Survival of the fluffiest

 It has been raining constantly now for two days..the weather feels like my head…cold, fluey and dripping wet..and the second watertank Paul recently installed is nearly full. Water overflow again.

It's an everlasting dilemma isn’t it? When there is no rain in summertime we desperately need it for our veggie garden and when its winter and all the tanks are full, the veggies get enough water naturally..more than enough actually…

 

I do think we are on top of our infestation of slimey snails and slugs who were decimating our precious bunny food ! Did you know that putting copper thread or copper of any kind around your veggies or on top of your raised beds will deter slugs? as soon as they want to slime over them to reach your yummy vegetables , they get tiny shocks! Kind of like walking on hot coals for us humans…Unfortunately we didn’t quite have the outlay to invest in a huge amount of copper so we hand picked them instead. A terrible night time occupation but it had to be done. In one session at the start we found over 400slugs and snails! We might just as well started a slug farm! NOOO! NOT going there ! As soon as it has no hair, Im not interested..lol

Gardening with copper….. a posh way to prevent snails and slugs eating your precious bunny greens

Last Saturday I had a wonderful time at the handknitters guild Show day in Brunswick. I love doing that gig and meeting so many new and old fibre fanatics.
The venue this year had changed due to the fact that the Brunswick Town Hall was getting renovated and I must say it kind of felt we were all squeezed in a can like sardines..You could have just walked in and did a wool dive and all would be right ..lol.
I do hope that next year we will be back at the Brunswick town hall with its lovely atrium (providing they haven’t demolished that! ) and the spacious surroundings. As we all know Fibre needs space and room to “puff” lol.

I want to thank all of you who came and supported our little fibre farm and especially a big thank you to Wil Villareal and Felicity Clark who won the IxCHeL fibre raffle ! Congrats and have fun with your parcel ! I know you will..wink wink nudge nudge.

My hand knitters guild set up , well ...some of it….lol

Last Wednesday I was struck down with something and couldn’t move nor get out of bed..so after I struggled to get the animals fed ..I slept til nightfall…made dinner..and went back to bed..

This Wednesday (after the handknitters guild show) I again was struck down ..(the curse of Wednesday is coming to a theatre near you soon..lol) this time with a nice "little" flu…YUK!

Well, no flu can keep me down I said, so I still fed the animals, cleaned the studio out, organised the yarn, made the studio draught proof (as much as I could by hanging a tapestry ! and fixing the door) and made a new villa for Bear, after which I proceeded to dye the sock and fibre club (yes it is that time of the month again) made the funky bunny batts and then my body said ..I had enough of this …give her another bout of incapacitating flu and fuzzy head syndrome, see who wins eh?

Well, nobody won, it was an impasse…you see, when you TRY and have your own business and animals to take care of there is no such thing as retiring to bed unless it is really really REALLY impossible to get out of it.  

So, yes, Im struggling at the moment.. the workload….the constant flow of amazing ideas and design…the processing of fibres and dyeing of yarns..the spinning…the trying to make sense of it all….and…flu and…the list goes on..lol.  Look, I’m not complaining, A lot of people who are looking for a job or are sick and tired of the ones they have, they have it rough. And yes, it is nice to be your own boss, although at times, I feel I have to give her a big smack in the face! Ouch!

Being your own boss means you have heaps of stuff to deal with, not only what you want to do and what your business says you do, but it is all the “little” things too: book keeping, accounting, marketing, PR, networking, paperwork, selling, designing, production, labelling, packing, and the list goes on. Again, I am not complaining here, Im just stating the fact of small business and small farms: it is a tough gig !

 

It is hard to find a balance between living the dream and passion of what you do and still do all the other stuff. No wonder that small business and small farms have to give up sometimes…the pressure is too great..the demands are too big. Again, not a whinge but it is true: Paul and I haven’t had a holiday for over 10 years… Somethings gotta give sometimes…so instead of production overload I am giving you a super special bunny bison bliss blend (because it is so special) and some art yarns and ofcousre the announcement of the new IxCHeL Clubs !!!

 

Why not more? Well, because it is just me. Me and my two hands... and when Im lucky, I can get Paul to help me skein up yarns and prep some fibre after his heavy workload.

 

At the Hand knitters Guild show a woman stepped up to me and honestly –not lying here- ,with a very serious, non confrontational voice asked me : “eh, can you please tell me why your yarns are so expensive? Like..eh..$20 to $25 dollars per skein?” I was kind of flabbergasted and was searching for a humane way to respond seeing that she was obviously serious.( Although I must say I would never in my dreams, walk up to anybody , asking them why I think their stuff is priced as it is…).

 

Anyway, I tried to explain to her that every skein is hand spun and hand dyed. It did not even take into consideration the work involved in feeding the animals, cleaning the pens, grooming them every day, clipping them, pouring all the love and commitment into it and thinking of colour schemes and weights of yarns, and the list goes on…also to spin a lace weight yarn or a 4ply it takes time! Its not like you start spinning and a 4 ply yarn is just popping out in an hour…no, it takes more …many more hours producing a hand spun and hand dyed yarn…...

Everything is done by hand,,,everything is unique…did she get the picture ? I don’t know….she shrugged and walked away….

 

The whole world is gone nuts and has lost touch with reality it seems..because it is so much easier to buy things cheap at a supermarket at incredibly low prices, but I say this:

 

The more we drift away from the earth, the more we abuse her…;

The more we drift away from growing and making our own food, the more we abuse our bodies and the farms….;

The more we drift away from making things by hand ourselves, the more we disregard the love and passion and quality that goes into the fabric of our society …
 

 

How To Order from this Shop blog and support the IxCHel Fibre Farm:

You can email me on ixchel at rabbit dot com dot au or Ixchelbunny@yahoo.com.au or message me on facebook or ravelry where I am Ixchelbunny. I will email you  or message you right back with all your order details and payment methods. Any questions? Please don’t hesitate to ask! Always happy to enable. an yes, I do custom orders as well !

Payment : direct bank deposit, card or paypal ! easy !

(((HUGS)))

Charly

Bunny Bison Bliss tops Tops

An absolutely amazing , super special rare blend of Bison, angora, cashmere, tencel and yak

50grams+    for  AU$17

Retro Geek

It’s all good -sold-

 

Escape by Sea Turtle

Hurricane Wine

Catching a Wave

Bunny Bison Bliss in its natural beautiful state

IxCHel Zombie Bunny Art yarn

 

Retro Zombie bunny art yarn..

two skeins available, 115grams and 118grams each $55

Bling! Zombie bunny art yarn -sold-
128 grams of pure zombie bunny awesomeness $60 one skein available

IxCHeL Club sign ups are Open !

The IxCHeL clubs sign ups are starting as of today for the fibre, yarn, mini skein and batt clubs for July, August and September 2013! Here is all the nitty gritty:

 

IxCHeL Fibre Club July, August and September 2013

The subscription is for a period of three months and you will receive one special hand dyed top/roving per month to the value of AU$22 , and as all of you past members know you get tops that are usually around $24 ! so it is a great deal!

All the tops will be hand dyed and will be especially made for the members of Ixchel Fibre Club ! Price to join the Ixchel Fibre Club #17 and receive your special hand dyed top :)) for three months (may-june-july) is AU$66 + postage (parcel post or airmail). AND there are good value double serves available !!!

 

For Australia : single serve $66+$24 postage (parcel post), double serve $120+$24

For USA + Canada: single serve AU$66+AU$45 (Airmail) double serve AU$120+AU$45

For UK,Europe, rest of the world: Single serve AU$66+AU$58 (airmail) Double serve AU$120+AU$58

For Asia: Single serve AU$66+AU$36 (airmail) Double serve AU$120+AU$36

If you want to receive a fibre surprise every month then join the IXCHEL FIBRE CLUB #17 now. Numbers are strictly limited ! Deadline for signing up for fibre club #17 is July 8th! And the first instalment is going to be shipped out end of July. Payment via direct deposit or credit card or paypal. Just PM or email me your details

 

The IxCHeL Sock Yarn Club July, August and September 2013

Every month for three months (July, August and September 2013) you will receive: enough hand dyed luscious yummy yarn to make a pair of socks or a lush shawl or scarf ofcourse! (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

 

For Australia : single serve $78+$24 postage (parcel post) double serve $130 (= one skein FREE!!!) +$24

For USA + Canada: single serve AU$78+AU$45 (Airmail) double serve $130 (= one skein FREE!!!) +AU$45

For UK,Europe, rest of the world: Single serve AU$78+AU$54 (airmail) Double serve $130 (= one skein FREE!!!) +AU$54

For Asia: Single serve AU$78+AU$36 (airmail) Double serve $130 (= one skein FREE!!!) +AU$36

 

Numbers are strictly limited ! Deadline for signing up for the Ixchelbunny SOCK-IT-TO-ME Yarn CLUB! is July 8th.

Payment via direct deposit or credit card or paypal . 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 .

 

IxCHeL Mini skein Club July, August and September 2013

Every month I will be offering a monthly exclusive IxCHeL mini skein selection for Club members. In that monthly selection there are 12 hand dyed miniskeins that are hand dyed and or even hand spun and awesome to add to your mini skein projects.

Here are all the details for the sign ups for the IxCHeL Mini Skein Club:

For Australia : single serve $69+$24 postage (parcel post) double serve $130 (=even a better deal!) +$24

For USA + Canada: single serve AU$69+AU$45 (Airmail) double serve $130 (even a better deal!) +AU$45

For UK,Europe, rest of the world: Single serve AU$69+AU$54 (airmail) Double serve $130 (even a better deal!)+AU$54

For Asia: Single serve AU$69+AU$36 (airmail) Double serve $130 (even a better deal!)+AU$36

 

Numbers are strictly limited ! Deadline for signing up for the IxCHeL Mini Skein Club is July 8th. The first Club mini skeins will be sent out end of July. Payment via direct deposit or credit card or paypal. Just PM or email me your details

 

IxCHeL Funky Bunny Batt Club July, August and Septmebre 2013

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 and you will receive one special hand dyed funky bunny batt 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 wolf and bison this time ! 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 for July, Augsut and September 2013 !

Price to join the Ixchel Funky bunny for three months is :

For Australia : $96+$24 postage (parcel post)

For USA + Canada: AU$96+AU$45 (Airmail)

For UK,Europe, rest of the world: AU$96+AU$54 (airmail)

For Asia: AU$96+AU$36 (airmail)

If you want to receive a fibre surprise every month then join the IXCHEL FUNKY BUNNY Batt CLUB now. Numbers are strictly limited ! Deadline for signing up for the funky bunny batt club July 8th and the first installment is going to be shipped out end of July 2013 :) Payment via direct deposit or credit card or paypal. Just PM or email me

Dates to Remember:

Gembrook Spinners and Weavers Guild Spin in day

Monday May 20th, Gembrook Town Hall  !!!!
10.30-3pm
A wonderful get together with heaps of spinners and weavers in the beautiful Gembrook.

BENDIGO SHEEP AND WOOL SHOW!

Friday 19th of July, Saturday 20th of July and Sunday 21st of July

This is the Ultimate Fibre and fun mix of them all! There will be lots of new things on offer at my IxCHeL stall ofcourse, with prizes to be won and lots of fun to be had!

This is the place to support farmers, fibre producers and independant "Indie" dyers and crafters and have some great fun discovering new things and even win prizes !

In the flower Power Bunny Shed there will be some extra surprises and new things happening as well, including …this is so exciting!!!!: you can see and try out new unusual spinning wheels adn spinning related goodies like andean plyers and nore from a wonderful new fibre fanatic fiberific! vendor ! Don’t miss seeing these new beauties! And ofcourse there will be lots more demos and wheels and spindles on offer as well in the flower power Bunny shed !
There is a woolcraft schedule available at the farm or you can email Dot : Dotv5@optusnet.com.au. 

Entries for your fiber art closes on June 14th and there are lots of prizes to be won!
Our little IxCHeL fibre farm is sponsoring sections 24 and 25 so get started on your entry to win some very yummy stuff !

Any questions or requests?
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