Alpaca Fashion

So here I have been going on about how enjoyable alpacas are, how cute and lovable they are, and how fantastic their fiber is. If you have read my last post, you’ve seen the alpacas go from furry and fuzzy to no fur or fuzz at all.

So what happens to the end product? The fiber is taken to a spinner for weaving into yarn, rovings and more. From there…the sky is the limit! Alpaca fiber has even hit the runway…literally! View the link for the Alpaca Fashion Show that has the Alpaca world so excited!!!  Even though the alpacas shown are Peruvian Alpacas, where my alpacas are Huacaya, you can see what beautiful clothing can be made by their fiber!

Alpaca Shearing

This is a picture from last year with some of my alpacas, right after they got sheared. 

One of the many benefits of owning alpacas is the fiber.  Yes, they are incredibly cute, and fun to watch, but the absolute best part about them is that they have really have fantastic fiber that is green friendly. there is no waste, ever part can be used for something.  Their waste can be used for fertilizer too. they are truly eco-friendly! An alpaca is usually sheared once a year in April or early May, during the first real warm month of the year.

After shearing the fiber from the alpaca, the fiber is skirtted, cleaned and taken to the mill to have it processed.  After that, it’s what ever incredible items you want made with alpaca fiber, it’s limitless!

Yum!!! Alpaca Pellets!

Wondering what to feed your alpaca or llama? I choose Bar Ale Alpaca Pellets.  All of my girls love them.  Save money and pick it up $16.50 for a 40 lb bag including tax.  Shoot me an email for directions, I’m in Santa Ynez. I wouldn’t feed my alpacas anything but the best!

ALPACA CONCENTRATE PELLET

Benefits Include:

 

• Distiller Dried Grains and Soybean Meal
• High Levels of Vitamin E
• Yeast Culture
• Chelated Zinc and Copper

AlpacaFest West 2009

Oh Wow!!!

I am so proud of my little Amabella.  When we went to the Alpaca Fest of the West, in the City of Industry last month, I can’t tell you how well behaved she was! What a little princess!!!

Through all of the work, sweat and training, Amabella did so incredibly well. She was magnificent on stage and off. Unfortunately, she found a little scrape of dirt, which you can see on her back leg. If it wasn’t for that (which I didn’t even see!!!) Amabella could have stolen the whole show. That’s just me talking and why not? I am so proud of her!!!

Anyways, she walked away with a ribbon, even with the speck of dirt.  The ribbon makes me happy, of course, but how she behaved in the ring proved to me that I must be doing something right.

Alpaca Friendly

As I have mentioned in my earlier blogs, all of my alpacas get along so well with all of the other animals on our ranch.  Here is a picture of one of my alpacas, always curious, checking out Cocoa.

In this picture, the two goats have their winter coats on to stay warm, but are playing with the beagle, Holly.

Alpaca Kisses

If you’ve read my blog, you know how much I love my alpacas.  I am committed to providing a loving home to all of my alpacas.  Here I am with my herdsire, Baragon.

This little guy is just such an inquisitive, loving alpaca.  I hope that I can achieve this kind of love with all of my alpacas.

Going to the Show

Amabella is anyways!!!

Come see us both at the Alpaca West Fest in the City of Industry on November 14-15, 2009!!!

She is such a beautiful alpaca, with incredible fiber. This little lady has already won 2nd place in best fiber and she can only get better. She is such a fabulous alpaca…and she is only now 8 months old!!!

California Alpaca named Liberty

Liberty Belle that is…

That’s the name of my newest cria  –baby– alpaca.  She was born at 9:37 a.m. on this past 4th of July, 2009, weighing in at 15 pounds, 1 ounce.  She was mothered by Chocolette Clemente.

Liberty Belle

I was so excited about her arrival that I threw a baby shower for Liberty on July 11, 2009! All of the neighbors in the area came and held her, petted her and gave her hugs and kisses.  It was so much fun.

Although it is difficult to tell from the pictures, Liberty is a rather large cria compared to other crias the same age.  However, Liberty doesn’t know she is an alpaca. You see, her 2 best friends are goats, and she loves to run and climb with them!

To see more about the Baby Shower held for Liberty, and see a picture of Liberty giving me a kiss, visit the Santa Ynez Journal (click on the link).

A Little About Me

I thought I would post something about the ranch. I’m Linda Nicolosi, the owner of Alpacas of Baragon.  The alpaca ranch located in the beautiful Santa Ynez Valley.  In the quaint town of Santa Ynez, tucked away from all the traffic and noise.

In developing the alpaca ranch, I wanted my love for animals to take precedence over everything else. I believe in building trust first with love,training and great care.  My philosophy at Alpacas of Baragon is quite simple.  My goal is to provide a clean,healthy and happy ranch, while raising quality alpacas.  On my alpaca ranch, all of our animals interact together in a peaceful setting.  It is a beautiful thing to see our horse, goats, dogs and cats interacting with our alpacas in harmony.

While we do sell our alpacas on occasion for pets, the main goal at Alpacas of Baragon is to breed and sell high-quality breeding females with superior fiber.   Every precaution is made  to make sure that my philosophy in breeding and raising alpacas is carried forward with the new owner of my alpacas.  a strong support system after sale is pricless! That comes with every alpaca sold here. 

In my spare time, when I am taking a break from interacting with my alpacas, I’m found walking the ranch, checking fences with my two goats (Patches and Coco) as well as my two dachshunds, Milton and Star.

To learn more about our Alpacas, continue to follow my blog, Alpacas of Baragon.  As I continue to develop the blog, I will be posting pictures of all of our award-winning alpacas, along with current developments and additions to our ranch.

California Alpaca Herdsire: Baragon

For my first post to the blogging world, let me introduce my boys in the header.  Baragon and Georgie.   Baragon (the closer of the two) is an incredible animal. He has such a sweet head, and a fantastic personality. Georgie is in the background looking on.

Follow me while I update you on the happenings on my Alpaca Ranch, adding photos and videos as well as other tidbits. 

More to come soon!!!

Baragon & Georgie