Some Optimism on Friday the 13th

It may be Friday the 13th and 2020 at that ! It’s still a happy Friday !

Happy Friday again to everybody ! It’s still a bit nerve wrecking but I hope the good news outweighs the bad ! Those of you who know me, would have been able to see, that as an ex-pat from the USA, I might be a bit “invested” in the democratic process that has taken place there. 

In a previous life I have studied law (Constitutional law and the philosophy of law, before turning myself into a medical anthropologist and fibre/yarn wrangler..). It is really hard for me to describe how I have felt in the last four years, seeing the truth been hammered into bit by bit, with so called falsehoods and alternative facts; the power struggles and the unethical fascination with dictators by some, the lack of backbone by others and just the sheer amazement reading what was going on. Last but not least, as a medical anthropologist, having had a great deal of first hand looks at what devastations malaria, HIV AIDS and ebola ,can have on a huge amount of people, the way that scientists were not listened to or ignored or blatantly called out as liars, went deep into my core. Too much has been lost. Too much has been damaged. I didn’t want to talk to you in the first paragraph of my blog on a Friday the 13th, but you know me, I am hardly known for keeping silent…. 

I have been told that I am running a business and that my livelihood depends on it , so I should not comment, or say anything or ,worse still, stay quiet about everything. "We would not want to upset the others who do not agree with me ethically or politically now do we?" ......

Well, I have lived long enough and been through a LOT, to realise that keeping quiet about things is not exactly good. It's not good for others but it is also not good for yourself.  We cannot just push these things under the carpet. If we do, bullies, dictators, people with power, think they can get away with just about everything. It may not affect you now, but things change more quickly than you think. Before you know it, when their actions do affect you, it is too late to speak up. It of course helps that I was taught  this attitude  at a very young age. When you have parents and grandparents that have suffered through the Holocaust, all the stories and events are imprinted on your soul I think. 

 Let’s open this second blog paragraph with something positive: that a huge amount of people have participated in voting in the States. An overwhelming majority have spoken out against alternative facts and voted to get somebody in office who believes in Science. Hoorah! 

There’s a long road ahead. A lot of people still believe in harmful alternative facts, conspiracy theories and that somehow the world will be a better place divided than united. Which brings me to the second part of the update I have been enthusiastically working on this week ! I celebrated the Joe and Kamala popular vote win with painting some merino/Tencel/silk tops and DK yarn! I already put a little preview up on my Instagram and facebook page earlier this week ! More info on the “United: Biden/Kamala”-colourway tops and the special organic DK weight yarn later. 

So yeah !, it is a fun and exciting update tonight ! 

 

Also on this update : the Valais Blacknose !!!

Another rare sheep breed. I was lucky enough to blend the last kilos of Valais Blacknose I had, into something absolutely luscious. Now, there is another thing you have to know about me (if you already know I am sorry to repeat myself) but: I am stubborn and I have me own rebellious kind of way to process and blend fibres. I like rare sheep breeds. I like their ancient history, the stories they tell, the importance of survival for the communities who relied on them. In a lot of cases though, to our sensitive and over cultured skin, their qualities of strength (good for long wearing items like socks and jumpers ad coats). So, to adapt to the luxury of next to skin wear it has been a goal to change the perception of strong wools, like the Valais Blacknose sheep fleece, on our sensitive skin, by adding the ultimate luxury softness of Cashmere and angora bunny fibres and silk. I have been made fun of often in the past even trying to attempt this, but when you feel the result of the careful blending and the scientific, mathematical blending , you will be amazed and fall in love. But hey, I am biased…lol I have a very soft spot for rare breeds, as you know. Today the focus is on a cute rare sheep breed with it’s 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, Ireland, 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.

These last two weeks have been extremely busy not only because of the rare sheep breed adventures but also the November club parcels which are extremely special ! The November Clubs will all be shipped on Monday November 16th . To see more about the previous clubs and this one (a teaser !) please go to my Instagram or facebook page. Please follow me on Instagram so you can see what I am up to on a very regular basis. New club sign ups for January/February and March 2021 are open as well and you can see all the details later on in this blog.

Alpine Silk Tops

This new adventure is all about the Swiss cutest sheep : the Valais Blacknose!

Cute and Beautiful: Valais Blacknose Sheep

These 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 Silk Tops

Valais Blacknose
Eco merino
Mulberry Silk
Angora
Cashmere


Tops 100+ grams: $26

Lavender Fields   SOLD

Ticket to Happiness   SOLD

Silver Heather -4 left-

Weedy Seadragon -4 left-

Rainforest Dreaming

SOLD

Autumn Magic -6left-

Purple People Eater-3 left-

Wild Sky (dyed with homegrown Woad)  SOLD

Cosmic   SOLD

Indigo Heartbeat  SOLD

Gothic Velvet -1 left-

Natural   SOLD

United: Biden/Harris 2020 Colourway 

DK Weight / 8 ply yarn IxCHeL Organic Merino +/- 200meters/ 100+ grams: $32

Merino/Tencel/Silk Tops 100+ grams: $25

(source: Bipartisan Policy Center) 

MERINO    TENCEL   SILK   TOPS

DK / 8PLY "Gaia" Organic Merino Yarn

NEW IxCHeL Tweed Yarn  

Hand dyed

Super soft lambs wool 70% and Kid Mohair 30%

Spun singles, fingering or sock weight yarn

+/- 200meters/218yards

50grams      1.76oz

AU$18

Botanical dyes 

(dyed with Eucalypt, Madder root, Walnut, Elderberry, Indigo,Acorn)

Indigo

Unicorn Speckles

Jewels

NEW NEW NEW NEW colours !!! 

 IxCHeL Tweed Yarn 

Super soft lambs wool 70% and Kid Mohair 30%

Spun singles, fingering or sock weight yarn

+/- 200meters/218yards

50grams      1.76oz

AU$16

Nephrite Jade 

 (A beautiful deep sage green colour with fun blue, lime and salmon speckles)

Grevillea + new ! 

 A vibrant raspberry pink tweed with deep purple, lime and soft pink speckles)

To order: email or message me on facebook, Ravelry 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.

To become a club 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”

To order: email or message me on facebook, Ravelry 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.

IxCHeL club sign ups for January, February and March 2021 !!!!! are open ! 

 Here are some photos of the previous clubs.

August 20 Fibre Club

August Batt Club

August Yarn Club

June Club

June Club

Note to all International club members:
All international club parcels are now being shipped with tracking and expedited. 
There is an option if you want all three of your clubs to be shipped together to save on shipping cost:  Just ask me for a postage quote !

IxCHeL Fibre Club January, February, March 2021

The subscription is for a period of three months and you will receive one special hand dyed and special blended top/roving per month

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 #45 and receive your special hand dyed top :)) for three months (January, February, March 2021) is AU$78 + postage (parcel post or airmail). AND there are good value double and triple serves available !!!

For Australia : single serve $78+$30 postage (parcel post), double serve $150(save $6) +$30m postage or triple serves $225 (save $9!) + $30 postage

For New Zealand : single serve $78+$45 postage (parcel post) double serve $150(save $6) +$45 postage

For USA + Canada: single serve AU$78+AU$60 (Airmail) double serve AU$150+AU$60; triple serve $225 (save $9) + AU$60postage

For UK,Europe, rest of the world: Single serve AU$78+AU$78 (airmail) Double serve AU$150+AU$78; triple serve $225 (save $9) + AU$78postage

 For Asia: Single serve AU$78+AU$57 (airmail) Double serve AU$150+AU$57; triple serves $225 (save $9) + AU$57postage 

If you want to receive a fibre surprise every month then join the IXCHEL FIBRE CLUB #46 now. Numbers are strictly limited ! The January Club is going to be shipped out end of January. the February club mid Feb and the March club early March. Payment via direct deposit or credit card or paypal. Just PM or email me your details.

 The IxCHeL Yarn Clubs January, February, March 2021

Every month for three months (January, February, March 2021) 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); 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 $96+$30 postage (parcel post) double serve $177( save $15!!) +$30 postage

For New Zealand : single serve $96+$45 postage (parcel post) double serve $177( save $15!!) +$45 postage

For USA + Canada: single serve AU$96+AU$60 (Airmail) double serve $177 (Save $15!!) +AU$60 

For UK,Europe, rest of the world: Single serve AU$96+AU$78 (airmail) Double serve $177 (Save $15!!) +AU$78

For Asia: Single serve AU$96+AU$57 (airmail) Double serve $177 (= Save $15!!!) +AU$57

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 Payment via direct deposit or credit card or paypal. Just PM or email me your details

IxCHeL Funky Bunny Batt Clubs January, February, March 2021

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 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 January, February, March 2021

Price to join the IxCHeL Funky bunny for three months is :

For Australia : $114+$30 postage (parcel post)

For New Zealand : single serve $114+$45 postage (parcel post)

For USA + Canada: AU$114+AU$60 (Airmail)

For UK,Europe, rest of the world: AU$114+AU$78 (airmail)

For Asia: AU$114+AU$57 (airmail)

If you want to receive a fibre surprise every month then join the IXCHEL FUNKY BUNNY BATT CLUB now. Numbers are strictly limited !

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 Tweed fingering weight yarn

Super soft lambs wool 70% and Kid Mohair 30%

Spun singles, fingering or sock weight yarn

+/- 200meters/218yards

50grams      1.76oz

AU$16

Great Barrier Reef

Leafy Seadragon

Flying Fox

Airlie Beach

Sea Mist

Amethyst

Wattle
(A beautiful sunshine yellow that goes so well with the kookaburra the silver grey)

Kata Tjuta           BACK IN STOCK !!!
(an intense pure red that goes well with the Kookaburra and the Wattle and the Amethyst colourway and soooooo  many 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)

Dusky 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)

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$12
250 g tubs AU$27

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.

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 !!!

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.

Keep your eyes out for any news on the 

ixchelbunny Instagram feed and the IxCHeL facebook page!!

 RABBIT ON !

((hugs))

Charly