First there was Woodstock...now we have "Woolstock"

Sheepychic "Woolstock" yarns are made for the hippies among us....hehe and the hippy in us all. I've drawn inspiration from the hippy era, 60's music... naturalism...flower power...Mamas and the Papas...the list goes on. Be sure to wear some flowers in your hair and enjoy some little lovin...and some Sheepychic Woolstock Yarns.

This Chocolate Brown Corridale Woolstock Slubby looks seriously similar to this guys dread locks. hehe...I bet my Slubby smells a heap better. (even before scouring!!) Can you believe there is an identical amount of fleece in those two Corridale hanks?! The bottom fleece is plied back on itself. I've even left the odd prickle 'cos it...like...adds to the vibe, mannnnnn. Yeahhhhhhh..

Speaking of vibe...I guess hemp and marijuana use was a big part of the hippy scene...but not for making yarn...hehe

This photo here (looks like a close up of Lucille Ball's hair-do...) is actually my stash of raw industrial hemp. Industrial hemp is a strain of cannabis valued in times past for it's strength and usefulness. Note the old picture of an Industrial hemp farm.

I am slowly working on blending hemp fibres and Merino to create the coooolest Hippy yarns ever! I am sooo interested in how these fibres will take up dyes and run through the wheel. Its a Sheepychic 'Woolstock Yarn' work in progress...but right now I'm off to meditate..and to paint the Family Wagon like that hippy bus! (and that's all I'm doing...I promise!)

All the very very best to you all...thanks for popping into

Sheepychic bloggings.

Bye for now, Ruth.

'Mystery Lake'....A My Town Yarn. (Kyabram)

He he....kids haven't changed a bit. Still easily amazed. I rarely, rarely go up to the country these days, (or the 'crunchy' as my boy puts it - too cute to correct!) but when I do go I enjoy showing the children some of the things we all got up to when we were kids. One of Mum's old yarns still brings a smile. Especially as a mother myself. She could make anything exciting. For example....the "Mystery Lake". ohhhhhhhhh (hushed amazement from all-believing children). "Its a mystery 'cos nobody knows where the water comes from...and nobody knows where it goes" ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. hehe Would you believe I found the "Mystery Lake" on a recent return visit...and managed to (suck in) intrigue my own little ones...in the (swampy bog) mystical, magical Mystery Lake. Which is all a ridiculously long winded introduction to a recent "My Town" yarn which I'ld like to show you. It's from the Kyabram Range and obviously it's called the "Mystery Lake".

Spun here in two ways....a solid slubby style and also a blend with white rovings, plied through with beading and Japanese gold metallic thread..

Here, in the centre, all knitted up as a Sheepychic Beanie..now in the loving ownership of Carol. (That's the Carol with the toasty ears.)

A close up of a knitted swatch. I love this...I'm wondering how a jumper would look like...phew!...big job, though!

All the best..and thankyou for logging into Sheepychic. Keep an eye out because the fabulous new Sheepychic kits for scarves and beanies will sooooon be available! Bye for now...Ruth xx.

Blokes like handspun too!

Howdy all...it's soooo cold, isn't it! brrrrrrrrrrr..hehe knitting beanie weather, to be sure! I am doing this quick posting on men's hats as I received the cutest customer feedback via Christine at "Stitch This" in Allen Street, Kyabram. Hehe...and I have to agree....Almost all Sheepychic yarns are really "girlie"...how about a few more for Guys hats....? Sheepychic "Rustic" yarns are perfect for guys hats for some reason. Of course "rustics" look great on everybody...but they really lend themselves to men/boys hats. Sheepychic Rustics have no dyes used...all of the colour is the natural varied colours of the animal fleeces themselves... Come to think of it....animals are put together pretty nicely. I mean...you never really see an animal with a colour scheme that clashes or looks wrong, do you....? These cute little guys are alpacas, of course, and I am lucky enough to have their four fleeces here with me...available to spin. I've used this little photo in a previous posting. (you'll have to look in the archives one day...grab a cuppa) Their colours are breath taking! Here is an example of a Sheepychic Blokes beanie which I knitted up for my Darlin'...it is a mixture of Brown Merino, Chocolate Corridale, a Sheepychic 'varied black' dyed Merino with tiny black beads spun through and a highlight yarn which is the white Merino plied through with all four little alpacas randomly. A similar beanie...but with a little more of the beautiful Merino / Alpaca plied high light yarn. This hat is available for sale at 'Stitch This'..(lucky Kyabram..hehe) Oh...and don't worry guys. I have it on a blokes authority the the Sheepychic labels are waaaayyyyy too girly. I can offer you a new mens label. It's just the same, but has 'Mr. sheep E. Sheik'....(You'll be safe!) hehe All the best, everybody, and thanks for logging into Sheepychic. Remember..I have the comments area made so that anybody can leave a little comment. So...say Hi...it'll make my day! Especially if you're the guy who wants some blokey yarn...we're alllll coming to your place for a bbq!! hehe Regards, Ruth...

Back to Yarn....

A lovely weekend at home. The children have been playing relatively nicely...washine machine humming, mower mowing, swings swinging, stir fry stirring...and frying...hehe I wanna get back to basics...back to what we alllllllllll love...yarn. The Multi coloured yarn pictured is Sheepychic "Gollans garden", from Sheepychic "my town" range. Mrs Gollan and our Mum were really good friends. Mr. Gollan had an amazing garden with dancing birds, beautiful flowers and also interesting things like peanuts and popcorn which he popped for us in an old fruit can in the shed. hehe...it obviously had an impact on me. Mrs. Gollan spoke once about how she and mum used to sit and chat for hours on the porch while the children played around them. It kinda' shocked me a little 'cos that is exactly what Tye and I have done a lot of. I guess it's too easy to let time sweep over and forget that your own mum was once a young mum like we are now. Of course, sadly...Mum has passed away. I often draw on her examples now as I parent my own little ones. Hopefully I am doing her proud.

This pinkie purplie yarn is my Sheepychic"Grace Woods" yarn. Grace Woods was my gran and she would have liked these colours.

He he...check out the two rascals. I had to go out to feed the chook in our backyard, but it was soooo cold I couldn't bare to take off my big fluffy slippers. With the lawn being damp I popped two fruit bags over my spippers to protect them...of course this sounds quick and easy...but NOTHING at our house is quick and easy!! Thankfully the effort was worth it, as the bags provided an hour of fun (peace for Mum) with a scrunch, scrunch, scrunch sound proving to be rather amusing if you're two.

This photo reminds me that I'm a bit 'behind' in my spinning. Double that!! Thanks for popping into Sheepychic...bye for now. Ruth xx

Some new yarns made especially for Kyabram!

Hello to all the Kyabram and District yarnies out there who seem to be really wrapping themselves in a little Sheepychic!!

Thanks to Christine of 'Stitch This' in Allen Street Kyabram...Heaps of Sheepychic yarns in the hands and hopefully on the needles of wonderful Ky knitters.. I've been so busy...dying, plying..getting together another big parcel of yarns destined for Stitch This. I love a bit of inspiration...so I sat down with pen and paper and brainstormed the first things that sprung into my head about the colours and textures of Kyabram and the surrounding districts. Having grown up in Merrigum, a town not too far from Ky...it wasn't hard. My Grandparents lived in Kyabram and eventually so did my Mum, so I had plenty ideas to draw from.

(this picture is of the very beautiful 'Grace Woods' rovings from the Sheepychic 'My Town' range)

I came to thinking...wouldn't it be really cool to have a yarn range made and designed with each local area in mind??? Imagine browsing through handspun yarns in your local yarn store or gift shop inspired by your tree lined avenues or local landmarks. I love this idea...it's a long, long way from acrylic mass produced stuff imported for sale in those huge craft shops!

May I introduce da-da-da-dahhhhhhhh................... Sheepychic "My Town" yarns!

Stay tuned!

The Kath in the Hat...

Friends are friends be they nearby or far away. I used to see a lot of my galpal Kathie but sadly 'n' gladly she has found love (the gladly bit) but it was oh soooooo far away...ie. the sadly bit. It 's great to know she's still thinkin' of me though...she knows a lady with a pet white alpaca and Hooray!! Kathie sent down a whole alpaca fleece! When I saw the huge parcel by my front door a couple of thoughts sprang instantly to mind. The first: "Oh My God...I've bought something off eBay and have no recollection of it." hehe! This is a true story. Second thought..."Oh wow...this bag is huge!!!" Third thought..."Thank god for my ol' carding Machine". I am really keen to lightly rinse out a batch and run it through ol' spikey...I've never carded Alpaca before. I little while ago Kathie and I planned out a beanie...because it's so damn cold in Northen NSW. hehe. Kathie was really keen on pink or purple...but assured me that she would be happy with any of the ol' sheepychic. Thank goodness for that because I have done a lot of pinks and purple lately and I need to scream to the world.."Other colours can be cool tooooooooo!!!!!!!!!." Well...it's fair to say there's a fair bit of purple and a twink of pink in there...in among the metallic Purple thread I used to ply with. I also used a dusky sort of rainbow hank I had in my yarn stash. I knitted that through with some extreme goldie omgliness spun through with the white Merino. It is FULL ON. I hope not toooo full on!! I used some Chrissy deco that I first spun through Merino on my second only posting...peep in my archives (Jan). Kathie..if you want to give it a quick trim down with some scissors I will TOTALLY understand...it is very, very stickie outie, I know. Well I have stacks of cool photos...but for 3 nights running Blogger won't let me load them..oh well. Thanks for logging into Sheepychic bloggings, Bye for now..Ruthxx

Time warp

I'ld like to dedicate this posting to Pat. Pat is so generous and kind... although I've only met her a couple of times I sense that we've evolved out of the same swamp..(so to speak) Thanks to Pat I am the proud current owner of this beautiful old Drum Carding Machine...I say current owner as this ol' carder has been hand made and is of such quality I'm sure it will out-live me and a few more owners as well!! It sure is a wonderful and treasured gift, Pat, and to think you have given it to me the very first time we met! I am absolutely delighted!! Those who know me well realise I'm in a bit of a time warp. I enjoy old things...but what I think is really important is to experience old things and old ways and to make sure you enable your children to enjoy this as well. Everybody loves expensive antiques...but this isn't really what I'm on about. I'm talking about old equipment....turn of the century music and domestic / home history. Even old language...when was the last time you called someone a 'Mug'? hehe These days is more likely to be 'Dude'! (one of my proudest moments is when my son complained to his teacher that he'd bopped his 'scone'...hehe) I've had a wonderful evening...It's quiet..children all asleep. The fire is just smouldering and I'm using my Mum's campfire oven to cook some Pea and Ham soup for Sasa. (dunno what those black spots are....but like I said..it's for Sasa..) I have some of Tyes raw Merino which she has given up on...'cos it's soooo smelly. Strangely, I don't hate the smell. I ran some fleece though the Carding Machine after learning how to on http://www.worldknit.com/howto/howtospin/sfiberprep/card.html I enjoyed using the carder...and I am really happy with the results. Wow! I made a batt!! I will spin it and then scour it. I will also try scouring, then carding.....bit of Sheepychic research coming up!! Again, thankyou Pat. Your generousity is really appreciated...I'm off now to add the Carder to the "things to save if the house is on fire" list...hehe. All the best to all who've popped into Sheepychic bloggings...bye for now. Ruth xx

A red carpet beanie?!?!?!

Once again Monday saw in some amazing first try projects...and I would like to thank Tye for showing me her amazing gold fluffy stuff....and I want to apologize to Tye for....um...using up half of her gold fluffy stuff. I spun up an 80gm Merino hank sprinkled over with the gold schpritz and plied back with some purple metallic thread. After dividing this hank into thirds I dyed two of them different shades of mauve and dusty purple, leaving the remaining one white. (This colour scheme was requested by the next Sheepychic winter hat owner-in-waiting...ooohhh...soon the wait will be over!!) Knitted up to a Sheepychic Beanie Design...all written up, I promise....these colours are just so beautiful...and the gold...wow..(Madam, please place your beanie on the conveyor and pass back through the detector...hehe)

I must confess...I had 10 minutes access before I parcelled this little beanie up...I love it...I really do.

If you love it too I can knit your version of this hat...you can give me an outline of the colour scheme..then lemmie at it! Contact details are in the profile of this blog...

All the very best to you..thanks for popping into Sheepychic bloggings...Ruth xx

mm-mm yum....dates. hehe

Monday, busy Monday.....

Most people have Fridays on their minds...but I really love my Mondays. Mondays are the days where Tye and myself often get together and let rip with some weird and wonderful dying/spinning/all-things-fibrey projects. (I'ld like to introduce the word 'fibrey' to the English speaking world. See?!?!? Is there anything Tye and I can't create?!?! hehe) Here is a rainbow coloured Sheepychic Slubby...baring an amazing resemblance to Sasa's choice of Mothers Day flowers against our kitchen wall..(love ya, darlin') Also a beautiful hank of pale pinks and blues. Look closely... I've plied through with pink and blue beading..and a few shiny gold beads, too. Imagine working this hank into something special for baby! A little update on a previous posting...This is the other half of the hank that Kathryn and myself dyed up over a nice coffee afternoon. I went to town on the bling-bling...hehe

All prepared to go off to Kathryn to become something amazing...(no pressure..hehe)

If anybody would like to have a little Sheepychic yarn for themselves please don't break into Kathryn's home a steal her hank! It would be far, far easier to contact me via email and purchase some for yourself! (Details are available though this blog's profile) All hanks are $25 and weigh at least 80gms. If the hank you see is no longer available I can recreate it fairly closely.... Thanks for popping into Sheepychic Bloggings...all the best! Ruthxx

P.S. P.S. P.S. P.S. P.S. P.S. P.S. P.S. P.S. P.S.

If you haven't been able to leave a comment previously please try to again...I LOVE comments and feedback (but no spam...grrrrr) and now adjustments have been made to enable non bloggers to post comment..so drop me a line.....it'll make my day. (thanks Clint) hehe

When friends get together...magic happens!

Some people are loners...others love their dogs. Me?...I'm a 'friends' person. I love my friends...they are a big part of my life. Your children, your partner, your parents, your brothers and sisters....your God or other beliefs...these are the cogs in the gearbox of your life. Your friends...your friends are the oil that makes everything run sweetly and beautiful. Today I spent the day with my dear friend, Tye...which happens quite a bit. Out came the spinning wheel (and some interesting toys for P & D), some good coffee and on came the inspiration. I felt like trying something new. I have taken some elements of a Plied Snowy style yarn and some elements of our Slubby yarn methods and morphed them...creating this amazing hank....a half twist Slubby. I could make this in any colour...and I can't wait to see how it knits up! (Should be devine) Kathryn, a gal pal who is pretty new to the whole fibre art 'thang' and I were having a lovely relaxing time at our place recently...similar deal....P & D were busy outside, the coffee and cake enjoyed...so we dragged out the dyes and dyepot!! The one thing I love about Kathryn is her enthusiasm. It's funny how a little of enthusiasm can be catching and it can refuel the creative think tank. I'm so glad we caught up for a coffee, Kathryn, and even gladder that we busted out some dyes and rovings. I didn't dream we were about to make something sooooo beautiful!! What is it about good women, good coffee, a few laughs? Does it somehow boost the creative processess?? hehe...Maybe!

I've split this mass of rovings into 2 equal lots of 80 gms each. As you can see I've run one through as a Slubby. I'm going to let Kathryn decide what to do with her half...hehe!! Ohhhhh..I love that yarn!

Thanks to all my Pals...you all know who your all are...thanks to all who log into Sheepychic Bloggings. Remember: Strangers are only friends that you haven't met yet. All the best, Ruth xx

What is the plural of 'beanie'?...A Can! A can of beanies!! hehe

I am hat mad at the moment...I know! Apparently, in years gone by the phrase "Mad as a hatter" was coined by Milliners who over years plying their trade of hat making were sent slowly but surely...er...'dotty' by the particular chemicals used to process rabbit skins. (Tye..I'm sure you will know...what is the correct name for these rabbit skins...also...did Milliners only make womens hats while hatters made mens? hehe...I'll give you a prize if you know!) Check out the hand dyed rovings which I dyed specifically for this hat.... luckily for me there is a fair bit left over..hooray! I love the range of pink...from Musk through to burgandy. The yarn even looked great when it was still on the bobbin............. Well, I have to admit that my spinning is my strong point where knitting is my weaker feature...but it's coming along. Filling a winter beanie request of "different shades of pink, beads, gold thread, and big, soft and cushie" made recently by a work collegue of Sasa has been really enjoyable. I do love a little pink! When I was scetching out what look I was aiming for I was accompanied by 7 children which may explain my aversion of straight lines...hehe!! (we did have fun!!) . I have designed this beanie to be all comfy and floppy at the top...kinda' like a skiing beanie. The double over cuff keeps it nicely up off your face and it's a tiny bit smaller in an area around the forehead so it can stay up and still keep the look of the nice loose top. You can see we have our above mentioned yarn..in both beaded and gold threaded, some Rushworth Snowey, Sheepychic white slubby and a nice little bit of Merry Munchkin Designs "Faery Dawn" yarn which I had in my yarn stash at the very top.....which you can source at http://merrymunchkindesigns.blogspot.com/ If you do go to Merry munchkin designs have a look at some archives where you may find some of Tyes handknit Butterfly shawls. They are stunning...when gathered they appear like a scarf but take the top corners and you have a beautiful set of butterfly wings....which hang nicely over the shoulders and drape down. Anyway, I'm so pleased you have popped into Sheepychic bloggings....many thanks, Ruth xx