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

Somebunny's been spoiled! Big Time!

Hi everybun! It feels like the last month has been one giant blurr. Do ya'll feel that way too? Time is going by so fast and while I feel like I get a lot done, at the same time my pile of things to do is is multiplying like bunnies! hee,hee,hee.

I wanted to take time today to post a big giant Heartfelt THANK YOU to some very special friends that brought big smiles to my face over the past month and made me feel so incredibly loved and SPOILED!

First, this beautiful handmade heart arrived from my dear friend, Jillayne of A Fine Seam. Jillayne is my kindred sister. We have so much in common and I can't wait to meet her in person one day. I love all the hand stitching she did on this heart, the ruched flower and divine smell! I have it hanging on the doorknob to Bunnyville. Thanks soooo much Jillayne!

Next is this totally cool handmade mug mat from fun Fiona of BubzRugz . She made this especially for me and I love it! The fabrics are so soft. I have it sitting on the table next to my chair in the living room. It looks so perfect there. Thanks a million Fiona!

Then I got another mug mat from my sweet friends Di and Miss Gracie of Quilting is Blissful. They also gave me the cute bunny stickers! I use this mug mat up in Bunnyville for my afternoon tea and biscotti break. Don't ya'll just love mug mats! Thanks so much girlfriends!

My bunny friend, Karen of Rabbits Eat Quilts made me this adorable Bunny Monster! Isn't it cute!! It's super soft too! I have it sitting on a shelf in Bunnyville. (high up so two crazy bunnies don't get a hold of it! Naughty!) She wrapped it in a piece of her hand dyed fabric! Cool! I can't wait to use that for something special. Thanks so much Karen. I love them!

Then I got a package from my good friend Jo May of Joanne May Illustration. As many of you know, I adore Jo's jewelry and have a necklace and bracelet that I wear all the time. Jo sent me this brooch to add to my collection!! Love it!! Jo is also an incredible illustrator and I have commissioned her to do a painting for me. I'll have more on that later. I'm so excited!

The ever lovely and sweet Jenny of Elefantz sent me this adorable bunny. Jenny is one of the most kind hearted people. She's one of those people who's warmth shines so brightly. I hope to meet her in person one day. Thank you very much for this sweet bunny Jenny. I've placed her in my guest bedroom to welcome everyone that stays with me.

Next, my aunt and friend, Deb (no blog) went on a spa retreat. She saw these at a little shop there and just had to get them for me seeing as this is the year of the rabbit! Loooooooove them! The bunny hangs on my vision board reminding me of all good things to come and I drink my afternoon tea from this wonderful tea cup. Thanks so much Deb. I love them!!

My friends, Gabi and Madison, (no blog) sent me this wonderful wine glass! How fun! Madison made the clay bunny especially for me in memory of my precious Sugie bunny. Thank you so very much girlfriends. I shall have a toast to Sugie and my wonderful memories of her.

And last, but not least, is a pressie I received the other day from the sweet Kris of Lavender Quilts.     I saw this pretty piece of fabric on her blog the other week and little did I know that she was sending it to me! She also sent this adorable little bunny container. It's the perfect place to hide little sneaky snacks for Hannah and Harrington up in Bunnyville. I'm going to use the fabric to make myself a little keepsake in memory of all my bunnies I have lost over the past 2 years.  Thank you so very much Kris!

Didn't I tell ya I been SPOILED! Big Time! It's not even Christmas! I can't thank ya'll enough for thinking of me and making me feel sooooooooooooo loved. Your friendship is my most favorite gift of all. I treasure all of you.

Love and xx always,

Sir Walter Harrington - A work of Art from Jules

Helloooooooo and Happy Friday everybun! Did you have a good week? I've been sooooooo busy with work that the week just got away from me. I have missed visiting with everyone, so I promise to hop around and catch up with all of you this weekend. :)

Ya'll know I've been talking alot about handmade things, original art and getting things from artists this year. Well, I want to share this incredible gift I received from my dear friend Jules of Adventures in Thread. Jules is not only an incredible doll artist, but she is also a gifted painter! She told me she had an image of Harrington hop in her head when I introduced him to ya'll as "Sir Walter Harrington."

This is the image she painted! Can we say HAPPY BUNNY DANCE!! :) :) :) She even wrote a wonderful little story to go with it! I loooooooooooooooove it!!!! 

"I do look quite handsome don't I mama?"
Indeed you do Harrington!

Thank you sooooooooo very much Jules! I have purchased a beautiful frame for it and it will be displayed proudly in Bunnyville along with the beautiful Rabbit Herder doll she made me. Treasures forever!

Have a wonderful weekend everybun! My quilt is back from the quilter so join us Monday for the debut of my new pattern called, Noelle's Bunnies. Fun! Fun! Fun! And thank all of you so very much for your purchases of my new floss collection and new stitching design! Your business and support are so very much appreciated!
xx,

Monday Meetings - Mandy Saile

Good morning staff! Welcome back from vacation! Did you have a good time? I sure did! Is it just me or did 2010 fly by? I am looking forward to all the fun we will be having in 2011, "The Year of the Rabbit!"  In fact, I'm going to start off our first Monday Meeting for the new year with a very dear friend who is not only an incredible artist, but is also a mama of 4 bunnies!!

I'm delighted to introduce you to my good friend, Mandy Saile of Bijous Whimsy! Mandy's art is full of color, magic and indeed, whimsy! Just look at what she sent me for Christmas!

A fabulous wool bunny ornament and one of her illustrations made into a card!

This incredible bunny necklace and a print made on the most beautiful textured paper! She also gave me some fantastic little stickers featuring her artwork. I think I will add them to my journal for 2010!

But...then I saw her post on these...The Ghostly Girls!

Let me tell ya, it was love at first sight! Mandy's work is always full of gorgeous color, but as most of you know, my house is "void" of color. So when I saw these, I just had to have them!!! They are perfect for my home and frankly, I'm sooooo bored with all the same old, same old, poorly made, crapola in the big box stores! I've decided in 2011 I will make all my gifts or purchase them from friends and artist's. It's going to be a handmade year around here!

Hop over and visit with Mandy, her bunnies and visit her Etsy shop. I know you will be happy you did!

Have a magical week everyone! Laugh lots, that's an order!
Meeting adjourned.

xx, shell, sugie and harrington

Gifts from the Heart

In June I took a novel writing class. It was sooooooo much fun as I love to write. While taking this class, I made a new friend. Her name is Donna French. I can't tell you why, but I knew just from the start that she was a really good person and I knew we would be friends. Not only is Donna a great writer, but she is also an incredible artist.

After months of us trying to get together for a visit, we finally got together last week. That's when Donna presented me with this.

She drew this beautiful picture of Sugie with my beloved Razzy boy that I lost in July. She captured them both so perfectly. Plus, the simplicity and beauty of a pencil drawing is something that I just adore! I have framed it and put it in my living room. I will treasure it always! Thank you so very much for this beautiful gift. Donna doesn't have a blog yet, but I want to encourage her!!! hint, hint, hint ;)

Then, in the mail, came a gift from my dear blogging friend, Di. Di is one of the sweetest blogging friends I have. She has had a really hard year with the loss of some of her close friends, health and family issues and yet, she still sent me presents.

Di knew I would go crazy over the scrolly stickers and she was right! She also made me a beautiful white ornament for my tree. Perfect! Plus, I have been curious about those schnibble patterns ever since I saw them on her blog. Too fun! I'm also a chronic list maker, so the note pad will come in extra handy. Thanks so much Di! I love everything!

My childhood was pretty crappy and there were many Christmases that I didn't get anything. Yet, I always enjoyed the giving, even if it was only something I could afford from my leaf raking job. I always believe that gifts from the heart are best as they are the true gifts.

All of you that follow me, leave me comments, send me emails and brighten my day with your blogs, are gifts from the heart. I treasure each and every one of you!

But, like I said, I enjoy giving so don't forget to register for my giveaway. I'll pick the winner tomorrow. Until then, thanks so much Donna and Di for your thoughtful, heartfelt gifts. I am spoiled indeed!

Happy Christmas everyone!
xx, shell, sugie and harrington