Watch this Space...Bunny!

It’s April ! and the season is getting very very busy! Lots of preparing for all the shows coming up and still doing all the gazillion custom orders is making my days (and nights) a bit longer than expected…bedtime here at the farm is getting later and later and is now clocked at about 3am-4am in the morning…call me crazy…lol It comes in handy I am a night owl anyway and I seem to get a lot more done at night..strange that.....

I am doing my utmost to get lots of fluffy fibery things ready for the Grand Valley show Monday the 14th and , at the same time, spinning and dyeing  lots of new yarns and fibres for the Handknitters Guild Show in May and then the BIG one !: Bendigo Show.

All the dates and information is at the bottom of this weeks “Dates to put in your Calendar!” - bit. There is lots of new exciting stuff planned as usual and I love teasing you all, so I am not saying a thing ……yet…..lol

All the dyepots are heating up almost continuously, the carders are humming and the spinning wheels are purring..it’s one of those times I wish I had more than two hands and feet, but since I am already tripping over with the two feet I have I don’t think it would be that wise a move…

All the bunnies are happy and preparing for Easter..well not really, but their coat is growing nicely now that the weather is cooling down a bit and that’s just what I need so I can keep the blending going and spinning angora yarns.

You know they say that human hair grows at the rate of about 1.25 centimetres or 0.5 inches per month, or about 15 centimetres or 6 inches per year !?

Angora Bunnies can easily get double that per month (about 3cm /months) . Unfortunately, they also have a gene that says “ it’s three months, please start molting/shedding” !.. so new batches start growing ..which makes that angora bunnies can matt up very very quickly…unless you have a so called “non-shedding” gene .

Some pure bred bunnies in the United States are gifted with that gene for some reason and that’s why you see some enormous hairgrowth in some English Angora breed bunnies there. Since they do not shed, their hair keeps growing to amazing staple lengths. I can only dream of that. If I do get my hands on a bunny from that gene pool I will call it Rapunzel.

Look at that “cute” Yawn ! or maybe it’s saying
“ Don’t you dare come near me with those scissors!”

Ms. Chu has been at the forefront of selective breeding efforts that may have recently isolated a non-molting gene in English Angoras. What this means: A non-molting English Angora requires less care than a German Angora.

The fibers grow very long (7+") without molting, matting, or a rigid grooming schedule. Ms. Donna Deter of D'Lynn Wooly Bunnies has several non-molting English Angoras, and asserts the ability to go 7-8 months with "no special care at all."

She does occasionally find a few minimal mats by the ears and mouth. This is despite the very soft and luxurious fiber of the English angora.

The rabbit stays in 'prime' for longer periods of time. Coat retention for up to 14 months has been recorded. English angora fiber production is very strong. It doesn't exceed that of the German angora, however the English are smaller animals and eat as little as half as much as German angoras do. Spontaneous non-molting qualities are cropping up in other herds around the USA, and breeders are beginning to selectively fix this quality in their English angoras.

If yours is a non-molting English angora, you may not need to adhere as rigidly to a grooming schedule, however all angoras require monthly 'bottom checks' to ensure cleanliness.

 

As for my herd of angoras, none of them have the non molting gene unfortunately, but I am still very happy with their absolutely gorgeous hair! Angora Bunnies are absolute treasures, whether they molt or not ...

This week I have an angelic blend planned for you! Our Angel Bunny blend with a base of Blue faced Leicester sheep, with its lustre and very nice crimp, combined with cashmere, angora bunny and Tencel (a fibre made from wood fibres! With an amazing shine and lustre).

Please don't hesitate to contact me at any time if you have any questions okay? Always happy to enable. All my contact details are to be found at the end of this weeks blog entry. Have fun !!!

 

Angel Bunny Tops  

A wonderful pearlescent blend of Blue Faced Leicester, angora bunny , Cashmere and Tencel.
100grams+ (+/-3.5oz) …. AU$24
 

 

Zen

 

 Rose

 

Princess

 

Orchids

 

Hoppy Rainbow-sold-

 

Honey Bunny-sold-

 

Heather-sold-

 

Girl Talk

 

Faun In the Forest

 

Cowboy

 

Bubbling Champagne

 

Beau

 

Galaxy

 

IxCHeL Club sign ups starting in April 2014 are Open until April 8th So don’t miss out: ONLY 4 DAYS LEFT !!!!

IxCHeL Fibre Club April, May and June 2014

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 #20 and receive your special hand dyed top :)) for three months (April, May and June 2014) is AU$66 + postage (parcel post or airmail). AND there are good value double serves available !!!

 

For Australia : single serve $66+$27 postage (parcel post), double serve $120+$27

For USA + Canada: single serve AU$66+AU$51 (Airmail) double serve AU$120+AU$51

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$45 (airmail) Double serve AU$120+AU$45

If you want to receive a fibre surprise every month then join the IXCHEL FIBRE CLUB #20 now. Numbers are strictly limited ! Deadline for signing up for fibre club #20 is April 8th! And the first instalment is going to be shipped out end of April. Payment via direct deposit or credit card or paypal. Just PM or email me your details

 

The IxCHeL Sock Yarn Club April, May and June 2014

Every month for three months (April, May and June 2014) 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+$27 postage (parcel post) double serve $130 (= one skein FREE!!!) +$27

For USA + Canada: single serve AU$78+AU$51 (Airmail) double serve $130 (= one skein FREE!!!) +AU$51

For UK,Europe, rest of the world: Single serve AU$78+AU$58 (airmail) Double serve $130 (= one skein FREE!!!) +AU$58

For Asia: Single serve AU$78+AU$45 (airmail) Double serve $130 (= one skein FREE!!!) +AU$45

 

Numbers are strictly limited ! Deadline for signing up for the Ixchelbunny SOCK-IT-TO-ME Yarn CLUB! is April 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 April, May and June 2014

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+$27 postage (parcel post) double serve $130 (=even a better deal!) +$27

For USA + Canada: single serve AU$69+AU$51 (Airmail) double serve $130 (even a better deal!) +AU$51

For UK,Europe, rest of the world: Single serve AU$69+AU$58 (airmail) Double serve $130 (even a better deal!)+AU$58

For Asia: Single serve AU$69+AU$45 (airmail) Double serve $130 (even a better deal!)+AU$45

 

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

 

IxCHeL Funky Bunny Batt Club April, May and June 2014

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! 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 April, May and June 2014!

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

For Australia : $96+$27 postage (parcel post)

For USA + Canada: AU$96+AU$51 (Airmail)

For UK,Europe, rest of the world: AU$96+AU$58 (airmail)

For Asia: AU$96+AU$45 (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 April 8th and the first installment is going to be shipped out end of April :) Payment via direct deposit or credit card or paypal. Just PM or email me

 

Badges!

Happy funny Badges to attach to just about anything: your craft bags, clothes, the perfect little gifts ! 

1 badge AU$2

10 for AU$18

20 badges for AU$35

30 badges for AU$49

Every badge has a nr so when ordering just mention the nr of the badge and how many you would like..easy!

newest additions : badge nrs 84-90

Badges 1-20

Badges 21-40

Badges 41-59

Badges 60-83

How To Order:

1. You can email me on ixchel at rabbit dot com dot au or ixchelbunny at yahoo dot com dot au
2. 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? Any custom orders for yarn or dyeing fibre? Please don’t hesitate to ask! Always happy to enable.
 

Thank you so much for your help and support !

IxCHeL Events to put in your Calendar!

Monday 14th of April
GrandValley Spinners and Weavers
TOYLAND SPIN IN
Tapscott Hall Cnr Cambridge and Montrose Roads
Montrose
Start 9:30 Am
Everybody welcome !
I will have a stall there with fibres, yarns, batts, clouds and much much more !!!!

Handknitters Guild Mini Wool show
May 17th
Coburg Town Hall, 90 Bell Street, Coburg
10-am3pm
The AMAZING handknitters Guild Victoria is putting on their annual Yarn & Craft Show again ! Yeah ! This market is one of my favourite events of the year and s set in the epic , recently restored Coburg Town hall.
The date to put in your calendar is May 17th 2014, 10am-15pm!!! I will be there with bells on (and ears..ofcourse!) and will have a NEW range of handspun angora, mink, yak, alpaca, bison! and loooooong repeat lace yarns and sock yarns !!!
for the yarn spinners: all the IxCHeL blended tops will be at the party as well! Ranging from my Angorino to the epic Bunny bison bliss! It is going to be an AMAZING day !!!
Address to be on May the 17th is: Coburg Town Hall (pictured) located at 90 Bell Street, Coburg, about 500 metres from Sydney Road. Entry is free. the Hand knitters’ guild 2014 Raffle Rug made by Guild members with luxury yarn from the Bendigo Wool Mill will be on display and $2 tickets will be available for purchase.

Friday 18th July-Sunday 20th of July
Bendigo Sheep and Wool Show
Bendigo Show Grounds
Flower Power Bunny Shed
THE event of the year with heaps of fun and super special fibre happenings!!
Exciting news !!!!!! more info on that later in the year !!!

Friday 15th of August-Sunday 17th of August
39th Annual Country Conference
Camp Manyung Sunnyside Rd,
Mount Eliza
Im doing a talk there about the Navajo Churro Sheep project, Navajo Rug making, Navajo style spinning and more !
Lots of extremely special and hard to find fibres and yarns and SPINDLES will be available there !
Not to be missed!
There will also be a Special Navajo rug display and I will also have a stall there with lots of fluffy stuff to hug..enabling galore!!
To participate in the Country Conference please contact : Dot Vallence , email: dotv5@optusnet.com.au

 

 RABBIT ON !

((hugs))

Charly