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| Ouessant sheep: groundkeepers for Paris Town Hall |
Another HOT week here in Victoria ! That didn’t mean hanging about in a hammock though (I wish..lol) but getting all the clubs prepped and packed ! The high humidity played havoc with me and the carding equipment so not all the batts have been finished but they will go to the postoffice next week.
There are some teasers on my facebook page if you want to have a look at what this month has to offer ! Apart from that I have been busy prepping the FRIDA adventure , which will hopefully be ready to ship to all those who signed up !, in the next two weeks! Exciting and busy times ahead for sure.
In the mean time my spinning wheel hasn’t been idle either because the Handknitters guild in May is getting closer and closer, so I have been spinning up a storm to get some angora and bunny mink yarns ready ! I was hoping to get some ready for an update this week but you will just have to wait til next week which will definitely be a super FLUFF update with angora and mink !!!!! To celebrate the Easter Bunny of course !!
This week I have some very exciting things for you as well…a very very special fibre to get your hands on, so read the story about these beauties after all the club sign up information.
Have a fabulous weekend ! Enjoy !
The reason why the Ouessant sheep were being farmed as part of their medieval project was because this particular sheep breed is the closest to the sheep in medieval times.
Even nowadays this rare breed of sheep called the Ouessant sheep, also occasionally called the Breton Dwarf, is the smallest breed of sheep in the world and comes from the island of Ouessant off the western tip of Brittany (French Bretagne) north west France where until the twentieth century they existed exclusively.
The tiny island, about 15 square kilometres in size, has been inhabited by Ouessant sheep since the 1700’s. They once numbered about 6000 in the mid 1800s, however today there are only about 3000. It is said that this small breed where favoured by the women of the island who mostly tended the flocks while the men were away fishing.
Despite their sturdy natures and their ability to withstand the rigours of their natural habitat these sheep are incredibly small. The rams are about 49 centimetres (19 in) tall at the shoulder, and the ewes about 45 centimetres (18 in)
Now the French Governement and especially some departments in and around Paris have "employed" Ouessant sheep as their eco way of keeping the grass down in and around the Paris Town hall, the Eiffeltower area and their parks.
Paris has come up with an unconventional way to keep its urban grass trim without costing the earth. Earlier this week, the city enlisted four black sheep as part of a pilot project to munch away a section of the city’s gardens in northeastern Paris.
Eco-efficient and petite in size, the four legged lawnmowers are Ouessant sheep, named after a small island west of Brittany.
"It might sound funny, but animal lawnmowers are ecological as no gasoline is required, and cost half the price of a machine. And they're so cute," says Ferme de Paris sheepkeeper, Marcel Collet.
Between April and October, the new "park workers" will graze grounds the size of eight tennis-courts in three two-week-long sweeps in a move to promote biodiversity and make the grooming of the capital's green areas more sustainable -- replacing both chemicals and lawn mowers.
Out of work, they will be resting back at a farm on the outskirts of Paris, the Ferme de Paris and this is where your Ouessant fibre in these tops come from. So you will be spinning a piece of Paris !!
"I can imagine this very easily in London and New York ... even Tokyo," said Fabienne Giboudeaux, Paris City Hall's director of Green Spaces. The ouessant-operation follows a successful stint last year by two goats that were hired privately by the Louvre to mow the lawn at Tuileries, central Paris' grand 17th-century gardens and now the Ouessant are helping too.
Parisians who cringe at the sight of poop may worry that sheep droppings could ruin their pristine city. But Alain Divo, the director of Ecoterra, a French company that hires out sheep and goats, says the poop crumbles away in days to an odourless, inoffensive powder that serves as potent fertiliser for the grass. Hiring goat and sheep lawn mowers is now a booming business. In fact, a number of French urban shepherd companies have sprung up over the years. According to Sylvain Girard, director of Ecomouton, it currently has 260 sheep working the premises of top companies such as Gaz de France. And with interest coming from Britain, Germany, Belgium and Russia, he has plans for "Ecomouton" to expand his operation.
You can spin your piece of Paris now : I have a very limited amount of beautiful natural coloured tops available for you. It is great to spin with a wonderful natural colour !
100+grams AU$20
Grandvalley Spinners and Weavers Spin in
Tapscott Hall, Corner Cambridge and Montrose rd, Montrose
There are some teasers on my facebook page if you want to have a look at what this month has to offer ! Apart from that I have been busy prepping the FRIDA adventure , which will hopefully be ready to ship to all those who signed up !, in the next two weeks! Exciting and busy times ahead for sure.
In the mean time my spinning wheel hasn’t been idle either because the Handknitters guild in May is getting closer and closer, so I have been spinning up a storm to get some angora and bunny mink yarns ready ! I was hoping to get some ready for an update this week but you will just have to wait til next week which will definitely be a super FLUFF update with angora and mink !!!!! To celebrate the Easter Bunny of course !!
This week I have some very exciting things for you as well…a very very special fibre to get your hands on, so read the story about these beauties after all the club sign up information.
Have a fabulous weekend ! Enjoy !
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.
New IxCHeL Club sign ups are now open!
The Batt Club is almost filled up and the fibre club as well, so do not wait too long please!
for the months : April, May and June 2016
for the months : April, May and June 2016
(til quotas are reached or until March 31st)
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 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 #28 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!) + postage
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 #28 now. Numbers are strictly limited ! The April 2016 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 Clubs April, May and June 2016
Every month for three months (April , May and June 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 April, May and June 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 April, May and June 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 April :) Payment via direct deposit or credit card or paypal. Just PM or email me
French Ouessant Sheep
If you happened to see the series on SBS on building a medieval Castle, there was a mention of this rare sheep breed, which was added to this wonderful project of practical archaeology in the south of France.The reason why the Ouessant sheep were being farmed as part of their medieval project was because this particular sheep breed is the closest to the sheep in medieval times.
Even nowadays this rare breed of sheep called the Ouessant sheep, also occasionally called the Breton Dwarf, is the smallest breed of sheep in the world and comes from the island of Ouessant off the western tip of Brittany (French Bretagne) north west France where until the twentieth century they existed exclusively.
The tiny island, about 15 square kilometres in size, has been inhabited by Ouessant sheep since the 1700’s. They once numbered about 6000 in the mid 1800s, however today there are only about 3000. It is said that this small breed where favoured by the women of the island who mostly tended the flocks while the men were away fishing.
Despite their sturdy natures and their ability to withstand the rigours of their natural habitat these sheep are incredibly small. The rams are about 49 centimetres (19 in) tall at the shoulder, and the ewes about 45 centimetres (18 in)
Now the French Governement and especially some departments in and around Paris have "employed" Ouessant sheep as their eco way of keeping the grass down in and around the Paris Town hall, the Eiffeltower area and their parks.
Paris has come up with an unconventional way to keep its urban grass trim without costing the earth. Earlier this week, the city enlisted four black sheep as part of a pilot project to munch away a section of the city’s gardens in northeastern Paris.
Eco-efficient and petite in size, the four legged lawnmowers are Ouessant sheep, named after a small island west of Brittany.
"It might sound funny, but animal lawnmowers are ecological as no gasoline is required, and cost half the price of a machine. And they're so cute," says Ferme de Paris sheepkeeper, Marcel Collet.
Between April and October, the new "park workers" will graze grounds the size of eight tennis-courts in three two-week-long sweeps in a move to promote biodiversity and make the grooming of the capital's green areas more sustainable -- replacing both chemicals and lawn mowers.
Out of work, they will be resting back at a farm on the outskirts of Paris, the Ferme de Paris and this is where your Ouessant fibre in these tops come from. So you will be spinning a piece of Paris !!
"I can imagine this very easily in London and New York ... even Tokyo," said Fabienne Giboudeaux, Paris City Hall's director of Green Spaces. The ouessant-operation follows a successful stint last year by two goats that were hired privately by the Louvre to mow the lawn at Tuileries, central Paris' grand 17th-century gardens and now the Ouessant are helping too.
Parisians who cringe at the sight of poop may worry that sheep droppings could ruin their pristine city. But Alain Divo, the director of Ecoterra, a French company that hires out sheep and goats, says the poop crumbles away in days to an odourless, inoffensive powder that serves as potent fertiliser for the grass. Hiring goat and sheep lawn mowers is now a booming business. In fact, a number of French urban shepherd companies have sprung up over the years. According to Sylvain Girard, director of Ecomouton, it currently has 260 sheep working the premises of top companies such as Gaz de France. And with interest coming from Britain, Germany, Belgium and Russia, he has plans for "Ecomouton" to expand his operation.
You can spin your piece of Paris now : I have a very limited amount of beautiful natural coloured tops available for you. It is great to spin with a wonderful natural colour !
Ouessant Rare Sheep Breed Tops
The Smallest Sheep Breed in the world!100+grams AU$20
A close up of the Ouessant Tops
100g AU$20
Dates to put in your Calendar !!
April 18th
Monday 10am-2pm
Grandvalley Spinners and Weavers Spin in
Tapscott Hall, Corner Cambridge and Montrose rd, Montrose
May
Date to be confirmed later
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 with !
JULY
Friday July 15th- Sunday 17th, 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 !!!!
August
Date to be confirmed
Black n Coloured Sheep Show in Cranbourne
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.
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.
Have a creative week!
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 !!!
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.
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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