TOFT Alpaca Studio team the stars of the show

Shearing has now been declared officially over for 2015. The weather held off Linda and Freya did a fantastic job of herding, walking and ferrying the TOFT herd, all 200 of them to the shearing shed and back again without any major incident. The stars of the shearing shed were the young ladies for the TOFT Alpaca Studio led by Emily( seen here in red all scrubbed and clean) Petra, Caroline and Liz. All new to the shearing they have been on a steep learning curve over the past three days. Undaunted they rolled their sleeves up and got stuck in learning the flick, sorting the fleece, packing, picking, brushing wiping and sweeping with good humour and commitment throughout.

 Thankyou ladies one and all from all at TOFT Alpacas- you will dine out on this experience for years to come!

Caroline working on her flick...

The reputation of a good roustabout is his or her ability to take the fleece from the table or floor and flick it onto the sorting table. Caroline joined us yesterday in the shearing shed to practice her flick and by the end of the day she looked born to the job. Day 3 today- 158 down 42 to go..

Sneaky alpaca surprise...

Up at the crack of sparrowfart this morning at TOFT to place two alpacas on Giorgio  and Charli's lawn in Coventry whilst Charli was still in bed. 

All part of Giorgio's secret surprise to have his girlfriend Charli wake up this morning with two of her most favourite animals in the world on the lawn and then to accept his proposal of marriage. 

We snuck the hurdles and the alpacas through the back gate early doors without disturbing Charli and returned later to find the happy couple engaged and overjoyed and Charli sporting a large diamond ring and thoroughly surprised. Nice one Giorgio! Job well done and thankfully a happy ending. 

Our alpacas are now back in our paddocks and TOFT alpacas has a new unforgettable alpaca experience to add to the archive.

Congratulations to Giorgio and Charli and best wishes for your future life together from all at TOFT alpacas.

Ladies of TOFT looking fab at Ally Pally

Told you the ladies of TOFT could do it. Kerry the Wonder Lord has done it again. The stand looks fabulous ladies enjoy!

Alpaca road repairs...

Busy week this week repairing and sorting. 20 tons of MoT type one to fiddle in and roll into holes in the access roads around the farm to enable the great and good into the Toft alpaca Studio without negotiating puddles during the winter. 

Big help, much appreciated, from Bandido Scottino the legendary Toft Alpaquero who has taken to the roller like he built the M 25!

Bloons for the launch of Edward's Menagerie

Car was packed with Blooms last night as Scott and Alison went off to collect the decorations. It was a lot of Bloons in a big car and obviously lots of fun getting them to the TOFT studio.

Big day on the Manor today at the launch of Kerry's book - Edward's Menagerie. Reps from all the knitting and crocheting mags, webs and channels are swanning into the studio for crafty fun and games. 

The book is truly stunning and a real credit to the creative talents of our daughter Kerry Lord. Have a great launch babe and enjoy!

Alpaca shearing sequence

At Six minutes an alpaca a video is a long job and needs a special set up at this busy time. This sequence of photographs is the best I could do but at least it a wee glimpse of Alpaca Shearing Toft style. For all those who are still shearing on the floor I have to warn you the floor gets further away each year as you get older and the fleece job is a pleasure when you work on a table.

First the alpaca is led to the shearing table. Lifted by the shearer and his handler onto the table.

Our shearing table staff hold the head whilst the alpaca is made secure by tethering its legs and stretching gently. Toe nails are quickly clipped at the same time whilst there are three people on the job.

Once our Shearing table oppo passes the alpacas head back to the Shearers handler they concentrate on rough sorting the fleece around the shearer shoving all the extremely rough stuff off the legs and belly and any contaminated fibre into the 'waste' bin.

The alpaca shearer shears one side, the alpaca is turned and the shears the other. Six minutes -tops.

Then finally the blanket, the best part of the fleece is taken to the sorting table to be skirted and sorted for processing into luxury TOFT knotting yarn.

It takes about six minutes on average. 10 alpacas per hour weather permitting. For 200 alpacas it's a full hands on two days of ferrying in our gorgeous teddy bears and running out the Pink Panthers.

Working up the flick...

Here is Alison one of the Toft Studio interns working on her flick. The flick being how to get the alpaca fleece from the shearing board and onto the sorting table spread in a uniform manner with one flick of wrists and arms. Alison started shearing as a 5 out of 10 amateur and ended after 200 goes as a 9 out of 10 professional flicker. Another vital life skill added to her cv!

Shots from the Toft Alpaca Shearing Shed 2014

Hard work? Absolutely.  Fun?  

Ask the 'newbees' from the Toft Alpaca Studio who rolled their sleeves up and got stuck in like they'd been there all their lives. A big Toft thanks to Emma, Alison, Ellie, Lisa and Harriett for giving the grumpy old shearer plenty to distract him. Toft Alpaca Shearing Shed 2014.

Fab lunch @ Cornflower Cafe.....at Toft!

Hey Hey Hey,

Best lunch ever!!! Proper Barrista Cappuccino, salami and salad bagel, goats cheese salad and chutney ciabatta, asparagus pea soup with smoky bacon bits and it was all yum luscious. Don't be cheeky that was for both of us. Shirley and I had late lunch at the new Cornflower Pop up Cafe in the Toft Alpaca Studio.

Open Thursday through Saturday for Coffee Tea, light lunch and proper English afternoon tea. 

Watching baby alpacas with your coffee and cake? Is there a better way to enjoy the summer?

Perfick!

Well done Jenny and Georgie I hope you are run off your feet in the glory days ahead! xxx

Look what Popped up...

An all singing and dancing Italian coffee machine popped up yesterday in the corner of the Toft Alpaca Studio. This heralds the official "popping' up of the Cornflower  'Pop Up' tea room at the Toft Alpaca Farm Open Day on Easter Monday. 

After the launch on Easter Monday our customers will be able to savour the very best of coffee tea and cake Thursday- Saturday at the TOFT Alpaca Studio. 

Customers can sit around and chat alpaca from 10 am - 4pm throughout the Summer and keep an eye out for where the Cornflour Pop Up will Pop next. And believe me the coffee is goooood!!

TOFT is in the Winda!!

There I was quietly going about my business in Oxford street in London when who should I come across in John Lewis's window? 

None other than Kerry Lord creative director of the TOFT luxury knitwear brand busy crocheting a sofa cover.

Kerry is camped out crocheting in this window all week promoting British Wool week.

Good on you girl I hope all your fans drop by to support you. 

Yahoo for TOFT - way to go!!!

Intern in the shed

Bless her, Sally the Toft Alpaca Shop Intern joined Shirley and I in the fleece sorting shed on Wednesday.

The whole of the TOFT Alpaca shop has decamped to Alexandra Palace in London for the big Knit & Stitch show this week. So it's all happening at Ally Pally this week but it's real quiet in the Toft Alpaca Studio. Undaunted by the empty studio Sally decided use the hiatus to get back to the basics in the paddock and barn.

Sally a textile student at Birmingham University spent the morning working with our herds woman Linda and the alpacas and the afternoon helping Shirley and I grade alpaca fleece. She's determined to follow the fibre all the way from the field to the Fashion Show. She too is off to Ally Pally to join the Toft Alpaca Stand. Thanks for the help Sal!

Guess whose Birthday it was yesterday....

You got it in one. Edward Lord was one year old and we had a bit of a do for him in the Toft Alpaca Studio. Jelly and cakes and dips with balloons and pressies. The star of the show being a wee push along car bought by Auntie Sandra and preassembled by Uncle Keith (a stroke of genius that move) which the boyo wouldn't get out of! He was trundled up and down the Studio by his Rellies and friends until their arms ached.

 He waved at the passersby, honked his horn by banging his head on it and occasionally stopped and opened the door for bystanders to invite them to join him. Blissfully unaware that its a one seat only job. When they declined his offer, he closed the door, turned his blue ignition key on and trundled off with a wave goodbye.  Noddy never had so much fun. He grinned the whole time and enthralled us all with his driving antics- Lewis Hamilton watch this space.

Congratulations little big man on a wonderful and joyous year. Dandad and Danma can't wait for the next instalment.