October's Giveaway WINNER....

And a drum roll please.....drrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr......THE WINNER OF MY OCTOBER ORIGINAL LINO PRINT GIVEAWAY IS:

Yayyyyy Diane, congratulations. 

Serendipitously Diane was the very first person to enter her name for this giveaway.  Diane, make sure to get in touch with your mailing info and I'll get the print out to you.

Welll, this time I had over 25 people enter for the giveaway, that's pretty good, it was 20 the 1st time...I am hoping to hit at least 30 peeps for Novembers Giveaway!  What will it be??? I don't know yet but I'll make it good so stay tuned for it sometime in the first week of November.

Diane is a talented artist with a blog here, do hop on over for a visit (& tell her Mandy & the buns sent you). 

Thanks for hopping in lovelies.

XO M & The Bunnies...from a painting studio with a new light, yayy...now I can work upstairs in the evenings at a desk which faces our living room fireplace...ahhhh super duper coziness:D

Felt Fun & Whimsy...

I love this time of year because it means the making of items which include delicious coloured felt, buttons, beads & baubles, oh my...

I am in the middle of a few projects but I get so blissed out making my felt stars every year. (you can see some of last years batch here) They are one thing that I don't care if they don't sell...if they don't sell I happily hang them around our house/studio.

Here is my first batch...I made 25 so far (my sore & numb fingertips are being ignored!)...

Every single star was designed & hand-stitched by moi and I made no 2 alike, every single one is unique...I sell them as xmas ornaments but I have mine hanging up all year round, they really add abit of charm and whimsy to any room....

They might make it to the shop, but I must hang onto them for now to fill up my table at an upcoming xmas art and craft sale & possibly for the Art On Main xmas tree, though I have another little project in the works for that bit. 

(Please excuse the darker photos, it's been raining here constantly and I just didn't want to wait for some sunlight to shoot the photos).

I've designed abunch of paper dolls, a new felt doll design to use some of my fantastic antique laces on, AND  I am finally getting to my sewing machine for some more Lagomorph Lovelies....

See you tomorrow for the winner of my October Giveaway. 

Thanks oodles for hopping in.

p.s. I just discovered the music of "Camille", I've no ideal what she's saying but I love love love her sound & style...I am blasting her in the studio today, espeacially this song:D

Vegetarian Delights...

Okay, so I have a question on this super rainy super duper cozy fall day, which always lends to cozier kitchen time...As many of you know, Jonathan and I are both vegetarians and we both love to cook and I often love to take photos of some of our successful dishes.....Here's the question:

Do You Think I Should Start Posting Regularly About The Vegetarian Food We Make & Include Recipes???

For example I recently made this: A White Bean Spinach Soup with Fresh Tomatoes and a Mushroom Saute with Pumpkin Seeds...

Or this Homemade Puff Pasty asparagus and goat cheese pizza with crispy tofu cubes on the side

Or this spicy and yummy Black Bean Soup...

Would you guys want the recipes for any of these things?  or would I be wasting my time. 

The posts would be something like once every 2 weeks...this is an art & bunny blog after all, ha ha BUT I also think the food/recipe bit could also blend in nicely because it does back up my whole belief in cruelty-free living, kindess to animals, etc which is defiantly part of the essence of almost all my artwork.

So you tell me, next time, should I keep our delicious cooking to myself or should I keep taking photos and go the step further and include the recipes???

I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to know your opinions....

XO Mandy & Our Four Fellow Veggie-Heads, Ella Luna, Roo, Jin and Jaks XO

Craft Time With My Munchkin

So yesterday I left my warm little rabbity warren/studio to spend the day with my mom and my niece...Karly and I love doing crafty/artsy things together so whiles the cats quietly slept around us and snow fell gently outside, we happily set up shop at my parents big dining room table to dive into a paint set I brought along and some felt/bauble fun...

It's so cute how she concentrates so hard...

...Here's how her sweet heart felt creation turned out...she was adamant about bringing it home to hang on the tree...

...I am not sure if artistic talent is passed through genes or if it's absorbed and passed through proximity but I suppose however it works she's bound to have some artistic talent/interest with an auntie who's a full time artist, an uncy whose a web designer extraordinaire, a father whose a kick ass tattoo artist, a grandma whose very crafty and a grandpa whose a master woodworker...

...I am proud of my little munchkin and I hope she will always want to do artsy crafts with her Aunt Mandy...

This wasn't my planned post for today but my hearts all warm and fuzzy with love so I had to share, ha ha.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone...keep your tootsies and fingers warm in front of roaring fires, with cozy books and projects, with hot sweet drinks and with some furry soft snuggling...See you next week,

XO M & The Buns.

You Tube Watercolour Up For Grabs

Hi everyone, sorry for missing Monday's post, after a busy weekend with some jurying work, a return of Septembers nasty cold, working the gallery, meetings and a sore head I just wasn't up to composing anything new but I am back again feeling good and really looking forward to a full productive day in my studio. 

Today I wanted to show you the little watercolour that I created in my first You Tube Video...it's a sweet little 5 x7 piece...

This piece is one of a kind, will slide into any of your favourite 5 x 7 frames or mats...and it's up for grabs in my Etsy Shop for anyone interested in purchasing it...

It's companion was just sold but I think this piece stands just as nicely all on it's own.

There, now with this post done and the bunnies all fed, I am off to pop Practical Magic into the dvd player, brew up some cappuccino and get to my easel for a day of painting, than at 4ish I'll hop my little butt into the kitchen to whip up a lasagna for my sweet man and than enjoy an evening of Pysch episodes (which is my favourite show right now) and some felt star stitching (which I'll show you soon)...that's the plan anyhow! 

What are you guys up to today???  Whatever it is I hope you all have a lovely day as well.

See you this Friday most defiantly. 

Be Well....M & The Buns....who are slightly pissy that they can't go outside because it's too chilly & wet!

Mentions & Thank Yous & Maybe Not So Far Away Dreams...

I've been working so hard for quite some time now and on such a limited budget to spread & show my work, art, vision and creations to as large an audience as I can reach...it's going so so slowly but I know this is often the way even for the luckiest/most talented.  I work so hard on my craft because not only do I want to be a successful artist with my work being sought after but also because being a successful artist means I can eventually fund the rabbit sanctuary I've long dreamed of...you know the brilliant giant beautiful place which would lovingly host bunnies rescued from testing labs or bad situations..and well honestly most days that dream feels so very very far away... BUT once in awhile, on what feels like very lucky days, I am talked about or mentioned or someone very kindly features my work or I sell a piece and all this leads to opening my audience just that much more and than my dreams and all the possibilities that go along with it once again shine in my heart with hope....

...Mentions such as these below are exactly what I mean:

I am honoured to have been so kindly mentioned on "The Quilting Garden" blog, her post so totally made my day, thanks Kris.

I was also nicely surprised when I received an email from an 'altruisic etsians boyfriend', saying he included one of my beautiful birds in his treasury...thanks so much fellow etsians boyfriend, ha ha...

That's my blue birdie 4th on the 3rd row down, yayyy little birdie, you caught someones eye...

And last but certainly not least, I was so so excited to have one of my Beautiful Birds featured alongside The Brave Girls Club Daily message...what a treat...

Thank you lovely people, thank you for opening up my dreams when they've been feeling abit jumbled...

It's an insanely huge world full of immense talent and having people mention and support my own little creative venture just means so so much...

Have A Great Weekend & See You Next Week, XXOO M & The Bunnies...

A New Watercolour

Lately I feel like I am in a creative whirlpool...I have no shortage of ideals, in fact maybe I have too many ideas...I am all muddled up and don't know exactly why...I think...I think, it's because I am not working on the pieces piling up in my sketchbook, the ones that make me giddy and keep me up at night...why am I just not diving right in to what I know will be creative bliss?!  I don't know...but I'll figure it out...in the meantime I'll just keep ploughing ahead, what else can one do!

Today I listed this original mixed media in my Etsy shop, it is mostly watercolour with abit of black coloured pencil and white acrylic paint. It is 5 x 7 inches and will/should slide nice and easy into any one of your favourite 5 x 7 frames.  It is a colour study for a larger piece but I think is worthwhile all on it's sweet tiny little self.

(The Original is SOLD) 

What do you guys do when you get in a creative muddle?

Thanks for hopping in...I think it's time to turn the studio heat on soon!  I was hoping to avoid doing do until November but my already frozen fingers are telling me that's not gonna happen.

Have a good day everyone, see you in a couple days.  XO M & The Buns.

A Day In My Life & Thanksgiving

Ahhh...my days very often consist of simple beauty like this...

...Bunnies, drinking orange juice and licking they sweet little lips, ha ha...

...Bunnies, dozing on their little wooden bed in the warm fall sunlight...

...sitting blissfully amid streaming jazz, planning one of my next projects...

...and than 4:00 hits which finds me hopping my little butt into the kitchen to whip up a yummy guilt-free 'chicken' pot-pie...(the rosemary puff pastry on this dish rocks)...

It is Thanksgiving today...Happy Thanksgiving...no chickens or other animals die in the making of our yearly celebration of thanks!...and boy oh boy I am feeling grateful...

See you Wednesday with a new work.

Ondine...A New Painting & Don't UnderValue Your Studio Time...

I am hopping in quickly today to show you a new little painting which I call 'Ondine"...a lovely mystic from the sea...

She is another small 6 x 6 inch mixed media; acrylic paint, with abit of coloured pencil on a collaged kiln dried block of pine, all with a protective satin coating.



The original is available here in my Etsy Shop for anyone interested...she's one of a kind, and full of charm and whimsy so grab her whiles you can (oh and she's a really good price too!)

Hope your week was wonderful...mine was honestly quite difficult with a really bad migraine for 3 of the 5 days but I am lucky enough to be surrounded by beautiful souls like Jonathan and the bunnies who remind me of the beauty in everyday despite the head pain....

...When I have to move slowly for days after a nasty migraine, when I feel sorry for myself, when I complain about losing days to this head drama I endure,  Jon is there with warm hugs and quick reminders that moving slowly throughout my day, laying on the floor abit more with the bunnies, sitting quietly with my favourite music and sketchbook, snuggling up under blankets with my hot water bottles and watching abit more tv than normal is never a waste of time it's just how some of my days are right now...and he's right...he is...SO...yes in it's own beautiful pain-riddled quirky way, it was a good week I suppose....I did get alot of new paintings conjured up...hopefully next week will be better and I can start painting them!...my situation just goes to show that an artist should never ever take studio time for granted! 

See you next week...Have a most excellent weekend.  XO M & Some Well Snuggled Buns.

October's Giveaway...an original

Hi everyone and a very happy Wednesday to you all. 

So today I am having another giveaway...

This time an original piece.  It is one of my lino-cuts which has been hand-burnished/printed onto beautifully textured/soft Stonehenge paper and than I added some colour with coloured pencils and abit of gold paint.

Interested in a chance to win this piece???

There are a few different ways you can enter your name for the draw, you can do just one or you can do them all....Here's how to enter:

-Your name will be entered in the draw once simply by leaving a comment on this post.

-You'll get another entry if you are a follower or become one (please let me know if you already are or if you've just joined up).

-If you sign up to receive my newsletter, you'll get another chance to enter (if you already receive it, again, let me know).

-And if you mention this giveaway on your blog, well that's worth 2 entries (and if your doing so please let me know).

-Lastly, if you link back to me with one of my Blog Buttons on your blog, that is worth another 2 entries (and yeppers again, if your doing this one let me know)

Lots of ways to enter...looking forward to this one...Good Luck.  The Draw is on October 28th 2010.

Outdoor Studio Days Are Numbered...

Brrr...it's getting chilly around these parts...abit too chilly lately to bring everything outside for some serious work...I am abit sad every year to say goodbye to my lovely outdoor space...sure we go out in winter with the buns for a couple hours everyday if it's not too cold, they love the snow but of course it's not the same...so I thought before I start to pack everything up for the winter, I'd show you my beloved outdoor space/studio...

...here's my coloured pencils set up in the large 'gazebo' (which Jon and I made our selves)...

...and here is my easel with a coloured pencil in progress (I am trying to work upright these days to help save my neck and ward of the head pain perhaps, so far I don't notice a difference but I'll keep at it)...

...my favourite colour is red, it's everywhere in our home, and I couldn't resist adding it to the outside too, especially on the garage door...

...I take frequent breaks when working with coloured pencil, because my work is so detailed etc it's important for my hands, eyes and back...so on some of those breaks I'll grab a book and sit on my sweet pink bench by the 'pond' (which has been emptied out for the fall in this shot unfortunately)...

Ella Luna and Roo are always close by...they bask in the sun, play at my feet, bunk & bink, dig holes and nibble on grass all day long as I work, it's just lovely...

...Than there is our upper deck, which I love as much as the big gazebo...(we made this one as well)...
I might take a break or two up here with a book and a cup of tea...

...It's one of Ella's favourite hang outs too...she's there under the red rocker in this shot but you can barely see her, ha ha...she's afraid of the big black crows so it's important that she has lots of things to hide under (even though they couldn't carry her away)...

I spent lots of time out here in the summer....I love it so (despite the hot tub humming of my neighbours!)..the twinkle lights & candles at night are wonderful..

...but usually my main set up for studio work is down in the main spot, that is Roo napping under the table but again you can barely see him...(we also made this table)...

psst....we also made that fountain against the fence (which we also built, ha ha) and the sweet colourful table to the right, we also made...we really take pride in working so hard for our sweet little home...

...Anyhoo...that's where I spend most of my summer days...my outdoor studio if you will, my little slice of heaven (until the hot tubs came into play!)...

Do any of you work outside???  If so feel free to leave a link in the comment section to your outdoor studio spots...

Okay, well before I get productive I am off to enjoy abit of time under a soft warm blanket with a new book and a cappuccino...Hope you have a wonderfully cozy and productive day too...

See you Wednesday for a new giveaway (this one is an original so don't miss out on it) and than Friday for a new work...

XO M & The Buns