Rabbits These Days

Ella Luna and Roo seem extra content these days...

They snuggle together and kiss all day long by the back door,

Taking in sunshine and fresh spring winds...
And the snow!  For the last 2 weeks anyways.

I am home with them day in and day out so they get lots of healthy snacks throughout the day.
And, as you can see, the floors are all covered with soft thick comforters,

so that our Ella Luna doesn't get hurt when she falls over or drags herself around,

We've been doing this for some time now but Roo still seems to think it's the best thing ever, ha ha.
He sinks into them like they are a puffy cloud, gives a big happy huff and than promptly falls asleep.

...And little Miss Sunshiny Sweet herself gets carried around &pampered like the little queen she is,
(she's getting such beautiful auburn colouring in her older age, it really comes out in the sunlight).

Her newest favourite thing is the time every day that we spend in Jin & Jaks room,

(not with Jin & Jaks because the 2 bun couples don't get along at all)
but on the big window bench that looks over the whole front yard and court...
She likes to people and car watch & every evening we watch the setting sun.

Life feels very good when it's full of rabbits, sunsets and art-making!
I am so grateful for this beautiful and full life.

XO Rabbit Addict, Mandy

Hope Eternal

I just finished up this new coloured pencil called

"Hope Eternal"

It speaks of many thing including renewal of hope, springtime & beauty in nature,

but mostly it speaks of the finding strength and peace within ones self.

It is already available in my shop as a lovely 8 x 10" print.

XO Mandy & 4 sleepy bunnies

Birthday Munchkin

It's my Munchkin's 10th Birthday...

She is speacil, she is loved and she is one super duper cool kid...

Happy Happy Happy Birthday Karly.

We Love Love Love you.

XO Auntie Mandy, Unky Jon & the Buns.

My Love My Heart

She is My love and My Heart...

She's The Skip In My Step...

She's The Breathe In My Lungs...

and The Beat Of  My Heart....

She's My Precious One,

Completely Unique, Sweet & Wonderful...a Best Friend.

 The word 'Pet' is simply not synonymous with our Ella Luna...
or, with any of our bunnies for that matter,
Not in our world, life and story anyhow.

I am still struggling a little bit with balancing my time between Ella Luna and my artwork. 

Art wise things still feel a tad elusive & sticky...

But things are indeed feeling smoother and more settled
than the last time I wrote about Ella's leg troubles.

People have been sending me little notes asking after Ella Bella...thanks oodles you lovelies.

She is not necessarily doing better...this isn't something she'll ever get better from,
But she is doing just fine, she is a tough nut and she is a happy girl, that's for sure.

We did have a custom 'wheelchair/cart' made for her,
But, it just isn't working out as we had hoped.
So we are still doing the tried and true method of plenty of time on the floor with her,
We gently support her right side and leg and in doing so she can move around like normal,
(it's just slightly tiring for us because boy oh boy she's fast, ha ha).

I am in the midst of trying to figure out some kind of 'baby sling',
Because it's a nice break for her to get off her feet and be carried around by her mama.

The beauty of finding balance in life continues...

It's going well & I am grateful .

XO Mandy and Ella Luna

Mauve, Milly & Miles

I am excited to show you a new image I just finished up.

It's called,

"Mauve, Milly and Miles'

A lovely lady, a wolf pup and a rabbit, all together harmoniously and gently.

In the wild rabbits are sadly prey to wolves

but in my imagination I can make them lovely friends instead of foe.

These lovelies are done in coloured pencil than sealed onto a painted wooden canvas.

Prints and the original will be available.

There will be 3 more characters in this series and I can't wait to show you the rest.

With this picture I offer to the universe from my own little universe...

Love,

Inspiration,

Joy,

Wonderment at nature

and a message of Kindness. 

& I hope some out there feel as connected to it and enjoy it as much I do.

XO Mandy & The Bunnies

p.s. I am sending out love and light to a friend and her bunny Sogna, who just passed away.

Incommunicado

Hi Everyone,

Sorry to unexpectedly disappear on you all for several days.

Once again, everything screeches to a painful and annoyingly sudden halt

as I suffer through another week of cluster migraines.

I've been getting extensive acupuncture treatments but it hasn't cured me quite yet.

I've been unable to get to any artwork, to my computer or to the blog...

let alone anything else past taking care of the buns & my poor noggin....

Ugh, it's not been a good several days.

The pain continues today,

So I as I type this my head is just pounding on the entire right side

(the side that always renders me completely useless when it's throbbing)

and now I must scurry back to my cocoon of a duvet and my heat and ice packs.

I just wanted to let you all know I am still here...just temporarily incommunicado!

I'll be back with you all with some new artwork and super sweet bun pics as soon as I possibly can.

XO Mandy

P.S. The acupuncture has worked wonders for my wrist, YAYYYYY.

Movie Magic

The other weekend Jonathan, my niece and myself headed out to the forest.
We initially just went to take a really good hike & to enjoy the fresh forest and waterfalls,

But. Jonathan and Karly decided that they needed to make a movie...ha ha.

Jonathan was the director, Karly was the star and I apparently was the
behind-the scenes photographer, prop master, assistant to the star & safety supervisor.

I just had to share my favourite shots from the day

The story they conjured up had something to do with a little girl lost in the woods,

who was being chased by some kind of bear-a-saurus, and magical sleeping berries...

We waited until it was dark & windy to head into our backyard and

to the park across from our house to film the 'nighttime scenes'.

We had a complete and utterly delicious ball...

Jonathan put hours upon hours into the editing, cutting and sound mixing,
He even created a movie trailer for it, ha ha...it's brilliant, ha ha...

Check it out right here.

XO Mandy, a doting Auntie

A New Felt Bracelet & A Bad Diagnosis

I just had to hop in today to show you a super duper cool new bracelet I just made for myself.

It's recycled felt with vintage buttons and is all hand stitched...

I am toying with the notion of opening a 2nd Etsy shop for my hand-stitched felt goodies,

But for now I may just start listing them in my original shop.

Would any of you consider buying a bracelet like this for yourselves if I offered them???

I've been having big troubles with my drawing wrist...

It's been pretty bad and has had me on edge for quite some time,

The doctors were hoping for Carpel Tunnel or Tendentious,

because those can be cured and treated with surgery and physio.

BUT, apparently I have 'Repeative Stress Syndrome'...

and I am told by the wrist doctor that the shooting pain that wakes me up from sleep,

the achiness & the yucky tightness and weakness (even when it's at rest!)

will only get worse and worse...

I am not a happy camper, not with this negative diagnosis...

And. I admit to getting teary in the specialist's office because the idea of more constant troubles,

when I already have severe migraines and a dislocating knee to always deal with, feels like too much...

UGH UGH UGH!

So I made myself this bracelet to kinda cheer up my own wrist, ha ha.

I am still trying to pin-point what is too much art making & what I can get away with comfortably.

Right now every little activity causes me discomfort

However, I refuse to not make artwork, it's who I am.

Though the idea of having this pain & trouble to worry about whenever
I do work on artwork is quite honestly sending me for a loop.

I am going to have patience & hope & seek a 2nd opinion because the very negative

'There's nothing you can do about it' attitude just doesn't work for me, certainly not as a full time artist!

and I am going to take extra good care of it, with heat therapy and more frequent art breaks,

and today I am seeking an acupuncturists help...

WISH ME LUCK!

XO Mandy

A New Felt Brooch

I was hoping to show you a new painting this week

BUT I am having some trouble with my drawing wrist and I've had to suddenly slow down this week

and was unable to finish what I wanted to show you (more on that later!).

But I do have a cool new felt brooch to show you...

Here are some close-ups...

It's a hand-made, hand-stitched, one-of-a-kind original.

It will be listed in my Etsy shop along with 5 others very soon,

I am just waiting on some new clasps to arrive.

If you want to reserve it for yourself, just email me at MandySaile@BijousWhimsy.com

I am off to scoot around in our awesome brand new Jeep & to run some errands...I'll see you next week.

XO Mandy, whose listening to Au Revoir Simone in the studio today.

p.s. My next newsletter will be sent out in the next couple of days,
If you would like to sign up to receive them in your email boxes,
Just click and sign up right here, Thanks.

Sleeps, Snoozes & Snuggles Oh My

I wanted to show you the new felt brooch and bracelet I finished up the other day,
BUT, it's way to dark and gloomy to get any kind of decent photos of them today,
So instead I'll do another bunny post...

This is what my furry studio co-workers are up to today, ha ha...

It would appear that it's a sleepy, snoozy and snuggly kind of day...

Now how in the world am I suppose to get any work done with this cuddle-fest going on, ha ha...

I foresee myself tossing my coloured pencils & stitching aside often today to join in...

For I know a good thing when I see it.

XO A Bun Snuggled Mandy

Cuteness For A Monday

Just hopping in quickly today to offer up some of Jin & Jak's super cuteness,
Hopefully it'll get your Monday morning off to a good start
It always helps mine anyhow, ha ha...

I am forgetting the fact that they kept me up most of night last night,
for I slept in the living room with my niece
and it would seem that for whatever reason the buns thought that if it was a good night
for a sleepover than it must also be a good night for noisy all night high-speed rabbit races & chases!

I can't believe the weather lately, ugh,
It's +20 one Monday and than -20 the next.  It's pretty chilly here today...brrrr...
The constant up and down is wrecking havoc on my noggin that's for sure,
as change in weather is one of my biggest head pain triggers...
it's been a kinda of tiring past few days of going about life anyways
with thunder lashing about in my head! Today is no different...
So I am going to be gentle on myself today and might sneak in a mid-afternoon nap perhaps,
as well as lots of nourishing peppermint and green tea,
and hopefully lots of time assisting my beauty, Ella Luna
and than the rest of the time with my oldest of friends...my beloved coloured pencils.

We'll see you later in this week with a new felt bracelet and a new painting,
So I do hope you'll have time to hop in again for another visit.

& we hope your Monday is off to a lovely & inspired start.

XO Mandy, Jin and Jaks

More Polarity Goodness

So let me tell you more about my collaboration with Cat Ivins of Polarity and Olive Bites Studio.

Polarity is the original maker/home of interchangeable magnetic jewelry.

Cat Ivins of Polarity makes amazing and versatile industrial lockets & bracelets

featuring artwork from various artists worldwide, such as moi.

The jewelry is amazingly handmade from recycled steel auto parts

and are 'welded with love, propane & power tools' right in her New Jersey studio.

Look at the cool bracelet set you can now buy featuring my 'Beautiful Birds' artwork...

Just add your favorite little picture inside

and you have one of the coolest pieces of jewelry ever.

Your locket will be packaged in a cute little tin, perfect for gift giving or storage

and sent with care from Cat's studio.

You can purchase this bracelet, which has the 3 magnetic interchangeable bird lids RIGHT HERE.

The Rabbit, Fish, Bird necklace set I showed you in the last post

is now available for purchase in Cat's shop.

Just CLICK RIGHT HERE

 

2 more sets are still to come...so excited.
(They will all be available in my Etsy shop as well)

Aren't they totally awesome???

XO Mandy aka 'Bijou' of Bijou's Whimsy

A Peek At Exciting New Jewelry Collaboration

I am collaborating with fellow Etsy Seller, Cat Ivins of Polarity

and we have a super exciting new jewelry series coming

combining her awesome earth-friendly interchangeable magnetic lockets

with my super colourful and whimsical images...

Here's a sneak peek of one of the goodies that will be available...

They will be listed in both Cat's Etsy shop and mine very soon.

I can't wait.
YAYYY...

More details and info will follow.

I am sitting here feeling very grateful & excited for this new venture.

XO Mandy

P.S.  This locket set is now available in Cat's shop, right here, check it out.

Ode To A Gentle Giant

Honestly, I wasn't going to post today because I don't have any new artwork to share
and  well I am usually very fussy with equally mixing rabbit posts with art posts
BUT this blog o' mine is a truthful space
and well  you all know by now that lately bunnies are more present in my days than art-making...
but I have a plan...
a tentative plan, which will allow me to get back to more work!

In the meantime, do let me share some more bunny goodness because indeed
Life feels good
when you have a Gentle Giant Gentle-bun to gaze upon & snuggle the day away with.

I can't believe this is the almost starved little thing I found in the forest a few years ago.
When I found him and he saw me, he laid down...when I pet his head, he stretched out.
When I picked him up...he closed his eyes and fell asleep in my arms the whole walk back home.
And he slept slept and slept some more for almost 2 solid weeks after he was home...
He was just so exhausted trying to live in the wild by himself...

Is my big boy just not one of thee handsomest buns ever

...AHHH, I can barely stand it, ha ha.

He's such a good boy...sometimes more like a puppy than a rabbit.
He runs to you when you call his name...
And when he runs you can really hear it cause he's so big &
well it's one of thee best sounds in the world to me, I just adore it.
He gets the most precious look on his face when he's shy or embarrassed.
He sulks like no one else when he gets in trouble after doing something bad...
Or, when you don't spend enough time with him.
When he's really happy he throws himself over with all 4 legs up in the air &
his pure white belly exposed to the sky and because
he's so big & his back so wide, he usually sticks it and will fall asleep upside down, ha ha.
He loves sleeping and falls asleep at the drop of a hat...
AND
He snores loudly, like a human (truthfully!)...
Sometimes we wake the poor guy up from his snoozes because his snoring is just so loud
and so funny that we can't help but burst out laughing.

He's a happy, calming, soothing & solid soul and I am so grateful to have him around us.
We are especially glad for his gentle and patient ways when it comes to our spazzy
& bossy Ella Luna, we couldn't have asked for a better partner for her.

XO Mandy & Her Snuggle Bud Roo

Lemony Lentil Soup

I mentioned making 'a big pot of lentil soup' in my last post.

It's one of our favourite soups EVER...

I've perfected the recipe over the years and will share it will you all here today.

It's super easy and super yummy.

Here's what you do:

First chop a large onion & 4 or 5 medium sized garlic cloves and put that into a big pot with oil,

cook over medium heat until softened (make sure not to burn them).

Then add a dash of hot pepper spice or red pepper flakes, just abit, you don't want it too hot.

Next stir in 1.5 tsp of cumin.

Next you'll want to add and stir in finely chopped parsley (I use a pretty large handful).

Add in a healthy splash of lemon juice (fresh is preferred but bottled will work fine).

Then stir in 1.5 cups of dried red lentils, stir for about 30 seconds.

Now add in 6 cups of vegetable soup stock and stir.

Now you'll want to add 2 finely chopped large sized potatoes.

3-5 peeled and chopped carrots.

If you have it, a nice big handful of chopped Kale is very nice.

Add a dash of sea salt and freshly ground pepper.

Stir it all up.

Now you'll want to the pot to boil...leave it boiling for 5-10 minutes,

than reduce the heat to a simmer and let the soup cook for atleast 1 hour.

Add abit of extra lemon juice to taste when your ready to serve.

There you have it.

My secret recipe that we're bonkers for, my best friend is bonkers for, my mom & dad...

pretty much anyone I've made this soup for LOVES it.

It's healthy and satisfying and feels nourishing...

ENJOY.

XO A Vegetarian Mandy