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| King Kong in a scary world (oak Gall ink on extra thick handmade paper) Ink and art by me |
2020 is proving to be a highly volatile and ..eh..contagious one.
Corona virus Covid 19 is on the minds of everybody.
You can’t turn on the tv or radio without being bombarded by news about it, information (good or bad) about it all and the internet memes keep coming as well.
There is misinformation and good ones and there is loads of panic or disbelief. Look, I am not going to tell you there is a miracle cure or a vaccine, I will let the disinformation crew of the interwebs take care of that, all I can say is to keep calm, stay compassionate (for Godsake do not hoard a tonne of toilet paper or meds) , be vigilant, wash your hands and be rational about it all.
For us knitters and spinners, the warning to self isolate and stay home is not the worse thing that can happen! We will get more knitting and spinning done without being distracted by going out and doing chores. Always try and see the positive in a dire situation I always say, but then I am a glass half full kinda person.
To keep your minds off the pandemic I thought it would be nice to focus on something new tonight. Something you can plant and grow and then use in your fibery adventures or even making ink for your art works.
The weather has not been not been easy for my dye plants and the seed harvest has definitely been affected! I do not have a lot of seeds but I do have some and I wanted to share them with you so you can start your own natural dye garden yourself too, because there is nothing more satisfying than seeing something grow and then magically give your life colour.
I have Woad seeds, Japanese Indigo seeds and True Indigo seeds on offer this week ! and Also: oak galls !
In the words of painter Turner “ If I could find anything blacker than black, I would use it”, well oak galls is just what the doctor ordered!
So what are Oak galls ? Well, the gall wasp lays her eggs in the new shoots of the oak tree, which reacts to the invasion by creating a hard lump in its bark; this odd little sphere, the oak gall, becomes the protective home of the wasps babies. The interaction of larva and tree intensifies the oak tannins, the key ingredient for an ink that has defined two thousand years of written history! According to obscure medieval recipes , oak galls were crushed into wine and mixed with some sort of tree gum. But it is when ferrous sulphate is added to the recipe that the real magic happens. Whether by alchemy or luck, the formula creates a reaction between iron electrons, oxygen and tannic acids to form a deep black ink, which is able to penetrate and fuse into the paper or vellum.
The result is an in erasable ink called iron gall or registrars ink. It was the ink of record for weddings, funerals and contracts; it is found in one of the oldest surviving bibles, the Magna Carta and Beowolf. It was the favourite ink of DaVinci, Victor Hugo and Bach.
Oak gall ink is an ink with lots of history and importance and it is also pretty simple to make if you can get hold of the ingredients and this is what I am offering you today as well. To make your own oak gall ink!
This week : the Black Bunny tops and also Black bunny silk Batts ! You gotta feel these beauties to believe it ! This is the truest most intense black (See there is a colour theme...) I have been able to achieve and it is amazing to spin and work with !
It's great to use it on its own or use as an accent or in colourwork ! Anyway, I better get on with it and not let you wait any longer ! Here is this weeks update !
Corona virus Covid 19 is on the minds of everybody.
You can’t turn on the tv or radio without being bombarded by news about it, information (good or bad) about it all and the internet memes keep coming as well.
There is misinformation and good ones and there is loads of panic or disbelief. Look, I am not going to tell you there is a miracle cure or a vaccine, I will let the disinformation crew of the interwebs take care of that, all I can say is to keep calm, stay compassionate (for Godsake do not hoard a tonne of toilet paper or meds) , be vigilant, wash your hands and be rational about it all.
For us knitters and spinners, the warning to self isolate and stay home is not the worse thing that can happen! We will get more knitting and spinning done without being distracted by going out and doing chores. Always try and see the positive in a dire situation I always say, but then I am a glass half full kinda person.
To keep your minds off the pandemic I thought it would be nice to focus on something new tonight. Something you can plant and grow and then use in your fibery adventures or even making ink for your art works.
The weather has not been not been easy for my dye plants and the seed harvest has definitely been affected! I do not have a lot of seeds but I do have some and I wanted to share them with you so you can start your own natural dye garden yourself too, because there is nothing more satisfying than seeing something grow and then magically give your life colour.
I have Woad seeds, Japanese Indigo seeds and True Indigo seeds on offer this week ! and Also: oak galls !
In the words of painter Turner “ If I could find anything blacker than black, I would use it”, well oak galls is just what the doctor ordered!
So what are Oak galls ? Well, the gall wasp lays her eggs in the new shoots of the oak tree, which reacts to the invasion by creating a hard lump in its bark; this odd little sphere, the oak gall, becomes the protective home of the wasps babies. The interaction of larva and tree intensifies the oak tannins, the key ingredient for an ink that has defined two thousand years of written history! According to obscure medieval recipes , oak galls were crushed into wine and mixed with some sort of tree gum. But it is when ferrous sulphate is added to the recipe that the real magic happens. Whether by alchemy or luck, the formula creates a reaction between iron electrons, oxygen and tannic acids to form a deep black ink, which is able to penetrate and fuse into the paper or vellum.
The result is an in erasable ink called iron gall or registrars ink. It was the ink of record for weddings, funerals and contracts; it is found in one of the oldest surviving bibles, the Magna Carta and Beowolf. It was the favourite ink of DaVinci, Victor Hugo and Bach.
Oak gall ink is an ink with lots of history and importance and it is also pretty simple to make if you can get hold of the ingredients and this is what I am offering you today as well. To make your own oak gall ink!
This week : the Black Bunny tops and also Black bunny silk Batts ! You gotta feel these beauties to believe it ! This is the truest most intense black (See there is a colour theme...) I have been able to achieve and it is amazing to spin and work with !
It's great to use it on its own or use as an accent or in colourwork ! Anyway, I better get on with it and not let you wait any longer ! Here is this weeks update !
To order: email or message me on facebook or Instagram, quoting the colourway and the quantity you would like, together with your postal address and I will get right back to you with all the payment details.
Black Bunny Tops
Super fine Merino tops, Black silk and Black angora bunny
100 grams $25
Black Bunny Tops 
Black Bunny Tops close up
Woad, Japanese Indigo and True Indigo Dye seed packs
At the moment I have three dye seeds available:
Woad, Japanese Indigo and True Indigo.
Please note that due to quarantine restrictions I have been advised not to ship to Western Australia, Tasmania or overseas.
Woad, Japanese Indigo and True Indigo.
Please note that due to quarantine restrictions I have been advised not to ship to Western Australia, Tasmania or overseas.
Woad seed packs are $7
True Indigo and Japanese Indigo seeds are $8
both come with planting instructions and a recipe to make your own dye bath!
beautiful woad plants getting bigger ! 
True indigo
Oak Gall Ink Pack
I only have 4 packs available at the moment: each pack consists of
Ferrous Sulphate , Oak galls and
recipes to make your own historical ink,
as well as hand made paper to make your Art.
Ferrous Sulphate , Oak galls and
recipes to make your own historical ink,
as well as hand made paper to make your Art.
Oak Gall Ink Pack $25
Oak Galls close up 
Ferrous Sulphate Crystals
IxCHeL Black Bunny and Colourful silk Batts
(Made to Order)
A blend of superfine merino, Black silk, Recycled colourful silk, colourful threads, gold Angelina, Cashmere
140-150grams AU$38
Black bunny batt 
If you prefer to work from tops
I can also pull the black bunny batt into tops for you !
Make sure you mention you mention that when you order !
I can also pull the black bunny batt into tops for you !
Make sure you mention you mention that when you order !
IxCHeL Club Sign ups for the SECOND trimester of 2020 !! are OPEN!!!
Here is an overview of all the "Art Journey" themed clubs shipped out to all the members in 2019 and 2020.
Teasers of the latest clubs are always be posted on my Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, so follow me there as well: I am ixchelbunny
If you would like to join for the next round just PM me.
IxCHeL Clubs 2019
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March Yarn Club
March Fibre Club
March Batt Club
April Fibre Club
April yarn Club
April Batt Club
June Batt, yarn and fibre Club
July Fibre Club
July Yarn Club
July Batt Club
August Fibre Club
August Yarn Club
August Batt Club
September Fibre Club
September Yarn Club
September Batt Club
October Fibre Club
October Yarn Club
October Batt Club
November Fibre Club
November Yarn Club
November Batt Club
December Fibre Club
December Yarn Club
December Batt ClubIxCHeL Clubs 2020
January 2020 Fibre Club
January Yarn Club
January 2020 Batt Club
February 2020 Fibre Club
February Yarn Club
February 2020 Batt ClubIxCHeL Fibre Club April, May and June 2020
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
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 #43 and receive your special hand dyed top :)) for three months (April, May and June 2020) is AU$75 + postage (parcel post or airmail). AND there are good value double and triple serves available !!!
For Australia : single serve $75+$30 postage (parcel post), double serve $144+$30 (save $6) or triple serves $215 (save $9!) + postage
For New Zealand : single serve $90+$39 postage (parcel post) double serve $165( save $15!!) +$39 postage
For New Zealand : single serve $90+$39 postage (parcel post) double serve $165( save $15!!) +$39 postage
For USA + Canada: single serve AU$75+AU$57 (Airmail) double serve AU$144+AU$57; triple serve $215 (save $9) + postage
For UK,Europe, rest of the world: Single serve AU$75+AU$69 (airmail) Double serve AU$144+AU$69; triple serve $215 (save $9) + postage
For Asia: Single serve AU$75+AU$50 (airmail) Double serve AU$144+AU$50; triple serves $215 (save $9) + postage
If you want to receive a fibre surprise every month then join the IXCHEL FIBRE CLUB #43 now. Numbers are strictly limited ! The April 2020 Club is going to be shipped out end of April, the May club mid May and the June club early June. Payment via direct deposit or credit card or paypal. Just PM or email me your details.
The IxCHeL Yarn Clubs April, May and June 2020
Every month for three months (January, February and March 2020) 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 $90+$30 postage (parcel post) double serve $165( save $15!!) +$30 postage
For New Zealand : single serve $90+$39 postage (parcel post) double serve $165( save $15!!) +$39 postage
For USA + Canada: single serve AU$90+AU$57 (Airmail) double serve $165 (Save $15!!) +AU$57
For New Zealand : single serve $90+$39 postage (parcel post) double serve $165( save $15!!) +$39 postage
For USA + Canada: single serve AU$90+AU$57 (Airmail) double serve $165 (Save $15!!) +AU$57
For UK,Europe, rest of the world: Single serve AU$90+AU$69 (airmail) Double serve $165 (Save $15!!) +AU$69
For Asia: Single serve AU$90+AU$50 (airmail) Double serve $165 (= Save $15!!!) +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 April 2020 Club is going to be shipped out end of April, the May club mid May and the June club early June. Payment via direct deposit or credit card or paypal. Just PM or email me your details
IxCHeL Funky Bunny Batt Clubs April, May and June 2020
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 April, May and June 2020
Price to join the IxCHeL Funky bunny for three months is :
For Australia : $114+$30 postage (parcel post)
For New Zealand : single serve $90+$39 postage (parcel post) double serve $165( save $15!!) +$39 postage
For USA + Canada: AU$114+AU$57 (Airmail)
For New Zealand : single serve $90+$39 postage (parcel post) double serve $165( save $15!!) +$39 postage
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 April 2020 Club is going to be shipped out end of April, the May club mid May and the June club early June. Payment via direct deposit or credit card or paypal. Just PM or email me your details.
To become a member just email me on ixchelbunnyart at gmail dot com or message me on facebook or Instagram. More on how to order the clubs and anything from this update later in the blog in the section “how to order”
IxCHeL Aran Tweed Yarn
I have two colourways available at the moment: Both with the most colourful speckles and pops of colour you can think of and both in pure wool, spun with lots of love
50 grams AU$16 , appr 80 meters per skein.
IxCHeL Aran Tweed Coral Sea
IxCHeL Aran weight Tweed Coral Sea with bright pops of colour
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| IxCHeL Aran Tweed Coral Sea |
IxCHeL Aran Tweed Opal
IxCHeL Aran weight Tweed Opal with bright pops of colour
IxCHeL Tweed fingering weight yarn
Super soft lambswool 70% and Kid Mohair 30%
Spun singles, fingering or sock weight yarn
+/- 200meters/218yards
50grams 1.76oz
AU$16
NEW Colours !!!
Leafy Seadragon
Flying Fox
Airlie Beach
Sea Mist
Amethyst
Great Barrier reef
Kata Tjuta
(an intense pure red that goes well with the Kookaburra and the Wattle and the Amethyst colourway and soooooomany others)
Kookaburra
(a beautiful silver grey with ochre accents that complement the dingo colourway)
Dingo
( A beautiful warm honey ochre with pops of royal bluebell, kingfisher and kangaroo paw)
Grevillea
(a gorgeous raspberry base with pops of royal bluebell, flowering gum, grey and daintree)
Fern Forest
( a deep forest green with accents of bright red, dusky purple and daintree) )
Jacarandah
( a fabulous deep purple with accents of royal bluebell, daintree, grevillea and kingfisher )
Wombat
( a fabulous deep walnut brown with accents of dingo and kookaburra)
Kangaroo Paw
( a fabulous warm orange with accents of fern forest, royal bluebell and grevillea and dingo )
Royal Bluebell
( a deep blue with accents of flowering gum, kookaburra and fern forest )
Wallaby
( a warm light brown with accents of soft blue and kookaburra)
Daintree ( a soft green with accents of fern forest and dingo)
Kingfisher
( a fabulous Turquoise blue with accents of fern forest, kangaroo paw, Jacaranda and Grevillea)
Want to dye your own with easy to use acid dyes? I have been selling these Landscape dyes at my workshops and shows for a long time : They are extremely easy to use and come in great shades.
Wattle
(A beautiful sunshine yellow that goes so well with the kookaburra the silver grey)
(A beautiful sunshine yellow that goes so well with the kookaburra the silver grey)
Kata Tjuta (an intense pure red that goes well with the Kookaburra and the Wattle and the Amethyst colourway and soooooomany others)
Kookaburra(a beautiful silver grey with ochre accents that complement the dingo colourway)
Dingo( A beautiful warm honey ochre with pops of royal bluebell, kingfisher and kangaroo paw)
Grevillea(a gorgeous raspberry base with pops of royal bluebell, flowering gum, grey and daintree)
Flowering Gum
( a gorgeous medieval warm red with bright red, kookaburra and fern forest accents)
( a gorgeous medieval warm red with bright red, kookaburra and fern forest accents)
Fern Forest ( a deep forest green with accents of bright red, dusky purple and daintree) )
Jacarandah ( a fabulous deep purple with accents of royal bluebell, daintree, grevillea and kingfisher )
Wombat( a fabulous deep walnut brown with accents of dingo and kookaburra)
Kangaroo Paw ( a fabulous warm orange with accents of fern forest, royal bluebell and grevillea and dingo )
isn’t it gorgeous how the Kangaroo paw knits up?! )
Royal Bluebell ( a deep blue with accents of flowering gum, kookaburra and fern forest )
Wallaby( a warm light brown with accents of soft blue and kookaburra)
Daintree ( a soft green with accents of fern forest and dingo)Kingfisher ( a fabulous Turquoise blue with accents of fern forest, kangaroo paw, Jacaranda and Grevillea)
Landscape dyes
100g tubs AU$11
250 g tubs AU$26
250 g tubs AU$26
Just contact me with the name of the colour you are after and I will get right back to you.
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 !!!
Have a fun weekend !!!
How To Order:
1. You can email me on ixchelbunnyart at gmail dot com 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.
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
keep your eyes out for any news on the
ixchelbunny Instagram feed and the IxCHeL facebook page!!
RABBIT ON !
((hugs))
Charly
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