Barn Yarn

 Barn Yarn- "Lizzie" Alpaca, Superwash Merino Wool & Nylon

Hand Dyed at the farm

Etsy Link

Barn Yarn- "Joy" 100% Baby Alpaca

Hand Dyed at the farm

Etsy Link

I am trying to get our Etsy shop updated.  I just added a few skeins of yarn. Hopefully I'll have more up tomorrow.

~Andee

A little PopPop Football Helmet

I mention my late grandmother aka "Other MomMom" a lot on this blog. That's because while she was passing away, my parents were in the process of getting the alpacas. She loved to hear everything about them and was so happy and excited for them. I will forever link her with the alpacas.

But today I want to say a little bit about "PopPop". He and my grandmother were married for 50+ years. He passed away before I had any of my kids. Wow. That means it's been almost 11 years! I didn't realize it had been that long.

Anywho...

PopPop loved football. He loved the NY Giants. He loved to talk about sports. He loved to argue about sports. He sat in his chair every weekend and watched football. My boys would have LOVED him.

A long time ago at a thanksgiving gathering at my grandparent's house, an old leather football helmet was found in the back room closet. We had a grand ole time all putting it on and laughing. Andee has a video of this somewhere. I'm sure it wouldn't be amusing to anyone but us so I won't post it here.

I'm not sure who that football helmet belonged to, but it reminds me of my PopPop.

So in his honor and the upcoming New Years celebration that's a whole other story...I made Chase a little alpaca old timer football helmet. This helmet's for you PopPop!

 For the knitters out there, this was a hat out of Susan B. Anderson's, Itty Bitty Hats book.

 And that's PopPop. Although not sitting in his chair watching football....here he is making breakfast in the cabin we stayed a week in every year in Weld, Maine.

Happy New Year...and LET'S GO GIANTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wednesday Yarn Along

Happy Holidays. I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!

 

I'm joining in once again with Ginny at Small Things for the weekly yarn along.

Yesterday, our 7 year old had an operation. It was a fairly straightforward, routine surgery for the doctor. But as a mom, this was the first time I've been through this. So routine?...not for me. But thankfully our little guy came through it fine and is home resting and recovering. 

I mention this because knitting is what got me through yesterday. I knew that if I had something to keep my hands busy, it would keep my head quiet. I picked out the perfect patter for this (Autumn in Garrison Hat). It's my 5th time making one. I wanted to replace the one I lost.

So I casted on the night before and got it started. And it did the job. Made the time he was being operated on go very quickly. Knitting is my hobby. It keeps me sane!

 (G-Man hanging out on the couch and resting up.)

 My newest hat. I accidentally ordered the wrong yarn and started knitting before I realized it. The last hat I made was with Quince & Co. Osprey yarn. I ordered Puffin this time. oops. So, I didn't do the full chart and then forgot to use the remaining yarn to cast off. My brain was a bit occupied. So I picked up some of our farm blend alpaca to finish the edging. I have no clue if this is going to be too big for me. Casting off soon.

For reading, I'm enjoying feeding Chase some solid foods. I enjoy nursing, but I'm VERY happy to not be his only food source. This kid can eat! This cookbook was a gift to myself right before the holidays. Along with his handy dandy new Baby Brezza food processor, I'm having fun making food for him. I also used a recipe out of the toddler section for us last night! It has some really simple and yummy recipes in there. Not just baby food.

Happy Knitting!

-Leanne

Spinning Wheel

 

My mom got a new spinning wheel for Christmas! Liz had bought it years ago but it needed to be refinished and completed. Her husband, Nick, did the work on it and gave it to her as a present.

So exciting! (considering so much of our roving needs to be spun into yarn!!!)

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas.

Merry Christmas

We Wish You A Merry Christmas!

- From the Crew at Arrow Acres Farm

Dee, Don, Leanne, Andee, Liz,

Spicy, Geneva, Wdamo, Star, Melody, Bing, Wea, Kal, Awan, Kigo, Sanda, Ox

and our NEWEST member, Tsunami!

May you have a wonderful holiday.

It's Nice to Have Friends That Knit

For about a year now, a few of us get together once a month or more to knit, enjoy each others company, have some take out food and laugh over some glasses of wine.

This year, we decided to do a Secret Santa Knitted Gift Exchange. We secretly picked names out of a wine glass, decided on a $20 limit and picked our patterns and got knitting. We exchanged last night.

Here are the results....

 Andee wearing her new orange hat made by Leanne. Pattern link here: Autumn for Andee

Knitted with Spud & Chloe sweater yarn.

 Quinn loving her new crocheted bracelet made by Tara. 

Crocheted with the "broomstick" stitch using fabulously soft CASHMERE yarn!

Tara opening her neck warmer knitted by Andee. 

Andee chose green angora rabbit yarn for this project because Tara LOVES bunnies and has a Jersey Woolie that lives with her just like a puppy would. On a side note, Andee is allergic to this yarn and couldn't stop sneezing the entire time she knitted this. That's a good friend.

Andee wrote about it on her blog: Match the Pictures

 I'm wearing my crocheted cowl made by my sister, Liz. She panicked when she pulled my name I think. She only crochets and I'm not much of a fan of crocheted looking things. So she searched for patterns that looked knitted and wow! She did it. It's amazing, wonderful and I love it.

She made this with a deep purple cotton chunky yarn. I can't wait to wear it.

Lizzie has to wait for her gift because we sprang this get-together on Quinn and she was out babysitting for Andee so she didn't have her gift to bring. But this picture below is Lizzie holding my guy, Chase. When Quinn opened up her bracelet, it fell out of the bag and almost landed in her food and soy sauce! She yelled as she saved it and scared the daylights out of little Chase!

 

I love our little group. 

I hope you are lucky enough to have someone in your life that shares your passion for crafting, knitting, crocheting, yarn obsessions and  good friendship.

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas!

-Leanne

Wednesday Yarn Along

Happy Wednesday to all! It's only a few days until Christmas. I can't believe it!

I am joining in with Ginny at Small Things and all the other amazing knitters out there for this week's yarn along. I thank everyone that pops over here from her website. I enjoy everyone's yarn alongs so much. I could spend hours looking at everyone's projects!

During this time of year, I quickly realize that all my great ideas and good intentions have blown away with the wind. The projects that seemed so wonderful in July are still on needles in December. I really need to remember this next year. Christmas knitting needs to begin December 26th for the following year. And when I feel overwhelmed, a bit crazy, tired and cranky.....instead of finishing up the knitting that should get done, I pick up a new book at the local bookstore and shove my nose in it.

Reading Mrs. Kimble. I started reading it, and I remember parts of this. So I'm not sure if I've already read it and forgot (totally possible) or if I started it at a store to see if I liked it and put it down.  And my 5 month old is excited about books now. He would most like to chew on them, but it's fun to get out the old classic books. Garrett has been reading Goodnight Gorilla to him at night. Very cute.

 This is the pile of my knitting and reading. It pretty much sums up my head right now too. Too many things, ideas, lists, and everything else going on!!!!

 Baby alpaca cabled hat in the works...

 Fake cabled cowl...still needs the pearls.

 New yarn :) 

I lost my Hurricane Hat. I think it's living in a parking lot at a Freehold Township Little League Field. So I need to replace it. I treated myself to some new Quince & Co puffin yarn. I decided to do it in a new color. It matches my eyes.

 Chase's cabled sweater will be done for after Christmas.

And my books...

I want to wish all you knitters out there a wonderful Christmas! I hope you all have time to do what you love, with the people you love and to share good laughs, music, good eats and happiness.

Please visit Andee on her blog. Her knitting is once again amazing and her pictures are beautiful.

Merry Christmas!!!!

-Leanne

Baby Needs a Knitted Nose Warmer!

We went to the most wonderful kid Xmas party on Sunday night. The neighbors at the top of the hill host an amazing party where Santa lands in a helicopter. Yeah, it's that cool. So we headed up the hill to have some Christmas fun.

After taking a look at my pictures, I think Chase needs a knitted nose warmer!!!

 Check out my mom in all her alpaca gear. She enjoyed her own store after the sale was over.

 Dalton enjoying the petting zoo that was brought in. Very cute critters!

A knitted nose warmer would be very funny. I think he needs one. Don't you?

Hey, you can do what ever you want with them until they form an opinion.

For much better pictures of this event, visit Andee's blog. Match the Pictures.

Enjoy your day! -Leanne

The Alpacas Say Thank You

Geneva

Geneva

Star

Star

Wea

Wea "Say Cheese"

Star with her daughter Wea

Spicy & Geneva

Spicy

Geneva

Bing

Bing

Bing

All the alpacas would like to say thank you for coming out to the Holiday Open Houses. They appreciate you for supporting their farm.

~Photos by Andee

Well that is the End of That

On Friday at 10:22 am Leanne discovered she can no longer knit with Chase on her lap.

Pictures in the Paper

Throughout the past 16 months, we have had the good fortune to watch others fall in love with our alpacas and continue to come back time and time again to visit. We have also been a hit in the local papers. We live in the most beautiful area at the Jersey Shore, beautiful beaches, quaint main streets of towns and yet, our little farm keeps making the news! 

We were visited today by a photographer from the Asbury Park Press. It's the big paper in this area. He saw us on our website and this blog. He took some photographs today and posted them on their main website. What a surprise to see my mom and her alpacas on the front page of app.com!

If you would like to see the rest of the photos, pop on over to the photo gallery.
Click Here

Thank you again to everyone that takes an interest in our farm and loves it as much as we do.

Just a reminder, that we will be open for the last time on Saturday Dec. 16th.

Our showroom still has plenty of wonderful gifts for everyone on your list.

And if you're done with your shopping, come on over for a hot cup of coffee and a kiss from an alpaca.

Thank you again to The Asbury Park Press. We appreciate it!

(Photo taken by Bob Bielk/Asbury Park Press)

-Leanne

Open House Today and Saturday!!!

Our farm will be open for the last time this holiday season. We will be open Friday, Dec. 16th and Saturday Dec. 17th from 10-4. Last weekend was very busy so if you have something in mind that you want to buy come early! If there is something specific you were looking for that sold out, let us know and we can try to re-order it in time for Christmas.

The alpacas are ready and waiting, wood stove is already on, coffee is brewing, hot apple cider is ready and the girls are on hand to help with knitting, crocheting and spinning questions.

Happy Holidays!

For more information, directions and updates of our 2012 hours, please visit our website.

www.arrowacresfarm.com

-Leanne