have on display her wrap bracelets made with leather cording and natural gem stones and jewelry created with seed beads, Swarovski crystal, pewter and sterling silver.

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Whisper decorates for the barn bazaar

Posted on November 5, 2012 by cliffhousealpacas

We always knew he was a classy dude, but who knew Whisper would take so much interest in decorating!

Well, I suppose anyone with a cat can guess how much fun Whisper had chasing “snakes”. Mom and Dad took advantage of the unseasonably warm November weather this weekend to wrap the fence posts in their holiday garlands. When he finished subduing the decor, Whisper found a place to admire it.

This running a business thing is exhausting. Well, running three businesses is, anyway. Preparations for the 17th and 24th are well underway at all the households affiliated with the ranch, and then there’s our other, “real” jobs, friends, non-fiber related hobbies…etc. But it’s good to be busy.

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