Times Advocate, 1999-09-01, Page 1818
Exeter Times -Advocate
Business
Wednesday, Sep r 1, 1999
Woman's hobby turns into small business
By Katherine Harding
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
GRANTON -- Doreen
McRobert's basement is
no ordinary basement.
It's jam-packed with
more than 1,000 deco-
rative eggs.
Four years ago,
McRobert innocently
took up the hobby while
vacationing in Florida.
She was taught by a
woman who had 25
years experience teach-
ing egg decorating.
"I picked it up pretty
quickly, said
McRobert.
Today the Granton
woman runs a small
business out of her
Station Street basement
Doreen McRobert, the owner of Egg-Cellent
Designs, has made more than 1,000 decorative eggs
in her basement
called Egg-Cellent
Designs.
McRobert uses differ-
ent types of eggs,
including emu, goose
and ostrich, to forge
her creations.
While she usually has
to buy ostrich eggs in
the U.S., she buys her
goose eggs from a
farmer in London Twp.
She says each egg
takes her six to eight
hours to finish. Using a
dentist drill to design
the egg and supplies,
including gemstones,
music boxes, heavy
duty glue and silk
prints, McRobert goes
to great lengths to
make each egg a piece
of art.
She makes every type
of decorated egg, imag-
inable - from
Cinderalla's coach
(using an ostrich egg) to,
a graduation egg to
Christmas ornament
eggs -- McRobert has it
all.
She is also willing to
custom make an egg to
suit a customer's needs.
"I basically have made
or can make an egg for
every occasion," she
said.
MoRobert's says her
specialty is decorating
eggs with a Victorian
theme.
Wholesale prices
McRobert sells her
eggs Atwholesale
prices ante range. from
$75-$300.
She said her prices
are low compared to
store-bought decorative
eggs.
"I'm basically selling
them for half price,"
she said.
McRobert has been
invited to sell her wares
at the International
Plowing Match in
Dashwood.
She said her decorat-
ed eggs are not only a
nice addition to any
home but are also con-
sidered good luck
charms.
"I've read that having
an egg in your house is
thought to be a thing of
luck," she explained.
"One of my customers
from Dashwood bought
three and ,just recently
he won the 6/49."
To contact Doreen
McRobert at.. Egg-
Cellent Designs call
225-2853.
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McRobert. is shown above at work on one of her
e,; Each decorative egg takes six to eight hours to
complete.
Ontario offers support for earth
TORONTO - Helen
Johns,
Ontario's
Minister of Citizenship,
Culture and Recreation,
offered the province's
assistance in the effort
to re -build Turkey's
infrastructure after last
week's earthquake.
"The news of the dev-
astating impact of this
earthquake has shocked
the Turkish community
and all Ontarians," said
Minister 'Johns. "Our
thoughts and prayers go
out to the people of
Turkey." Minister Johns
said the province is
ready to contribute in
both the short .and long
term. In the short term,
the province will help
facilitate and promote
the efforts of the
Turkish community to
build public support
through public service
announcements, media
releases, and other com=
munications. It .will also
co-ordinate with inter-
national agencies to
help Turkish citizens in
Ontario communicate
with their loved ones
back home. Finally, the
Minister will personally
call upon the private
sector to make contribu-
tions of those needed
items that have been
identified by , relief agen-
cies, such as water puri-
fiers and power genera-
tors. The Minister said
the Government • of
Ontario stands ready to
work with Ottawa to
share its expertise in the
long-term effort to re-
build those parts of
Turkey affected by the
earthquake. Minister
Johns said Ontario -
based experts will be
made available to pro-
vide technical expertise
to the rebuilding efforts.
This could include
assistance from the
Ministry of
Transportation to help
e victims
repair roads and other
transportation links,
from the Mi istr3r of the
Environment to help
repair water and
sewage • systems, and in
the redevelopment of
the electrical generation
and distribution system.
"There's so much that
still needs to be done to
help Turkey recover
from this devastating
earthquake," said Hasan
Salih, President of the
Federation of Canadian
Turkish Associations.
"Ontario's Turkish com-
munity appreciates any
help the Government of
Ontario can offer."
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