Where Bloggers Create 3rd Party! Welcome to Bunnyville!

Helloooooooooo everybun! Welcome to the 3rd annual Where Bloggers Create party hosted by the lovely Karen Valentine of My Desert Cottage! Many warm hugs and thanks to Karen for all the hard work she puts into this fun event! Be sure to visit her blog for the list of this years participants. I do love snooping looking in other's creative spaces! hee,hee,hee.

Step right up my friends. For those of you who are new to my blog, my name is Michelle May, but everybun calls me Shell. (Shell fits better with a woman that wears a crazy bunny hat) I'm soooooooooo delighted you are here for a visit! Take a hop up these stairs to my studio. I call it "Bunnyville" as I have been obsessed with bunnies since I was 6 years old. Plus, my real rescue bunnies live here!

Sweet little Tille is here to wish all of our guests a warm welcome. I just love her darling, happy face. I always pat her head on my way up.

So what goes on in Bunnyville? Well lots of fun stuff! I'm a textile folk artist and have been quilting since 1989. I was hooked at the first stitch not to mention all the glorious fabrics! Hello! I taught quilting for 10 years and have been designing patterns for my web business, The Raspberry Rabbits since 2006. 

Recently I developed Folk Art Fusion. This technique involves fabric and wool combined with the fun  of folk art! I will be teaching workshops on this method at art festivals and quilting guilds. Maybe I will meet you some day!

This piece, on my worktable, is called "The Royal Wedding." I still have some hand stitching to do before it is finished, but I love how it's turning out.

In addition to Folk Art Fusion, I also design stitchery and quilting patterns. This is Little Houses     No. 2. I sell my patterns, Valdani Floss and other supplies in my Webshop.

At the top of the stairs, I have many wonderful collections of bunny items. There are things people have made me as well as art I have purchased. Two pieces from Diane Duda are among my most favorite! I own her original "Bunny Bliss" mixed media piece and a print of her "She believed in spontaneous dancing." Both have bunnies of course! These pieces surround a frame with photos of all the bunnies I rescued and brought home to live in Bunnyville to assist me with my work. 

In fact, here is my newest employee, Lady Hannah Goldenhare.

Bunnyville is a wonderful place to work. Here Hannah and Sir Walter Harrington (aka, Harrington) take a break in the employee lounge. There is a snack bar, a water cooler and a gym!

Of course, they prefer to hang out and socialize in the gym rather than actually exercise.

Our restroom facilities are so clean you can eat off the floor!

"Harrington, I thought you said we were getting doors installed for privacy."

"Sorry Hannah, budget cuts."

My vision board displays all the things I want to accomplish. I look at it every single morning for inspiration. I have used a vision board for many years and find them quite helpful in focusing on my goals. Above it it says, "if you can dream it, you can acheive it." This area also contains many beautiful treasures that have been given to me by dear blogging and bunny friends.

This beautiful doll was made by my fun, British, friend Jules of Adventures in Thread. This lovely lady is called The Rabbit Herder. Jules even wrote a wonderful story to go with her. I found the chair in a thrift store and knew it was perfect for such an important lady! The lamp and other stained glass pieces you see were made by my honey bunny of 22 years, David.

This adorable pinkeep and mug mat rest near my sewing machine. They are treasures made by my dear friend, Donna of Brynwood Needleworks. Donna is sew talented and spoils me rotten! (love ya girlfriend!)

In April of 2010, after 10 years of  hard work, I was laid off from my construction job as a project manager. I sat for many an hour thinking long and hard about what I was going to do with my life. Mary Englebreit is one of my most favorite artists. (I still miss Home Companion magazine) When I saw this print on her website I just knew I had to have it. Was I ever over the moon excited when it arrived personally signed by Mary and numbered 500 of 500! Wow O Wow!! Can we say happy bunny dance!

The charming little paintings on each side of it are new purchases from the talented Jennifer Lanne. I have admired her work forever and just had to purchase these little beauties after seeing them featured on Earth Angels Toys.

This incredible piece was given to me for Christmas last year by my sweetheart of a friend, Margaret of The French Bear. Margaret has the biggest heart and one day I hope to meet her in person and give her a big hug. This piece is handmade by Susan Pilotto of Crowsnest Pass Primitive Folk Art. I must admit that I jumped around, clapped my hands and did the happy bunny dance when I opened this gift. I simply adore Susan's work and stitched on the cushion is "The Raspberry Rabbit" in French. This piece always reminds me of Harrington standing on my fabric pile.

Art imitates life for sure!

Most of my days are spent at my desk by the window. I love the natural light for drawing new designs and daydreaming of fabric combinations with bunnies playing underfoot.

My wonderful sewing table was custom made by my cabinet maker from my construction days. I keep the doors off one side of the cabinet as my employee's like to keep an eye on me while I work. (Harrington is in the bottom shelf) They also like to run through it as a shortcut to the other side of the studio.

Hannah likes to keep an eye on me too while I'm cutting out a project.

Occasionally I can get the bunnies to help me pick fabrics.

So Hannah you really want me to use the flower fabric huh?

Of course, somebunny else really wants me to pick the white fabric.

"Mama! Fur boy is digging in the bucket again! Where's the lint roller!"

I'm quite embarrassed to say, but I was recently brought up on charges for sexual harrassment in Bunnyville.

"I'm tell'in ya Harrington it was awful. She tried to kiss me with that Starbucks coffee breath!

The charges were dropped after a plea bargan of banana chip treats, a new toy for the employee lounge, and a promise that I would not give bunny kisses after drinking large amounts of Starbucks coffee.

"Uhhhh excuse us! Doesn't somebunny have some work to do around here? Mama, that would be you!"

Oh ok you two I'll be right there. Geez, who's the boss around here anyway? ;)

In parting, I would like to leave you with this saying as you hop outta Bunnyville. Pretty much, this is how I sum things up and how I try to live each day.

So be happy, have fun, laugh hard, and love fully every minute of your life.

Down the rabbit hole I go...or maybe it's up in this case. :)

Thanks for visiting with us in Bunnyville. Come back soon! Oh, and don't forget to register for our giveaway on the post below!

xx,