Being a busy bee bunny

How cute is this little fluffy sheep !

Happy Friday again to everybody ! 

It has been a full on week filled with loads of dyeing yarns for the upcoming show at the Coburg Town hall in May, skeining, drying and custom orders as well as the regular weekly updates. Currently my count stands at about 15 kilo of DK yarn (my fab Gaia merino yarn I absolutely love to work with) , 12 kilos of fingering weight yarn and 14 kilos of tweed. All either happily skeined waiting to be labelled , but the majority still drying. 

Safe to say, the whole house is looking like a Yarn Narnia at the moment in various forms of yarn explosions together with fluff being carded, batted up and blended. It really is impossible to thoroughly describe what my day to day looks like, but if I am not dyeing, washing, blending or skeining, I fill the rest with getting as much angora bunny spun up by hand. At this moment I have about a kilo of handspun pure angora bunny, about the same spun up in a blend of angora cashmere and silk, and some pretty awesome rare fluff like bison, guanaco and vampire deer. Also working on some art yarns like core spun and and slubb6 thick n thin yarns. Safe to say : I’m a busy bee..eh bunny 😉

Seven days a week, almost 20 hours a day…that will give you some idea on how full on this fibre existence is and why I have decided to take it a bit easier after the handknitters guild show in May and not going to Bendigo. 

At this pace I am not only burning the candle at both ends but also in the middle it feels like. I also have some pretty daunting and , dare I say it, nerve wrecking medical appointments ahead of me. Not to go too much into gory details but I am pretty bloody nervous about it and my first appointment is today ! I have started writing this blog early because, living in the middle of nowhere , it also means we have to leave here 2.5 hours before the appointment to get there in time…oh joy. Sigh…anyway, enough about me and my “I’m falling apart at the seams” , let’s get to the fun bit : FIBRE ! yeah !

Tonight’s blog update inspiration is a fabulous rare sheep breed called Castlemilk moorit AND some absolutely smoochy Camelbunny Silk Cashmere tops ! A double whammy of fibery goodness !!!

The Camelbunny silk cashmere tops are throroughly blebnded to guarantee a very easy and may I say it, a "buttery" spin. The tops are not only easy to spin but they also felt gorgeously if you want to use them for your wet felting and ofcourse, the yarn you spin from the tops feel and look amazing. 

Just have a look at this gorgeous lace shawlette:

 

Fallen Leaf shawlette by Kyoto Nakayoshi in Camelbunny Silk Cashmere, 

handspun and handknitted by Siobhan Colley

 I have finally gotten my hand on some amazing Castlemilk Moorit again ! I only have a limited supply again sorry to say, because these creatures are really not that common ! If you want some, please do not hesitate to message me on instagram or facebook or email me. 

Also the sign ups for the clubs starting up again in April are still open til March 31st and filling up fast ! So, if you want to receive a surprise art journey fibre, batt or yarn (or all three !) let me know! All the details are listed a little bit later on this blog.

Have a fun weekend everybody! Stay safe! Be kind and have lots of awesome crafting time !

Castlemilk Moorit Sheep
(photo:RBST Caledonian Support Group)

Castlemilk Moorit Sheep

Castlemilk Moorit sheep are the cutest most feisty little things. The Castlemilk Moorit sheep breed take their name from the Castlemilk estate in Dumfriesshire, where they originated in the early 1900s. They were originally bred to provide meat, wool to make clothing for the estate workers, and also to prance around the parklands of the estate. They are graceful, elegant sheep with fine, kemp-free wool, which is mid honey brown (moorit is a Scottish word for brown) at the base and bleached to a fawn colour at the tips.

Castlemilk Moorit sheep have some Manx Loughton sheep and mouflon sheep breed ancestry and have retained the interesting mouflon markings of white underbelly, lower jaw, knee, eye markings (‘spectacles’) and a white rump patch. They are also feisty and pretty fast! 

Once clipped they look totally different – almost like deer – as they revert to the dark brown colour for a few weeks, until the growing fleece bleaches back to fawn at the tips. At one point in the early 1970s Castlemilk Moorits were reduced to only around 12 individuals and could easily have simply ‘disappeared’. However, those few remaining were rescued in two groups, including six ewes and two rams which were taken to Cotswold Farm Park. All of today’s Castlemilks, which include around 700 registered females, are descended from these two small groups.
In the past couple of years the breed has been downlisted from the ‘Endangered’ to the ‘Vulnerable” category on the RBST watchlist – a big success.

Cute Castlemilk Moorit lambs

lambs with their mum

As with everything the way that you scour and process the fibre is very important. The fleece of the castlemilk moorit ranges from 28 to 32 microns and the staple length is about 6 cms. The outer edges of the staple are often bleached by the sun and the locks often have a pointy tip. I find it very easy to spin. It reminds me of Manx Loughtan but definitely finer and softer. It is not that easy to get hold of this quality fibre so I only have a limited amount, but it is oh so worth it !

Warning : There is only a very limited quantity available.

Castlemilk Moorit Sheep Tops   

100+gram tops, Natural AU$23

Camelbunny Silk Cashmere Tops

+/- 50 grams AU$24

Baby Camel, Mulberry Silk, Cashmere, Angora Bunny

Natural

Pebbles

Pumpkin Spice

Wilderness People

Indigo Mood

Swan Lake

Gothic Velvet

Please don't hesitate to contact me at any time if you have any questions or want to order okay? Always happy to enable. 

 Have fun creating !

IxCHeL club sign ups for 

April, May, June 2022

 are now open !

Here are some photos of the previous clubs: 

January 2022 Batt Club

January 2022 Fibre club

January 2022 Yarn Club

June 2021Club

June 2021Club

November 21 Yarn 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 April, May and June 2022

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 #51 and receive your special hand dyed top :)) for three months (April, May and June 2022 ) 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 #51 now. Numbers are strictly limited ! Payment via direct deposit or credit card or paypal. Just PM or email me your details.

 The IxCHeL Yarn Clubs April, May and June 2022

Every month for three months (April, May and June 2022 ) 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 sock weight 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 April, May and June 2022

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 April, May and June 2022

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 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)

SOLD

Indigo   1 available

Jewels  2 available

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$18

Nephrite Jade 

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

NEW BATCH AVAILABLE  SOON ! 

Grevillea + new ! 

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

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$18

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)

(Washing a new batch now and they are drying !!! so available again soon ! )

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? Any questions about custom orders: spinning or dyeing orders: Always happy to enable. 

How to Order: email or message me on facebook, Ravelry or Instagram, quoting how many tops, yarns or clubs you would like, together with your postal and email address and I will get right back to you with all your order and payment details. 

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

Shipping :  I am still working and mailing the parcels out fast as humanly possible :-) All orders received and paid for of the Friday updates, will be shipped first thing monday morning. We do daily post office runs (if necessary). The recent AusPost changes to parcel pickups from businesses therefore does not apply to us because WE deliver your parcel directly to our nearest AusPost hub.

Seeing that there are currently lots of Covid cases, especially in NSW ain VIC, there can be some AusPost sorting centres that do not have enough staff so there will be delays in getting the parcel to you. As soon as your parcel is shipped you will receive an automatic email from AusPost with the tracking number so you can see where your parcel is and the approximate ETA. 

Overseas deliveries are highly impacted by the very low amount of planes out of Australia t the moment and the very high pressure on AuPost. Please be patient during these pandemic times. We do our utmost to keep everything running smoothly on our end and if you have any questions: please do not hesitate to ask. Always happy to help! 

Stay safe! 

Keep crafting !

Be Happy !

Stay Awesome !

Keep your eyes out for any news on the 

ixchelbunny Instagram feed and the IxCHeL facebook page!!

Show the Love and Follow me on Instagram 

 RABBIT ON !

((hugs))

Charly