The Magic of Plants

The beauty of dyeing with natural dyes is that all the colours you get combine so well together 

There was a downpour the last weekend and I bypassed using our drinking water tank and used our veggie garden water tank instead which is excellent. I have dyed using town water before we moved to the country and I sincerely believe that the chemical additions in the town water have an effect on the dyeing results, so I am over the moon with our nice clean rain water.

This week it has been super busy: all the market and show dates are fast approaching and I feel there is so much more to do and so little time to do it in! Nothing new there ! LOL

 Also the April clubs have all been prepped and are getting their dye baths over the weekend, ready to be shipped hopefully at the end of next week, depending on the drying weather. Here is a sneak peek of the teaser label which will give you a clue of the colours. I am planning to use a layer of natural dyes and then add acid dyed as a brightening layer for some accents. Exciting !

Paul Gauguin’s “When will you marry” , which sold in 2015 for an astounding 

US$300 million, despite the fact that Gauguin himself in his life time was struggling

and unfortunately died at the age of 54 a starving, but passionate, artist.

Because the handknitters guild show is almost on the horizon I am starting to dye yarns more and more  now and I am extremely pleased with this latest batch. This week I am offering you a few that are all naturally dyed , some eco printed and some dyed using my water colour dye method: layers of pigments carefully added touching or added on top to create layers and layers of depth.

The natural dye methods take so much time but they are so worth it: from te planting, to harvesting , fermenting and preparing all the pigments to the last step: dyeing the yarn and fibres.

The yarn I am using is a superfine merino, grown in Australia and spun right here in Victoria. It is an 8ply or a DK weight yarn that knits up beautifully.

Next week I have some more 8ply yarns planned but looking totally different 😊 Well, better let you see what I have been up to with the dye pots! Pm me if you would like to give some of these yarns a good home. Enjoy looking and 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. 

IxCHeL Botanical Dye Range 8ply yarn

Super fine merino

200meters/219 yards

100g/3.53oz      AU$29

Delicate cool handwash, Rinse, Dry in shade. 

 Create with love 

Colour your Spirit 

Be Awesome !

Dyed with Madder Root

Dyed with Saffron

Indigo dyed (shibori effect)

Japanese Indigo

Dyed with Woad

Odyssey (dyed with Acorn, Ivy and Elderberry)

Eco Print (dyed with Indigo, Walnut, saffron and Eucalyptus: various species)

Autumn Water colour
(eco print base of walnut, over printed and
dyed using my water colour method to create
extra depth of tones with indigo, madder root, eucalyptus , acorn)

IxCHeL Club Sign ups for the third trimester of 2019 are OPEN!!! 

 Here is the overview of all the clubs shipped out to all the members in 2018 and 2019. 

Teasers of the april club will be posted on my Instagram, Facebook and Twitter soon !

 If you would like to join for the next round just PM me.

Here is a photo compilation of the 2018/2019 clubs to give you an idea what the "Art Journey" Theme has been all about : The interpretation of art into fibre.

IxCHeL Clubs 2019

March Yarn Club

March Fibre Club

March Batt Club

IxCHeL Fibre Club July, August and September 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$25 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 #40 and receive your special hand dyed top :)) for three months (July, August and September 2019) is AU$75 + postage (parcel post or airmail). AND there are good value double serves available !!! 

 For Australia : single serve $75+$29 postage (parcel post), double serve $142+$29 (save $8) or triple serves $214 (save $11!) + postage 

For USA + Canada: single serve AU$75+AU$57 (Airmail) double serve AU$142+AU$57; triple serve $214 (save $11) + postage

 For UK,Europe, rest of the world: Single serve AU$72+AU$69 (airmail) Double serve AU$136+AU$69; triple serve $214 (save $11) + postage

 For Asia: Single serve AU$72+AU$50 (airmail) Double serve AU$136+AU$50; triple serves $214 (save $11) + postage 

If you want to receive a fibre surprise every month then join the IXCHEL FIBRE CLUB #40 now. Numbers are strictly limited ! The July 2019 Club is going to be shipped out end of July, the August club mid August and the September club early to mid September. Payment via direct deposit or credit card or paypal. Just PM or email me your details. 

 The IxCHeL Yarn Clubs July, August and September 2019

 Every month for three months (July, August and September 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 or scarf 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 or scarves extra long ! 

For Australia : single serve $87+$29 postage (parcel post) double serve $150( save $24!!) +$29 postage For USA + Canada: single serve AU$87+AU$57 (Airmail) double serve $150 (Save $24!!) +AU$57 

For UK,Europe, rest of the world: Single serve AU$87+AU$69 (airmail) Double serve $150 (Save $24!!) +AU$69 

For Asia: Single serve AU$87+AU$50 (airmail) Double serve $150 (= Save $24!!!) +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 2019 Club is going to be shipped out end of July, the August club mid August and the September club Early to mid September.

IxCHeL Funky Bunny Batt Clubs July, August and September 2019

Here are all the details. 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 2019

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 2019 Club is going to be shipped out end of July, the August club mid August and the September club Early to mid SeptemberJune. 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:

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.

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

McClelland Spinners And Weavers Guild Spin in

Wednesday April 10th, 10 - 3pm

At the McClelland Sculpture Park (follow the signs once you enter the park, you have to drive a bit to get to the right cottage)

Theme for this years SPin In is :

EASTER BONNET - HAT

It's still time to create your very own Easter Hat with or without Bunnies !

Here is a hat with bunnies you can make with a free pattern: 

and here is the link to the pattern:  

https://craftox.com/free-bunny-hat-knitting-pattern-fair-isle-jacquard/

Handknitters Guild Show, Coburg Town Hall

Sunday 26th of May, 10 – 3pm.
Coburg Town hall, 90 Bell Street, Coburg VIC 3058

I'll be there with an amazing amount of new exclusive NEW yarns (and some wool to spin as well) !!!
I  will also have spindles by the amazing Bearded Dragon and lots of fibre tools as well from darning mushrooms to noste pinne, Turkish spindles, Navajo and Mayan spindles, Turkish spindles and needle cases to distaffs.

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

Friday July 19th to Sunday July 21st 

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, Turkish spindles, Navajo and Mayan spindles, Turkish spindles and needle cases to distaffs, and something amazing  for spinners and knitters.

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

 RABBIT ON !

((hugs))

Charly