Imagine

I listened to “Imagine” by John Lennon this morning and the tears just came out of nowhere…How many years have gone by that he wrote that song and how much we need the message now? This time more than ever. Life is hard enough as it is without people inflicting pain on other people and Mother Earth. What happened to the message? What has changed? Apart from nothing at all? 

I have been listening to songs from the sixties the last couple of days while carding and blending and it hit me that all those songs written at the height of the Vietnam war are still so utterly relevant now! Peace and Understanding and all that. Call me a Hippie, but I’d rather be that than someone totally bereft of Hope and Compassion. Especially now: The silly season for most has begun again..although I must say “silly” and chaotically busy, would be the description of my year so far.

THis year is even more hectic and slightly stressfull than normal with the rare sheepbreed adventures and the organisational feat it took to get everything into Australia and not to say the least “sourced’ in the first place, but also because of other very personal reasons. 

I have been trying to make a living doing fibre arts and that in itself is a very hard and tough task. The only time I really had a break was when I was diagnosed with cancer and I had to go to hospital to get operations and treatment. Not quite the “holiday” most of you have in mind, but there you go! lol 

Particularly this time of year is a bit of a stressed out time. Granted not only for me but also for a lot of other people.  I had my first miscarriage in December 11 years ago.. I was 4 months pregnant…...there would be 8 more miscarriages….. and then uterine cancer. 
Social gatherings are happening full on at this time of year and although it’s great to see friends and family again, it also weighs heavy on me: all the talk about kids and grandkids and great grandkids and seeing how much all the babies have grown. Something other people just take for granted while for me, it feels like stabs in my heart and feeling alone and alien. It is painful. 

I actually said at a meet up with some friends this week “ Well, that’s one positive thing of not having kids, it’s never really in your face that little Johnny has grown up to now have kids of his own. I feel like I don’t get any oplder..hahahaha”. Just as long as I don’t look in the mirror, time doesn’t seem to pass: there are no kids getting older around me; it’s like living in a bubble. 

Anyway, listening to the radio and reading some medical journals (yeah you cannot take the medical anthropologist out of me..lol) I read something else that got my attention: a special non-invasive technique to clean the uterus of fibroids and other nasties (Oh that could have come in handy…..another “could have”) and…..last but not least….uterine transplants. Yes, it is apparently in the conceiving fases (pardon the pun). You see, there is a lot of pressure for women to become a mother and it is something that carries all the way through to the end of our lives: no motherhood=no grandmotherhood= no ????? Am I even a woman? Yes even that question pops up its ugly head. 

Everybody tells me I will get over it and it will hurt less over time and everything will be alright in the end. Eh no, it won’t. I will just have to cope with it and deal with it in my kind of way, with a massive bucket load of humour. I am tired though…..very tired: a break is needed and so Paul and I have booked in another whopping 2 day holiday at the time of our wedding anniversary in January..Woohoo! 

Work continues, because let’s face it, being self employed ..and trying to keep the farm going is more than a full time job….lol oh well, nothing is ever easy. In the wise words of Dory from the movie Nemo: Keep swimming , keep swimming! 

To all of you who are reading this blog and are coping with Loss, Loss of any kind: it gets a tiny bit more bearable year after year, BUT what definitely helps is being on the receiving end of compassion. So, remember : This December, be Compassionate, try and walk in somebody elses shoes, always be kind and considerate and never assume life is easy for anybody. Be grateful for life, for love, for being passionate about your art ..your craft and most of all: smile every day and think of others. It makes a world of difference and makes your heart lighter. And , let’s face it; what better gift is there?!

Oh and Don't forget, if you want to be part of the IxCHeL Clubs: they are filling up fast ! Don't leave it too late to sign up. Oh and there are IxCHeL Giftvouchers available as well just in case you want to gift something to somebody or..hey, yourself !

For this weeks update I have blended together a nice fluffy mix of cashmere, Blue faced Leicester very lustrous sheeps fleece and angora and BLING! .

The blend I call GaGa Bunny is amazingly lustrous and nice to spin. Blue faced Leicester is about a 23 to 26micron but the adding of the other much finer fibres has made it much softer and close to skin wear. The magic of fibre prep and blending eh? Lol)

Here is a photo of a cute Blue Faced Leicester sheep

Cute Blue Faced Leicester ewe with suckling lamb (Wayne Hutchinson Photo)

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 week’s blog entry. Have fun !!!

GaGa Bunny Tops   

Blue Faced Leicester, Cashmere, angora bunny, Glitz
100+gram tops, AU$24

Honey Bear-sold-

A Rose is a Rose-3 available-

Baah Humbug-sold-

Blue Genie-2 available-

Butterfly Ball-sold-

Dusky Heather-sold-

Grasshopper-sold-

Honey Bunny-2 available-

Imagine-sold-

Mr Blue Sky-sold-

Peacock in a Peartree-sold-

Rainbow Dreams-sold-

Stuck in the Middle-sold-

Velvet Light-sold-

Venus-1 available-

Very Zen of you-sold-

Zombie Party-sold-

Special IxCHeL Gift Vouchers 

Want to give somebody something special and still let them pick out their fav colour or fibre blend? Well, search no more: I offer an IxCHeL gift voucher package that is so hard to resist you even want to buy one for yourself ..lol   The Giftvouchere will be emailed to you or your friend with a unique number to quote when buying from my updates or at any of my markets. The Vouchers are valid for 1 year.     Here’s the deal:

AU$25 Personalised Christmas giftvoucher Pack

A personalised Christmas giftvoucher, free post for the receivers first order in Australia (for overseas customers you can deduct AU$9 off your shipping cost!) and a badge

AU$50 Personalised Christmas giftvoucher Pack

Comes with a personalised Christmas giftvoucher, free post for the receiver's first order in Australia(for overseas customers you can deduct AU&9 off your shipping cost!) , a badge, a bunny $photo and last but not least some amazing fluffy stuff in a gift pack

AU$100 Personalised Christmas giftvoucher Pack

Comes with a personalised Christmas giftvoucher, free post for the receivers first order in Australia (for overseas customers you can deduct AU$9 off your shipping cost!), a badge, a bunny photo and last but not least some amazing fluffy stuff and yarn in a gift pack!

Just let me know what giftvoucher pack you would like to gift to a friend or yourself! And I will send you all the details.

Landscape dyes 

 100g tubs   AU$11 

Want to dye your own with easy to use acid dyes? I have been selling these Landscape dyes at my workshops and shows for a long time, just never thought to put them on my blog. 
They are extremely easy to use and come in great shades. 
Just contact me with the name of the colour you are after and I will get right back to you.

New IxCHeL Club sign ups are now open!

(til quotas are reached or until December 31st)

January, February and March 2016 !

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 January, February and March 2016

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 or more

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 #27 and receive your special hand dyed top :)) for three months (January, February and March 2016) 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 $136+$28 (save $8) or triple serves $204 (save $12!)

For USA + Canada: single serve AU$72+AU$51 (Airmail) double serve AU$136+AU$51

For UK,Europe, rest of the world: Single serve AU$72+AU$60 (airmail) Double serve AU$136+AU$60

For Asia: Single serve AU$72+AU$45 (airmail) Double serve AU$136+AU$45

If you want to receive a fibre surprise every month then join the IXCHEL FIBRE CLUB #27 now. Numbers are strictly limited ! The January 2016 Club is going to be shipped out end of January. Payment via direct deposit or credit card or paypal. Just PM or email me your details

The IxCHeL Sock Yarn Clubs January, February and March 2016

Every month for three months (January, February and March 2016) 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 January, February and March 2016

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 January, February and March 2016.

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

For Australia : $108+$28 postage (parcel post)

For USA + Canada: AU$108+AU$51 (Airmail)

For UK,Europe, rest of the world: AU$108+AU$60 (airmail)

For Asia: AU$108+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 January :) Payment via direct deposit or credit card or paypal. Just PM or email me

Have a fun weekend Creating your 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 week’s blog entry.

Have fun !!!

Dates to put in your Calendar !!

The last two months of this year I have private workshops and spinning lessons on the calendar,  fibre art projects and exciting work for the Home of HoP Couture ;-)

I will let you all know when there are pop up market stalls or spin ins planned again for next year as soon as I know them.

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