Wonderland Colour Magic

Everytime I am working on a fibre blend, but especially when I am painting or dyeing the fibres, a whole new world is opening up for me. Dyeing is chemistry : it is scientific and it has its rules, but at the same time, watching the pigments mix and mingle and work together with the fibres in their own way, with just your imagination to give it shape and form,   is in one word: “Magical”.

The one thing that always amazed me is how my brain is translating my imagination, my mood, my desires, everything really, into a visual combination of all different colours that magically appear in each of the cells of the fibre I am working on.
In all the years I have been painting and dyeing, I have come to know how absolutely futile it is, really,  to ask anybody what their favourite colours are. Favourite colours have a habit of changing. Not only because fashion colours are imprinted onto your brain every time the season changes, but most importantly because , well simply , because the seasons change, our outlook changes, things happen and we are like Alice in Wonderland looking at the world around us in a totally different light and colour.
For instance, I have never seen myself as a particularly sweet pink girl, not even the barbie pink, but you know that blush rose kind of  light pink. Still, all of a sudden this delicate colour, that I created using the pigment of a bolus mushroom, has become my absolute favourite these last few weeks, together with a very sweet duck egg blue…Now, what does this mean? I know that when I was quite sick, even without me knowing that I was at that time, my dyeing was dark, grey, muted, almost as if my senses knew before I ever scientifically acknowledged my physical “un-wellbeing”..So, I wonder what blush rose and duck egg blue translates to..So, I looked it up: “Pink is the color of happiness and is sometimes seen as lighthearted. For women who are often overworked and overburdened, an attraction to pink may speak of a desire for the more carefree days of childhood.” Hmm, that makes sense: I am happy, but overworked..lol..
Pink is also said to encourage friendliness while discouraging aggression and ill-will, that’s why some prisons have painted their walls pink, although I have no idea what the inmates thought of that decorating feature , nor if they immediately had a positive change of behaviour….
Brands that have been identified with pink are Victorias Secret and Pepto Bismal…now what does that mean eh? ..lol
Bright pinks are said to increase heart rate and blood pressure and encourages action and confidence…but what does blush pinks do? Encourage dreaming and imagination?
On to the duck egg blue: Well, blue itself is said to calm, sedate, cool and help with intuition and is the colour of the Throat Chakra, speech and hearing. I would say that the grey gorgeous misty duck egg blue could be identified with softness, dreaming and your alice in wonderland fairytales. Hmm, are my colour choices telling me to dream ( so ...eh...sleep) more? …

Well, there was not much time for sleeping this week: not with the dyeing and the blending of these new tops that I can offer you now, but also with all the clubs for this month (the fibre, yarn, mini skein and batt club!) being prepared and shipped. Yep, I have been a busy bunny again…

The New blend for this week is a gorgeous superfine organic merino 18micron! blended with 25% mulberry silk and 5% angora bunny. It is an amazingly soft fibre to spin or felt with and the colours are…well….dreamy and fun !

Enjoy looking and virtually cuddling these amazingly soft and shiny magical tops and snaffling some to hug in real life :-)

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

Angorino and Silk tops

organic merino 18micron 70%, Angora bunny 5% , Mulberry Silk 25%

100 grams AU$23

Hand dyed with passion , spins like a dream with softness, lustre and gorgeous new dreamy colourways!

Heart beat-1left-

Bang Bang-2 left-

Moment of Surrender-1 left-

Unknown Caller-2 left-

White as Snow-sold-

No line on the Horizon-2left-

Breathe-1 left-

Baby Baby-1left-

Fez -2 left-

Jungle Man-2left-

Another Dalek-2left-

Peace-1left-

Mermaids and Zombies-2left-

Dates to Remember:

Bunny Spin in at the Ixchel Fibre Farm (11am-4pm)
Every Third Saturday and every fourth Thursday of the month!

Saturday June 16th, 11am-4pm and

Thursday June 28th, 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

 

May 31st
IxCHeL Yarn and Bunny Show

the Hand knitters Group Warragul

Uniting Church Hall, Waragul.

A big fibre and yarn display and some bunny fun ! Please join us !

The Bendigo Sheep and Wool Show 2012
Friday 20th-Sunday 22nd of July

I will be in the Flower ( Power Bunny) shed again this year with heaps of new fluffy stuff and in full bunny regalia !!

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 more 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

Feeling Springy........

No, I don't think I will join these bunnies in their ballroom work out today..lol...
looks like fun though :)

Yesterday I was helping one of my beginner spinner students arrying a spinning wheel to her car , my foot got caught in a rug and I found out that walking with a wheel using only one leg is not only awkward but dangerous. The earths gravity caught up with me, or rather , my head hit the spinning wheel on its way down to earth. Result: bruised and grazed left knee, my right knee that had finally felt a bit better after dislocating it two months ago, was knocked and extremely painful and last but not least, my lips are punctured and so swollen that I can compete with even the poutiest of lips like those belonging to Angelina Jolie. No , I did not have a botox treatment..lol Fortunately my teeth are still there , my lips broke the fall… So to cut a long story short: the morning after –so today- I feel even worse than last night with aches here there and everywhere. I walk like a 102 year old with pouty lips……not a good look..lol… However, I did not want to deprive you all of some of my hand dyed tops this week that I am really really happy with ! I must be in a fairytale colour mood, because my absolute favourite is climbing roses. The blush pink going into a plum burgundy, blending in with light moss and greys to finally find its way to a duckblue sky: stunning. Kind of reminds me of David Austin Roses, a secret rose garden where you might stumble on the white rabbit holding a watch, while mumbling : “I’m late! I’m late !”.
Enjoy looking and virtually cuddling these amazingly soft and shiny magical tops

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

Blue Faced Leicester Bunny Seaweed tops

Blue Faced Leicester 70%, Angora bunny 5% , Seaweed 25%

100 grams AU$24

Hand dyed with passion , spins like a dream with softness, lustre and gorgeous new colourways!

Climbing Rose (my absolute favourite this week )

luvvely

Heart throb

Sense and Sensibility

Sea breeze

Juggling act

Steel Zen

Hyacinth

Mr Darcy

Autumn honeycomb

detail of the climbing rose

Dates to Remember:

Bunny Spin in at the Ixchel Fibre Farm (11am-4pm)
Every Third Saturday and every fourth Thursday of the month!

Saturday May 19th, 11am-4pm and

Thursday May 26th, 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

 

May 31st
IxCHeL Yarn and Bunny Show

the Hand knitters Guild Warragul

Uniting Church Hall, Waragul.

A big fibre and yarn display and some bunny fun ! Please join us !

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 !!

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 more 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

Fluff for a Cure World Record Scarf Fundraiser

The Fluff for a Cure World Record Scarf event has raised a total of $1310 !!!! 65% of our set goals but nevertheless $1310 is pretty good . The responses have been phenomenal and I want to thank all of you who have gladly donated and have been so supportive throughout the whole process !

Thank you all so mucch for coming to the event here at the farm and all of you who couldn't make it on that day but did their bit and donated to the cause! Thank you so much ! Just when I wanted to check the way things were going on the Fluff for a Cure website, the internet went down and only got restored at around 4:20! nervewrecking..lol... Then we found out that the total raised was $1310 and the winner !

The World Record Scarf has been won by…………Marg  from Mulwala !!!

Congratulations! I will be sending out your luscious soft fluffy scarf with a nice thanks you Cancer Council/IxCHeL pack next week ! Thank you so much for your fabulous support !

Also, I believe we are on to something here ! I would like to take this opportunity to keep FLUFF for a CURE going!

What is the plan? Well, Every month we are going to start by putting a certain fluffy handmade item up for auction, just like what we have done for the world record scarf in May !
Every month you can donate anything you can to the Fluff for cure website and the one who donated the most will win the work of art !

Want to participate and put something fluffy hand made up for auction? Email me your plan and photos of your work of artwork and a short story on why you would like to participate in the Fluff for a Cure.
Everybody has his or her own story to tell why Supporting Cancer research and finding a cure is important to them. Tell your story please and share it. I know it is not always easy to tell your story, for some it is even impossible because the hurt is too fresh, too painful. If you feel that you cannot write it down but you do want to share what you are going through , please give me a call anytime. I am a very good listener and if you want, only if you want, I can write your story down for you. However way you want to do it is okay. No pressure at all.

So after you have emailed or messaged me your plan/project, I will give you all the information to send it to me, I will organise all the photos, putting it on line, writing up your story (only I you want ofcourse or you can write it yourself) and start the Fluff for a Cure ball rolling with your art work !

At your end you can email all your friends with the weblink to Fluff for a Cure ! and get as many people involved: the more the merrier !

There are several things that are so important in all of this:
One: by sharing your story, you will give other people to opportunity to learn more about this horrible disease and not push it under the carpet, because –as we all know- it just doesn’t disappear all by itself by ignoring it.
Two: by sharing your story or calling me or the cancer councils helpline (tel 13 11 20 or go to www.cancervic.org.au) , you can receive more information and have questions answered. There is help available, but especially when you are trying to cope with having been diagnosed or getting treatments or having a family member going through treatments, help is not always given, you have to ask for it. Don’t be shy, don’t hold back: call me (03 59667205) or the cancer council (13 11 20). Three: By sharing your story you will let others know that they are not alone. There are people that are there to help.
Four: you are helping the cancer council and people who are in need of support at a very difficult time in their lives.

The Fluff for a Cure Cancer Council webpage is right here and it is never too late to donate ! and show your support http://vic.cancercouncilfundraising.org.au/FLUFFforaCURE

Here is the awesome scarf won by the wonderful Marg from Mulwala !

Thank you so much to everybody who has already showed their support and thank you all for listening and helping. It means a lot to so many people !

How To participate in the Fluff for a Cure fundraising: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 the details Or call me ! Any questions? Please don’t hesitate to ask! Always happy to help.

Thank you so much for your help and support !

RABBIT ON !

((hugs))

Charly

The Fluff goes on !

Because we all need love and support

Life is filled with things we somehow take for granted. For example, Women grow up expecting that one day they will celebrate mothersday just like their mums did, they will have kids and grandkids running around and enriching their lives. This is not only an expectation, it is almost a given, as books, magazines, advertisement, TV and movies tell us. That is the fairytale that we grow up with. Alas, for some this fairytale never comes to pass…

I have been wrecking my brain how to write todays’blog, so close to “mothersday” without upsetting so many mothers out there. Today of all days because  the Fluff for a Cure event fundraiser celebration spin in starting at 12 noon here at the IxCHeL Fibre farm.
 I have also been wrecking my brain on how to explain how much it means to donate and not make it seem like yet another “please donate” line you hear on TV or on the radio. The only thing I could come up with is my story combined with a lot of other very personal stories I have gotten to know in the two years after I have been diagnosed with Uterine Cancer. The Uterine cancer that turned my fairytale into a nightmare, that I only survived because of my soulmate Paul, my family, my friends and last but not least the medical staff that did the only thing they were trained to do: rip the bloody mess out to save me. The uterine cancer in younger women, that statistics tell us is quite rare. And as always statistics are wrong. It isn’t that rare as they say and it does happen to young women and pre menopausal women more than they make you believe. And when it happens when you are a women still trying to build a family it is a double blow: not only are you faced with having to cope with cancer and fighting it, but at the same time it is the final curtain for that fairytale that abruptly has come to an end: being able to have that family.

What is forgotten most of the time,is that once you are told you have cancer, your whole world as you know it turns upside down. Your ears hear the news and immediately after your brain shuts off the new impulses and goes its own way: a coping mechanism for sure. And however important it is to get that medical attention almost immediately focussing on the physical, for the person involved it is detrimental that help is offered on a personal, psychological and social level. This is what I have found to be totally and utterly lacking in the hospital and medical environment I was thrown in. It all just added to the trauma.
This is where the cancer council comes in. There is a help line you can call and they can get you in touch with people , real people, that have been or are still going through what you are going through. They know, they care. In times of hardship and total upheaval, that means everything.
It has been two years and a bit for me now. I am still recovering and still under “supervision”, still three more years to be poked and prodded and declared “saved” and a “survivor” but even then , everything I have been through and know now, will never leave me.

When I was diagnosed with uterine cancer and told that the only way to save me was to take my dream away to have a family, it was soul destroying. I fought, I still am, but at times –especially around mothersday- the hurt returns, to be quickly followed by a deep gratitude that I am still here.

When I was telling everybody about it on my blog (please read the whole story here: http://ixchelbunny.blogspot.com.au/2009/12/im-home-perfect-missed-opportunity.html ) it helped me cope. At that time, just out of the hospital, I was determent to make a change. To start a foundation, to make people aware of uterine cancer and more importantly, to help other people. Finding a Cure begins with Research, Love, Support, Hope,Faith and a lot of determination. The time has come people! The Fluff for a Cure fundraiser is just the beginning. It will not stop today. The Fluff for a cure Fundraiser will keep going ! Today it is the World record Angora Bunny scarf that is the item that can “won” by the person donating the most money to the cause, but there will be more fluffy articles put in the spotlight for the Fluff for a Cure Cause in the future. So, keep an eye out on this blog, my group on Ravelry and Facebook.
Everybody who wants can be a part of the FLUFF for a CURE movement: you can donate anything to be auctioned off and all proceeds will go to the cancer council or you can donate money to the cause by clicking on the donate button on the fluff for a cure webpage. The Fluff for a Cure Cancer Council webpage is right here and it is never too late to donate ! : : http://vic.cancercouncilfundraising.org.au/FLUFFforaCURE

Here is the awesome scarf that weight about 193grams and is 3.6 meters long ! yes, three hundred and sixty centimers !!!! Now that is a lot of bunny to wrap around you !

How to wrap 3.6 meters of Bunny around your neck …. lol

Thank you so much to everybody who has already showed their support and thank you all for listening and helping. It means a lot to so many people !

Here’s this weeks Shop blog Update! Enjoy the goodies and don’t forget to go to the Fluff for a Cure Cancer Council webpage ! If you can make it to the Fluff for a Cure Spin in , please let me know : it is going to be heaps of fun !! there are yummy cardamom macaroons to be tasted, fresh tea and offee, cuddly bunnies, fluff to play with and lots of chatting!!

Enjoy snaffling and creating !

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 ! Don't forget to check in on special extra ixchelbunny blog on Saturday the 12th of May to read all about the Fluff for a Cure celebration Spin in happening today !

(((HUGS)))

Charly

GaGa ! Bunny tops

Blue Faced Leicester 70%, Angora bunny 10% , Glitz 20%

100 grams AU$24
Part of the sales will be donated to the Fluff for a Cure !

Hand dyed with passion !

Sweet and Mellow

I cried for you

Dreaming

Dream Child

Alice in Wonderland with chocolates

See ya later alligator

Springy

Crash Boom Bang

Tada !

Gawjus

Lovey Dovey

Awesome !

Frabjous!

Dates to Remember:

FLUFF for a CURE celebration Spin in at the Ixchel Fibre Farm (12am-4pm)
FRIDAY May 11th !

Come visit to help the Fluff for a Cure Cancer Counccil Fundraising event be a total success ! Enjoy the company of friends, cuddle some bunnies, nice snacks and a coffee or tea, spin, knit or just chat ! the World Record Scarf will be on display and can be hugged and will be auctioned off ! All proceeds will be donated to the Fluff for a Cure Fundraising event. Even when you cannot make it please check it out on line and donate what you can for a good cause !

Bunny Spin in at the Ixchel Fibre Farm (11am-4pm)
Every Third Saturday and every fourth Thursday of the month!

Saturday May 19th, 11am-4pm and

Thursday May 26th, 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

May 31st
IxCHeL Yarn and Bunny Show

the Hand knitters Guild Warragul

Uniting Church Hall, Waragul.

A big fibre and yarn display and some bunny fun ! Please join us !

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 !!

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 more 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