Oyama Lake Alpaca Farm invites everyone to its open working studio on Saturday, August 4 and Sunday, August 5 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Visitors to the farm are curious about the process of wet felting the natural fibres ready to be made into felt blankets, wall hangings, scarves, shawls, etc.
Darlene will have different styles of wet felting on display in her studio. There will be demos where visitors will gain an appreciation of what is involved in producing felt yardage and accessories.
Darlene, the resident fibre artist, enjoys carding the Alpaca fibre, spinning, weaving, knitting, hand dyeing, and felting and has won numerous awards and ribbons for her original designs of wearable art.
Educational farm tours and browsing in the Alpaca Delights Gift Gallery will also be available for visitors.
Shearing once a year in the spring provides the natural fibre that is processed into a variety of fashionable, functional alpaca clothing and accessories including socks for summer and winter. There's also some alpaca socks for diabetics and seniors who require a looser fitting on the leg.
Luxury felt insoles are now available in large and medium for work boots, hiking boots and slippers.
Darlene has been busy with the bubbling dye pots, creating unique alpaca yarn in a rainbow of colours for those who knit and crochet. Thanks to the alpacas there is a good selection of batts, rovings, and yarn in natural colours of white, cream, fawn, grey, brown and black.
A limited number of Thrum mittens will become available for those who need toasty warmth for cold hands & fingers in the winter time. As the Thrum mittens are worn, the lopi yarn inside will felt, creating the barrier needed to protect hands from the icy winds. All the Thrum mittens are carefully hand knit with three inch lengths of 3-ply lopi yarn inside each mitten to create a very warm and totally wind proof mitten. Large, medium, & small sizes will be available. Please let us know if you’re interested in a pair of Thrum mittens for the winter as there will be a limited number available .
We are looking forward to you this weekend.
Directions: Drive four km east of the intersection of Hwy. 97 on Oyama Road. There is signage on Hwy. 97 as well as four directional signs from the Village of Oyama en route to the farm. You can click on Contact Us in the website http://alpacadelights.com for a map and written directions.
Or you can call the Oyama Lake Alpaca Farm at 250-548-4004.