TRAVELLING AGAIN

I have managed to squeeze in a quick trip to Victoria to catch up on domestic duties and make sure SigOther is behaving himself!  So three days of wet weather coming up I fear.  It was pouring at Tullamarine this morning as I dashed for the little Bendigo Airport Bus but thank heavens it had stopped by the time I hopped out at the top of the hill at Malmsbury.

Home Sunday nite then next week will be full of last minute things to do before the "big move" and also catching up with the wonderful artisan crafts people who have decided to support Oatlands handmade.  There is lots of stock to pick up and get organised.   The MOO Robot emailed me to say my lovely new business cards and other printed stuff is on it's way and the shop counter has arrived in the garage - now so full I can't find the little looms!!  (Still got orders to complete b4 Thursday and another trip to Hobart to fit in.  Whew!!)

Looking forward also to a trip to Eastside Makers on Sunday 5th to say hello and to collect more stock.  Some visitors from the Coast will be there - hope they have a great market! Oh, and a big big thanks to Extras Direct (I won a Gift Voucher from them at the September Eastside) I went shopping when in Hobart on Wednesday.  Bought a beautiful handmade jacket. Absolutely gorgeous little shop at Shoreline Shopping Centre full of accessories, jewellery, unique clothing and shoes.  Thanks thanks thanks.

Notions in my (Victorian) Neighbourhood

You may have gathered by now that I have a split (ah hem....personality??) life.  Some of it is here in Tasmania - born and bred 7th generation - and some of it is in the little village of Malmsbury on the edge of the central highlands of Victoria with the remote Significant Other who is there for his work.  Near Kyneton, it's rather like our Ross in a way - big english trees and old buildings and busy with tourists.  (Also b. cold in the winter and stinking hot in the summer).

Well.....10 kms up the road, Piper Street in Kyneton is the place to go on a weekend.  The monthly Farmer's Market is a draw, but the roughly kilometer length is absolutely chokkas with cafes, providores, art, handmade and decorating.  Everything from French Provincial to vintage Australian.  I love to wander when I get the chance...which I did on Sunday.

In a previous post I have enthused about Stockroom on Piper who have occupied part of the old Meskills Wool Mill building and this was my first time back since their opening (and relocation from Daylesford) - and I was not disappointed.  Jason and Magali have added a new coffee hub complete with vintage red caravan and 1970s lounges to sit on and books to browse (I was right at home!); there were the usual gorgeous Australian designed and made clothes to peruse plus an eclectic offering of handmades interspersed with vintage collectibles and kitchenalia - not to mention the exhibition spaces and artist workshops!

So......I was absolutely exstatic (well very excited at the least) when I spied a familiar logo and recognised the work of the lovely Rosie from NOTIONS !  Wonderful to see Tassie handmade abroad and mixing it with the world!

It's amazing how much can happen in 10 days!

Just been reading  what y'all have been up to over the past week or so....everyone is sooo busy and lots of wonderful news and good stuff happening!

Me and the SO have been travelling in the big wide spaces of Australia on our annuals - last year we went to Broken Hill and down the Darling with not much water in it.  This year, some of the same, but along bits of the Murray and up the Darling on the other side.... water water absolutely everywhere...and the feed...and the wildflowers!  Also this year we took the tent and only slummed it in a park cabin on the last night.

2.600 kms Sunday to Friday...whew!  but fantastic. I flew out last Saturday and on the Sunday we drove the trusty little Toyota Ute from Malmsbury (our Victorian home near Kyneton in the Central Highlands) to Loxton (SA).  Monday was Berri and Renmark, then off through NSW along the Murray River to Lock 7 near Rufus River at the bottom of Lake Victoria (full of water). Tuesday was Wentworth, Pooncarrie and to 'Bindara Station' on the Darling River (full of water). Wednesday we ran from the rain through the Kinchega National Park & the Menindee Lakes area (full of water); then real outback stuff up to Wilcannia (boy oh boy) and to Tilpa (where we wrote our names on the wall at the pub) and camped at the weir (full of water). Thursday back down to Cobar where I met the lovely Jodie at Jellywares, then Hilston and Hay. Friday we headed for home through Balranald, back into Victoria across the Murray (full of water) at Swan Hill, down through Kerang, to Bridgewater, Malong, and home along the freeway back to Malmsbury (where the Malmsbury Res is almost full of water LOL).

I'm tired thinking about it!   I just fell off the red plane this arvo and am catching up on the important things like emails and blogs!

Photos tomorrow .......xxxxxx...zzzzzzz....xxxxxxx

A Quiet Week

I've been a bit quiet this week, but then I've been on domestic duties in the wet and wild high country of Victoria.  My 4 weekly visit for cooking cleaning and shopping etc etc is once again over and it's back to work ....and boy was it wet!  Floods everywhere and all the dry creeks and rivers are once again flowing.  It's truly spectacular and a tribute to nature to try and fix it green again.

We went for a drive to check out the state of the local waterfalls.......


Loddon Falls near Glenlyon (Spa Country Victoria) at the weekend




Loddon Falls earlier this year

.......and at Trentham, not far from Daylesford, the Coliban River was making a statement and a half!


Trentham Falls at the weekend



The roar of the water was magic!

Then we went to lunch at Gav's Tav at Trentham - a lovely arty little village about an hour north of Melbourne and not far from our Victorian miner's cottage.  The Cool Country Tavern serves beaut meals and beverages - large plates and scrumptious food - in a warm and vibrant atmosphere.  We didn't stay for the live music on Sunday arvo as we needed a sleep after the huge meal Gav brought out to us.  thanks Gav & Tracey !

Meskills Woolworks - end of an era

Do I boast, crack open the bubbly or cry ?   I have the LAST TWO HANKS, yes the last ones EVER from the Meskills Spinning Mill in Kyneton, Victoria.  The demise of this wonderful establishment earlier this year has meant that a host of small wool producers wanting their product spun to finished yarn now have to go elsewhere.  Most I spoke to at Bendigo have sent their bales to New Zealand; a few to Echo Beach Alpacas in South Australia - but the general consensus is that we have lost forever the ability for small niche producers to have their fibres finished locally, in Australia.  How sad it is.

Dairing have rescued one of the Meskills spinning machines and have installed it at their premises in Melbourne as a relict of this bygone era, but the rest has gone for scrap.

The woollen goods business continues to trade out of the premsies in Piper Street Kyneton and last month I purchased the last two hanks available.  Some producers such as Jarob Farm and North East Yarns have enought spun yarn for a couple of years, but for many, the costs associated with, and the quantities required, to send to New Zealand, are just too prohibitive.

On a positive note, the guys from Wolf at the Door at Hepburn Springs, Vic have leased the wonderful 1860s  building, formerly the Kyneton Butter Factory Co-operative, laterly housing the spinning mill operation from Meskills and have just opened The Stockroom.  This gallery and retail space featuring Australian designers and makers is a welcome addition to the vibrant Piper Street precinct.

Back from BENDO - TOTT

Well what can I say - it was just FABULOUS and much more betterer than last year. The 133rd Australian Sheep and Wool Show should be called the Wool and Sheep Show as it seemed to me that the woolcraft has about taken over.  We must always pay tribute to the sheep as after all, without their efforts we wouldn't have such stunning fibres to work with!  The BL below was exhausted (counting sheep perhaps ?) and so was I after a whole day at the Bendigo Showgrounds.

Hello to Ewe Too !

Just exhausting being the feature at this year's Bendi !

Last year we were positively falling over Tassies but last weekend, couldn't find any Tassie sheep, but the fleece had some good representation.  Grum only saw one local and that was at the feeding line!

Forton, Epping Forest

Andrew Nicholson, Campbell Town

 Alpacas were out in force too - there is   no doubt that this versatile animal has found a home amoung the gum trees!



With over 300 exhibitors, the woolcraft pavillions were packed with crafters demonstrating, dyeing, batting, weaving, spinning, knitting and displaying their wonderful wares.  The Fashion Parades even stopped the fellas in their tracks.  I cannot believe the creativeness that abounds in fibre.   There was some good tucker too and the sheepdogs were having a ball in the centre arena.

What did I come home with ?      A kilo of beautiful autumn-toned dyed in the fleece Romney x Finn from Lesley Rorke's Wooleebaa Farm that I have already dusted off the spinning wheel to try.  Finn Sheep seem to be the next big thing for niche producers with these long-wool baas producing multiple babies each drop and giving up a fine fleece of around 22 micron.   John and Lucy Edwards from Creswick, Victoria have Finns and Alpacas and John gave me a great overview of Finns in Australia.

I also got some finn x yarn in a lovely russet colourway from Suzi Horne, artist and wool producer.  Her hand painted millspun yarns were gorgeous! 

Shiloh Wool from the Bellarine Penninsula near Geelong had their Silky Wool on offer.  This is spun in New Zealand for them and has been treated by a CSIRO-developed process to stretch and set the fibres, resulting in a fibre that looks and feels like silk.  Available in spun hanks and tops, the hand-painted colours are amazing!  Not online, but you'll find them in the local directories.  I bought 2 skeins of "confetti" which I will weave with Tasmanian Superfine Merino to become a gorgeous scarf.

From Jarob Farm I purchased 500 g of soft millspun corriedale in a caramel colour.  Still with stocks spun at Meskills (now sadly closed) Kyneton Spinning Mill, the ladies were generous with their time and knowledge.

Wooldancer had their artisan hand dyed yarns on display and many other exhibitors were batting, balling and hanking.  EGMTK was hosting the Strauch Family from the USA with their drum carders, ball winders, swifts etc. Otto and Joanne's son was sitting there going like the clappers spinning a lovely yarn on his wheel and loving it too!  The future - yes indeed Otto! I  found a boat shuttle at  Christine's Glenora Weaving and admired the zany art of Conni Togel's Sheep Incognito.   Next I chatted with some Ravelry Guys and Gals who were all so welcoming to a Tassie girl.  I was disappointed that I could not make the dinner or brekkie this year, here's hoping for 2011!  You are all so friendly, helpful and taa for the discount! xxxxx (rowenajo @ ravelry.com)

Then Teresa at  Dairing shared with me!  What an innovative and savvy lot you guys are and so wonderful to talk with.  The range of fibres on offer I could not resist, coming home with some Habu Textiles yarns - the recycled linen, some of the tres unique viscose sizing and a ball of Teresa's own denim cotton.  It was sooo hard to choose - I could have bought the shop! 

Funds depleted, I went round again !  

THANK YOU to everyone who chatted to me.  THANK YOU to everyone who inspired me.  We'll be back again next year...I might even put in an entry for the woolcraft......

A Tasmanian Abroad...Again!

.......Getting excited now...count-down 6 sleeps then on the boat and off to the 133rd Australian Sheep & Wool Show in Bendigo on July 16 to 18.  From the website  Bendigo Baas  The AUSTRALIAN SHEEP & WOOL SHOW (THE SHEEP SHOW) is the biggest show of its kind in the world. For three days in July, Bendigo becomes the epicenter of woolen fashion, fine food and beautiful fibre.


This will be the fourth year we have been, and I have been saving $$s madly and can hardly wait to get in the mind-blowing Woolcraft pavillions where miles of vendors offer everything from buttons and findings to finished garments.  Many many stalls with glorious handspun and/or hand dyed hanks of silk, cotton, wool, alpaca and every other fibre under the sun.  The fashion parades are just stunning and the Woolcraft competition venues bring you back to earth with a jolt when you see the marvellous talent on display.

The significant other will head straight for the ones on four legs to watch the judging, shearing comps and to catch up on any f&a's from Tassie who are there - and there will be a few I am sure!  I love the fleeces on display and of course who can resist the sheepdog trials.

But the best will be buying buying buying...I hope to be able to purchase some very special yarns to weave weave weave.

The Ravelry lot will be there but I will miss the Friday meet as the Spirit won't get me there in time to make it up to Bendi for Brekkie.

Border Leicester is the feature breed this year. 


Pics and highlights next week !

I'm Baaack!

Just fell off the plane after a week of R&R Bliss in Marvellous Malmsbury deep in the Central Highlands of Victoria.  I just love the area and the plethora (now there's a word lol) of handmades emporia, wonderfully unique pubs and cafes and the endless parade of magnificent views.  We did several "drives" mostly around the Trentham, Dalyesford area and back to Kyneton and home in beautiful sunshine but boy oh boy was it cold!  They tease me about Tassie and suggest I must be used to the cold, but it ain't cold here like it is there.  Could have sworn on Friday it was snowing close by.  Nuh - just cold !

Baz's Lama turned out to be black (so I have to find a new photo) and the fleece was from a 'pacca so I brought home what I could fit in the carry-on to spin up - he want's a cap with flaps...you know, one of them Aztec berry's.  I'll try Baz - reckon I know what you want - a chullo hat.

Made it back to Meskills in Kyneton.  So sad that the spinning mill is now closed and the machinery disbanded.  But they still have some hanks of natural corriedale 30 micron semi-worsted for sale, so came home with another kilo.  Reckon that will be it tho.   The people who have "Wolf at the Door" a marvellous gallery and design business supporting handmade in Hepburn Spa, have leased the building and are to move in around October I think. Check out  http://www.wolfatthedoor.com.au/

Bongo Baz's Llama

Well, rumour has it that Bongo Baz has bought a Llama ! What does that mean ?  Well, he's sent me a message that he wants to swap some llama wool for a woven scarf.  I'm curious so I suppose I'd better choose one of the "boy scarves" and pack it to take to Victoria tomorrow...then I'll get to see what I can do with llama wool! Perhaps some clasped weft weaving coming up lol.

Yep. Esty Shop "on vacation" and this blog will be quiet for a week while I fly off to Marvellous Malmsbury in country Victoria to do a spot of domestic duties for a week.  Really looking forward to the rest and to get away for a change of pace as I have been sooo sooo busy for the last 12 weeks it seems. 

...also, as of today, I don't have to go back to the kitchen! Chucked it in and opted to go back to the relative quiet of the office.  Looking forward to that change of pace too!  Start new job on 19th May : auspicious date - my daughter's birthday ...hope it's a good sign.

See you in a week's time.                  xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Trip to Victoria

Well, what a week!  I had hoped to market at Daylesford Sunday 7th but if you followed the Victorian weather, that was not a good day!  Hailstones the size of golf balls on the Saturday and more of the same and wild wind and rain on the Sunday...so I gave it a miss!   Visited Kyneton Farmer's Market on the next Saturday and what a lovely little market!  A nice mix of produce and crafts and lots of people.  A definite must next time.  So on to Daylesford on Sunday 14th!  It was a huge set up - many more stalls than I had seen before - possibly because of the previous week's weather.  Some really great stuff for sale and lots and lots of junk!! Weather was beautiful with temps in the high 20's. Unfortunately not a lot of people through.  My neighbouring stall holders told me that it was sparse.  But Rowena did OK.  Good sales and lots of cards taken!  Also got info on other maker's markets in the Highlands and Goldfields areas.  Everyone was very friendly.....So planning the next trip!