Fibre Magic

Max, our pretty Angora Girl enjoying the magical forest views

If you were to ask me what my favourite movies were I would have a hard time choosing just one. There are so many that are mind blowing, life changing and okay , just fun! There is one, well actually three and soon to be four! (I heard they were doing a Hobbit one) : The Lord of the Rings. I have read the books many times, captivated by the story, the myths and the enormous scope of it. The movies were just magic. And as a fibre fanatic and a weaver I ofcourse could not keep my eyes off the costumes. WoW! I wanted to know more about the cloaks and it turns out they were woven from the fleece of a sheep from the Stansborough farm in New Zealand; Gotland sheep. Now this breed of sheep is super lustrous although it os a stinger wool. It is mid grey with magical light grey strands and it is awesome to spin. Now that is saying something from somebody who is, let’s face it, not that much into black and greys..you know me: the more colour the better. Grey Stansborough Gotland fleece is a whole class apart though. It is no use of me raving about it, you will just have to try. It dyes up a treat as well, making the depth of colour even deeper because the base is grey. If you want to start weaving the cloaks , it is woven in a so called shadow weave pattern and is quite easy to do on a four shaft loom. Here is a close up of the pattern:

Fellowship of the ring weave pattern close up

Jeanette and her lambs

a Gotland Ram

The other goodies I have got planned for you is Shetland.

Shetland sheep are famous for its softness, loftiness and ease of spinning and ofcourse for the shetlamd lace shawls. It is a yarn that has that certain spring to it and lightness that lends itself so well for lace !

For the knitters and yarn fans I have something super special: a ply yarn that has 135meters per 50grams and is spun from a blend of Tibetan Yak and Baby Camel (70/30). Soft, warm and I am very pleased with the colour range. I could not resist and dye a heap of classy zen again, because it yarn base colour lends itself so well to it. Also my new colour Cassis or Cerise is there again. I am so happy with this new colour (a blend of mexican cochineal and indigo: magic !)

Because of the handknitters guild mini wool show I have dyed up lots of yarns and here is a selection of some blue faced Leicester and nylon blended 4 ply, The black pearl colour is trule deep deep black and would lend itself very well for a pair of pirate socks (see last blog post).
This weeks update is not that huge as last weeks, but it is still a mini MONSTER update… I won’t keep you waiting for longer: here is the fibre and YAAAAAAAARRRN!!! Enjoy!
Email me , message me on Rav or on FB to put your order in for some!!

Hand dyed Stansborough Gotland Tops
Amazing handle and staple length! You will love spinning these magical tops! Get into the Lord of the rings magic.
100g AU$18

Natural Gotland -sold-

Helmsdeep -2left-

Fellowship of the Ring -1left-

Fangorn forest -sold-

Elendir -sold-

Bluefaced Leicester – Bunny – Nylon Sock yarn

(75/5/20)
4ply spun hand dyed +/- 420m/100g

AU$26

Mermaids

Barbiedoll

Super Black Pearl -sold-

Rainbow -sold-

Hand dyed Tibetan Yak-Baby Camel Yarn

(70/30)

+/-135meters per 50grams
AU$19 – +/-50 gram skein

Galadriel

Classy Zen

Rembrandt

Plum

Cassis

Indigo

Heather

Autumn forest -sold-

red ochre -sold-

natural

Baby Shetland/bunny tops (95/5)
AU$20 per 100grams
Amazing to spin. Lofty and soft .

Zombies & Mermaids

Natural

Cassis -1left-

East of Eden -1left-

Arwen -SOLD-

Elrond -1left-

Brandybuck -1left-

Moria -1left-

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

Dates to Remember:

Bunny Spin in at the Ixchel Fibre Farm (11am-5pm)

FULL HOUSE!! Saturday, May 21st (please please call beforehand or you will have to sit outside and spin, in that case bring woollies to wear…and your own chair coz I wont have enough :D)

Thursday May 26th

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


Monday 23rd of May
Gembrook Craft group Spin in !!! It’s a bi-annual event so come and visit this year!
Gembrook Community Hall, 9-3pm
Due to circumstances I cannot be at this fabulous spin in , but please show the Gembrook Guild your support by visiting their special day !


Saturday 28th of May
Brunswick Town Hall
Handknitters Guild of Victoria Wool show
An absolute MUST for every fibre fan ! Launch of my super LONG colour repeat 4 ply AND lace weight yarn !!!!!


The BENDI PARTY is ON!
15-16-17th of July !
Bendigo Sheep and Wool Show (with a big dash of Rabbit from yours truly)
see website ; www.sheepshow.com
Woolcraft entries close june 10th. Contact Dot Vallence at the Woolcraft committee for more info or come to one of the Bunny Spin ins to g et your copy oif the woolcraft schedule book.

Bendigo Sheep & Wool Show is NOT to miss in this year of the rabbit !
Lots of special goodies on offer, prizes to be won and a super competition of “Bunny dress up”again this year! Make a a statement ! This year there’s a “Rock-a-Billy Bunny-dress up competition”and win a super duper Bunny Spin or Yarn bunny Prize! C’mon be a rockin”Fibre Bunny! You know you want to J
All the preperations are already on their way to make this years Bendi show an amazingly FUN FIBRE EVENT !!!!!

Mapleton Camp July 22-24
Bunny invasion in Queensland planned again just after Bendigo ! @ Mapleton Camp of the Queensland Spinners & Weavers

Contact the QSW&FA if you want to be part of this awesome weekend of fun !! I will be doing workshops on Art yarn (my nip ‘n’tuck special and Jewellery Sculpture Art yarn)


RABBIT ON !

((hugs))
Charly