Novembers Teeny Tiny Original Giveaway...

I am excited to finally show you my November's Giveaway....

...it's a teeny tiny super sweet and sparkly original painting on it's very own teeny tiny easel...

This itty bitty cutie is acrylic paint with abit of coloured pencil & some sparkles on a miniature canvas measuring 3 x 3 inch's.  It has received a protective satin coat and one of my favourite mantras is written on the easel, "Live In The Light". 

I admit it's been delighting me because being so small just makes it kinda adorable but also because it sparkles and twinkles as you walk by it...

SO, here is how you can enter your name to win it, there are many options & you can do just one of these or all of them, it's entirely up to you:

-Leave a comment on this post = 1 entry

-Become a blog follower or let me know if you already are one = 1 entry

-Join me over at my Fan's of Bijou's Whimsy on Facebook or tell me if your already a member = 1 entry

-Follow me on Twitter or if you already do let me know = 1 entry

-Sign up to receive my newsletter or let me know you already receive it = 2 entries

-Mention this giveaway on your blog & let me know your doing so = 2 entries

-Link back to me with one of my Blog Buttons on your blog & again tell me if your doing so = 3 entries

Lots of ways to enter...

The Draw ends on November 29th 12pm & The Winner will be announced on November 30th 2010.

GOOD LUCK

XO M & The Sweet Toothed Bunnies

My Great Big Postcard Swap Sweetie...

I wanted to hop in today to show you the sweet little piece I just finished for The Great Big Postcard Swap hosted by Beth over at the Do What You Love blog...This is the 2nd year for this swap and there was quite a turn out with 85 people from 13 countries on 5 continents participating.

...most of you know that bunnies make up a very very big part of my home...physically and spiritually...having a home full of bunnies fills me with love and helps me grow and be more loving to the rest of the world...so a bunny full of nurturing love sprang forth when I conjured something up for the postcard swaps theme of 'home'.

...I made this stitched postcard with black, light blue, cream and red coloured felt, which I added some floral stamens to, than some red and white glass beads, some green and pink silk ribbon and a sweet singular pink button...all stitched by hand with black embroidery floss...

... I am hoping the person I send it too loves it & appreciates the time put into it and I am hoping they'll want to display it, so I also added abit of ribbon on the back so it could be easily hung.

So what do you think???  not to bad for my very first postcard swap...I admit that I'd kinda like to keep it, ha ha but tomorrow I am going to wrap it up sweetly and safely and mail it off to the recipient in Michigan USA...I am anxious to receive mine..I wonder which one I'll get.  I am so so glad I got it done because my head was just pounding the whole day but I knew I had to get it finished and I did, wohoo:D Now I am off to upload these photos to the flickr group, pop on by to see what everyone else has done if your interested.

Sweet dreams all and wishing some lucky bunny love to you all as well.

XO Mandy & The Bunnies from felt & stitching land.

Owlette Owan

Hi everyone, just hopping in today to show you a new creation.  I cut out some owl shapes from kiln dried pine quite a few weeks ago, I did about 10 of them & I had a ball designing each little character to be completely different from the next...and just last week I got around to painting the first little guy...

This series is called "Owlettes" and this little guys name is "Owan"...

I did this piece in acyclic and coloured pencil on gessoed pine.

 I am not sure yet if I'll bring the originals of this series to the gallery, to the City Streets Sale or put them up for adoption in my Etsy shop but until I decide I did just put a print version of him in my Etsy shop...

Thanks sooo much to everyone for the lovely birthday wishes, I had the best day and am feeling very very loved, lucky and completely spoiled in the studio today:D

See you all Saturday with Novembers giveaway. 

Have a wonderful day.  XO M & The Messy Buns.

33

Pssst....Today I am 33....

...I guess I should be saying 'Oh My God', or panicking about my lack of artistic success, or the wrinkles starting to show up or grey hair taking root, or the fact that at this age I probably should be having babies...but ya know what I am not saying 'oh my god', I am saying 'bring on this 33rd year because I am gonna rock it'.  I am looking to tomorrow with an open and hopeful heart knowing it could be the day my ball finally starts rolling & I am finally starting to take pride and enjoy the teeny tiny accomplishments along this creative path.  As for the wrinkles, they are symbols of the immense love in my life and they are proof of great strength & a tough spirit that endures much pain.  The gray hair, ah who cares I might look cool with grey hair right! and the baby bit, at 33 I am finally ready to give up all the pressure of doing something I know I don't want to do, because in turning 33 I can honestly say I am confident and I can bask in the fact that I am not a normal gal...I can and will walk my own unique walk...and I am just grateful to have reached this age and I look forward to what the next 33 will bring to me...

So Happy Birthday to me...Happy Biirrttthhhddaaayyy TTTOOO MMEEEE....Happy Birthday dear sweet precious unique seeelllffff....HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME;D 

Have a wonderful day everyone & if you wanna give me a present of any kind, all you gotta do give some animals extra love and kindness today, make a donation to your local animal shelter or to a place such as IFAW & think about switching even just one of your household products to a cruelty-free alternative...XO M & The Bunnies.

Fall Rush Around

As we wrap up the last of the fall rush around and drag outdoor furniture & pots into storage, as we cover things in tarps and chop & pile firewood, as we try to finish off last minute wood projects and stock up the studio wood piles...we make sure to have the bunnies outside with us because getting them out for long sun lite romping sessions has also been part of our seasonal prep for almost 15 years now...

They sit and watch us go to and fro...wondering what all the busy-ness is about...

As we work away with our 'gotta get done' list, they have a list of 'to-do's' all of their own...it includes the very important absorption of vitamin D & some serious nappage....
.

...it includes Ella Luna keeping a close eye on us to make sure we do as we're suppose to...she's a bossy little thing & considers herself the foreman, ha ha...

...they do allow time for a cuddle now and then, but never for too long for there holes to dig, fallen leaves and pine needles to eat...& yes did we mention the sun basking, that is always top priority...

Even our little friends come out and join in the work...or, er I mean napping/sun basking....too cute, ha ha.

This was some of our weekend...we might be covered in snow for the next one, we'll see!  I love winter though, I really do...it's a time to hibernate of sorts, to rest up, to dive into the studio vortex even more...cozy fires, more movies, there is always more time to read...I love winter. 

How's about you all?

Funky Fish Now As Prints

I really wanted to show you some new work today BUT it's just been too darn dark & gloomy to properly photograph anything...but I do have something great and exciting to show you still..which is that the first 5 of my "Funky Fish" are now available as prints in my Etsy Shop...



Check them out...

See you all next week where I'll show some new work, some forgotten photos & Novembers special giveaway...have a wonderfully cozy and lovely weekend.

XO M & The Snoozing Bunnies 

Warm Whispers...

The sunset set everything on fire last night, the warmth of the colour spread out like warm whispers...whispers telling me to take a moment to pull in the beauty, to be still in the beauty of life...I was pulled to the beach with my camera in tow...with my favourite person beside me, we sat in the frigid November evening air to breathe in & slow down... 

I was all tired and scared from a doctors visit that morning...I am glad I listened to those warm whispers because being near water, near the sounds of waves, near my Jonathan next to that brilliantly setting sun stilled my jumbled nervous soul...ahhhh....Life is never perfect, but with some cultivating and habit, it's very easy to always find the beauty...I am learning to be in this life fully and I am so very very grateful for that.

Psst...This beach is about a 5 minute walk from our house...lucky, yes I know, ha ha...

Sun Basking Bunnies & Happy Heart Humming...

So some days a gals just gotta push all the 'to-do' aside to bring her furry brood outside to soak up some of the last warm rays before the snow flies...

...sometimes a gals just gotta take it easy and stretch out on the star gazing bench her sweetie pie man made for her and let her hand dangle down to the blissfully soft furry warmth of her Ella Luna & Roo...

....sometimes a girls just gotta take a few moments to do some yoga stretches to ward off a headache and sometimes if she's extra lucky her precious bunny will join in with some of her own plank poses...ha ha...

...sometimes a sensitive little artist just can't help but feel like everything is right in the world when she sees her little furries all snuggled up together in the sunlight...

...and than that same little artist feels blissed out when a couple hours later, her favourite little furry heart smartly decides on her own that that sun has gone down for the day and that it's time to go back inside the cozy warren...

But not without turning back around to make sure your coming in with her too...

...Ahhh....this is me, this is my whimsy filled life, these are my beautiful buns and today these photos of a precious day are making my heart hum happily...

Hope your having a good one as well.

XO M & The Sun Basking Bunnies XO

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...