On the Fringe of Subtle….eh..…SQUIRREL !

citron smile

If you think that this blog is all about my rainbow CITRON shawl, it is not….It does not have a fringe, nor is it “subtle”with all its outrageous rainbow happy colours. It was heaven to knit though and it is like wearing a smile And ofcourse it totally suits my image as a “subtle” bunny…lol. but…it is not what I want to share with you this week……….…..SQUIRREL ! ( wait !, it will become clear….lol)

It is another kind of subtle: you know, the subtle in “understated”, “delicate”, faint”and “restrained”, but nevertheless sharing something difficult. Those of you who know my journey (see previous blogs in 2009+10) will know what I am talking about. I am going to try and illustrate this by way of two movies and three little scenes:

How to master the Art of French cooking and subtlety
I watched the movie “Julie & Julia” (with Meryl Streep). My Paul is very happy I discovered her cookbooks by the way, although he needs to work out more now> Almost all the recipes are with BUTTER and CREAM…lol.. I will “walk you through the subtlety on the fringe I was talking about:

(Scene1) Julia and Paul Child walking in a park in Paris, enjoying the Spring , when a woman walks past with a baby in a stroller..Julia follows the stroller with her eyes, Paul Child notices and taps her understandably on the arm……….(.silence)….

(scene2) Julia sits in her kitchen while Paul unpacks the groceries, while Julia opens a letter from her sister in the States…you can see a shake going through her..Paul Child walks towards her, anticipating bad news…..”Dot is pregnant !”, Julia says with a devastating smile on her face and tears in her eyes …ïsn’t it beautiful?!” as she starts to sob sadly and smile at the same time…Paul Child embraces her with compassion………(silence)

Subtle messages, that a lot of people probably skimmed over. I, on the other hand, started sobbing and being extremely emotional, pointing at the screen, blabbering to my Paul, saying “ isn’t that beautiful?!!” ...........

The reality of coping with being childless- not by choice- was to be seen on the tv screen!.. It was however extremely subtle and above all Silent, but nevertheless, it was shown!
In the war of editing and moviemaking, how did Nora Ephron manage to put these scenes in all their silence and subtlety in this big Hollywood movie?..but I digress………...SQUIRREL! (bear with me: it will make sense after the next paragraph..lol)

Less subtle but still silent as a Pixar...

So, Paul and me, were about to watch a Pixar/Disney movie (we love kids movies, animation and all that fun stuff..yes, call us weird..lol) We heard it was an excellent fun film, so how to know that I would spend the first 25minutes of this animated movie sobbing uncontrollably ..happy and amazed I might add..! yes! Why? Again I will walk you through it……….:

(scene) Carl and Ellie share a passion of exploring and their love for one another…all in silence we see the lives of these two people evolve from 8year olds (I’m guessing here..lol) to the end of one…..they look at the clouds, being together having picnics and enjoying life.. babies are shown in the fluffy clouds….painting of the nursery begins, the camera pans from this happy colourful place to the dismal grey surrounds of the hospital where Ellie is being told something devastating by the doctor, the doctor shakes his head, Ellie starts to sob while Carl is holding her……silence
next scene; Ellie sits alone in her garden…obviously very sad…..silence. (their lives move on……)

All is told in SILENCE but oh so powerful…I am sure that “some would be yawning and asking “when does the fun stuff begin? …but, it was subtle and on the fringe: more out there and in your face, especially in a KIDS movie!

I could not believe my eyes and again I started sobbing and emotionally pointed at the screen , saying to Paul : “ isn’t that beautiful?!!”…

Maybe there are more movies out there, dealing or trying to deal with this huge issue, but definitely not many…I am probably developing this sixth sense of this kind of imagery and these messages. Most all I have a "Want, a Need, a Desire", to have so many people touched by unwanted childlessness, acknowledged.
Kind of like when you were a kid and you wanted a red bike and all you could see for the rest of the week were red bikes everywhere..lol…but I digress…..SQUIRREL !!!! (see UP! The movie please!... there are some amazingly funny scenes in there ..referring to Dug the dog ofcourse..lol………………………..SQUIRREL ! see it wasn't about fibre at all I'm afraid, but it was fun to see where your minds went..lol)

The point I am trying to make is that these subtle messages, however important, are shown in SILENCE, as is this subject treated in real life. I truly believe that the Silence needs to be broken and become less subtle. If ever there was a situation that is heartbreaking, it is this.

No more silence after miscarriages, no more silence dealing with cancer ( I remember in the “old”days that word wasn’t even allowed to be mentioned and was, if at all, referred to as “C” …at least we have evolved and saying it out loud, telling it as it is) , no more silence dealing with devastating hormone imbalances( whether it be through natural menopause, peri menopause, fertility treatments or like mine: surgical menopause) that make the lives of so many women Hell with a capital “H” and above all: the compassionate embrace and acknowledgement of the childless family. Before I get off this weeks soapbox…... I almost forgot this:

Let’s all be on the Fringe of Subtle and travelling towards the Compassionate Exuberance that is Life…………….and above all: be amazed and …Smile !
………………………………..
……………………………………………………………SQUIRREL !

I promised CAMELBUNNY SILK TOPS! And more! And you know what? Here they are!
Enjoy ! (email, message me on www.ravelry.com where I am Ixchelbunny or give me a call

Hand dyed CAMELBUNNY SILK

(50% baby camel, 45% mulberry silk, 5% angora bunny) AU$19 /50+grams

Paradise Falls Magic

Dug

SQUIRREL !

BIRD!

Tepui Magic

hand dyed Angorino

(18micron organic merino +5%angora bunny) AU$17/100+grams

Paradise Falls2 (this colour combo is the same as the camelbunny sillk with the name Paradise Falls Magic and would be excellent to be spun together for a bigger project)

Tepui (this colour combo is the same as the camelbunny sillk with the name Tepui Magic and would be excellent to be spun together for a bigger project)

Alpha

Beta

Fog

Part Pete2

UP!

If you would really like to adopt some of the new fibre babies listed here today or need some custom dyes or batts done: Just email me on ixchel@rabbit.com.au or message me on ravelry where I am Ixchelbunny and I will get back to you asap!

Ixchel Batt, fibre and yarn club sign ups open now til end of September. Grab your monthly dose of fibre fun!

Funky Bunny Batt club #7
sign up for the funky bunny batt club is now officially OPEN :)

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 (october november december!) and you will receive one special hand dyed top/roving per month to the value of AU$32 . 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** ! Sign up now and you will receive an Ixchel Hand dyed , super luxurious funky bunny batt in oct nov and december 2010!

Price to join the **Ixchel Funky bunny #7** :)) 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#7 now. **Numbers are strictly limited** ! Deadline for signing up for the funky bunny batt club #7 is September 28th! And the first installment is going to be shipped out mid october2010:)

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


Fibre Club#7
here is all the info for the fibre club sign ups :
The subscription is for a period of three months (october november and december) and you will receive one special hand dyed top/roving per month to the value of AU$20 !
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 #7** and receive your special hand dyed top + surprise :)) 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
triple serve AU$155+AU$50

For UK,Europe, rest of the world:
Single serve AU$60+AU$38 (airmail)
Double serve AU$120+AU$58
triple serve AU$155+AU$58

For Asia:
Single serve AU$60+AU$28 (airmail)
Double serve AU$120+AU$39
triple serve AU$155+AU$39

If you want to receive a fibre surprise every month then join the IXCHEL FIBRE CLUB #7 now. **Numbers are strictly limited** ! Deadline for signing up for fibre club #7 is september28th ! And the first installment is going to be shipped out mid october:)

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

Ixchel Sock it to me yarn club
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 9october, November and December) you will receive:

1. 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);

2. 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 september28th! And the first installment is going to be shipped out in the last week of October :)

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…coming Saturday 18th of September (that’s TOMORROW!) and Thursday the 23rd of September