Thistle Creek Alpaca Farm Field Trip

Many thanks to Jeanne and Brad for a great afternoon and to everyone who came out to join us! The alpaca were so sweet and loved the carrots we gave them.

Thanks to Karen V. for the photos!

Thistle Creek Alpaca Farm Field Trip

Thistle Creek Alpaca Farm Field Trip

Sunday July 12, 2015

Photo from Thistle Creek Farms FB page

Please join us this Sunday, July 12 for our annual field trip. This year we will be visiting these adorable alpacas at Thistle Creek Alpacas in East Aurora. Bring a snack to share, a chair, and your spinning, from 1-4 pm.

Hope to see you all there! We truly appreciate our members who raise animals for sharing their farms and homes with us!

From Jeanne: 

I am so excited to welcome the Common Threads members to our Thistle Creek Alpaca Farm.  We are located at 1091 Ostrander Rd, East Aurora (Elma), New York 14052.  The easiest way to get to our farm is to take Rt 400 to Jameson Road, head towards Marilla (east) when you get off of Rt 400.  Our road, Ostrander crosses Jameson Road.  You will turn to your left from Jameson Road.  Ostrander is approx. 2.5 miles from the Rt 400 exit.  If you cross over Buffalo Creek, you have gone too far.  Our road is just before the bridge.  Once you turn onto Ostrander Road, we are midway down the street on the right hand side.  We are the only farm on the street, and you should see the big red barn.  My house is the one under construction and covered with Tyvek!.  Pull into the driveway and we will be waiting for you!

We have fifty alpacas on the property with three crias (babies). 

If you have any questions, or get lost along the way; please feel free to call me at 716-725-8238.

Jeanne L. MacLeod-Lang

Bradley R. Lang, Sr

Thistle Creek Alpaca Farm

1091 Ostrander Rd  (click on address for map)

East Aurora, NY 14052

(716) 725-8199

Using Combs & Hackles

As we now have two sets of combs, and a hackle, it seems timely to demonstrate how to use them. Members are encouraged to participate, either by demonstrating how and what you use them for, or you can bring you're own combs in.

Members are welcome to bring some fiber and try them out. Combs can be used to prepare shorn, washed fiber or for blending colors. Hackles can be used to blend color, so bring in a few colors if you would like to try this.

If you signed any of this equipment out, please make sure they get to the meeting!

All are invited to come join us for our third annual Open Barn/farm
Come meet the Llamas, watch demos, spinning, felting, packing with a Llama, llama cart driving, walk a Llama & much more.then do some shopping in the farm store.  we have Amanda from Jamberry Nails is coming with samples of nail wraps. These nail wraps are a farm Girl's best friend!
Saturday & Sunday  
June 20 & 21
10 am till 5pm 
The Critter Ranch Fiber & Llama Farm
12998 Sisson Hwy Lawtons NY 14091 

Open Spin & Show 'n Tell

Sunday, May 10, 2015
What better way to spend Mother's Day than a relaxing 
afternoon spinning with friends. Hope you can make it!

Next month we will be talking about and demonstrating 

how to use combs and hackles. We would like this to be 

a group effort, and have members show us how they use 

them. As people often use tools differently, it can be 

helpful to see others tips and tricks. If you own some, 

feel free to bring them in; we also have two sets for 

people to try out, if they like. 

Sivia Harding KGGB Spring Seminar Openings

Knitting Guild of Greater Buffalo has openings on Saturday, May 16 for their spring seminars. More info can be found here: http://www.buffaloknittingguild.org/Seminars.html

From KGGB website:

We are so pleased that Sivia Harding will be presenting at our Spring Seminar.  Sivia is one of the premier designers of lace and bead accessories.  The seminar will focus on the techniques of adding beads by stringing and by crochet hook, lace pattern reading, moebius cast on and shaping, among other techniques.  The classes are all project oriented, with two magnificent pieces of jewelry offered on Saturday, and with a fabulous shawlette and moebius cowl offered on Sunday. $40 per class for non-guild members.

Saturday classes are 9am - 12n:  Galatea Neckpiece 

1pm - 4pm:  Moonrise Necklace

Knitting Guild Yarn Fest April 16