Sue Bean recently added a FeltLOOM Lexi to the work area of her Simply Natural Alpaca Gift Shop and she is ready to offer classes to anyone interested in learning the easy art of felting using alpaca fiber. Shown is Bean with the loom and her ‘‘Randolph Woolly Mammoth’’ made from alpaca fiber. P-J photo by Deb Everts

RANDOLPH — Thanks to Sue and Mike Bean, area alpaca farmers now have a great outlet for their surplus alpaca fiber that would otherwise sit in storage.

As the owners of ”A Slice of Heaven Alpacas,” located at 11144 Pope Road, in Randolph, the Beans were wondering what to do with their excess fiber, especially the courser fiber shorn from the alpacas’ legs that is not ideal for yarn and is not used to make clothing.

Sue began searching for a solution and found the answer when she was introduced to the FeltLOOM Lexi. The Beans recently purchased one of these looms and it sits in the work area of their Simply Natural Alpaca Gift Shop. Sue has become an authorized dealer for the machine and, as one of six dealers in the whole United States, she is the agent for New York state.

The FeltLOOM Lexi is a revolutionary line of needle felting machines that make, transform and repurpose fabric right on the farm. Sue said the loom is for artisans and small businesses like hers. With this new loom, the local alpaca farmers can create a usable product to make a profit on.

”One advantage of having the loom is how quickly an item can be made,” she said. ”I have knitters, but they can’t keep up with the demand. Whenever they make something and bring it in, it’s usually sold within a week or so, and I’m often short on stock. With this machine, we can make items faster ourselves and they are still ‘Handmade in America’ items.”

Made in Lexington, Ky., and measuring 36 inches wide, the machine has many safety features. Sue said even children can run the loom because of its safety features, and they can’t get their fingers caught in it.

”There are 290 needles in this machine and each needle has eight barbs on it. The barbs actually take the top layer, go through it and attach it to the next layer,” she said.

Sue said the fiber has to have a crimp or a barb in it to be able to do this. It can’t be done on smooth, silky hair because it won’t interlock itself to the under-layer, but it can be done with alpaca fiber and wool.

”The more times you run the fiber through, the more compact and dense it becomes. You can even make it 3-D by running it through the loom less times or attaching accents by hand, which gives it more texture,” she said. ”I can bond fiber to fabric, then make items for our gift shop. Vests, shawls, scarves, purses, bags, coats, blankets and rugs are just a sampling of what can be made with this machine.”

Sue is offering classes for all ages on the FeltLOOM Lexi where people will have the opportunity to make rugs, pillows and scarves. Classes will be starting up soon, so now is the time to set up an appointment to create a handmade item from alpaca fiber.

”When people come in here and make something, the next thing you know, they’ll take it home because they are making something with their own hands,” she said. ”No experience is necessary to take the class and I will provide all the materials needed. If people want to make something out of an heirloom, they should let me know a head of time so I can try to match a fiber to it.”

According to Sue, the appeal of the FeltLOOM is it’s easy to make almost anything on it and the possibilities are endless. Within an hour, the student has a finished piece they can take home and proudly say they created. Every item made on the loom will be a one-of-a kind original.

If anyone is interested in a class, call Sue at 358-5242 or email her at sandmbean@windstream.net to make an appointment.

Simply Natural Alpaca Gift Shop will be celebrating its fifth anniversary beginning Black Friday, Nov. 25, and will continue throughout the weekend Nov. 26 and 27 from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. each day.

To mark the occasion, the Bean’s will be giving away a pair of alpaca slippers, a large teddy bear, an alpaca blanket and a $100 gift certificate. Because it’s their fifth year, they will also give away a large stuffed alpaca and a bird house donated by Sue’s sister. Visitors may submit an entry for a chance to win one of these special items. Drawings will be held at the close of business on Sunday.

Sue will be at Randolph Central School’s arts and crafts show during Randolph’s Country Christmas on Saturday, Dec. 3.

The gift shop is currently open Monday and Tuesday, 5-7 p.m.; Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 4-7 p.m.; and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The shop is closed Sunday with the exception of Black Friday weekend. From that weekend to Christmas, hours will be 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

To learn more, visit online at asliceofheavenalpacas.com, simplynaturalalpacagiftshop.com or Facebook.