Getting All My Ducks in a Row .....

During my visit home at Christmas last year my mother and I visited this really cool thrift shop where you can find hard back craft books for 50p ... one of the things I pounced on was this book of Beatrix Potter knitting patterns ...
... the designs are very dated and I really purchased it for bunny themed knitting ideas - but flicking through it the other day I found a pattern for Jemima Puddle Duck ... a baby blanket with duckies I thought - that would be sweet. Jemima, I decided, was more goose like than a duck so I changed the pattern to this ...
I used some of the wool given to me by Auntie Chris (it is amazing how much I have already used!) and it took a while to get the blanket correct as I discovered that designing shapes or pictures in a knitting pattern is not that simple!
I must have knitted and unravelled at least 15 times ... but finally I got all my ducks in a row ...
... and here is my little duckie baby blanket.
It measures 33 1/2" x 28" and has a moss stitch border. Perfect for a crib or a stroller or just for general snuggles.
I quite like ducks ... not quite as much as bunnies ... but they make me smile a lot. Can you believe it is nearly August? Where has the year gone?

Swap Shots

I've sent off my cupcake themed apron for the Cupcake and Tea Swap. My apron (based on the cakeland number in A Is for Apron) went to the girls at A Spoonful of Sugar and I was glad that they were kind about it!
And I also sent off my goodies for the Alabama Stitch Swap to Betty Ninja. Of course I had to make the bunny project!
These are my photos - but I can't believe the pictures that Betty took of the little bunny and needle book I made .... she really has an amazing talent with a camera.

I have to say that I really enjoyed making the goodies for both these swaps - I will be signing up for more swaps in the future for sure!

A Day in the Life of the Dino Family

Deep in a grassy valley lives the Dino Family. They live at 1740 Triassic Lane. Here they are standing outside their front door (although the photo seems to have been crashed by a rather sweet pooch.)
Mrs. Dino is outside hunting for her son Owen who is supposed to be doing his home work. 'Where are you Owen?' Mrs. Dino looks everywhere - in the house and in the garden making sure she checks behind all the bushes. But she can't find Owen anywhere because he is hiding up a tree. He he - naughty Owen!
Finally Owen comes down and settles inside to do his English homework. He has to read a poem by Yeats - quite advanced stuff for a dinosaur in high school don't you think. Mr. Dino takes this quiet time to play his favorite piece on the piano by Dinovorák ...
... and Mrs. Dino sits outside by her favorite lavender bush to do some knitting. The Dino Family love nothing else but to end their day doing one thing - and that is to play a game of Monopoly together. Mr. Dino is sporting a rather crafty smile - do you think he could be cheating??

A Bunny Dance

One of my favorite TV shows is 'So You Think You Can Dance' - I watch it entranced with a huge grin on my face. I, on the other hand, am no a dancer - I've been known to clear whole dance floors by lurching into scary Footloose types of body shaking after a few too many glasses of wine ... but lets not recount those moments.

Did you know that the bunnies in the Rachael Rabbit workshop like to dance? (but unfortunately they are not as delicate as dear Grace.) So after attending Vanessa's Tea Party - in their matching bunny print dresses - they have decided to burn off the yummy and beautiful cakes (yes they sampled all four!) with some dancing in the garden.

Though it is little known, bunnies are very good at maypole dancing ... cue the music ...
... it gets crowded weaving in and out ...
... someone looks like she is having fun flying around the maypole ...
... an aerial action shot ...
... coming to the end of the ribbons - doesn't the maypole look pretty!
Well done ladies - how about a line up for a big round of applause?
Well that wasn't quite the angle I was thinking of - but your tails are so wonderful and fluffy. (Why do bunny tails make me quite so happy?)

One big Blooper and other bits

I'm not a very competitive person - the fact that I really don't mind losing a race or a game of Monopoly or dominoes endlessly confuses my husband (of determined A-type personality). But I've finally found something I can win hands down ... the prize of 'biggest craft blooper'. I was reading Lucy Kate Craft's this morning and her post inspired me to share this wonderful and spectacular blooper with you.

The big blooper occurred during my second felting experiment (the first was a success) instead of just using the felting needles - for this process you needle your wool to shape and then massage very hot soapy water around the shape to shrink it further. The felt is stuffed and wrapped around a pipe cleaner skeleton. So here is Super Bunny waiting to be shrunk - he looks cute no? With great potential?
And so I added the water ... hot soapy water and I massaged and hoped ... and it all went horribly wrong.
I think I can safely say that I killed Super Bunny. Poor Super Bunny went for a little visit to the dustbin after he had stopped dripping everywhere. Did I win the prize of 'biggest craft blooper'? What is your worst crafting blooper?

I have signed up for Vanessa's tea party on Saturday. I have some new knitted bunnies in the workshop and they are currently bickering (loudly) over what dresses they want made for the occasion! Bunnies can be so bossy!
On a completely unrelated note - I recently found Wordle - have you played with this? I rather liked the word collage it produced for me. Quite apt for me don't you think!

Cupcake and Tea Crafts

I have been rather obsessed with cupcake and tea thoughts over the weekend and I am very excited that people are signing up for the Cupcake and Tea Swap!

I am in the process of trying to create a cotton rabbit pattern that is simple (clean lines) and easy to make - sweet to look at is a desired factor too! Here is version 1 (I'm now working on version 3 - the ears sit up much more now.) I would love to hear your thoughts on what could be improved, changed, tweaked etc ... but for the purpose of the cupcake and tea theme - this little bunny has baked a cupcake for you.
Talking of cupcakes - I recently purchased Warm Fuzzies by Betz White and learnt how to make her adorable cupcakes. The book is rather delicious - although my only frustration is that the needed supply of adorable, soft and beautifully colored wool jumpers is rather on the short side in my little work room.
Due to the lack of desired supplies I set about making my own cupcakes ... with scrap material, a circle of felt and the odd bead or two - I'm still refining the pattern for this (they are so easy and quick to make) but I quite like the folded cupcake cup.
I also got over excited and made a teapot cosy too - which is odd - as I do not drink tea and do not own a tea pot ... but I felt the urge and Bernie obliged.
We are due thunderstorms all day today - which is great for the sunflowers - but it feels like a 'stay inside and knit' day today ... knitted cupcakes perhaps?

Celebrate with me with Cupcakes and Tea?

This idea was inspired by Kathy of Lizzie Jane who said it was a shame we couldn't get together for cupcakes and tea.

1 year ago today I left full time employment to concentrate on my love of making things. I have absolutely no regrets and now practically no income but I don't think I could ever go back to working in an office again. My biggest thank you has to go to my husband who has supported me (quite literally as well as emotionally) but I also want to really thank anyone who has ever left a comment on my blog or sent me a lovely e-mail. The support and encouragement has meant more to me than words can express.

I think it is a pity (and really amazing) that we (in the crafting blog-o-sphere) are so spread out across the world - and that distance prevents us from getting together on occasion for a yummy cupcake and tea. I can't imagine the amount of cooing and aahing we would do over each others work - the endless conversations about the latest 'it' craft technique - the ideas we would come up with - not to mention the support and encouragement!

So to celebrate my anniversary I am inviting you to join me for a 'Cupcakes and Tea' swap. If you would like to join in please send me an email to rachael@rachaelrabbit.com with the following information;
1. name
2. email address
3. postal address
4. website/blog details (if you have one)
5. favorite color
Sign up by June 20th, and I will send you your swap partners information by the following Monday. Your cupcake themed craft item will need to be made and sent (with your favorite type of tea) by Friday 25th July, so that gives you over a month of crafting time. Please make your cupcake goody out of anything BUT food! Here are some ideas from flickr ....
1. Felt Cupcake Ornament, 2. Holiday Swirl Cupcake Ornaments, 3. felt club: cupcake from sew darn cute, 4. felt cupcake, 5. felt cupcake birthday card/pin, 6. Glass Cupcake Earrings, 7. cupcake, 8. Handpainted CupcakePlaque, 9. Scatoline #1, 10. cupcake pins, 11. petit four pin cushion, 12. cakes, 13. Cupcake Pillow (front), 14. Chocolate, Ms. Darcy's Knitted Cupcakes, 15. Strawberry Swirl Cupcake, 16. Birthday Cupcake - knitted