Unicorns and other mythical stories

Kissed by a Unicorn By Liz Langford Designs 

created with Unicorn Confetti , IxCHeL Lace Superfine Merino Yarn 

I am totally on Super bunny mode again: after the Handknitters guild show (now two weeks ago already !) I have dyed the May clubs, The Icelandic Leadersheep adventure and the June Clubs ! The May clubs have been shipped and so has the adventure: so keep your eye out for teaser photos on my Instagram, flicke photo stream and facebook ! It is truly an epic effort to do everything. Because eof that, I recently realized I have not left the farm for two weeks and been mainly confined to the dye studio, the bunny habitat and the fibre studio where I do my carding and blending. Scary but true. In a way I am grateful for the fact I am an introvert and can survive in my own company with bunnies and Paul of course. Safe to say my social life is non existent..lol So, if you have ever wondered what it takes to survive on being creative in a fibery kind of way, I may just have answered your question.

There are some exiting things happening again here in preparation for the Bendigo sheep and wool show that is only 2 months away ! (insert panic scream!) I have been able to get my hands on some amazing rare breeds again that are not really that easy to come by (hence the word RARE). I am trying my utmost to stay calm and collected at all times, sometimes more easy than others, especially when I see the word “Rare’ being exploited and wool sold at stupid low prices. As a small farmer myself, I know how hard it is for farms to stay afloat. Farmers hardly ever get back what they invested into their farms and their animals. So, if you see “rare breeds” going for prices like $10, please think about the farms and their farmers. I have spent the last 13 years trying to be an advocate for both sustainability, small farm support and rare breeds. In order to do that I have not cut corners on quality. I have been an advocate for fair trade and for paying the farmers for their work, because I know how hard it is to survive and taking care of the animals. So yeah, if you see yak or camel or sheep breeds advertised, ask yourself if it is a sustainable price for the ones who actualy breed the animal and who makes sure that the rare breeds will not die out. Anyway, enough of my soap box talk. Here is the update I promised last week, with an all Australian super fine Merino lace weight yarn that is absolutely amazing to work with. Spun in Victoria ad dyed right here at the farm in the Yarra Valley : here are some colourful yarns that are awesome to knit, crochet and embroider with !
The amazing designer this week is Liz Langford, who has ceated the awesome “Kissed by a Unicorn wrap” for me using the lace yarn (unicorn confetti) and can be found on Ravelry right here: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/kissed-by-a-unicorn Please go and check the pattern out: it only takes one skein of the IxCheL Lace yarn !


The lace yarns are amazing to combine together as well for bigger projects like a fade it shalw or even a jumper. Here are some examples on how these yarns look magical together :

A berry speckle velvet colour combo

A Princess Speckle combo

A Unicorn combo

So, this week it is the new hand dyed Lace Weight IxCHeL super fine pure Merino yarn AND the sign ups for the next IxCHeL Fibre, Batt and yarn clubs (time flies !!!! Next week the May club will be shipped of and then there is only one club left for those of you who have signed up for last three months sign up! Time  to renew or sign up !!!!)

As for the lace yarn: there are only a small amount available so please don’t wait too long for this amazing yarn that knits and crochets up like a dream !



Have a fun weekend with lots of fibre play and love!!

All my contact details and "HOW TO ORDER" are also to be found at the end of this week’s blog entry. And please remember: Every time you buy from a small business or a farm you are not only getting something unique and handmade but you are supporting so much more !

IxCHeL Lace Weight Yarns

100 grams/ 3.53 oz AU$30

100% Super fine Australian Merino +/- 750meters / 820 yards

Velvet

Dusky Heather Dark

Dusky Heather Light

Berry Speckle

TYPO

The Bees Knees

Pink !

Lime

Mermaids

Purple Rain

Unicorn Confetti

Unicorn Milk

The New IxCHeL Club sign ups are OPEN until June 30th or until spaces are filled !!!

Get a monthly fibre and yarn surprise !

Always great blends and new colourways inspired by the Art Journey Theme ! 

July, August and September 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 July , August and Septembere 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 #36 and receive your special hand dyed top :)) for three months (July, August and September 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 #36 now. Numbers are strictly limited ! The July 2018 Club is going to be shipped out end of July, the August club mid August and the September club mid September. Payment via direct deposit or credit card or paypal. Just PM or email me your details.

The IxCHeL Sock Yarn Clubs  July, August and September 2018

Every month for three months (July, August and September 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 July 2018 Club is going to be shipped out end of July, the August club mid August and the September club Mid September.

IxCHeL Funky Bunny Batt Clubs  July, August and September 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 July, August and September 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 July 2018 club is going to be shipped out end of July, the August club mid August and the September club mid September 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:

Have a Creative and Fun week!

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.

Dates to put in your Calendar

Friday July 20th to Sunday July 22nd 

Australian Sheep and Wool Show, Bendigo.
Go to http://www.sheepshow.com to see what is happening and book your tickets. The Bendigo Sheep and Wool show is the biggest wool show in Australia ! with an amazing amount of woolcraft, indie dyers, a huge amount of tops, yarn, craft, felt and spindles, spinning wheels and anything you need for your knitting,crocheting and crafting.
I will be there with an amazing amount of new exclusive wool blends and yarns, batts, felt and landscape and botanical natural dyes and so much more !!!
I will also have spindles by the amazing Bearded Dragon and lots of fibre tools as well from darning mushrooms to noste pinne and needle cases to distaffs. And, there will also be some wonderful Turkish spindles from my friend Scott Snyder available again !

Get ready for a fabulous weekend filled with lots of craft and fun !!!

 RABBIT ON !

((hugs))

Charly

Botanical Lace Dreams

The Handknitters Guild Show event at Coburg town hall last Sunday on May 13th was amazing! It brought loads of wonderful yarnies together but was also  a great opportunity to meet up with equally yarn and fibre addicted people. I don’t know how many times I heard “aaaaaaah!!!” and “oooohs” and “sorry, but I just have to touch you” remarks. That last was obviously meant to say "i want to fondle your  jumper or shawl"  but knitters are very tactile people that do not shy away from admiring someones “lanesplitter” skirt or a gorgeous “sunset highway jumper” by Caitlin Hunter or the shawl I was wearing : “jolly Roger Shawl: by Aino Haikala. Knitters and spinners are amazing people to be around! You get hugged more ! The knitter and fibre world is AWESOME and don’t let anybody tell you otherwise !   Knitting and spinning has saved my sanity more than once and I think all of us fibre enthusiasts are gentle tactile “softies” (and I mean that in the most amazing way possible!!!) .  I love you all !

It was a really exciting day out for me because it was also the launch of a new IxCHeL yarn line : a Superfine Merino Lace weight yarn spun in Victoria especially for us and handdyed right here at the IxCHeL Fibre Farm by yours truly.
No less than two amazing designers have made created something especially for this yarn: A multifunctional crochet wrap by Tomiskars’ Emma Bowe “I got Buterflies” (https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/ive-got-butterflies) It is a fun and versatile crochet pattern and easy to make too and only needs one skein of IxCHeL Lace weight yarn ! How good is that ?!! Please go and check the pattern out !


I have been dyeing and painting for decades and yet it had never occurred to me before a couple of weeks ago, to combine certain watercolour techniques on fibre and yarn. When I was lucky enough to have accumulated some beautifully fermented natural dye pigments I started experimenting with , what I would call a “water colour technique” of painting and adhering the pigments to the yarn from light to dark, layer upon layer. It was mesmerizing to see the depth and glow grow with each layer. I was hooked. So, I did more and more and I alternated the eco printing with the semi solid natural dyeing to create this amazing array of lace weight yarns that combine perfectly together and look absolutely magical. So yeah, although it takes many days to create this kind of effect, I am absolutely over the moon! The yarn base has everything to do with it as well, being a superfine merino and takes the dye brilliantly. It was a great canvas so to speak.

see how awesome the natural dyed colours go together ? 
From eco printed,  to comfrey to woad….it’s magic

So, this week it is the new hand dyed Lace Weight IxCHeL super fine pure Merino yarn AND the sign ups for the next IxCHeL Fibre, Batt and yarn clubs (time flies !!!! Next week the May club will be shipped of and then there is only one club left for those of you who have signed up for last three months sign up! Time  to renew or sign up !!!!)

As for the lace yarn: there are only a small amount available so please don’t wait too long for this amazing yarn that knits and crochets up like a dream !



Have a fun weekend with lots of fibre play and love!!

All my contact details and "HOW TO ORDER" are also to be found at the end of this week’s blog entry. And please remember: Every time you buy from a small business or a farm you are not only getting something unique and handmade but you are supporting so much more !

IxCHeL Botanical Dye Range Lace Weight Yarns

100 grams/ 3.53 oz AU$30

100% Super fine Australian Merino +/- 750meters / 820 yards

Shibori Indigo

Indigo

Eco printed lace yarn “Rebel” (Woad, Walnut, Indigo, Madder, Eucalypt) only 2 available

Woad Light-

Eco watercolour method Light: walnut/indigo/woad/madder/eucalyptus

Eco watercolour method Dark: walnut/indigo/woad/madder/eucalyptus

Eco printed ; Eucalyptus, Madder root, Oak, Walnut, Coreopsis

Woad dark

Walnut ( Pigments extracted from fermented walnut husks from season 2016)

Oak Galls and Acorns

Madder root

Madder root Light to dark

Comfrey leaves

The New IxCHeL Club sign ups are OPEN until June 30th or until spaces are filled !!!

Get a monthly fibre and yarn surprise !

Always great blends and new colourways inspired by the Art Journey Theme ! 

July, August and September 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 July , August and Septembere 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 #36 and receive your special hand dyed top :)) for three months (July, August and September 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 #36 now. Numbers are strictly limited ! The July 2018 Club is going to be shipped out end of July, the August club mid August and the September club mid September. Payment via direct deposit or credit card or paypal. Just PM or email me your details.

The IxCHeL Sock Yarn Clubs  July, August and September 2018

Every month for three months (July, August and September 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 July 2018 Club is going to be shipped out end of July, the August club mid August and the September club Mid September.

IxCHeL Funky Bunny Batt Clubs  July, August and September 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 July, August and September 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 July 2018 club is going to be shipped out end of July, the August club mid August and the September club mid September 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:

Have a Creative and Fun week!

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.

Dates to put in your Calendar

Friday July 20th to Sunday July 22nd 

Australian Sheep and Wool Show, Bendigo.
Go to http://www.sheepshow.com to see what is happening and book your tickets. The Bendigo Sheep and Wool show is the biggest wool show in Australia ! with an amazing amount of woolcraft, indie dyers, a huge amount of tops, yarn, craft, felt and spindles, spinning wheels and anything you need for your knitting,crocheting and crafting.
I will be there with an amazing amount of new exclusive wool blends and yarns, batts, felt and landscape and botanical natural dyes and so much more !!!
I will also have spindles by the amazing Bearded Dragon and lots of fibre tools as well from darning mushrooms to noste pinne and needle cases to distaffs. And, there will also be some wonderful Turkish spindles from my friend Scott Snyder available again !

Get ready for a fabulous weekend filled with lots of craft and fun !!!

 RABBIT ON !

((hugs))

Charly