Vernon is readying itself for its annual massive craft festival – Creative Chaos – that will see vendors come from all across Canada.
One such vendor is Sylvia Showers. She is behind the animals at Yellow Star Ranch and Soft Spot Alpaca Products in Vernon.
Showers always had a passion for animals. It wasn’t until she decided to relocate to Canada from her native Germany in the 1990s when she saw her first alpaca and fell in love with the wonderful animals and their personalities.
Since then, Showers has been breeding, raising and showing alpacas. Her passion for the animals shines, as she pays very close attention to the breeding program in order to create healthy and high quality breeding stock which is occasionally for sale.
Soft Spot is the joint effort of two alpaca farms: Yellow Star Ranch and Farrago Ranch.
The products are all made in Canada, mainly from the soft and luxurious fleeces of her own alpacas. Showers believes it is very rewarding to have a finished product and know where the fibre came from as the sustainable materials are better for the earth and its citizens.
Alpacas need to be shorn each year for their health and comfort. If they aren’t shorn they can suffer from severe overheating and all the potential difficulties that may cause issues to their health and welfare.
Alpaca fleece has outstanding insulation properties, is hypoallergenic and has exceptional softness. Alpacas itself are low impact foragers and their fleeces are a sustainable resource, making its products an eco friendly choice.
Soft Spot Alpacas will be featured at Creative Chaos. Dubbed the largest summer craft show in Western Canada, Creative Chaos will be taking place this Friday to Sunday, June 2,3 and 4.
More than 200 artisans from across Canada will be at three locations across the city. Booths will be set up at the Vernon Recreation Centre, Vernon Curling Club and Priest Valley Arena.
In addition to the vendors, there will be more than 14 food trucks, live performing arts and much more. Admission is free, although the fair accepts donations to the Salvation Army food bank.
For more information on the event, visit creativechaoscrafts.com. If you want more information on Showers business, visit softspotalpacas.com.
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@B0B0Assman
bowen.assman@vernonmorningstar.com
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