Peculiar stuff

The local little rural postoffice almost filled up to the brim, when I deposited all the club parcels and now I am straight into the prep work for all the December clubs which I hope will all get done and shipped in the first week of December so they can knock on your door before Christmas ! So yes, another full on week and the “weather forecast” is not looking any different for the weeks to come with custom orders and lots of dyeing of new blends. I put some teasers of new labels I made for these blends up on social media this week and the responses I got of “when can I get some?” and “ I need some now please !” were overwhelmingly positive. I will do my utmost to get these new blends dyed very soon ! With all the December clubs I have not had the time yet though, so please I hope you can be a tiny bit patient. Hopefully I will have a new blend all dyed and ready for shipping by mid to late December just ready for Santa Bunny !

Do not worry though: I do have some tops that I have prepared earlier for this update so you definitely need not go without any fibery offerings on this last Friday of November. Yes! The LAST Friday of November!!! Honestly, I cannot believe how the time this year has just flown by at the speed of light (Check out the names of the tops on offer today: all have something to do with either Time travel of going back in time of just weird Time things). Anyway, not only is it a very strange , quick , super fast, speedy year; it also has confronted me with a kinda weird worldly holiday sensation.

Having spent quite some time in the States, growing up there, I was used to holidays like Thanksgiving and Halloween and Valentines Day. I am extremely happy Halloween got “adopted” almost worldwide but honestly, Thanksgiving and it’s “baby”: Black Friday, seems to me to be going a wee bit too far. Thanksgiving is obviously geographically confined to the United States, like our Australia Day is confined to Australia, however, this year the sales are coming out like it is going out of fashion for the first time I can remember. I mean: Black Friday (equivalent of the Boxing day sales)??? Here in Australia ?? I was almost going to say something that required a “pardon my French” but please! Why? Honestly, even the discounts paraded all over the internet like the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade,  not only by international companies and big conglomerates, but now we see it happening with small businesses as well all over the world?  Maybe it has everything to do with global consumerism? I don’t know. It’s a mystery. Why not adopt the Indian Holi festival throwing colour pigments on one another ? (sounds like a lot of fun so book this date in for next year: March 13th).

I have nothing against discounts or sales, although I am not one to head out for Boxing day sales or buy stuff just because the ticket says that it is 40% off. One reason for that is that I have always been “out of the loop” living in the middle of nowhere and not really close to shops that do sales. If I needed something I buy it if I can afford it. If not, well, too bad. Or , I try to get it at op shops or second or third hand. Sales have always been a sign to me of something big companies do:  1. Either they wanted to get rid of stuff because they have too much stock, or 2. Their prices have been inflated in the first place so they can afford to give you 40 or 60% off … I know, I am a conspiracy theorist, a spooky Mulder, call me weird. Call me "Peculiar" or  “Different”.

So yeah, I guess, I have never ever really dabbled in the discount/sale/40 + % off idea when “running my very small fibre business. Whatever I do when it comes to living my life or running my business for that matter, is that I like to handle everybody as how I would like to be treated myself or what I would like. I could never dye or make or create anything that I would not agree with. At the same time it brings me to another dilemma that I have been facing since day 1:

1: I do not have a huge amount of stock in the first place: everything I offer/create/dye/spin/make goes through my hands. I can only do so much and therefore I do not have a huge amount of stock. Which is of course a blessing and a curse at the same time, because I have to say “no sorry sold out” lots of times, but at the same time it gives me a brilliant opportunity to create things that are fresh, new and I am always there to adapt to your wishes (or mine..lol).
 I guess that is the choice I have always made and what I stand for: personal, intuitive, loving and innovative and new.
 This of course also means: restrictions! Restrictions on how much a business can grow. From the start I always chose to stay “small”. This goes totally against the grain of commercialism and business. Capitalism teaches us that when you do not grow as a business you go backwards. Well, not in a sustainable sense I believe, Not when you are trying to run a sustainable fibre farm and it is just you. Not when you want to adhere to a personal service. Not when you consider all of your customers special and offer them something special or custom orders. And you know what? I am very very happy that after starting, 12 years ago, I still have these principles and still smile whenever I can enable somebody and help them find something special. Because you know what? That is the strength of being small and being sustainable.

2. pricing: What about pricing? I know my animal stock feed has gone up, vet bills have gone up, but I have never really put my prices up for my tops or handspun yarns. I always tried to achieve a fair fibre wage for our farm and what we produce. I probably should have but I haven’t. And I won’t until it breaches the “unsustainability” factor. I feel very strongly about art and craft and sustainable farms. I try to do my bit and by offering you what I make at the prices I have, is exactly that: the bottomline. To make handmade affordable for lots of people.

Conclusion: that is why I never really run “sales”. That’s why I feel it is important that every time you order I am there for you and you are given something special: a bit of my heart n soul and something I add to your parcel for free as a gift, throughout the year.

So in short, Sorry….no “USA Black Friday” sales here, but, I can , and always will, offer you a piece of my heart every time you buy something off me. That’s why I always close off all my messages with hugs. Because by contacting me and buying from our sustainable fibre farm, you are part of our fibre friends, our family.
So, here’s my "thanksgiving" to you: a huge thank you to all of you who support our little fibre farm with heart : Big Fluffy Hugs to all ! And, Happy Creating !!!!


Please let me know if you have any questions okay? If you like to order some of what you see here on tonight’s blog, just message me on ravelry or facebook or send me an email. I will get right back to you with all the details. Happy Snaffling !!!!

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.

Magic Bunny Tops

100g /AU $ 24

Organic Super Fine Merino, Cashmere, Angora Bunny and Rainbow Glitz( creates magic little rainbows of colour in the sunlight!)

.

Edge of Tomorrow-1left-

Frequency-sold-

Fringe-sold-

Jurassic Park-sold-

Minority Report-sold-

Outlander-sold-

Primeval-2left-

Rose-2left-

Time Machine-sold-

Sanctuary-sold-

Timeless-sold-

Torchwood-sold-

Doctor Who-1left-

New IxCHeL Club sign ups are open !

for the months : January, February and March 2017 

(til quotas are reached or until December 28th)

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, March 2017

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 #31 and receive your special hand dyed top :)) for three months (January, February and March 2017) 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$56 (Airmail) double serve AU$136+AU$56

For UK,Europe, rest of the world: Single serve AU$72+AU$69 (airmail) Double serve AU$136+AU$69

For Asia: Single serve AU$72+AU$50 (airmail) Double serve AU$136+AU$50

If you want to receive a fibre surprise every month then join the IXCHEL FIBRE CLUB #31 now. Numbers are strictly limited ! The January 2017 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, March 2017

Every month for three months (January, February and March 2017) 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$56 (Airmail) double serve $130 (= one skein FREE!!!) +AU$56

For UK,Europe, rest of the world: Single serve AU$78+AU$69 (airmail) Double serve $130 (= one skein FREE!!!) +AU$69

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, March 2017

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 2017.

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

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

For USA + Canada: AU$108+AU$56 (Airmail)

For UK,Europe, rest of the world: AU$108+AU$69 (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

Landscape dyes 

 100g tubs   AU$11 
250g tubs    AU$25

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

Supermoon Bunnies and surreal fluff

The last couple of weeks have been a rollercoaster ride, not only because of the whole surreal political 1984 come 1930s political environment we seem to be catapulted into like speeding up our car to 88 miles per hour and WOOPS! Back in the past we are but also because of the enormous workload that I had to circumnavigate: November Clubs being dyed, concept art designed, colours to be decided and pigments to prepare, a HUGE amount of carding and batting and braiding , labelling and then ofcourse packing and immediately going into the December clubs so it can get to all of the members well before Christmas ! Because of the fact I can never ever say “NO” ..(understatement of the year!) I have found myself in a continuous marathon to be organized and above all, working very VERY long hours all the time. No, this is not a 9 to 5 job….and most importantly, keeping up with updates and a huge influx of club memberships, now means that the time I can devote to the things that feed my soul have become increasingly less and less. I know, my fault..I cannot say no..lol

The things that feed my soul: learning new stuff….all the time… if I let me brain descend into the black void of status quo , I get anxious…I forget things. Strangely enough when I am super busy and I keep doing new stuff, my brain , although in overdrive, seems to handle more and forget less. Strange ans surreal I know! The more you know the less you know. The less you learn, the more you forget. Lesson nr 1:keep learning, keep fresh, keep designing, drawing, painting, playing music, keep creating! Which seems strange to say, because I am creating every day so I guess I mean “inventing”! Keep Inventing !

Lesson nr 2: Lots and LOTS of people start their own craft business nowadays thinking “ Hey this is gonna be AWESOME !: I can make money from my hobby and what I love to do and all is well with the world! Yeah…NO! Before you know it, you will be working your proverbial bum off doing all kinds of things but it is NOT the same as when you were doing it as a pleasurable pastime. For starters: forget about making anything for yourself (no time) and most importantly , to make a living off handmade means that you will be making things for others all the time. I LOVE doing that, creating for other people, but I have heard from others that this is really hard when you cannot make something for your family: it’s the well known stories of the cobblers family: making and mending shoes for everybody else but your own family goes barefoot. Yeah it’s kinda like that: Paul is still waiting for a sweater I promised to spin and knit him ten years ago….. what can I say? Make time. Make time for yourself.

Lesson nr 3: Be true to yourself!!!! Whatever happens on your journey (and I mean this in the broadest sense!) never ever forget where you came from, what your passion is and who you are! This will keep you TRUE. This will keep you straight on your path and yes, HUMBLE. Everyday, every hour, I am so enormously grateful of this path and journey I am on. Most of you who I have known for all the years I have been on this fibery adventure are my friends and part of my “Fibre Family” and I am over the moon to have you in my life ! Thank you !

So, saying all of that , I have to make some changes though, I have to say “no” and lessen the load…lots..It is so hard for me, energizer bunny, to say this but I have to and you know me, I have always been extremely honest and upfront about everything. So, here it is, 2017 will see some changes. I have had to make a hard decision and put a limit on the amount of sign ups for the clubs I can do and there will be some other major changes in the way I do things in 2017. My health depends on it. And, if I want to be on this planet for a bit longer, I will have to.
There are still so many things I want to do you see! So many things I still want to learn!
And, I want to share my enthusiasm for lots and lots of stuff for a long time!


I have loads of exciting new plans for 2017 and I want you to be part of it: all the new rare sheep breed adventures and all the new paths that 2017 can have in store for all of us and all the new stuff we can learn. But for now, the more serious of things: December is coming (shhh I know! Scary right?) and something else I have planned for the immediate future: this fluffy Friday update!

Please let me know if you have any questions okay? If you like to order some of what you see here on tonight’s blog, just message me on ravelry or facebook or send me an email. I will get right back to you with all the details. Happy Snaffling !!!!

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.

Angel Bunny Tops

100g /AU $ 24

Blue Faced Leicester Sheep, Cashmere, Angora Bunny and Tencel

.

Westworld

Well Tempered Clavier-1left-

Trompe L’oeil

Trace Decay

The Stray-2left-

The Original

Surreal Supermoon-1left-

Paint it Black-2left-

No Surprises-sold-

Maeve-

Love

Forest Surreal-

Dolores-sold-  

Dissonance Theory-2 left-

Contrapasso-1left-

Black Hole Sun-

Bicameral Mind-

New IxCHeL Club sign ups are open !

for the months : January, February and March 2017 

(til quotas are reached or until December 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 January, February, March 2017

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 #31 and receive your special hand dyed top :)) for three months (January, February and March 2017) 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$56 (Airmail) double serve AU$136+AU$56

For UK,Europe, rest of the world: Single serve AU$72+AU$69 (airmail) Double serve AU$136+AU$69

For Asia: Single serve AU$72+AU$50 (airmail) Double serve AU$136+AU$50

If you want to receive a fibre surprise every month then join the IXCHEL FIBRE CLUB #31 now. Numbers are strictly limited ! The January 2017 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, March 2017

Every month for three months (January, February and March 2017) 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$56 (Airmail) double serve $130 (= one skein FREE!!!) +AU$56

For UK,Europe, rest of the world: Single serve AU$78+AU$69 (airmail) Double serve $130 (= one skein FREE!!!) +AU$69

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, March 2017

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 2017.

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

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

For USA + Canada: AU$108+AU$56 (Airmail)

For UK,Europe, rest of the world: AU$108+AU$69 (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

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