Friday, June 14, 2013

Follow the white rabbit

Winter has truly started, the fire is raging (which is good because it would be impossible to get any yarns or wool dry at all..) , the rain has been pounding down constantly and its getting cooler. No snow here or higher up on the mountains yet but I bet people are hoping it will be a good winter season. It sure is time to sit close to the fire with a good cup of cocao and marshmellows, knitting or spinning away ! and what better way to stay warm eh?

Doing all this “craft”work I think a lot..as you do when you are spinning or knitting or weaving or doing any kind of craft really. I believe that people who make things by hand and are involved in creating something from scratch have something special going on.

Making things by hand gives you a huge advantage over the people who just get the stuff ready made from the store. The first thing they miss out on is ofcourse that they have no clue whatsoever what kind of work or design goes into the finished garment or product. People who make things by hand themselves have a totally different relationship with products. We not only see the finished product but we can look beyond that and see and understand the workmanship that went into it, what it is made of. Secondly and this may sound strange to say it like this, but I do believe that we, who make things by hand, have a stronger bond with nature and appreciation of mother earth and the animals. It can ofcourse go to extremes when you start looking at random things and find yourself talking out loud, scaring those around you, by saying “Hey! I could spin that !!!!! “..pointing to a very fluffy looking animal or even cotton balls at the supermarket.

Needless to say our hoarding abilities are excellent, because everything can be used for something, even the little scraps of fabric can go into a handspun yarn or making a toy or a scrunchie (or chouchou as they are also called ). I love craft..any kind of craft..which makes it a lot harder to focus on one specific thing…it’s like the dog in the Disney movie “UP” concentrating and then all of a sudden yelling out “Squirrel !!!” Us crafters are a different breed that’s for sure..and some day they might even find that there is something like a Crafty Creative Gene !

The one other thing that crafters have in common is the fact that our breed always says there are not enough hours in the day to do what we want to do. I think that creative craft gene is definitely making the existence of a “being bored”gene in our breed impossible. We can never ever get bored. Get used to it! There is always so much to create and new things to learn !!! Don’t you wish you would have a built in USB port and could download information super fast about anything? : Lace knitting, making socks, weaving . just plug the file in and whoa! In 5 sec flat you know how to do all that intricate technical stuff you always wanted to know. But , I think that is only possible in the movie “The Matrix”and for all of us here in the “real”world, the only way to gain knowledge is to practice and learn over time and time is something all of us crafting creative gene folk just don’t have an abundance of. We multitask to the extreme and if I would have to make a list of the things I did in a day, that alone would send me into chaos land. Fortunately for me I do not make lists like that…it would just take too much time..lol. I do believe I went from multitasking (=doing several things at the same time) to so called “shift tasking”.. What I am trying to do is strategically layer my work tasks so that I am not pairing two resource intensive things at the same time. It means that I work on one project for a period of time and then shift to the next project. I know it is probably not ideal either , but at least it is less over powering and feels more like a train switching tracks or like how we work on the computer or “smart”phone now-a-days. It may sound exhausting but it is actually less so than the multitasking bit. Shifting between competing priorities may be the best I can manage until a rare windfall of time becomes available…I live in hope …

Well, my crafty creative gene has been on a roll lately and it’s ofcourse doubled in creative chaos ever since June 1st arrived. You know it is only roughly a month to go to the Bendigo Show!!!???? It’s this time of year our living room and every other room in the house actually ..looks like a fibery bomb went off: there are tops drying off racks, curtain rails..everywhere, yarns all around and a mountain of fluff the size of Mount Everest being prepped and dyed. I have to admit I was very very happy that the custom orders I promised to have finished before the Bendigo Show have left the building and are now being patted and hugged in their new homes. Now it is working on the gigantic list of stuff to do in the next 4 weeks and then it’s SHOW TIME !!!!

oh how is my flu going you ask? Well say no more, it is still there and making a bundle for the tissue industry. Hachooo!

And the bunnies? All the bunnies are doing great and other haircut sessions have been successfully completed. Especially the smoke grey and the chocolate browns have been proven to be high in demand. Topping, our chocolate bunny is a bit off her food and only wants to eat her greens and grass hay.She loves broccoli, cauliflower and kale leaves but doesn’t want to touch any seeds or grains. She is getting a bit older but it always worries me when their eating habits change: bunnies are so fragile.

One of the custom orders was to make a lavender french provencal art yarn with tailspun mohair curls ..here’s the result. The hardest part was not the spinning, but trying to get the colour just right for the customer. Colour is highly subjective, so somebody might have a totally different idea of what the colour “green”should look like. That is why I always ask for pantone ref nrs to compare what my brain tells me what colour it actually is. The most difficult request I ever had was to make a variegated yarn of “greens” and when I asked What greens? the reply I got was "well, you know..green"....
 This Lavender colour was very very hard as well but thanks to good communication, getting the right colour combos was possible.

It is also Tour de Fleece time again !!! For those of you who do not know about this phenomena: on a website www.ravelry.com there are teams that started up to challenge their spinning and creating while the Tour de France is on. This is the third year our Team Ixchelbunny is in it and it is an absolute hoot! Check it out please and for all of you joining Team Ixchelbunny there is an added bonus of winning a prize every week of the competition AND you get an awesome 10% off on all IxCHeL product for the duration of the Tour de Fleece !!! How good is that!??!!! So, join ravelry if you have not done so already, join my group and the IxCHeLbunny team in the Tour de Fleece and start peddling …eh..treadling away !!! it’s FUN!!!!

I will leave you to snaffle to your hearts content ! Please feel free to contact me at any time if you have any questions or requests : always happy to enable.Please know that I still do custom spinning and dyeing but all the custom orders can only be started after the Bendigo show.

How To Order from this Shop blog and support the IxCHel Fibre Farm:
You can email me on ixchel at rabbit dot com dot au or Ixchelbunny@yahoo.com.au or message me on facebook or ravelry where I am Ixchelbunny. I will email you  or message 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 !
(((HUGS)))
Charly

Magic Bunny Tops

This unique IxCHeL blend of superfine merino, angora, cashmere and rainbow glitz is amazing to behold, especially when the sun hits the colours and you can stand back in amazement to see a true rainbow of matching colours to the top emerging !!!!
 
100grams+    for  AU$24

Sensible Heart


Revolutionary !

Coming Home
Against the grain



Zombie Party

 

Buddhas Tears Tea

Hand rolled little balls of quality green tea holding a precious pearl of jasmine tea inside. Put three to four of the balls in your cup, add hot water (and honey if you like) and watch the balls open up and enjoy! Packaged in a very nice organza bag : excellent as a gift for yourself or your friends.
50grams+    for  AU$18


Buddhas Tears tea in organza bag


Yum !

IxCHeL Club sign ups are Open !

The IxCHeL clubs sign ups are open!! for the fibre, yarn, mini skein and batt clubs for July, August and September 2013! Here is all the nitty gritty:
 

IxCHeL Fibre Club July, August and September 2013

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$22 , 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 #17 and receive your special hand dyed top :)) for three months (July-August-September) is AU$66 + postage (parcel post or airmail). AND there are good value double serves available !!!
 
For Australia : single serve $66+$24 postage (parcel post), double serve $120+$24
For USA + Canada: single serve AU$66+AU$45 (Airmail) double serve AU$120+AU$45
For UK,Europe, rest of the world: Single serve AU$66+AU$58 (airmail) Double serve AU$120+AU$58
For Asia: Single serve AU$66+AU$36 (airmail) Double serve AU$120+AU$36
If you want to receive a fibre surprise every month then join the IXCHEL FIBRE CLUB #17 now. Numbers are strictly limited ! Deadline for signing up for fibre club #17 is July 8th! And the first instalment is going to be shipped out end of July. Payment via direct deposit or credit card or paypal. Just PM or email me your details
 

The IxCHeL Sock Yarn Club July, August and September 2013

Every month for three months (July, August and September 2013) 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
 
For Australia : single serve $78+$24 postage (parcel post) double serve $130 (= one skein FREE!!!) +$24
For USA + Canada: single serve AU$78+AU$45 (Airmail) double serve $130 (= one skein FREE!!!) +AU$45
For UK,Europe, rest of the world: Single serve AU$78+AU$54 (airmail) Double serve $130 (= one skein FREE!!!) +AU$54
For Asia: Single serve AU$78+AU$36 (airmail) Double serve $130 (= one skein FREE!!!) +AU$36
 
Numbers are strictly limited ! Deadline for signing up for the Ixchelbunny SOCK-IT-TO-ME Yarn CLUB! is July 8th.
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 .
 

IxCHeL Mini skein Club July, August and September 2013

Every month I will be offering a monthly exclusive IxCHeL mini skein selection for Club members. In that monthly selection there are 12 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+$24 postage (parcel post) double serve $130 (=even a better deal!) +$24
For USA + Canada: single serve AU$69+AU$45 (Airmail) double serve $130 (even a better deal!) +AU$45
For UK,Europe, rest of the world: Single serve AU$69+AU$54 (airmail) Double serve $130 (even a better deal!)+AU$54
For Asia: Single serve AU$69+AU$36 (airmail) Double serve $130 (even a better deal!)+AU$36
 
Numbers are strictly limited ! Deadline for signing up for the IxCHeL Mini Skein Club is July 8th. The first Club mini skeins will be sent out end of July. Payment via direct deposit or credit card or paypal. Just PM or email me your details
 

IxCHeL Funky Bunny Batt Club July, August and Septmebre 2013

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 camel , angora, cashmere, silk, yak, llama even wolf and bison this time ! 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 July, Augsut and September 2013 !
Price to join the Ixchel Funky bunny for three months is :
For Australia : $96+$24 postage (parcel post)
For USA + Canada: AU$96+AU$45 (Airmail)
For UK,Europe, rest of the world: AU$96+AU$54 (airmail)
For Asia: AU$96+AU$36 (airmail)
If you want to receive a fibre surprise every month then join the IXCHEL FUNKY BUNNY Batt CLUB now. Numbers are strictly limited ! Deadline for signing up for the funky bunny batt club July 8th and the first installment is going to be shipped out end of July 2013 :) Payment via direct deposit or credit card or paypal. Just PM or email me


Dates to Remember
BENDIGO SHEEP AND WOOL SHOW!
Friday 19th of July, Saturday 20th of July and Sunday 21st of July
This is the Ultimate Fibre and fun mix of them all! There will be lots of new things on offer at my IxCHeL stall ofcourse, with prizes to be won and lots of fun to be had!
This is the place to support farmers, fibre producers and independant "Indie" dyers and crafters and have some great fun discovering new things and even win prizes !
In the flower Power Bunny Shed there will be some extra surprises and new things happening as well !!! new fibres, blends, colours, soft fluffy things to spin, weave, felt, sew!, embellish! And there will be our delish Buddhas tears tea again as well ! And badges! and buttons ! and…Pre Felts ready to embellish or make into your special garments ! Its all happening !!!!
There is a woolcraft schedule available at the farm or you can email Dot : Dotv5@optusnet.com.au


Entries for your fiber art closes on June 14th and there are lots of prizes to be won!
Our little IxCHeL fibre farm is sponsoring sections 24 and 25 so get started on your entry to win some very yummy stuff !
Any questions or 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

qrcode
 

No comments: