IxCHeL Fibres, Yarns & Art: June 2016

Friday, June 24, 2016

Timey Wimey stuff

Mathilda , our resident bush wallaby with her young Joey

Twenty one days to go til Bendigo show and this bunny here is in MORE total ACTION Mode!

Yesterday was a wonderful day out with the Box Hill Spinners group, doing a workshop with the Navajo spindle and the Mayan Spindle. It was a great day and I like to say a big thanks to Monica and Margaret and all the other amazing the ladies of the group for having me and Paul there. We had a blast!

Coming home later that day I was surprised to find more women of wool info and a flyer for the luncheon.
I believe there are only a few tickets for the luncheon still available and if you want to have a great time with food and inspirational craft before heading out to go shopping (or after , please book now.

As you can see I am one of the guest speakers and I still snigger seeing myself in the quite serious line up of wonderful women doing talks at the event…wearing lime green bunny ears…lol

There’s a lot going on here at the farm: so many fibres still to dye and label. BUt there is lighht at the end of the time Vortex/tunnel: only about 10 more blends to dye together with some rare sheep breeds!!

One of the new projects I thought would be fun and kind of ties in with my Doctor Who fascination (to say the least) is a series of Doctor Who colourways.

There already was a Tardis colourway I did for one of the Clubs but now I ventured into the wonderful world of the 4th Doctor (Tom Baker) and his amazing scarf. I wanted to make myself one for so long !, so I dyed myself some Doctor Who colourway.

These are going to be featured across all my blends and you will recognise them by the additional tags: one for the 4th Doctor, one for the Tardis one and ofcourse the 10th Doctor, the ever amazing David Tennant.

Doctor Who colourway labels in the making

There are so many things I am doing at the same time I am in dire need of a Tardis that’s for sure ! Not only getting everything ready for the Bendigo show but also getting everything done organising wise for the Tour de Fleece Ixchelbunny team !!! so many things still to do I am in need of more than just a few extra hands..lol

I did want to do “just” a little write up on the goings on and put a reminder up that this week is the last week to sign up for the clubs if you have not done that already, but seeing I am an absolute nutcase and do not want to hold back on anything, I thought : hey, why not offer something special tomight: my new Viva Frida blend with agave cactus !

If you want to know a bit more about this truly awesome blend to spin featuring Navajo churro and agave cactus together with cashmere and angora bunny please go to my blogpost of April 3rd.

Have a fun weekend and please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions! You know me: I always love to enable!

All my contact details are to be found at the end of this week’s blog entry. Have fun and stay warm!!

New IxCHeL Club sign ups are open!

for the months : July, August and September 2016

(til quotas are reached or until June 30th)

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 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 #29 and receive your special hand dyed top :)) for three months (July, August, September) 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$55 (Airmail) double serve AU$136+AU$55

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 #29 now. Numbers are strictly limited ! The July 2016 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, September 2016

Every month for three months (July, August and September 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$55 (Airmail) double serve $130 (= one skein FREE!!!) +AU$55

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 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 July, august and september 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$55 (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 July :) Payment via direct deposit or credit card or paypal. Just PM or email me

Viva Frida Tops

Navajo Churro, Agave cactus, Cashmere, Angora bunny 100grams AU$24

Frida Kahlo, the inspiration for the ”Viva Frida” blend

Agave Dreams-1 left-

Amor-sold-

Casa Azul (Indigo dyed)-2 left-

Coyocan-sold-

Esperanza-2 left-

Passion Interrupted -sold-
(dyed with pigments from cochineal, mushroom and bloodwood bark)

Watermelon and Parrots-sold-

Xochil Flower of Life-sold-

Dates to put in your Calendar !!

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 !!!!

OCTOBER

2nd of October
Black n Coloured Sheep FIELD DAY 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 : 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 here:

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
3. Message me on www.ravelry.com 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, June 17, 2016

Pure Gold !

Only less than a month to go til Bendigo show and this bunny here is in total ACTION! Mode! Meaning: 16 (or longer) hour work days, dyeing up all the fibres I can get my hands on and preparing everything to make Bendigo Show 2016 an absolute AMAZING experience full of colour and POP! And SUPERFLUFF!
Yes, it is all about superlatives because let’s face it: Bendigo Show is a Super Show! I remember when I first had a stall there over 10 years ago and look at it now filled to the brim with craft and woolly fluffy fibery goodness, that is totally celebrating the colourful diversity of Australian Wool Craft!!

I know I do not necessarily get a lot of sleep this time of year (if ever in fact..lol and doubted my sanity to say the least : I was also extremely surprised !!! ..well no....this is actually THE understatement of the century because I actually fell off my chair and could not utter a word for about half an hour while I schlepped myself to Paul holding my phone and uttering “eh//eh! Eh!!! Here! Look !! here! Look! “ while he looked at me in amazement as if I had totally and finally lost my brain (not far off that..lol)

Yes that is me striking da pose last year (I think)
at the Bendigo show
wearing my usual bunny ears and outfit
in the right hand bottom corner

After I got over the immense surprise on being on a poster I went back into the dye room and finished up the Valais blacknose blend dyeing and started the next project: Tundra with Qiviut.

This time of year, apart from being super hectic and trying to get as much done as (in)humanely possible…I also face a conundrum: what to focus on for an update?

So this week, although I wanted to keep this for Bendigo show in total, I decided it was not fair for all of you who could not make it to Bendigo and also to give some more information about this amazing animal and its fibre.

I only have finished blending up a tiny bit. Safe to say I have to be extremely careful and not breathe too heavy because I cannot afford it being blown off in the wind never to be seen again; it is just too preciousssss: Guanaco.

It has been a dream of mine after last years Vicuna blend to get my hands on the wonderful and supersoft Guanaco and here it is: I concocted a blend that is literally so soft it cannot be described other than “orgasmic” ..yes, really. Lots of careful blending nd calculating and trials have brought this blend to you comprising of 60% guanaco, Luscious Muga silk, Amazing cashmere and the ever lovely Angora bunny!

So what is Guanaco and where does it come from?

Guanaco fibre is particularly prized for its soft, warm feel and is found in luxury fabric. The guanaco's soft wool is valued second only to that of the vicuña. The guanaco is double-coated with coarse guard hairs and a soft undercoat, which is about 16-18 µ in diameter and comparable to the best cashmere. Only the super soft undercoat is used in this blend and it is amazing !

The guanaco is an animal native to the arid, mountainous regions of South America. They are found in the altiplano of Peru, Bolivia and Chile . In Argentina, they are more numerous in Patagonian regions, as well as in places such as the Torres del Paine National Park, and Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego. In these areas, they have more robust populations, since grazing competition from livestock is limited. Estimates, as of 2011, place their numbers at 400,000 to 600,000.[5] A small introduced population exists on Staats Island in the Falkland Islands, with a population of around 400 as of 2003. Guanacos live in herds composed of females, their young, and a dominant male. Bachelor males form separate herds. While female groups tend to remain small, often containing no more than 10 adults, bachelor herds may contain as many as 50 males. When they feel threatened, guanacos alert the herd to flee with a high-pitched, bleating call. The male usually runs behind the herd to defend them. They can run at 56 km (35 mi) per hour, often over steep and rocky terrain. They are also excellent swimmers!! A guanaco's typical lifespan is 20 to 25 years. Guanacos are one of the largest wild mammal species found in South America (along with the manatee, the tapir, and the jaguar). Natural predators include cougars, jaguars, and foxes. Guanacos often spit when threatened, same as their alpaca and llama counterparts! To protect its neck from harm, the guanaco has developed thicker skin on its neck, a trait still found in its domestic counterpart, the llama, and its relatives, the wild vicuña and domesticated alpaca.

Mating season occurs between November and February, during which males often fight violently to establish dominance and breeding rights. Eleven-and-a-half months later, a single chulengo, or baby Guanaco, is born. Chulengos are able to walk immediately after birth. Male chulengos are chased off from the herd around one year of age.

Although the species is still considered wild, around 300 guanacos are in US zoos and around 200 are registered in private herds.

Another titbit of information: Guanacos are often found at high altitudes, up to 4,000 meters above sea level, except in Patagonia, where the southerly latitude means ice covers the vegetation at these altitudes. For guanacos to survive in the low oxygen levels found at these high altitudes, their blood is rich in red blood cells. A teaspoon of guanaco blood contains about 68 billion red blood cells – four times that of a human !

Some guanacos live in the Atacama Desert, where in some areas it has not rained for over 50 years! A coastline running parallel to the desert enables them to survive. Where the cool water touches the hot land, the air above the desert is cooled, creating a fog and thus, water vapour. Winds carry the fog across the desert, where cacti catch the water droplets and lichens that cling to the cacti soak it in like a sponge. When the guanacos eat the cacti flowers and the lichens, the water is transferred to them. So when they eat the cactus flowers they basically get a drink at the same time.

I have dyed a very very few of this guanaco blend just for this update and I do not have lots of stock right now. I will have more at the Bendigo show though!!!! Working day and night (literally..lol) to get it all happening !) In the meantime, please do not forget to sign up for the clubs! Time is running out to get a yummy parcel filled with IxCHeL fluffy stuff in the mail every month  ! Have a fun weekend !!!

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 !!!

New IxCHeL Club sign ups are open!

for the months : July, August and September 2016

(til quotas are reached or until June 30th)

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 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

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$55 (Airmail) double serve AU$136+AU$55

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

The IxCHeL Sock Yarn Clubs July, August, September 2016

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$55 (Airmail) double serve $130 (= one skein FREE!!!) +AU$55

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 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 .

Sign up now and you will receive an Ixchel Hand dyed , super luxurious funky bunny batt for July, august and september 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$55 (Airmail)

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

For Asia: AU$108+AU$45 (airmail)

Guanaco Blend Tops

60% Guanaco, 25% Muga Sillk, 12% Cashmere, 3% English Angora Bunny 50grams AU$45

Natural -2 available-

Australian Bushflowers (sold)

Indigo dyed (1 available)

Mushroom (dyed with mushroom pigments) -2 available-

Walnut (dyed with fermented Walnut husks) – 2 available-

Woad (dyed with pigments from the woad plant) -really really sold out-

Dates to put in your Calendar !!

JULY

Friday July 15th- Sunday 17th, 9am-5pm

Bendigo Sheep and Wool Show

OCTOBER

2nd of October
Black n Coloured Sheep FIELD DAY in Cranbourne!

Landscape dyes

100g tubs AU$11

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 here:

How To Order:

Thank you so much for your help and support !

RABBIT ON !

((hugs))

Charly

Friday, June 10, 2016

Hop Hop Hopping a long !

Bunny Window by Marc Ryden

The best way to describe me this week was frantically hopping along like a headless bunny..well not entirely headless…although this flu thing sure wanted me to get rid of my head altogether…lol… all the june club packing and shipping and preparing more custom orders AND doing a handspinning talk at the Steiner school on Thursday – thankfully with my voice more or less in tact. I had a ball at the school and it was so awesome to see a fabulous turnout and friends from Alexandra visiting ! It was just amazing and the whole morning was filled with love for fibre and lots of smiley faces !

No rest for the wicked though and immediately I flew back into the dye room to get started on more custom orders and yes, all the dyework I have to get done for the Bendigo show now only a mere 4 weeks away. I am very grateful the woodfire is behaving nicely so all the fibres and yarns can dry and I can spin in a cozy and warm room in my time away from the dye studio.

I am running a bit late today..so I won’t keep raving on about the stuff I am doing HOWEVER, I will mention what is on the books fibre wise for the Bendigo show! Because that way you can all make a kind of “wishlist” AND I can also tell you what is there that is so special I won’t guarantee I have a lot of stock of to last me til Sunday. So here it goes:

VICUNA ! yes, it took a LOT of hard hard work again but I managed to grab a tiny little bit of this GOLD and have put together an amazing blend. I only have a teeny weensy little bit ! Friday is the day to get your hands ont his “preciousnesss”

GUANACO : yes…yes!! Just when you though it could not get any better it does: I am over the moon with this blend I was able to make ! It is amazing. So if you are not able to get the vicuna : this is your fall back fibre if you want to spin something you have never been able to get your hands on before. It is super rare and can I just say: absolutely LUSCIOUS!!

Rare sheep breeds for this year:

SOAY sheep in another OUTLANDER blend to knock your kilt off!!!!

VIKING blend: lots of old Nordic rare sheep breeds combined in a sumptuous blend!

ALPINE GLITZ; yes!!!! The cutest sheep on the world made it to Bendigo this uear: the Valais Blacknose in a blend together with our bunny and cashmere in a wonderful fibre blend

HOG ISLAND sheep

Charollais The Seaweed eating sheep from North Ronaldsay in a top and yarn!!!

GRA TRoender from Norway! Icelandic in all its beauty and colours

Navajo Churro sheep in a VIVA FRIDA blend with agave cactus

And then ofcourse all my blends you already know:

Bunny bison bliss

Cashmere fling

Tundra with Qiviut

Luxury nr 5 with yak and white bison

And more:

Gaga Bunny with blue faced Leicester, glitz and bunny and cashmere

Angel bunny with tencel and blue faced Leicester together with bunny and cashmere

Lush ! the super soft merino based blend with tencel

DIVA! the even softer blend with bling! And

Silk! Beautiful luscious silks And so much more !

Next week I will try and give you a more in depth look on what is on the cards but for now: I will leave you with some new batts for this weeks update and please do not forget to sign up for the clubs! Time is running out ! Have a fun long weekend !!!

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 !!!

New IxCHeL Club sign ups are open!

for the months : July, August and September 2016

(til quotas are reached or until June 30th)

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 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

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$55 (Airmail) double serve AU$136+AU$55

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

The IxCHeL Sock Yarn Clubs July, August, September 2016

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$55 (Airmail) double serve $130 (= one skein FREE!!!) +AU$55

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 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 .

Sign up now and you will receive an Ixchel Hand dyed , super luxurious funky bunny batt for July, august and september 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$55 (Airmail)

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

For Asia: AU$108+AU$45 (airmail)