MATHILDA AND HER EASTER FRIENDS

I must say, I really enjoy making Easter sets. I love this holiday time of year, even more than Christmas. Everything is in a stage of renewal - the sun is shining, the greenery is starting to peek through and the hope of spring is everywhere. I hope you enjoy these new toys and thanks for stopping by!

Mathilda is 4 inches tall and is made from hand-dyed beige German Shulte mohair. The mohair has been gently aged and distressed, leaving a few tiny bare patches. Mathilda has amber German glass eyes, a gently waxed nose, ultrasuede paw pads and has been shaded on the face, ears and paws with permanent heat-set paints. This shading gives Mathilda a lovely vintage look. She is stuffed with traditional excelsior and stainless steel shot for weight and simply decorated with a vintage silk ribbon around her neck, with an old bell.

Mathilda comes with a sweet baby chick. They are the best of friends and Mathilds loves to hop on and go for a ride. The chick 1s 3 ¾ inches tall, has glass eyes and is very realistic - it even cheeps, when the button on the bottom is pushed. I did not make the chick.
Mathilda also comes with a hand-made white beeswax bunny. The beeswax bunny is 2 3/4 inches tall and is made from an antique mold in my collection. The bunny has hand painted eyes and is decorated with a silk ribbon.

Also included in this set, is an Easter ornament - 1 1/2 inches x 2 1/2 inches. The ornament is a vintage reproduction Easter postcard of a bunny head and pussywillows. It is decorated with glass glitter, set between beveled glass and heavy art paper, and sealed with solder with a decorative edge. This set is designed and made by me, and will come with a signed hang-tag. It is an adult collectible and not meant for children.
SOLD

ETSY UPDATE

I finally have some new items for my Etsy shop - a few Easter ornaments and pendants, as well as some new apoxy sculpt, bird pendants. I have enjoyed playing with a new medium and am just beginning to discover how versatile it is. If you would like to check out my shop, just click on the Etsy badge on my blog, or this link: http://www.duffyantiques.etsy.com

Easter is creeping up quickly and I am so disappointed that I haven't been able to do much sewing, due to tendonitis in my right arm. I am desperately trying to finish one last rabbit and will post it here, if I get it finished soon. Thanks for peeking in!

GLOW BUGS!

The other day, our grandson came in with a new candy his mum had bought for him. He was quite excited about his "glowbugs"! They really were very cute - they came with a pair of tweezers with lights on either side of the end. When Corson picked a glow bug out of the package with the tweezers, they lit up and transferred the light to the glow bugs, making them glow. At first, Corson wasn't sure he wanted to eat one. LOL, but he soon got over it and before the long the glow bugs were all gone. Cute though and I wonder how long it took someone to think that up :o)

SWEETEST GIVEAWAY

I stumbled across this giveaway on a friends blog and was entranced. What a darling illustration, done on fabric. If you are interested in entering the giveaway for this charming piece, just hop over to Michelle's blog and sign up. While you are there, you can see all the other wonderful things she makes: www.michellepalmerart.blogspot.com

SOME DAYS ARE JUST LUCKY!

I love the work I do, making miniature bears and bunnies. Over the last couple of years, I was very fortunate to buy a few of the cutest. embossed Peter Rabbit tins that were perfect to hold my miniature Peter Rabbits. I only had one left and it was sad, because Peter Rabbit is one of my favourite fictional characters and I just love making him.

Last week, we had company and went exploring St Jacob's farmers market, a lovely place in the middle of a nearby Mennonite and Amish community. I had found my original tins there, and I had sent an email to the stall owner saying I was interested in purchasing some, if she possibly had any more. When we left the next morning, I hadn't received a response and I was very disappointed. I also knew her supplier was no longer carrying tins, so she couldn't order any for me. I held my breath as we walked into her stall and well, I couldn't believe it. This wonderful lady knew I made miniature Peter's to go with them, so on a hunch, she brought the remaining tins she had - an entire box of them, in three different styles. I was in heaven and bought them all! I didn't care if I found anything else that day because I felt as if I had struck gold. Some days are just luckier than others :o)!!