IxCHeL Fibres, Yarns & Art: September 2014

Friday, September 26, 2014

A Funky Sheep

It’s Friday ! I cannot believe how fast time is going and it has been even more hectic than usual here at the farm because of the upcoming Black n Coloured wool craft show on Sunday (see all the details below in “Dates to put in your calendar").

I am sure I have enough ready, but there are always these little devils sitting on my shoulder , whispering in my ear “hey! Why don’t you do this and this and that as well? And hey! How about getting more of this blend ready or paint some more spindles while you are at it?” lol Yep, I am my own worst enemy: always balancing between enthusiastic passionate hopping around and total exhaustion.. It seems it’s always feast or famine..and..never a dull moment here that ‘s for sure.

I have two more shows to do this year: one this Sunday at the Cranbourne Hall for the black n coloured wool show and the other on the 7th of October for the spin in day at Pascoe Vale group. After that it is time for me to focus big time on organising my studio again (yes, putting things back in their place and cleaning is not my strong point..lol) and designing new blends and new exciting projects for next year, maybe just maybe!.... even taking some time off to recharge my batteries, who knows ? ;-)

This weeks update, the last of this month !, is the last of the rare sheep breed updates I have been serving you up lately. This week I am offering you , by popular demand, the amazingly gorgeous Wensleydale sheep !
I love its silkyness, its drape, its shine, its ease to spin and felt and its strength as well. And tell me, who could not fall in love with this funky looking sheep with its long dreadlocks !

The Wensleydale is a breed of domestic sheep that originated in the Wensleydale region of North Yorkshire. Possessing a blue–grey face, the breed was developed in the 19th century by crossing English Leicester and Teeswater sheep. One of the largest and heaviest of all sheep breeds, the Wensleydale has long, ringlet-like locks of wool. It is categorized as "at risk" by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust of the U.K. as it has fewer than 1500 registered breeding females.

The Wensleydale is a large long wool sheep with a distinctive grey black face, ears and legs. The ears are slightly elongated and stand upright. They are naturally polled and have a tuft of long wool on top of the head which is not typically sheered (for aesthetic purposes). Wool from this breed is acknowledged as the finest lustre long wool in the world. The fleece from a purebred sheep is considered kemp free and curled or purled on out to the end.

As with all the other rare sheep breeds I have been telling you about lately, it is imperative that we make sure that these gorgeous animals do not go extinct. The only way to ensure this is not to succumb to the lure of mono culture spinning as I call it. Sure, Super fine merino is amazing to spin and soft and I totally love it in my blends. However, I also feel very strongly about a very diverse pool of animals to enrich our lives as handspinners and fibre artists. So, how can we help? Well easy! Spinning and working with rare breed fleeces will ensure the future of these animals and also support small fibre farming and a happy spinning adventure for a long time !

Before I give you all the details or ordering your Wensleydale top, I have added all the information for the IxCHeL clubs starting next month ! Yes ! Next month!!!! There is only one week left to sign up for the last trimester of the year ! Don’t miss out !

Membership will give you access to very special blends only released to club members in one of a kind colourways ! deadline for sign ups for all clubs is October 8th !

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 !!!

New IxCHeL Club sign ups Open now !

October, November and December 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 October, November and December 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 #22 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+$28 postage (parcel post), double serve $120+$28

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 #22 now. Numbers are strictly limited ! The October Club is going to be shipped out end of October. Payment via direct deposit or credit card or paypal. Just PM or email me your details

The IxCHeL Sock Yarn Club October, November and December 2014

Every month for three months (October, November and December 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+$28 postage (parcel post) double serve $130 (= one skein FREE!!!) +$28

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 !

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 October, November and December 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+$28 postage (parcel post) double serve $130 (=even a better deal!) +$28

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 !The OctoberClub mini skeins will be sent out end of October. Payment via direct deposit or credit card or paypal. Just PM or email me your details

IxCHeL Funky Bunny Batt Club October, November and December 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 October, November and December 2014!

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

For Australia : $96+$28 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 ! The first installment is going to be shipped out end of October :) Payment via direct deposit or credit card or paypal. Just PM or email me

Wensleydale

Rare Sheep breed Tops

A rare sheep breed that is a magical shiny addition to your stash !

100grams (+/-3.5Oz); AU$21

Utopia-SOLD-

Shakespeare code-SOLD-

Tardis-SOLD-

Sound of Drums-SOLD-

Runaway Bride-SOLD-

Lazarus experiment-SOLD-

Fires of Pompeii-2 LEFT-

Daleks in Manhattan-SOLD-

IxCHeL Events to put in your Calendar!

Sunday September 28th, 9:30-3pm

Sheep and Woolcraft Day (with bunny fibres, blends and funky batts as well ofcourse !)

Cranbourne Public Hall (near KFC) in Cranbourne

I will have a big stall there filled to the brim with luscious fibery goodness and NEW fluffy exciting stuff ! AND new very special spindles and bowls from Lair of the Bearded Dragon !

Not to be missed!

October 7th, 10am-2:30pm

PASCOE VALE SPIN IN

at Swimming Pool Hall

7 Prospect street

Pascoe vale

There will be lots of traders, competitions and show and tell.

Lots of fun to be had !!!

NEW IxCHeL blends and lots of new exciting spinning stuff from Lair of the Bearded Dragon and new police box spindles !!!

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

Friday, September 19, 2014

A Hopeful Romantic !

I’m a romantic…I’m also a scientist..and an artist..there You have it : is a constant battle between logic and the romantic fearlessness of adventure and jumping in the deep end…: Sturm und Drang…(look it up..: “literary movement of the late 18th century that exalted nature, feeling, and human individualism and sought to overthrow the Enlightenment cult of Rationalism. The encyclopedia Brittanica goes on saying: Self-discipline was not a tenet of the Sturm und Drang, and the movement soon exhausted itself”….yep, typically me…lol. )

I also always back the underdog or go for the harder to travel path as if there was really no other choice.. It is far from rational, but I somehow feel emotionally inclined to do that: I mean do everything, how diverse and obscure it may seem. So maybe I am Sturm und Drang and Renaissance mixed together in a nice combo, who knows? Once you know what the essence of your “nature” is, embrace it I say and just go with it..with a vengeance ! Don't fight it, it's no use...

And so here I am today, with my medical degree and my Phd in the Arts, backing rare breeds and dyeing wool and spinning yarns…see, there is no logic….lol

Today was also a very significant romantic kind of day seeing that Scottish referendum: yes or no for Independence…… We all know what happened there and whether you are (or voted …) "yes" or "no" ….I am proud to be part of Clan McCafferty and I made a Scottish Whiskey cake.

For those of you who lost…eat to your hearts content and feel better, for those of you who won..eat and feel good as well..Dinna fash … Slainte!

Here ‘s the recipe , just in case you want to have a choice between unleashing the flying monkeys or making yourself a darn good cake ….

SCOTTISH WHISKEY CAKE .....FREEDOM !

Makes one loaf/ heart

6oz/170g chopped walnuts

3oz/85 g raisins

3oz/85g currants

4oz/115 g self raising flour

¼ tsp salt

4 oz/115g butter

8oz/225g caster sugar

3 eggs at room temperature, separated

1 tsp grated nutmeg

½ tsp ground cinnamon

3fl oz/85ml whiskey ( grab a wee bit more if you wanna soak the currants and raising in whiskey overnight...or have a wee sip while baking)

Icing sugar for decoration

1. preheat oven 325F/170C, butter a 9x5inch/23x13cm loaf tin or get one of those awesome silicone things ou don’t have to butter or line at all (see the heart cake)

2. place walnuts,raisins, currants in bowl. Sprinkle 2 tbs flour, mix and set aside. Sift together salt and flour.

3.cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy .Beat in the egg yokes one by one.

4. mix nutmeg, cinnamon and whiskey. Fold in the butter mixture , alternating with the flour mixture.

5. In another bowl, beat hhte egg whites until stiff peaks form. Fold into whiskey mixture until just blended; fold in the walnut mix.

6. Bake in oven for about 50 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean.

Dust with icing sugar over a template.

7. Forget about the referendum and ENJOY!

So, what else is on the menu today? Well, I talked about Romantic and this rare sheep breed is just that : a romantic sheep …in the sense of Mary Shelley and Lord Byron that is: It is the Manx Loaghtan !
It conjures up images of the movie “Hell Boy” but these sheep are the epitome of gentle awesomeness ! here are photos illustrating the flow from little lamb to adult heroism:

The origins of these primitive sheep are not fully understood but their ancestors are thought to go back to the Iron Age.
They share many characteristics with other primitive sheep and are part of the Northern Short Tail group of sheep.
These related primitive sheep were spread round Scandinavia, Iceland, the Scottish Islands and the Isle of Man by the Vikings.
The Manx Loaghtan is still one of the rarest of breeds in the British Isles and since 1973 the Rare Breeds Survival Trust has helped promote these wonderful sheep.
Up to the 18th century these sheep covered the Manx hills in their thousands. Gradually they were replaced by modern sheep that mature quicker and are heavier. Obviously modern economics are far from romantic..lol
In the last 120 years the Manx Loaghtan came close to extinction 3 times and was only saved by the dedication and foresight of a few people.
In the 1950s numbers were down to less than a 100!!!
Happily today there are just over a thousand and their future seems much brighter as people have come again to appreciate the wool which is naturally a dark tan colour, soft, light yet very warm.

The first thing that you notice about Manx Loaghtan sheep is their impressive set of horns. Both sexes have 2, 4 or even 6 horns!

As the name suggests, the Manx Loaghtan originated on the Isle Of Man. It is a small, ancient hill breed. Originally white with some grey and black sheep but few of the reddish-brown colour we see today (the word 'Loaghtan' comes from the Manx for 'mouse brown').

Like many other heritage breeds, the Loaghtan was once popular but declined in the early 20th century. The breed was rescued by enthusiasts both on the Isle of Man and in England, and is now popular as a conservation grazer that will eat almost anything!

The breed is considered 'at risk' by the Rare Breed Survival Trust, with fewer than 1,500 registered breeding ewes.

Most Loaghtans have a medium staple length fleece, which in varying shades of brown getting paler with age, although they bleach to cream in the sun. The lambs are born black and generally achieve their particular shade of brown during the first year.

The fleece is very nice and soft witjh a staple length of between 70mm-100mm with around 22-28micron. It is great to spin for close to skin wear or for outerwear as well . I love this sheep. It has such an old world feel to it and so ancient in a way and ofcourse the fleece itself is just magic to spin up.

Please understand that I do not have a lot of stock of this exceptional rare breed fibre. Do not wait too long to pounce on this weeks update to avoid disappointment. I am offering you this all scoured and cleaned and pulled into luscious tops ready to spin in its natural colour. I will always be tempted to overdye grey fleeces (like you will see in later updates with the grey merino and silk blend I am working on as well) but there is no way I am tempted to overdye this luscious honey brown caramel coloured Manx Loughtan fibre. It is amazing just the way it is !

Before I give you all the details or ordering your Manx Loughtan top, I have added all the information for the IxCHeL clubs starting next month ! Yes ! Next month!!!! There are only a couple of weeks left to sign up for the last trimester of the year ! Don’t miss out ! Membership will give you access to very special blends only released to club members in one of a kind colourways !