Reading and Craft Lust

In the last two days I think I only got about 4 hours of sleep but it is all worth it ! I finished all the custom orders and shipped them off today ! Didn’t think it would happen, but this foreign idea of me taking “time off” for the last two weeks of December has somehow got me extremely excited !

Obviously it is not because I do not love what I do but there are a LOT of things that have taken the back seat, like spending time of finishing some embroidery projects, some knitting design ideas and patterns, some much needed cooking and baking AND, last but not least READING! My reading list ( I misspelt it as “lust” but in my case that is pretty much the same thing..reading list-reading lust…lol)

So, What have I got on my To Read list in the next few weeks?
I gathered the pile of books on my desk and I THINK I may be a bit ambitious but hey, better to try and fail than never to try at all I always say ..lol

I thought it might be fun to share the book list with you , so here they are- in no particular order-:

1. Knitting Fresh Brioche by Nancy Marchant I am really looking forward to sinking my teeth into this magical technique and Nancy is the Queen Of Brioche so I am in good hands 😉

 2. Alter Knit: Stitch Dictionary by Andrea Rangel If you are in love with intarsia work as much as I am , this book is a must read with heaps of fun charts and ideas

3. And talking about colourwork: How can I possibly NOT read and knit some Balls !!! 55 Christmas Balls to knit by Arne and Carlos After I get enough balls to fill the house, I will keep going with their latest fun book : Field Guide to Knitted Birds. If you do not know Arne and Carlos, please look them up and watch their YouTube tutorials and videos. They are an absolute treasure trove and adorable as well.

4. I am debating starting to dissect this book first and foremost since I have a huge love for all things Japanese, including Japanese knitting. I LOVE ‘Knitted socks East and West by Judy Summer, so when I saw that there was a Japanese Knitting Stitch Bible by Hitomi Shida coming out in November 2017 I immediately bought it. Safe to say I have not had time to try any stitches out but I glanced at the charts and the ideas and this book is awesome !!!

5. As a lover of rare breeds and especially those hailing from Scotland, there is a book on my list that combines both: “Patterns for North Ronaldsay yarn by Elizabeth Lovick and Elly Doyle. There are some awesome patterns in there that are just right for my handspun North Ronaldsay yarn so I am going to dive right in !

6. Connected to Scotland for sure is something not really knitting related but close….I have two books here that I have not had a chance to read yet by the one and only Diana Gabaldon: “Virgins” about a young Jamie Fraser and Ian Murray ! and “seven stones to stand or fall” (a collection of outlander short stories). It’s a good thing I am a fast reader because I am itching to start reading these two bookd and hope that her next novel is not far away !

7. This brings me to my other love: history and embroidery combined : “18th century embroidery techniques” by Gail Marsh. So much to learn and lust after (see , there is that word again…lust…lol) This book is an absolute treasure by the way! I keep going back to this even when I combine my weaving commissions with the request of embroidery. Great techniques and so much more to explore.

8. Another love: Sashiko embroidery. I want to explore more templates and make my own patterns up on my hand dyed indigo fabrics. If you would like to get started with Sashiko, which is the most amazing meditative embroidery of all in my humble opinion, please read “the Ultimate Sashiko Sourcebook” by Susan Briscoe.

9. An Amigurumi project I NEED to finish ! Paul the toadstool by Lalylala. If you love crochet and amigurumi and super cute things, please have a look at this awesome designer. She also has a bunny addition to the dolls !


On my political/philosophical keeping up to date  and to read list are also some other must reads like:

Science in the Soul-writings of a passionate Rationalist - by Richard Dawkins

What happened by Hillary Clinton and

Our Revolution by Bernie Sanders, maybe followed by the new tome by Keith Olbermann “Trump is a F ….” But I will only include these three books when my stress thermometer is so low it needs a bit of igniting….lol

I have not even included the magazines I am so far behind with it’s not funny like Vav magasinet (my favourite weaving magazine) and Inspirations (an embroidery mag). No spinning mags, I have pretty much kept up to date with them.

So yeah, pretty excited about doing other things than commission spinning and weaving and dyeing for the last few weeks of the year. There are still some dyeing days ahead of me next week but that is it! I can’t believe I am actually going to do this… but , I think I need to take a breather, recharge the batteries and slow down, before I go loopy or fall on my face, whichever option comes first.

What also got me thinking was the fact that my immediate genepool is not particularly fantastic. Both my parents died when they were not even close to hitting 70. My grandpa died when he was 42, but that doesn’t count because I am sure that German Death camps are not genetic;  my grandma lived until she was 88. So I hope I take after her.
Whatever happens, I am now more than halfway the age my parents were when they left this planet. I know this sounds a bit morbid,  but that kind of realisation does make you think. Also, I still want to do so much and ..remember my reading list/lust?, so much to read and learn! So, I think it’s time. Time to make some time for the extra stuff that makes the fabric of life knit together. Less stress, more adventure. That doesn’t mean you have to travel to get it (although that is nice and amazing but a bit out of reach since we can hardly take our fluffy animals with us – unless we build an Ark....lol).

But, most of all , on this weeks update, I want to thank all of you who have been reading my blog; who have been watching what I do and supporting our little fibre farm; sending their love and encouragement throughout the year (which in all truth has been a difficult one) and who have stood by me and have taken the time to keep in touch. I am a terrible person at keeping in touch because all my breathing and living time per day seems to be taken up by doing fibre, craft and business stuff. So , thank you so much for your understanding of my inner introverted fluffy hermit life.  Thank you for putting up with  me. Thank you all for being you and following my adventures.

So, What better way to thank you is a Christmas/Hanukah Special from me to you? So here it is: special Holiday packages on offer only this weekend ! Order this weekend and I will post it first thing on Monday so you will get it in time (hopefully) – unless you are far away from Australia ofcourse but in any case it will be something to look forward to in a couple of weeks ! in the first week of 2018 at the latest (see! I am already practicing ! lol)

So without letting you wait longer than necessary for this weeks scrumptiousness. Oh before I forget, I will do a blog update next week, just no offerings, but hopefully some follow ups on my reading lust and things I have been up to 😉 which includes finishing a gift for a very special friend (so I won;t say anything here..yet) ...

oh and before I forget, it is not too late yet to get your order in for some Christmas vouchers for those who have no idea what to buy for their yarn and fibre loving other halves, friends or family. They are a great way of putting something special under the Christmas tree (or fern ..lol) with some extra surprises from me personally, because I think the act of giving should always be rewarded with a bit extra .

Here are all the offerings for tonight and please do not forget : the sign ups are open for the fibre, yarn and batt club starting in January 2018!

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.

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 Giftvoucher 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$50 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$100 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$150 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.

Christmas Special Offer just for you ! 

A super special offer only available this weekend ! 

You can choose a fibre (top) pack or 
a Yarn pack or..a combination of both! 

In each Christmas Surprise Parcel will be TWO items worth a LOT MORE!!! from Santa Bunny as a big thank you ! 

 The yarn pack can contain anything: angora yarns or sock yarns or art yarns! 
 The fibre surprise pack can be anything from rare fibres to IxCHeL blends ! You will not be disappointed ! 

 C’mon! Make your Christmas extra special with a Xmas Surprise parcel !

Here are the three different options to choose from: 

2 yarns in a xmas parcel $45 (normally that would be anywhere from $56 to $64) plus postage 

or 

2 tops in a xmas parcel $40 (normally they would be $46 to $50) plus postage 

or 

 A mixed bag: 1 top and 1 yarn for $42 (normally that would be a worth of $52 to $57) plus postage

Spinner’s Control, Yarn Gauge and Ply angle card

a great way to gauge the thickness of your yarn and plying. A nice tool with an info sheet to hang on your spinning wheel or carry wit you anywhere you go.

$5

The New IxCHeL Club sign ups are now OPEN ! 

Get a monthly fibre and yarn surprise !

Always great blends and colourways 

only hand dyed for those who are club members !

January, February and March 2018

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 2018

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 #34 and receive your special hand dyed top :)) for three months (January, February and March 2018) is AU$72 + postage (parcel post or airmail). AND there are good value double serves available !!!

For Australia : single serve $72+$29 postage (parcel post), double serve $136+$29 (save $8) or triple serves $204 (save $12!) + postage

For USA + Canada: single serve AU$72+AU$57 (Airmail) double serve AU$136+AU$57

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 #34 now. Numbers are strictly limited ! The January 2018 Club is going to be shipped out end of January, the February club mid February and the March club mid March. 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 2018

Every month for three months (January, February and March 2018) 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 (a 4ply/fingering weight yarn) or an 8ply / DK weight enough to make a pair of socks ; Every month a 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 $87+$29 postage (parcel post) double serve $146(= one skein FREE!!!) +$29

For USA + Canada: single serve AU$87+AU$57 (Airmail) double serve $146 (= one skein FREE!!!) +AU$57

For UK,Europe, rest of the world: Single serve AU$87+AU$69 (airmail) Double serve $145 (= one skein FREE!!!) +AU$69

For Asia: Single serve AU$87+AU$50 (airmail) Double serve $145 (= one skein FREE!!!) +AU$50

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 . The January 2018 Club is going to be shipped out end of January, the February club mid Feb and the March club Mid March.

IxCHeL Funky Bunny Batt Clubs  January, February and March 2018

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 wallaby 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 2018.

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

For Australia : $114+$29 postage (parcel post)

For USA + Canada: AU$114+AU$57 (Airmail)

For UK,Europe, rest of the world: AU$114+AU$69 (airmail)

For Asia: AU$114+AU$50 (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 January 2018 club is going to be shipped out end of January, the Feb club mid feb and the March club mid March 2018. Payment via direct deposit or credit card or paypal. Just PM or email me

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 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 also to be found at the end of this week’s blog entry.

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.
4. message me on Instagram 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