Friday, March 25, 2011

Viva the Yarn Revolution !




June the 11th has been named International Yarn Bomb day! It is so exciting !
What? I hear you say. Yarn Bombing? What is that!!!??????? And no, it is not aggressive, it has never killed or maimed anybody: it is a Revolution in its most colourful, soft and fluffy way. It can be political, heart-warming and it is funny!
I bet if Che Guevara would have been a knitter, he would have joined the gangs of the many yarn bombers and guerilla knitters that are making the city streets so much more colourful and quirky!
Yarn bombing, yarnbombing, graffiti knitting, guerrilla knitting, or yarnstorming is a type of graffiti or street art that employs colorful displays of knitted or crocheted or woven piece of fibre art, rather than paint or chalk. While yarn installations – called yarn bombs or yarnstorms – may last for years, they are considered non-permanent, and, unlike graffiti, can be easily removed if necessary. The practice is believed to have originated in the U.S. with Texas knitters trying to find a creative way to use their leftover and unfinished knitting projects, but it has since spread worldwide..
While other forms of graffiti may be expressive, decorative, territorial, socio-political commentary, advertising or vandalism, yarn bombing is almost exclusively about reclaiming and personalizing sterile or cold public places. Yarn bombs can also be used in rural areas enhancing the spiritual character of nature. Instead of hugging a tree you can wrap it up and give it a nice coat.
On city street corners all over the world, yarn graffiti is seen being wrapped around telephone poles, woven through barbed wire and attached to car antennas. The movement originally started in Houston, Texas by a gang called Knitta Please (aka Knitta) and there is now an international gueriilla knitting movement that is embraced by artists of all ages in countries from Canada to China. Yarn bombing is a merge between installation art, needlework and street art. You can see yarn bombing in a lot of different shapes and sizes and forms and it generally involves the act of attaching a handmade item to a street fixture or leaving it in the landscape. It can be as complex as a sweater credated to cover a statue or as simple as a crocheted rectangle wrapped around a lamp post. Some tag items as tiny as door handles but others create works large enough to cover a public monument. You can seek out a certain project to tag oir do it on a whim: anything goes !

Why yarn bomb you say?
· it’s a fun thing to do
· it’s portable
· it’s a way to self expression
· it challenges social convention
· it allows you to use knitting and crochet work for a purpose other than garment creation
(also called “taking back the knit”)
· it challenges preconcepions about knitting and fibre art in general
· small projects are low pressure and do not require a lot of planning
· it’s a new way of experimenting with new fibres, stitch patterns and techniques
· it inspires joy and surprise both in yourself and others.

Here are some examples of what has been Yarn Bombed:







Bunny bombed: variation on a theme..lol


I have been wrapping and adorning trees and all thing inanimate (and animate I might add ) for years but hey, that is just me and I have done it privately in and around where I live, never venntured out to adorn public property on city streets.. This time on International Yarn Bomb day, we can go out and spread the revolution. I have started a thread on my Ravelry group and an event on facebook to get as many people together in and around the Yarra Valley to join me, but there is also a group on Rav that you can join to get a group together close to where you live. The only thing you need to organise is to get together, seek out objects we want to wrap up with our colourful knits, yarns or other pieces of fibre art and most importantly : get creative! It’s fun! Please let me know if you want to join up with the Yarra Valley Fibre Guerilla Movement ! All the Fibre Guerillas will meet at a certain place (to be disclosed closer to the date: we do not want to attract too much attention of the establishment that has no idea what’s going on and will def be a bit ..eh…confused by the movement…).
Even if you cannot make it to our Yarra Valley Yarn bombing, do not hold back! You can do your bit by knitting up a storm and yarn bomb your fence, a tree at the front of your house, your mailbox! , anything goes! Be creative and go beyond the limits !
Think outside of the box and you will never look back! Besides, people will SMILE when they see knitting or yarns in a context they have never imagined. The world will be a happier place: one stitch at the time !
You may never have imagined that Yarn and Anarchy to be used in the same sentence, but in a way all of us spinners, knitters, weavers and fibre addicts are doing what we are doing to create something oursleves and take a stand against mass produced goods and corporate ideas. Crafting is subversive ! You could see it as a political statement even and as Betsy Greer stated on her website www.craftivism.com “Each time you participate in crafting you are making a difference, whether it’s fighting against useless materialism or making items for charity or something in between. (…) We create to connect beyond ourselves. Craft and activism both take and inspire passion. When used as a joint force they can quite possibly begin to slowly challenge and change things.”

So called “abandoned” Fibre Art can be seen as a defiant act in our ordered society: a form of anarchy. More about Yarn bombing in this great book written by Mandy Moore (www.knitty.com) and Leanne Prain “Yarn Bombing: The Art of Crochet and Knit Graffiti” or go to www.yarnbombing.com.

Help make International Yarn Bombing Day happen!
There also a Ravelry page (you must also be signed in to join this): http://www.ravelry.com/groups/international-yarn-bombing-day.


Here’s this weeks update AND the information on all the IxCHeL clubs (fibre, yarn and Batt clubs) that will start in April. Sign are still open until the end of the month! so if you want to receive a wonderful fibre, yarn or batt parcel every month let me know ! Email me , message me on Rav or on FB.

Enjoy !

IxCHeL Club Sign Up information:
Fibre Club #9 (april-may-june)

here is all the info for the fibre club sign ups :
The subscription is for a period of three months (april-may-june 2011) and you will receive one special hand dyed top/roving per month to the value of AU$20 or more !
All the tops will be hand dyed and will be especially made for the members of Ixchel Fibre Club !
Sign up now and you will receive an Ixchel Hand dyed special top for three months!
Price to join the Ixchel Fibre Club #9 and receive your special hand dyed top :)) for three months is AU$60 + postage (parcel post or airmail). AND double and triple serves are available !!! So in short:
For Australia :
single serve $60+$15 postage (parcel post)
double serve $120+$18
triple serve $155+$18
For USA + Canada:
single serve AU$60+AU$32 (Airmail)
double serve AU$120+AU$50
For UK,Europe, rest of the world:
Single serve AU$60+AU$38 (airmail)
Double serve AU$120+AU$58
For Asia:
Single serve AU$60+AU$28 (airmail)
Double serve AU$120+AU$39
If you want to receive a fibre surprise every month then join the IXCHEL FIBRE CLUB #9 now. Numbers are strictly limited ! Deadline for signing up for fibre club #9 is march 30th ! And the first installment is going to be shipped out mid april:)
Payment via direct deposit or credit card. Just PM or email me your details :))


Ixchel Sock it to me yarn club April-may and June 2011 :-)
What is the deal? hmmm it is sooo good and fun and sockaliscious you just will HAVE to join :)
Here are the details:
Every month for three months you will receive:
enough hand dyed luscious yummy yarn to make a pair of socks; (the hand dyed yarn will be exclusive for the Ixchelbunny SOCK-IT-TO-ME Yarn CLUB and will range from a sockweight yarn or a 3ply or a 4 ply);
Every month a new sock pattern, tips and instructions ! Now is that GOOD or is that GOOD ??! :) I will even offer a double serve for those of you who like their socks extra long :)
Here is the nitty gritty:
For Australia :
single serve $78+$15 postage (parcel post)
double serve $130 (= one skein FREE!!!) +$18
For USA + Canada:
single serve AU$78+AU$32 (Airmail)
double serve $130 (= one skein FREE!!!) +AU$49
For UK,Europe, rest of the world:
Single serve AU$78+AU$38 (airmail)
Double serve $130 (= one skein FREE!!!) +AU$57
For Asia:
Single serve AU$78+AU$28 (airmail)
Double serve $130 (= one skein FREE!!!) +AU$42
Numbers are strictly limited ! Deadline for signing up for the Ixchelbunny SOCK-IT-TO-ME Yarn CLUB! is March 30th ! And the first installment is going to be shipped out mid april 2011 :) among the yarn blends on offer this time will be an amazing handspun 4ply blue faced leicester bunny sock yarn and some other awesome yarns?) ;-))
Payment via direct deposit or credit card. Just PM or email me your details :))
By the way: you don’t HAVE to knit socks if you don’t want to.. the hand dyed yarn is amazingly nice for scarves, cowls, beanies and even tops ! Anything goes :)


The funky bunny batt club #9 (april-may-june)
Here are all the details and just pm me when you have any questions or want to be part of the funky bunny batt club Movement ;-) Welcome to the blingy dark side ;-D
At the request of so many fibre fans and bunny lovers I am starting this thread so that everybody who wants to join the 9TH funky bunny batt club can put their name on the list.
The subscription is for a period of three months (april-may-june!) and you will receive one special hand dyed funky bunny batt per month to the value of AU$32 or more . The batts will range in weight from 100grams to 150grams with luxury fibres like camel , angora, cashmere, silk, yak, llama even buffalo and wolf this time ! is on the cards for the next funky bunny club!! )
All the batts will be hand dyed and will be especially made for the members of Ixchel funky bunny Club ! Every month you will receive a HUGE luxury funky bunny batt !
Sign up now and you will receive an Ixchel Hand dyed , super luxurious funky bunny batt in april-may-june 2011 !
Price to join the Ixchel Funky bunny #9 :)) for three months is AU$96 + postage (parcel post or airmail). So in short:
For Australia : $96+$15postage (parcel post)
For USA + Canada: AU$96+AU$32 (Airmail)
For UK,Europe, rest of the world: AU$96+AU$38 (airmail)
For Asia: AU$96+AU$28 (airmail)
If you want to receive a fibre surprise every month then join the IXCHEL FUNKY BUNNY Batt CLUB#9 now. Numbers are strictly limited ! Deadline for signing up for the funky bunny batt club #9 is March30th! And the first installment is going to be shipped out mid April 2011 :)
Payment via direct deposit or credit card. Just PM or email me : ixchelbunny@yahoo.com.au


Hand dyed Angorino Tops (95% superfine organic 18micron merino+5% angora bunny)
100g AU$20

Super soft and amazing to spin! A unique IxCHeL blend !

Serpentine -2 left-

Smithsonian -2left-


Orsay -SOLD-

Picasso -2left-

Hermitage -2left-
MOMA -2left-

Louvre -2left-

Van Gogh -2left-

Guggenheim -1left-







Email me on Ixchelbunny@yahoo.com.au if you want to adopt any of these babies or message me on Ravelry or facebook where I am Ixchelbunny !


Dates to Remember:

Bunny Spin in at the Ixchel Fibre Farm:

Saturday April 16th!
Thursday April 28th
Bring your wheel, spindle, knitting, crocheting and a plate to share with everybody. There is cake and coffee and tea and a lovely bunny to cuddle and lots of fibres and yarn!) very important ! : Please, please let me now beforehand by email or message that you would like to come and visit so I can prepare the infrastructure and cake ofcourse !
Contact me on Ravelry where I am Ixchelbunny, message me on facebook there or email me on Ixchelbunny@yahoo.com.au
Thanks heaps for your support !

Monday , April 18th
Doncaster and Templestowe Spinners & Weavers Spin in Day
“Celebrate the year of the Rabbit”
10am-2pm
The Upper Hall at Templestowe Uniting Church, Woods street, Templestowe.
I will be doing a bunny talk and a very nice way to get information on angora bunnies, their care and their fibre. You will also be able to get close and personal with an English angora rabbit that will get a haircut AND last but not least: there willl be heaps of fibres and yarns and Batts for sale as well ! Don’t miss out and RSVP Pat of the Doncaster + Templestowe spinners and weavers by april 11th.

Saturday 28th of May
Brunswick Town Hall
Handknitters Guild of Victoria Wool show
An absolute MUST for every fibre fan !

Saturday 11th of June
International Yarn Bomb Day
! Want to get involved in a public Yarn Bombing avction in the Yarra Valley? Come to a bunny spin in to discuss a plan of action , call me or email me or message me on RAV or FB ;-)



RABBIT ON !
((hugs))
Charly

Friday, March 18, 2011

Mythical Creatures:When bunnies can fly!

the famous Bunny Bird, seen in the forests of Finland…

I was sifting through some old photos and boxes full of memorabilia and ai came across some funny stuff back in the days when I was living in Texas with my mum, dad and grandmother. It’s a Jackalope postcard. Now what is a Jackalope? Hmm, well, it is a very famous animal really, matched only by the thylacines still hopping around in Wilsons Prom in Australia. Some say it’s myth others say they have seen whole herds hopping around….ahem…Here’s the story of the Jackalope and some Real bunny combos that will make your eyes water. Enjoy!



The myth of the jackalope has bred the rise of many outlandish claims as to the creature's habits. For example, it is said to be a hybrid of the pygmy-deer and a species of "killer rabbit". Reportedly, jackalopes are extremely shy unless approached. Legend also has it that female jackalopes can be milked as they sleep belly up and that the milk can be used for a variety of medicinal purposes. It has also been said that the jackalope can convincingly imitate any sound, including the human voice. It uses this ability to elude pursuers, chiefly by using phrases such as "There he goes! That way!" It is said that a jackalope may be caught by putting a flask of whiskey out at night. The jackalope will drink its fill of whiskey and its intoxication will make it easier to hunt. In some parts of the United States it is said that jackalope meat has a taste similar to lobster. However, legend has it that they are dangerous if approached. It has also been said that jackalopes will only breed during electrical storms including hail, explaining its rarity.
Jackalopes are legendary in the U.S. – attributed by the New York Times in 1932 to Douglas Herrick (1920–2003) of Douglas, Wyoming, and thus the town was named the "Home of the Jackalope" by the state of Wyoming in 1985. The state of Wyoming trademarked the name in 1965. According to the Douglas Chamber of Commerce, a 1930s hunting trip for jackrabbits led to the idea of a Jackalope. Herrick and his brother had studied taxidermy by mail order as teenagers. When the brothers returned from a hunting trip, Herrick tossed a jackrabbit carcass into the taxidermy store, where it came to rest beside a pair of deer antlers. The accidental combination of animal forms sparked Douglas Herrick's idea for a jackalope.. The first jackalope the brothers put together was sold for $10 to Roy Ball, who displayed it in Douglas' La Bonte Hotel. The mounted head was stolen in 1977. The Douglas Chamber of Commerce has issued thousands of Jackalope Hunting Licenses to tourists. The tags are good for hunting only during official Jackalope season, which occurs for only one day: June 31 (a nonexistent date as June has 30 days), from midnight to 2 AM. The hunter may not have an IQ greater than 72. In 2005, the House of the Wyoming state legislature passed a bill to declare the jackalope the "official mythological creature" of Wyoming, by a vote of 45-12 and referred it to the state Senate, where the bill was indefinitely postponed on March 2, 2005.
More mythologic references can be found in the Huichol legends of the deer and the horned rabbit. The Huichol oral tradition has passed down tales of the sharing of horns between the two animals. This folklore may be due to the papilloma viral infection of the Western United States and Mexico from the 1880s - 1930's. The rabbit and deer have also been paired up as far back as the Mesoamerican period of the Aztecsas twins, brothers, even the sun and moon.
Jackalope legends are sometimes used by locals to play tricks on tourists. This joke was employed by Ronald Reagan to reporters in 1980 during a tour of his California ranch. Reagan had a rabbit head with antlers, which he referred to as a "jackalope", mounted on his wall. Reagan liked to claim that he had caught the animal himself. Reagan's jackalope hangs on the ranch's wall to this day.

In the Fablehaven series, jackalopes can be found at the Lost Mesa preserve in Arizona. They are purported to be extremely lucky.




jackalope lives!


there are even jackolope crossing signs! Beware!


Ofcourse, the Jackalope is nothing compared to the famous Bunny Camel!
the base of our famous blend: Camel bunny silk tops ...ahem..cough cough


You may know that we at the IxCHeL fibre farm put a lot of effort in breeding good wonderful angora rabbits, not only do we look for great temperament and fabulous fibre but we also want our bunnies to have an intellectual fulfilling life. We present our Einstein Project:


All fun aside: here’s this weeks update AND the information on all the IxCHeL clubs (fibre, yarn and Batt clubs) that will start in April. Sign ups start this week so if you want to receive a wonderful fibre, yarn or batt parcel every month let me know ! Email me , message me on Rav or on FB.

Enjoy !

IxCHeL Club Sign Up information
Fibre Club #9 (april-may-june)
here is all the info for the fibre club sign ups :
The subscription is for a period of three months (april-may-june 2011) and you will receive one special hand dyed top/roving per month to the value of AU$20 or more !
All the tops will be hand dyed and will be especially made for the members of Ixchel Fibre Club !
Sign up now and you will receive an Ixchel Hand dyed special top for three months!
Price to join the Ixchel Fibre Club #9 and receive your special hand dyed top :)) for three months is AU$60 + postage (parcel post or airmail). AND double and triple serves are available !!! So in short:
For Australia :
single serve $60+$15 postage (parcel post)
double serve $120+$18
triple serve $155+$18
For USA + Canada:
single serve AU$60+AU$32 (Airmail)
double serve AU$120+AU$50
For UK,Europe, rest of the world:
Single serve AU$60+AU$38 (airmail)
Double serve AU$120+AU$58
For Asia:
Single serve AU$60+AU$28 (airmail)
Double serve AU$120+AU$39
If you want to receive a fibre surprise every month then join the IXCHEL FIBRE CLUB #9 now. Numbers are strictly limited ! Deadline for signing up for fibre club #9 is march 30th ! And the first installment is going to be shipped out mid april:)
Payment via direct deposit or credit card. Just PM or email me your details :))


Ixchel Sock it to me yarn club April-may and June 2011
What is the deal? hmmm it is sooo good and fun and sockaliscious you just will HAVE to join :)
Here are the details:
Every month for three months you will receive:
enough hand dyed luscious yummy yarn to make a pair of socks; (the hand dyed yarn will be exclusive for the Ixchelbunny SOCK-IT-TO-ME Yarn CLUB and will range from a sockweight yarn or a 3ply or a 4 ply);
Every month a new sock pattern, tips and instructions ! Now is that GOOD or is that GOOD ??! :) I will even offer a double serve for those of you who like their socks extra long :)
Here is the nitty gritty:
For Australia :
single serve $78+$15 postage (parcel post)
double serve $130 (= one skein FREE!!!) +$18
For USA + Canada:
single serve AU$78+AU$32 (Airmail)
double serve $130 (= one skein FREE!!!) +AU$49
For UK,Europe, rest of the world:
Single serve AU$78+AU$38 (airmail)
Double serve $130 (= one skein FREE!!!) +AU$57
For Asia:
Single serve AU$78+AU$28 (airmail)
Double serve $130 (= one skein FREE!!!) +AU$42
Numbers are strictly limited ! Deadline for signing up for the Ixchelbunny SOCK-IT-TO-ME Yarn CLUB! is March 30th ! And the first installment is going to be shipped out mid april 2011 :) among the yarn blends on offer this time will be an amazing handspun 4ply blue faced leicester bunny sock yarn and some other awesome yarns?) ;-))
Payment via direct deposit or credit card. Just PM or email me your details :))
By the way: you don’t HAVE to knit socks if you don’t want to.. the hand dyed yarn is amazingly nice for scarves, cowls, beanies and even tops ! Anything goes :)


the funky bunny batt club #9 (april-may-june)
Here are all the details and just pm me when you have any questions or want to be part of the funky bunny batt club Movement ;-) Welcome to the blingy dark side ;-D
At the request of so many fibre fans and bunny lovers I am starting this thread so that everybody who wants to join the 9TH funky bunny batt club can put their name on the list.
The subscription is for a period of three months (april-may-june!) and you will receive one special hand dyed funky bunny batt per month to the value of AU$32 or more . The batts will range in weight from 100grams to 150grams with luxury fibres like camel , angora, cashmere, silk, yak, llama even buffalo and wolf this time ! is on the cards for the next funky bunny club!! )
All the batts will be hand dyed and will be especially made for the members of Ixchel funky bunny Club ! Every month you will receive a HUGE luxury funky bunny batt !
Sign up now and you will receive an Ixchel Hand dyed , super luxurious funky bunny batt in april-may-june 2011 !
Price to join the Ixchel Funky bunny #9 :)) for three months is AU$96 + postage (parcel post or airmail). So in short:
For Australia : $96+$15postage (parcel post)
For USA + Canada: AU$96+AU$32 (Airmail)
For UK,Europe, rest of the world: AU$96+AU$38 (airmail)
For Asia: AU$96+AU$28 (airmail)
If you want to receive a fibre surprise every month then join the IXCHEL FUNKY BUNNY Batt CLUB#9 now. Numbers are strictly limited ! Deadline for signing up for the funky bunny batt club #9 is March30th! And the first installment is going to be shipped out mid April 2011 :)
Payment via direct deposit or credit card. Just PM or email me : ixchelbunny@yahoo.com.au


Hand dyed Wensleydale Tops
100g AU$20

Super lustrous with an amazing crimp! Great to spin and has a feel of mohair to it, with very long lustrous staples! An amazing sheep!
The breed was developed in the 19th century by crossing English Leicester and Teeswater sheep. Wool from this breed is acknowledged as the finest lustre long wool in the world. The fleece from a purebred sheep is considered kemp free and curled or purled on out to the end.





Jackalope -sold-


The Werewolf -1left-

St Patricks Day Bash -2left-

Deep Blue Yonder -sold-

Wild Wild West -2left-

it’s a Bunny Bird! -1left-

Findhorn Retreat -1left-



Hand dyed Sock wool Special!
100+g 420 meters/100grams 75%Superfine merino/25$nylon 4ply AU$23/skein

Super super sock yarn , vibrant and strong! Sock knitting time ! oh and if you really really do not need anymore hand knit socks, well , these yarns make fabulous shawls as well, like the Citron shawl (have a look at my photostream : http://www.flickr.com/photos/ixchelbunny/4992585178/

Rainbow Magic -3left-

Ching Bada Bing! -2left-

Slumber Party -2lft-

Gone Fishin’ -1left-

Boundin’ -2left-


I leave you this week with a very cuddly photo of a gorgeous family :-)



Email me on Ixchelbunny@yahoo.com.au if you want to adopt any of these babies or message me on Ravelry or facebook where I am Ixchelbunny !


Dates to Remember:

Bunny Spin in at the Ixchel Fibre Farm:

Saturday March 19th that’s tomorrow!
Thursday March 24th
Bring your wheel, spindle, knitting, crocheting and a plate to share with everybody. There is cake and coffee and tea and a lovely bunny to cuddle and lots of fibres and yarn!) very important ! : Please, please let me now beforehand by email or message that you would like to come and visit so I can prepare the infrastructure and cake ofcourse !
Contact me on Ravelry where I am Ixchelbunny, message me on facebook there or email me on Ixchelbunny@yahoo.com.au or ixchel@rabbit.com.au
Thanks heaps for your support !

RABBIT ON !
((hugs))
Charly

Friday, March 11, 2011

Sheeep, bunnies and other enigma

This week I am announcing the launch of a new blend , a sheep-bunny blend namely: a luscious organic Corriedale sheep with angora bunny ! It is an amazing blend and great for spinning and felting! The fibre of the Corriedale reminds me a bit of the Shetland : springy and vibrant !

Breed Origin
The Corriedale was simultaneously evolved in both Australia and New Zealand about 1874 by selectively breeding from cross bred progeny of pure Merino and Lincoln sheep. The breed was developed to meet a demand for a dual purpose animal with good meat characteristics and commercial wool production.
Today with over 125 years of line breeding behind it, the Corriedale is sufficiently fixed that hybrid vigour results when it is crossed with any other recognised pure breed.

Breed Identification and Description
The modern Australian Corriedale is a large framed sheep producing heavy cutting bright fleeces, with good style, length and handle. Mean fibre diameter ranges from 25 to 30 microns in adult sheep to the low 20's in lambs and hoggets.

Distribution
Because it is run in a wide range of conditions the breed's popularity ranks second only to the Merino in the world at the present time. In South America alone, Corriedales account for some 70% of the sheep population, and graze from the heat of the equator to Tierra del Fuego's cold, from a wet 1500mm rainfall to a low 275mm, and from sea level to 3500 metres in the rare air of the Altiplano.

Corriedales are farmed in Australia because they give so many options in marketing. Corriedale lambs are leaner than those sired by terminal breeds because their wool producing ability limits obesity. Wool cut is 7kg and more per year with a yield of 75%. The animals have a long life span.

Corriedale lambs

Corriedales are docile, easy care animals, excellent mothers with high fertility. They adapt to a wide range of climatic conditions, sometimes at very high altitudes, and are known to be "good doers" in poor seasons and have a strong constitution. In short: A Corriedale is an amazing sheep !
Corriedale flock



Corriedales "you lookin at me?”

There’s a lot to get through this week so I will stop rambling on and start with this weeks update AND the information on all the IxCHeL clubs (fibre, yarn and Batt clubs) that will start in April. Sign ups started last week so if you want to receive a wonderful fibre, yarn or batt parcel every month let me know ! Email me , message me on Rav or on FB.

Enjoy this weeks update!

Fibre Club #9 (april-may-june)
here is all the info for the fibre club sign ups :
The subscription is for a period of three months (april-may-june 2011) and you will receive one special hand dyed top/roving per month to the value of AU$20 or more !
All the tops will be hand dyed and will be especially made for the members of Ixchel Fibre Club !
Sign up now and you will receive an Ixchel Hand dyed special top for three months!
Price to join the Ixchel Fibre Club #9 and receive your special hand dyed top :)) for three months is AU$60 + postage (parcel post or airmail). AND double and triple serves are available !!! So in short:
For Australia :
single serve $60+$15 postage (parcel post)
double serve $120+$18
triple serve $155+$18
For USA + Canada:
single serve AU$60+AU$32 (Airmail)
double serve AU$120+AU$50
For UK,Europe, rest of the world:
Single serve AU$60+AU$38 (airmail)
Double serve AU$120+AU$58
For Asia:
Single serve AU$60+AU$28 (airmail)
Double serve AU$120+AU$39
If you want to receive a fibre surprise every month then join the IXCHEL FIBRE CLUB #9 now. Numbers are strictly limited ! Deadline for signing up for fibre club #9 is march 30th ! And the first installment is going to be shipped out mid april:)
Payment via direct deposit or credit card. Just PM or email me your details :))


Ixchel Sock it to me yarn club April-may and June 2011 sign ups are open now! :-)
What is the deal? hmmm it is sooo good and fun and sockaliscious you just will HAVE to join :)
Here are the details:
Every month for three months you will receive:
enough hand dyed luscious yummy yarn to make a pair of socks; (the hand dyed yarn will be exclusive for the Ixchelbunny SOCK-IT-TO-ME Yarn CLUB and will range from a sockweight yarn or a 3ply or a 4 ply);
Every month a new sock pattern, tips and instructions ! Now is that GOOD or is that GOOD ??! :) I will even offer a double serve for those of you who like their socks extra long :)
Here is the nitty gritty:
For Australia :
single serve $78+$15 postage (parcel post)
double serve $130 (= one skein FREE!!!) +$18
For USA + Canada:
single serve AU$78+AU$32 (Airmail)
double serve $130 (= one skein FREE!!!) +AU$49
For UK,Europe, rest of the world:
Single serve AU$78+AU$38 (airmail)
Double serve $130 (= one skein FREE!!!) +AU$57
For Asia:
Single serve AU$78+AU$28 (airmail)
Double serve $130 (= one skein FREE!!!) +AU$42
Numbers are strictly limited ! Deadline for signing up for the Ixchelbunny SOCK-IT-TO-ME Yarn CLUB! is March 30th ! And the first installment is going to be shipped out mid april 2011 :) among the yarn blends on offer this time will be an amazing handspun 4ply blue faced leicester bunny sock yarn and some other awesome yarns?) ;-))
Payment via direct deposit or credit card. Just PM or email me your details :))
By the way: you don’t HAVE to knit socks if you don’t want to.. the hand dyed yarn is amazingly nice for scarves, cowls, beanies and even tops ! Anything goes :)


the funky bunny batt club #9 (april-may-june)
Here are all the details and just pm me when you have any questions or want to be part of the funky bunny batt club Movement ;-) Welcome to the blingy dark side ;-D
At the request of so many fibre fans and bunny lovers I am starting this thread so that everybody who wants to join the 9TH funky bunny batt club can put their name on the list.
The subscription is for a period of three months (april-may-june!) and you will receive one special hand dyed funky bunny batt per month to the value of AU$32 or more . The batts will range in weight from 100grams to 150grams with luxury fibres like camel , angora, cashmere, silk, yak, llama even buffalo and wolf this time ! is on the cards for the next funky bunny club!! )
All the batts will be hand dyed and will be especially made for the members of Ixchel funky bunny Club ! Every month you will receive a HUGE luxury funky bunny batt !
Sign up now and you will receive an Ixchel Hand dyed , super luxurious funky bunny batt in april-may-june 2011 !
Price to join the Ixchel Funky bunny #9 :)) for three months is AU$96 + postage (parcel post or airmail). So in short:
For Australia : $96+$15postage (parcel post)
For USA + Canada: AU$96+AU$32 (Airmail)
For UK,Europe, rest of the world: AU$96+AU$38 (airmail)
For Asia: AU$96+AU$28 (airmail)
If you want to receive a fibre surprise every month then join the IXCHEL FUNKY BUNNY Batt CLUB#9 now. Numbers are strictly limited ! Deadline for signing up for the funky bunny batt club #9 is March30th! And the first installment is going to be shipped out mid April 2011 :)
Payment via direct deposit or credit card. Just PM or email me : ixchelbunny@yahoo.com.au


Hand dyed Corriedale Bunny
super fine organic Corriedale and Angora bunny (95% Corriedale +5%angora)
100+grams AU$20

Rorys’pants enigma-sold-


The justice League recombination-1left-

the Zarnecki Incursion -1left-

The Toast Derivation -2left-

The Bus pants Utilization -2left-

The prestidigitation Approximation-2left-



Undyed Corriedale Bunny Tops
100+grams $15

a huge undyed organic Corriedale bunny bump of tops

Email me on Ixchelbunny@yahoo.com.au if you want to adopt any of these babies or message me on Ravelry or facebook where I am Ixchelbunny !


Dates to Remember:

Bunny Spin in at the Ixchel Fibre Farm:


Saturday March 19th
Thursday March 24th
Bring your wheel, spindle, knitting, crocheting and a plate to share with everybody. There is cake and coffee and tea and a lovely bunny to cuddle and lots of fibres and yarn!) very important ! : Please, please let me now beforehand by email or message that you would like to come and visit so I can prepare the infrastructure and cake ofcourse !
Contact me on Ravelry where I am Ixchelbunny, message me on facebook there or email me on Ixchelbunny@yahoo.com.au
Thanks heaps for your support !

RABBIT ON!! Make a difference
((hugs))
Charly

Friday, March 4, 2011

Cheese and more fun stuff

Cheese bunny

What to do when you love cheese? Well, apart from eating it, you can learn how to make it yourself! Which is just what I did this week: I learnt how to make Feta ! YUM! It is amazing to see how all the food processes work and how long! It takes to make something that we just take for granted when we buy some at the supermarket ! Buying it is easy: just make a choice of what brand or what type you want and presto! Put it in your shopping basket , take it home and eat it. A pity it is not quite that easy and quick when you have to make it your self. However, when you do make it your self you are guaranteed of the freshness, the purity and the absence of anything chemical that is put in the darn supermarket food to enhance shelf life or make it “more appealing to the eye”by adding food colouring. No, when you make cheese yourself it is hard work but it is so worth it at the end!

We are lucky enough to be able to have super fresh milk (cow and goat) available. Even when you take a look at the milk as it comes fresh out of the cow you can SEE that it doesn’t even come close to the stuff that is flogged to death by the milk industry. The cheese making comes at a price though : if you are not careful and you do not sanitise everything ALL the time , instead of cheese you will create all these wonderful bacteria that will give you a nice bout of botulism. So you have to be so careful! There are two big blocks of feta cheese ready now though and I am guessing at least one will not survive the weekend..Paul has been eyeing that cheese off for the last three days and cannot wait to get his teeth into it. After the feta course I did, I am going to go a step further and do a camembert, Roquefort and Parmesan course as well. All those are a bit tricker I heard: you have to keep the temperature JUST right and stir the 10liters of milk in a huge pot on and off for about 6 hours! Phew! That’ll be a good work out !

Feta in its infancy


Feta…all fresh and yummy! with fresh herbs and spices


Ofcourse I have been doing other things as well this week: like dyeing and making batts ! I also have had a play with making a facebook page for the ixchel fibre farm where all kinds of goodies and specials will be announced (link is http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=31161&id=144152515648906&saved#!/pages/IxCHeL-Yarns-Fibres/144152515648906) and ofcourse on ravelry as well : http://www.ravelry.com/groups/ixchelbunny-fibre-and-yarn


There’s a lot to get through this week so I will stop rambling on and start with this weeks update AND the information on all the IxCHeL clubs (fibre, yarn and Batt clubs) that will start in April. Sign ups start this week so if you want to receive a wonderful fibre, yarn or batt parcel every month let me know ! Email me , message me on Rav or on FB.

Enjoy this weeks update!

Fibre Club #9 (april-may-june)
here is all the info for the fibre club sign ups :
The subscription is for a period of three months (april-may-june 2011) and you will receive one special hand dyed top/roving per month to the value of AU$20 or more !
All the tops will be hand dyed and will be especially made for the members of Ixchel Fibre Club !
Sign up now and you will receive an Ixchel Hand dyed special top for three months!
Price to join the Ixchel Fibre Club #9 and receive your special hand dyed top :)) for three months is AU$60 + postage (parcel post or airmail). AND double and triple serves are available !!! So in short:
For Australia :
single serve $60+$15 postage (parcel post)
double serve $120+$18
triple serve $155+$18
For USA + Canada:
single serve AU$60+AU$32 (Airmail)
double serve AU$120+AU$50
For UK,Europe, rest of the world:
Single serve AU$60+AU$38 (airmail)
Double serve AU$120+AU$58
For Asia:
Single serve AU$60+AU$28 (airmail)
Double serve AU$120+AU$39
If you want to receive a fibre surprise every month then join the IXCHEL FIBRE CLUB #9 now. Numbers are strictly limited ! Deadline for signing up for fibre club #9 is march 30th ! And the first installment is going to be shipped out mid april:)
Payment via direct deposit or credit card. Just PM or email me your details :))


Ixchel Sock it to me yarn club April-may and June 2011
What is the deal? hmmm it is sooo good and fun and sockaliscious you just will HAVE to join :)
Here are the details:
Every month for three months you will receive:
enough hand dyed luscious yummy yarn to make a pair of socks; (the hand dyed yarn will be exclusive for the Ixchelbunny SOCK-IT-TO-ME Yarn CLUB and will range from a sockweight yarn or a 3ply or a 4 ply);
Every month a new sock pattern, tips and instructions ! Now is that GOOD or is that GOOD ??! :) I will even offer a double serve for those of you who like their socks extra long :)
Here is the nitty gritty:
For Australia :
single serve $78+$15 postage (parcel post)
double serve $130 (= one skein FREE!!!) +$18
For USA + Canada:
single serve AU$78+AU$32 (Airmail)
double serve $130 (= one skein FREE!!!) +AU$49
For UK,Europe, rest of the world:
Single serve AU$78+AU$38 (airmail)
Double serve $130 (= one skein FREE!!!) +AU$57
For Asia:
Single serve AU$78+AU$28 (airmail)
Double serve $130 (= one skein FREE!!!) +AU$42
Numbers are strictly limited ! Deadline for signing up for the Ixchelbunny SOCK-IT-TO-ME Yarn CLUB! is March 30th ! And the first installment is going to be shipped out mid april 2011 :) among the yarn blends on offer this time will be an amazing handspun 4ply blue faced leicester bunny sock yarn and some other awesome yarns?) ;-))
Payment via direct deposit or credit card. Just PM or email me your details :))
By the way: you don’t HAVE to knit socks if you don’t want to.. the hand dyed yarn is amazingly nice for scarves, cowls, beanies and even tops ! Anything goes :)


the funky bunny batt club #9 (april-may-june)
Here are all the details and just pm me when you have any questions or want to be part of the funky bunny batt club Movement ;-) Welcome to the blingy dark side ;-D
At the request of so many fibre fans and bunny lovers I am starting this thread so that everybody who wants to join the 9TH funky bunny batt club can put their name on the list.
The subscription is for a period of three months (april-may-june!) and you will receive one special hand dyed funky bunny batt per month to the value of AU$32 or more . The batts will range in weight from 100grams to 150grams with luxury fibres like camel , angora, cashmere, silk, yak, llama even buffalo and wolf this time ! is on the cards for the next funky bunny club!! )
All the batts will be hand dyed and will be especially made for the members of Ixchel funky bunny Club ! Every month you will receive a HUGE luxury funky bunny batt !
Sign up now and you will receive an Ixchel Hand dyed , super luxurious funky bunny batt in april-may-june 2011 !
Price to join the Ixchel Funky bunny #9 :)) for three months is AU$96 + postage (parcel post or airmail). So in short:
For Australia : $96+$15postage (parcel post)
For USA + Canada: AU$96+AU$32 (Airmail)
For UK,Europe, rest of the world: AU$96+AU$38 (airmail)
For Asia: AU$96+AU$28 (airmail)
If you want to receive a fibre surprise every month then join the IXCHEL FUNKY BUNNY Batt CLUB#9 now. Numbers are strictly limited ! Deadline for signing up for the funky bunny batt club #9 is March30th! And the first installment is going to be shipped out mid April 2011 :)
Payment via direct deposit or credit card. Just PM or email me : ixchelbunny@yahoo.com.au


Hand dyed Angorino
super fine 18micron organic merino and angora (95% merino+5%angora)
100+grams AU$20

Through the Stones


Flying Squirrel -1left-

Da mi basia mille -1left-

Flogging Molly -3left-

Road to Lallybroch -3left-



Funky Bunny Batts
These batts are amazing to spin, hve a wonderful softness and an amazing amount of different fibres you can play with. Spins beautifully and felts great as well !
A luxurious fibre blend in that spins like a dream. Predraft it fine to spin a fine thin yarn, great to core spin or to make art yarns as well. Gorgeous to work with , spin or felt it for amazing effects!


Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition
ingredients: Superfine merino, angora bunny, silk, baby camel, yak, sari silk, kid mohoir, tencel, glitz, angelina, navajo Churro, Norwegian wool
weight: 170grams of luscious fibre to spin or felt with (or just cuddle)
price : AU$45

Yoho Yoho and a bottle of rum
ingredients: Superfine merino, angora bunny, silk, baby camel, yak, sari silk, kid mohoir, tencel, glitz, angelina, weight: 114grams of luscious fibre to spin or felt with (or just cuddle)
price : AU$33

Sillkies cave
ingredients: Superfine merino, angora bunny, silk, baby camel, yak, sari silk, kid mohoir, tencel, glitz, angelina, navajo Churro, Norwegian wool, woilf, quiviut
weight: 163grams of luscious fibre to spin or felt with (or just cuddle)
price : AU$44

Hawk for a handsaw
ingredients: Superfine merino, angora bunny, silk, baby camel, yak, sari silk, kid mohoir, tencel, glitz, angelina, navajo Churro, Norwegian wool
weight: 156grams of luscious fibre to spin or felt with (or just cuddle)
price : AU$40

Treasure Island
ingredients: Superfine merino, angora bunny, silk, baby camel, yak, sari silk, kid mohoir, tencel, glitz, angelina, Quiviut
weight: 137grams of luscious fibre to spin or felt with (or just cuddle)
price : AU$39

Amo Amas -SOLD-
ingredients: Superfine merino, angora bunny, silk, baby camel, yak, sari silk, kid mohoir, tencel, glitz, angelina, wolf fibres, quiviut
130grams of luscious fibre AU$39


Hand Dyed Yak Bunny Merino 4ply Yarn
100+grams AU$26
yardage: 100grams 500meters!!
Excellent for lace shawls but also wonderful for socks and mittens!
One skein is enough for a big pair of socks and even a citron shawl! two skeins for a huge shawl or even a top.
This is the very last time I will be able to offer this yarn, so grab it while you can!

Dragonfly (1 skein available)

PINK! -1 skein available)

Inverness (2 skeins available)

Galadriel (2skeins available)


Pink Penguin (1 skein available)

Autumn (1 skein available)


RAVE (1 skein available)


Coral (2 skeins available)



Email me on Ixchelbunny@yahoo.com.au if you want to adopt any of these babies or message me on Ravelry or facebook where I am Ixchelbunny !


Dates to Remember:

Bunny Spin in at the Ixchel Fibre Farm:

Saturday March 19th
Thursday March 24th
Bring your wheel, spindle, knitting, crocheting and a plate to share with everybody. There is cake and coffee and tea and a lovely bunny to cuddle and lots of fibres and yarn!) very important ! : Please, please let me now beforehand by email or message that you would like to come and visit so I can prepare the infrastructure and cake ofcourse !
Contact me on Ravelry where I am Ixchelbunny, message me on facebook there or email me on Ixchelbunny@yahoo.com.au
Thanks heaps for your support !

RABBIT ON!!
((hugs))
Charly