Friday Facts.......

• Out of all the builders/bathroom renovator types that I called only one bothered to show up. He even showed up when he said he would. Marc was here Wednesday night looking at what needed to be done, and called back out tonight with a finished estimate. We will be supplying all the fixtures and fittings etc and Marc will be supplying the labour, he figures on a week or so to get the whole job done. Thankfully we won't be without a bathroom for that time as he is going to rig us up a shower in the laundry. Better still, he will be making a start in a couple of weeks!! There's more good news.....because we will have a HUGE space in the bathroom once all the walls are out we are going to incorporate the laundry within the bathroom. This leaves our current laundry which is attached to the house but not accessible from within the house, EMPTY. But not for long...I'm claiming it as my dye kitchen!! Be.Still.My.Heart.
• I've just whacked some new goodies up on the website. There's some new Merino and Corriedale as well as the new edition of Wild Fibers magazine.
• Yes, I have been dyeing like a crazy woman and have even managed to get some of it dry. There will be new hand dyeds available on the website soon. I promise.
• My new drum carder hasn't arrived yet. I'm sure you'll hear the squeals of unadulterated delight when it does. I am hoping/praying/wishing it will arrive next week.
• Tomorrow we are going to shop for everything we need for the bathroom. Please pray for my sanity. PLEASE.
• Again, THANK EWE for all the entries to name my NEW EWE - I can see that I am going to have a hard time making a decision :-)
• I've started loading holiday pics up onto my flickr if you'd like to have a peek. There's loads more still to come.
• Enjoy your weekend! xoxo
  

Whoa - THANK EWE!!

Whoa!!
I woke this morning to a swag of names for my NEW EWE - thanks for the giggles over my early morning wake up coffee :-)
Keep them coming, your creativity and ingenuity is AMAZING!!

Name the New Ewe!

I need some help naming the new EGMTK! Ewe!
Please email your suggestions or leave a note in the comments :-) Enter/suggest as many times as you like.
The person who suggests the name I choose will receive a yummy parcel of EGMTK! fibres delivered to their door :-)
Entries close at the end of the month...that should give you all plenty of time to think up something clever!

Need Louet?

I've been meaning to say that I'm a Louet Dealer Chick now, so if you need any Louet goodies just yell :-) You know how I lurve to enable ;-P
Just to be sure that Louet's ordering system is fully functioning I thought it wise to place an order...y'know? Just so I know how it all works...for future reference and all.
OH BE STILL MY HEART - I ordered me one of these babies..and it's somewhere between Holland and here as I type this. Absolutely. Cannot. Wait. I have lusted after a Louet Drum Carder forever...and even more so after Holl got one for Christmas and taunted me with it's wonderfullness!

This will make up for the pain of not being able to spin while we were away....because someone left part of their wheel behind!

Meet the New Ewe!

Introducing....(drumroll)....

THE NEW EWE!

I needed some graphics that were a better fit for me and my bizness, so after much asking around I found a Designer who was able to interpret my ideas.
I wanted a sheep with attitude that was also quirky and fun......but there's just one problem :-(
My new Ewe is nameless :-/
I'll be back tomorrow with details of a little competition to see if you all can't help me name my new Ewe!

Friday Facts......

• Last night we had a front move through and dump rain on us along with a very spectacular light and sound show. Yay! More rain predicted. Fingers crossed.
• Did you know that Rainbow Lorikeets have an unfortunate habit of squirting/spraying poop? Bobo shat on me this morning. Just so you know :-/
• I am still editing pics from our holiday. It would appear that John is a snap happy fool! More pics to come. This was taken at Mogo Zoo, if you look closely you'll see a Pygmy Marmoset just to the left of C's right hand. They are gorgeous and so very tiny and very, very CUTE!
  

• John knocked a wall out in the bathroom just over 4 years ago....and then stopped. My man has a chronic case of renovatitis startitis. I am done waiting. And then some. I have called in reinforcements and next week will see several rounds of 'free no obligation quote' action in the sad, old bathroom. Nothing fancy. Just simple and basic. I will keep you updated and possibly even post BEFORE pics AFTER the job is completed. Maybe.
• My girl Julie is renovating too. If you are into Vintage, Primitive, Old, Rustic, Quilts etc best get yourself over and check out Julies site as well as her eBay auctions. It all has to GO!
• More fibre arrived today!! The Wool Room is now packed to capacity and the EGMTK! stash has spilled over into our bedroom. Must update website!
• I have a date with the dyepots tomorrow night assuming all goes to plan. Cannot wait.
• There's more but I can't remember :-(
• Have a wonderful weekend xoxo
  

Mixed Bag Fibre Club Parcels in the mail today....

Just a very quick heads up to let all the Mixed Bag Fibre Clubsters know that your parcel is in the mail - ENJOY!

Home again....

We're back!
While we had a great time away, I'm always happy to be home again even if it means doing the headless chook thing x 10 to catch up :-)
At the moment I'm madly packing the backlog of orders and as soon as that's all done my attention will turn to packing the first mail-out for the EGMTK! Mixed Bag Fibre Club.....I want those parcels in the mail by weeks end.
Lots of new goodies arrived while we were gone, they'll make their way onto the website just as soon as I work through my list of must-get-dones!
I have lots of holiday snaps to share - I'll be back as soon as soon as I get caught up with pics and a run down :-)

Off for a getaway...

OMG...I can't believe that it's been almost a week since I last blogged :-(
Just a quick heads up that we're nicking off for a getaway up on the NSW South Coast....we'll be back on deck on Monday 12th May.
I anticipate/hope/believe that I will have internet access, so fingers crossed I'll be able to check in and say Hi :-)
Also, any Orders placed during this time will be processed when we arrive home :-)
Talk soon
xoxo

A tale of two shawls.....

Before I tell you about these two shawls I want to start out by saying that there are no words to fully express how much they mean to me....and how very much they are treasured.
But I will try. The telling has taken some weeks as I get emotional (this is a grown up word for doing the ugly cry with associated sound effects that is guaranteed to scare small children and make the cat run and hide)..but here I am for the umpteenth time trying hard not to get emotional.
This beautiful Swallowtail shawl was gifted to me by my dear friend, Annie who lives in Canada.
I admired this shawl from it's very beginning...even dragging Kate in on my drooling sessions.
We oohed and aahed over the yarn choice (Curious Creek Wasonga) and colourway (Autumn in New England) at Annies place of work. We even went and drooled over Annies project page where it clearly states that the shawl was being knitted for me......I didn't see that even though I looked at the page countless times....poor Annie lived in fear of someone I knew pointing it out to me, but it was definitely a 'meant to be' thing that myself or anybody else didn't notice.
In the meantime, Annie was knitting away and all concerned that the colourway was all wrong for me as I'd just had my hair coloured red, pink and purple. Nothing could be further from the truth....is this not one of the most beautiful colourways that you've ever clapped eyes on?! I am a goner when it comes to rusts, teals and turquoise at play together...definitely weak at the knees material!
Sooooooooo, without much warning (I think Annie made an off-hand comment about a parcel being on the way, but not to get too excited cos it wasn't much...) a parcel arrived.
And inside was this most divine and beautiful Swallowtail just for me. I didn't even have it out of the parcel and the tears started to flow...then the sobs came...(this is where the little folk took fright and the cat got outta Dodge).
I was so humbled and blown away that someone would make something so beautiful...just for me.
This shawl holds much significance for me...and I've sat here with tears rolling down my face for the last ten minutes searching for the right words to explain the significance...but they won't come, so maybe that will be another blog post a ways down the track.
THANK YOU doesn't seem enough Annie...but you know how much this shawl is loved and treasured xoxo

Instead of knitting the nupps that the pattern calls for, Annie has placed beads instead - they're just stunning....I love them! There's more pics on Annies flickr.
Do you remember this shawl that I blogged about here? It arrived here last week - it's mine!
Holly has a way of extracting information from me without me even being terribly aware...and we'd had a conversation about this shawl and the colourway, yes it was gorgeous, yes I LOVED it...and yadda yadda. As only I can do...I had the bull well and truly by the foot and thought that I'd try to 'help' Holly sell the shawl by blogging about it.....!! Holly informs me by that time the Persian Shawl was already sitting in my box waiting to be mailed. In the meantime, I'd ordered some of Holly's luscious locks and they were on their way down here..along with the shawl unbeknown to me. I should've twigged that something was up when Holl kept asking if my parcel arrived...but I didn't...I was completely and utterly clueless...still.
So, in due course my parcel of fibres did arrive from Holly...on top was a grocery bag with 'something' in it with the handled tied up in a knot...I took this out of the parcel without even glancing at it, set it aside and started to dig my fibres out so I could cop a feel. A full 10 minutes later I decide to investigate the contents of the grocery bag....and there was the SHAWL!! Cue the ugly cry AGAIN!
Poor Holly had to listen to me blubbering my thanks down the phone..snifflin'and sobbin. Mind you, all she could do was laugh at me...she'd got me good, even down to putting the shawl in a grocery bag so as not to alert me that it contained something special!!
Miss Holly is responsible for my shawl fixation/obsession and I now have three HollyEQQ creations....each of them different.....and each breathtakingly beautiful.
This shawl was a collaboration between another talented friend, Sandy and Holly. Holly worked her majick with colour and dyed the locks (Mohair and BFL) and sent them to Sandy for spinning...Sandy then sent the yarn back to Holly to create the shawl. LOVE LOVE LOVE!
Thanks Holl xoxo

To finish off...here's some Sari Silk Ribbon that's now available on the EGMTK! website.
The colours are AMAZING...and every bit as vibrant as this pic :-)
Don't dawdle if you want some though...these pretties have been selling fast!

Wish List Fibres......

Do you see the Wish List of Fibres over to the right?
THEY'RE HERE!!
They arrived today along with a shipment of pretties from India...so much fun in one day AND I didn't molest the Courier drivers....I was very restrained until I got everything inside ;-P

Here are the Wish List Fibres that arrived:

Brown Llama Top
Brown Camel Top
Fine Shetland Top
Wensleydale Top
Coopworth Top
Grey Icelandic Top
Norwegian Top
Masham Top
South African Fine Top
BFL Top
Falkland Top
Welsh Top
Grey Swalesdale Top

More pics to come just as soon as I get everything unpacked and checked off :-)

It's about to get crazier around here......

It's not long 'til Bendy y'know...I want to know who thought it was a clever idea to post that countdown thingy here on my Blog???
I am going to have to shift gears ever so slightly, as John has announced that we are heading off for a week away. We leave here on Friday the 2nd and will return somewhere around the 11th. I think. I hope.
I did think to show him my diary and point all that I want to have done for Bendy so that it's not a mad scramble at the last minute. He thought it helpful to point out that it 'looks like you're going to be busy" :-/

So I have been busy.
These batts were a custom order. As much as I don't usually enjoy custom work these were fun!
They are very textured and contain Merino, Bamboo, English Leicester, Sari Silk, Angelina, Silk Noil and Glitteratti.

I've also been playing around with some Reeled Silk twists, adding some colour and having a play - they take dye like nothing else!
Finally, this is Silk Noil that I've been wanting to dye - watch out for this on the website.
The EGMTK! Top Paddock Blend Fibre Club parcels left here yesterday - I made it to the Post Office just in the nick of time........my 70 kilos of Gotland Lamb fleece arrived just as I was trying to get out the door!
Now to sort and skirt the abovementioned fleece and get it off to the Mill for processing - pics to come.

Updated!

The Update happened!! Really, it did!! You can find 12 new hand dyeds here on the EGMTK! website :-)


The swag arrived today for the Fibre Club parcels.......I'm going to be a parcel packing fool so that they're in the mail on Friday :-)

Tomorrow night's the night.....

I had myself all organised to update the website tonight with some hand-dyed Top Paddock blends...and in true Murphy's Law form there's something up with the server.
So, while to website is operational....the control panel isn't. Go figure.
The upside is that I am now SUPER organised to get an update happening tomorrow night!

I have my fingers crossed that the swag for the Top Paddock Fibre Club parcels will arrive tomorrow...which means that mail-outs are more than likely going to take place this week - YAY!
See you tomorrow night....there will be an update!!

EGMTK! Top Paddock Optim/Tencel........

Just a quickie to let you know that there's 4 new hand dyed Optim/Tencel tops available on the website :-)


Still to come is Optim/Bamboo, Merino/Bamboo and Merino/Silk - I'm tipping that I'll get them happening tomorrow night :-)

EGMTK! Top Paddock Merino/Soy

4 new hand dyed EGMTK! Top Paddock Merino/Soy tops have made their way onto the website!
Fingers crossed the rest will follow in an orderly fashion - fingers crossed I'll be able to take some pics tonight once I get the little folk to bed :-)


Thank you for the emails/good wishes/phone calls after my last post - you all rock :-)

Mini BFL Update

I managed to get some hand dyed BFL up onto the website late Sunday night.
Still to come are EGMTK! Top Paddock blends of Merino/Silk, Merino/Soy, Merino/Bamboo, Optim/Bamboo and Optim/Tencel.
I had hoped to have it all up on the website by now, but there's been a break or two in my stride after receiving some news about the health of two family members.
Good vibes, positive thoughts and prayers would all be appreciated :-)


I have started dyeing the last round of the current Fibre Club and as soon as the swag arrives they'll be in the mail and on their way! I'll post here to let you know to look out for them.
I'll also be working on getting the rest of the update happening :-)

EGMTK! Mixed Bag Fibre Club - taking sign-ups!!

All done!
Details for the next Fibre Club are on the website now :-)

EGMTK! Mixed Bag Fibre Club

Please watch the website later tonight!

More Alpaca/Corriedale....

There's some more Alpaca/Corriedale Blend on the website now!

Meet.......

Tangerine

Grape Jelly

New EGMTK! Fibre Club.........

It's April already and that means two things here at EGMTK!
1. This is the last month of the Top Paddock Fibre Club
2. The announcement & sign-ups of the new EGMTK! Fibre Club
Watch this space for more details.......

This baby arrived in my letterbox today......you'll forgive me if I'm a little quiet :-/

EGMTK! Optim/Soy Top Paddock Blend.....

I'm about to release the newest EGMTK! Top Paddock Blend onto the website.
Can you guess what the blend is?



This mini update contains only the new blend - there'll be another update next week with a great variety of fibres and blends :-)

Introducing Green Tea - Alpaca/Corriedale Blend

I've just loaded some Green Tea Alpaca/Corriedale onto the EGMTK! website. I must say that I was pleasantly surprised to feel how soft this blend is - very nice indeedy!
There are limited quantities available - this particular blend is being phased out and will be replaced with an Alpaca/Merino blend further down the track. Can't wait :-)

I've been meaning to say (and keep forgetting...story of my life at the moment!) that Donni started a EGMTK! group on Ravelry way back in October last year. Our little group has steadily grown and we number about 50 now. So, if you're on Ravelry please drop in and say Hi :-)
I'm off to dabble with some dyes - shooting for a mini-update over the weekend and something more substantial next week...will see how I go!

I've been tagged by Velma.......


These are the rules!

1. Link to the person that tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself.
4. Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs.
5. Let each random person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their website.

My six non-important things:

1. I have a close and personal relationship with Peanut Butter. Generally on toast with lashings of real butter with either cheese, jam or banana.

2. I have trouble sitting still, which manifests itself as fidgeting if I'm in a situation where I'm compelled to sit still.

3. I'm not much good with human blood. This disappoints my Mum no end I'm sure as I come from a long line of RN's. Mum is a Theatre Sister and my Grandmother was a midwife.

4. I prefer vintage over new anyday. The older the better.

5. I don't watch much TV - see #2.

6. I am not a morning person, most definitely a night owl. I don't talk much first thing ;-p

* I'm not going to tag anyone - feel free to consider yourself tagged if you wish to be and leave me a comment so I can come have a read :-)

Hooked Rag Rug Workshop

My friend Anne Churches will be conducting a Hooked Rag Rug Workshop in Kyabram on Saturday 12th April from 11 am 'til about 3.30pm.
Cost of the workshop is $35 plus $15 for materials.
Tea and Coffee will be supplied but you will need to bring lunch.
A follow-up will be held 3 to 4 weeks after to assist in the finishing of your creation :-)
If you are interested in joining in on what will be a fun and informative day, please contact Anne to reserve a spot.


See you there :-)

Happy Easter......

Look who's come to stay for Easter! Burtie is back for another visit while his family are away camping over the Easter break.
I'm constantly amazed at how extensive his vocabularly is......I've wasted a good amount of time running to the door to answer the knocking and a female voice calling out 'hello'....there is no sound that he cannot mimic I swear. Our Burmese kitty, Sachi is not terribly happy to have Burtie here. Everytime Sachi appears in the room (which hasn't been often I might add) Burtie calls out 'here kitty kitty kitty' in a very sickly sweet and menacing tone - the look on Sachi's face is priceless!
Whilst Sachi is most put out at Burtie's presence, Bobo is thrilled to have some feathered company. It is a very noisy household with a parrot and a lorikeet trying to outdo each other!!
This has been a great exercise as far as seeing how the two birds interact as I'm keen to add some little Green Cheek Conures to our menagerie later in the year.

John has Easter off so there's a spot of renovating happening. I am trying hard to not let it mess with my head which means I've been staying out of the way and trying very hard not to look!
I hope to fire up the dyepots over the next few nights and get some fibres ready for an update, will keep you posted on my progress :-)
Have a Happy Easter and stay safe. I hope the Easter Bunny is good to you!!

Shawl Love.....

Miss Holly has been busy knitting shawls AGAIN. So far I have resisted the urge to adopt another one. Just. Not looking. Not looking ;-p
This beauty was created by fibre dyed by Holly and spun by Sandy of Homestead Wool and Gift Farm.
If you want to re-home this pretty baby you'd best be quick. I see the Malabrigo shawl has already been snapped up.

Persian Shawl by HollyEQQ

Yarn No.9 in stock.....ALL SOLD

Yarn No.9 arrived today, it's available on the website now...but hurry they're selling quickly!!

Fingers crossed I'll get back here again later tonight - I have some links I want to share...and some 13 micron Merino to show off :-)

I am an ESFP?

You Are An ESFP

The Performer You are a natural performer and happiest when you're entertaining others. A great friend, you are generous, fun-loving and optimistic. You love to laugh - and you like almost all people equally. You accept life as it is, and you do your best to make each day fantastic. In love, you are a smooth talker and incorrigible flirt. While you get into relationships easily, you don't tend to stick around when times get tough. At work, you do well in groups. You keep everyone laughing through difficult tasks. You would make a good actor, designer, or counselor. How you see yourself: Capable, fair, and efficient When other people don't get you, they see you as: Incompetent, stubborn, and silly

What's Your Personality Type?

New loot.....

It was a good day for new loot today. My shooting table arrived as well as a parcel of fun felted goodness. That's a good day in my book.
Thankfully John was home and was able to put the table together for me...otherwise likely I'd still be here clutching a bunch of tubing in one hand and the directions in the other all the while muttering under my breath and getting nowhere fast.
I still don't have the right lighting (going to town tomorrow to rectify that) so these pics were snapped off in the loungeroom using available daylight...which wasn't much.
I can hardly wait to get everything lit up like a piggery on auction day.
The ability to take well lit pics at any time of day (particularly at night in my case) is going to be WONDERFUL.

Aren't these little babies just too cute? I'll be stocking these soon :-) They're perfect to add into yarn...or to make jewellery with.

More felted goodness :-)
Aren't the spiral beads too cute?
I have a thing for skulls at the moment. Dunno why. Just do.
I *should* be showing you some happy snaps of my yarn blocker/skeiner that was made just for me by some very special friends over in the West. Except that it arrived here on Monday with one of the caps missing off the post tube and bits missing :-( I can see where the tape that was holding the cap on had been CUT to gain access.
NOT HAPPY JAN.
A short sharp phone call was made to Australia Post and a complaint has been made via their 'green form'. The local Postmaster has also added his voice to the complaint form so I remain hopeful that SOMETHING will be done. Twats.
Have a great weekend everyone.....someone please send the cooler weather BACK this way. K?