Happy Easter everyone!
OMG arent they cute!
This is the biggest litter that Louie and Shayde made together. Oh I would love to have a cuddle with one of these delightful little fellas again!
Wishing you all the very best for Easter!!
lots of love Catherine xoox
This weekend we lost our very quirky bunny Abbey Abstract (one of Louie's daughters)
and our very beloved Louie (who has been with us for about 4 years).
He came to us at 6 weeks of age...
and grew into an adorable bunny full of character....that always made us laugh
Abbey died suddenly Thursday night and Louie was euthanized today. I cried.
Louie was adorable. Such a sweet nature. I miss that fellow. My backyard seems so empty without him. He has been inspirational in my designing too. His sitting silhouette is featured on my pattern Easter Bunnies...and some more projects I have in the wings.....
Myxomatosis is rampant at the moment with all of the rain and warm sunny days we have had. Its meant that there are more mozzies and therefore more of the diseases they carry too. We have been so vigilent with dusk and dawn high risk times - covering them up - bringing them inside at night etc etc.
Tonight when I cut up the veges for dinner I felt extra sad cos for the first time in about 4 years I have no delightful bunnies left to give the carrot peels and broccoli stem too....they used to love that...
The other day after a hot and tiring day at work I came home and found a surprise "white rabbit" waiting for me in the front garden!!
Now that is pretty neat! THANKYOU THANKYOU to the kind person who left the white rabbit beer for me!!
Hm I wanna drink it but
wanna keep it too....
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xo Cath.
PS there is a freebie offer in the previous post - scroll down ;-) !!
You know I love bunnies! There is just something about bunnies that I have always adored!!
I have kept bunnies on and off for many years since I was about 7 years old.
My fav bunny of all time was Billy. I must show you his pic and tell you his story one day. I have a very old fading polaroid of him - and no idea how to transform it into format for here. I rescued him from Police Paddocks @ Rowville one sunny day under a wrecked car bonnet and he was a very very very awesome rabbit!!!! gees I loved that bun!!!
This year, according to the Chinese Zodiac is the Year of the Rabbit. There are 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac and the rabbit is the 4th.
They had lots of rabbits in China and thats why they built that big rabbit proof fence...to keep the rabbits out...they can dig and jump you know!
Did you have a bit of a fiery 2010? Well it was a Tiger year! Apparently, "we should go off to some quiet spot to lick our wounds and get some rest after all the battles of the previous year". Yep I could do that - lick my wounds annointed with salty tears!!!
But take heart cos this year "Money can be made without too much labor." (oh sure! Money has always been hard earnt here - are you serious is there any other way!! would it be appreciated without too much labour anyway??) "Our life style will be languid and leisurely as we allow ourselves the luxuries we have always craved for. A temperate year with unhurried pace. For once, it may seem possible for us to be carefree and happy without too many annoyances".....oh really....fantastic bring it ON for ALL of us I say!!!
We have a few rabbits at our house - real and otherwise. Jordan being born in 1999 is a rabbit...and a bit of googling tells me he is an Earthy Rabbit! He is a very typical rabbit personality and he brings a whole lotta carefree fun and laughter to our family. Wish I was a rabbit. I am a snake. I HATE snakes, that is really crap. Time to lie about my birth year BIG TIME!!!
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Metal Rabbits – Years 1951 and 2011
Metal gives Rabbits more strength, resilience and determination. Metal Rabbits are more intense in their actions, whether they’re work-related or romantic.
Like the currents, Water Rabbits prefer to go with the flow, avoiding conflict at all costs, even in situations that are bothersome. It’s easy to take advantage of Water Rabbits. They’re very supportive of others.
Wood Rabbits occupy their time doing for others; always feeling the need to make others content. This generosity is easy for others to take advantage of and sometimes Water Rabbits don’t even realize its happening.
Fire adds spark to the Rabbit’s personality. Fire compels Rabbits to seek new adventures. Prone to tantrums, Fire Rabbits prefer to avoid conflict.
Earth Rabbits are grounded in reality. Their advice can be harsh, but honest. (yeah like the times Jordan tells me my bum is fat) Home life is important to Earth Rabbits as are money and material goods.
So its the year of the Rabbit and it seems some people are going out and buying real bunnies (especially white ones) just for good luck. That is ssssooooo dumb. Would you buy a pet rat/pig/ox/snake solely cos it was 'their year' and you thought it might bring you some luck?
OWNING A RABBIT IS NOT LIKE OWNING A CAT....
(I should know we have 2 of each! 2 rabbits and 2 cats.) Oh yeah they are cute and furry and about the same size. End of similarity right THERE.
the gorgeous view I have had for the past week!!
This was our balcony (one of 3! spoiled rotten!!) where we have been kicking back and watching the surf roll in.
The beach was beautiful...and we had so much of it to ourselves....
I have been busy here when able, working on some projects...
this is one I have been wanting to do for a while
this is the BONUS extra mini stitchery that will be accompanying the main design in my Robin's Nest pattern from now on....
I kept the colour palette simple - red fonts, blue eggs and the rest antiqued brown. It will go perfectly into a 6" sq frame. Pretty pleased with that.
Here is another design I have had in my hands a lot....sweet bunnies and hearts needleturn appliqued. It has a cheerful vintage feel about it that really makes me smile. More than ever I am finding that quilts made entirely from one fabric range are a bit safe...and they just dont look yesterday enough for me.
The fabrics are mostly Savannah - with ring ins added from my stash. I know that one of the endearing things that I love about vintage quilts is their almost makedo fabric choices.
Another reason this one makes me smile is that Louie provided the rabbit silhouette for me - although I had to change the ears on my design and make them stand up - cos his lop - and he looked like a strange square headed bunny with no ears unless I did.
We have had Louie since he was 6 weeks old and he is very sweet. Thats him on the right.
I have also taken the time this week to create a new catalogue. Just a few finishing touches and it will be ready some time next week. I am going to add a modified one here to my blog as a PDF. You will be able to view - click and save - email on to your friends - and print.
xo Catherine
I know I have shared lots of bunny pics this year - this is the last one!
This Bunny Tale is especially for my friend Shell of the Raspberry Rabbits who is a big bunny fan too. Make sure you check out her blog and adventures in Bunnyville....
awwhhhhhhhh he is sssssooo cute! So who is this little fellow?
I nicknamed him Peter Pan because he doesn't want to grow up. He just wants to stay a little bunny. He has one odd ear that sticks up straight and the other one lops (they are supposed to BOTH lop) so he is a funny little fellow.
Here he is with his mummy Shayde to give you an idea of how much smaller he is than his parents....
xo Cath
Don't be silly bunnies don't come in blue!
Oh... but these ones do....
Arent they CUTE! How lucky am I? Kim sent me this vintage ribbon in my fav colour with gorgeous bunnies cos she knows I really love them - and she even included the original label - cos she knows I even like them too!! WOW thanks KIM!!!!!!!! How perfect! xoxo
Here is Louie relaxing in the shade. Not matter how many times I have seen this pose with his legs sticking out the back it still makes me smile. He is a funny boy.
xo Cath
I just have a bit more to do to secure the stems and its all done. I love the smooth finish that needleturn applique gives. I created the stems with a Clover Bias stem maker(1/4" width) and I use Roxannes Baste It to lightly secure all the pieces in place. I have been looking out for the new specialty one in UHU gluestick format - but haven't found it yet. Has anyone tried it? Do you know a stockist? I just thought they might be easier to use than the bottles - getting the last bit out is tricky. Hhmm looks like that stem on the far left needs to move further right. Thats ok I can move all 3 on the left - thats what these prelim ideas are for xo
Not sure what the next stage is with this design. I will gradually work the other 3 needle punch designs in applique to the same size and decide then.
I am thinking this design might look good in some olde worlde fabric too....and wouldnt 1930's be fun...
Here is Shayde and her big brood of 9 today enjoying a romp in the garden. Now that they are bigger we use the 6 modular pieces that usually form 4 sides and the 2 piece roof to make a super big area with 6 sides and no roof. We utilize the side of Brian's workshop and create a semi circle off that. It encircles my raised oval garden bed that has a large weeping cherry in the centre. This is a bit like putting kids in a Willy Wonker's chocolate factory! They dart in and out of the daisies and eat everything and have a ball all day.
They are 6 weeks old on Monday and so they will be leaving us this week to find new loving homes. If you are local and would like to buy one ($30 each) - send me an email ;-) You will have to be quick. The local pet shop will buy them ALL from us and they sell them for around $70 each...and they sell fast too - they will all be adopted within a few days - as this particular breed is always in high demand. All bunnies adopted ;-)
Our mini lop x bunnies are super sweet and friendly. They are well accustomed to being handled, very cuddly and plush. Their fur does not matt and they require no grooming. In the next week or so their ears will all lop to the sides like Louie and Shayde's.
Bunnies are lovely pets!! We love our bunnies!!
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xo Cath
PS. Hi 'JoyPatch' my emails to you keep bouncing back but I have been trying :-0
Meg of Shep - where are you?? I am hoping to catch up with you soon at the Anam Cara SewJourn!!
xoxox Cath (who had help to set up this shot with a 'Rabbit Whisperer Apprentice' - thanks Jordan!!)
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We are heading away for part of the school hols. Anyone interested in baby bunny sitting??? (Email me for all the details).
xoxo Cath
PROJECTS: I have been working on a few larger projects lately. Here is a sneaky peak at one of them. This is about 1/6 of it. Since I took this pic a few days ago I have started piecing all the individual blocks together - here they are just roughly pinned to the flannel.
This quilt has involved making lots of red and cream quarter square triangles and I have been perfecting the technique of getting those little monkeys perfectly aligned at the centre.
PINCUSHIONS: This pincushion cube is called Sugar Cube . Bronnie got me started on these - thanks Bron ;-). I made this one from some left over Moda Swell from a jelly roll quilt.
and then I made one from an old doyley - which I think is very cute and vintage. I will definately make some more of these - LOL!
If you want to make one from from a doyley too - here are some clues. Fussy cut the pieces and observe the fabric grain. Remember the button goes in the centre so you don't want a flower or something right there and blocked out. Back the pieces first with Weaveline or they will fray like crazy.
My favourite bit is choosing the 6 vintage buttons to complete it...
PUNCHKINS: And now for the Punchkins....(thats what Jordan has nicknamed the bunnies)
we did lose one which was sad - I think he rolled away from the pack, got cold and missed out on being fed ;-( but the remaining 9 are doing really well.
Shayde has had some well deserved "mummy time out" today and had a big romp around in the large day pen that Brian built them a while ago. Its lovely to see them run around on the grass and lie in the spring sunshine. They dig holes a bit but I don't mind. They're not trying to escape - they are just being bunnies. Now daddy Louie is having his turn. The boys made them a bridge which they just love to hop along and run under. They have also been given one of my potplants to nibble. Good thing I am not precious about that - they have made quite a mess of it! Every few days we move the pen so that they always have new scenery and fresh grass. It also gives the bit where they have been time to recover.
ox Catherine
