Friday, May 8, 2015

No other Road to Travel



"Scream" by Munch
Bunny painting and embroidery inspiration


So close to the Hand spinners Guild show on May 23rd , I have a tonne of spinning and dyeing still to do and am focussing on yarns. However, that does not mean that there will not be any fibre, tops or batts or other fluffy stuff and spindles !  to be had at the handknitters guild.
Just to assure you of that, I have prepared some extreme luxury tops for you for the update of tonight !

Sometimes people visiting me at shows ask me, how on earth do I do everything???
The stall is overflowing with goodies of hand spun and hand dyes and everybody who does craft realises how much work goes into creating something and getting it ready for sale.
That means dyeing, drying, spinning , braiding , making labels ( and I take great pride in making mine. The labelling and the packaging is part of the product I believe.)

Well, to come back to tell you how do I do it? Easy! I invest a huge amount of time in it or as others would say “ I don’t get out …much” or “ I eat , drink and sleep my craft” , although sleeping is something I don’t necessarily get a lot of..lol
 That is why I believe, that if you want to try and make a living out of your craft you have to be amazingly passionate about it.
If you are just doing it on the side or on a whim or for the fun of it, you will soon come to the realisation that it takes a huge amount of hard work and long hours and no guarantees to make ends meet. It is a very tough business.

I know a lot of people do not see it as business, because hey! It’s fun, it is craft and everybody is in one way or another your friend.
It is not your normal 9 to 5 office job and you do not have to dress in a three piece suit. Somehow, I think that makes it even harder....

 Another issue is, that the reason why somebody chooses to make their craft/art their business is in a lot of cases  a downfall: you love spinning and knitting, making special projects for yourself and others. Great ! However, now you have to spin and make things for others all the time.
You have to be able to “let go” of what you create (step 1), then comes the hard part : asking money for it that will sustain you to keep your business going (step2): meaning not to give away things left right and center and –very importantly- it also means asking a realistic price for your creations.
I see people all around selling their gorgeous things  for $10, $12…deducting all the work and money they have invested in it (and I do not even add an hourly rate to that figure there!) they might have a profit of $1 per item..that is not sustainable. It is if you are just doing it for fun, but not if you are trying to maintain the farm or make a living.

And then the super hard part (step3): you will not have time to make things for yourself anymore…yep, believe me on that little titbit of secret information…lol…in the past you have scoured patterns and books and made wishlists..after starting up a business that is going to go wayyyyyy down the list to NeverNeverLand. There just is not enough time …not if you want to do all the spinning, dyeing and weaving and knitting…

Passion and Art go hand in hand. They have been my saving grace in times of huge amounts of pain and uncertainty.
They have kept me alive…more than alive..not so much in a monetary sense of the word..but in a spiritual, humane kind of way.
They have made me focus, learn so much, meet awesome people and share some amazing moments.
They have made me “Me” and that is why I say to myself everyday, even when I am super tired and even at times when things go wrong : I cannot see myself doing anything else !

There is never a  “ Well, if I can’t make this work, I will go back to a desk job” mentality..because I know what “me” will be like ..I will cease to be “me” , so there’s no other road for me to travel than what I am travelling now.
There’s no other choice, no other way.
Accept who you are, what you can do. When you have that all figured out and clear in your mind, then you will never have a single doubt in your mind again.
You will never make the mistake of listening to that devil on your shoulder that whispers in your ears: “I don’t know!!.... I don’t think I can do this!…Doubt!…Fear!..”....
Instead, with one swoop of your hand, you will push that devil off your shoulder and say with confidence:


“It is MY road, rocks and all;
I will walk it with passion and
Love for what I do,
because I will not walk anywhere else!”




 

Have a fun weekend and happy Creating Dreams!
 

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 !!!


Luxury nr 5 Tops

Bison, Yak, Angora, cashmere, tencel
50+grams/ 1.75 oz AU$22
Super luxurious to spin and wear.
Zombies n Mermaids-sold-

Zen-SOLD-
 
Velvet-sold-

Surfing Safari-sold-

Solar Flare-sold-

Rave-sold-

Rainbow-SOLD-




Platypus-sold-


Peacock-SOLD-


Passion -sold-


Frozen-SOLD-


Frozen Rose -sold-


The Frog Prince-SOLD-


Forest Berries-SOLD-


Dolphin Bay-SOLD-


Beehive-SOLD-



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 !


New IxCHeL Club sign ups Open now

(til quotas are reached or until July 1st)

Clubs July, August and September 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 July, August and September

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 #25 and receive your special hand dyed top :)) for three months (Clubs July, August and September 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 #25 now. Numbers are strictly limited ! The July 2015 Club 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 Clubs July, August and September 2015

Every month for three months (Clubs July, August and September 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 Clubs July, August and September 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 July, August and September 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 july :) Payment via direct deposit or credit card or paypal. Just PM or email me


Dates to put in your Calendar !!

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 ! there will be the launchy of a very VERY VERY special product as well! Do not miss this awesome opportunity to get your hands on one very special piece of fun !!!!!!

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)
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 !

Sunday , September 27th

Sheep and Woolcraft Field Day
A perfect fibre and craft day hosted by the Black n Coloured Sheep association of Australia and an absolute MUST!



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
 
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