Cute Sheep Overload and other adventures

so fluffyyyy !!!!! ( Valais Blacknose Sheep)

Another super busy week for me: loads of yarn dyeing and I was hoping to offer you some freshly dyed sock yarns but I am a bit behind with the drying and the labelling so today’s update is one I prepared earlier ! I have a very soft spot for rare breeds, as you know. Today the focus is on a cute rare sheep breed with its origins in Switzerland but is slowly but surely taking over the world with its cuteness overload.
There are now herds and breeding programs that have been started in Scotland, New Zealand and the Netherlands. I would love to introduce this breed to Australia, but unless I win the lottery to deal with the import, quarantine etc, that is not going to happen. Instead I have been working to get this cute overload to you in another way in the shape of another one of my rare sheep breed adventures.

Tonight you will be able to get your hands on natural or hand dyed tops , but more on this later in this blog.

Apart from the yarn dyeing to get ready for the Handknitters guild show coming up on May 26th! I am also dyeing the May clubs, which hopefully will be ready to ship next week. I really wish I had an extra “me” at this time of year to cope with the huge workload I put on myself and as per usual I come to recognize I am the worlds worse boss. My brain is always on hyper active overdrive and I always want to do more. In the world ruled by physics and not by “dream it and it can be done” , I am not making it easier on myself. But hey, what else is new ?! Good news is that the new yarn adventure that is going to be launched at the Handknitters Guild is taking shape and is almost ready ! Now to try and knit something to show off the gorgeousness ! Who needs sleep eh? LOL


This new adventure is all about the Swiss cutest sheep : the Valais Blacknose! Here is some information on these cute balls of fluff:

The Valais Blacknose Sheep hail from Switzerland and I have combined their fibre with some lovely super soft fibres. Their fleece is not normally close to skin wear, but you know what I am going to say: blending a coarser fleece with angora and cashmere and doing some of my blending magic: it will be soft enough to wear close to skin!! Of course a high micron sheep’s fleece will not compare to super fine 13 micron merino or pure cashmere or angora, but every fibre has its purpose and every fibre can be blended to change the overall use. Everything has value, everything can be used and loved and cuddled.

The Valais Blacknose sheep originate in the Valais region of Switzerland. They are a dual-purpose breed, raised for meat and wool. The black patches on its nose, eyes, ears, knees, hocks and feet and otherwise light woolly coats make them quite unmistakable. They are a heritage breed, well-suited to living in the extreme climatic conditions of the high mountains. They are good at grazing steep, rocky slopes. Both sexes are horned. The earliest mention of the breed dates back to 1400 A.D., but they were first recognized as a separate breed in 1962.

Here are some photos of the lovelies in their natural habitat:

Alpine Silver Tops

Swiss Valais Blacknose sheep
Eco merino
Silver Angelina
Angora
Cashmere


Tops 100+ grams: $25

Blue Monday

Cherry Bomb

Distant Sky...SOLD...

First Cut is the Deepest

Harley Quinn Makeover

Magneto...SOLD...

Natural

Sexy Weatherman

Show time !

...SOLD...Stranger than Kindness

SOLD...Surf City Sunset

Tattooed in reverse...SOLD...

Threats of Romance

Where the Wild Roses Grow

Pm me if you would like to give some of the very yummy Valais Blacknose blend tops or the tea a good home or if you want to sign up for the IxCHeL Clubs ! 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 Buddhas tears tea

carefully packed and presented in a special organza gift bag

50g/ AU$19

Two organically grown superior green tea leaves and a jasmine bud are plucked from the best quality tea bushes and mixed with delicately smelling jasmine blossoms, then sieved and hand rolled on bamboo trays, into small balls while the leaves are not quite dry. 

The leaf captures the fine jasmine aroma and releases it during brewing, giving a champagne coloured cup. 

 Brewing: 1-3 minutes 75-80degC , 

 4 pearls/cup, 

you can reinfuse 3-4 times so those 4 pearls last a looong time

Carefully handrolled tea

Enjoy the tea over and over again, by adding hot water again and again

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 !!!

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

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,  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