Birthdays, Koalas and Penguin Parades

Koala peek-a-boo!

Just when you think you survived Christmas “someone” HAS to have a birthday..I mean, talk about timing! Having your birthday just in between Christmas and New Year is ..how do I put it?…a little bit too much of a good thing and therefore overlooked or better still: seen as a party package where all the festivities are bundled into ONE. As a kid it is frustrating, also because it falls right in the middle of a hectic holiday period and most of the friends and family will be away. I always told my parents they should have planned it better, but hey, I cannot change my birthdate ..so I guess I’m stuck with it. After years and years of birthday stress I can finally say I have overcome it and was strangely relaxed about the whole thing. I did not have expectations at all, was just going to enjoy the day and relax. And then, just when you least expect it, you get hit around the ears by a huge birthday bonanza: not only did my friends gave me lots of pressies and attention but Paul, my hubbie, gave me the surprise of a lifetime. See, you are never too old to be surprised..lol he planned a wonderful day out. Destination: Philip Island ! The farthest South I have been now in Australia! Yeah! The long drive there took us to a gorgeous koala sanctuary park, where you could see koalas sleeping in the most amazing positions and I felt their fur! Immediately thinking: hmmmm koala scarf! These adorable creatures are soo cute ! They eat at least 500grams of eucalypt leaves a day , hardly drink (they recover most of the water in the leaves) and it takes so much energy to digest the stuff , they spend about 20hours a day sleeping and “hanging out”. Here are some photos of the day:

Koala with a bad hairday

hanging out!

Koala striking da pose

Koala in a bed of fur

Then it was off to the Nobbies with their fur seals, rock pools, blow holes and fabulous views!

the Nobbies with blow hoel and rock pool

fur seals hanging out together

Last but not least there was the main attraction: the fairy penguins or as it is known on Philip Island: the Penguin parade. The day before 1515 penguins came ashore at 21:15 after a long day of swimming and fishing in the Bass straight to get as much food for themselves and their young. It is really amazing how tiny but yet so powerful and energetic these little creatures are! They only weigh about a kilo! But when you see them coming in on the shore, waddling and looking around if it is safe to waddle some more towards their safe green homes, they are gigantically cute. By the time the first batches wanted to come ashore it was freezing cold and we were frozen to ours seats. Gentle lights were shining on the beach and we saw the first groups tentatively trying to land and slowly but surely venture out passed the large amount of seagulls to feed their young.

It is so funny to see : they land, take a couple of waddles, look around, venture further ashore on the beach and then they seem to gather around almost single file. They stop, look and as fast a lighting dash back towards the ocean. And away they go to regroup. This goes on and on and on and on until they are confident enough that they are safe to walk the gauntlet so to speak. One time there was one little penguin who was the last one of the big group coming in , almost three quarters on the beach towards the green shore and POW, he turns around as the only one and scuddles back towards the ocean while the rest waddles on towards the green safe shore.

should we stay or should we go? Fairy Penguins arriving on the beach

let’s discuss our plan of action

Then you can see them up close and personal while they are grooming themselves and heading inland towards their nests. There are so many Penguin oohs and aaahs and purrs and squeeks that fill the air. The sounds are amazing!

heading to the nests

Fairy penguin young waiting for dinner

It was a wonderful birthday and having that day out and seeing so much beauty was amazing! I have a lot to be grateful for.

Time is moving so much faster in December than any other month it seems because here we are on the last day of the year 2010 !!!! Looking back on the year, I feel like I have come so far, been through so much, made so many new friends, lost a lot but learnt a lot more. Last year I was afraid I would not be “me” after the Uterine cancer and the operation and you know what? In a ay I am not “me”anymore: Time, illness and loss changes you but so does Love, Knowledge and Hope. It has been a tough journey but maybe a rough road makes us stronger and more appreciative of Life and Love. I know I am. I have hit some pretty deep lows but now I have climbed a high mountain so I can enjoy the view and Life is Good.

All of us here at the IxCHeL fibre farm wish you a wonderful, exciting, adventurous, healthy. Loving and fibre filled 2011 ! Make your dreams come true and enjoy every moment. Thank you all so much for showing me so much support and strength and love in the last year: I could not have done it without you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart !

I did not have time to fire up the dyepots this week but I am extending my special offer of fibre and yarn surprises. There a still lots of very nice things to be snaffled!

Holiday Season Special

I offer you a surprise yarn or fibre for AU$14 each+postage . Let me know how many serves you would like , what your favourite colours are and if you would like yarn or fibre. I will then send you a surprise happy holiday season giftpack with a nice surprise to thank you for a wonderful year of support of our little fibre farm, the bunnies and me.

Today is the last day of the club sign ups ! It is still not too late to join the fun of receiving a fibre or yarn or batt surprise every month ! Email me if you have any questions or if you want to become a member.

Sign ups for the IxCHeL Clubs are still open: LAST DAY !

Fibre Club (lucky) #8

The subscription is for a period of three months (january february and march 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 #8 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 #8 now. Numbers are strictly limited ! Deadline for signing up for fibre club #8 is december 31st ! And the first installment is going to be shipped out mid january:)

Payment via direct deposit or credit card. Just PM or email me your details :))

FUNKY BUNNY BATT CLUB
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

The subscription is for a period of three months (january february and march 2011 !) and you will receive one special hand dyed top/roving 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 quiviut 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 january february and march 2011 !

Price to join the Ixchel Funky bunny #8 :)) 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#8 now. Numbers are strictly limited ! Deadline for signing up for the funky bunny batt club #8 is December 31st! And the first installment is going to be shipped out mid january 2011 :)

Payment via direct deposit or credit card. Just PM or email me : ixchel@rabbit.com.au

Sock it to me Yarn Club
Ixchel Sock it to me yarn club January February and March 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 december 31st ! And the first installment is going to be shipped out mid january 2011 :) among the yarn blends on offer this time will be an amazing yak bunny merino yarn and hmmmmm maybe some baby camel (whaddoyouthink?) ;-))

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 :)

***

New year for me have always meant a day of making oliebollen and appelflappen: dutch treats for New year Celebrations. Believe me you do not want to miss out on these snacks. Beware they are highly addictive.

Oliebollen (dutch doughnuts)

makes about 20:
1 sachet of dry yeast
1 cup of lukewarm milk
2 ¼ cups flour
2 tsp salt
1 egg lightly beaten
1 ½ cups sultanas (soaked in a dark beer overnight or brandy)
oil for deepr frying
icing sugar

Sprinkle yeats over ¼ cup milk and stir to dissolve. Combine flour and salt and add the remaining milk and the egg and sultanas. Mix well. Let stans in a warm place until it doubled in size. Heat the oil for deep frying. Shape balls of the batter with two metal spoons and drop the balls into the hot oil a few at the time. Deep fry for about 8 minutes until golden brown. Serve them piled on a plate sprinkled with icing sugar ! YUMMMMMMM!

Appelflappen (apple fritters or is you like Pineapple fritters!)

for about 30
2 ½ cups flour
1 ¼ cups beer
¼ tsp salt
6 granny smith apples or pineapple rings sliced about 1cm think
oil for deep frying
icing sugar

Combine the flour, beer and salt and beat until smooth. Coat apple slices a few at the time with batter and deep fry them in the hot oil until light brown. 3 to 4 mins. Sprinkle with icing sugar. Enjoy ! YUMMMMMMM …!

The new year has some pretty fabulous new things lined up for you already! There is going to be a range of very nice essential oils products on offer: handmade bunny bath bombs, soaps and more ! So not only will you be able to relax and spin IxCHeL Fibres or knit IxCHeL yarns , after all that you can relax with some awesome softness and fragrences of IxCHeL essential oil products ! and yes, yes, the on line shop I have been promising you for so so sooooo long will be operational in 2011 !! J Promise!
There are going to be new blends , new fibres, new colours, new art yarns, new patterns and exciting bunny news. The new year will bring us new fibre adventures, new Bunny spin in days and heaps of additive fibre and more ! Here’s to an exciting 2011 filled with Love, Adventure, New Goals and Dreams, Health and most of all a smile for every day !

Thanks heaps for your support and have fun!

RABBIT ON!!


Dates to Remember:

Bunny Spin in at the Ixchel Fibre Farm:

Saturday 15th of January and Thursday the 27th of January
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 let me know beforehand by email or message that you would like to come and visit so I can prepare the infrastructure and cake ofcourse !

HOPPY 2011 !!

Carpe Diem !
((hugs)) Charly

Peace, Hope and Love

Santa Quilt

my first ever quilt ! half machine quilted , half hand quilted because my sewing machine died just halfway through the project ! added some bells for fun ! lol

The kookaburras are talking and laughing together near the dam, so many birds are singing, the sun is (finally) shining, all my herbs and plants are thriving, animals fed and for the first time in a long time a feeling of peace and tranquillity is falling over me. It must be almost Christmas.

It is not going to be a Christmas of longing, of wanting, of desperation. No, this Christmas is different from all the other years and I am happy how it feels.

It has been a full year filled with lots of pain, healing, trying to get make sense of it all and it has also been a year filled with a generous giving. So many people have come to my aid, so many people have given parts of themselves by sending me the most gorgeous intricate handmade presents saying “here, let this transform the pain into love”and it did. Thank you !

Although a lot of people see Christmas as a time of commercialism (which it has become to a big extent) I see it as a time of reflection now: being able to live in peace and hope and most of all Love. That is what I wish you this Christmas: Peace in your life, Hope with confidence and Love for Friendship and Life itself.

For me it has been a tough journey this passed year. One that I hope will see a happy ending in my search and fight for better understanding hormone treatment, how women can understand the hugely important processes of hormones in their bodies and cope with an array of medical institutions that often only give you one side of the story (or coin). There is so much to learn, so much to fight against and for.

I keep on saying to myself I am getting there and I am. Slowly but surely. I have found myself a stronger person because of the fight against Cancer and surgical menopause and not in the least by the support given to me by so many people.

If you are struggling with (surgical) menopause, cancer, infertility or miscarriages please, please know you are not alone ! There are so many women out there fighting the same fight. Never let anybody tell you it is just you or “here, have a happy pill because it is all in your mind”: it is not!
Contact me at any time if you need help or support. Also, if you need more information about hormones or hormone treatment especially bio identical hormone treatment please visit www.dartnellspharmacy.com.au .

To celebrate Christmas I did not want to overwhelm you with heaps of new hand dyed and hand spun goodies, instead I want to share something special with you. Actually two special things:

One

For this Special Christmas I offer you a surprise yarn or fibre for AU$14 each+postage . This is about a 30-50% discount !

Let me know how many serves you would like , what your favourite colours are and if you would like yarn or fibre.

I will then send you a happy holiday season giftpack with a nice surprise to thank you for a wonderful year of support of our little fibre farm, the bunnies and me.

Snaffle your fibre or yarn Surprise !

Two

Bendigo Show 2011 is just around the corner. Well, it’s going to be in August but still..lol

As you may know you can enter your handknitted and handmade fibre art for prizes and ribbons to be won.

If you wish to enter just let me know and I will send you all the contact details and information or you can go to www.ravelry.com and message Dot (by the name of Speave on Ravelry or go to www.sheepshow.com for more details) and ask her for a brochure with all the relevant information or, go to your local spinners and weavers group.

What am I getting to? Well I ‘ll tell you ! When you enter your handmade artwork , whether it be a handspun yarn, socks, a woven scarf, a felted hat or a crochet rug, you will not only be able to win a prize from the woolcraft committee but when you enter making it with IxCHeL fibre or yarn you WILL receive a prizepack from me as well !! How good is that? So, enter the Bendigo Woolcraft competition with YOUR IxCHeL yarn or fibre work of fibre art and receive an IxCHeL Fibre or yarn parcel filled with goodies ! Your artwork needs to be made with IxCHeL yarns or fibres, have to be entered into the Bendigo Woolcraft competition and you will ofcourse have to send me a photo of your work and a description by email or snail mail. Easy!

Also, the club sign ups are almost reaching their deadline but there are still a few spots left, so here are all the details for when you want to sign up and receive your monthly dose of fibres, yarns or batts ! Don't miss out: it will be so worth it next year with heaps of new blends that I will offer and even ..yes….! very lush batts, tops and yarns that will knock your socks off ;-)

Sign ups for the IxCHeL Clubs are open !

Fibre Club (lucky) #8

The subscription is for a period of three months (january february and march 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 #8 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 #8 now. Numbers are strictly limited ! Deadline for signing up for fibre club #8 is december 31st ! And the first installment is going to be shipped out mid january:)

Payment via direct deposit or credit card. Just PM or email me your details :))

FUNKY BUNNY BATT CLUB
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 ;-) Welcometo 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 8TH funky bunny batt club can put their name on the list.

The subscription is for a period of three months (january february and march 2011 !) and you will receive one special hand dyed top/roving 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 quiviut 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 january february and march 2011 !

Price to join the Ixchel Funky bunny #8 :)) 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#8 now. Numbers are strictly limited ! Deadline for signing up for the funky bunny batt club #8 is December 31st! And the first installment is going to be shipped out mid january 2011 :)

Payment via direct deposit or credit card. Just PM or email me : ixchel@rabbit.com.au

Sock it to me Yarn Club
Ixchel Sock it to me yarn club January February and March 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 december 31st ! And the first installment is going to be shipped out mid january 2011 :) among the yarn blends on offer this time will be an amazing yak bunny merino yarn and hmmmmm maybe some baby camel (whaddoyouthink?) ;-))

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 :)

Please contact me by email (ixchel@rabbit.com.au) or on www.ravelry.com where I am Ixchelbunny or even message me on www.flickr.com where I am also known as Ixchelbunny to claim your happy holiday surprise parcel(s) or to ask me more details about the Bendigo Show : where I will be in the Flowershed just like last year with heaps of fibres, yarns and …eh…bunny stuff..lol

Have a happy Christmas !
((Christmas hugs))

Charly, Paul, Jazz the bunny dog and all the fluffy bunnies here at the IxCHeL fibre farm !

the Silly Season

Silly season bunny

It must be THAT time of the year. I always have too many things to do to fit in a day but December just brings out the champion of chaos in me.. Apart from the usual spinning and carding and dyeing of fibres and taking care of the fluffy inhabitants living here , all of a sudden I give myself more chores to do. Ofcourse some were absolutely necessary: like get a new fishtank to house our beloved oxalotl in who was enjoying his fresh fish a little bit too much! For those of you who do not know these animals: they are part of the salamander family and are also called the Mexican walking fish. They are odd looking , I think very pretty and well, strange almost prehistoric. The time was there to separate him from his pantry of fish though because every day in the last week the fishtank was looking more and more empty with strange disappearing acts of my catfish, the zebras and even a rainbow barb! Narky as the barb was, he was amazing with his colourings. Bad Oxalotl ! I mean it is not like I don’t feed him. I guess that it's nature . So now Oxy as I call him is in his tank all rigged out with nice little hiding places , rocks and plants. He will just have to adapt to the new diet (worms and pellets and the occasional frozen fish).

Oxalotls are on the endangered species list and only found living in a single lake in mexico.

They are not rare as pets I don't think though, which is strange for an endangered species. They are very important to scientific study I found out, capable of total limb regrowth and full regenerative ability. they also stay in premature form the entire life span, even though they become sexualy mature while in a larval like state. Bearing in mind that sometimes they are known for complete metamorphesis (E or A? I think a but whatever) completely changing form spontaniously into a salamander looking species with spots.

Im just feeding it whatever I find and think it would eat in the wild, worms small'ish fish, prawns etc (live). they are like half lizard, half fish, half frog with plants on there heads, but they are amphibians.


Strange creatures.

Oxalotl

handfelted oxalotl

Apart from the fishy business I did venture out to hunt for a christmas tree. And what a hunt it was: all sold out or just too blooming expensive. I did want something though. So in the end I got a small wollemi silver streak pine. It is amazingly velvety to the touch (unlike the European xmas trees!) and it looks so cute. Ofcourse it is not a 5 foot tree but hey, it is the thought that counts..lol I still have to decorate but that is on the agenda this afternoon and since it is only tiny , less to decorate..lol
By the way, the Wollemi pine is one of the rarest and oldest trees and the species was only discovered ten years ago by a bushwalker near Sydney !

Woolemy pine australian native silver streak

I have been busy with handspinning and dyeing again this week : on offer are some amazingly soft baby camel and angora rabbit yarns and at a 110meters per 50grams they go a long way! As for tops I have the amazing superwash blue faced Leicester with cashmere tops ! They are so airy and soft they look like organised fairyfloss !

So without keeping you on the edge of your seats: get ready to drool and snaffle! There is only a small supply of …so please contact me by email (ixchel@rabbit.com.au) or on www.ravelry.com where I am Ixchelbunny or even message me on www.flickr.com where I am also known as Ixchelbunny. Drum roll !!!!!!!!!! here is this weeks fibre update !!!!!

Have a great week !
((hugs)) Charly

hand spun and hand dyed IxCHeL Baby camel and angora rabbit (90/10)
110 meters per 50grams
4-8ply
AU$25/50grams+

three sisters

Cradle mountain

Mandaley light

Treetop walk

Mandaley dark

Bibbulmun

Galah

hilltop lookout

deep river

Kata Tjuta

Hand dyed Blue faced Leicester Superwash /Cashmere (90/10) tops
AU$24/100g

Rosella rainbow

kangaroo paw

Honey eater

Ocean Road

Fiesta

Penguin parade

Thanks heaps for your support and have fun!

RABBIT ON!!


Dates to Remember:

Bunny Spin in at the Ixchel Fibre Farm:

Saturday 18th of December (that is TOMORROW!) and Thursday the 23rd of December
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 let me know beforehand by email or message that you would like to come and visit so I can prepare the infrastructure and cake ofcourse !

Mind Games and Midnight Oil meet Geishas

Geisha yarn close up

Sometimes you remember things. You remember where you were, what you were doing, how you felt when something happened in the world no matter how far away. There are events that can change the way we think and act. Time for reflection.

I remember the horror of 9/11 and the whole terrorism philosophy it empowered. Now that word gets used almost everywhere for everything (like the internet terrorism or information terrorism of wikileaks’ Assange for example). But, I am getting side tracked. I was remembering that this week it is 30 years ago that John Lennon was killed.

For many who grew up in the 60s and 70s Lennon was a hero, not just for his music but for his fearless activism against the Vietnam war. He was a rebel, although probably today he would be called a musical terrorist, who knows.

Lennons protest against the war in Vietnam so threatened the US government that he was hounded by the FBI. He did not embrace power , he laughed at it, using humour to create controversy (the Bed ins) and to publicize the anti war cause. True rebels –celebrity or not- play a vital role in democracy. The celebrities’ desire (like Bono, Angelina Jolie, or even George Clooney or our own Peter Garrett , former member of Midnight oil ) to gain political power and social approval breeds intellectual conformity, precisely the opposite of what we need to achieve to get real change. True Rebels are most effective when they simply assert that the status quo is morally wrong. There’s a lot to be challenged today , just as it was in the 60’s and, I am looking for a Lennon.

So in honour of Lennon, I named this weeks fibre and yarn update after his songs, Lennon and Peace.

Without keeping you on the edge of your seats: get ready to drool and snaffle! There is only a small supply of …so please contact me by email (ixchel@rabbit.com.au) or on www.ravelry.com where I am Ixchelbunny or even message me on www.flickr.com where I am also known as Ixchelbunny. Drum roll !!!!!!!!!! here is this weeks fibre update !!!!!

Have a great week !
((hugs)) Charly

hand spun and hand dyed IxCHeL Art yarn

angora, angora bits, merino, yak, silk, mohair, glitz, gold thread, geisha fabric, cassette tape of midnight oil (beds are burning), Angelina AU$60/205 grams / 120meters

techniques used: core spinning, wrapping, extreme tailspinning of kid mohair curls, adding in buttons and experimental wraping and plying with cassette tape of Midnight Oil

Geisha yarn Yoko

Geisha yarn Yoko close up

Geisha yarn Yoko

Hand dyed Blue faced Leicester/angora Bunny/silk (60/10/20) tops
AU$21/100g

Mind Games -sold-

Instant Karma-1 left-

Cold Turkey -1left-

War is Over -sold-

Shaved Fish -sold-

Hand dyed Blue faced Leicester / bunny/ nylon 4-ply yarn (70/5/15)
325 meters/100grams/ AU$26

Imagine

Lennon

Peace -sold-

Hand dyed and hand carded Funky Bunny Batts
Great for spinning art yarns, core spinning but also great for fine yarns
Ingredients: superfine 18 micron merino, angora bunny, silk, soy , yak, alpaca, glitz, Angelina, quiviut

Woman 112 grams AU$32

Whatever gets you thru the night 135grams/AU$35 -sold-

Whatever gets you thru the night and the croissant shaped batt (I couldn’t help myself..lol)

Give Peace a Chance 149grams/AU$35 -sold-

Sign ups for the IxCHeL Clubs are open !

Fibre Club (lucky) #8

The subscription is for a period of three months (january february and march 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 #8 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 #8 now. Numbers are strictly limited ! Deadline for signing up for fibre club #8 is december 31st ! And the first installment is going to be shipped out mid january:)

Payment via direct deposit or credit card. Just PM or email me your details :))

FUNKY BUNNY BATT CLUB
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 ;-) Welcometo 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 8TH funky bunny batt club can put their name on the list.

The subscription is for a period of three months (january february and march 2011 !) and you will receive one special hand dyed top/roving 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 quiviut 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 january february and march 2011 !

Price to join the Ixchel Funky bunny #8 :)) 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#8 now. Numbers are strictly limited ! Deadline for signing up for the funky bunny batt club #8 is December 31st! And the first installment is going to be shipped out mid january 2011 :)

Payment via direct deposit or credit card. Just PM or email me : ixchel@rabbit.com.au

Sock it to me Yarn Club
Ixchel Sock it to me yarn club January February and March 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 december 31st ! And the first installment is going to be shipped out mid january 2011 :) among the yarn blends on offer this time will be an amazing yak bunny merino yarn and hmmmmm maybe some baby camel (whaddoyouthink?) ;-))

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 :)


Thanks heaps for your support and have fun!

RABBIT ON!!


Dates to Remember:

Bunny Spin in at the Ixchel Fibre Farm:

Saturday 18th of December and Thursday the 23rd of December
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 let me know beforehand by email or message that you would like to come and visit so I can prepare the infrastructure and cake ofcourse !

I leave you with some photos of a king parrot , I lovingly name Fluffball, because everytime I go outside he is right there, fluffing himself up and talking to me. Well, actually nagging for food, following me around, eating out of my hand and lovingly nibbling my fingers to say thank you! He’s gorgeous and very photogenic ;-)

Flufball close up

All Fluffed up


More bird, farm, bunny and ofcourse fibre photos on my flickr photostream : www.fllickr.com/photos/ixchelbunny