COURSE
DESCRIPTION
To Blend or Not to Blend…
There has been a great controversy over blending other fibers with our luxurious alpaca. What are the advantages? What are appropriate applications? How much to add? What other fibers are compatible? Cottage and commercial aspects will be discussed – the purpose of the blend, the difference in processing costs, and how the blend performs in finished items. A variety of alpaca blend yarns and swatches will be available for participants to see and feel. Learn how the advantage of blending can increase your profits by expanding your customer base through diverse offerings.
Now That It’s Off The Animal…
Roll up your sleeves and prepare to get dusty! In this hands-on how-to class, we will explore the importance of skirting, sorting and grading with end-use purposes in mind. Lower your shipping and processing costs while increasing your yield (and therefore, your profit!) Learn how to create uniform mill lots that produce a consistent quality product that will bring your customers back to you year after year.
Useful Projects for Your Seconds and Thirds
What qualifies fiber to be considered “seconds” and “thirds”? What purpose do they serve? There will be a variety of projects displayed along with instructions for each. Participants will make a lead rope from seconds yarn.
The Business of Repeat Business
Would you like to sell-out of your annual clip at $4 to $6 per raw ounce and take orders for next year’s clip? Let’s talk “value” – market value, perceived value, unique value and valuing your fiber! I’ll share my secrets of who buys fleece at these prices, how to find them and how you can help them to find you. Learn how to make sample cards and “bio pages” that attract customers and get ideas for other fun things that will keep your customers coming back for more.
(AOBA Fiber to Fashon ’08)
Tools for the Successful Marketing of Your Fiber Products
This class provides a proven step-by-step strategy for marketing your alpaca products from your animals. How can I decide what my raw fiber should become? How should it be processed? What will sell? How do I approach local shops about carrying my products? What prices should I charge? What about co-ops or consignments? How important is an inventory list? This information will help you get the greatest dollar return out of your fiber!
(At AOBA's Fiber to Fashion '06, the title was: Placing Your Handmade Items in Retail Outlets.)
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SPEAKER BIO
Gabrielle Menn, Fiber Artist & 2006 National Spinning Champion
Since 1997, Gabrielle Menn has been raising alpacas and a menagerie of other fiber-producing animals with her mother, Cheryl Woods of Fanfare Farms. Raising the animals and spinning a variety of fibers has given Gabrielle a unique perspective on what is desirable in a yarn and which yarns are best suited for specific end uses. She is never short on ideas when it comes to alpaca fiber projects. Her knitting bag goes wherever she does, though her specialties are hand spinning and weaving. This knowledge and experience has resulted in her earning top awards in both local and national fiber arts competitions and as a sought after speaker and instructor. She has a very out-going personality and loves to share her enthusiasm for fiber. Private instruction and classes are offered at her studio, The Loom Room, in Vacaville, CA. “If you want to love and appreciate your alpacas even more, wear something that you’ve made from their fiber! Not only does it make you feel good, it’s a great form of advertising!”
In October 2007, Gabrielle completed the Camelid Fibre Sorting and Grading Certification workshop offered through Olds College in Alberta, Canada. She is now working on the apprenticeship portion of the program.
Spring 2008: The Loom Room is expanding to include a fiber processing mill.
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