Elaine Sipes (owner)
At four years old, Elaine Sipes was taught to knit by her older sister who thought Elaine would be much easier to babysit if she was quiet and entertained. Being artistic, Elaine was soon designing her own knitting patterns. It would be a hobby she would enjoy for the next five decades.
Graduating from Colorado State University with a degree in Art Education, Elaine furthered her interest in yarns, where they come from, how they're made, and its uses. A few decades later, Elaine (now married with children) found herself the proud owner of a herd of angora goats (mohair), followed by llamas, alpacas, and recently, yaks. All fiber producing animals, raised for production of natural based yarn.
Elaine is an accomplished knitter, spinner, and weaver, winning Reserve Grand Champion at the Taos Wool Festival in 2005. The winning piece was a sweater/cape designed by Elaine, with over three MILES of handspun/hand knit yarn from the llamas of the Sipes’ ranch. The piece is on display at the Your Daily Fiber store. Elaine won the spinning competition at the Taos Wool Festival in 2008 for the longest yarn from 1/10th of an ounce of wool, with over 400 yards measured.
Elaine’s hobby introduced her to literally hundreds of like-minded, natural fiber loving people. Her award-winning wearable fiber designs have been featured in magazines and trade shows across the country, as well as Australia and Japan.
Ivy Sipes (operations manager)
Ivy was taught to knit as a child, like her mother before her. Ivy’s first knitting project was a knitted baby blanket for the newborn infant of family friends. The infant, now a teenager, continues hope that the blanket will be actually be finished someday and given to her.
Ivy tabled her “love” for knitting for several years, returning to knitting as a teenager. Ivy has now completed hundreds of knitting projects, many of which are her own designs.
She has not tabled her love for children. While working towards a career in business, Ivy took time out to work at nearby ”dude ranch”, with a goal of running the ranch’s kids program. This goal was easily achieved, as Ivy ran the program for two years.
After a brief stint as a personal nanny, the Sipes’ convinced Ivy to manage the store. Ivy manages the Your Daily Fiber kids program, as well as the handling the day to day business of running the store.
Darrell Sipes (owner)
Darrell’s interest in llamas started as a teenager. Seeing himself, backpacking across the Colorado mountains with his trusted llama carrying gear was a life’s dream. Of course, reality set in and he set out on a career in the construction field. After 30 years in construction and working 25 states, with the help of his wife Darrell actually bought the llamas he dreamed about as a teenager.
Darrell has yet to head off for the summer backpacking with his llama friend/s. However, he has helped shear a whole bunch of llamas, over the years (not as fun as backpacking, but you don’t need to leave home to do it).
Suffering from a short attention span Darrell has moved on to yaks. Yes, they can be pack animals, fiber animals, as well as meat. Mac, Cheese, and Franks (the Sipes’ yaks) are pets and will never be eaten, but the threat does keep them in line.
By now you realize, Darrell has no knowledge of fiber and very little creativity.
The Herd
The Sipes would be happy to chat about the raising of fiber animals, llamas, alpacas, yaks and goats.
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