Australian Sheep and Wool show at Bendigo...

Boy oh boy...did we EVER have a great day out at the Australian Sheep and Wool Show in Bendigo this Friday... B and I had a special gals day out (great to spend the day together...so rare in our oh-so-busy-and-loud family!!) and we met up with Mandie (see the EGMTK's link) and G, and Jo and L. We really did need another day. It was wonderful! Check out these photos! The stock exhibitors where so friendly and approachable. They clearly love their animals... here B is falling in love with a two day old Romney lamb. Still unnamed the generous farmer invited B to name her... Meet "Nikky". Future champion, I'm sure! hehe.

All too often as spinners and knitters a few of us fibre lovers (me included) can forget a little about the "business end" of fleece and wool. I usually receive my fibres in carded or roving form... only occasionally will I get out the scouring agents and buckets and dabble about with raw fleeces.

I had a little trouble at first... Alpaca seems pretty easy to prepare...but with my sheep fleeces I was either left with greasy feeling yarn or yarn dry feeling because I had overdone it with the scouring agents. mmmm. I was also concerned with the amount of water I had to use, with the restrictions and all. After doing a little research, though.. and a few great tips via email from Hollyeqq from Oceans of fibre I have had some success and I'm really keen to explore the different breeds of sheep and goats and see what each one has to offer. (see my blog links... Holly does ammmazing stuff with from scratch with raw fibres ...buy some! )

The show also featured so many amazing stalls with garments, yarns, dyes, rovings.... the list could go on for ever. (and the prices...omg!! So affordable!!) I managed to pick up some cute sock yarn, a first for me. I've always just used my own yarns... Opal sock yarn is a real treat!

I can't wait 'til next year! I missed so much... I want to take two days next year for sure!

Thanks for logging into Sheepychic bloggings! Yarn or any other enquiries can come on down to sheepychic AT hotmail DOT com. All the very best, Ruth xx

Come in Spinner........

Our poor postie came to the door... "There's a huuuugggee parcel here for you" (we both carried it from her car!) Yooo hhhoooo!! I knew it could only be one thing!! The Country Spinner has arrived! The Country Spinner has arrived!! I was expecting to have to assemble it, but no! It was boxed up, wrapped up protected in Kiwi newspapers ready to roll!

I've said it before and I'll say it again...thanks, Mandie for helping me finally get my hands on one!!

It's gonna take some practise, though... I'm having a little trouble not over twisting the yarn. If anyone reading has some tips... pllleeaasee comment or email me!!

Here in Victoria, Australia the school holidays have just ended and the children are back in school. ( All together...awwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.....)

No... seriously! This holiday was really relaxing and thoroughly enjoyed by all. One of our favourite things this holidays is that we had our little mice home for a visit. (The mice stay in the class room at school now, and the children take turns at taking them home for the weekend.) I am delighted that B's super-duper class (and teachers) enjoy having the mice in school... they're such clever, friendly kids. The mice are very comfortable and happy with the children and often get time out of their house. Way to go class!!!! (And hello, if you're popping into Sheepychic during computers.... you guys rock!!)

By the way... check out Rosie mouse posing with her hand dyed Merino bed. This is a fibre art blog, after all.... hehe!

Check out D.H. 's car. It has been rainin' and rain'in and rain'in here in Melbourne lately. You can tell by the car. Are we allowed to say the drought is over yet???

Here is another little pic of some very well played with toys made years ago by our own Merry munchkin designs' Tye. hehe...those toys are still at the top of the toybox... not bad goin'.

Anyway...better wind up this posting. It's going on and on and on.... Thanks for logging into Sheepychic bloggings. Any yarn orders or enquiries can come on through at Sheepychic(AT)hotmail(DOT)com.

All the very best, Ruth...xxx

Sheepychic sock yarn... a work in progress.

Great day! Sheepychic and the EGMTK's guru, Mandie (both of us with kids in tow) met today for a real live coffee... and a wander through Bendigo Mills Sales. hehe... picked up some bargains from Sales but more importantly I took delivery of some goodies from Ewe give me the knits such as some new dyes, cool fibres and some gorgeous soaps. The girls became friends and the boys were great. I couldn't believe how busy Bendigo was, though!! Busy, busy, busy!

(lemme give you the news, though... it takes longer than an hour and a half to get to Bendigo from Melbourne. Why does everyone say that?!?!? heeeellloooooo...) I'm sitting in the car (saying) to B... you can keep your husband waiting, you can even keep the Prime Minister waiting...but you should never NEVER keep a Mum with young kids waiting. Thank goodness there was run about space... Sorry, Mandie!!!!

On the Sheepychic front...I spun a hank of sock yarn. It is a little heavy, I guess... but it made

into a pretty, sparklie Sized 2 ankle sock! When I finished knitting it I raced straight to the scales, weighed the sock, weighed the remaining yarn and HOORAY!!! There's plenty for the next sock!!!

Did you know if you go to EWE GIVE ME THE KNITS site (see the link on the blog) not only can you pick up fibres, mags, dyes etc...but Mandie also stocks SHEEPYCHIC HANDSPUN!! yeah, yeah! Her website is so well organised with carts, paypal...all that stuff...it's just easy peesey!!. Go have a look!

Any way... thanks for logging into Sheepychic Bloggings. No sign of the Country spinner in the post. (But I think the postie thinks I have the hots for him... the way I'm loitering about to see what they've got for me) hehe

All the best, Ruth...xxxxx

Hat's off!

Hooray! I'm back.... what a relief. One good thing about having the computer down is having the spare late evening. I've been knitting some winter hats. Would you like to see some?...hehe...okay then.

This hat is so cute! It will fit a kinda aged little girl and is currently for sale down at the homestead for $35 Aus. Remembering that this beanie is made from hand dyed, handspun Sheepychic yarn, 100% Merino, ...it is an absolute bargain. Check out Robyn's embroidered daisies. (If you would like to order some, email me for Robyn's details.)

Do you recall "Sheepychic - Terra aquarius" yarn? Maybe you do... I had the joy of knitting it into a beaut little boys beanie, for my little mate, Mandie's boy T... Boys yarns can be a little trickie. They seem to like the sparkle just as the girls do, but sparkle and masculine are hard to juggle. T's hat just has a hint of sparkle... the blue shown is a EGMTK's merino / silk blends...then I've plied it over with some sparkly blue metallic thread. (Go and check out Mandie's fibre shop via my blog link! )

I love the bell shape of this ladies hat... it's so gorgeous and comfortable. And warm!!! I still can't decide whether to run a piece of antique lace around it.

**THIS HAT IS STILL AVAILABLE**

Click on it for a close up...

My adult hats pictured here are for sale for $50 AUS...postage in Australia is free. I will post overseas happily, although the purchaser will have to cover costs. Postage to America will cost

about $12 Australian. (P.S...Sheepychic Witchie beanies are a little dearer at $65...)

Another ladies sized hat in a bell shape. 100% Merino, hand dyed, hand spun, and hand knit. If you look closely this yarn is embellished with green angelina fibre. A gorgeous one-off garment. This hat is still available, also....

Also...huge news!! Sheepychic is soon to be the extremely happy owner of a Country Spinner Wheel... Hoooorrrayyyyyy!! Thanks sooo much to Mandie who tracked one down for me. You're a winner, Mandie and your heart is huuuggee... *hugs* Also on the big news front... Builder has given us a start date for our reno's yay!... including Sheepychic's new studio!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! yaya!!

Anyway...thanks for logging in. Please pass the word that Sheepychic bloggings is up and active again... I know it can get a bit tiresome logging in when there's no new news.

All the very best, Ruth xoxoxox

Sheepychic will return as soon as possible!!!

Oh dear....our computer has totally blown up! I'm not talking about..."Goodness...there seems to be something wrong with the P.C. " I'm talking about KAABBOOOOOOOMMMM blow up. It's off to the shop...with a note attached "BE CAREFUL" In the meantime...hang in there...Sheepychic will be back as soon as I can. Believe me. I'm missing you guys just as much as you're all missing me. (you are, aren't you?!?!?! hehe) Enquiries can still be fowarded to sheepychic@hotmail.com. I will check emails as often as I can. Ruth.... xoxoxox

Wonder where you guys end up......

These Sheepychic hanks pictured are enjoying their new home in retail land...(This lot is with Christine at "Stitch This"- Kyabram, in Northen Victoria...in Australia) If you've purchased one of these yarns and you recognise yours feel free (pppllllleeeeeeaaaassseeeee!) to drop in a comment and say hello! Each Sheepychic hank is a one-off. I often wonder what projects these hanks finish up in and where they are...a bit like a message in a bottle, or a lost helium balloon!!

Sheepychic hanks are great for one hank projects...like a scarf or a beanie. If you want two or three hanks the same, I can do that...but they need to be pre-ordered as I would need to dye each lot, split them into thirds (or whatever) and spin them off from there, making three very similar hanks. I have limited my patterns a little this year. (I am juggling toooo many apples at the moment and just have to put a couple down softly for a little while, so as not to drop any) I do have a couple of scarf patterns suiting both my chunky single yarns and my lighter weighted plied yarns...I can pop either of those in with purchased yarn. (or to anybody...feel free to email) I also have a nice Brimmed Beanie pattern to try, also...suiting my chunky singles. Sheepychic handspun would be divine in any pattern, though....and if you find you'd like a complementing yarn for a contrast colour in a scarf or a stripe in a beanie I can spin something for you.

I have been having a dabble around lately, creating some interesting effects by carding some hand dyed Merino rovings to blend it with some "Firestar" glitz fibre (stocked by Mandie...aka : Ewe-give-me-the-knits. You can find Mandie's link on my blog) The carder really altered the way the colours appeared. They were so much more subtle than what I would have expected. The Firestar gave shimmer, rather than sparkle...it's really nice. I still have this hank here with me...but I'll only have it until the end of the week. This is "Sheepychic- Fire stone" It's $25, and I'll pop it into the post for free...Australia only, though!! hehe

All the best, and thanks for logging into Sheepychic bloggings. It's been a lovely couple of drizzly days this weekend...you really do have to wonder about that Rainbow serpent cloud. hehe... Can you believe our family has joined the Cloud Appreciation Society. Now the kids are cloud gazing like crazy...I'm spending the day saying "yeah..yeah...I can see that....." (not)

Great news....The rainbow serpent has returned.

As all Australians know...and even those readers from overseas may have heard about, we have been in the grips of a deep, deep drought. But I have to let you know.... I think we have had a visit from the Rainbow Serpent! Check out this photo I've taken recently as a long, long, long awaited rainy spell broke over our town. I recall stories of the ancient dreamtime from my childhood, learning about Australian Aboriginals at school. Dreamtime stories are more or less creation stories... handed down from generation to generation over thousands of years. (I should add that I've got only a tiny amount of knowledge here...I just got an excited vibey thing about the end of the drought when I saw that cloud) As I understand it, in my very limited way...the Rainbow Serpent is, in dreamtime stories, in control of water. He lived in the permanent waterholes and where he came up to the surface mountains and valleys were formed. As he slithered and slid over the land the gullies, rivers, streams and creeks were formed, allowing water to run throughout the land. It really is an eerie and amazing cloud. And weird timing, too...since the cloud appeared we have had a few days of rain and showers. Geeezzz...I hope it really could be a sign that the drought is finishing up!

All the very best, and thanks for logging into Sheepychic Bloggings. Any yarn or roving enquiries can be forwarded to sheepychic@hotmail.com

Ruth xoxoxox

All new yarns...on the cat walk! (or should I say Sheep walk)

I'd like to share with you some of my favourite Winter '07 yarns... First pictured is Sheepychic " Badger Creek" The colours of this beautiful yarn were directly inspired by watching a little of the Melbourne fashion week. They're a bit of a stand out for me, and remind me of the stunning massive Mountain Ash trees in the Healseville Badger Creek area. Sheepychic badger creek is a 100% Merino spun in a chunky single. SOLD - can make another similar...just email.

Next is another chunky Merino single, Sheepychic "Whroo". The colours just sing for this yarn...and it's just so simple, soft and gorgeous. (SOLD - can make another similar...just email)

Here is pictured Sheepychic "Free Reign". Free Reign is such a unique yarn...I've named it Free Reign as it was hand dyed my 8yo daughter, B. I lay out the rovings and dye stocks and while I supervised her safety handling the equipment, I was careful not to guide her choice and use of colour. She had a ball placing dye here and there (and everywhere) but I did have to bite my tongue a little when she over sprayed lightly with black stock. I was happily stunned when we rinsed out at the final stages to find the black had given the colours an unusual but oh-so-pretty softness. Then I've spun it together with a light sprinkle of the gold angelina fibre and plied over with the gold thread. This yarn would be stunning as a one-skein scarf....(and it would be the only one of it's kind in the whole known universe!!!)

If you like the Autumn colours you'll like this yarn. It is Sheepychic's "Collin's girl". Along with the traditional autumn hues there are some lilacs too...all spun through with the most amazing Copper Anglelina fibres. I even managed to track down a Copper Metallic thread to ply through with. If you wore this as a scarf along with a dark jacket the colours and shimmery fibre will warm your outfit so nicely. (SOLD- can make another similar...just email!)

I better wind up as this posting's getting a little photo-heavy... so to finish up we have Sheepychic "Gweneth" The colours are the main feature of this pretty yarn. They just sing, don't they? If you love florals and flowing, lofty fabrics...a feminine scarf made from Gweneth will tide you through the winter months.

Thanks for popping into Sheepychic bloggings. I hope you enjoyed a fun little parade inspired posting..hehe. Any enquiries can go through to sheepychic@hotmail.com but be really quick if you want one of these featured yarns. I will literally only have them this week coming then off they go to retail. Each one is $25 plus p&h. (Remember...they are 20% bigger than last years yarns...they all weigh INXS of 100 gms.)

All the very best, Ruth...xoxo

New season's Sheepychic....

I'm totally immersed in yarns and dyes right now...it's a great time of the year for us fibre lovers, isn't it! This season I'm pleased to announced that my hanks are about 20% bigger than they were last year. Hooray! (That's a 20% larger pillow for you, big fella, D...is that a 20% bigger smile I see? hehe...)

Sheepychic hanks are all 100grams upwards now....generally plenty for the cosiest scarves, roomiest beanies and funkiest cushion covers. Have a peekie-boo at some of my new colourways...here are some of my freshly dyed Merino Rovings ready to be spun, embellished, packed up and made available to you adorable knitters out there.... hop in quickly if you see something you like, though. (Just email me to put it aside for you...they're all $25 Australian) I only keep them for a week or so, then it's off to retail land they go.

I'm having to agree with P...they do look like jelly fish at this stage.

All the best, and thanks for logging into Sheepychic bloggings.

Ruth..xoxo

Remember Wilson?

Okay...hands up who just loved that movie "Castaway" starring Tom Hanks about the guy who, stranded after a plane smash, befriended a blood stained / face imprinted volley ball (Which he named Wilson) Apparently this is quite a common human response called "Pareidolia". I learnt this after googling "Things that look like stuff". (I love it when you learn something!!!) Check out some of the very weird pictures at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pareidolia

We had a huuugge case of pareidolia here at home this weekend....M decided to cook a cake with Mum, and we were both stunned when the cake come out of the oven....looking amazingly human!! ( I reckon it actually looks like M) We didn't prick it, or shape it in any way at all. M just poured in the batter as usual and out came Cakie. Of course, we couldn't eat Cakie. We all came to love Cakie. He lived in the fridge..hehe.

Can you even imagine the furore on Sunday morning when our resident "okay I'll get myself some breakfast before you all get up" kinda three year old gal was found rocking happily in the rocker, watching Teletubbies with a decimated Cakie on her lap. OOOMMMGGGG.......(don't even say the word crumbs.) Cakie was not so fresh by this stage....even the dog wouldn't partake.

M was good about it. I did acknowledge that being a big brother of twins was not easy. I did agree to cook another cake. I do miss Cakie.... Poor fella. R.I.P.

All the best, and thanks for logging into Sheepychic bloggings. I've been so busy on the yarn front. The whole wall of our lounge room is handdyed rovings ready for spinning. I'll post pictures shortly.

Bye for now, Ruth...xx

Sheepychic "Terra Rosa"

That's settled. Natural chocolate - coloured fleece goes with just about everything!! Hehe! After the joy of spinning "Terra Aquarius", a sheepychic chocolate Corridale with the blue and silver Merino/silk blend batt, I just couldn't resist to dabble further....please check out "Terra Rosa". For Terra Rosa I've used the same base of the natural Choc coloured fleece, but this time blended it with a varied soft pink Merino Roving. With just a sprinkle of twinkle...I'm sure this is going to be lovely to spin up!

It's sooo nice and soft...hehe! The kids

were all having a cuddle of the batt and ol' Sheepychic here's going..."ahhhh!!! Don't squash her!! Keep her fluffy!!!!" hehe....

Anyway...all the best, and thanks for logging into Sheepychic bloggings. Catch you all soon. Don't forget, any enquiries can be sent through to sheepychicAThotmailDOTcom. (you know... stick in those @'s and .'s)

Kindest Regards, Ruth...xox

Sheepychic "Terra Aquarius"

I was gazing at my very busy drying rack and it struck me. That weird little hank of Dark brown Merino from Sheepychic's Hippy range goes with everything. I couldn't believe my eyes...I mean.. we're all so clever with our dying and colour combinations...but it stunned me that Mother Nature's own coloured fleeces seem to go with..well....everything!! It was hangin' there...in the centre, between a pinkish kool aid dyed 14 micron Merino...(matched it beautifully!) some oranges, some blues, some violets...Matched, matched matched!!

Got me digging out some coloured fleeces, of course,..hehe...I've pulled out a Natural Chocolate Corridale...and also a bag of E.G.M.T.K's divine Merino/Silk blends...in silvers and blues. (Mandie, if you're reading can you leave the name of this blend in the comments..ta) I've got a "thing" for blues and browns at the moment. Using my ol' carder, I ran the Chocolate Corridale and the Blue and silver Merino Blend into two beautifully 'merged, but not stirred' batts, rolled them up into rollags and spun from the top...it was really fun..but a challenge to keep neat. I do go for that rustic look (thank goodness) which worked well. The silk still manages a twinkle here and there in amongst the corridale. I plied the lot over with a neat little blue and silver metallic thread. The result? Sheepychic "Terra Aquarius".

For some reason it was hard to grab a photo which did justice to this yarn. It's so unusual..and just so beautiful.

All the best from Sheepychic bloggings, and thanks for popping in. I'm at the wheel a lot lately so I'm sorry I haven't posted for a couple of weeks. I'll be sure to keep you updated on what's available soon.

Regards, Ruth...xoxo

The things you find....

I'm having a bit of a fleece stash "reassessment" with some lost treasures re-discovered and the occasional 'mmm...I'm never going to spin that' moment. One baggie that grabbed my attention is a bag of dyed Mohair that Tye ditched many moons ago. It is shocking, felted, tangled, snared. But it is a collection of the most beautiful colours. We were going to donate it to a school for the kids to play around with (which I still may do) but I put it into the stash cupboard until I had time to have a good look at it. In the meantime, of course, more stash was incoming...and as they say, outa sight, outa mind. When the bag re-surfaced I was so taken by the colour that I pulled out the ol' drum carder and ran a little through. I had to pick it over a little, and toss tiny pieces in while M cranked...but little by little we made a beautiful Mohair batt.

I ran with it straight to the ol' Ashford traditional...(was like a scene outa E.R.) and pumped some life into it. Batt making can be a little heart breaking, though...can you believe that great big batt only managed a (albeit soft and stunning) two-thirds grown ball of yarn!

When all said and done...M and I shared a nice chat while working...we made something out of fleece which Tye and I thought was unusable and finished up with a really nice yarn to use. How cool is that!! (Of course, I now owe M a game of cricket in the back yard!!) Tye...I promise thee...I great big batt of your Mohair! hehe....

Just to finish up, an update picture of the Spookie Batt I made a couple of postings ago with the black Alpaca, hand dyed Merino and gold fibre...It was fun to spin, fun to knit and (when I make some more to finish up this witchie beanie) hopefully it'll be fun to wear! hehe...

All the very best, and thanks for logging into Sheepychic Bloggings. Any sheepychic enquiries please feel free to email an sheepychic@hotmail.com Comments left are so appreciated...pop in and say g'day!

Bye for now, Ruth. xxx