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!!!

Some Goyles hang out and soak it up and others go hide under the bushes

It's been raining bath loads at Toft for the last few days virtually continuous. Even the Goyles are feeling it!

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!

It's that time again...but who is looking at who?

It's dry, cold and October. We have harrowed and cleaned the paddocks. The pregnant alpacas are settling in to the Draycote field where they will overwinter. The Alpaca Stud males are stood down putting on some condition before winter sets in. We are mopping up the late birth scans for our clients and generally tidying up and sorting everything out before the weather turns. 

And in between all that we are to be found leaning on a gate and studying the results of this years pedigree breeding. We've had a very fine crop of 2013 alpaca  cria and it's around about now we start to look and analyse them. 

Mind you judging by their reaction it would seem they are also busy studying us.

Anyone got a fairy?

It's that time of the year when every time you walk around the farm something new has popped up overnight to inspire your curiosity. All we need on this little beauty is one of those Arthur Ransome Fairies and the picture would be complete.

Two Toft Judges at the Heart of England Fleece Show

A fabulous three days for Shirley and I judging 161 fleeces at the Heart of England fleece show. Two Toft judges working together as equals for the first time. Shirley doing the coloured Huacayas and the Suris and yours truly doing the Fawn, lights and white Huacayas.

Today was presentation day and look what they gave us as a prezzy. Epic. We'll have  a job keeping the kids out of this box full of joys!

Show itself was a pleasure with some fabulous fleeces entered. Barbara Hetherington was my apprentice over the two days. She takes her certification in a couple of weeks and I have no doubt she will be a qualified BAS judge in a months time. 

Supreme Huacaya went to Honeyfield Angelo owned by Mrs Donna Stalker of Honeyfield alpacas with a score of 90.5. Bred from EP Cambridge Samson and Cambridge Select of ACC. Congratulations Donna! In general the fleeces were of a high standard with some truly exceptional fleeces as always in the whites and lights.

Supreme Suri went to Whistling Sun Catcher with a light intermediate fleece from Whistling Duck Alpacas! Congratulations Mrs Leigh Woods and the Mighty Ducks!

A massive thanks to Lulu Oliver of Lusi alpacas and the Heart Of England Alpaca Group for inviting us to judge and to Paul Stead of Sapphire Alpacas for organising the show. And a huge thanks from Shirley and I to all the volunteers who have made the last three days such an enjoyable and memorable experience! A lot of laughs and a lot of learning- perfick!

A big thanks to all who entered their fleeces and if your scorecard didn't quite live up to your expectations don't get depressed get breeding and get even! 

Conks are out!

Look at these beauties I found in my garden this morning. 40 odd years ago I would spend every weekend searching the lanes for conkers like these. I loved it but never got a champion conker ever. There is nothing as evocative of the season as the colour of a freshly dropped conker!