Once in a Rabbit Moon - Shannon Shirley

I think this was perfect timing for this post. Did you get to see the harvest moon the other night? I didn't, Dag-Nab-It! It has done nothing but rain and rain and rain around here. At least I got to see all the photos that were posted.  It looked amazing.

So in honor of the harvest moon, I am delighted to invite you to take a hop down the rabbit hole into the home of my dear bunny friend and fellow designer, author and instructor, Shannon Shirley of Once in a Rabbit Moon.

Shannon's home blew me away the first time I visited and it was every bit as special this time. Her home is filled with so much warmth, comfort and charm. I guess that's what happens when one decorates with quilts and bunnies. ;)

This is the room I stayed in. I literally have to hop up into the bed. It is so tall!

These gorgeous quilts are on a ladder in the room.

The bunnies watched over me while I slept. 

One of Shannon's friends gave her this bunny. He looks a little sad. I think he wants to join the party on top of the closet. hee,hee,hee.

When you walk up the stairs, you are greeted by these embroidered beauties. 

At the bottom of the stairs, Shannon hung these. Which one is your favorite?

This is the closet in the guest bedroom. Yes, she said I could take a photo. I wasn't snooping! hee,hee,hee. These are just some of her quilts. The woman has TONS! I don't think she has given any away in all the years she has been quilting.

I love these. They hang above an old church pew in her dining room. Don't you love the tree skirts too?

This is her living room. It's full of wonderful vignettes. 

Like this one above the fireplace. If anyone ever finds that rabbit weather vane, please, please, please get it for me! It was from Target many years ago and I want one!

This is Shannon's newest masterpiece. The old bottle collection on the shelf above was the inspiration. 

Check out the detail. The bottles are embroidered, the daffodils are three dimensional and the stems were created using Inktense pencils. FABULOUS!!! 

Here she is with her award winning piece at the Virginia State Fair. 

 
 Oh and she also one a ribbon for her wiggle worm quilt. Cute!

This is a thread sketched family photo. It hangs in her Mum's space, which is the lower portion of Shannon's home.

This is just so fun. Bunny cookie cutters on top of a coat rack. Sweet!

This Jim Shore piece is in the powder room. If anyone ever finds this, I want it too!

Hello little bunny peaking out from the bucket. 

This is a beautiful cross stitch piece. I know a lot of people have started cross stitching again. Have you?

I think these towels look so gorgeous hanging next to this antique chair. She has so many antique pieces throughout her home.

This is Shannon's sweet girl, Rylie. (Mum, Shell wants us to move to Wilmington. She said we would have so much fun together.)

Don't you just love these little washboards going down the stairs to her Mum's space? 

I am in looooooooove with Shannon's newest class. She will be teaching you to make your very own hex sign. There are different elements you can applique to the circle to create a piece that represents you and your family. FUN!

This is a piece she was designing for a challenge. She enters all sorts of quilt challenges. I have never entered one. Have you?

This is my favorite wall in her classroom. I'm sure you know why. ;)

This is another wall in there. 

And here is another view. Shannon was busy working while I was photographing her house. 

That cabinet is filled with all sorts of wonderful goodies. 

These beautiful samplers are in the foyer.

Shannon travels all over giving classes and lectures on her amazing work. Take a hop over and book a date with her!  I know first hand you will be in for super treat!

Thanks so much for another wonderful visit dear friend! I can't wait until we see each other again.

On a final note, when I got back from teaching in Virginia, I went and got a new hairdo. You may have seen it on Facebook already. Sometimes a girl just needs a "do-over." hee,hee,hee

Hugs and see ya next Wednesday. I will be celebrating 8 years of blogging with a special giveaway! :)

xx,
Michelle
 

Ginny's Bright and Beautiful Creative Space

Hellooooooo! How's your week going? Can you believe September is almost over? I can't. I finished up teaching my last class of the year on Saturday. It was lots of fun and I had such a great time. I was especially grateful for the patient friends in class who dealt with me not being able to talk. David gave me a cold. The first one I have had in about nine years. It was my fault for not drinking my gallons of green tea to prevent it. Anyway, I got rid of the cold in a day, but as usual, my voice went at the end of it. Not fun when you need to tell people how to make something! Thankfully, my students were all very talented and did a great job.

Today I would like to share another wonderful creative space with you! While in Virgina last month, I was also able to visit with my friend, Ginny. She and her husband, Jim, invited Shannon and I over for lunch. I must say, it really was a ton of fun photographing these wonderful creative spaces. I know you enjoyed Carlene's quilt cave last week and you are in for a special treat again as we hop into Ginny's bright and beautiful creative space. So let's go!

The red front door and this charming quilt are a cheerful welcome to Ginny's house and the first indication of what's inside. 

As you walk down the stairs, you are greeted by these wonderful little quilts.

I adore the rick rack on this quilt.

This is the first room to greet you at the bottom of the stairs. Wow! The fireplace is beautiful and so is the quilt above the mantel.

How about this foot stool that looks like sherbert ice cream? Isn't it the cutest?

Ginny is a retired security officer from the CIA! Whoa!! She has lots of wonderful memorabilia on the shelves and walls beside the fireplace.

To the side of this area, there is a vignette with a quilt Ginny made of her house.

Next, you come to this room. Don't you just love this green couch? It's so fun! Ginny loves bright, cheerful colors, which are a perfect match to her happy and friendly personality. 

Her favorite color is lime green. I love it with the purple on this quilt.

I love how this table topper looks on the round table in front of the couch.

To the left of the couch is this sweet little vignette.

And, to the right is this gorgeous quilt. What a perfect place to curl up and stitch.

This is the view of her space when you are sitting on the couch. Are you about to pass out yet?

There are quilts hanging on all the walls. Ginny's daughter plays basketball and they are big fans of the game. Look how cute the net is on this quilt.

Peggy Geier, I know you love these yo-yo's! ;)

This is where I hyperventilated! Oh..my..GOSH!!! Isn't this awesome? I would never want to come out of this sewing spot. What a gorgeous view of the trees through all those wonderful windows. Faaaaaaaaaaabulous!!!

Across from the sewing alcove is her cutting table.

These are so fun

and so is this stool in front of the table!

Then you come to her embroidery machine and wonderful collection of threads. Check out the chair cover!

Across from that is her long arm machine with more windows looking out to the back yard.

Here are some storage areas for ribbons, bits and bobbles and

 she also has a little refreshment area.

This leads you past the powder room to this incredible space! The fabric room!

Ginny can sit in this comfy chair and look at all her wonderful fabrics, or take a peek outside. I love all the light that fills these rooms. It makes me feel so alive and excited to sew something.

Everywhere you look, there are cute little art quilts.

 This is the incredible memory quilt Ginny made for her daughter when she left for college. Her daughter has graduated and the quilt is back home with mom for a little while.

This quilt was made for Ginny by the members of the Cabin Branch Quilters' Guild as a thank you for the wonderful job she did as president of the guild.

 Here's the label with the members' signatures.

Shannon saved all the little schnibbles when the blocks were sized and made this cute lime green schnibble jar.

With that incredible space, I would be tempted to live right there. However, the upstairs of Ginny's house is just as fun. This is the love seat in the kitchen area. Don't you just love that tree quilt?

Here is her living room. She told me she was waiting on some new furniture pieces. I love the quilt ladder, the quilt above the fireplace and the star light.

Like downstairs, everywhere you look there are little art quilts to bring a smile to your face. The two dogs at the bottom of the quilt are her dogs, Lilo and Stitch.

Yellow polka dot bikini! :)

Beautiful!

Ok, so check out the sunglasses on the bees. To cute!

Again, Peggy Geier! :)

Thank you for a wonderful lunch and a super fun tour of your creative space Ginny. I had such a great time my friend!

Have a good weekend and Happy Fall! It's the most wonderful time of the year (now you'll be singing that song all weekend, hee,hee,hee)!

xx,
Michelle