Heartfelt Notes

Well helloooooooo!

In celebration of the month of love, I decided to release my Heartfelt Notes pattern for purchase until Valentines Day, February 14.

This pattern is normally exclusive to my "Play Date" participants. It's a really fun class and I love seeing all the creativity that comes from it.

Each of these 4" x 6" postcards features my signature "reverse wool applique" technique.

I love adding all kinds of different embroidery stitches with Valdani perle cotton. I think the variegated threads make the wool felt shine don't you?

There are five postcard designs in the pattern with written instructions and full color photos.

Hop on over to my SHOP to purchase the PDF download. Remember, it will only be available until February 14.

Hugs and love to you,
Michelle and the Bunnies

The Love of Handmade - Passing it on

Hi ya! Today I wanted to share something truly beautiful with you. I hope you can take a moment to to treat yourself to a cup of tea while you sit and watch this short video. My friend, Marianne shared it with me and I'm delighted to share it with you.

As a designer and maker of textile art and as a lover of all that is handmade, this video really states exactly how I feel about the whole process of handmade. There is just something so wonderful about making something with our own hands, whether it be a quilt, hat or even a healthy dinner. We have gotten away from all of that. It's time to start passing it on to the wee ones before it is gone forever.

Enjoy!
Michelle and the fuzzy crew

Thankful for Wool Felt and Floss Sale!

Recently, I have  received many emails requesting that I sell bundles of wool felt in my shop. I for one am thankful for wool felt and floss because I love creating with them. Folk Art Fusion wouldn't happen without them!

I thought this would be a perfect time to have a SALE as I am also very thankful for you!

So starting today, wool felt bundles

Green Bundle

Yellow Bundle

Red Bundle

Blue Bundle

Brown Bundle

Purple Bundle

Orange Bundle

Neutral Bundle

and my Valdani, 3 strand, colorfast, hand dyed collections

Folk Art Fusion (featured in my Fabled Fusions book)

and Folk Art Fusion II

are all on sale! The sale price is already listed in the SHOP. You don't have to do anything but add them to your cart.

This sale will END Wednesday evening November 27 at EST. (please note that orders placed on Wednesday will not be mailed until Monday, so if you want it sooner, order today or Tuesday)


I believe in giving my employees Thanksgiving Day off to enjoy their feast. ;)

Thank you for all your love and support.

xx,
Michelle and the Bunnies

Sneaky Peeky and Fiber

Well hi ya! Did you enjoy your extra hour this weekend? I must confess, I used my hour to take a nap on my back porch. The sun was finally out and it was a gorgeous day. I've been running around like a crazy bunny the past few months, so I decided a nap was well deserved. :)

Here's a little sneaky peeky of a Postal Fusion I'm designing for Valentines. Yes, I know it's only November, but I do have to design them, make them, write the patterns, etc. before I can share them with you. It feels good to be ahead of the game for a change. That being said, my Postal Fusions for Christmas patterns should be ready Wednesday!! I will only have 11 wool and floss kits available, so hop back first thing on Wednesday if you want one. The patterns will be available in paper or PDF.

Recently, I have fallen in love with different fibers. When I was at market, I went in search of some fiber vendors. Can we say Faaaaaaaaaabulous! Oh my gosh did I ever want to curl up and take a nap in a nest of this stuff! hee,hee,hee.

I'm going to be adding these gorgeous bits to some original Folk Art Fusion pieces that I would like to make.

I've had some ideas in my head for the past year and they are wanting to come to life. These pieces won't be part of a book or patterns for sale, they will simply be a body of work which I create for myself. Something to keep my creativity flowing and stretch my imagination.

In addition, every year I create a piece or two that I send to rabbit rescues. The kind hearted folks at the rescues, auction off the pieces to raise money. It makes my heart happy to help them.

Aren't they just gorgeous? Wool, silks, etc. that have all been hand dyed.

They are so soft. Just like a bunny. ;)

Ok, back to work for me. Go create something fun and hop back on Wednesday for my Postal Fusions - 2013 patterns.

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

The Grand Finale

Hi my friends! I sure have enjoyed sharing all these quilts with you. Isn't blogging such a fun way to travel without leaving home? Of course, I do recommend visiting this show if you can. You won't be disappointed. My goal is to get to the Houston show one year!

Here are some more lovely quilts.

I love that little pieced block!

This was a bag created for the Hoffman Challenge. I thought it was so cool! A mermaid bag indeed!

I also love the dolls that are created for the Hoffman Challenge. I took these photos especially for my dear friend, Jules of  Adventures in Thread . Jules is an incredible doll maker and I think she should enter this challenge! Hint, hint, hint! :)

Little Bo Peep was my favorite. I love her face and her outfit. Plus I have this thing for sheep, goats and wool right now. If I didn't live in a neighborhood, I would have some sheep and goats and maybe a cute cow, oh and some fuzzy chickens and probably a donkey and ten more bunnies....ok...sorry, I get carried away with critters.

Anyway, there was a section set up with ladies spinning wool. I think it would be so fun to learn to do that. It looks so peaceful. I could spin some angora bunny fur! Yeah!

Well all this wool and creating with wool has taken hold of me this year. Maybe because it's been so darn cold this winter and I've been freezing for months! However, I do love the look and feel of wool and I have several new patterns in the works that will have wool. This brings me to the Grand Finale!

This incredible piece was made by Debora Konchinsky and was my most Favorite quilt of the entire festival!! I love everything about it. A combination of fabric, wool, hand embroidery, needle felting, quilting, beading! Oh my gosh!!!! I want to hang this in my house! I stood here for the longest time studying all the details. This one was really, really, hard not to touch!

I love all the critters! I loooooooooove all the hand embroidery work!

I love all the beautiful texture, warm colors and dimension.

Well hi there little bunny!

Then I found out Debora is an instructor! Hello!!! If she is there next year, I will be signing up for a class with her!!

This is a look at her quilt displayed on instructor's row. This was my second favorite quilt of the festival. Ooooooooo.....ahhhhhh.....fuzzy!

I hope all of "ewe,"  hee,hee,hee, sorry I couldn't resist, had a good time on the tour with me and are inspired to get creating. I have lots of new patterns in the works and I'm looking forward to sharing them with you!

Have a fun, magical and creative week everybun!
xx, shell, sugie and harrington