New Prints Now Available

Just hopping to let you all know that these older inspirational coloured pencil designs

of mine are now listed as prints in my Etsy shop...

Kindly spread the word if you think they are beautiful and would perhaps cheer somebody's day.

See you on Monday

XO Mandy of Bijou's Whimsy

Illustration Friday "Atmosphere"

I usually like to keep the stuff I show you on this blog in the present tense BUT when I saw that this weeks' Illustration Friday theme was "Atmosphere" I felt I had the perfect image for the topic & it is still one of my favourite coloured pencils...so I didn't think you'd mind seeing an oldie!

(A print is indeed available in my Shop, click here if your interested)

This illustration was conjured up way back in 2004 when I read a national geographic article about how insects and especially bees can actually change our planets weather patterns & atmosphere, it was very interesting, slightly scary and defiantly inspiring read...

Have a fantastic weekend everyone....See you Monday.

Old Illustration 'Joy, Find It In Everyday"

I am popping in quickly today to share one of my older coloured pencil images with you. I picked this to share today because it's a sentiment that I firmly believe many of us are lacking in...and it's a sentiment that I know I myself follow blindly...

..."Find Joy in Every Single Day", because at the end of the day all we have are our truths, our own beliefs and the large or small things that we decided to feel blessed and happy for and about...not always an easy sentiment, but I believe a very important one...Have a Happy Day Everyone and see you at tomorrow's post.

Wishing My Sweetie A Happy Birthday

Today is a special day...it's my sweeties 33rd Birthday. A day to celebrate this most awesome, caring, unique, strong, intelligent, loving, handsome, giving, supportive, romantic, inspiring and wonderful person and bunny daddy who've I've been lucky and blessed to have as my partner for 15 years now. Ten lifetimes wouldn't ever be enough time with my special guy and I am just hoping that though this birthday will be a quiet one (at his request) that it will still be memorable and good.

I created this illustration a few years ago for my Jonathan, for Love, for Partnership, for the Beauty and Grace and Blessings such a complete love brings...Happy Birthday my love, from Your Bijou and Ella-Luna, Roo, Hazel and Jin...Happy Birthday.

Christmas Time...Happy Happy Joyful Time...

Good Tuesday all. I have to admit to missing Monday's post because I was too busy refinishing an old desk which I am excited to show you for tomorrows post. For today, I thought we'd celebrate the official beginning of Christmas with a Christmas Illustration I created last year for my greeting card line. It is called "May the Spirit of Christmas Find You"

I have to be realistic and most likely will not be getting the xmas cards or prints in the shop or onto the new website in time for this holiday...but the good news is that there will be a good assortment ready and early for next season!

Admittedly as I get older, Christmas and the holidays takes on alot more melancholy, reflection and naturally some sadness...but I think that luckily and thankfully most of us can feel these things grow and learn from them hopefully and that they only help to lend to an even more wonderful, festive, happy, joyful and appreciated holiday season. I am proud and happy that Jonathan and I are learning to adapt and move ahead more heartily every year despite missing the ones who had to leave us during these months.

I am glad that this year finally we've gotten it through our heads that presents are the last important thing and just being together and perhaps going out skiing together than coming back to our cozy home and settling in with a roaring fire, wine, good food and healthy bunnies will indeed be enough for us this year.

I hope you enjoy my holiday illustration...until tomorrow, be well and happy creating...and happy holidays too.

An Old Illustration "Bunny Christmas"

Hi all, I am sorry but with the horrible week I've had thus far with migraines, posting an older image is about all I can manage for today's post.

We've been getting alot of snow though so it's defiantly feeling like Christmas around here. This is an older coloured pencil illustration of mine and seems to be one of my best selling holiday cards so far. The cards are all hand made, hand glittered and sparkly and if I must say so myself....fantastic.

I plan to put some holiday card sets in the shop early next week but for now I must be off and get some work done whiles there's a lull in the constant pain....until tomorrow, Be Well and hope your feeling better than I am! XXOO Mandy.

An Old Illustration & A Gift In The Mail

Good Tuesday all. Because it's been a crazy few days I haven't had time to do anything creative. I've been puttering around the house, trying to get things organized for fall etc...moving plants inside because it's just getting too damn cold out there at night. And, I've just been spending alot of time with the bunnies. Jonathan and I have both agreed that we've both been too busy and the bunnies need some more face time so right now that is my priority. But in hopes of getting some smaller pieces done this week, for now, let me show you an older illustration of mine. A small 6"x6" coloured pencil on board.

Also, the spoiling continues...any green-eyed monsters stop reading here, ha ha...

Jonathan has taken to sending me a slew of surprises in the mail again and what fun it has been. I think he loves the squeals of delight especially. Everyday for about 5 or 6 days I got a new package in the mail so over the next few days I'll share with you my new treasures from my sweet sweet Jonathan. This was the first to arrive...a tiny, non-descript package with little gems hidden inside (and nicely & sweetly wrapped I must add).

They are from Once Upon An End, she has some lovely little things in her store, She also has a blog here. As a stationary junkie, I just love them...though lately I have curbed my appetite and collection quite abit. I was going to send these little beauties to friends but then I love the fact that Jonathan picked them out just for me, so I think I'll hang them in my studio somewhere...right now they are a delight on the fireplace mantel. Nothing much else is new really, I disbanded my 'Fan's of Bijou's Whimsy' page over on facebook, it was gaining no momentum, I am getting sick of facebook and I just can spend my time better elsewhere, so for all those reason I've canned it. I am looking into my space pages and/or flickr now, so I'll let you know if I do anything with that. Yesterday was wonderful, as exhausted as I felt, I did get a few things around the house done and than at 3:00, the bunnies and I went outside, it was quite windy but a nice warm wind and sunny so I spread out a big blanket on the grass, and wrapped in blankets and a thick sweater and scarf, and with my trusty zen player, I took a snooze. It was so blissful to awaken about 20 minutes later, I slowly opened my eyes, the breeze rustling everything around me, and there not 3 feet away was Ella and Roo all stretched out in the grass too, eating away looking so content. That was just a perfect moment in time. What came next was perfect also....my wonderful honey through the garden gate with Chinese take-out and a smile on his face...what could have been better! Health scares and stressful events are also a quick and easy reminder to us of what is really important in life. I love the fact that Jonathan and I get through these things as a most wonderful team, in support of one another the whole way through. And on this lovely afternoon, with the bunnies near by, take-out and each other, we could honestly feel, atleast for that moment in time, that all was perfect and right in our little world. So with that...I wish you many beautiful moments throughout today. Happy Creating...and Living.

Squirrel Tales, An Old Illustraton, and Something Wooden

Well it's Thursday, which for us is our 'Friday', it's been a crazy week with house projects and I am honestly just feeling pooped. Not to mention the very rainy and humid weather is just making my migraines worse and more frequent, but I am proud of myself as I am spending little time in bed with my trusty ice and heat packs and I am just grinning and bearing it and ploughing forward getting lots done.

This weekend my dear friends Lisa and Jon and their two sweet boys Noah and Ben are coming in for the weekend so I am very excited to see them. And my old friend Bruce is coming into town too so I am looking forward to catching up with this old chum, who I have greatly missed.

So for today, because I am not ready to show you any new work quite yet. I am choosing this older illustration of mine for 2 specific reasons.

1 - Because even after all these years (it was created in 1999) I still love this image of mine. It reflects a strong belief of mine, which is...to fully be able to give to others and nurture and nourish other's souls, you first have to tend and be kind to your own. Right now, with all the pain I endure with my headaches, I am just giving myself alittle bit extra time to either sit and snuggle the bunnies, more time to stretch and yogify, and just abit more time to sit with a tea and read. I am allowing myself more time to just be still and breathe and let go of my worries and stresses. I am also allowing myself to divert from my usual routine abit more than usual, and spend some time on the house, just organizing and cleaning and re-arranging because doing so always relaxes and centers me.

2 - Because I am thinking of my friend right now...I won't mention her name in case she doesn't want anyone to know...but she is going through chemo right now and after a rough couple of years, she's remaining strong and focused on taking care of herself and I am proud of her. With the selection of this image today, I am also sending her good vibes and thoughts and hope that she continues to honour herself and her body at this rough time.

On to lighter topics...we are having abit of a 'problem' with chipmunks and squirrels running rampant in our house! We seem to be chasing one or the other out atleast 3 times a day. Yesterday, I walked out of the bedroom, to see Ella and Roo all stretched out on their hallway carpet watching a chipmunk, who was sitting right in the middle of their bowl eating their morning oatmeal and pellets!

Today, I saw that the squirrel Rudy, had taken to the kitchen counter to snack on a banana!! and last night...I discovered that my last piece of delicious dark chocolate...one I had been saving all day, had suddenly disappeared and since Jon is the only other one in the house tall enough to reach the kitchen counter and he didn't eat it, and I didn't eat it...again the suspected thief is the squirrel Rudy!

The other year, my nice little wooden honey sticks would go missing. I had the habit of leaving my morning dishes outside on the back deck until the end of the day. No one believed me, everyone thought I just misplaced them. Yet that fall, when Jon was stacking wood in the wood shed, what did he discover but my honey sticks, nicely chewed and nicely piled on a shelf in the shed...alongside a beautiful collection of my sunflower heads, which had also suddenly been stolen one day that same summer, ha ha! Now with the missing chocolate piece, I wonder what else they are going to start stealing from inside the house!

I wanted to share this photo with you, I took it yesterday morning...a Cone Flower on our new little deck, I just love the texture.

Anyhow, as I was taking this shot, Rudy the squirrel hopped down from the roof on to the the table where my lovely little breakfast was waiting for me.

He looked at me for a minute and I said "What do you think your doing mister", well he was quite sure of his plan because without hesitation he jumped up onto the side of my bowl...surveyed what layed within, and then grabbed a big strawberry and then just sat there on the table eating it, not even a foot away from me....I guess I had an uninvited guest for breakfast.

And the other day, I saw the cutest cutest cutest little dormouse hopping into the garage...I just love all the critters running around our home, it just makes me feel so content. In that same theme, I've been sketching alot of ideals out for illustrations based on my hero Jane Goodall.

Okay, enough about squirrels....lastly for today I wanted to show you this beautiful necklace I just got.....again yes from Etsy, my favourite place to shop.

It is from Ashlee Rising over at "Natural at Heart". This wooden medallion is so nice and light and I just love the intricate beautiful design. I think as a 'carpenter's daughter' I love all things wooden and when I saw these necklaces I just had to have one...you can't beat the price at about $9.00 a pendant..check them out at http://www.naturalatheart.etsy.com/ .

Well, that's about all for this week...we are back on 'holidays' and off to another busy weekend. Be Well everyone, thanks for taking the time to visit me and please come back next week.

An Old Illustration to share with you

Hi Everyone, today was so lovely and I was reminded of an important and old adage "Seize The Day". The skies were quite stormy looking but it was still a beautiful day with many flowers blooming and birds chirping, the sound of the pond and a gentle wind rustling all the trees. I almost didn't go outside but I thought, today is the perfect weather for myself and the rabbits, not to hot, not to cold with wind to keep the mosquitoes away. So, instead of staying inside from worry that it would rain any minute, I hustled all four rabbits outside, including myself and my coloured pencils and we just had a glorious afternoon working away and playing outside. Hazel was so sweet and kept falling asleep with her little nose twitching away in the air only to be woken by the cawing crows, then she'd fall asleep again as soon as she heard my assuring "Hazel, it's fine, your too big for them to steal" ha ha. So yes, I was reminded that you should just not worry and do things anyways because the outcome may be wonderful or at least something to learn from...and in my case today, a perfect working day surrounding by happy bunnies and not a drop of rain.

So anyhow, I can go on and on can't I, even about the simplest things! I hoped to have new imagery to show you today but I just don't, everything I am working on currently takes longer than 1 or 2 days and a couple of the images are a surprise which I can't share with you all quite yet. So as I am still in the mode of Saturday's tea party, I have selected this older illustration of mine to share with you today. It is full of whimsy, fairies, mother nature and living trees, I hope you like it. I did this image long ago as a cover ideal for "Emily of New Moon", because I grew up just adoring all of L.M. Montgomery's fictional works. This one is done in pastel with coloured pencil on canvas. I am really hoping that tomorrow I'll finally be able to introduce a new friend.

Friday's Here With An Older Illustration

Good Friday Everyone. We've had a few lovely days full of sunshine and thankfully not-intolerable heat but today is gloomy and looks like it will rain any minute which I am actually happy about because I have too much to get done to worry about the outdoors beckoning me to 'come hither' ha ha.

Since I've been busy with some other secretive things:D which I can't share with you this week...let me show you another old favourite of mine "Home" which is the coloured pencil study for one of my most favourite paintings that I've done so far...here's the painted version...which my friend Maria will attest to that it's defiantly not one for sale, I just can't seem to part with it.

This version was done years later in acrylic on canvas and it's about 2 x 3 feet. It was one of my very first paintings that I didn't show to many people and aside from it's subject which hits home for me (at the time all Jon and I wanted was a little house near the water that we could live in peacefully and blissfully and fill with rabbits:D....we got our wish years later:D) whenever I look at this painting I am reminded of the joy I had in making it, the excitement that came with working with paints...well I just think that it's important to keep reminders around like that so I refuse to part with this piece and it happily lives in my main studio.

I welcome all of you to hyperlink images to your most favourite and not-for-sale inspirations in the comments section following this post.

Well, I really must get going...my studio needs attention....serious attention actually and some added twinkle lights and pink paint I am thinking, I promise to share photos of my studio someday soon. Also, today my dad is getting back home, yay...so we'll go meet him at the airport.

With that I bid you all a fantastic fantastic Friday...don't forget I'll be doing a Saturday post this week for the "Mad Tea Party".

Birthday Wishes with an Old Illustration

Good Monday Everyone. Just a short post today showing an old illustration of mine to wish a dear friend of almost 30 years, a happy birthday today....HAPPY BIRTHDAY LISA.

I am just fine and an old image "African Tea"

Good Monday Evening Everyone. I wasn't going to post today because I didn't get my painting finished and I really really wanted to keep this blog for new imagery only, but I have been assured by many friends that old images would be welcomed and embraced by my viewers and readers as well. So once in awhile, when I really have to I'll post one of my favourite older illustrations, like tonight. I've had a few friends ask if I was okay, because I missed my blog post on Friday as well and I just want to assure everyone that I am fine, thanks for worrying though. Friday I have no excuse but I was mostly stuck in bed with a really bad migraine, the temperatures reached almost +40 with the humidity and that didn't help matters.

We had an excellent weekend though. On Saturday we went for a beautiful bike ride with our friends Becca and Darren, we biked to Callander, back and forth was probably about a 40km run. We stopped at the beach for a waterside picnic which was a hit with everyone, we filled our tummies nicely and our hearts with good chuckles and friendship, I know that sounds cheesy but it was really just a lovely time. We then proceeded to the Callander gallery/museum to take in a retrospective by our dear and beloved friend Arlington Hoffman. (I've asked Arlie for some jpegs, so I can hopefully blog about the work we saw there soon). Despite the fabulous day, we all got pretty sun burnt and I found myself suffering that evening with badly burnt knees and all day Sunday I had a case of heat stroke, it was all worth it though, ha ha.

We've also be abit sidetracked with our sweet velveteen bunny Hazel. Even when it's tiny things we get stressed out. Somehow she hurt her right front foot and wouldn't walk on it for a couple days so we've just been diligently watching her and trying to decide whether x-rays are needed or not. But as I spent a few hours painting upstairs today, I was able to watch her very closely and I was able to determine that she doesn't need a vet visit, she just needs to keep off it and relax abit.

This older illustration is one that I conjured up after drinking a rich, earthy roosibos tea. It gave me flickers of an African scene so that's why it's called "African Tea". I choose this image to share today because I am thinking of my beautiful and greatly missed dear friend Vicki, who lives in Victoria, who was born and raised in Africa and who still greatly carries with her that lands beautiful spirit.

Anyhow, dear friends, that is about all for today. I promise a new image tomorrow...promise, promise, promise! Good night, sleep well and lovely dreams to you all.

Older Illustration "Ella Luna, The Dancer"

Hello, there on this lovely, warm and sunny Tuesday morning. I forgot to put one of Hazel's blankets back down after last night's clean up, which meant they couldn't sleep in their regular spot and I had two very grouchy little bunnies on my hands this morning, ha ha...but all was smoothed over with a nice big piece of banana.

To buy a print please click here.

Anyhow, I don't have any new work that I can show you at the present, so I thought I'd share one of my favourite older illustrations. In the continuous vein of my love for rabbits, this one was done last year in coloured pencil and is called "Ella Luna, the Dancer", it was sparked from a children's book ideal I had. Hope you enjoy. Have a wonderful day and until tomorrow...Happy Creating.