Friday, April 29, 2011

GaGa !! passions & obsessions



GaGa Bunny !! fountain of youth close up



It’s a long lost friend and he’s come back. I have been drawn to watch Glenn Gould and David Helfgott . the common denominator ofcourse is piano, but overall it's passion or even obsession.
I think we are all amazed at watching a true , genius at work, so passionate and yes, let’s face it : strange………
When you do choose a “career” it is weird though that your heart is asked to be in it, but at the same time society asks you to be dispassionate, objective. How can passion be objective?
Let’s just face the fact:we all want to be passionate about something or even more things. Why not? It can be done. It may be hard to live with, but that is the paradigm isn’t it??
Throughout all my life I have felt that time has run out, so much to be passionate about. I have sung, played music, painted, sketched, created, dyed,spun, woven, knitted, designed, written. All with such passion that I forget time, forget to eat, drink , even sleep. Some people say that is why I have not been allowed to create life-the ultimate creation, but I say that is just being nice. Can you tell the Mothers’Day phenomena.. is getting to me? lol
I am still passionate. Passionate about creating music, colours, art and I still get choked up. Passion does that to you. No matter what life is. No matter what life gives … or takes, for that matter.



Isn’t it strange that when you are a woman you are expected to create in only ONE way? I assure you, it is a misconception, just like passion can be objective….NOT! If there is anything that 2011 show you: let it be this: be you ! be unique ! don’t be afraid to be passionate about anything! Or strange for that matter. Shine !!



But anyway, from Glenn Gould to Shine and then ofcourse that path took me straight to one of my favourite actors: Geoffrey Rush, who ofcourse will be playing Captain Barbossa again in Pirates 4 and then I got sidetracked to Pirates…Did you know that there is an International Talk like a Pirate Day? Aye Matey! It is apparently on the 19th of September. Still a way to go, but that will give us enough time for practicing…but there be pirates 4 coming soon on the 19th of May ! Yoho! Yoho! And a bottle of rum… :D



Who wouldnt want to knit some Jolly Roger Socks eh? or maybe even a Capn Jack ? :D Check back next week for some seriosuly FUN pirate sock pattern :-)





Here’s this weeks update. Lots of bunnies and sheep got blinged up for you. Email me , message me on Rav or on FB to put your order in for some!! GaGa Bunny!! Have fun!!!! Carpe Diem! and Shine!

Spindling GaGa






!! GaGA !! Bunny Tops
70% Blue faced Leicester, 20% Glitz, 10% Angora Bunny
100g AU$24






GaGa !! Bunny label



Exclusive IxCHeL blend that will make you go gaga!!!!! Amazing to spin, with just that extra dash of blingy glitz and angora bunny halo. A fabulous spin! Spin it fine, or corespun! Amazing (can you tell I am excited about this? Lol)





Shine ! -2left-



entrelac jumper in the GaGa Bunny Shine colourway



Pieces of Eight -2left-



YaaaaRRRn! -2 left-



Yoho! Yoho! -2left-


Blackbeard -2left-





Scallywag -sold-






Scallywag close up






Cap’n Jack -1left-




On stranger Tides -2left-





Jolly Roger -2left-





Zombies and Mermaids -sold-





Barbossa -sold-




Barbossa close up






Treasure Island -4left-






Fountain o’Youth -2left-






Natural GaGa !! -only 10 left, new stock only available in couple of months!



Email me on Ixchelbunny@yahoo.com.au if you want to adopt any of these GaGa !! Bunny babies or message me on Ravelry or facebook where I am Ixchelbunny !

More photos of Gaga!! Bunny and more here:
www.flickr.com/photos/ixchelbunny












Dates to Remember:

Bunny Spin in at the Ixchel Fibre Farm (11am-5pm)


Saturday, May 21st
Thursday May 26th

Bring your wheel, spindle, knitting, crocheting and a plate to share with everybody. There is cake and coffee and tea and a lovely bunny to cuddle and lots of fibres and yarn!) very important ! : Please, please let me now beforehand by email or message that you would like to come and visit so I can prepare the infrastructure and cake ofcourse !
Contact me on Ravelry where I am Ixchelbunny, message me on facebook there or email me on Ixchelbunny@yahoo.com.au


Monday 23rd of May
Gembrook Craft group Spin in !!! It’s a bi-annual event so come and visit this year!
Gembrook Community Hall, 9-3pm


Saturday 28th of May
Brunswick Town Hall
Handknitters Guild of Victoria Wool show
An absolute MUST for every fibre fan !


Saturday 11th of June
International Yarn Bomb Day ! Want to get involved in a public Yarn Bombing avction in the Yarra Valley? Come to a bunny spin in to discuss a plan of action , call me or email me or message me on RAV or FB ;-) Start preparing your yarn bomb products people ! and remember : it can be anything: knitting, crochet, weaving, YARN! Tags will be supplied by yours truly ! Join the Guerrilla Yarn Bunny Bombers (GYBBies for short) and if you cannot make it to Yarra Junction, Lilydale or Healesville (we will end at the WHITE RABBIT brewery ) on that day, please make the international yarn bomb day a special one by yarn bombing where you live !
Help make International Yarn Bombing Day happen! The Knitting Ninja is promoting June 11th as a day where all things should be knit. Join the facebook group and find out more: http://www.facebook.com/pages/International-Yarn-Bombing-Day-June-11th-2011/104441312968198 There also a Ravelry page (you must also be signed in to join this): http://www.ravelry.com/groups/international-yarn-bombing-day.



The BENDI PARTY is ON!
15-16-17th of July !
Bendigo Sheep and Wool Show (with a big dash of Rabbit from yours truly)
see website ; www.sheepshow.com
Woolcraft entries close june 10th. Contact Dot Vallence at the Woolcraft committee for more info or come to one of the Bunny Spin ins to g et your copy oif the woolcraft schedule book.

Bendigo Sheep & Wool Show is NOT to miss in this year of the rabbit !
Lots of special goodies on offer, prizes to be won and a super competition of “Bunny dress up”again this year! Make a a statement ! This year there’s a “Rock-a-Billy Bunny-dress up competition”and win a super duper Bunny Spin or Yarn bunny Prize! C’mon be a rockin”Fibre Bunny! You know you want to J
All the preperations are already on their way to make this years Bendi show an amazingly FUN FIBRE EVENT !!!!!

Bunny invasion in Queensland planned again ! @ Mapleton Camp of the Queensland Spinners & Weavers ! More info soon !


RABBIT ON !
((hugs))
Charly

Friday, April 22, 2011

Happy Naked Easter Bunnies...









Happy Easter everybody !










Last Monday I had a fabulous time at the Templestowe and Doncaster Spinners and Weavers , where we were celebrating the Year of the Rabbit.



I rolled up with a car load full of fluffy fibres and yarns and Max, our smoke grey angora bunny , who would do a performance. Well, I did have to prepare her a bit , mentally, because it involved her getting naked in front of a crowd. Luckily she is an "old pro" at this and she was so calm and lovely, that people were even asking me if I had sedated her… but no, Max is just a wonderful bunny who does not care in the least who and how many people are watching her getting a haircut…lol







I cannot believe it is already Easter and almost May ! Time flies when you are having fun they say.



The Handknitters Mini wool show is on again at the Brunswick town hall at the end of may (28th to be exact) , so I am spinning hours and hours each day to try and get as much yummy stuff ready for all of you who are looking for some angora bunny yarn, mink, baby camel and other dream yarns to knit with.



That’s why I have not had time last week to get at the dyepots that much, apart from getting the fibre club, sock it to me yarn club and batt clubs ready to go.






Next week however, I promise you , it will be a Friday update you will not forget! It’s the launch of a new IxCHeL bunny blend and it is out of this world!!!!!!



No exaggeration there I’m afraid, I went totally !!GAGA!! when I saw it arriving and hence the name “GaGa Bunny”.




I won't tell you what the blend exactly is....YET !,as a true evil bunny temptress I will keep you in suspence til the ixchelbunny blog update next Friday the 29th of April, but believe me , it will be well worth the wait ! but here is a sneak peek !










!! GaGa !! Bunny Blend waiting for the dye pot





Here’s this weeks update . Lots of bunnies got naked especially for you. Email me , message me on Rav or on FB if you want to spin or felt some of these amazing English angora bunny fibres.

Happy Easter!










English Angora Bunny Fibre
Straight from the bunny ! This is fibre from our English Angora Rabbits in all the colours we have in stock at the moment. More coloured bunnies are waiting to be clipped, so there is more to come later in the year:-)

super fine fibre, 9 - 10micron!

the greys and blacks are silky smooth, while the gold, chocolate and whites are super fluffy! you have to feel it to believe it!

25grams AU$8











Jasmin Red eyed white English angora bunny











Elvis , smoke grey English angora bunny rabbit fibre










Babe, Blue eyed white English angora bunny rabbit fibre











Ookie, chocolate english angora bunny rabbit fibre










Mickey, grey english angora bunny rabbit fibre










Gorby, silver english angora bunny rabbit fibre










Gandalf, silver fox english angora bunny rabbit fibre










Wombat, black english angora bunny rabbit fibre











Dash, black english angora bunny rabbit fibre










Pippi, smoke grey english angora bunny rabbit fibre










Max, smoke grey english angora bunny rabbit fibre










Popcorn, a true gold english angora bunny rabbit fibre










Kabuki, chocolate english angora bunny rabbit fibre










Topping, chocolate english angora bunny rabbit fibre










Skye, smoke grey english angora bunny rabbit fibre





All the fibres come in 25gram packs with a photo and name of the bunny who lovingly donated his or her fibre.



There are more than 4 packs per bunny available.



Let me know how many of a particular bunny you would like and I can tell you exactly how much fibre I still have.






You can also reserve your favourite bunnies’fibre for future clippings ! Email me if you want to go on the bunny rabbit fibre adoption list.

Well, me and my bunnies have heaps and heaps of work to do to get all those easter eggs out and about …lol…so, to all of you a very happy holiday and enjoy the chocolate and bunny fibres !


Email me on Ixchelbunny@yahoo.com.au if you want to adopt any of these babies or message me on Ravelry or facebook where I am Ixchelbunny !


Dates to Remember:

Bunny Spin in at the Ixchel Fibre Farm (11am-5pm)


Saturday, May 21st
Thursday May 26th

Bring your wheel, spindle, knitting, crocheting and a plate to share with everybody. There is cake and coffee and tea and a lovely bunny to cuddle and lots of fibres and yarn!) very important ! : Please, please let me now beforehand by email or message that you would like to come and visit so I can prepare the infrastructure and cake ofcourse !
Contact me on Ravelry where I am Ixchelbunny, message me on facebook there or email me on Ixchelbunny@yahoo.com.au

Thanks heaps for your support !


Monday 23rd of May
Gembrook Craft group Spin in !!! It’s a bi-annual event so come and visit this year!
Gembrook Community Hall, 9-3pm


Saturday 28th of May
Brunswick Town Hall
Handknitters Guild of Victoria Wool show
An absolute MUST for every fibre fan !


Saturday 11th of June
International Yarn Bomb Day ! Want to get involved in a public Yarn Bombing avction in the Yarra Valley? Come to a bunny spin in to discuss a plan of action , call me or email me or message me on RAV or FB ;-) Start preparing your yarn bomb products people ! and remember : it can be anything: knitting, crochet, weaving, YARN! Tags will be supplied by yours truly ! Join the Guerrilla Yarn Bunny Bombers (GYBBies for short) and if you cannot make it to Yarra Junction, Lilydale or Healesville (we will end at the WHITE RABBIT brewery ) on that day, please make the international yarn bomb day a special one by yarn bombing where you live !
Help make International Yarn Bombing Day happen! The Knitting Ninja is promoting June 11th as a day where all things should be knit. Join the facebook group and find out more: http://www.facebook.com/pages/International-Yarn-Bombing-Day-June-11th-2011/104441312968198 There also a Ravelry page (you must also be signed in to join this): http://www.ravelry.com/groups/international-yarn-bombing-day.



The BENDI PARTY is ON!
15-16-17th of July !

Bendigo Sheep and Wool Show (with a big dash of Rabbit from yours truly)
see website ; www.sheepshow.com
Woolcraft entries close june 10th. Contact Dot Vallence at the Woolcraft committee for more info or come to one of the Bunny Spin ins to g et your copy oif the woolcraft schedule book.

Bendigo Sheep & Wool Show is NOT to miss in this year of the rabbit !
Lots of special goodies on offer, prizes to be won and a super competition of “Bunny dress up”again this year! Make a a statement ! This year there’s a “Rock-a-Billy Bunny-dress up competition”and win a super duper Bunny Spin or Yarn bunny Prize! C’mon be a rockin”Fibre Bunny! You know you want to J
All the preperations are already on their way to make this years Bendi show an amazingly FUN FIBRE EVENT !!!!!


RABBIT ON !
((hugs))
Charly

Friday, April 15, 2011

Waltzing Bunny



So much rain fell that the little yarra river exploded over its banks and almost teamed up with the dam !


Apart from all the downpour and the sheer impossible task to try and get any fibre dry quickly, I came to the realisation of something bizarre: I Like waltzes ! I know it sounds ancient and outdated to say a thing like that.….waltzes not being exactly in the top20 top of the pops list at the moment...

on the other hand: I have come to recognise that life itself is 3/4: filled with drama, flowing strongly and faster ever faster, making you dizzy with choices and things to do! And so many dreams and so many hopes and so much pain and so much love.


You will exactly know what I mean when listening to Camille Sain Sans Danse Macabre ( you know the theme of the Jonathan Creek series..) , the amazingly intense waltz in Gladiator by Hans Zimmer or even, how could I possibly forget, the opening theme of Pirates of the Caribbean.


Magic, strong enough to take you everywhere and anywhere; a maelstrom, spinning its sounds around you like it was yarn. It’s great to spin along with the music , it makes a very nice yarn ! By the way , waltzes, just like Reggae is amazingly nice to spin to. I always use that when spinning my super thick and thin yarns, called "nip'n'tuck"yarns :-)

In weaving , using music brings another magical thing to light: you can actually transpose the music into weaving graphs ! You can have any song and weave it too !

Try it : it is really fun and will make a unique piece! Just determine that a c note is shed 1 for example and d notes are shed 2 etc. it’s like creating your own weaving code by music !



My Hellbunny dress with petticoat :) ready to do some rock n roll spinning !! I think the hellbunny dress will def go well with my eyeball yarns too... lol

On my group in Ravelry I have a monthly competition going where everybody is free to enter their finished yarns or shawl or socks, anything made with IxCHeL fibres or yarns. The winner receives a very nice present. One of the winners was Shevi who spun up the baby camel bunny and sillk tops I sent her as a prize and she made this amazing lace shawl with it!

"For a good friend" she mentioned , as she put it on the group thread “show your IxCheL projects” it was stunning work and I said her friend would be over the moon !!!!


and what do you know? Yesterday afternoon I received this parcel with a happy easter bunny card and inside this gorgeous handspun and handknitted magical lace shawl! Wow! Amazing! I will cherish it forever Shevi! I am over the moon indeed !! Thank you so so much!



Easter bunny parcel! !


close up of the gorgeous shawl handspun from camel bunny silk by Shevi (evil-mcweevil) ! Pattern is the fallen leaf : http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/fallen-leaf-frilled-triangular-scarflette . More of Shevis' amazing work on her blog: http://evilmcweevil.blogspot.com/



This week I have prepared some very nice fluffy and soft tops for you: Angorino , organic and 18micron! And some Wensleydale tops as well !


Here’s this weeks update . Email me , message me on Rav or on FB. Enjoy Life, enjoy spinning and most of all : Have a ball !



Hand dyed Angorino (95% organic 18micron merino+5% angora rabbit)

100+g AU$20

Super soft and a luxury to spin! A unique IxCHeL blend ! A fabulous sensuous amazingly soft top that not only gives you a super softness but also is an easy spin!





origin


Avalon


Deus ex machina


On the grid!


Crusade


Prototype


Stronghold


Ripple effect


Hand dyed Wensleydale Tops

100+grams AU$20

shiny, soft and lustrous. Amazing crimp and so easy to spin !

In this months Spin Off Magazine features a wensleydale shawl and more information on this gorgeous sheep breed !





prototype too


River dance


Bush essence


Vogue (only 1 left)


Email me on Ixchelbunny@yahoo.com.au if you want to adopt any of these babies or message me on Ravelry or facebook where I am Ixchelbunny !


Very excited about the special spin in bunny day at the Handspinners and knitters guild on Monday the 18th !!!

If you have a chance to come and visit , please do! It is going to be FUN!!!! (for all the details see below)



Dates to Remember:


Bunny Spin in at the Ixchel Fibre Farm:

Saturday MAY 21,

Thursday MAY 26

Bring your wheel, spindle, knitting, crocheting and a plate to share with everybody. There is cake and coffee and tea and a lovely bunny to cuddle and lots of fibres and yarn!) very important ! : Please, please let me now beforehand by email or message that you would like to come and visit so I can prepare the infrastructure and cake ofcourse ! Contact me on Ravelry where I am Ixchelbunny, message me on facebook there or email me on Ixchelbunny@yahoo.com.au


Monday , April 18th

Doncaster and Templestowe Spinners & Weavers Spin in Day

“Celebrate the year of the Rabbit”

10am-2pm The Upper Hall at Templestowe Uniting Church, Woods street, Templestowe. I will be doing a bunny talk and a very nice way to get information on angora bunnies, their care and their fibre. You will also be able to get close and personal with an English angora rabbit that will get a haircut AND last but not least: there willl be heaps of fibres and yarns and Batts for sale as well ! Don’t miss out


Monday 23rd of May

Gembrook Craft group Spin in !!!

It’s a bi-annual event so come and visit this year! Gembrook Community Hall, 9-3pm Saturday


28th of May

Brunswick Town Hall Handknitters Guild of Victoria Wool show

An absolute MUST for every Yarn and fibre fan ! I am working my fingers to the bone spinning some new awesome yarns up that will be on show there ! so don't miss it and visit me at the Handknitters Guild Show!


Saturday 11th of June

International Yarn Bomb Day !

Want to get involved in a public Yarn Bombing avction in the Yarra Valley? Come to a bunny spin in to discuss a plan of action , call me or email me or message me on RAV or FB ;-) Start preparing your yarn bomb products people ! and remember : it can be anything: knitting, crochet, weaving, YARN! Tags will be supplied by yours truly ! Join the Guerrilla Yarn Bunny Bombers (GYBBies for short) and if you cannot make it to Yarra Junction, Lilydale or Healesville (we will end at the WHITE RABBIT brewery ) on that day, please make the international yarn bomb day a special one by yarn bombing where you live ! Help make International Yarn Bombing Day happen! The Knitting Ninja is promoting June 11th as a day where all things should be knit. Join the facebook group and find out more: http://www.facebook.com/pages/International-Yarn-Bombing-Day-June-11th-2011/104441312968198


There also a Ravelry page (you must also be signed in to join this): http://www.ravelry.com/groups/international-yarn-bombing-day.


The BENDI PARTY is ON! 15-16-17th of July !

Bendigo Sheep and Wool Show (with a big dash of Rabbit from yours truly) see website ; www.sheepshow.com

Woolcraft entries close june 10th. Contact Dot Vallence at the Woolcraft committee for more info or come to one of the Bunny Spin ins to g et your copy oif the woolcraft schedule book. Bendigo Sheep & Wool Show is NOT to miss in this year of the rabbit ! Lots of special goodies on offer, prizes to be won and a super competition of “Bunny dress up”again this year! Make a a statement ! This year there’s a “Rock-a-Billy Bunny-dress up competition”and win a super duper Bunny Spin or Yarn bunny Prize! C’mon be a rockin”Fibre Bunny! You know you want to J All the preperations are already on their way to make this years Bendi show an amazingly FUN FIBRE EVENT !!!!!


RABBIT ON !

((hugs))

Charly