Llamas Once Again Bringing the Funk

Every now and then, a Google Alert for “llama” comes up that seems promising, but
needs to simmer a little longer before we faithfully report the big news to you.

For this reason (and ok, a bit of a cluttered inbox), we now give you some
belated llama news that has been enhanced by time and a recently-released video.

Funky Llama, inspired by a similar concept in London called Beautiful Octopus, is a
community-theatre (we’re talking Britain now), cabaret show performed exclusively by
people with learning disabilities. Obviously, the name Funky Llama is meant to convey
the message of charm, fun, as well as inclusion that llamas are so directly associated with.

Hats off to the organizers, and if they need some real live funky llamas, llamasutra is very
well-connected, even across the pond. We’re here to help.

Check out the video of rehearsals, and lets all commiserate together over our collective
jealousy in not being able to attend the real deal. Also, we need to get our hands on those
shirts! Thanks BBC.

Ugly pony or handsome llama?

Have you ever posed that question to yourself when looking at one of nature's beasts? Perhaps.

Now take a look at Diego...you're definitely asking yourself that question now.

With a face only a mother, or a little British girl named Maddison Biddlecombe, could love, Diego is Maddy's bff. So much so that she's been arguing with her mom to raise thousands of $$billz to get him to a dentist.

Not only does she get props for having and loving a poama/llamony and fighting for his dental care, she keeps it super cute in her Hello Kitty!

More pics of the dynamic duo here.

Llamasutra gets a green makeover

Check out the blog for a new *~*green*~* look. We're jumping on the trendy bandwagon to go green. Not only do llamas like grass and other green things, but we can charge more now. (OK, the blog is free, but isn't that what stores do when they rebrand?)

Let us know how you like our new and improved facade!

There's no place like home

Another gem brought to you via a local news crime blotter:

Benton County Sheriff's Office
Monday, June 14
LLAMA HEAD: 9:18 p.m., 25300 block Cherry Creek Road. A woman discovered a dead llama's head nailed to her neighbor's fence. The neighbor's wife apologized for her husband's behavior and removed the head.


There are moments when hometown pride gets taken to a whole new level. Despite a fair amount of traveling that finds me now in the land of Haibao, as opposed to the lush, green Willamette Valley, this hometown news story makes one-half of llamasutra practically weep with pride. The other half wishes she could come to know this magical hamlet, where llama heads are often misconstrued as inappropriate, when clearly it was a sign of neighborly love.

(For those of you that haven't had the pleasure of seeing Haibao up close and personal in Shanghai, here's a photo of the elusive blue man-thing, compared to Gumby for good measure.)

AMEX Jumps on the Bandwagon

We would just like to give a shout-out to American Express OPEN for jumping on the llama/alpaca bandwagon and featuring alpacas in their newest commercial. AMEX is already llamasutra's preferred plastic (thanks for all those free flights on JetBlue!) and this earns them another star in their crown.

The ad opens with the line:

"Why is this sharp-dressed lawyer standing in a pen with alpacas?"

I don't know, but you've sure got my attention. (You'll have to tune in yourself for the answer.)

Alpaca from Dustin Smith on Vimeo.

Kudos to the AMEX ad team for another clever, culturally-relevant commercial. I think it's safe to say that llamas/alpacas are 2010's trend animals. Let's check with the hipsters to be totally sure.

BTW- Happy June! Why not celebrate the warm weather and shear a llama?