Friday, September 28, 2012

Garden adventures and other magic

No , Jazz has not turned to stone and grown some wings… it’s our garden protector: Jabberwocky !

After all the trials and tribulations of last week, this week was a leisurely drive in the park. On the Saturday I had the Bunny Spin in and ofcourse wanted to show my veggie garden, there was still a lot that needed to be done , so after the blog update I immediately got to work in the garden: making the garden edging, filling it with our  bunny and chook compost that is just amazing to kick start any garden! And stared planting herbs and fragrant plants like hyssop, bergamot, Mexican orange blossom , gardenia, chocolate mint, mint basil thymes and oreganos. These plants will introduce a lot of extra good insects to the garden which will help deter the things we do not want like cabbage moths etc. I am a true believer in companion planting so that is why I plant basil with my tomatoes and chillies, marigolds with my beans and cabbages, etc etc. Gardening is hard work but it is so rewarding . In the past when I did not have my raised beds, my seedlings were under constant attack from the abundance of snails. Even putting a snail cocktail bar (a tin filled with beer dug into the ground in the garden beds) could not contain their lust after the greens that were just planted. Now, it is amazing how the seedlings are thriving and as of yet I have not discovered one itty bitty snail munching away on the greens. Amazing! I think it has definitely got something to do with the eucca mulch spread around the raised beds, the fact that there are no weeds they can hide under and the raised bed structure. Don’t laugh, but I do tend to police my veggie beds at night when slugs and snails come out to play and look around with my torch to see if there are any breaches in my defence…lol…Maybe the Jabberwocky at the garden entrance is a bit of a deterrent as well, but time will tell..lol

I still have to add one more bed with strawberries and blue berries and then add some more herbs to the herb edging but then that fase is all done and I will have to get ready for the next step: seeding out new plants in my little green house, so there is a good rotation of new plants (that way you never run out) and also do a bit of crop rotation. For example if you ever have cursed the fact that your carrots are misshapen or their foliage is immense , thinking you will find a massive carrot , pulling it up and there is hardly any carrot to speak of, it is because your soil is too rich! Carrots thrive in soil that has just had cabbages and brassicas planted on them that have depleted the soil a bit of nutrients. When you plant your carrots after your cabbage harvest, you will find that your carrot harvest will look a lot better  and ofcourse here we need a LOT of carrots! The reason why I am so keen on getting a good producing veggie and herb garden is not only for our own food, but actually more so for our angora bunnies. The cost involved in buying organic greens for our animals is extremely high and the more we can do ourselves the better it is. Growing your own food is not only better for your finances , but also for your health and the environment ! and ofcourse it is a lot of fun spending your time out doors !

You can see that we have put a bench in the chill out area, excellent on those nice sunny days that hopefully will come very very soon !, watching your veggies grow and spinning or knitting ! It is so relaxing ! and believe me, after last week, I desperately need some relaxing ! (understatement of the year!) .

I somehow don’t think that relaxing will come any time soon, we are busy planning a huge renovation of our kitchen area (so there are no bunny spin ins next month ! beware! If you do rock up you can help us demolish and rebuild…lol) and to top it off: yesterday Pauls car totally broke down so now he has to use my Tardis Car to go to work and I’m stuck at the farm ….oh well, plenty to do here !! and I will just have to do my running around on the weekends….

Here are some photos of the garden, that I so want to make into a magical relaxing area, hence the jabberwocky, the rabbits and I am working on two massive statues : a scarecrow in the shape of the mad hatter and a set of huge bunny ears rising up from the earth. I will keep you posted ..

using recycled poles and attachments, a new netting framework went up to protect the seedlings from birds, cabbage moth and possums and chooks!.....the border still is not completely finished and some more chocolate mint, mint basil and other herbs like horseradish are still waiting to be planted out.

The tomatoes, basil, chillie patch with some komatsuma (Japanese spinach or mustard spinach) and on the other end you can see the broad beans and french beans taking hold ....not all the planting is done yet, so some soil is protected from drying out and at the same time makes it impossible for weeds to germinate

the chill out area......
now its just a matter of waiting for some nice dry weather or I will just have to build a roof to go over the top !

I love the way this border came out!......
Not only does it hold a lot of good fragrant plants and herbs, it also divides the bush from the veggie garden and makes it easier to maintain and improve the soil , that has been washing away and eroding due to the storms that have been pounding away here

renetting system all done......


Before you think I have done nothing else but gardening and landscaping, there have been some wooshes and batts made and a lot of exciting stuff is going to happen in the next couple of weeks so keep your eye on this space !
 

How To Order from this Shop blog

 
until the website www.ixchel.com.au is up and running –which will be sooooon!-:You can email me on ixchel at rabbit dot com dot au or message me on facebook or ravelry where I am Ixchelbunny. I will email you right back with all your order details and payment methods. Any questions? Please don’t hesitate to ask! Always happy to enable.
Payment : direct bank deposit, card or paypal ! easy !
Thank you so much for your help and support !
(((HUGS)))
Charly
 

Funky Bunny Batts

 
Wonderful to spin, an amazing blend of fibres and textures! Your yarns will look amazing using these magical batts! You can spin them fine or bulky, core spin them to your hearts content and ofcourse they are awesome to felt with !!!

Only a limited supply so snaffle quickly  
Rainbow 
angora, merino, Navajo churro, wool nepps, silk, glitz, Angelina, yak, blue faced Leicester.
135grams AU$34

Class act.
An amazing batt to spin, the outer layer is classy silvers and greys and the inside is a beautiful teal blue and purple. So you can strip it down or you can separate the layers to create a gorgeous yarn! angora, merino, Navajo churro, wool nepps, silk, glitz, Angelina, yak, blue faced Leicester.
129 grams AU$32
Pink !
angora, merino, bamboo, kid mohair, wool nepps, silk, glitz, Angelina, yak, blue faced Leicester.
An amazing array of pinks, raspberries and purples
129grams AU$32



baby cake
a wonderfully sensuous batt with angora, merino, bamboo, cashmere, wool nepps, silk, glitz, Angelina, yak, blue faced Leicester.
127grams AU$32



Elf..  SOLD and hopping to a good home :)
my absolute favourite!
Choc full of lush angora, merino, silk, blue faced Leicester , cashmere, glitz and Angelina
   141 grams AU$34

WOOSHY CLOUDS  

Wooshy Clouds are wonderful to spin, an amazing blend of fibres and textures! A bit more textured and less prepped as batts and heaps of fun to spin and felt with!
A blend of angora, merino, bluefaced Leicester, cashmere,tencel, silk, glitz, wool nepps,Navajo churro, alpaca, yak, kid mohair and mink   
 
+/- 100grams AU$28

Only a limited supply so snaffle quickly  
Duck !

Party time
Pitter Patter
Halloween

IxCHeL Club Sign up time again !!!!

The new clubs start in October and sign ups are open now til the end of September 2012! Be quick!

IxCHeL FIBRE CLUB October, November and December 2012

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$20 , and as all of you past members know you get tops that are usually around $24 ! so it is a great deal! 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 #15 and receive your special hand dyed top :)) for three months is AU$60 + postage (parcel post or airmail). AND double and triple serves are available !!!
So in short:
For Australia : single serve $60+$21 postage (parcel post), double serve $120+$24
For USA + Canada: single serve AU$60+AU$35 (Airmail) double serve AU$120+AU$60
For UK,Europe, rest of the world: Single serve AU$60+AU$38 (airmail) Double serve AU$120+AU$58
For Asia: Single serve AU$60+AU$28 (airmail) Double serve AU$120+AU$39
If you want to receive a fibre surprise every month then join the IXCHEL FIBRE CLUB #15 now. Numbers are strictly limited ! Deadline for signing up for fibre club #15 is end of September ! And the first instalment is going to be shipped out end of October :) Payment via direct deposit or credit card. Just PM or email me your details :)

IxCHeL Yarn Club October, November and December 2012

Every month for three months (October, November and December 2012) you will receive: enough hand dyed luscious yummy yarn to make a pair of socks or a lush shawl or scarf ofcourse! (the hand dyed yarn will be exclusive for the Ixchelbunny SOCK-IT-TO-ME Yarn CLUB and will range from a sockweight yarn or a 3ply or a 4 ply); Every month a new sock 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 extra long :)
Here is the nitty gritty:
For Australia : single serve $78+$21 postage (parcel post) double serve $130 (= one skein FREE!!!) +$24
For USA + Canada: single serve AU$78+AU$35 (Airmail) double serve $130 (= one skein FREE!!!) +AU$49
For UK,Europe, rest of the world: Single serve AU$78+AU$38 (airmail) Double serve $130 (= one skein FREE!!!) +AU$57
For Asia: Single serve AU$78+AU$28 (airmail) Double serve $130 (= one skein FREE!!!) +AU$42 Numbers are strictly limited ! Deadline for signing up for the Ixchelbunny SOCK-IT-TO-ME Yarn CLUB! is end of September. Payment via direct deposit or credit card. 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 :)

IxCHeL Funky Bunny Batt Club October, November and December 2012

Here are all the details and 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$32 or more .
The batts will range in weight from 100grams to 150grams with luxury fibres like baby camel , angora, cashmere, silk, yak, llama even Yak! 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 October, November and December 2012 !
Price to join the Ixchel Funky bunny #15 :)) for three months is :
For Australia : $96+$21 postage (parcel post)
For USA + Canada: AU$96+AU$35 (Airmail)
For UK,Europe, rest of the world: AU$96+AU$38 (airmail)
For Asia: AU$96+AU$28 (airmail)
If you want to receive a fibre surprise every month then join the IXCHEL FUNKY BUNNY Batt CLUB#15 now. Numbers are strictly limited ! Deadline for signing up for the funky bunny batt club #15 is end of September and the first instalment is going to be shipped out end of October 2012 :) Payment via direct deposit or credit card. Just PM or email me

IxCHeL Mini skein Club October, November and December 2012

Every month I will be offering a monthly exclusive IxCHeL mini skein selection for Club members. In that monthly selection there are 14 hand dyed miniskeins that are hand dyed and or even hand spun and awesome to add to your mini skein projects.
Here are all the details for the sign ups for the IxCHeL Mini Skein Club:
For Australia : single serve $69+$21 postage (parcel post) double serve $130 (=even a better deal!) +$24
For USA + Canada: single serve AU$69+AU$35 (Airmail) double serve $130 (even a better deal!) +AU$49
For UK,Europe, rest of the world: Single serve AU$69+AU$38 (airmail) Double serve $130 (even a better deal!)+AU$57
For Asia: Single serve AU$69+AU$28 (airmail) Double serve $130 (even a better deal!)+AU$42 Numbers are strictly limited ! Deadline for signing up for the IxCHeL Mini Skein Club is end of September. The first Club mini skeins will be sent out end of October. Payment via direct deposit or credit card. Just PM or email me your details :))


Dates to Remember:

Bunny Spin in at the Ixchel Fibre Farm (11am-4pm)
Every Third Saturday and every fourth Thursday of the month!

EXCEPT October !!!!!!
Next bunny spin in
Saturday November 17th, 11am-4pm and 
Thursday November 22nd,)   11am – 4pm

Bring a plate to share your wheel or spindle, knitting or crochet, yourself and a smile and have a fun day out amongst bunnies and friends ! Please contact me to secure a spot ! Bunny food like cabbage, bok choi or broccoli is always welcome as well ! : the bunnies will cuddle you more for it ;D

Monday , October 15th

Doncaster and Templestowe Spinners and Weavers

“Bunny Spin Day”   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 . Also a demo on spinning funky bunny yarn.
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, batts and woosh’s for sale as well ! Don’t miss out and contact the Doncaster + Templestowe spinners and weavers , who now also have a fab group on Ravelry ! Yeah!

 
Any questions or special requests?
Contact me on Ravelry where I am Ixchelbunny,
message me on facebook
or email me on Ixchelbunny@yahoo.com.au or ixchel@rabbit.com.au
RABBIT ON !
((hugs))
Charly
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