A Bunny Fiesta: having a Ball with Fluff

Frida Kahlo with bunny 

I thought after last weeks celebration a Fiesta might help to get rid of the flu…well, I’m definitely not flu-less yet, but I’m getting better. So all in all I guess that is a good thing. So, in my book, a fiesta or party is the best medicine for lots of things. What is this Fiesta she is talking about? Well, its not actually a party in the normal human kind of way, but nevertheless a party in my fiberholic mind. What happens when you put a lot of wonderfully dyed rovings together and blend it just a tiny bit to get a top? Yep, that’s right, you get a colourful fibre party, A Fiesta. The colours I dreamt of are Mexican colours, bright crimson reds, oranges, blues, greens, pinks, purples and all bound together with a rainbow of bling ! Now, if that doesn’t make you happy, nothing will..lol

The Fiesta tops on offer this week are angorino with a dash of glitz and you can spin (or felt ) them any way you like it ! You can choose to start spinning and let the fiesta top take you where no spinner has gone before! OR, you can experiment and predraft each individual colour separately and then ply them together on their own or with a contrast plying thread. Anything goes ! The results will be spectacular and unique !!!

Also, my fresh new harvest of Buddhas tears tea is available again, Buddhas tears tea is a hand rolled wonderful green tea that holds a beautiful jasmine tea pearl inside). This special Buddhas tears tea is all packaged up very nicely so it is a perfect gift idea as well ! I made a new label and packaged it all up in a very nice green organza bag : a perfect gift for yourself or for somebody else !

Ofcourse I have been dyeing and spinning up a storm in preparation for the Bendigo show and also trying to get all my custom orders done in time…oh how I wish I had about 48 hours in a day and didn’t need any sleep…I calculated that I would need to dye at least 10 kilos a day and spin heaps as well to get everything I want ready for the Bendigo show. That ofcourse doesn’t take into account the special projects I also need to do and the making of the badges and braiding and labelling…hahahahahaha….(yes I am hopeful….).
 

I do have a very special yarn on offer again this week :: an alpaca angora blend boucle yarn ! 50 grams per skein and there are 75 + meters per 50 grams. This boucle yarn is a textured super soft yarn and takes some spinning! The French term for “curl” is “boucle,” which provides some insight on how to spin this novelty yarn. Boucle yarn is a three-ply yarn with loops and bumps. In a factory setting, yarn manufacturers create a boucle yarn during plying by intentionally feeding one strand of yarn more slowly than the other. Hand spinners can create the same beautiful,, in my view, even a more beautiful boucle yarn by hand and with a lot of patience and having fun!  How you do it? Well it is a three part process: Spin one yarn fine, with a clockwise or Z-twist. Spin a second ply thick, counterclockwise or with an S-twist. Ply these two yarns together clockwise, but hold the thin yarn tightly, and the thick yarn loosely. This causes the thick yarn to loop around the thin yarn. Then ply the result with a binder using a counterclockwise or S-twist. The binder can be anything, even thread, because its job is hold the two other plies together while keeping the loops in place. It is a slow process but oh so worth it. You can use any fibre but I find that alpaca or mohair blends are most suited for this type of yarn because the loops stay very defined !

Close up of the boucle yarn.

 

Every loop doesn’t need to be perfect, it is all done by hand so it is good to have little imperfections”and quirky bounces: it all adds to the character and believe you me, Boucle is one of those “art”yarns or novelty yarns as they were called in the 80s and 90s that will make any project a winner ! It is textured and oh so soft : YUM!

 

I have actually noticed something that is going on these days. In the past hand spinners have tried to spin fine and make a beautiful so called "perfect"yarn, Then novelty yarns popped up like boucle and the industry have tried to copy that.  Now I find that more and more yarn companies are trying to get their machines to spin yarn that LOOKS like it is hand spun: creating bee hives, tail spun looking fluff  etc etc. But, no matter what : the hand spinners will always have the upper hand in my book. Why? Because no machine can create a unique loving yarn that has its litte quirky "mistakes"and colourful creativity.  Hand spinning or hand weaving is creating a one of a kind beautiful piece of art ! There are rules but rules can be broken to create new exciting adventures and isn't that what life is all about? Smile and have a fibery Fiesta everybody!

I will leave you to snaffle to your hearts content ! Please feel free to contact me at any time if you have any questions or requests : alays happy to enable.Please know that I still do custom spinning and dyeing but all the custom orders can only be finished after the Bendigo show.

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 !

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

(((HUGS)))

Charly

Fiesta Tops

A party blend of different vibrant angorino colours together with a band of rainbow glitz!!! Yee haw! Arriba ! Arriba ! Rabbit on !
 

100grams+    for  AU$22

Fiesta Tops up close and personal

All braided up and ready to party !

Alpaca Angora Boucle yarn

4 skeins per colourway available
 

50grams+    for  a Special price of AU$12

Pinata

Retro

Stone

Blossom

Indigo

Buddhas Tears Tea

Hand rolled little balls of quality green tea holding a precious pearl of jasmine tea inside. Put three to four of the balls in your cup, add hot water (and honey if you like) and watch the balls open up and enjoy! Packaged in a very nice organza bag : excellent as a gift for yourself or your friends.

50grams+    for  AU$18

Buddhas Tears tea in organza bag

Yum !

IxCHeL Club sign ups are Open !

The IxCHeL clubs sign ups are open!! 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

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 !!! new fibres, blends, colours, soft fluffy things to spin, weave, felt, sew!, embellish! And there will be our delish Buddhas tears tea again as well ! And badges! and buttons ! and…Pre Felts ready to embellish or make into your special garments ! Its all happening !!!!
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