Christmas Heatwaves and More Relaxing Plans

North Ronaldsay Sheep: A cool looking sheep

It is the 7th of December, I have been doing this special twelve days of Christmas offering on my Instagram and facebook and also finishing the December clubs that are going to be shipped out on Monday.    In short: December 7th feels more like December 30th to me at the moment. I do have a knack of getting myself into trouble and creating more work for myself instead of slowing down, which Paul said I should do, before I become a puddle on the floor.

Paul said he is going to tie me down (hopefully on a comfy chair) and make sure I take it easy for the last two weeks of December. So, in short, Next week's blog is going to be the last of the year. (insert indrawn breath of "oh no! what am I going to do??) lol

I will still be doing my little photo and fibre and yarn flashes on Instagram and facebook and you can still contact me, but I have had orders to stay out of the dye room and “sit down!” for a change….
 I don’t know if I can, but I am making an effort this year to at least give relaxing and sitting down for a change a red hot go.

 2018 has not been the, let’s say, easiest of years and I have been on yet another , eh, little cell abnormality adventure with nice little trips to the doctor, with “fun” experiences to get prodded and dissected and then be sick as a dog on a more than regular basis. 

I am trying my best to be positive and ignore the stress hovering right underneath the surface, so I cope with it the only way I can:  working my proverbial behind off. I’m happy but I am also extremely tired.
So, I am going to listen to Paul for a change (pssst..don’t tell him !!! lol) and have some good rest for the last two weeks of December. Ready to pick up the fight, blending my little fibre adventures and poking around the dyepots again, beginning of 2019 !

 Don’t forget to check in every day until the 12th of December to my little 12 days of Christmas event where 20% of all proceeds go to the Australian Cancer Council to find a cure for Cancer. It is my way of doing my bit for this very important issue and it is great to have your support !

On the 12th of December there is going to be an auction of sorts of something that is very dear to my heart ! (no, it is not Paul…not yet anyway..lol). Stay tuned. 

Now, what is on offer on today’s blog?Well, I had a very precious stash of one of my rare sheep breed adventures and I dyed some up for you. What else to cool down on this extremely hot day here in Australia, than look at Scottish Sea weed eating sheep, getting a nice soak from the cool Ocean eh? You can thank me later … wink wink, nudge nudge…say no more….

The North Ronaldsay Sheep are the only animals in the world, aside from a certain Galapagos lizard, to be able to subsist entirely on seaweed, leading to its nickname ‘seaweed sheep’. The breed is thought to be over 5000 years old. The breed is farmed within the Northern Ronaldsay Islands, Orkney and kept nearby the seashore for most of the year. In 1832 the Laird of North Ronaldsay decided that his pastureland should not be wasted on native sheep and a dyke was built round the island to keep them on the shore and off the land. It was most probably this separation that resulted in the preservation of the North Ronaldsay, as it prevented cross breeding which had been the downfall of other Orkney sheep.

The North Ronaldsay is one of the Northern Shorttailed primitive group of breeds that also includes the Manx Loghtan, Soay, Shetland and Icelandic . The North Ronaldsay is still mainly found on its native island, the northernmost of the Orkneys. The sheep keeping system on North Ronaldsay is unique and involves a stone wall which keeps the sheep on the seashore and away from the cultivated land for most of the year. This wall was built in 1832 and since then the breed has evolved to survive primarily on seaweed. The sheep live on the seashore most of the year around and are only brought onto the better land for lambing.

The North Ronaldsay is one of group of primitive Northern Short-tailed sheep and represents a very early stage in the evolution of domestic sheep. DNA studies have shown a close relationship to sheep found in the Stone Age village of Skara Brae on mainland Orkney, which dates from 3000 BC. In 1832 a wall was built around their native island to confine the animals to the foreshore for most of the year in order to conserve the inland grazing. Since then the breed has developed its distinctive metabolism due to its diet of seaweed, which also renders it susceptible to copper poisoning under standard sheep management systems. North Ronaldsays are very sensitive to copper and will die of copper toxicity if put on the wrong type of grazing. This is due to their seaweed diet and the unique metabolism they have evolved. They should not be fed commercial sheep mixes as despite the label saying “No Added Copper” the normal ingredients used will often have a background level high enough to be toxic (ten parts per million is too high). The North Ronaldsay is capable of surviving on less than larger breeds and is an active browser, used to ranging over long distances in search of food.

Colours of their fleece are variable: including white, various shades of grey, black and moorit (deep brown). The double fleece has coarse outer guard hairs and a fine soft inner coat. I have never ever felt and dyed something as extraordinary as this sheeps fleece. It is springy, almost feels moist even after its scouring and washing. It almost feels like it resists the dye when you pour the pigments on and everything immediately flows to the bottom, leaving the top layer of the fibre springy and almost without dye. At least, that is what appears to happen…it takes the dye beautifully and retains its springy texture and openness.

It is a dream to spin and work with. You can make a yarn that is strong and still soft to wear. It is very very special ! There are only about 600 of these seaweed sheep left in the world. Only through our effort of conservation of the environment and conservation through appreciation of this rare breed by spinning and knitting its fleece, can we hold on to one of the oldest and most special breeds in the world alive today.

Please understand that I do not have a lot of stock of this exceptional rare breed fibre. These tops are an amazing spinning experience and fabulous to wear. The added bonus of the silver infused seaweed and mint in the blend is that it is anti bacterial and great for socks or any kind of garment that gets lost of wear.

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 !!!

North Ronaldsay blended with Silver infused Seaweed and Mint, Blue faced Leicester and Cashmere   

100+ gram tops $25

Natural

Sexy Weatherman

Gothic Purple Party

Gin and Tonic Spritz

Elf on the Shelf

Cactus Flower

Unicorn Hiccups

Have a fun weekend Creating your Dreams!

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 !!!

Oh ! and don't forget to sign up for the IxCHeL Fibre, Yarn or Batt club! you can read all the details below! 

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.

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

IxCHeL Club Sign ups for 2019 are now open !

Here is a photo compilation of the previous club  months January to October to give you an idea what the "Art Journey" Theme of this years clubs has been all about : The interpretation of art into fibre.

IxCHeL Fibre Club January, February and March 2019  

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 #38 and receive your special hand dyed top :)) for three months (January, February and March 2019) 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 #38 now. Numbers are strictly limited ! The January 2019 Club is going to be shipped out end of January, the February club mid February and the March club Early 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 2019

 Every month for three months (January, February and March 2019) you will receive: enough hand dyed luscious yummy yarn to make a pair of socks or a lush shawl or scarf of course! (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 2019 Club is going to be shipped out end of January, the February club mid February and the March club Early March.

 IxCHeL Funky Bunny Batt Clubs January, February and March 2019

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 170grams 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 January 2019 Club is going to be shipped out end of January, the February club mid February and the March club Early March. Payment via direct deposit or credit card or paypal. Just PM or email me 

 Have a fun week Creating your Dreams!

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.

 RABBIT ON !

((hugs))

Charly