Our Creative Space

It's been a while since I played along with Our Creative Space, it's so nice to be back! As I sit here there is beautiful, heavy rain falling, after many hot days, what a fabulous sound. It's such a summer shower, big fat blobs crashing down on the roof. The ducks are in heaven.

Luckily I just managed to get all the washing in, including my newly finished rainbow doona cover. In the next week or so it will be in my new, updated shop. I do hope you'll pop in and check it out when it opens.

So I've been busy getting stock ready, I found these five little cardi's that my mum knitted last year. It's always fun to then match them with a bunny, or a cat, or a doll. I'm hoping to branch out a bit and have a bigger range of toys. I think part of my lethargy last year was due to feeling a bit tied in with bunny making. I felt a bit uninspired. But the new year has bought new energy! So I'm going for it folks, and enjoying every minute so far.

I heard yesterday that a certain person may be finishing up with her blog - something I considered too. Do you think there is an expiry date on blogs? Are you a long term blogger who feels a bit trapped or no longer interested? I wonder what keeps it fresh for you, is your blog your friend, your diary? 

I know a lot of people are now using Instagram to connect, record, communicate. (To find me just click the link on the right of this page, come and say hi!) Do you use Instagram too? I love it, I confess. But talking to Kate one day I also realised that as much as I enjoy Instagram, it's visual appeal really hooks me in, I also like to read, and write. Blogging is a great outlet in this way.

For me the vital ingredient is balance. Making time to blog should be a pleasure, not a chore. Visiting other blogs is fun but shouldn't be an obligation. Having a busy life with kids and school and Mark and all the activities I'm involved with I guess I find blogging and Instagram and nice place for me. Me time!

But I don't want to be trapped by internet connections, nice pun there, so I'm trying to limit myself a bit.

After all, real life is what it's all about. Face to face, coffee to coffee, (now I'm channelling David Bowie  ..Ashes to ashes..)

..anyway, you know what I mean!

Do you find it hard to get the balance right? For me it seems to be an ongoing thing. Working from home, making that a priority on certain days, having time for my kids, my health, my hubby, my friends,

community things, school...it's not easy is it? But I guess it's a joyous thing too, imagine being bored!

 I'd much rather have a full life, a creative life, a fun & loving life, that is a bit haphazard and messy but full of interest and people and laughs. 

And yes, my house is totally messy.

What's happening in your creative space? Are you making some time for it? Hope so,

see you soon lovely ones xo

Hey, hey, hey, it's a Dandelion Giveaway!

Hi lovely friends! How is your week going? I have been SO tired but am feeling a bit better today. The girls helped me with some bunny business this morning, there are two new bunnies in the shop and I will be putting more in the shop this week so keep an eye out!

There is this little sweetie pie

and this pirate fella, both can be sent asap, ready for Christmas! I will be adding more bunnies every day, a lovely purple girl, and a sweet pink one too. Oh and the baby blue one...& lots of others!

And as I'm feeling so happy and festive today,

and also as a thank you to all my lovely friends out there, I have decided to have a giveaway! Woo hoo!

I also noticed this morning that I am almost up to 300 posts, and have almost 300 followers! That's pretty exciting too.

So here's the thing, all you have to do is tell me a little about your favourite toy from when you were a child.  Do you still have it? What was it's name? I loved my toys and still do. Helen Holiday, Floppy, Knitted Horsey & Looby Lou were some of my faves. If you are a follower you get an extra entry of course. The giveaway will be drawn next week so you have plenty of time to enter.

You might win one of three things! This green bunny that my helpful assistant is snuggling with,

            .... or this dear bunny above, or one of my Susannah dolls, pictured below with Sunday!

Thanks for all your comments & thoughts this year, I always love to hear from you. I love the support, humour, kindness, generosity & love that is out there in blog land, what a wonderful community it is.

Good luck & see you soon! xo

My Creative Space

Hey there lovelies! What have you been up to in your space lately? I'm slowly getting back into the swing of things after a relaxing break & some time away.

I'm so happy with my newest project, a vintage fabric bedspread, made with patches of pretty florals. The cutting out bit was a bit tedious but Sunday gave me a hand folding up the squares & giving me helpful advice about colours etc. Sewing up was pretty straight forward and finishing it off with a backing of a thrifted pink sheet was stress free! Yay! I love that every piece of this bedspread is made from op shopped fabric.

It will fit a single bed or would look pretty as a throw on a couch or chair. I will be taking it to one of the Sugar & Spice markets later in the month. I'm hoping to make some cot size bed spreads as well.

Other creative pursuits in our house lately have been making creatures with modelling clay. I love the rainbow affect & the stripey ness !

Rosie made this little girl

& Billy made some aliens!

The kids have been making lots of things lately. They like to watch Mr Maker on ABC 2 & had a lot of fun making ships in bottles last weekend. Rosie is so obsessed with drawing lately & I love the people & creatures she creates, on any surface!

Guess what? There's two new bunnies in the Dandelion shop! One is Miffy and the other is Sunday, both are ever so sweet. I haven't added to the shop for a little while as I've been away & also busy making

things for the markets.

I was so excited on Monday to receive a lovely email from Susan in Philadelphia. Susan has bought three Dandelion bunnies and she sent me an adorable photo of her little Julia playing with them.

They do live on the window sill in their apartment though as Julia is a bit little for the bunnies yet. Apparently she is quite fixated with their ears! So am I! I also had a sweet message from the lovely Mary-Jane in New Zealand. She chose Poppy the bunny for one of her little girls. Mary-Jane is just about to have her fourth baby any tick of the clock...I can't wait to see some photo's. I'm just crazy about babies..now I'm finished having mine I can enjoy everyone elses!

So, that's me for this week. I'm off to check out some other spaces over at Kirstys, see you soon! xo

Saturday night

Today I drove to Ballarat for ballet and then to Woodend in the afternoon to take Lucy to meet my mum. They are off to Hobart tomorrow to visit my brother and his family. For brief moments along the way we experienced Actual Blue Sky. Wow!! I'm feeling a tiny bit of Spring in the air, although it has been freezing most of the time.

What's been happening in your world? My kids have been sick with tummy stuff and now Rosie has a chest infection. Poor thing, she can't stop coughing. So we have been playing lots of games to cheer her up..

and watching our favourite show, Arthur. Gee I love Arthur and his cheery song, it gets me every time.

I can't wait till the weather is better and we can spend more time outside. I miss hanging out more with the pets and playing in the garden.

Can you see Pepper is missing me?

Or is she just looking for scraps? Guinea pigs are such good little waste disposal units. They love all the apples skins and cores and they adore strawberry tops. Between them and the chooks and our rabbit we manage to have very little food waste. And they are so cute aren't they?

Speaking of chooks we have had a recent death in our chook family.

Our beloved rooster, Tiger, broke his leg recently and never really recovered. He staggered around bravely and looked ok for a while but he died overnight on Friday. As Rosie said, "he went to sleep and never woke up." Poor Tiger, I had a little tear or two when I found him as he had been with us since he was an egg and then a dear little chick.

We'll miss you Tiger.

Back in bunny land I had a brain wave (doesn't happen often) re my boy bunnies. I have had a few requests for boy bunnies lately so I'm looking for ideas to make them unique. A quick visit to the opshop and bingo! A cute pair of baby overalls that I turned into bunny overalls. yay!

Once he gets his stripy ears on he'll be looking good. I've also finished a new girl bunny who is hopping over to the shop tonight. Holly is a real sweetie and super cuddly.

What have you been up to this weekend? Did you vote? It's quiet at our house tonight as Mark is over at Phillippa's (please immediately have a look at her latest post...I couldn't stop laughing, she is so funny) election party with Billy & Sunday, Lucy is at Mum's, Char is at a movie with a friend and Rosie is tucked up in bed. I'm going to watch a bit of the election coverage, which could either put me to sleep or keep me up all night! Hope you are warm and snug wherever you are, have a happy Sunday xo

My Creative Space

My creative space today is a jumble, a tower of bunny related bits is threatening to fall off the sewing table and join the debris on the floor. Outside the rain has been falling steadily all week, today we are expecting snow.

There's something pleasing about bunny making in winter. It's a cosy space and I like the zone I get in, kind of meditative and focused.

I need this calm space right now as my house is chaotic. My kids have been sick and the washing is piling up. I need a fairy godmother to appear and make it all go away. In amongst the madness I keep happily and haphazardly making bunnies.

This little Christmas girl will be hopping into the shop shortly and I'm so happy to have finished another one who is heading over to a little girl in Utah soon. It's always a thrill to send bunnies overseas including the three who are destined for Philadelphia, all through my Dandelion shop.

I had fun finishing up Emily who is the first bunny I have made out of black alpaca. She was hard to photograph and looks sweeter in real life, I might even have to keep her as she is so adorable. But for now she is in the shop so do have a look when you get a sec.

Today I hope to get to the Creswick Woollen Mill as I need to stock up on alpaca offcuts. It's always a lucky dip and as I drive into Creswick I am alway slightly anxious that there won't be any colours I like. I really prefer the white and fawn and I'm hoping for some grey today as it's such a lovely bunny colour.

I had to show you this sweet hat that Sue made for Sunday as it's just the most adorable hat and she loves it. What a kind girl you are Sue! Sunday is wearing her hat to school today as it is so cold here. I love that she is being kept warm by a something so stylish, made by hand and gifted with love. Thanks Sue x

I was also really excited this week to see that another Sue, Susan actually, had been to the Melbourne Museum and had posted about the fabulous Federation Tapestries. These tapestries are close to my heart as they were designed by my dad, Murray Walker, during the time my mum was the Director of the Tapestry Workshop. Susan also noticed the small piece that my Charlotte contributed, a little drawing of a house and her name. If you visit the Museum do have a look at these suite of tapestries as they are so rich in colour and imagery & are a great example of the medium of tapestry, each tells a compelling story.

Well I better go now sweeties, I'm late with this post today and need to head off to Creswick. Oh, I guess that means I'm leaving the cleaning up till later... unless that fairy godmother appears while I'm away. Fingers crossed! Pop over to Kirsty's for more spaces, see you soon xo

At my house

Rain, rain, rain.

It's been raining every day, forever it seems. On Friday night while out at dinner I overheard a local farmer saying that the weather usually changes on the 15th of August! And that was yesterday folks, so I"m looking for signs. The days are getting longer and there is a tiny bit of blossom about but I think we are still in for some cold and wintery days.

So to keep my spirits up I'm thinking of all that's good in my world. A big pile of library books..

drawings by Rosie,

and dear little Pearl who was a special gift from gorgeous Jess.

She and Moby are a match made in heaven. I love them both so much and so does Lucy.

I'm also loving this flower keychain that my mum brought back from America. Isn't it sweet?

I'm the type that needs something big and colourful on their keys as I am forever losing them.

Something else that's been happening lately is a film made locally related to the bushfires we had in our area last year. You might remember I entered an exhibition called Not Left Behind which included items that people took with them when they evacuated.

The exhibition was set up by two local artists, Alison Wilken (my wonderful neighbour & friend) and Jeff Stewart. It was an inspiring and moving exhibition and the film is just as powerful. I wanted to share it with you today as the story it tells is the story of our town during this stressful time but I can't seen to upload the film. Grrrr. Any suggestions welcome!

Today as I took the kids to school the sun shone bravely through the clouds! Yay. But not for long....we then had sleet and rain, again. Oh well, it is winter and I guess it doesn't last forever.

What are you up to today? I'm going to try and get through The List and also work on some new bunnies.

My little shop has got off to a great start and I have quite a few custom orders as well! I'm so thrilled, it's just the best feeling knowing that people like my work and respond so enthusiastically to my bunnies. I will be updating the shop this week, look out for Clare, above, as well as her little friend, Rose.

I'm also experimenting with some beautiful black alpaca that has been crying out to be turned into a bunny. I think there is a penguin or two in there as well, if only I could make everything I dream of. At least life is never boring! What's happening at your house today? I'm playing along with Lou Lou, why don't you join me? Hope you have a happy one, beautiful friends xo