Happy Holidays

Happy Christmas Everyone...

Wishing you all much light, love, kindness, warmth, happiness, good health, much luck & abundance over the holidays and in the New Years....

(here are some of my old Xmas Illustrations)

I'll be hopping in quickly to draw and announce the December giveaway winner on December 30th, aside from that I'll be seeing you all in the New Year.

XO From me and my family to you and yours, Mandy, Jonathan, Ella-Luna, Roo-Boo, Jinny & Jaks XO

Ghost Girl Inga with quite the story

I need to introduce one more Ghostly Girl before we break for holidays....

Her name is Inga and she comes from a place in Europe called Tengan-Talh, where the air smells like the colour of blue because of all the sweet grapes & blueberries growing on every single tree & bush. 
Inga had one of the most important jobs in that village, she lived on the mountain-top and was the head sheep shepherdess.

You see Tengan-Talh besides being famous for their fabulous smelling air is also famous for their magical sheep.  The Tengan-Talh sheep have the softest fleece in the world and the sweetest sounding ba's, one touch of their cloud like coats or one note of their sweet ba's and the hardiest of insomniacs would be lulled most gently into dreamland.

It was Inga's job to keep the precious Tengan-Talh sheep safe and sound as they spent their days roaming the mountain tops, eating blueberries and grapes to their hearts content.  At the end of a long lovely day, Inga would curl up next to some of her fleecy friends for a couple hours of shut eye (she only needed about 2 hours a night).  Than she would spend the early part of the evening singing to the sheep as they took their lavender infused baths & they would spend the warm evenings laying in the soft star-lite fields drinking hot cocoa with honey. 

There is more to her story but we'll save that for another time...

Inga wanted me to tell you that she is still a sheep shepherdess,  she still watches over her precious Tengan-Talh fleecies, just in a ghostly manner, but don't worry one bit for the sheep are never afraid,  they know it's her wisping by because they recognize Inga's lovely singing voice & sense her extra kind heart...

Ha ha, I had such fun with Inga (There is defiantly a kid's book in the works here I believe)

Prints of the first 4 Ghost Girls are available in my Etsy and ArtFire shops.

Thanks for visiting with me Inga & the bunnies...Dream of Inga and you'll sleep sweetly...

See you tomorrow for my last post before holidays....

XO Mandy & 4 bunnies anxious to rip into their Xmas presents XO

Treasuries, Collections & Newsletters, Oh My!

I think I could be listed in 10 Etsy Treasuries or ArtFire Collections a day and each and every single one would still tickle me pink, because really it's an honour to have my work selected for these cool groupings when I know there are thousands and thousands of other artists to choose from...

So a big thanks to all the lovelies who have included my birds & fish in their December Treasuries....

My December newsletter just went out by email.  If your interested in receiving my monthly email newsletter but have yet to sign up, it's easy peasy, quick and simple to do so, just hop in right here.

Just 3 more posts and than I am off for 2 weeks of holidays...it's going to be completely weird to not blog almost every day but I'll come back to you refreshed, excited & with oodles of new work/projects to show.

Thanks for popping by and I'll see you all tomorrow.

XO M & The Snow Shark Bunnies XO

p.s.  Don't forget to enter your name for my December Giveaway which is a print of your choice from my Etsy or Artfire shops.

Ghost Girl Bette

A new ghostie girl is quietly drifting in to introduce herself today...

Her name is Bette...

...she is a gal who wants not much more than a warm home with a giant oven in it because her favourite thing in the world is to bake sweet smelling goodies all day long.  Cinnamon knots are her speacilality.  She loves to share all of her baked sugary goodness so if your ever in your kitchen and you smell some Cinnamon waft ghost like past your nose that might be Bette offering up some of her goods or simply popping in on your kitchen to see what confectionery goodness your up too...

...and yes she does where such fancy hats whiles baking, she told me that there's no reason for a lady's head to go unadorned even whiles in the heat of the kitchen....

(Prints Will be Available by the end of this week.  The first 2 ghost girls are now in my Etsy shop)

Have a wonderful day and hope you don't have too much last minute xmas shopping to do.

XO M & The Xmas Bunnies.

Some Simply Sunshine-y Thingies...

Some lovely and simple things that are making my heart giddy this week...

...seeing my bird lino cut framed up & hanging on a lovely supporter's lovely wall of art...

...This incredible book by Jane Goodall...and well just Jane Goodall's existence in this world of ours...

...this fab necklace I treated myself to a couple months back...

...the best cookie jars ever that grace our kitchen...and coffee and soup....

...This little original watercolour by a local artist, Edna Scott that I just had to treat myself to & put in a sweet white frame in our dining room...



....One of the best thrift store finds yet...this gorgues wicker basket which I picked up for $2.99! & which now houses all of Jonathan's mitts, hats and scarves...

....AND last but not least,  this beautiful hand soap bottle I snagged the other week...the soap smells delicious but it's the illustration by Anahata Katkin (one of my favourite artists)  that gave me a sharp intake of breathe, an increased heart beat & the 'ohhh I gotta have it' rushing out of my mouth, ha ha...



Simple things, but there ya got it...what's making you happy lately???

XO M & The Bunnies who are anxious for their mama to go on holidays from the studio!

Ghost Girl Sonatina

Another Ghostie Girl....

This one's name is 'Sonatina'...

...If you hear a tinkling of piano keys late on summer nights, it could be Sonatina playing you a lullaby soft as a feather because though she rarely ever sleeps herself, she does love to soothe others into dreamland...

Prints are forthcoming...psst, and they'll be a really great price as well...

XO from a chilly Bijou/Mandy & 4 snowed in bunnies XO

Ghost Girl "Audra"

I've been working on a new series, it's something abit different for me, they are colourless & cool wispy ghost girls....I've really enjoyed working on them and have 8 or 10 drawn up so far...

The originals will be framed up and sold at the Art On Main Gallery I show at here in town...

This gals name is Audra...

...If your ever walking in a green fresh forest & you feel a whisper of coolness pass you by, it could just be sweet and beautiful Audra on one of her forest walks, she loves to collect pine cones & fallen feathers for her hats but sometimes she gets a tad lonely so she may chose to walk alongside you for a spell...

There will also be prints available in my Etsy Shop & ArtFire Shop by the end of this week...

I am thinking of giving myself some Christmas Holidays, the first time since the inception of this 'creative business' of mine.  I'll take the same 2 weeks my honey has off & I will still be creating of course but I think just abit of time away from the online world may be a positive thing. 
BUT, Tell me, will you all still be here if I disappear for 2 weeks???

p.s. Another Ghost Girl peeks in to introduce herself this Thursday

XO M & 4 quiet bunnies.

New Baby Bunny Stuffies

I recently designed a new little stuffed toy with the intent of sending one to my best friends little bean.  It turned out so sweetly & well I just adore working with felt so I made a small batch to put in my Artfire Shop.

They are made from recycled felt & recycled stuffing...100% Eco-Friendly. 
It felt weird not to adorn them with beads or buttons but then again they are meant to be baby friendly...


The blue guy is available Here, The beige one Here & the grey one is Here...grab them if your interested because there are only 3 currently made & I am not sure when or if I'll make more.

Do you think their as sweet as I do???

XO M & My Snow Romping Bunnies...

p.s. Don't forget to enter your name for my December's Giveaway.

Birthdays...

Today I am hopping in because it's a special special day for today two of my dearest and most favourite peeps are celebrating the day they came into this world....

...HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my Jonathan, who gets more amazing which each new year...

 ...and to our Ella-Luna, our little black beauty is turning a most brilliant 7...

....if you put your ear to my heart you would hear it thumping...'Jon, Ella, Jon, Ella, Jon...."

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY LOVES.

XO

Your M.

December Giveaway...A PRINT OF YOUR CHOICE

Hi Everyone...today is the beginning of my December Giveaway...

This month the prize to win is:

Any Print Of Your Choice From My Etsy Or Artfire Shops.

Here's How You Can Enter Your Name For The Draw:

You can do 1 or all of these options...

1- Leave a comment on this post = 1 entry

2- Visit my Etsy Shop or my ArtFire Shop & tell me what your favourite image is = 1 entry

3- Sign up for my monthly email newsletter = 1 entry

4- Follow me on Twitter = 1 entry

5 - Join my Fans of Bijou's Whimsy on Facebook = 1 entry

6 - Become one of my blog 'followers' = 1 entry

7 - Place either of my blog buttons on your blog(they are available on my sidebar) = 2 entries

8 - Mention this giveaway on your blog = 2 entries

Many ways to win...just don't forget to tell me which ways your entering & if your already a follower, etc...

The Winner will be announced on December 30th 2010.

GOOD LUCK & Thanks.

XO M & the bunnies with 16 sweet feet with freshly clipped claws.

Inspiring Roo

I get such a kick out of our Roo-Boo...

...we are on a mission to get a photo of him when he rolls over & sleeps flat on his back but this side-ways nap is all we've managed to snap a photo of...he's elusive & sneaky that way...it's like trying to catch a good shot of a rabbit yawning, which they do alot but the camera never seems near by when they do, ha ha.

 He's inspired a new series...(I know, for someone who started out so reluctant to do any series work at all, I have so many series on the go now, ha ha)...these will be acrylic washes on birch...I am hoping they'll turn out sweet, simple, & soft like our Roo...

Have a superbly fantastic day everyone...

"Being Happy Doesn't Mean Everything Is Perfect.  It Means That You've Decided To Look Beyond The Imperfections"....loving this quote right now...

XO M & Some Very Inspiring Bunnies...

p.s. End Of This Week Will Be Another Giveaway. 

Photos From City Streets Sale...

Happy Monday All...I hope your doing well & feeling joyful & warm...

Just wanted to hop in and share a few shots from the sale I did last Saturday, it was nothing fancy but as with everything I put oodles of work into getting prepared...it was a successful day, with over 250 people visiting our one spot alone...

My set up was kept simple & my main display was 5 trellis thingies from the garden which I used to display my rabbit & star ornaments on....

 I also had a small display of some original works...& a sign up for my newsletter available...

...I have to send a big Thank You shout out to my Jonathan who took all the photos & kept me good company all day because I admit I was a tad grumpy from a really bad headache I had to contend with all day....

...BUT I did meet lots of lovely people (rabbit eating 'jokes' aside!!!)  and it's always a boost when you hear someone say "Oh, I know your work, nice to meet you finally", or 'I am a big fan"...ha ha....so a big giant thank you to all who did come out, you made the day lovely & the efforts of such a sale/show defiantly worthwhile.

It's always interesting to see what will sell, because you just never know.  Last year I sold lots of cards & stars.  This year only 1 star, hardly any cards but tons of my little glass mount necklaces...which I think look so sweet in the new packaging I just finished up last week...

(Remaining necklaces will be sold if my Etsy & Artfire shops soon.) 

So that's about all for today...I am hoping to get to my coloured pencils today but first my trusty heating pad & hot water bottles...the headpain continues today.  I have had a bad week for head pain & just this morning my back went into spasm (it does this every couple of months at the slightest inprovocation & most inopportune times of course!), so I must also send out a big 'Ugh' & 'Arrrgh' out into the blogosphere. 

Hope your having a pain-free & extra cozy day...

XO M, whose abit grumpy & 4 very ungrumpy bunnies who are nice & cozy warm & full of Cheerios XO.

Tiny Bird 1 Illustration & Tiny Canvas and Easel

I have a sweet new image to show you...

It is a new little series I am working on called 'Tiny Birds'. 

They are tiny coloured pencils measuring only 2 & 3/4 x 2 & 3/4 inches.  The originals will be sold at first at the Gallery but there are prints available for purchase here in my new ArtFire Studio.  The prints are abit bigger than the originals and measure a sweet 4 x 4 inches.

Note:  I finally treated myself to a new printer and now I am happy to announce that all my prints are now being printed on lovely 140 pound artists watercolour paper, this new paper is simply divine, giving the prints a beautiful weight.

This little cutie is also available as a tiny mounted print on a teeny tiny canvas that comes with it's own teeny tiny easel...aren't they darling...

These little guys are also available right here in my ArtFire Shop...

I've been sketching up a storm with new ideals for illustrations, it feels soooo good to get back to some drawing & colouring, 'ahhhhh...', & there is a blissful studio day ahead of me full of it, extra 'ahhhh'...

...but first a coffee...

XO M & The Box Eating Bunnies

Novembers Giveaway Winner

...And a Drum Roll Please...Drrrrrrrrr......

...yayyy Karen, Congratulations

Email me (mandysaile@bijouswhimsy.com) with your mailing address & I'll get the little painting on it's way to you.

Karen is a fellow rabbit mama to sweeties Ginny & Weasley, a crafter, an artist & a lovely lady whose been visiting me here on this blog for awhile now & the sweetie who asked if I'd be selling prints of this guy for the unlucky who didn't win , well you don't have to worry about buying a print now Karen, ha ha (& the answer is yes there will be prints in my Artfire Shop) I am so glad she's won. 

Hop over to her blog 'Rabbit's Eat Quilts' and have a visit & tell her Mandy & th buns sent ya:D

Have a great day everyone...I am at working the gallery all day today and I think I'll post again this Thursday instead of the usual Wednesday, see you then.

XO M, whose missing the furries back at home.

Bunnies Want to Show You Something...

The 4 bunnies of the Saile-Peterson warren & my Jonathan think that today's post should show everyone what the buns typical nightly dinner look like...

My daily routine for well over 12 years now has been to get up & immediately head into the kitchen to feed the swarm of starving long earred!  They get a big breakfast of some kind of cereal (they are bonkers for Cheerios ) or raw oatmeal, abit of kale (their fav) abit of parsley (to keep the digestion strong), some swiss chard & lots of red or green lettuce...

For afternoon or early evening snacks they get a rotation of wheat crackers, carrot top, romaine lettuce, spinach, hard carrot sticks, hay blocks, in the summer a pile of thick bladed grass & every 3rd or 4th day a nice big pile of alfalfa...and always & most important is a constant & ready supply/variety of fresh hay.

The nights however provide the biggest meal and their favourite...around 10pm when the bunnies start finding you wherever you are in the house & start nudging your legs and feet, you know it's getting close to dinner time, ha ha...so whiles I do my nightly duties of cleaning bunny potties (which there are a few of!) and sweeping/vacuuming/cleaning the floors, refolding bunny chew blankets, repiling bunny toys, reconfiguring bunny boxes/forts...Jonathan is in the kitchen making their dinners...

...he starts them off with small bowls of unsweetened juice, usually orange or pineapple...than he proceeds to make four bunny dinners which look something like this...

...the nightly usual is a medley of: more Swiss chard (sometimes red but they prefer the normal green), carrots (which are always the last thing eaten), a medley of lettuces, spinach (if they haven't gotten it for a snack already), carrot top (usually the first thing eaten), dill,  dandelion, sprigs of rosemary, more parsley, beans & peas, arugula, blueberries & raspberries (for the antioxidants), tomatoes, escarole, endive....there is sometimes a new addition if the stores are carrying kholrabi for example but typically every night this is what our bunnies eat...

...they also get more than half of it in organic...in our house the bunnies get priority over veg & we're at the grocery store pretty much every 2nd day!...but we think they deserve to eat like little kings & queens...

...so from the gourmet rabbit kitchen, we're wishing you all a good and warm day...

XO M, J & Jaks (whose always a tad teethy/nippy, ha ha), Jin (whose always nothing but extra sweet), Ella Luna (who currently has her abscess full of manueka honey and is in her sweater so she can't eat the honey & therefore abit miserable!) & Roo Roodofolus (whose giving his girlie Ella lots of kisses & snuggles to make her feel better)...