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Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Little Japanese Blossoms ..

Hello my dear friends,

again the mail lady made a stop at my front door with a little parcel.


Inside the little box was a treasure from my winning bid on eBay not even a week ago. I don't bid on eBay very often anymore but when I was browsing the pages of vintage millinery flowers I came across the pretty little flowers that I just couldn't say 'no' to. So I bid and won and now my little pretties are here.

The neatest thing about them is that they are originally from Japan  ... the occupied Japan. They were made over 60 years ago and they look like they were made yesterday, that is how well kept they are.

 I was just about to open the box it looked like it had been tampered with because a corner had been pulled up slightly an d your could see the tip of a flower. But that wasn't so, the corner must had got caught on something and slightly torn.
 
Once the box was open this it what I saw ...


... the lovely person that sold the little millinery treasure to me had taped some little flowers to the inside of the box lid as a sweet gesture and I thought that it was so kind.
 

Then underneath some pretty tissue paper that was embellished with yellow roses, there they were ... my little Japanese blossoms.

Just take  a look ...

 




... aren't they the sweetest little blossoms?
I just wish I already knew what I am going to create with them. Any ideas?

Thank you for visiting me again here at Todolwen ~ it is always so nice when you do!

I hope you are well my dear friends and life is treating you kind.

Have a peaceful and creative day.
 

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

A Hopeful Rescue ..

Hello my dear friends,

yesterday my lovely neighbour Katherine called me, somewhat upset because she discovered that a neighbourhood cat seem to have killed 3 baby bunnies that were living in a nest under one of her rose bushes. She asked me if I could help because she wasn't sure if any of them could maybe still be saved. Unfortunately that wasn't the case so I took them home and buried them under our willow tree later that day.

 As I was checking the area around the rose bush to my surprise under dried grass and lots of bunny fur I found three more little bunnies still alive in the nest  ... was I thrilled! They were so cute with little button eyes wide open and little ears listening and just a bit larger than the size of an apple that would fit nicely in the palm of your  hand. 
 
 
I tried to take a photo from further away, without disturbing the nest but it didn't work too well. The only thing we were thinking about now, was are they going to be safe now since the mean old cat knew where they were?! I had to come up with a solution to protect them without interfering too much. 
 
It didn't take me too long to come up with what I hope will be the right thing that will maybe save these tiny nose twitchers. A short trip to the dollar store and a few cuts with a good pair of scissors and it was done...
 
... my baby bunny protector.
 
 
My neighbour Katherine and I carefully placed it over the nest and used tent stakes to secure the basket to the ground so it wouldn't tip over or fly away since it was quite windy outside. I am also hoping that the cat won't be able to move it. To be safe and to ensure that mama bunny wouldn't be put off coming back to her babies both of us wore gloves at all times to not leave any scent and as the final touch I also rubbed the basket with some damp soil as well. Fingers crossed it will help.
 
Like I mentioned earlier I buried the little ones that had died later that day under our willow tree next to some Hyacinth bulbs that just started growing ~ it was little sad. One a nicer note now ... just after that my neighbour came to tell me that she saw one of the other three babies hoping in the grass which made me so happy. Mother Nature is bringing rain the next few days and that might keep that mean old cat away from them at night ... I hope! I will try and keep you up to date as I can with this.
 
I am sure you noticed I used the word "hope" a lot in this post. In certain situations hope is all you might have.

"Hope ... a feeling of expectation or desire,
a feeling of trust."
 
 
I hope you are well my dear friends and life is treating you kind.
 
Have a peaceful and creative day.
 

Thursday, April 24, 2014

My Pussy Willow Nest ..

Hello my dear friends,

today I would like to share my latest making with you. It is another egg creation in which I used my newly learnt skill of needle felting a little bit. I am far from perfect but happy with the results so far with the little pussy willow branches I made.
 
Every where I look, I see birds building nests these days time and I was so inspired by this. That's why I too decided to build a little nest for this creation. I seem to have a thing about nests. For me they represent family, safety, warmth, love and life ~ everything which is so precious to all of us. On a neater note why I must have a thing for nests is ... almost every time I want to type 'next' is turns about to be 'nest' ...that says it all really!
 
And this is my little 'Pussy Willow Nest'... 









 
 

 
 
 


 
 
 I really like they way this creation turned out ~ just like I had hoped it would.
 
I am already working on another one ...
 
 
... this one is going to be one of the two that I am going to create by combining this egg with my favourite time of the year. When will I share the finished creation ~ I am not sure yet but once I decide it, I will let you know but I am sure I will more to share with you in between.
 
I hope you are well my dear friends and life is treating you kind.
 
Have a peaceful and creative day. 
 

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

One Here, One Still To Come ..

Hello my dear friends,

just recently I had shared with you that I was waiting for my new nests from Vicki and one of them has now arrived!

The mail lady stopped outside our house few days ago and I watched and waited to see where she would go and ... it was to my front door with a white box in hand.


Vicki mail ...

... so exciting!
 

I opened the box and pulled what was inside out.


A new bird decorated the package ...


... now my second one and just as lovely as the first.
 
Carefully I unwrapped the treasure that was hiding inside the tissue paper and there it was ...


... my "Woodland Bling" nest.

I took many photos so you can see hopefully every little bit of this stunning piece of art.
So many different bits and pieces of all sorts of yarn, ribbon, lace, treasures and so much more have been gathered and used to create this nest.

Just take a look at it  ... it is so beautiful!

















 
 

Vicki had told me that this nest was amazing and she wasn't wrong! ... Don't you agree?!

 I am already so excited for my 'Vintage Spring' nest to arrive too.
 Some where on it there will be a few of my little 'Flutter~Bys' that I had made for Vicki to place on these nests ... I am so happy she asked me!

Thank you for stopping by today here at Todolwen. If you have a little spare time tomorrow do visit me again ~ I will be sharing my newest creation.

I hope you are well and life is treating you kind my dear friends.

Have a peaceful and creative day.