Hoppy Friday! - One Wee Peep and Peeps of a Friend

It seems to happen every year around Mother's Day. I am delighted not only to see all the new flowers, trees and shrubs, but also the arrival of the new peeps.

This year Mama and Papa goose came to visit me with only one wee peep. I am surprised there was even one since there really are no nesting areas around my pond anymore.

Yet, a sweet little one survived. That fuzzy little butt and adorable face just melts my heart.

Mama and Papa goose are pretty smitten with the wee peep. Doesn't it look like their heads and necks are forming a heart around the peep? 

Today I invite you to hop over and visit my dear friend, Jeri Landers of Hop Along Hollow Gazette. The post she has written about Tilly the goose will bring a big smile to your face and start your weekend off on a most happy note. Be sure and watch the video at the end.

Tell her the bunnies and I say hello!

Hoppy Friday Friend!

xx,
Michelle and the Bunnies

Hoppy Friday! - My friend and talented artist Jeri Landers

Helloooooooooooooo and Hoppy Friday!

Did you have a fun week? Are you staying warm? Of course if you are one of my Aussie girlfriends then you are nice and toasty. :)  I'm ready for Spring!

Today I wanted to share a fun purchase I made. Every year I treat myself to a gift. Well sometimes several gifts, but hey, it makes me happy. For the past couple of years I have been purchasing something from my incredibly talented friend, Jeri Landers.

This year my gift to myself was her new book!

Jeri writes and illustrates the entire book. It takes her years of work. The finished piece is outstanding. The pages burst to life with color and tiny details.

The story? Well you will just have to purchase one to find out.

I know there are some wee one's in your life who would be delighted with the tales of Mamsey Bear and Mopkin, or perhaps like me, you are just a kid at heart and want one for yourself. ;)

I purchased this book as a gift to myself a few years ago and I actually met Jeri in person to have her sign it. It was so awesome! I almost passed out I was so excited!

My home is filled with many of her pieces like this paper garden in a bell jar. I simply adore paper cut art and this was impossible to resist.

Of course there are bunnies in it!

Jeri also has prints of her work. I knew the perfect spot for this when I saw it.

This print and the bell jar are on my bookcase in my living room. The books are in the black basket at the bottom of the right bookcase.

Of course then I had to have an original papercutting. I mean bunnies, tea and quilts? Who could pass that up?

It sits on the sofa table.

At the bottom of the stairs from Bunnyville, hangs another print called "The Boogie Woogie Bunny Band."

Then finally is this wonderful print.

I love what it says.

It is framed and hangs in the "Friends Entrance" to my home, which is the side door. ;)

Jeri is one of the most delightful people you will ever meet.

Her art, her home, and

her animals are a true reflection of the joy she carries in her heart.

I'm so very grateful to have found Jeri through blogging and truly blessed to call her my friend.

Now hop on over to Hopalong Hollow and pay her a visit. Perhaps find a gift for yourself and while you're at it, tell her the bunnies and I said hi!

xx,
Michelle and the Bunnies

Love is in everything Handmade

There's been a whole lotta Happy Bunny Dancing going on around here. You know how much I loooooooove handmade things. I get so darn excited! Here's some things that have had me dancing lately.

This adorable couple is actually a piece of vintage, German, folk art. What makes it so incredibly special is it was hand painted by the grandmother of my dear friend, Lydia. Many, many, years ago, Lydia's grandmother would hand paint these little wooden figures to earn money for her family. I absolutely adore this piece and will treasure it forever. Love you Lyd and Oma! I'm honored to have a piece of your family history.

Next, I just had to share this pretty wrapping with you. Isn't it fabulous?

Inside was this incredible brooch from my delightful and fun friend, Jo of Lily Pilly in Australia. I do love my Aussie girlfriends. This is made by local artists through Dick and Dora. It's made from acrylic. I love it because I'm a huge fan of silhouettes and paper cutting designs. Thank you so much Jo! I'm going to wear it on my black winter coat.

Speaking of paper cutting. My dear friend, Jeri Landers, of Hopalong Hollow, (her fence is shown in the previous post) is not only a fabulous artist and author, but she is also an incredible paper cutting artist. I have many pieces of Jeri's art in my home, including one of her books. She truly is one of my absolute favorites as her work makes me smile so very big.

Each year I like to purchase something from her as a gift to myself.  We all deserve a gift for ourselves right?

So this year, when I saw her paper gardens, I knew right away I had to have one for my collection!

Bunnies in a bell jar! My very own secret bunny garden!

Bunnies having tea is always so wonderful.

I've saved the tag too as I love the little charm that say's hand made with love. Jeri's work is truly from the heart.

I have a little wooden stand I used for a candle. It's the perfect size for my secret bunny garden. I've placed it on my bookshelf next to one of Jeri's prints. I think it's the perfect spot. Don't you?

Last for today I had to share these wonderfully, charming pieces from my Danish friend, Susanne. She and I have been blogging/email friends for some time. Two years ago, she and her family came to meet me here in Bunnyville! It was so wonderful! Having friends around the world is truly amazing to me. Susanne made this beautiful heart and even knitted a Harrington and Hannah!! Aren't they just adorable! I'm going to keep them safely tucked away until Christmas next year and then hang them all on my tree. Thank you Susanne!

I encourage you to create with your own hands, to purchase handmade items from others and to do the Happy Bunny Dance every single day. Joy is in the heartfelt things we share with each other and give to ourselves.

Love is in everything handmade.

xx,
Michelle and the Bunnies

House Stalking and Stitching

I'll admit it. I'm a house stalker. One of my favorite things to do is drive around neighborhoods looking for cute little houses. I've always loved charming little homes. They tell the best stories. ;)

This adorable cottage is one of my favorites. It's located in my favorite place, Wilmington, NC. I visit Wilmington as much as I can. It's about an hour and a half from me. Every time I go, I drive into this neighborhood to look at stalk "my house."


I like to imagine I live there. The bunnies and I would work in Bunnyville and look out the window to all the happenings of the neighborhood.

I also imagine having a magical little picket fence, like my dear friend, Jeri Landers, of Hopalong Hollow. Isn't this the most beautiful fence? Ahhhhhhh. Apparently, I have fence envy as well. hee,hee,hee.

But, alas I live in my own little cottage in a different town. So until I can live in that cottage in Wilmington, (positive thinking here) I simply use it's charm to inspire me. This is my "Little Houses No. 2" You can stitch one too. My pattern is in my SHOP here.


So, are you a house stalker too?

xx,
Michelle and the Bunnies

Part 2- Name that Goat contest!

Well hi there! Glad you could come back for Part 2 of our story from Monday.

So I was at the wonderful show in Virginia Beach all excited about meeting Jeri and seeing my friend Sharon and....secretly on a mission for some gifts for myself! Yep! You see last year I found these wonderful folks at Augres Sheep Factory, who create all kinds of handmade critters from wool! The wool is from goats, sheep and alpacas. Oh how I fell in love with everything they had!

I saved my pennies all year so I could get myself  and my friends some gifts. These are the ornaments I purchased.

Bunny! (uhhhh...ya knew that one was a given. hee,hee,hee)

Sheep! I love the little bell around his neck.

Squirrel! His tail is sooooo soft.

Aren't they just too cute!?!

But remember... I was also on a secret mission. You see last year I really, really, really wanted this!

A BIG GOAT! He is made from wool from a New Zealand goat, who's wool is better known as mohair. Isn't he fabulous!?!

While David went to the Bunnymobile to put away my purchases from Jeri, I hopped over to get my goat! hee,hee,hee.

I didn't get him last year as I just didn't have the money and David would have killed me, but this year I saved enough for him.

David just stood there shaking his head as I smiled really big and hugged my goat. He just didn't "get" it. Plus, he thought I was totally nuts when I said I was trying to figure out a name for him. Then David said, "you knew you were gonna get that thing before we left the house this morning didn't you?"
I replied, "I knew I was going to get him when we left the show last year without him!"
Again, he stood there shaking his head and laughing at me. Twenty years of marriage and he know's when I get my mind on something, I find a way to make it happen. :)

So now, this is where you come in! Since David won't help me pick a name for Goat, I'm having a Name that Goat contest! Ok...so yes, I am nuts, but it's fun in my little world! hee,hee,hee.  Anyway, just leave a comment on this post as to what you would name him. I will look through all the entries and choose the winner this Sunday, December 4.

Of course the winner will receive a prize as you know I love prizes! The winner will receive this 2005 (brand new copy) of Country Marketplace magazine. This magazine is no longer in print, but I love to find older issues of my favortie magazines to collect. When I found this one, I was able to get an extra copy as a prize for you.

Goat is now residing in my office next to The Rabbit Herder (made by my friend Jules). They've been having many wonderful conversations. ;)

Well, what should we name him? I can't wait to see!

xx, Michelle and the Bunnies

Friendships and the Gifts we give Ourselves - Part 1

Well hellooooooooo! How was your Thanksgiving? Yummy and good I hope! Mine? Well let me tell ya. It was FABULOUS!!!

While many people have lots of friends on Facebook, it just doesn't come close in comparison to the friends you meet through blogging. These friends are true kindred spirits. Needless to say, when I learned that a blogging friend, not to mention one of my most favorite artists was going to be at a show only 3 1/2 hours away, I knew I had to make the trip to meet her!

So on Saturday morning, David and I hopped into the Bunnymobile (what I call my Honda CRV) and made the trip to Virginia Beach. I could hardly wait to get there and meet...

Jeri Landers of Hopalong Hollow!!! OH...MY....GOSH!!!!  Not only am I a huge fan of her art, but I simply adore her blog as well. Jeri is a critter lover and such a wonderful storyteller. She weaves her stories and her art together in the most charming way!

My first order of business, after I got done hugging her, was to purchase her book. There are certain gifts that I like to purchase for myself and, as many of you know, art is one of them.

This is the inside cover. Jeri creates the most incredible paper cuttings. She showed me how she starts out her sketch on parchment paper and then how she begins cutting out all the little tiny details. Beautiful!

Here Jeri is getting ready to sign my book while her wonderful husband, James, packs up all my other goodies. More on those in a minute.

You see the look on my face as she's signing my book? I'm totally about to burst with excitement. Meanwhile, David's thinking to himself,  I hope she doesn't do the happy bunny dance in front of all these people and embarrass me! It was totally hard, but I maintained composure until I got to the car and then jumped around and did the bunny happy dance. hee,hee,hee.

Here's what she wrote.

Of course, there we lots of other goodies too! It was so hard to choose! I knew I wanted a few of her cards, so I selected these.

Then I just had to have this print! I'm going to get a frame for it today as I have the perfect spot to hang it.

Look at all the wonderful details!

Finally, I simply had to have one of her original paper cuttings! It was sooooooo hard to choose, but I decided that Tea Time would be mine. I love how the trees look and the quilt hanging on the line. Isn't the frame cool too? It's made from leaves!

Then, wouldn't ya know it, but the fire alarm went off and the entire building had to be evacuated!! Hundreds of people and not to mention over 400 artisans had to clear the building until the fire department said it was OK to go back in. All was fine and I hopped back in to do more shopping.

While we waited outside, I gathered to have a picture made with Jeri and another dear blogging friend, Sharon of Corgi's in my Garden. Sharon loves Jeri's work and blog and she too made a long drive just to meet her! I met Sharon in person this past Spring when she happened to be visiting my little town.

Sharon, Jeri and Me. Amazing that these are two people I would never have met if it weren't for blogging. I drove back home with a smile on my face and thought about friendships and the gifts we give ourselves. Oh how I love blog land!

So hop over and visit Jeri at the Hollow. Tell her the bunnies and I say hi! Then be sure and join me back here on Wednesday for Part 2 of this story and a fun little contest. Why yes, there will be a prize!

xx, Michelle and the Bunnies