The Rollercoaster ride has already begun !

Amazing but true: the year has just begun and there are so many things happening already..no rest for the wicked they say eh?
The IxCHeL calendar is filling up fast with spin ins, shows, meetings and last but not least: WORKSHOPS! Yes ! I am doing some workshops this year so for all of you wanting to learn how to spin there are beginner courses and for those of you who want to dabble in art yarn spinning there are several classes set up! Dates will be revealed next week ! yeah ! Keep your calendar free in May , June and then in the second half of the year : October and November !

Also the race has already begun to organise and plan the Sydney Royal Show in April AND the Bendigo in July ! it is all going to be AWESOME !!! So much to do , so little time, but oh so much fun !

Last night I was at the Eat 7 Spin evening at a gorgeous Swiss restaurant in Lilydale , enjoying some amazing Swiss cheese and more ..YUM! with some great spinning and knitting friends. I had a ball ! and apart from chatting and spinning and meeting new fibre fans, one thing is absolutely clear: it is great to have friends in fibre ! It’s great to create together but yet separate, if you know what I mean. I saw the most amazing lace shawls (yes and beaded) last night, wonderful spinning and the most important thing is : everybody was sharing and having fun. And I ask you: isn’t that what craft is all about? Or anything else for that matter! I think the only way to have a better world is to share a positive energy and create and share, not protect and compete. The best inventions have not been made alone, the best inventions have been made by sharing and standing on top of the shoulders of our respected peers: by learning and adding something to their work that is uniquely ours. And by doing that you can create something special and new and you can make a difference to the ones that come after you or stand there beside you. It is exciting, puts a smile on your face and you can just feel the pulse of positive energy bursting through.
The reason why I am saying this..and I am not sure if this is true for others..is that I thrive on positivity : I come up with my best ideas when surrounded by friends and people who create with love. On the other hand, when there are negative energy clouds gathering it is tough. It seems to overtake every creative bone in my body and in such a way that it is hard to focus on creating something special.
I am sure we have all experienced things like that at some point in our lives: not feeling recognised, not getting just a simple and nice complement or worse being overly criticised, seeing that friends are not really friends, people talking behind your back or acting for their own benefit rather than the benefit of all. It is like inspiration can only flourish when there is positivity surrounding us.
It is human though to succumb to negative thoughts sometimes, but extremely important to fight against that with all your might. It took me a very very long time to try and figure out how to fight against it and be my own person despite other peoples negative energy and I am still learning. All I can say is that it is better to do your own thing and be the best you can be and not let yourself be dragged down by negative energy of others. Easier said than done I know! But well worth the effort. Everytime you feel yourself go down that path of wondering why or worry about things, pinch yourself and immediately focus on something of beauty, listen to good music, look at a photo or painting that puts a smile on your face or cuddle that special super fluffy happy looking top or yarn.
Have fun! Because let’s face it: Life is too short ! Smile and Rabbit on !

What is going to happen in a very short time though is that the IxCHeL fibre farm is going to participate in the Royal Sydney Easter Show on the 9th of April !!! Last year I made a suggestion to the organisers of the show that it woud be so good as a promotion for the angora rabbit breed to organise a world record attempt : a back to back Bunny . It has been approved and will be covered by all media !! it is going to be HUGE !!!! It means that 3 bunnies will be clipped, then prepped and spun and then knitted into a shawl/scarf in the shortest possible time. There is a team of 6 people that will do the clipping, the spinning and the knitting : 2 clippers , 2 extremely fast spinners and 2 super fast knitters ! There will be a lot prep and discussion with all the team members before hand ofcourse !! and a lot of practicing by all ;) More information on the back to back bunny event and the Royal Sydney Easter Show can be found on their website later and ofcourse I will keep you updated as well J If you want to be part of this event , volunteer, help or be there, please message me of give me a ring!

There have been some amazing nice yarns on my wheel for custom orders again including some core spun yarns ! which are great fun to spin and yes: there are workshops planned for wire core spinning as well ! I just HAD to share them with you because I am totally in love with them !

Kid mohair, merino, angora, gold thread, glitz and angelina and duck feathers

Wire core spun yarns

Wire core spun yarns: you can make the most gorgeous crowns, headbands, hats ! and wearable art with these yarns! Or even arty baskets or vessels! The only limit is your imagination !


Angorino blend tops are back.! A new harvest of this amazing blend is available again in new colourways that are out of this world. The blend is wonderful to spin, is supersoft because of the bunny blended in it thoroughly and I am thrilled with the colour combos. I hope you will be too and some amazing deep deep DEEP black pure angora 3 ply yarn with an amazing yardage ! 400 meters per 50 grams: enough to make a scarf with one skein ! yes one skein!

How To Order:
You can email me on ixchel at rabbit dot com dot au or message me on facebook or ravelry where I am Ixchelbunny. I will email you right back with all your order details and payment methods. Any questions? Please don’t hesitate to ask! Always happy to enable.

Thank you so much for your help and support !
(((HUGS)))
Charly


Angora 3 ply Yarn

50 grams AU$22

the deepest most beautiful black ever !

Black purl bunny

a fluffy close up

Fluff Bun 4ply sock yarn

94-100 grams ** +/- 360meters per 100grams ** AU$23

the softest 4ply yarn ! Great for socks : your feet will love you forever!

Mimosa

Star Struck

Dolphin

Enigma

Autumn flowers

Angorino Tops Hand dyed
(18 micron superfine organic merino 95-5%)

100+ grams AU$20 !!!

peppercorn

Velvet

outback sky

Waterlilies

Ocean Grove

Brazil

(such a happy combination of colours ! Makes me think of oranges, samba, carnival and summer)

Baby Talk

Heather Blooms

Blue Sky

Faery Princess

Forest Spirits

Mini Skein Selection January 2012
10 supersoft hand dyed miniskeins with an extra smiley face hexapuff chart !

AU$23


the January mini skein selection + some of the hexapuffs I made with this selection !

Close up of the mini skein selection January 2012

Dates to Remember:
Bunny Spin in at the Ixchel Fibre Farm (11am-4pm)

There will be BUNNY SPIN INS again in February 2012 !! Yeah!

Saturday 21st of January : FULL HOUSE

Saturday February 18th, 11am-4pm
Bring a plate to share your wheel or spindle, knitting or crochet, yourself and a smile and have a fun day out amongst bunnies and friends ! Please contact me to secure a spot ! Bunny food like cabbage, bok choi or broccoli is always welcome as well ! : the bunnies will cuddle you more for it ;D

Thursday February 23rd 11am-4pm

February 14th, Warragul Spinners and Weavers Group, Gladstone street
The Fireshed will be filled with fibre ! I will do a bunny talk and bring a bunny with me to “show and tell” and perform a bunny haircut !

April 9th, Sydney Royal Show
THE Angora Bunny Event of the year!!
Back to Back Bunny World Record
Join the fun and what better way to do it than visit all the Easter bunnies at the Royal Easter Show! Promoting the angora rabbits in Australia for the very first time ! and how ! More information on the Royal Syndey show website and here later !

April 28th
Mini Wool Show of the Hand knitters Guild
Time and place to be confirmed later.
I am preparing heaps of new yarns for that event that will be amazing !!!!!

MAY and JUNE: keep your calendar free for exciting workshops !

The Bendigo Sheep and Wool Show 2012
Friday 20th-Sunday 22nd of July
I will be in the Flower (bunny) shed again this year with heaps of new fluffy stuff and in full bunny regalia J
This year it is even going to BIGGER and more HUGE than ever !!!
Join me in the fun !
The woolcraft schedule is published and the IxCHeL Fibre farm is sponsoring a catergory this year in the handspun yarn classes in Natural Animal Fibres class 23 and 24 !!! We feel it is very important to get the word out . Angora fibre and cashmere and mohair and alpaca and baby camel is amazing to spin, felt, weave, embellish and crochet with! Start planning and working on your entry for the show and get your art work out there for everybody tot admire and win prizes !! yeah ! What could be better eh?
Check out the website here for more details : www.sheepshow.com and for questions relating to the woolcraft schedule and ore contact Dot Vallence at Dotv5 at optusnet dot com dot au

Contact me on Ravelry where I am Ixchelbunny, message me on facebook or email me on Ixchelbunny@yahoo.com.au or ixchel@rabbit.com.au


RABBIT ON !
((hugs))
Charly