3 years the charm? Can you believe I have owned this blog for 3 years already and I have done nothing with it? Oh sure, I’ve set up the basics, added pretty pictures, a store, and a few posts and then continued to live my life like I didn’t have a blog. It’s only taken 3 years to realize what a waste that is.
So here I am, 3 years in, trying to clean up what I started and turn it into something great! First things first, I need a plan and definitely a new brand to stick to, something that I love, something that will catch your eye and keep you coming back for more every week. Something that will compliment all of my future goals for Cobblestone Alpacas.
Fall
Oranges, browns, reds, greens, all the earthy tones of fall fit that category. How did I get there? Keep reading to find out all my future goals and how fall fits into each and everyone of them. 🙂
Just a heads up, some of my links are associated with an affiliate program, which means if you click the link and purchase the item I can get a small commission. Feel free to read all the boring details here.
What Does the Future Look Like?
If only I could win a million dollars to make all this happen right now.
Alas, I know that is not going to happen so I will continue to work hard and hope for the best. In the meantime, I’d like you to dream with me as I incorporate fall into all that I do in preparation for the future. This is what I want Cobblestone Alpacas to be when it’s all grown up.
Cobblestone Alpacas Farm
Obvious one first. When we obtain the correct property we are going to start with a small herd of alpacas. How many has yet to be determined. I intend on expanding the farm to include Leicester Longwool Sheep and possibly other heritage breeds of sheep, chickens, working dogs and cats (Of course we will be spaying and neutering all cats that work for us).
Disclaimer: For those of you who want to purchase your own alpacas, do you research! Alpaca’s are HERD animals and do NOT do well outside of a herd. Buying a single alpaca and raising it like you would a dog can create confusion and an aggressive animal. Your cute little alpaca will grow up thinking you are his/her herd and when they are a lot bigger and stronger, will feel the urge to discover where they fix in the herd hierarchy.
What does that mean? Your cute little alpaca will become big and AGGRESSIVE! Not because they want to hurt you. They are just trying to figure out where they belong. Problem is, now that they are bigger, they do not know how to fit into a herd of their own kind, and they’re aggressive with all humans and so many of these ‘pet’ alpacas end up having to be put down or sent to meat markets. It’s heart breaking….
Moral of story, if you are going to own alpaca, you must own at least 3-5 to create a small herd where they can learn herd behavior and social cues. It’ll make them happy, create less aggressive alpacas, and you’ll have triple the cuteness in your backyard!
Whoops, I went off on a tangent again. Back to what the farm future looks like:
If there is enough acreage, I’d love to have a small lavender garden and a pumpkin patch. *Fall festival with hayrides, pumpkins, and family fun activities in our future? I would LOVE LOVE LOVE that!
In the meantime, I’m going to start my own little pumpkin patch in my backyard next spring. I honestly cannot wait! I’ve already begun weeding and adding manure to where I want to plant the pumpkin seeds. I just thought about it too late this year to begin. But I did start a lavender garden this year!
I have so many plans with the lavender, including making lavender infused oil to make soap. I may even dry the flowers to add to the tops of the soap to make them pretty.
Cobblestone Alpacas Farm Store
When I am at festivals, I am always asked where my store is, well don’t worry, I intend on creating one one day! Currently in 2021, there is no physical store, but I plan on building one someday on the farm property. And in the store we will have all local handmade items including and definitely not limited too:
- Handmade soaps
- Handmade Candles
- Local Honey
- Local Maple Syrup
- Pumpkins (Decorative and editable)
- Fiber from all our animals and more
- Wool/Alpaca fiber products
- Playing with fiber supplies
- and more!
Pretty much everything I am currently selling plus some other local items. I intend to keep the fall theme all year round. That means I’ll continue to have everything fall available in my store and online of course. Have you checked out what I have for sale in awhile? After you’re done reading you should go take a look in my shop.
Cobblestone Alpacas Activity Barn
Again, if we find the right size property, I’d love to create a space for different activities. With a special event space we could potentially set up:
- Weaving, Knitting, Crochet, Spinning, and more workshops
- Fiber/Yarn hand dying workshops
- Candle Making and Soap Making workshops
- Processing Wool Workshops
- Farm to Table Events
- Weddings!
- Festival space for vendors
So much potential!! I really cannot wait to see if we can make this happen and to start planning all the wild and crazy events. I’ve even started a new Pinterest Board called Cobblestone Alpacas Activity Barn Ideas. I’m pinning all sorts of ideas for a future activity barn and pumpkin patch fall festival! It’s super exciting! So many fun ideas.
Cobblestone Alpacas Fall Festival
This is the ultimate goal. One day, I want to organize and run my own fall festival. I have so many ideas on how and what I want the festival to look like. Not sure which route I will go, it all depends on how many acres we end up with and what the property can do for us.
Here are some of my festival ideas:
Pumpkin Patch
If I’m going to have a large pumpkin patch, why not share it with everyone? I’d love to open up the farm for pumpkin picking. Which means I’d want to create a family fun filled event surrounding pumpkins!
Pumpkin Carving competition, hayrides, delicious food vendors and family fun vendors.
Of course, when I mentioned this casually to Bret he had to go and bring me down to earth. “You want us to be Pumpkin Farmers? Really? Why?”
Boys… Gotta love him. All he got out the conversation about a fall festival with pumpkin picking was pumpkin farming. When it’s put that way, it doesn’t sound so magical and fun. Well, he can make fun of the idea for now, when I start our own little pumpkin patch, I think he will understand. (Especially when I don’t spend $$$ on pumpkins and fall decor next year I’m sure he will get it, HA.)
Fall Festival
If the pumpkins don’t work out, I still want to create a fall themed festival with great handmade vendors along side all of my products. Fall is the perfect time to start on that holiday shopping and what better way then with a fall handmade festival? Check yes!
Depending on how many acres I have at my disposable will determine how large or small the festival is.
Can you just image, a farm decked out in fall decor everywhere! Straw bale seating, colorful leaves and pumpkins everywhere you look. The smell of coffee, hot chocolate, and warm apple cider in the air. Oh my gosh, it’ll be perfect!
But I have a long way to go before that happens.
Fall Festival Opener for the Pumpkin Patch
I just can’t decide which festival idea I like the best so I’m thinking of combining them! To kick off the pumpkin picking month long event, I’d start with a fall themed festival! That way I can have the sophisticated handmade vendors only festival with all the pumpkin decor. Keep the grounds looking nice and just enjoy all the pretty things for adults the first weekend and then the next open up the pumpkin patch!
Then we can have family fun games and activities available to do without pulling customers away from vendors. It’ll be perfect!
This is what I am working towards. I want this so badly, I am going to make it happen. With your help and support, I know it will happen someday. In the meantime, please enjoy my progress, fall themes, new items, and just the journey as we grow as a family and business.
Hello! I’m Ashli!
Fiber artist extraordinaire, soaper, and founder of Cobblestone Alpacas.
Here you’ll find information on weaving, knitting, crochet, sewing, felting, yarn dying, spinning, cold process soap making, candle making, and more.
I also provide helpful tips of the trade for creative business artisans and vendors to help grow your business where you want it to be!