I have always loved history, and the old ways of doing things. As a child I would read about spinning and weaving, wish that I had a spinning wheel. I never in my wildest dream thought that one day I would have a spinning wheel and a loom.
One day in 1999 my husband and I went to the Sunbelt Expo in Moultrie, GA. It is amazing how one turn in the road can change your life. We saw a sign for Alpacas. Randall (my husband) wanted to go home and I wanted to look at the Alpacas. Well I won! Eight years later we have alpacas, llamas, sheep, the spinning wheel, and loom.
The Alpacas came first, then the llamas. We were suddenly Shepard's and with all the responsibilities that comes with animals. I wanted to help preserve a rare breed of sheep, so now I am also a breeder of Gulf Coast Sheep.
The past eight years have been very exciting for me. I have made many new friends and been to many different places. I have learned to spin, weave, and made a commitment to help preserve a rare breed from extinction. I have entered hand spun yarn at the state fair, taught and demonstrated spinning. Randall and I have established Ran-Mar Alpacas and try to make as many fiber shows as possible. It has been a dream come true.
Randal and I live in South GA. We have one daughter, four dogs, and one cat, along with the fiber animals. I am a member of the Cotton Patch Spinners, and the Seven Hills Weavers Guild. Martha may be reached at Martha, phone: 229-890-1055 or mailing address: Ran-Mar Alpacas, 2989 Shade Murphy Rd. Coolidge, GA 31738.
