TXOLAN and the Southern Select next month are the last alpaca shows we will be attending as Roo is retiring from shows and festivals to focus on establishing a brick and mortar fiber & art studio in collaboration with a colleague in Huntsville, AL.

This year, due to the time allocated during the show towards education, we can once again offer FULL LENGTH WORKSHOPS in the schedule!

Space is limited, however. To secure your hands on participation be sure to visit the Moonwood Farm Fiber Studio booth and put your name on the signup sheets. These will be available on a table during check in on Thursday, and remain there for the rest of the show.

SPINNING/PROJECT CIRCLE (all weekend!)
Bring your spinning wheel, spindle, knitting, weaving, or whatever project you may be working on and enjoy some company and fellowship. 

DIY CARDING STATION (all weekend, free for everyone)
Experience the super popular Strauch line of drum carders! The Petite, Finest, and the coveted Mad Batt'r (art/texture) carders will be available for you to test drive.  Bring your own fiber to card, or purchase dyed alpaca, blending fibers and sparkle from the booth.  Need help?  We will be happy to get you going.

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR FIBER (full length 6 hour workshop)
This workshop regularly retails for a minimum of $125 per person.

It's easy to feel intimidated by raw (unwashed, straight off the animal) fleeces. However, with some basic knowledge under your belt and realising that YOU have the upper hand, a whole new relationship with fiber begins. There is no need to fear those filled bags any longer, at the end of this class you'll be able to open them up and get to work, letting your imagination and creativity guide you. This class is designed for ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS, building a solid foundation from which to expand into whichever direction you choose. What you learn in this class are the exact same techniques that Roo uses in her own studio, presented in an easy to understand format. Classes are relaxed and casual, ensuring you have a wonderful experience. By the time you go home you'll feel confident and inspired. However, be prepared for a lot of hands on work, as you learn best by doing. This is definately not a boring sit-down class!  Presented in two parts (see schedule below).

TRILOOM WEAVING: cut strand method (full length 4 hour workshop)
This workshop regularly retais for a minimum of $65 per person.

The cut strand method is perfect for those highly textured novelty yarns, left over project remnants, even ribbons and lace!  There will be 9 looms available for participants to use in class, if you have your own loom we encourage you to bring it.  Note that if your loom is bigger the project will take longer to complete - you are invited to stay once class is over to continue working on it, or you can finish it once you get home.  Practice yarns (acrylic) are provided, but if you have your own yarn and/or embellishings you'd like to make your project with you are very welcome to bring them. 

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HOW TO TRAIN YOUR FIBER
(part 1: selection, washing and dyeing)

The workshop begins with a round table introduction to alpaca fleece from a processing stand point - which are suitable to do by hand and which should be sent to the mill? The rest of the time is then spent doing several activities:

- skirting an alpaca fleece as a group
- washing a piece of fleece using Unicorn Power Scour 
- dyeing the washed fleece with professional acid dyes
- laying the dyed fiber out to dry

3 hours

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR FIBER
(part 2: carding and embellishing)

Using Strauch Petite drum carders, you'll be turning dyed alpaca locks into beautiful carded batts for spinning, felting, or other fiber art applications.  Roo will give you an overview of drum carder terminology and explain why the Strauch carders are so perfect for alpaca.

During this segment of the workshop you will be:

- carding 100% alpaca
- carding an embellished batt
- creating your own roving using a diz
- creating rolags on a drum carder

During the course of the workshop you'll also learn about different blending fibers and blending methods, sparkle, packaging, and pricing.

3 hours

Spinoff 101 (free for everyone)
Informal discussion, Q&A, and demonstration to help you prepare your spinoff entries correctly and understand how samples are judged.

Mini carding workshop for beginners (free for everyone)
No time to learn how to train your fiber?  Attend this hands on one hour mini workshop instead to learn how to create a beautifully embellished alpaca spinning/felting batt.

SEMINAR: Bridging the gap
Informal discussion to l earn important information you need to share with fiber artists so that the lines of communication are clear and open when it comes to selling your fleeces. (with Roo)
approx. 45-60 minutes

Mini carding workshop for beginners (free for everyone)
No time to learn how to train your fiber?  Attend this hands on one hour mini workshop instead to learn how to create a beautifully embellished alpaca spinning/felting batt.

Cut strand triloom weaving
Suitable for beginners and those who have been using the continuous strand method.  Make a fabulous 2.5 foot shawlette while learning this triloom weaving technique.  The cut strand method is perfect for those highly textured novelty yarns, left over project remnants, even ribbons and lace!  There will be 10 looms available for participants to use in class, if you have your own loom we encourage you to bring it.  Note that if your loom is bigger the project will take longer to complete - you are invited to stay once class is over to continue working on it, or you can finish it once you get home.  Practice yarns (acrylic) are provided, but if you have your own yarn and/or embellishings you'd like to make your project with you are very welcome to bring them!

4 hours

About Roo Kline

A graphic artist by trade, Roo Kline became involved with alpacas in 2006 and shortly after purchasing her own herd in early 2007, the 'Moonwood Farm' fiber studio was launched, gathering a following of spinners and fiber artists who fell in love with her luxuriously handcrafted spinning fibers and supplies.

Since 2010 Roo has been teaching her personal techniques and style to others, especially those who love and/or raise alpacas. 

She was the creator of Alpaca Fiber Solutions and judges the occassional Fiber Arts & Skein competition and spin-off. She has instructed at Magical Farms, fiber festivals and alpaca shows, local yarn shops, has been featured on several videocasts, has provided her spinning fibers for classes of renowned spinning teachers and has written fiber related articles for American Livestock Magazine.

She lives with her husband and 12 year old son in Huntsville, AL.

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