It's Subjective...it really is.

Hmm...the 50th. Sheepychic posting. Wow! 50 is a lot...isn't it? or is it?....

My children often ask very abstract questions. For example, "Mum...is 14 a lot?". My answer is always the same. (Dunno why they keep asking. hehe) "Well...it's subjective," I reply.

Kid: "But Mum, what does that mean"?

Mum: "Um..subjective means that it means different things to different people.."

Kid: (Insert a vacant stare here...)

Mum: "Let me put it this way. Would you like 14 pokes in the eye?...."

Kid: "NOOOO"

Mum: "Would you like 14 elephants in the backyard?

Kid: "No...imagine the poos, Mum!...so you're saying that 14 is a lot??"

Mum: "Maybe...but would you like 14 grains of rice for dinner?"

Kid: "That's only a tiny amount!!"

Mum: " Yeah..so 14 is subjective, isn't it....would you like 14 ricebubbles for breaky?"

Kid: "No, I don't like ricebubbles...I would like 14 weetbix".

Mum: "But that's too much!!"

Kid: "That's subjective, Mum...."

Mum retreats...you can see this was going nowhere.

So...that is my attempt at a world record for the longest, wordiest and most irrelevant introduction ever. I'm sure to do well! hehe.

Just talking tonight to Tye...and told her about my nifty handspun rope. I spun some of it at our Friday spin-in at the Point Cook homestead, and finished off at home. Can you believe it is 8 strands of hard Z twist which I controlled as it counter-twined back around each other.

I've got my eye on this for my Sheepychic bikini tops. Little D has been wearing it around his waist! I'm tellin' you...it is so strong! You could seriously tow a car with this, but it is still so soft!

I've also knitted up the sparkliest Sheepychic beanie ever! The body of this hat is made from Sheepychic "Sun Orchid" plied over with the silver fibres, and the cuff is made with some Sheepychic "Glacier-side" which is the handspun Merino, plied over with the commercial mohair/polyester yarn and also with some added sparkle. Of course, you can see the roll of silver ribbon that I've used as a little feature. Neato!!

Thats it for Sheepychic Bloggings, thanks for logging in....I'll catch up with you all reallll soon. All the very best, Ruth .xx

A fun afternoon at Broughtonlea...

This afternoon P, D and myself were treated to a great 'spin in' at the beautiful Broughtonlea assisted living nursing home. Assisted by my wonderful Sis, Sue, we set up the wheel and some yarns in the lovely Piano Lounge and as about 25 or so residents and staff looked on I spun up some really interesting yarn.

The first thing I tried was some gorgeous black alpaca rovings spun through with some autumn shaded silk fibres. The residents were delighted to feel the fleece and fibres...and I plied back with some cute Indian gold and orange metallic threads. Next demo was some hand dyed purple and pink rovings with silver fibres tossed through under some stunning Indian Silver metallic threads.

Sister Sue is Broughtonlea's much loved receptionist...I could easily see the affection of the residents and the esteem in which they held her. One resident made a comment to me: "Oh..she is full of so much love" and they all enjoyed watching her fuss about with the twins. If I was honest I would have to admit that there was as much, if not more interest in P & D playing with their crawl tunnels as there was in my spinning!

To top it all off Christine (another sis!) came to the demonstration along with my nephews and niece. It was lovely to see the children all together. They were soooo good, too. A golden moment was P&D taking pinches of my silver angelina fibres and pressing it into the residents hands. Some residents had a little less awareness than others...and to see them accept the strange little gifts from the babies was so joyful.

Toward the end of our visit I had a little poignant moment. There was an old man reclining and silently looking on from the sidelines at the twins and their games. A staff member kindly addressed him...."Its been a while since you've been with children, Doctor...." and explained to me that this gentleman had been a Doctor at the Royal Women's hospital for many years. It hit home to me that as a society we are all too quick to look beyond the elderly...to forget who they are and what they have given to the community. It is very sad when the elderly, especially those suffering from dementia, become so anonymous. What can we do? Smile and greet a Grannie anytime you can! hehe

Broughtonlea is such a nice place. The staff were so friendly and the building and facilities were stunning. Oh...and the receptionist. The receptionist is ONE IN A MILLION!! hehe! Love you, Sue. xx

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

This 'n' that...and a one buck hat

I've got a little yarn junkie on my hands. My eldest daughter B has taken Sheepychic yarn to school today for show and tell.....again. The children sit in a circle and pass around some hanks one after the other. Apparently there is quite some debate in the school yarn regarding which one is nicest. Of course, anything pink rates highly...as does anything at all plied through with a few beads.

Beautiful B walked through the lounge the other day and spied a roll of extremely cute ribbon (that I found for $1 at a craft store junk bin) in among my yarn stash. She fell all over the place. It was a beanie that HAD to be.

I had some super soft 14 micron Merino which I spun with some shimmering cobalt fibres and gold metallic thread, that was left over from a beanie order.

You can see what I've done there....all white Merino for the cuff, ran them both together for a while, some cubish bits...ribbon stripes and a very ribbony top...'cos I ran outa yarn. This is why knitting free style is so nice....I love just wingin' it!! This hat is so soft it just drapes over your hand. Its texture is what is sooooo nice about this hat. And to think....it was built with left overs and $1 bargain basement ribbon. hehe.

Needless to say...B is delighted.

Some other little projects on the go....check out this. It's still a work in progress. I'm aiming for a real sloppy, hippy, somethin' kinda different style ready for St. Andrews market. I'm calling it a Kerchief Beanie until I think of somethin' better...hehe

I love this up close picture. The yarn itself steals the show a little. It looked nice as a ball, too. The yarn used in the main body is called "Water wheel" and was from the Sheepychic My town - Kyabram range. The Cuff is Rushworth Sky spun in a slubby style.

This last little picture is of a cool little Sheepychic Dreadly Beanie...you can see where long hair or dreadlocks can run out the back. It looks really good. Now I have to pounce on someone with long hair for a picture.

Anyway...thanks for logging into Sheepychic Bloggings. Any enquiries or Christmas gift yarn pack orders may be left at sheepychic@hotmail.com.

All the very best, Ruth xx

A fabulicious big ball of Sheepychic yarn...

He he...what a great big ball of yarn!! This is two bobbins of Sheepychic yarn (so it's two hanks worth) which I rainbow dyed at the rovings stage, spun through in the slubby style while tossing through some silver fibres. You could play soccer with this...its that big!

Hello all and thanks for logging into Sheepychic bloggings. Most of you guys visiting this site regularly probably also pop into Tye's blog at http://merrymunchkindesigns.blogspot.com/ so you would have already read about MMD's fabulous knitting group that meets at the Point Cook Homestead for lunch and fibre arts. It's great 'cos Tye patiently gives very cool knitting tips and how to's and the coffee...the coffee....and lunch..beeuuutteeeeeffulllll ! (and at $10...we were really spoilt!)

Our first project, if you had nothing planned, was Tye's cute Munchkin scarf. I had prepared my yarn earlier, (oh the joy of being a spinner!) grabbed my size 10's and I was off.

Here it is...all finished. I am a very loose knitter so I left out a bit in the middle...but all in all I am delighted with the result.

I banged out a sweet little beanie, too....well, I did say it was a big ball of yarn! hehe.

This yarn is so beautiful, soft and lovely to wear. I am delighted how it sparkles...and judging by this picture of li'l P I'm not the only one!

At the moment my hanks are selling for $20 each (normally $25) for the slower warmer months. Mind you...cute yarn like this is really season proof. I'm working on some new designs at the moment. Keep your eye out for Sheepychic's new handspun bikini/halter tops, sling bags and toddlers vest fronts....postings soon.

All the very best, Ruth. xx

Any enquiries, or if you wish to order some Sheepychic yarn please contact me at sheepychic@hotmail.com.

Also...if you know of any cool gift shops, yarn stores or funky wares store owners that may wish to stock a little Sheepychic leading up to winter please point them in the right direction. Thankyou so much.

One handspun hank...2 funky kids beanies

I guess in the year 2007, for your average knitter on the street (not you fibre art enthusiasts) hanks or skeins of yarn are weird. Handspun is weird. All that handmade stuff like Sheepychic and MMD yarns....weird, weird, weird.

In reality most knitters head down to Spotlight or Big W to grab some yarn...all kept in straight rows, bundled up perfectly, ...uniform balls...all identical...by the truck load...mostly from China. (Pretty inexpensive, too, yeah...?)

hehe...handspun can never take the place of commercial yarns, I guess. I mean Tye and I would get really, really tired..hehe. But seriously. It's kind of like comparing say, a reproduced poster print to a hand painted oil painting. There are benefits to being able to predict perfectly each and every time the colour, quantity and availability of yarn. However, there is something special and beautiful about snipping the bindings on a one-off hand dyed, hand spun 100% Merino hank of yarn, rolling it into a ball...and create.

Here is a beautiful hank of MMD yarn I pinched off Tye at the Craft festival. I loved it as soon as I saw it. (It's funny how that happens) It was for sale at a Craft festival bargain price of $15 (you need to contact her via her blog at http://merrymunchkindesigns.blogspot.com/ for her usual prices)

I've knitted two kids beanies...check out the two different effects achieved with the same yarn! Cool, hey! And the colour!! THE COLOUR!! I love it!!

As you can see I've added half a hank of white Sheepychic slubby yarn. The cute little beanie with the tele-tubby type thingo on the top also has a rainbow novelty yarn knitted right along side of the white. (See...there is a use for the commercial stuff! hehe) Check out the flat top beanie. I've knitted this off without a pattern...so it's a one off. It's probably a good thing! hehe. But little D looks adorable in it...believe me. I love the bibbly bobbly knit. Very unusual...but it's merely the wrong side of a stocking stitch switched so that it's the right side. Tye and I stumbled over how good this looks recently at our peaceful Thursday morning. (Twins are having a ball at occasional care) ( I cope..hehe)

So please. If you're new to handspun and you've never bought yarn that's hand made and looped beautifully in a hank consider giving it a go. You'll love it!!. You can email me at sheepychic@hotmail.com for any yarn enquiries. All the best, Ruth x

When the hat fits....

I'm often plopping a great big beanie on the first kid that just happens to wander too close to my desk for a quick photo for posting. It's starting to dawn on me that I should probably show you how these hats look like on people they actually fit!!! hehe

Here's the beanie that appeared a couple of postings ago...This time on me. Sheeeeshhh! I loved that beanie! So nice for the 'change of season'. (So hard to send off!) I promise I only wore it for a few seconds for the photo!

Regards, Ruth xxx

PS Late addition: This morning I received a lovely thank you card to the new owner of this beautiful hat ( Geeezzzz I loved that hat!) and it seems to have taken her under it's spell, also...She mentioned that she was actually a hat collector and that this beanie was "top of the lot!", (awwweee, shucks! hehe) and she'd like to meet me sometime! All the best, Karen, and thank you for your lovely card. Ruth xx

Hehe...look at us!! In the paper!! (thanks for scanning this up, Tye...I just pulled it out of your blog!)

So enjoying my spinning....lovin' it!

The rhythmic breathing of my wheel....the quiet of night...the feel of the beautiful Merino rovings running through my fingers and the anticipation of the finished yarn. I've somehow journeyed back to the meditative aspect of my spinning. (hence my temporary absence from the computer...sorry) I've really enjoyed making these cute little hanks. I haven't recorded the how-to's of these guys...I needed just to relax and let 'em flow. And flow they did. It's lovely to think that the new owners of these hanks will have one-off individual yarns for their projects. Gotta love that!

These hanks will be among the stock that will be available at the Werribee Craft festival this weekend. I'm pretty excited (and nervous) as Sheepychic yarn hasn't been available at a craft festival before...it's new ground. They will be alongside of Tye's beautiful range of MMD butterfly shawls and yarns which is a real honour for me. Tye has a few festivals under her belt now and to think shes happy for Sheepychic yarns to share her stall chuffs me up no end. ( See the link for MMD on my profiles...and while you're there be sure to pop into Carols Mosaicing the World web site and leave a comment. Tell her Ruth sent ya...hehe)

Also available will be some Sheepychic hand dyed Merino rovings. I often speak to people who have a dusty old wheel and an unused fleece stash so maybe I can tempt some spinners of old. It will be interesting to see how they go...but I must admit....it is so weird to dye some fleece and not spin it!...I won't see how they turn out!! (I may have to stalk them..hehe) Anyway...all the very best and if you're in the Werribee area call into the Market. It's big, busy and full of unique Christmas shopping ideas!! Oh...and bring us a COFFEE...hehe. Regards, Ruth. xxxx

I'm baaaccckkkkkk!

No, I haven't run away and joined the peace corps...can't get rid of me that easily! I have had a few fibre projects on the go...but with school holidays and with P&D getting older I'm ready for bed time rather than blog time. Here is some yarn from the "My Town- Kyabram" range and is called Grace Woods. I was very happy as I have a hat order instead of a yarn order so I got to pretend I had bought it...taking the pretty label off...carefully undoing the binding threads...laying it out as an oval over my legs and then **Joy** rolling the yarn into a ball ready for knitting. This (for some strange reason...why, Tye, why?? ) is a really nice thing to do. The hat created itself nicely..I knitted it pattern free which I am doing more and more of lately. I did have a small directive of making it similar to my beanie made with some M.M.D. yarn posted some time ago. I love putting a real Spring twist to current beanies (still chilly on our morning walks, girls!) so I've featured a cute brim, the lightest of the light 14 micron 100% Merino white sheepychic yarn where I've spun in a little sparkle and a cheeky little ribbon which ties to a bow at the back. I nearly chose a gold ribbon...then some raffia...then headed for some purple. This is easily changed or removed as I've run it through a row of cluster stitch leaving a nice pattern either way.

Ahh...it's so deliciously soft and light. Hopefully the new owner will love it!!

Before I go I'll post a cute picture of our bush disco we had while camping recently. Soooo much fun! Sooooo much washing!!! Thanks so much, Carol for lending us your little slice of paradise for our holiday. Be sure to pop into Carol's space here...http://gundydog.spaces.live.com/ and check out her garden and mosiacs and don't forget to leave her a comment congratulating her for surviving a week of us lot hangin' about!

All the very best to you all and thanks for popping into Sheepychic Bloggings. Bye for now.

The return of Sharna....a mouse tail!... hehe

A ripple of joy and amazement yesterday as Wondermum...(ol' Sheepychic here) managed to locate our children's precious pet, Sharna, after she went missing in OPEN FARM LAND and bring her home!! Impossible?!?!..No..Highly improbable...but not impossible. She found her way to the topple mouse trap we set....hooray! Thank goodness! A huge sigh of relief for us all. A big drink, a cashew nut and a quick cuddle...then a big rest back in her tank. (And a line up at the bathroom sink with the anti-bacterial hand wash for all) Sharn..you're still a mouse after all... Its amazing how even the tiniest of pets can become important members of the family. Now Cloe (aka Speedy mouse) if you a reading this...go to the topple trap...(not the light!!!) to the topple traaaapppp!!! We miss you! More yarn posting soon...thanks for logging into Sheepychic Bloggings... Ruth xx

Hippy String Bag Mission. (Tye can I borrow some Size 20 Needles?) hehe

Hello to all...I hope you're enjoying some Spring Melbourne Warmth (Those of you from Melb, anyway!) I'm a little excited at the moment 'cos I'm on a mission. It's funny how 'Missions' can put a spark in your step...hehe! I was grocery shopping the other day and spied, lining up at the Deli, the cutest, funkiest hippy string shopping bag ever! (Slung over the shoulder of it's nifty owner, of course) I was inspired. I want one! Well with such a large family I guess I'll need a few! So...Yarn... It'll need to be somewhat inelastic (hehe...visions of a shopping bag with a few tins in it dangling around my ankles ) It'll need to be pretty strong...which handspun usually is. Cool! Check out what I've come up with so far. All of these yarns are an Alpaca Merino Blend, in black, brown and grey. The ratio of Alpaca to the Merino is apparently about 80:20...but the Merino seems quite course. The alpaca is a lot less elastic than Merino...Ideal for what I'm after, but you wouldn't want a scarf from it, as the course Merino is a little scritchie. These first hanks are just what I'm looking for. I've spun them off...and plied back with some interesting commercial highlight yarns. With the grey I plied back with machine thread and tossed in some silver fibres at odd intervals. Now I better figure out a string bag pattern....any hints will be sooooooooo appreciated in the comment or by email (see address in my profile). I wish I could crochet...I think this may be the way to go. That's that for the Hippy string bags... but I thought I might post a photo of some really cute yarn a made the other night. I'm loving this...it's cute. Thanks for popping into Sheepychic bloggings. Hope to hear from you soon. Ruth xxx

Glitches of witches!

These sheepychic Witchie beanies are proving a hit...but the best thing about them is that they are so fun to knit! This Witchie beanie features the "Morning Muster" yarn from a few postings ago...("Everyone likes new stuff")combined with some more of that adorable purple I spun up at Tyes house. The silver fibres sparkle beautifully! The new owner of this Witchie is a lover of purple...I wanted to move away from having the purple band/blue hat "thang" so I've staggered the two yarns together...kind of like a "melt". The handspun Morning Muster throws a really unusual wibbly wobbly look...and I've also blobbed through some of that georgeous purple throughout the Morning Muster......looks really nice. Thanks to Felix the cat and his little Wizard owner for the modeling...it's wayyyy to big for you, though, little D!! If you know somebody who would be interested in a Witchie beanie could you please pass them to this site....they cost $65 (when ordered through this site) and are all knitted with my own hand dyed, hand spun yarns. Thanks so much for coming to Sheepychic bloggings...see you soon, Ruth xxx

Witchie Beanies are magically disappearing!

Things are quiet on the Sheepychic front, lately... which is baaddd 'cos I should be oh-so busy!(pictured: Sheepychic "Waterwheel")I have been really tied down with a horrid virus that has been through the children...my arms are aching from carrying around poor little D. He has been sooo hot and so clammy that I've actually had to change his Jarmies and bedding during the nights. It just went on and on and on. I know I've been having a whinge about still feeding them...but thank god they're still nursing 'cos nothing else was eaten. (And don't even mention our renovations. It's going to be great when it's finished...but o m g! I don't even know where my fleece stash is. My entire house had to be stuffed outside for a week under the verandahs. My spinning wheel is jammed somewhere in my room..(I think)

As usual Tye managed to pop into the void (thank god) and I had a wee spin at her house...magic happened. I spun some adorable purple yarn that I have ear marked for three different projects. The cuff on Tye's promised Witchie Beanie is the first....

This project began when Tye and I noticed that the freshly spun purple yarn seemed to complement this hank of Sheepychic "Waterwheel" yarn that I had given her ages ago. It was a funky Witchie Beanie in the making!

I decided to go a little higher with this one...so it flippy flops down nicely. I've left a sparkley tufted runner at the end which is screaming "I want a jingly little bell..I waannntt a jingly little bellllll". I think I'll put one on. That way Tye won't be able to sneak around and tidy up when I feel like being messy! (or pass near the kettle without making coffee...hehe)

Well...I just love it. Mostly knitted while P & D where running around a indoor cricket court filled with toys and puzzles and I endured the most absolutely insanely disgusting coffee I've ever tasted. (Not made.....tasted!) <---- This is my Darlin's favourite quote when he's cooking. It's a little test to see whether or not he actually reads my blog or quickly glances at the photos!.

Bye for now..and thanks for logging into Sheepychic Bloggings. Ruth xx.

Whatcha gonna do with a "Gothic Take two?"

This posting is a bit of an update on the Sheepychic "Gothic Take two" hank featured in the previous posting...take a peek if you haven't seen it! Here is a quick look at Sue's Witchie and warm winter beanie before I post it out to her...I am really happy with the result. I've knitted it freehand without a pattern...so I guess it is truly a Sheepychic original! You can see I've balled up the hank with the coloured ply to end up on the top. I wanted the Cuff Yarn to be the bulkier and I used 8mm Needles here. There is also a long stitch included in here so we can add a cool sheeny deep purple ribbon through if we like. I'm even wondering how a piece of raffia would look...or nothing at all..I'm still deciding. The second part of the hank kicked in nicely just past the cuff. It is a slightly finer yarn so I went onto some smaller needles... I love the shimmer and sparkle and the yarn is so amazingly soft...being spun from 14 micron Merino. (pictured: Tiny witch in a beanie knitted from Sheepychic "Gothic take two" hank. - Magic!!) She's small but oh-so powerful....hehe! One sweet smile and a magical batt of her eyelids can send Mum or Dad to the biscuit barrel...every time! The cutest little witch this side of Melbourne! She's sitting so nicely...the hat is about to flop down over her eyes. I wonder if I should knit her one of her own in a junior size? hehe...add it to the list! Thank you so much for popping into Sheepychic Bloggings. Feel free to contact me via my profile if you would like a beanie similar to this one to magically appear in your mail box !! See you soon, Ruth xx