Getting ready for a hoppy Easter...

Well, it’s been another eventful IxCHeL week..who ever says they are sick and tired of being bored and nothing happens, please come and have a visit here...

We had a great weekend, visiting good friends who invited us for a “70s Fondue party and now I want melted cheese all the time..thanks for that..lol
Apart from that dairy overload lots of packing had to be done afterwards, not of cheese, but of the rare sheep breed adventure and the clubs to go out the door. I kid you not when I say there were two full days of packing, labelling and organising in that. Oh boy was it full on ! I hope that everybody will be happy with the parcels and the extra cuteness they receive. Soay sheep are very cute and cuddl;y and I am not even saying anything about the extra sexiness added to each and every parcel. Shhh, can’t talk about that , it is a surprise which I do not want to spoil for anybody over seas ;-)

So, on rolls Tuesday after the huge Monday postal run….feeding and grooming bunnies: everybody is happy and doing great. Happy bouncing around having their kale snacks and a carrot to prepare for the colder weather coming up. In the afternoon, the usual check ups and preparingfor dinner and from one second to the next, while feeding all the bunnies, Django (our youngest stud buck) had collapsed and died almost instantly. 
Happy one minute, down the next !   We tried to revive, but nothing helped, Django our beautiful smoke grey boy gone…
Apart from losing him, immediately the fear comes back: what if it is Calici? The man made virus that devastated us a few years back, destroying 75% of our animals? It did look like heart failure but somehow the nagging feeling kept creeping up, so the “checking every 5 minutes” routine started  ..again…and every time we open that door to the bunny run, it is a heartstopping moment: what to expect? Will all my babies still be happy hopping around?

RIP Django..happy hopping on the rainbow bridge 

Calici, a man made virus, has been released again just recently in Victoria and Tasmania in a much more potent and renewed version, since the “old” bio chem. Warfare , did not seem to do the trick anymore.
It is like Ebola for bunnies…what is forgotten that viruses travel and intermingle with several species. I have read that humans carry the calici virus and that it can be transmitted to pigs and other species with detrimental effects….
I know that wild rabbits are deemed to be a pest here in Australia, where there were no rabbits to be found until some high brow English immigrant decided it would be a good idea to introduce the sport of hunting rabbits into Australia in the 1800s: so he imported Foxes And Rabbits from the UK. ..and …set them free in the Australian country side in Victoria….The rabbit-proof fence was built to protect Western Australian crops and pasture lands from the destructive scourge of the rabbit. Introduced to Australia in Victoria in the 1850s.
The wild rabbits rapidly spread across eastern Australia. By 1896 it had been found as far west as Eucla and 200 kilometres further west at Twilight Cove, near Esperance.
The fence represented a unique, if inadequate, response to an overwhelming environmental rabbit problem. Construction of the Number 1 Rabbit Proof Fence began in 1901. It stretched 1834 kilometres from the south coast to the northwest coast, along a line north of Burracoppon, 230 kilometres east of Perth.
Unfortunately by 1902 rabbits had already been found west of the fence line. The Number 2 Rabbit Proof Fence was built in 1905 in order to stem their advance. Stretching 1166 kilometres from Point Ann on the south coast through Cunderdin, 150 kilometres east of Perth, the new fence joined the original fence line at Gum Creek in the Murchison area.
So …after the fence, the scientists came up with the solution of the 20th century: chemical warfare…
Let me get this straight: So,  first you introduce something for a gruesome leisurely “sport” and then , to combat the first stupid decision, you come up with a second even more stupid decision: introducing bio chemical warfare which kills indiscriminately and is brutal !

The last time we had the Calici virus wipe out our loved bunnies, who had been vaccinated, it appeared you cannot be safe against ALL the strains and every time the virus mutates or the CSIRO brings out a new improved version, they obviously take care not to make an anti virus for all the rabbit pet owners as well. No, that would just be….too logical.
It is heart breaking and heart wrenching to see these animals suffer: wild or domesticated. And you know who stays absolutely silent through all of this? PETA! They are the first in line to claim that ALL angora bunny breeding for fibre is cruel but when it comes to mass extermination of a species , they keep silent as the lambs.. another illogical thing. Never mind….

So, in between the packing and getting the orders ready I really have not been able to do anything at all. My head just was not in the right place to paint fibres or be creative with blending and getting more awesome fluffy things ready… I am sorry ..so sorry.

The good news is that in the three days after Django’s demise we have had no other casualties and everybody is happily hopping along. The weather has cooled tremendously and the rain is pelting down as I type..I like cold weather for two reasons: time for spinning near the fire and knitting and wearing fluffy things AND..no mosquitos or flies ! Yippeeee !

As I said..I almost have nothing to show you….I have spun like a mad woman to get 3 ply bunny mink yarn ready and dyed ..but it is drying still…then I have some gorgeous Wensleydale but it is just pulled into tops and not dyed.. I am at the end of my rope a bit …so…I will just offer you what I have this week: luscious pure Wensleydale tops, undyed and a few colour ways dyed and dried ..I hope you will forgive me.


Also, don't forget: the club sign ups for April, May and June will close in 4 days !!!! Time to sign up !!! For those of you who signed up already but have not paid, please do so before march 31st please.

Just message me on Ravelry or facebook or email me to place your order. Have a wonderful weekend and happy spinning and creating !
Big hugs
Charly

Wensleydale Tops

Pure silky sheepiness !

100+grams/ 3.6 oz AU$21

Shiny, lustrous tops to spin with a beautiful drape

Wensleydale lambs and mum

Wensleydale cuteness

Natural Wensleydale tops-SOLD-

Wensleydale Dusky Haze-SOLD-

Heather -SOLD-

New IxCHeL Club sign ups Open now (til quotas are reached or until March 31st)

Clubs April, May and June 2015 !

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 and enquire about the options available.

IxCHeL Fibre Club April, May and June

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$24

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 #24 and receive your special hand dyed top :)) for three months (April, May and June 2015) is AU$72 + postage (parcel post or airmail). AND there are good value double serves available !!!

For Australia : single serve $72+$28 postage (parcel post), double serve $134+$28 (save $10) or triple serves $199 (save $17!)

For USA + Canada: single serve AU$72+AU$51 (Airmail) double serve AU$134+AU$51

For UK,Europe, rest of the world: Single serve AU$72+AU$60 (airmail) Double serve AU$134+AU$60

For Asia: Single serve AU$72+AU$45 (airmail) Double serve AU$134+AU$45

If you want to receive a fibre surprise every month then join the IXCHEL FIBRE CLUB #24 now. Numbers are strictly limited ! The April 2015 Club 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 2015

Every month for three months (April, May and June 2015) 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 Funky Bunny Batt Club April, May and June 2015

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$40 or more .

The batts will range in weight from 140grams to 180grams with luxury fibres like camel , angora, cashmere, silk, yak, llama even wolf and bison and rare sheep breeds !!!! 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 2015.

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

For Australia : $105+$28 postage (parcel post)

For USA + Canada: AU$105+AU$51 (Airmail)

For UK,Europe, rest of the world: AU$96+AU$60 (airmail)

For Asia: AU$105+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 April :) Payment via direct deposit or credit card or paypal. Just PM or email 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 !!!

 

Dates to put in your Calendar !!

March

April

Saturday 11th April 10am-3pm

McClelland Spinners and Weavers Open day “sock it to me”

I will be there with lots of hand dyed tops for spinning and felting and happy rainbow yarn and sock yarn !!!! As well as some amazing Lair of the Bearded Dragon spindles and bowls that are pure magic to spin on !

May

Saturday 23rd, 10am-4pm

Victorian Hand Knitters Guild Show Coburg Town Hall

THE extra ordinary super fluffy yarny event in Melbourne !!! I will be there with lots of hand dyed tops for spinning and felting and happy rainbow yarn and sock yarn, some extra special art yarns and much much more!!!! As well as some amazing Lair of the Bearded Dragon spindles and bowls that are pure magic to spin on !

JULY

Friday July 17th- Sunday 19th, 9am-5pm

Bendigo Sheep and Wool Show

THE event of the year !!!! Not to be missed!! I will be there in the Flower (Power Bunny) Shed again with heaps of new goodies, hand dyed and hand spun, IxCHeL new blends and rare sheep breed adventures and much much more ! Including a world first of something AMAZING AND FUN!!!!! Shhh not telling ! but it is AWESOME !!!!

JULY/August

Friday, July 31 to Sunday, August 2,

Mapleton Craft Retreat (Queensland)

Read all about it here: http://qldspinners.org.au/2014/10/16/mapleton-craft-retreat-2-0/

and please sign up because this is going to be an amazing retreat filled with fibery super fun ! Lots of workshops and fun stuff planned !!!!

 

Saturday , September 26th

Play day at Pascoe Vale 

More about this exciting event later !

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