Saturday 14 September 2013

A Stitchy Rabbit and Mouse

My how the days fly and they have been so full of lovely stitchy things! But I'm getting ahead of myself here - first, hello to you, my lovely friends and new acquaintances - you are all so welcome, and thank you for your lovely messages; I hope you enjoy your visit!

First off I'd like to show you my little Rabbit and Mouse! Many years ago I did a miniature watercolour painting of a little rabbit for my Mum, after the style of Beatrix Potter  (for those of you who've been following me for a while you'll know that I love anything and everything Beatrix Potter) and as my lovely Mum passed over a few years ago I now have that little painting at home with me, hanging on my wall. This little painting means a lot to me so I decided to draw another little rabbit - almost identical - and this time use embroidery thread instead of watercolours. Well then little Rabbit looked a bit lonely like she needed a friend - and don't we all need friends - so along came little Mouse to keep her company!




Where did little Mouse come from? Well, I found her in the same faerie book that I mentioned when doing Red Pixie's faerie friend, and I duly set to work with pencil and paper and drew a very similar version. I don't quite know yet how these little friends will finish up - perhaps a child size cushion or framed to hang on the wall - we'll see - maybe embroidery on a cushion for a wee one is not such a good idea with all the wear and tear it's likely to get!!!




I also stitched and framed a little thing to give as a gift to my sister who is having a birthday this coming week! There's a bit of a story to this one, and so it goes: some years ago P gave me a lovely faerie card and suggested that I might paint her a similar faerie some time! The years have passed and I really haven't had my paints out for some time so the faerie never was brought forth - and besides, I always doubted my ability to do a good job with it anyway - so, since I now get my colour kicks from yarn and thread I decided to stitch her a faerie instead! Here she is spreading her gorgeous faerie dust over the wee folks' little toadstool house - which is a bit symbolic of me wishing my lovely sister many blessings!



I thought it might be nice to let you see the three gifts made recently - all lined up together - the other two are going to friends in a few days time for their birthday gifts. Don't the white frames set them up nicely!



Now then, what else do we have today? How about this then! You know I have been very disenchanted with my venetian blinds of late, mainly due to the awful job of keeping them clean - well -  it looks like good old Sabco may have provided me with the answer! Hubbie and I were looking at this duster whilst doing the shopping only yesterday and a lovely young lady shopper came  by and said "Oh yes, I have one and it's marvellous",  and she uses it for her venetians too! I tried it on the blinds when we came home and it definitely does lift the dust - YES, after only a week or so that darned dust was settling again! So, for any of you lovely people out there who are having a similar problem, look out for one of these! Mine came from Woolies! Just a little add-on here: the young lady said she just slips the cover off and throws it in the washer and it comes out clean, fresh, and like new again!




Another little update now: a few of you seemed to be quite taken with the grey cardigan I recently finished so I decided to do a little pose in it to allow you to better see just how nice those sleeves and body shape really are (the cardigan's, certainly not mine!!! I'm swallowing my pride in showing this pic!) You can find the pattern on Deramores site if you are interested in it!






And now? Ah, let's take a look at our little reptile! This is a (young) King's Skink - Egernia Kingii - and is native to the coastal regions of South West Western Australia. These Skinks can grow to a length of 55cm (22") and I'll tell you, after I've heard the sound that heralds their presence I am always happy to see that these fellows have legs - otherwise, what do you think they would resemble?!!! Take a guess, I'm sure you'll only need one!
I do apologise for the poor quality of the pics - these were taken through the glass doors again (like the parrot pic), and I have tried to 'doctor' them but not very successfully. Here he is peeping out from under the planter barrel.. ... slowly making his way .. ... then right out. He is quite a bit darker than showing here and shiny, but at least you get the idea! 



Well my friends, that's me finished for today but I'll be back tomorrow with an update on Sunday Stitchalong - gosh it's a busy life, but so enjoyable! I hope you are all having a wonderful weekend and I'll look forward to hearing from you soon. Many thanks again for popping in, I always love hearing from you!


Joy xo








29 comments:

  1. Hello lovely Joy and what a joynits been to read this post. Your little mouse and mouse is so so sweet. You've done such a wonderful job stitching and drawing them. I too love Beatrix potter and about a year ago I went tibthebmost wonderful exhibition of her work set amongst the most wonderful setting of Lyme park, Cheshire (do google it so your imagine can run riot). Anyways not only did they have a huge collection of her drawings there, but they also had all the characters in costume around the park for the kids to enjoy. Furthermore they had people who read the stories to the kids in the reading room. It was simply wonderful. Now for your faerie, it is simply beautiful. She is so graceful and I love the little house and all that pixie dust, I know my little Es would love that and to be honest so do I. I am convinced that I still believe in faeries. Pleased to see you've found a dust buster and it looks wonderful so enjoy using it. I also enjoyed your story about your young King's Skink it has been really interesting. I'm looking forward to seeing your stitching tomorrow till then have a lovely day sweet Joy. Oh yes ps you look stunning in that cardi, wow I can't believe you made it and I love the sleeves. I so wish I could knit! One day. Sending you much love xoxo

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    1. Meant to read joy and not joynits. On my phone so trying has. Life of its own!! Xxx

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    2. Dear Hannapat - thank you so much for your lovely message - I will Google that BP exhibition and thanks so much for telling me about it; how wonderful it must have been, and how I would have loved being there! I'm so glad you managed to go and enjoy it all!
      I believe in faeries Hannapat - definitely - and feel right at home thinking of that beautiful and mysterious nature realm, as with Miss Potter and her little characters! J thinks I'm 'away with the faeries' most of the time anyway!
      I'm so glad you like my sister's faerie - I do hope she does too!
      Re your phone: I have similar probs when trying to leave messages using my iPad - I lose patience with it after a while!
      Much love to you too lovely!
      Joy xo

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  2. Beautiful to have the memento of your dear mom. The stitchery is all lovely and the pictures you've stitched as gifts are so charming. I'm sure they will be well loved in their new homes. I do like your new sweater too. It looks very nice on you! I'm glad you've found something to help clean your blinds. Perhaps I should keep an eye out for that product too ;-) Enjoy your weekend. xx

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    1. Hello Joyful, what a sweet and lovely message - thank you so much!
      As we are supposed to be in Spring now I was beginning to think the new cardi wouldn't get much wear until next Autumn but .. .... ... I think we've hit Winter again, the weather has been so wet, cold and windy!
      I hope your weekend is a lovely one Joyful!
      Joy xo

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  3. A lovely post, Joy! Your embroidery is simply wonderful! I love the rabbit and mouse - you know how much my youngest adores Beatrix, so I might have to stitch her little friends, too (this week we are obsessed with Mrs Tittlemouse, makes a change from Two Bad Mice, which sent her into fits of giggles). The gifts will be very well received, I am sure! You are so talented...just promise you'll still boogie to Abba while using your new handy duster... Chrissie x

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    1. Hiya lovely Chrissie! Mrs Tittlemouse is just adorable, as are all of BP's little characters - isn't it wonderful to have little ones around who love them in such a happy and carefree way. I think I may have never left my childhood!!!
      I promise to keep boogieing to Abba - how could I not - the handle of the new duster is such a good length to wave around too! Can you imagine it?
      Thank you so much for all the lovely things you say to me Chrissie - you are a sweetheart!
      Joy xo

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  4. Goodness me, I forgot to add how completely beautiful your cardigan looks! Very flattering on the model... ;-) Cx

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    1. Thanks so much Chrissie! I gave J a hard time when he was trying his best to get a snap of me good enough for me to post! Oh the pride, shame! xx

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  5. I was so pleased when I saw your post! Love the cardy, that shade of grey is lovely... it suits you and its been well made! v flattering style! Love the stitches, especially the little fairy sprinkling fairy dust! those pics remind me of a book I had when I was young! I think I'd be really pleased to get a gift like that, so your sister is indeed lucky! also many thanks for the ventian blind mop - I will look out for this in woolies next time we are there,if you saw how much my blinds have accumulated over winter you would just gasp in horror! arent they impractical!yet so neccessary to keep the heat and glare out! *sigh*

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    1. Ah there you are then - your messages are always very welcome, thank you for the lovely comments!
      So glad you like the stitchings - I am in my element when working on these!
      I know how these blinds gather the dust - J was just saying today that a large part of the problem is that the dust settles and then the damp weather makes it stick!!! Oh yeah - tell me more! If there was another way to provide the protection we need in this country to keep out the heat and glare then I'd be onto it! Big sigh from me too!
      Hope your weekend is a good one!
      Joy x

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  6. Joy, you are adorable and look very lovely in that sweater. Love the lovely gifts you have made, your sister is going to be thrilled. You are so talented. Okay, I don't think I would want that big thing crawling around. We have little lizards here, they only grow to about 4 in, and that is big enough for me.
    Hugs,
    Meredith

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    1. Aw Meredith, what a lovely message to leave me - thank you so much!
      When we had our previous home there used to be a few of these King's Skinks hide out in the little wooden shed in the garden - and they were full grown - I always made a lot of noise when approaching the shed so they'd get out before I went in. Nerve wracking!
      Hugs to you lovely,
      Joy xo

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  7. Ohhhh such talent! I love your little mouse and friend, both so very cute! I also love all your pretty white frames you finish them off in. I can see all those frames lined up in a little girls bedroom. If I could get away with it, I would line them all up in Lauren's but since she is 15, she might not let me!
    Your cardigan is sooo pretty! I really, really do! I've been looking for a nice one for awhile now. This would be perfect and the color will go with everything. You did a great job modeling it....you look so adorable and sweet!
    Hugs!
    Shari

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    1. How sweet of you Shari - I'm very happy you like my little stitchings characters - I so enjoy them!
      No, somehow I don't think Lauren would want these taking over her bedroom but I'm sure you could think of a little girl somewhere who you could do these for? If you're interested in doing the cardigan I'll be happy to help with any more info you might need. I mentioned the yarn used in my previous post etc..
      Thank you so much for your lovely comments Shari - you're so sweet and I always love hearing from you!
      Hugs,
      Joy xo

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  8. Such beautiful embroidery Joy and I love the picture of you in your cardigan, you wear it very well and look gorgeous too!
    Marianne x

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    1. Hi Marianne - many thanks for your kindness - such lovely compliments are greatly received!
      I hope your weekend is going well.
      Joy x

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  9. Lots of lovely stitching Joy. Your little rabbit and mouse are adorable.
    You look very elegant in your new cardi :)
    Margaret

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    1. How lovely to hear from you again Margaret - thank you for your sweet message.
      I hope you are well and having lots of happy times!
      Joy x

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  10. Hi Joy what a wonderful post, loved it. Your embroidery is just superb and I do envy you your obvious talent. The pictures look just perfect and although the frames are really lovely, it is the actual content which makes them wonderful - your work Joy. I do love your cardigan and what a glamorous lady you are - the cardigan really suits you in every way - colour, style and cut. Thanks for the info on the duster, I have the same problem myself with blinds and it drives me mad so will certainly be looking for one of these. Joy your blog is a 'joy' to read, always has plenty to keep everyone interested and your lovely personality just shines through every word. Thank you so much
    Lots of love as always
    Dorothy
    :-)xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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  11. Dorothy, that is the sweetest message - I feel quite emotional now - a huge thank you for every lovely word!
    Your message came through as I was busy sending to you - you are up late and I am up early!
    I hope you find the duster okay Dorothy - I was thrilled to see it hanging there as I've looked so hard and for so long in the past for something to take care of the problem: everything comes to those who wait - as the adage goes!
    I hope your Sunday is a lovely relaxing one when it gets here!
    Love to you too,
    Joy xo

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  12. You are so talented with embroidery, and so much else! I love all of the embroidery you did. Your cardigan is lovely too and it looks great on you. I have a duster like that for dusting furniture and I love it. It works great. Just remember not to use any fabric softener or dryer sheets with it because it will make it stop grabbing the dust! I've had mine for about five years and it's still as good as new after lots of use.

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    1. Hello Jennifer - many thanks for your sweet compliments! And thanks so much for your advice, I will remember those points, and I'm happy to know that your duster is still so good after that length of time - that is a grand advert!
      Have a lovely family Sunday!
      Joy xo

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  13. Love the little mouse, I think all your character's you have created are wonderful.your grey carrdigan is really cool, and suits you very well.

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    1. Hello Joy and happy Sunday to you! Thank you for your sweet comments - I love all of these little Beatrix Potter types as well as all things to do with Faerie and Nature! The cardigan is very soft and comfy to wear. I hope all is well with you and yours!
      Joy x

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  14. Hi Joy! Your bunny and mouse embroideries are just too darling! I'm a fan of anything Beatrix Potter too. Bunnies and mice are just meant to be dressed up in pretty old fashioned outfits, aren't they?! ... The fairy you stitched for your sister's birthday is also adorable. She'll love that beautiful gift I'm sure, as will whoever receives your beautiful framed butterfly pieces. And yes, the white frames do work wonderfully!... I LOVE how you look in that lovely sweater you knitted up. It fits you perfectly in size and in style too. By that I mean, it's got such a sweet look to it, and that's how you are all the time, so lovely and sweet! ...
    You know I'm fascinated by all your Australian critters, but this guy hasn't sent my heart fluttering like your blue birds and naughty parrots do. He's very interesting, but unlike your pretty birdies, I'm glad no King's Skinks are lurking about in my backyard! ;) You took some great pictures though! xo Paulette

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  15. Ah Paulette - another lovely message from you - thank you so much - I can't tell you how much I enjoy your company! I'm glad you love the cardigan - I wanted you to see the real shape of it as you had seemed so impressed with it and I'm glad you weren't disappointed.
    I'm not surprised that you don't care too much for the skink - I'm not very keen on them myself and could live quite well without their presence in my life Ha Ha!!! Not that we see them very often these days.
    I expect you have been busy with your gorgeous little makes and I'm looking forward to your next lovely post!
    Joy xo

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  16. Hello Joy
    I love your stitched little lovelies. As always so well done and neat! What a lovely individual gift for your sister such a pretty fairy!
    I white frames look great and do not distract you from the lovely work.
    Your cardi looks great cosy and comfy. It fits well and has a nice swing to it. Wow I to think I got excited about finding a slow worm in the garden. He's a cheeky fella Mr skink....my daughter would burst with excitement if she found something like him in our garden! The photos are great xx

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    1. Hello again lovely FB - you're always so encouraging, thanks so much for all the sweet things you tell me. Yes, I think your daughter would get excited - like I used to do with the noisy rustling sound they make among garden foliage etc., but they are harmless, thankfully On the other hand take snakes .. .. .. no, rather not go there!
      Wishing you a wonderful week FB!
      Joy xo

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