My dream was to live on a farm and raise horses. Every girls dream, right? I laugh at myself now, if I had only known what a drastic left turn my life would take. In 1995, I moved into the house I now own. As a single mother, I took a third job training “llamas”, a seemingly huge task then but I fell in love with them. Grand champion performance, 4-Hers From NY State to Regionals in Virginia, 1996. Bought this little house and barn in 2001; it officially became The Critter Ranch Llama Farm. I started showing our llamas in 2004, we placed 8th at Nationals that year!! I started a shearing business for llamas and alpacas, and this new 14 week seasonal job was the hardest work I’ll ever love! I traveled, met people, learned about fiber, and explored how to use my fiber.
As they say: “first came the wheel," spinning wheel that is. Basically, self taught.
People wanted bright dyed colors, so that meant I must learn how to dye it too. I met my mentor, a great guy who taught me loads of information about dyeing, carding, and the general fiber business. I purchased my carder and was soon dyeing, carding, and spinning. We opened our Etsy store in November 2008. We grow, make, and sell everything from raw, straight off the critter, to final product. We shear, wash, card, pick, dye, felt, and spin; all as part my hobby farm and I love it!
We do bring in combed top because I enjoy dyeing it and we know there are many who love spinning it.