A Floppy Bunny and a rare sheep

You already know that it is an absolute busy wool and fibre dyeing Mayhem here, it does not really need explaining that I, again, am obviously overdoing things.
I have always been famous , or infamous, depending on what your opinions are on the matter, for being uncontrollable in my energy : it’s either feast or famine as they say..most of the time feast though with hardly any famine (holidays or down time) .
Working long hours (til 5.30 or 4 am in the morning) finally took its’ toll a couple of days ago, when I was on my way to the bedroom just about to turn in for the night feeling a bit woozy ..”I’m tired, it’s normal, I’ve been working too late and too hard again” ..I had to hold on to the couch to catch my breath and the next thing I remember was me wondering why on earth there was a dog tail hitting me on the face and a naked man towering over me shouting “wake up!”, or “ “you okay!?”, which obviously I wasn’t because I had fallen head first on the ground, just missing the fireplace on my way down.
I had absolutely no idea I was out for the count. I had no recollection of me starting to fall down or the falling part all together. And, in that first blissful moment just before being woken up by a whincing dog and a naked man, I was happy and resting and did not have a care in the world. Oh boy, did I have an amount of pain afterwards though: my back hurt, my knee hurt, my head felt numb and I was dizzy: concussed. So, to make a long story short(er): I have a curfew now, not allowed to work ridiculous hours anymore..Bendigo or no Bendigo.

I did promise you two rare sheep breeds on this blog..alas, I can only offer you one, for obvious reasons. But it is a VERY rare breed and I thought that will just have to do this time.

Remember the Norwegian Qiviut from a while back? Well, although this is not a woolly mammoth it is a very rare woolly sheep, also from Norway, and there are only 80 of them at this time. In my book, that is super rare! Luckily, when I was chatting to the Qiviut people, they offered me some amazing wool as well and voila! Here is it is for you all to enjoy!

The sheep are called the Grå trøndersau or the Norwegian Grey Troendersheep. The Norwegian Grey Troender is a very rare breed of domesticated sheep that originated from crossbreeding native landrace sheep with the now extinct Tautra sheep in the late 19th century. There are currently approximately 80  animals all happily grazing in Norway. Yes, they are super cute as well (insert smiley face here…lol).

  

  

Originally bred in the Trøndelag region of Norway, from where the sheep derives its name, the Grey Troender are most commonly varying shades of grey and white in colour with distinctive white markings under the eyes. The wool of the sheep is uniform with mean fibre diameter of about 27-30 micron and 2–3 kgs greasy fleece weight.

The wool was traditionally used for handicrafts and the pelts were used for woolskin rugs. The adult live weight of ewes is between 70 and 80 kg. The mean litter size is 1.8 lambs born per year. The present population numbers only around 80 sheep but it’s increasing. In 1998, the Committee on Farm Animal Genetic Resources established a project for collecting and freezing semen from Grey Troender sheep rams in an effort to revive the breed.

The fibre is very lofty and resembles the Shetland wool but with a bit more weight to it. It has a wonderful spring and vibrancy and luster to it and it spins up beautifully. I only have a very limited supply for obvious reasons,  so if you want to try and get a taste of spinning this very rare breed , please hop on board and email or message me.

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 !!!

Grå Trøndersau Sheep Wool Tops

A lofty, medium soft, very very rare sheeps wool and lovely to spin! Support a rare sheeps breed by buying these tops.

100+grams (+/-3.5Oz) AU$20
 

Ygdrassil -sold-

 

Vanaheim-sold-
 (very hard to photograph but the most amazing purple blue red /aubergine I have ever seen)

 

Trolls -sold-

 

The Kraken-sold-

 

Midgard-sold-

 

Mermaids -sold-

 

Maras (a she-were wolf in Norwegian mythology)-sold-

 

Huldra -sold-
(Hylda, Skogsrå or Skogfru (Forest wife/woman) is a dangerous Seductress who lives in the forest according to Norwegian Mythology)

 

Freyr -sold-

 

Fossegrimen ( a spirit who lives in waterfalls) -sold- 

IxCHeL Club sign ups starting in July 2014 are Open !!

The IxCHeL clubs sign ups are now open!! for the fibre, yarn, mini skein and batt clubs for July, August and September 2014!!
For all our international  club fans there is a possibility to ship all three clubs together to save on postage if you want :-) Just pm me to enquire about  the options.

 IxCHeL Fibre Club July, August and September 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 (July, August and September 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$60 (airmail) Double serve AU$120+AU$60

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 #21 now. Numbers are strictly limited ! Deadline for signing up for fibre club #21 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 2014

Every month for three months (July, August and September 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$60 (airmail) Double serve $130 (= one skein FREE!!!) +AU$60

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 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 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$60 (airmail) Double serve $130 (even a better deal!)+AU$60

For Asia: Single serve AU$69+AU$42 (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 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 September 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$36 or more .

The batts will range in weight from 130grams to 180grams 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 July, August and September 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$60 (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 July 8th and the first installment is going to be shipped out end of JUly :) Payment via direct deposit or credit card or paypal. Just PM or email me

IxCHeL Events to put in your Calendar!

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 next month !!!
BUT...it is going to be HUGE !!!!!!!

 

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

 

Sunday September 29th, 9:30-3pm

Sheep and Woolcraft Day (with bunnies as well ofcourse !)

Cranbourne Public Hal;l (near KFC) in Cranbourne

I will have a big stall there filled to the brim with luscious fibery goodness and NEW fluffy exciting stuff !

Not to be missed!

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 !

 

 RABBIT ON !

((hugs))

Charly