Monday, September 3, 2012

The Labor of Handmade

When I was in Virginia the other week, I went to a lovely thrift store called "Through the Garden Gate." My friend, Sharon, has a booth there. I'll have more fun things to share about Sharon in another post. We walked around the store admiring all the beautiful things that people had in their booths. All of a sudden Sharon said, "oh Shell, you might want to see this." She knew right away that I would fall in love and she was right!

There sitting in a tall, handmade, chair was this beautiful handmade, folk art, bunny! I took one look at her in the chair and knew she was coming home with me right away! My niece, Noelle, was with me and we named her Noelle.

I couldn't believe what a great find this was. First, the fact that it was a folk art bunny and second that it was handmade and not stamped "made in China!" Woo hoo, double bonus! Somebunny's trash became this bunny's treasure!


Next, my friend and very talented artist, Joanne May, created these earrings for me to wear to Houston in October. I have several pieces of jewelry that Jo has created specifically for me, and I treasure them.
 
 
I saw these pieces on her blog and fell in love with the moon and hares. I contacted Jo and asked if she could make me some earrings. As always she created exactly what I had in mind. Thanks Jo!


Next, I was visiting the blog of my friend, Anita Rivera. Here blog is truly magical. She had posted on these gorgeous tags she created. I took one look at the fairy holding the bunny and then the saying and hopped over to her Etsy shop as fast as I could to purchase them. I have several friends that will be getting one of these as a gift. Of course, I will be keeping one for myself as a bookmark.


Anita even included a lavender castle soap. It too was handmade for Anita's shop by Robyn's Nest Boutique.Lovely.

So, I invite you to go create something with your own hands, go shopping in a thrift store, or shop with artists you love. Support the labor of handmade.

Wishing you a Happy Labor Day the USA.

xx, Michelle and the Bunnies

26 comments:

gail said...

Hi Shell, I love your bunny:) Sweet girl. I am a fan of Joanne Mays work too. I love the post below. LOoks like a wonderful time dancing with the fairys!
Hava pretty week. Hope the fall weather is on its way. Its my favorite time of year. Its been months of 110 degrees.
(()) Gail

Jo in TAS said...

Lovely find Shell, thatt bunny was waiting just for you! Love the earings too, Jo does gorgeous work!
Hugs from another Jo xxx

Jeanette said...

What beautiful goodies. I just love the earrings Joanne made for you. The Christmas tree is finished. Just need to add borders & pumpkin kisses will be done. Hugs,

Crafty Green Poet said...

what a lovely bunny and such beautiful jewellery too

Sherri said...

Shell, I love Noelle-what a great find!! Love the jewelry your friend makes too!

Quilt Kitty said...

What a beautiful bunny is bunny Noelle. She will be one very happy bunny to know live in bunnyville! Tracee xx

Anonymous said...

Love that name Noelle. Was your niece a holiday baby? Friends of our family had twins during holidays and they were named Noelle and Holly.
Great find on that tattered bunny.

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

Darling Michelle, I cannot tell you how much this means to me to see my work along side the beautiful work of these fabulous artists!

I LOVE THOSE BUNNIES HOPPING OVER THE MOON and that sweet dolly....teeeheeee.....she reminds me of a BUNNY ON A STICK wand that I made last Easter. You can see them in my sold out items in my Etsy shop. I am currently creating a bunny for Halloween.....

Let me tell you, your post here is close to my heart. I want my work to be always handmade and not sent off to another land where it becomes one notch removed from my HEART and SOUL.....I so believe in going back to a folksy way of thinking of art. I want to behold the work of not only someone's hands, but a bit of their heart and soul.

THANK YOU ABUNDANTLY! Anita

Linda said...

What an adorable bunny. Reminds me of the book The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. Have you read that? It's a story about a bunny and his adventure of all the people he meets along the way to finding his way home. One of my favorite stories :)

Little Miss Titch said...

Beautiful bunny treasures for a beautiful bunny family

Sharon said...

That bunny was destined to by part of your family, Shell! What a fun time we had at TTGG!

Barb said...

What fun finds.....

mdg said...

Wow, this bunny is sooooo lovely! <3

Jade said...

Goodies, goodies and more goodies! I especially love the bunny jewelry, because I can never have enough jewelry--or bunnies, for that matter. :)

Jillayne said...

Great post Shell. I love to shop handmade as well and think it's such a wonderful way to support people who work awfully hard for what they earn. The world is a richer place for all that creativity and it feels so great to support it.
Happy Labour Day to you, you hard-working, bunny-loving sweet-heart of a gal!

WoolenSails said...

What a wonderful bunny and a great find just for you, he will be loved. I used to get ear rings like that, but with cats on them, lol. My daughter used to go into my jewelry so most of my pairs are only one now.

Debbie

RG said...

Nice finds. Say - I have half a dozen empty coffee cans look nice stacked in the corner ... name a good price.

Draffin Bears said...

Hi Shell,

Miss Noelle bunny is so sweet and she must have been just sitting in the chair waiting for you.
Also love the beautiful work from both Joanne May and Anita.
Always so neat seeing something made with love, rather than churned out in a factory somewhere.

Happy week
Hugs
Carolyn

Christina said...

A great bunch of treasures Michelle. I love to poke around in thrift shops myself.

Anonymous said...

I have put this on my to-do list this next week as I will be in Richmond. Have you ever gone to Millstone Quilts in Mechanicsburg, VA? Awesome shop in an old mill on a stream.

Unknown said...

Michelle, did you see Harrington's doppleganger over at Disapproving Rabbits Hoppy Hour post?

Donna Nowicki French said...

OMG, I LOVE that bunny. So cute.

Kris said...

What a fun, fun post!! I love your bunny, you lucky ducky - oh just like your sister!! Your earrings are darling as are the tags!! Now that I am getting my own place again, I will be able to decorate to my heart's content!!

bunnits said...

How delightful! I love the folk bunlady. Every time I see things like that I want to go home and make some. The earrings with the bunny charms are great!

Jo Potter said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Jo Potter said...

Hi Shell,
Oh sorry, I nearly missed this wonderful post!
It is really great to see my jewellery work shown here with other creative and talented people.
I love the bunny in her sweet dress and Anita's fairy art is fabulous!
Thanks again for a great mention.
You are truly a DEER FRIEND! ;-)

Fairy blessings,
Jo. xx

Lady Hannah Goldenhare - Nothing Gold Can Stay

Hello dear friends, It's been a minute hasn't it? My last post was over a year ago. I decided I wanted to stay in my bubble where it...