Anna Hull, Sock Bunny Maker to The World

Bunny Maker? Where are you?

2012-01-11T13:04:00.000-08:00

I'm here! Honestly I am. It's just that it's been .. er .. kinda hectic here. Well, not here exactly, but inside my head hectic it has been - exactly. Yup. Sometimes my brain gets so full that nothing happens and nothing gets done and I sit in the middle of lots of confusion drinking wine and wondering why I'm feeling so anxious. So, the upshot is that I had a little time out. No sewing of sock buns, no blogging, tweeting or anything really, just a whole lot of Castleville on Facebook and being a good (debatable)parent to the boys.
There have been changes at The Warren too. The most significant and materialistic change is that I, finally, have one room of our house 100% how I want it. One room of any house we have ever lived in really. Up until now we have lived with half our taste/stuff mixed with the previous owners taste. Bleughh.

I GOT A NEW KITCHEN!!!!

I don't any superdooper pics of it yet but this is a little taster of it's gloriousness.

(Thank you Grandpa Bunnymaker xxx)

Many other things have happened too. My beautiful Nosy is now a much loved house bunny, in a quite, calm, adult home, with free run of the place. Spike is all loved up with a lady bunny and starting his new life in his new home. I am so pleased that they are finally able to have what they both needed. I will write a post another day about them and my (apparently controversial) decision to rehome them both.

Now at The Warren are Liffy and Bumble (Mini Lop) and little Yeti Bun. Liffy and Bumble were both rescue buns who I bonded together. I got Bumble before Christmas and chose him just for Liffy. Both are what is called 'Black Otter' in colouring which makes their pairing doubly cute.

Bumble

Liffy grooming Bumble

Yeti is my house bunny who has been confined (much to her disgust) to my workroom! She has eaten the entire house and chewed through 3 MacBook power cables at £60 a pop!! Mr Bunny Maker only knows about two of them. (Another post coming about house bunnies and chewing in the pipeline too). She is waiting (not that she knows it) to be bonded into a trio with Liffy and Bumble, to live outside.

New arrivals also include The Chickens. Purkuuuuuuuurk!

From the left: Patrick, Gherkin, Blancmange and Plankton. NEVER let boys name chickens. They took b*&@?y ages to start laying but we are now getting a definite three a day with a 'double-yoker' about twice a week from Patrick. I think her name might be the root of the irregularity. They did have free range of the garden but, after covering the patio in the most diabolical poo on the planet, now have a lovely enclosure (built by Mr Bunny Maker) to be confined to.

The Warren Bunny Boarding was chock-a-block over Christmas. On the day itself we had 16 bunnies and two guinea pigs here. Everyone has gone home now and I am looking forward to wielding the pressure washer and giving everything a pre-spring clean out.

I have much much more to tell you all about but long blog posts are tedious to read. I am now in blogging mode so expect normal service to resume! See you all soon ....

The Bunny Maker is in the building!

2011-07-25T14:37:00.000-07:00

*Streeeetch ... yaaawn* What? what? Waddya want? I was having a lovely sleeeep .... mumble mumble ....

Oh! Hello .. it's you! I know, I know, the blog has been dormant. So, what's been happening? Well, Widget has been having a long holiday - in fact he has been Inter-railing. Is that something people still do or am I just showing my ages? He sold enough of his home grown veg to buy a ticket and he's been off visiting different bunnies all over Europe. He is back now, with some dodgy souveniers and in dire need of a wash!

And The Bunny Maker ... me, that is - Ahhhhhh, you see, I've been looking after lots and lots and lots of bunnies. The Warren Bunny Boarding is in full swing and we are filled up with soft ears and twitchy noses.

I also have a new bunny to look after .. Yeti Bun. She is very weeny! This is her at when I got her. She is now a bit bigger and looks just as adorable. She's going to be my house bun.

I also have exciting news of a new offer to raise money for the Rabbit Welfare Association - in conjunction with Alison Fennel of East Witching. Watch this space!

In which The Bunny Maker makes a Squid

2011-06-07T13:24:00.000-07:00

I did. Make a squid. Thus, The Bunny Maker presents .....

"Sqwuideh"

He's almost 30cm tall, crocheted in cotton yarn, his legs containing those fuzzy pipe cleaner things .

I am very, very proud of him and he took all half term to crochet. Next? A lobster .... but of course!

Hippo Birdie To Me ....

2011-06-06T20:32:00.000-07:00

Hippo birdie to me

Someone hacked my paypal

and stole my money

*sigh*

Yes, 'tis true. And I hab a stinkin' colb. It is also 4am and my throat is so dry that I have had to get up. Are you feeling sorry for me? I've sorted it out but it put me overdrawn in my bank account which has incurred charges, so I have the faff of getting it repaid. Boooo. Don't like faff.

I would just like to say a big hello to my brother's hairdresser who reads this blog *waves* who, as my brother says, seems to know more about me that he does. Well, dear bro, if you perhaps read my blog *ahem*! (My brother also makes inappropriate jokes about bunnies so he is in disgrace to begin with).

Since I announced I would be taking a little time out some people have exclaimed "No more bunnies? You're stopping making them????!! wahhhhhh!". Not true, bunny lovers, I am still here, and I have opened my shops back up again. I have sorted out a hooooooge pile of rubbish off my desk and have actually got the kids to school in the right order. Now I feel I can cope a little better and the house isn't such a tip. Please, there are bunnies needing homes, and they - need - YOU (points in a poster type gesture).

I have given up two part-time jobs which were taking me out of the house too - phew! I needed the money but The Warren Bunny Boarding is taking off in a wonderful way and I even have a fully booked week in July. We also need a new boiler (bye bye 2k) and the house stinks of oil - booooo. This means we can no longer re-vamp our kitchen. *sniff*.

All is not lost - I have successfully crocheted a squid! I wanted to learn and I have. He is a fabulous squid and I will post pictures today (ish). How can a foot high crocheted squid not fail to make life seem better?

What did I get for my birthday? Pukuuuuurk! Chickens! Well, a chicken house for chickens. The house arrives this weekend and the chickens after the summer. Three Pekins and two Frizzles. Our garden is a disgrace anyway so they can't make it much worse! We have no lawn at all - just bare, baked earth - chicken scratching heaven. So, Mr Bunny Maker now has to deal with .... two bunnies, innumerable guest bunnies, Scooter the hamster, two bored fish and five chickens. Serves him right for not letting us get a dog.
Now, what else can I sneak in?

In which The Bunny Maker wonders just when enough is enough...

2011-05-09T09:44:00.000-07:00

Have you even suddenly reached the conclusion that you have had enough? I'm sure you have. But, when is that thought at it's limit? When you can no longer reverse from it and take another run up? It seems that, here at The Warren, enough is finally enough.

I was brought up to believe that I could do anything if I put my mind, or hand to it and, pretty much, I can. I am very capable, or I thought I was. In turning this capable hand to making things I can whip up an idea in minutes, I can launch a website and raise over £600 within weeks for charity- I can start an online business from nothing - no knowledge, nothing. I know how to market my product and myself on the internet and I know how to sell from the kitchen table, as the saying goes.

What I can't do is remember to do things. Last year I filled in my tax form online but forgot to complete the final step. Hence I was fined £100. Luckily, as I was not due to pay tax, the fine was not applicable.

Last weekend I booked tickets and turned up for an event that was not scheduled until the end of this month.

For my son's last birthday I booked the cinema for 7 seats for the friday and turned up on the saturday. Luckily they had seats but I still had to pay again.

I forgot to pay for our boiler service and very nearly got a black mark on our credit record. All it took was one phone call.

I booked a holiday via email last year, didn't pay the deposit, as we decided not to go to the destination, assuming this would somehow negate the booking and then not remembering to contact them to let them know. Now they are asking us to pay for that holiday. We have just paid to go somewhere else.

There are hundreds of instances of my memory failing such as the above but it is the last example which has made me take stock. Enough is enough. My head is in fifty different places at once and brain is in none of them. What I worry about though is my idle mind. My idle mind gets into trouble and needs to be pinned to something or disaster ensues.

I've put all my shops into holiday mode, I've cleared out half of my things from my beautiful workroom, and moved the boys (and the Playstation) back in. Soon I will only have the house, the shopping and being a parent to worry about. This is the thing I should be turning my mind to, and focusing on right now.

For now ... my lovely blog followers (and I don't realise how many I do have until I actually meet people who say "You're The Bunny Maker,I follow your blog!") I am in 'screensaver mode' - kinda here, but kinda not. That is why all my shops announce a holiday (oh ha ha, a holiday? have two!) and the only thing on my facebook page are my Cityville updates!

The Bunny Maker would like to announce that, finallly, enough is enough.

In which The Bunny Maker succeeds at something - finally.

2011-04-23T05:35:00.000-07:00

At the start of this year I announced to anyone who was listening (so that's just me and the bunnies) that I was going to teach myself to crochet. I can knit. I hate knitting. I hate it because I can't do it properly. I hated to crochet too, the one time I had tried and got all tangled and confuzzled. So, 2011 was going to be the year I got on and did it because, quite honestly, I can just about most other things with my hands. The first things I did were a little doggie and some Ninjas, just to warm up. Then, finally, what I wanted to do all along ..... bunnies!!!!

He is purple with green inner ears, with lots of soft fuzz, plus a removable hat (because it might get hot).

Of course he now belongs to BunSon No.1 who has named him, with great originality, 'Bwunny'.

Anyone who knows anything about crochet would take one look and gasp at the terrible stitching and the fact that neither arms nor legs are the same size as each other. But, for my third crochet attempt - i'm pretty happy.

We've just come back from a stonking week on the Isle of Wight. The boys swam, caught crabs and built yet more stone piles.

It felt like summer and noone wanted to leave but we had to because the gorgeous Henry was arriving.

He is a lovely, Mini Rex boy with THE softest coat in the entire world. Nosy and Spike might be soft and fluffy but Henry feels like satin.

I bought them a new house, just in case they overheard me cooing over Henry's coat and felt sad. Oh the excuses I can come up with!

In which The Warren gets bigger ..

2011-03-22T02:13:00.000-07:00

We have an addition to The Warren. The Bunny Maker went to the pet shop and tried very hard not to give a home to any unwanted bunnies there. It was hard. Very hard, especially as there was a beautiful 14 month old girl. Her owner had to pay out £200 in dental bills because she fed her the wrong food and all the teeth had grown too long and painful. She stormed back to the pet store and dumped the bunny back on them! It makes me veerrrry angry - but, I won't go into that. Today is for celebration!

Welcome to Scooter!

He's a 5 month old male Chinese Dwarf Hamster. He was up for re-homing as no-one had bought him or seemed to want him. I have no idea why because he is adorable, gentle and sweet. He has no inclination to nip or bite and, as seen in the picture, likes to sleep under his wheel (which I removed to take the pic). He's not what I went in for but he's what I came out with!!

Wake up Scooter!

Mr Bunny Maker is NOT amused. He muttered about 'animals ALL over the place' but was told to stop being so horrible by all three Bun Sons, and it was pointed out to him that Scooter's house is about the size of our bread machine and he, himself, is no larger than a plum. In the face of the truth of such minimal impact, Mr Bunny Maker, not having a leg to stand on, humphed off with resignation, muttering about light snacks and toilet flushing. This elicited Bun Son squarkings of high volume and The Bunny Maker left them to it.

The BOGOF Bunny Bonanza!

2011-03-15T03:54:00.000-07:00

To celebrate Widget reaching 1500 friends on Facebook The Bunny Maker is running a 'buy one get one free' bonanza for March.

Yup - you buy one and ... er ..... you get the picture. Bunnies bought this week will also come with red noses - and £1.00 donated to Comic Relief.
Widget has his ..

Get to the shop >>>>> BOGOF BUNNIES

The Warren opens up for Bunny Holiday!

2011-03-14T06:53:00.000-07:00

Its been a long time in the planning but, like spring, it has finally arrived! The Warren Bunny Boarding is now open for business. There's a website ... www.sussexbunnyboarding.co.uk

http://www.sussexbunnyboarding.co.uk

And THE BEST bunny accommodation EVER for your buns. I've maxed out on space - the largest housing covers 81 square feet - not including access to the lawn. I'm thinking of moving in myself! We've also got space for Guinea Pigs, rats, mice, gerbils etc etc plus I would love to look after some reptiles too.
The website has loads and loads of pictures of the accommodation on it, so I won't post any here but you can look HERE.

This area above is going to be for Nosy and Spike now. It's down the side of the house, away from the main garden. The shed at the back is going to be converted for them, the fence has been bunny proofed with wire, there is going to be a nice fence and gate thingy where I am standing taking the picture. The flower beds there have been cleared - mainly so I could wire the fences - but also to mamke way for lots of bunny friendly herbage. The kitchen door is just on the right there - so, they will be able to hop in and out of the house and still be safe. I've bought a three storey hutch for them, to go into the shed. They iz spoilt bunz!

The Warren has its first guests booked in - two bunnies and three guineas. I'm really very excited. I've bought lots of exciting things from the garden centre too - but you'll have to wait for the next post for that .....

In which The Bunny Maker gets new boxes and a handful of birds.

2011-03-11T14:30:00.000-08:00

Things are getting done this week. Not like last, but we won't go into that.

New boxes arrived yesterday. The Bunny Maker found that the place she got her usual ones from weren't stocking that kind again, but they did have these acetate ones.

Widget thought that these boxes were much nicer as he could see out. The Bunny Maker agreed, and said they seemed sturdier too and would do very nicely indeed.

The Bunny Maker has also given Widget a very special task, one he is not all that happy about. He does such a good job of looking after the baby bunnies that she thought that he could do the same with these VERY early Easter chicks.

This little one took a real shine to Widget. Widget is feeling a bit too fuzzled by all the feathers at the moment to decide whether he likes this new duty or now. He is just muttering about Easter coming earlier and earlier and how he hopes they don't make a mess all over The Warren.

Working on a Wedneday

2011-03-09T03:29:00.000-08:00

Okay - that sounds rubbish but I missed 'Monday in The Burrow' - and, well, it is wednesday and I'm kinda working. 'Kind of' because somewhere, buried within the house, is a plastic sensor alarm. Buried by a child. Every time the sun comes out it sets it off. Deenaa deeenaaa deeenaaaa deeenaaaaaaa. Can I find it? NO! It only does it for a few seconds to I can't track it down via the sound. My teeth are on edge.

I'm uploading purple bunnies to the shop today. And, as spring is in the air, lots and lots of little baby buns will be arriving this week too. Spring is certainly in the air, which is why the sun keeps coming out AND SETTING OFF THE DEENAAAAAAAAA ALARM!

Spike is in full pouffy moult. He won't let me near him and I want to pluck out the loose tufts. Its tantalizing and driving me insane! I need to pull them out!!!

Look at that big clump all loose there on his back! I want it!!!!! Spike knows what I'm up to and is watching me carefully from, what he thinks, are strategically safe places ...

I've been up to some crafty things too. My bag, made to order, and used every day for ever and ever, from Noah's Art Crafts needed a new handle.

So it got two, and several nice buttons, then I got carried away and it got another pocket too.

The bunny order for Japan was packaged up and sent off. They are all very excited and snuggled into their green grassy fur box lining.

What a noisy box load I had to take to the post office! Having to explain to the queue what all the chittering and squeaking was turned out to be quite difficult.
"You've got 25 bunnies in a box?!!" etc etc etc

DEEEENAAAAA DEEEENAAAAAA

RIGHT! That's it ... Sorry, I'm off to hunt for the darn thing ....

Monday in The Burrow

2011-02-28T03:23:00.000-08:00

So that was Half Term? Pshaw, certainly gone quickly, eh. Time to wake up and get back into The Burrow then. What's a-happenin'?

I've started to paint up these mini fish for an order for wedding place settings. 50 weeny versions of my big bunches of fishies.

They are 4cm in length. I have a free reign for colours and designs and am relieved not to have to come up with many, many variations of pink and white, in true wedding tradition.

Bouncing around in the background are a whole load of (very pink) bunnies, all waiting to be packed up and sent off to Japan.

I'm very excited that 25 of them are off to a lovely shop in Tokyo selling handmade British thingies. Getting the bunzies to the home of all things pink and cute is excellent indeed. One more step towards world domination!

So far that's it for the start of the week. I've also got to get all ready for a house sale i'm having tomorrow - just selling off loads of bits and bobs for £5 and under. A couple of friends are coming this evening to get in there first too. So far everything in in boxes looking very unready. So why am I here blogging .....

In which The Bunny Maker has a spot of bunny trouble

2011-02-15T10:14:00.000-08:00

It was going well. There were new bunnies arriving to have their photos taken for the shop. The Bunny Maker had everything all set up nicely, Wilf was posing ready for the shot, when she noticed something. Something troublesome.

Can you see anything? Yes, exactly. Bunny chewing. Real bunny chewing. Nosy and Spike chewing. Not only are they systematically trying to fell my work table by nibbling through the MDF legs but they are setting about remodelling my light tent. Grrrrrrr.

But the miracle that is Photoshop came to the rescue and Wilf was retouched and cropped and got ready for his shop debut.

The Bunny Maker was left muttering (as she often is) about bunnies and real bunnies and chewing and nibbling and annoying pesky things .....

Wilf is looking for a new home and you can find him in the shop on The Bunny Makers NEW website. It's very yummy and she is quite pleased with it.

In which The Bunny Maker nearly trips over ...

2011-02-10T05:26:00.000-08:00

The Bunny Maker opened the door this morning and nearly tripped over. Tripped over with surprise and because she nearly stood on three little bunnies. Standing, shivering and a little damp, on the doormat were three Eastery Bunnies.

"How early are you?" She exclaimed, "I've only just got the Christmas ones packed away and put the Love Bunnies in the shop for Valentine's Day!"

"We know we are early," squeaked the bunnies, "but we really don't think that people will only buy us for Easter."

"I suppose so," said The Bunny Maker, "come on in then, you look very cold."

After hot chocolate and Wagon Wheels the bunnies were all warmed up and ready for their photograph to be taken.

They did have a little grumble about the three eggs being plastic and NOT chocolate but apart from that it all went rather well. They are now, very excitedly, waiting in the bunny shop on Folksy for new homes, leaving The Bunny Maker grumbling about lack of space, too many bunnies, who's eating all the biscuits etc etc

The Bunny Maker is famous ... (she thinks)

2011-02-09T13:19:00.000-08:00

Oh yes. Oh yes indeed. I have column inches. I have almost a whole page. I am featured in the latest issue of the RWAF magazine 'Rabbiting On'.

I would just like to say that that is NOT me sky-diving. I am the one looking, with rather sickly expression, at the basket of bunnies. Trying to get a photo of me not looking grim was very distressing and I had to employ heavy usage of the 'Photoshop Botox' tool. I still think I look 25 and always get a nasty shock when I see the 'real me'. I suppose you want to know what it says? Okay .. *engage speed typing function*

Handmade help for real-life rabbits
Designer and bunny owner Anna Hull, who runs a small craft business selling sock bunnies from her West Sussex home, has come up with a novel idea to raise money for the RWAF. And in just six months has raised an amazing £500.
The Handmade Bunny was founded on 1st August last year and is quickly becoming the 'in place' to look for beautiful handmade products inspired by our bunny friends. The artists featured on the site all pay an annual subscription in the form of a donation to the RWAF.
The Handmade Bunny was born of her involvement with the handmade online community, combined with her passionate support of the RAWF's 'A Hutch is Not Enough' campaign.
Anna told Rabbiting On: "I was driving one day and this perfectly formed idea popped into my head, along with the phrase "handmade help for real-life rabbits". That night I messaged as many people as I could to invite them to join the project, bought the domain and drew up the outline for the website. Our cute bunny logo was donated by an online contact and within three weeks the site was up and running with twenty sellers on board.
"On the site we have a great range of items including silver jewellery, custom pet portraits, water colours, fabrics, toys, stationery and cushions. Each piece is lovingly designed or made by hand by fabulous artists and designers and all feature our favourite furry friends. These is also a 'Zoo' section with other animals from woodlice to dogs to unicorns," she said.
"I wanted people to discover what amazing things the people I know are making," Anna explained. "I have my own shop online, selling my sock bunnies, and every day I come across beautiful things made by artist, just like me, who are struggling to show the world what they can do. Selling online is extremely difficult and this is my way of doing a bit to help at the same time as raising money for a fantastic charity. At The Handmade Bunny you can shop for your bunny-loving friends and help the bunnies you love at the same time!".

There you are - that's what it says!

Monday in The Burrow

2011-02-07T06:11:00.000-08:00

Well - another Monday is here - boooooo. Pretty dreary but lots of things are happening at The Burrow workroom. A little order is off to Pink Blancmange, a soon to be launched website. These are limited edition Mother's Day bunnies ...

I've also painted up the new range of wooden bunnies, to go on sale in my shops. I've shifted ten of them already so i'll have to get busy now making some more.

Also in the pipeline are some more hanging birds. I had these for sale about two years ago, but never repeated them for some reason. So ..... here they are, on their way to be strung in twos.

And, remember I said I was going to teach myself to crochet this year? Whatever it took - I was going to be able to do those cute amigurumimimilumi things? Dun dun duuuuuuuuuun

I have to say that the pattern book was @$*& and, in the end, I kinda had to make it up myself. Either that or I'm just @$*& at reading patterns. So, the start of my rainbow ninja army. Only 43 more to go.

What's on your desk, Bunny Maker?

2011-01-31T01:52:00.000-08:00

Eh? What? Did you ask me something? Oh, what's on my desk? Why did you have to stop in today, everything is in a bit of a pickle ...

That is not fresh coffee either - age unknown. I can, however show you something less grim and more arty, seeing as you're here and all that.

I'm making up a new batch of wooden leaping bunnies. Half of them are off to Fat Fluffs Rabbit Rescue to help them raise money at their Valentine's Day event. The others will be for sale in ye olde bunny shoppe later on this week. I have also been a-spending as usual ...

Possibly the most awesome and monstery fleece I have ever seen. I have two precious squares of it, sent all the way from the U.S of A and it is so lovely that I will most likely never be able to put scissors to it. All the BunSons want duvets, pillows and blankets made and BunSon3 would like his room carpeted with the turquoise one. I'd like to cover our sofa in it.
Tap..tap..tap..calculator bashing ensues..... Nope, too spenny, especially as I'm holding out for some renovations in our kitchen. Mr Bunny Maker is not listening.

In which The Bunny Maker questions herself

2011-01-28T06:17:00.000-08:00

On reflection I have to wonder if this is really a very 'normal' thing to do.

It's just that Nosy and Spike's fluff is so soft that, when you feel it, you simply can't feel it. It was BunSon 3 who first saved a little bit and, then I kinda carried on. It seemed logical to put it into this little pot .. which I had already. I'm stating that so you don't think I went off looking especially for a heart-shaped one. That might be construed along the lines of people who set a place at the table for their cat, or carry a small dog in a handbag. Maybe.

Anyone else do this? What shall I do with it?

In which the Bunny Maker has her life changed...

2011-01-26T08:52:00.000-08:00

I took this picture ages ago and meant to blog about it but forgot. It seems a bit strange now harking back to Christmas but I was given something that has changed my life.

Here it is ....

My life-changing selotape dispenser! You have no idea (or perhaps you do) of the seconds, nay minutes, I have wasted trying to find the end of the roll. Finally, after having a very childish showdown with a very stubborn roll, I announced that all I wanted for Christmas was .....

"A selotape dispenser, but one of those like really, really heavy ones like you get on your desk in big companies from proper stationery shops and in a really dull colour, nothing fancy and shiny - a PROPER dispenser. Don't forget, it has GOT to be heavy."

I got one - and 5 new rolls of tape. Packaging up orders is now fairly pleasurable. Ho hum, its the little things.

BUNNY NEWS: We hear from Cosmos Bunny

2011-01-19T10:09:00.000-08:00

Widget was beside himself. It had been a long time since any news from 'sold bunnies' had come back to The Warren, and most of the bunnies have long gone given up waiting for the postman. Sniff.

The other day The Bunny Maker called everyone into The Burrow workroom and showed them an email from one of their oldest friends Cosmos!

She said;
"I've had a snowy Christmas and discovered a new treat of pinky goodness; coconut ice! Apart from carrots they are my favourite food but I was only allowed one, despite staring longingly at them for hours, nobody relented, hmph. Before Christmas I helped to choose Morris sockbunny to go and live with our friends and I hear he is settling in very well, hopefully I'll get to visit him later in the year!

Bye for now,
Cosmos xo

What happy bunnies there are here! Bouncing and boinging all over the place, annoying The BM, scattering all her tax return papers all over the floor. She was VERY pleased to hear from Cosmos though and soon forgave the mess.

New Widget cards in the post - yay!

2011-01-17T13:23:00.000-08:00

My new cards have just arrived today. I'm quite excited. I have to say that I whipped them up in Photoshop far to fast and ordered them double-quick from Overnightprints.com. I've used them before and was very happy, plus I had an email code discount thing to use.

I have 'For You', with an 'To and From' on the reverse, for anyone wanting to attach a gift message. The other two to be packaged up with any bunnies going off to new homes. I got 300 cards for aprox. £36.00 - all in, including tax and postage. They arrived within a few days and are lovely quality. Pleased Bunny Maker here.

The Bone in action!

2011-01-15T14:49:00.000-08:00

Quite a few people have asked me for a picture of The Bone in action. So, for you all, I present .... The Bone in action!

Now, the question is ..... should I make some to sell?

What am I waffling on about? Read this post and all will become clear.

Pact Animal Sanctuary, Norfolk - Call for help

2011-01-13T04:32:00.000-08:00

Widget is busy writing a cheque ... (great ear control there, Widge!).

He read a message from the Rabbit Welfare Association about the Pact Animal Sanctuary in Norfolk that has just taken in a huge number of neglected bunnies found in terrible conditions. There were more than 70 rabbits and babies, housed in filing cabinets. Almost all the does are pregnant. Some are sick with Myxomatosis and Syphilis.

Please visit their website and read more HERE and make a donation if you can. £3.00 is the smallest and every bit helps.

Are you ready for some bunny love?

2011-01-09T11:00:00.000-08:00

The Valentine's bunnies have already been selected. Widget organized some kind of wierd selection process involving carrots, spreadsheets and questionaires. Whilst he was amusing himself I chose THE perfect socks for the occasion.

I chose a pink, slightly fuzzy one, for people who like pink, fuzzy things and a very smart black and white stripy one for those not so keen on the pink side of things.

These are super special limited edition bunnies and are only available from my Half an Acre shop on Not On The High Street.com

It's a bit worrying that January is nearly half over. Better get on with the tax return!

A quiet festive season? - Part 3

2011-01-08T08:36:00.000-08:00

Continuing the 'Parter' theme, of what I got up to on the crafting and making front over Christmas, I present ...

A fuzzy green apple. Made for Bun Son 2, who wanted one for his favourite toy horse. He also wanted 'a friend for Horsey' (Horsey being said fave toy). I bought what was probably the hardest pattern in the world. Or it could be because the only other pattern I have ever bought and made was for pyjama bottoms.
Anyway ..... I managed it. He's a big dodgy in places ...

But looks pretty good if you don't have too close an inspection. He is made from brown suedette stuff with cotton apple fabric (requested by Bun Son).

I am also determined to learn to crochet as I have a need to make a miniature army of ninja zombi amigurumi creatures. This book is on its way ..

In the meantime I am teaching myself stitches and generally getting tangled up and using it all as an excuse to shop for lovely colour cotton yarns, needles, hooks, markers and other habby bits.

I'm making the little dog pictured in the book (for BunSon 3). I've got as far as half a head, an ear and a nose. It's going better than i anticipated.

A quiet festive season? - Part 2

2011-01-06T13:36:00.000-08:00

So, what else did I get up to in the making department?

Oooo, something stripy! On a whim I made a black and white fleece bone for my youngest, Bun Son 3. (We don't do normal toys here). It was going to be a sort of bone-sized bone but, as I had no pattern and no plan (as usual) it ended up about 6x bigger ...

It's nearly as big as Bun Son 3! He loved, loved, loved it and so did everyone else. He uses it as a big pillow and carries it around the house. It's blooming comfy and Mr Bunny Maker and I might steel it for ourselves.

Are you looking forward to Part 3? There is one and it's a-comin'. Hold on to your hats!

BUNNY NEWS: Christmas in Oregon.

2011-01-04T15:25:00.000-08:00

Yippeeee! How pleased were we to here from all the bunnies in Oregon? Very indeed. It has been a while and the bunnies here at The Warren were wondering how everything was 'across the pond'.

Apparently they inspected the tree for a very long time before it was decided that something was missing.

Hmmm, yes. Typical.

There are 17 bunnies on that tree but they weren't the only ones to enter into the festive spirit!

Thank you Monkeybun for the wonderful pictures. I've saved the other two pictures and put them over The Handmade Bunny Blog.

A quiet festive season? - Part 1

2010-12-31T03:06:00.000-08:00

As most people settle down for a restful Christmas, putting aside crafting and making, I rev up with a vengeance. The coffee table had to change. It was brown, it was boring, it was old and we didn't like it much at all and kept telling it so. As is my way, I decided to start on Christmas Eve. Yup.

I bought the papers as a PDF download from LilliBimble on Etsy - had a play with the colours, and got Mr Bunny Maker to print them off at work (heee heee).

Snip, stick, snip, stick ... Ta daaaaaaa....

It will need many many coats of varnish, because I always slop wine and coffee on it. The feet have very neat sticky-backed plastic covering to protect the paper edges.

It now looks much better in the living room ..

So, what's Part 2? You'll have to wait ......

Wee Widget arrives at The Warren.

2010-12-14T08:31:00.000-08:00

At last, Widget is home for Christmas aaaaaand someone came with him! 'Wee Widget', created by Kirsten at Quernus Crafts is here!

Wee Widget is quite small .. 'wee' in fact. Widget is most impressed. He feels famous.

Widget keeps insisting on getting in the pictures, in case 'people think I've frozen'. Odd bunny.

You will be able to own your own Widget now too! They will be for sale from January.

Do these look familiar?

2010-12-08T08:31:00.000-08:00

This is a sneak preview of 'Wee Widget', made by Kirsten of Quernus Crafts - she of the 'Wee Mice' and 'Wee Highland Cows, not to mention the snails! He is on the way to me as I type this.
Widget has spent the last few weeks visiting Kirsten and being modelled into a little polymer clay figure. He managed to keep his ears pretty still considering.

We will be taking pre-orders for a January delivery (Kirsten is snowed under with custom orders for Wee Angel Mice and other lovelies this side Christmas).

As soon as Wee Widget arrives .... there will be pictures!!

December at The Warren

2010-12-04T09:02:00.000-08:00

The run-up to Christmas is always fun at The Warren, but this year there is something missing! Widget, the bun himself, is away being modelled by Kirsten at Quernus Crafts. There is no one to keep the other bunnies under control and it has all gone a bit pear-shaped. Nosy has been trying to help ...

We have had a big whoofle of snow here too, meaning that Nosy and Spike get to stay in The Burrow workroom a good while longer.

They now have a semi-permenant structure taking shape. This must be alarming Mr Bunny Maker somewhat, although he hasn't said anything. Yet.

Nosy and Spike have been getting into a whole heap of their own trouble. Left alone at night, not content with chewing the back out of the cardboard box house, they can't resist LIVE power cables. I forgot to hook up my sewing machine one the other night ....

They killed it! I'm suprised they didn't kill themselves! Faced with bunny orders and no means to sew them I employed by Girl Guide knowledge and cut, spliced and re- wired the cable. The sewing machine even works again. I am smug.

In spite of the lack of Widget and the freezing weather, lots of new snow bunnies have arrived and are now waiting for you in the bunny shop.

By the way, If you give the bunnies a dedicated power cable, just for them, one you have no need of anymore, they won't touch it. It has to be plugged in! I think they get a kick out of setting their teeth on edge! Odd bunnies.

(I never was a Girl Guide).

Busy, busy bunny bunny ...

2010-11-18T12:47:00.000-08:00

Things are quite 'happening' at The Warren these days. We all headed out to Winchester Handm@de on saturday last. The Moveable Meadow was covered in a lovely blanket of snow (seasonally appropriate) and I can tell you that we didn't half shift some bunnies! Everyone wanted one. People wanted two. Some people even came back for three! Result = The Bunny Maker needs to get a shift on and make some more!

I have also been up to things. Covering and sticking things. Without much know-how and planning I decided that the fabric stash had to be used for something and that most notebooks are way too dull .... so, I got out the PVA...

.. and covered some of those notebooks. I've started to help people with their websites and found that it is easier to have one notebook per website. All those notebooks kinda need to stay together too so .. i did some sewing too. I made them a nice mushroomy bag to live in.

I KNEW I bought all that fabric for a reason! Now I am all organized - with all the website login, logon, admin, user, email, html stuffy stuff all laid out and easy to find. I can kid myself that I am organized so easily.

That's it for the moment really. Well, actually there is more stuff but I need to get some pictures off my phone (forgot the camera) and dig around for some other bits and pieces. More bloggage soon ......

In which The Bunny Maker gets all tangled up again. Ho hum

2010-11-03T10:45:00.000-07:00

If it's not the CE Testing getting me all confizzled and confuzzled it's blooming Trade Marking. I'm ignoring the CE problem at the moment and have buried my head in the proverbial sand. Trade Marking has been bothering me for ages. But what does it all mean? Sit down and I will tell you. By the way, how long have you got?

This might be something that a Widget and Friends trade mark could look like ..

Oh headache. It's all a headache. Every single thing I try to do with all this handmade, selling thingy malarky, involves first teaching myself all about it. Which means googling, reading, head-scratching and asking. Luckily I have a weakness for books and the staff in my local Waterstones greet me by name. Sigh.
Now - I could apply for my own Trade Mark myself. I've done all the research I can, read all the books - and i'm still not 100% certain of what I am doing. I 'get' doing the UK registration and doing it myself would cost me around £300, and that is just for protection in the UK. Getting someone to do it for me will cost me around £600. When I have UK protection I can then apply for European and international protection

I THINK (and don't quote me on this) this can be done via something called the Madrid Protocol, which is an agreement that lots of countries signed to show that they agree on something.
As far as I can make out it is done country by country - and if I tick them all I clock up £1000s. So which ones do I choose? I have no idea. Anyway, I have had a quote for registration within the EU for about £1,400. So, we are up to £2000 already. SOB.

Why am I bothering? No idea. I will just hate myself forever if I walk in to Clinton's Cards and see their new Easter range of sock bunnies, all looking exactly like one of mine.
I already have design registration and that, combined with a trade mark, legally prevents anyone making and selling anything looking, resembling or eluding to one of my bunnies or my company. You know when they ask on Dragons' Den? About protection? This is what they mean. Not that I would have any money whatsoever to fight a large company anyway BUT at least I couldn't kick myself for not having done as much as I could.

I may be going nowhere but it's MY design, MY idea and MY hard-work. Grump.

Everything you need to confuse yourself is HERE >>>> www.ipo.gov.co.uk

NEWSFLASH UPDATE: I've done another U-turn - scared at the last - decided to abandon the above idea and spend some money at Fabric Rehab instead (and buy a new pair of jeans).

Halloween at The Warren

2010-11-01T16:00:00.000-07:00

So, what goes on here at Halloween? All sorts of things. I found myself in a rather strange, very appropriate and not at all contrived, position last night - on the very eve of Halloween itself ...

Is this some sadistic ritual? Is The Bunny Maker not all that she seems? What on earth is she doing?
Yup - sorry folks, its just a custom order for a Skelly Bun in progress. Off to France no less!

And as for this lot, I've not idea who they are or what they are doing .....

A few Thock Thakes insisted on posing for the picture too, before they were shooed back to The Burrow workroom. Just for the record - we did eat the kids.

Waddya up to, Bunny Maker?

2010-10-26T05:28:00.000-07:00

Er .... ooops, you've caught me unawares and all in a pickle. The Burrow is a bit of a mess as I have been re-vamping my Half an Acre shop on Not on The High Street . I've been checking I have the designs ready for posting off, all bubble-wrapped and that and that. I'm also painting up some new fish, which I haven't done for ages. I have some new fishies ...

It's all the fault of those bunnies, they won't let me do anything else but make new ones and write about them!

You can click on the image to see a bigger one - its messier close up!
I'm doing something most unwise, painting amongst all my socks and fabric bits. Heading for a messy disaster. Using the sewing machine for drying painted things on is perhaps not the best of ideas.

Most of my paints have dried up of over the summer. Ho hum. Time for a shopping spree then.

I've sneekily brought the bunnies in to The Burrow too. It is VERY cold out, you see.

Can you see Nosy, fast asleep in his favourite spot? Mr Bunny Maker doesn't like them inside, in fact, he doesn't like then at all! Old meanie.

It's my workroom .......... *stamps feet*

Widget, money-raising ambassador!

2010-10-25T14:03:00.000-07:00

The other day Widget was packaged up and sent off to stay with Kirsten at Quernus Crafts. She is going to measure him and squint at him and make a wee widget out of polymer clay. It seems that he has been out and about. Kirsten took him to met everyone at Ilkley Arts Market and Widget persuaded just about everyone to have their photo taken with him, for a small donation to the Rabbit Welfare Association. Go Widget!
So, for your delectation and amusement, Widget, The Bunny Maker and all the other assorted sock things at The Warren presents .......

'Widget goes to Ilkley and raises money'.

A slideshow, created on a steep learning curve in Google Docs by The Bunny Maker herself (who has had to have a little lie down). Click on play (of course).

Thank you to Jo Whitehead who let a small bunny run wild at her event, and thank you to everyone who PAID to have a piccy taken with Widget. A total of £20.00 was raised for the RWAF. Woooo wooo!

Widget SockBunny: Super Model

2010-10-20T06:30:00.000-07:00

Widget! Wake up! You're going in the post today!

You are being posted off to Kirsten, of Quernus Crafts, she is going to make a little model of you. A bit like this ...

and this ......

Only Widget shaped. She might be making lots of you, and lots of you might be for sale.

So, if you wouldn't mind, could you just snuggle in this padded envelope? Don't look so worried, Widge, it'll be okay, it's only a short trip! When you get there you will have to sit very still whilst she models you. Then, if it all goes well, and you don't twitch your ears too much, she might give you a nice carroty treat!

Halloween Sock Bunny takes to the skies...

2010-10-17T09:50:00.000-07:00

Widget and the bunnies are getting ready for Halloween. This pleases The Bunny Maker as she is getting tired to Christmas lists being left on her workroom desk. A welcome diversion from the long, long haul of day counting until the festive event.

Halloween Bunny has arrived - he came last night, flying in on the cold night air. His cloak is rather marvelous and shimmers in the light....

Some of The Warren bunnies think its a bit show-offy and flashy, but its only because they are jealous! The cloak is magic (apparently) and means that he can fly (apparently), although no one has seen him do it in the daylight yet.

Widget is muttering about 'smoke and mirrors'. The Bunny Maker is tired of all this harumphing but is just glad that there is a respite from the Christmas present demands for a while!

I'm putting my foot down!

2010-10-14T05:17:00.000-07:00

That's it! No more! The bunnies are getting far too good at ear-typing. Widget and his pals have only gone and signed this blog up for a competition. That's what happens when you leave them alone with nothing better to do.

Anyway - there it is. You can vote for this blog HERE (there are only two pages, i'm probably right at the end of the second!) - which I would love you to do as its all a bit Norman No Votes at the moment! I never win anything, except a packet of Fruit Pastiles I won for Bingo in the childrens' club on a cruise on the now-deceased Canberra when I was about 7. I think they only gave them to me because I was sniveling about not ever winning anything.

So - apart from having to have a good talk to the bunnies about this and that, and to ban their ears from typing, let along sitting UP ON MY DESK and TOUCHING MY COMPUTER, I have added some more to the shop.

The autumn air is getting chillier and these two wouldn't have their photos taken without scarves. And now they won't take them off. Ho hum. So, 'Bunnies With Scarves' are now in The Bunny Shop on Folksy. I need them to find homes before my whole stock of bunnies ask for accessories for the winter!

Skelly Bun rides again.

2010-10-11T15:25:00.000-07:00

Woooooooooooo woooooooooo. (That's my scary Halloween noise). One of those yearly events is coming this a-way and at least I can say that it isn't Christmas. Phew! The Skelly Buns are on the march, looking for new homes.

They may be half-dead but they are all bunny. There is still a lot of bounce left in them, you know, don't be a-thinkin' they are all still and lifeless. They love cabbage fried with crispy bacon too, and will eat bowlfulls if you cook it for them.
Here's the recipe:

Cabbage
Bacon

Steam cabbage. Fry bacon until crispy. Drain cabbage. Add bacon. Give to bunny.

They don't call me Jamie Oliver for nothing. They don't call me that? Oh. Okay.

Each bunny is made to order, so will have a little personality of his/her own. You can find them in the Etsy shop and on Folksy - so, er, go there .......

The Bunny Maker or The Monster Maker?

2010-09-30T04:12:00.000-07:00

The Bunny Maker suddenly had an urge. It all started when she shrank her nicest top in the wash.

Tank Designs on Lasso The Moon (they do adult sizes!)

It was from Tank Designs and made of lovely Merino wool, which, incidentally, needs a nice cool wash, not slapped in the machine with the school polo shirts at 80 degrees! It came out very small and perfect for a 2 year old girl!

She took it out of the machine, took one look, and though 'Oh No!" and then "OOO I can make a monster out of it!". So she did.

Snortle Monster

Now, The Bunny Maker has discovered that Monsters have very cute personalities and it's going to be hard to part with them. She has made some others too ..

Tatty Monster

Big Red Hugger Monster

Now she's not sure what to do with them. The house is filled with such things. Should she put them into the shop?

(If you want to get hold of The Bunny Maker, you'll find her in her wardrobe, looking for old jumpers .... and heading for the washing machine!)

They are pink and they are here!

2010-09-30T01:55:00.000-07:00

The Girls have arrived in the sock bunny shop on Folksy! Twowence and Thelia Thock Thnake are waiting for new homes. They can't wait to get rid of each other, always fighting and arguing, they can't see eyeball to eyeball on anything.

Widget is getting fed up having to stop their arguments, dodging their snakey tongues as they bicker. Sometimes he just sits on their tongues to stop them. One of the main topics of argument is hair. Thelia has it and Thwowence doesn't. Thelia flicks it around whenever she can, and this annoys her sister, and everyone else. Thwowence's only come back is that she has a fancier pattern on her skin.

Thelia

The Bunny Maker is sure that they would miss each other if apart, but it would have to be a strict owner who took on these two sisters!

Thwowence

They are hissing at each other in the shop >>>> HERE

The Handmade Bunny Giveaway Winner is picked

2010-09-23T02:27:00.000-07:00

Phew! That was fast! Thank you so much to all of you who signed up for the first Handmade Bunny Giveaway. It was all over in a few hours and, as soon as this one is finished I'll be launching another one, as we exceeded the 25 people signing up.

The bunnies have been quite bored today, it's raining and they really don't like getting damp ears, so a few gathered round to see what was happening. Carl offered his felt basket to hold the entries and Widget dithered as usual.

He said it 'needed stirring' and spent far too long finding a suitable spoon. Everyone got a bit impatient but, at last, the winner was picked.

YAY! Everyone clapped and 'Happy' bunny got down into her jute bag ready to be packaged up.
"Hang on," said The Bunny Maker, "We need her address before we can send you off."

Congratulations to Sarah-Beth - We will be in touch!

It's Flopped.

2010-09-13T04:18:00.000-07:00

It's a day I thought I would never see, I hoped I would never see. It is happening. Nosy's ear is flopping. Boooooooooooooooo.

I loved it like this ...

I am sad, he looks odd but least I can tell which is which!

The Bunny House is Finished!

2010-09-10T02:20:00.000-07:00

It's done. It cost twice as much as it was meant to and is twice as fabulous as I hoped.

Inside there are up bits and down bits, corners for hiding in and straw for drying off and being cosier in. There is a chair for me and somewhere to put a nice cup of coffee.

The sleeping area in the Wendy house has a smaller hutch in it, now filled with straw and baskets for curling up in when it's very cold. As the nights get chiller and colder I'll just keep adding deeper and deeper straw and hay for them. Their favourite spot is up on the top there, so they can see out of the windows!

Something new arrived today too - to complete everything.

It took them about 2 minutes to notice it but then they spent a good twenty going in and out, in and out, in and out ... you get the idea.
My favourite bit is still 'the tunnel'.

I have now fulfilled my childhood dream of having one of those play houses, the ones with the ladder up to an upstairs and little windows. I've always wanted one of them and tried desperately to argue for one for my own children. My plan was too transparent though! Now can rearrange all the plants and boxes, sweep things and plant flowers around the door. My fantasy has been fulfilled. In life, that is a good thing.
And to think, this is what the pet store sold me as a 'large run'. Nosy and Spike can't even stand up in it. Disgraceful.

A Bunny Family in need: Can you help?

2010-09-07T05:26:00.000-07:00

A terrible thing has happened. An incident with an over-filled water-butt meant a total washout for parts of The Warren. This little family have lost their Daddy Bun and are in need of a new home. Their burrow was totally washed away, along with the carrot stores they were laying down for the winter.

Is there anyone out there who can look after them? Anyone who might have a Daddy Bunny? Those two little girls are going to need a father in the future, Mini Bun is already wanting her ears pierced and needs a firm hand in these matters.
You can find them the bunny shop on Folksy.... HERE

Time to catch up!

2010-09-06T04:23:00.000-07:00

Where did that summer go? Wahoooosh! ... and it was gone! We caught 1472 crabs in total for 2010 and balanced a lot of stones....

Now it's all back to school again. My biggest little boy has started secondary school....

'Sniff'.

Things around The Warren have been a-happening too. Since we have had Nosy and Spike, our bunnies, they have been slowly taking over. Not content with their big hutch and two runs, the conversion is now finished!! LOOK!

Dun ... dun ...duuuuuuuunnnnnnnn. Bunny Heaven!

The junk-holding Wendy house is now their *ahem* bedroom, with a weatherproof tunnel through to the ..er ... living room.

Inside the 'bedroom' is another hutch, £15 off ebay (bargainous bargain). It's way too small to ever have housed a rabbit (shudder) but is perfect to fill with hay for them to cosy into on cold nights.

The 'living room' has a big shelfy thing which I will spend many happy an hour arranging ramps and ledges, hiding places, and sniffing holes around.

I couldn't resist, a big, wet patch of concrete? Custom drawn floor by The Bunny Maker! The whole shebang cost twice as much as originally quoted, as these things always do. But, might as well do it properly, eh?
*shakes piggy bank pointlessly*
All it needs now is lots of runways, boxes, planks, hay, food, water and .... bunnies!

The Bitty Bunnies have arrived!

2010-08-31T14:54:00.000-07:00

Widget is not amused. The Bitty Bunnies have just arrived and he has been told to keep an eye on them. Harumph. There are the smallest of the bunnies, bar the baby buns who haven't got their sleeping bags yet. These perfectly formed and extremely pocket-sized because, after all, everyone needs a bunny in their pocket, right?

As you can see from the picture they are about to exit right, having caught sight of The Warren vegetable patch. Widget has to tag along behind muttering, 'Hey, no touching!' and other bossinesses. He really would like them in the shop sharpish, or for another bunny to take on the responsibility but The Bunny Maker has given him a very firm 'No'.
So, to relieve poor Widget of his baby-sitting, and spare The Bunny Maker listening to his relentless tutting and grumbling, please give some of these little ones a home! Hop to the shop HERE!

A Bunny Family in need: Can you help?

2010-08-31T07:44:00.000-07:00

The Bitty Bunnies have arrived!

2010-08-31T05:23:00.000-07:00

WAKE UP SOCK BUNNIES!

2010-08-30T10:20:00.000-07:00

Where have you been? The blog is all silent! Summer? Oh okay. You sold out? You did? Wow, Bunny Maker, that's amazing!

The summer is over now and the bunny shop is empty - ish. Time to fill it back up again and what better way than with some deeply cute Hello Kitty Soc Bunnies.

Three cute little ones, waiting for homes. You know you want them!

Click here to go to the shop via teleportation unit.

Bunny Gifts Galore!: The Handmade Bunny is ready!

2010-08-13T14:28:00.000-07:00

I really am very excited - The Handmade Bunny website is pretty much built and ready. The first wave of sellers are all listed, with their bunnified things and also, other animal themed products in the new catagory 'The Handmade Zoo'.

What do you think? Looking good? There are a few little bits to add to the bottom there ..... have you noticed the amount we've raised so far? £265.00! Since August 1st.
Some of the sections are yet to be filled with information - but, give me a day or two and that will be sorted out. There is also a BLOG, which, right now, offers a solution for your sweaty hay. If you have sweaty hay, that is.

There is more and more to come and lots of exciting giveaways, promotions and auctions of wonderful handmade things, all to raise money for The Rabbit Welfare Fund.
The RWA has a great website, full of great information about bunnies and how you can help raise awareness. Here's the link:

The Rabbit Welfare Association and Fund

The Handmade Bunny

2010-08-09T12:51:00.000-07:00

The days are getting shorter and shorter and I've even started getting up with the 'term time' alarm at 7.15. What is going on? Shall I tell you? Oh, okay. The Handmade Bunny is what is going on.

It whilst I was driving. When I drive I get bothered by ideas, so many sometimes that I have to whap on Radio 5 to stop them coming. I was driving, it was nice and quiet and I had the most almighty and mahoosive idea of ideas. An online shop selling only lovely handmade bunny design things, with all money donated to The Rabbit Welfare Fund. 'Handmade help for real-life rabbits' was a phrase which just came (hopped) into my head.
Pet gifts sometimes reach depths of tackiness that I wish I didn't know existed.

If you own a t-shirt like this I er ... no, I don't apologise. Burn it.

That night I contacted as many handmade sellers I could find who created bunny inspired things, got the name sorted out, had an offer of donated graphics and bought the domain.

www.thehandmadebunny.com

That was three weeks ago - and, by the end of this week, the website will be ready. It is live so the people who have donated to the RWF to be listed on it can see how it progresses and check their stuff is listed correctly.

Today it looks like this...

Tomorrow it will look different! Take a peek for yourself, I have already uploaded a few of the sellers. Alongside beautiful bunny stuff will be information about how to look after a pet rabbit, how to feed them, which wild foods you can pick for free, where to buy the best bunny products. There will also be interviews with the sellers and I will be publishing guest writers too. One of the catagories is 'The Handmade Zoo' where I have, and will be, adding some other animal things from the sellers.

The site is still being built and I have a huge mountain to climb this week, before I'm off on holiday (with NO INTERNET ACCESS) and will have to find an internet cafe to keep on top of things. I have no idea why I'm blogging now - I have a website to launch ........... *shazooooooom* (that's me going, btw!)

Where have you been, Sock Bunny Maker?

2010-08-02T13:05:00.000-07:00

Boing! Here I am! Okay, it's only been a week but it feels like a month. I've been off with Mr Bunny Maker and the three Sonbuns to the Isle of Wight again. No computer or internet access had a drastic affect on me. Total collapse. With no way to get any of my work done my brain and body shut down. Sleep. Sleeeeep. I even went to bed at 9.35 one night. Unheard of.
We did the usual - chocolate croissants from the shop for breakfast and then off to catch those pesky crabs. We like to keep score, it's a family thing.

Eldest SonBun got the creative bug and spent hours and hours totally absorbed in the art of stone balancing.

They got broken up each day but he still went back and rebuilt them. He loved all the attention and comments he got from passersby and even inspired several people to do their own.

On returning home, on the doormat, was a big pile of envelopes addressed to 'The Handmade Bunny'. What's that? Aha! Glad you asked....... but I think it should have a spot all to itself - so, you'll have to wait a little while.....

The Doodle Schmoodle Project - Day 1

2010-07-19T09:07:00.000-07:00

I love to doodle so it seemed fitting, meet and right to join in the Betty's Place Doodle Schmoodle Project. Betty's Place is home to all sorts of kitschy buttons and fandangles and is run by my lovely online pal Chantal of Hotdogandme fame. Every day for a month Chantal will post a doodle page for you to print and fill in with your wandering pen. This is today's ....

And I began rather cheerily....

And realized that that what I would LIKE to look like but not what I actually feel I look like. So I did another ...

Now I look like a melon-cauliflower. The words say 'You have too much hair' and I may or may not have added the two tears for dramatic effect. I wonder if my default state of being is a bit morose. No wonder I need so many happy, bouncy bunnies in my life!

All my Doodle Schmoodle Days can be seen HERE

Bunny Trouble: A horrible horrible day...

2010-07-13T14:46:00.000-07:00

On Monday morning my husband woke up and stretched. He pulled up the blind in our bedroom and announced 'The bunnies are out in the road!' WAHHHHHHHHHH!
Spike was on the front lawn - when I say 'lawn' I mean the little semi-circle of grass by our front door.

I hoofed it down the stairs, into the back garden grabbing the plastic carrier thingy and executed a sharp u-turn whilst grabbing the most favoured bunny treats. Slowing to a remarkably calm walk, I glided out of the front door and gently place the carrier down on the drive. Spike boinged into it and was 'hutched' pretty sharpish. So far so good.

There was no sigh of Nosy. None at all. I didn't want to call him because I didn't want my eldest son to hear me calling and to find out that he was missing. The driveways around we empty, the close we live in was empty. Nothing. I started to cry. My son appeared in the front door, 'Mummy, what's happened' he said in alarm. I cracked and sobbed 'We can't find Nosy'. My first born boy let out the deepest, most heart-wrenching noise that I have ever heard coming from deep inside him. We clung to each other, me stroking his head, sobbing that it would be okay, and him gasping 'Bunnies, bunnies, bunnies, I love them, Nosy, Nosy, bunnies', over and over.

My husband had rushed round to the neighbours to ask them to help, to see if they had got a small, grey, very nosy rabbit somewhere about their premises. By now my head was filled with images of endless fields, hedgerows and hills with a small bunny softy hopping his way to danger in a big wide, wild world. Spike was sitting silently in the run, not knowing what to do without his brother and soul mate.

Twenty long minutes pass as we silently walk around the driveways and front gardens.

"Look!!" shouted my lovely neighbour, pointing to one of the driveways. Nosy was sitting right in the middle, with his little one up/one down ears. Everyone rushed on mass towards him. "NOOOOOOO!" I shouted, 'STOP!". Running at rabbits means running rabbits.
I walked slowly towards him and he hopped over and right into the carrier I have put nearby.

This is it - the carrier. It is just an ordinary affair. My bunnies love it. It has nothing in it, no food, nothing, yet they can't wait to get into it. Why is that?

I have to admit that, there and then, with both bunnies safe, I crumpled into a sobbing ball of mixed anguish and relief, my son wrapped around the curve of my back, crying his eyes out.

My son is 11. He has 42 soft toy bunnies on his bed. He has always loved rabbits, and it is because of him that I started to make the sock bunnies. He is part-boy/part-bunny. It took us the best part of that day to recover, he and I, just talking over the awful feelings we had had and telling the bunnies over and over how much we loved them. They had wormed their way out of a small space where the hutch run meets the hutch itself. From now on, they will be closed into that hutch and I will be bringing forward the construction of their new, escape-proof, fox-proof all singing and dancing new home because I never want my boy to feel that pain again.

Sock Bunny Selling at Winchester Handm@de

2010-07-05T03:53:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we all trollied off to Winchester Handm@de to set up the Movable Meadow to find some very excited bunnies new homes.
I have a new top. It's a very nice top and I have worn it three times. It is white and linen. You know what's going to happen. First wearing, at a lovely summer party, I slopped red wine down it whilst demonstrating how the 'Bucking Sheep' operator was flicking the controls to buck people off. Second wearing, bolognaise. Third wearing, yesterday, coffee, all down the front. It is now my 'Accident Top'. So, looking stained, I self-consciously worried that people thought I was scummy .
I met lots of nice people who said they knew me 'online'. I'm terrible with faces and names so I apologise if I had that blank yet flustered look. Out of my comfort zone and stained does not make for good, confident first impression giving!
I made some carrots....

The Thnakes got accused of being draft excluders. Can you imagine?! They were very indignant and started to get a bit rude to some customers. I had to tell them off and tie a couple of their tongues together to stop them hissing (sorry, hithing) at people.

I bought three Bandit Bunnies from Flora's Hen House ...

..and sold lots and lots of sock bunnies. I had a Tub Trug full, now it is half full.
I was also given a very lovely picture, drawn by a very pretty girl in lovely, summery dress. It was the nicest thing.

Due to lots of bunnies sales Widget got to put quite a lot of money into the Rabbit Welfare Association pot - 10% goes to them. Lots of people picked up leaflets and I met a very nice lady, with her own bunnies, and we had a long chat about bunniness.

All in all I had fun, the snakes sulked (as usual), my top was dirty (again), I mumbled apologies for not recognizing people and my copious hair got in the way (ho hum) but lots of sock bunnies round new homes, and that, basically is what it is all about.

Sock Bunny News: The Oregon 12.

2010-07-03T14:29:00.000-07:00

The largest number of bunnies from The Warren are living in Alaska, 33 in total have winged their way across the Atlantic to live there. Second to this are the Oregon Bunnies and we have have just had some news in from them!

"It has been a long time since the latest bunny arrived here in Oregon, by the little sillies kept hiding the camera! There are now 12, yes 12, bunnies living here full time, with 2 here temporarily before they head off to a new home. There have been 16 little Sock Bunnies through this house now, and the bunch keeps begging me for more of their friends to come to stay. We shall see... their basket is getting full!

The bunnies all say hi to you and their friends back in the UK.

Best wishes overseas!"

I'm sure there is a little more room in that basket! The Bunny Maker has just add some new bunnies to the shop too today .... Have a little visit to the Widget and Friends Sock Bunny Shop.

Don't forget that the bunnies are on Etsy too, right here >>> Sock Bunnies on Etsy

New Sock Things: Thnake Eyeball Key Rings?

2010-06-28T04:15:00.000-07:00

I had a wonderful and unusual custom order the other day. A snake eyeball keyring. I had to have a good old think about it (nice glass of Rose etc) as the eyeballs were originally just for sewing onto Thnakes and didn't need to be that robust. How to attach it securely to the keyring was the issue - so it didn't just pull off, or come undone.

It's solved. I made an inner ball of white sock and sewed webbing all the way around it, having machine sewed a loop into it first. With that all secure I wrapped more stuffing around the ball and sewed it inside the rainbow sock fabric.

I'm hoping it will hold up. Now I'm thinking, perhaps I'll have some in the shop. What do you think?

Sock Bunny News: We love Cosmos!

2010-06-24T04:32:00.000-07:00

I have moved! It took a long time but I now live in Scotland near the sea and it is very beautiful! I love going to the beach and helping to collect stuff, the shells are my favourite, they make great sun hats and sunglasses.

Hope you are all well,

Love,

Little Cosmos Sockbunny XO

CE Testing and the 'The Sock Problem': PART TWO

2010-06-23T15:44:00.000-07:00

So, continuing the saga - if you haven't read part one click here.

What do I do now? Its a very good question and it is not good news really either.

SOLUTION 1
I find a sock I like and try and buy as many pairs as I can. I then have this sock design tested for compliance with the EN71. I think this is around £80 (please correct me if I am wrong) each for flammability and heavy metals.
PROBLEM:
If I bought 40 pairs of socks the test would put £2.00 onto the cost of each sock.
When have you ever seen 40 pairs of the same sock in a retail shop anyway? This means I will have issues with the retailer over why I want these socks and what I am doing with them.
Part of the charm of the bunnies is all the different designs. The test would have to be done for EACH design of sock costing said amount each time.
SOLUTION:
I could contact the retailer (I use Top Shop and Next socks alot) and ask them about their socks and get them to provide me with documentation.
PROBLEM:
Socks do not need to conform to CE testing standards for toys therefore they will not have been tested and there is no documentation. I know this because I found a sock factory in China to produce the socks and have them made into bunnies for me but they said they could not guarantee that their socks would pass the EN71 test. This is the same with most sock factories because they have nothing to comply too apart from their own self-imposed standards.
SOLUTION:
Find a factory that does know about their socks and know that they pass the test.

SOLUTION 2:
I have the bunnies mass-produced. This would change the way I sell them and I would be attending trade fairs to take wholesale orders from retailers. I have looked into this last year and found a factory who would make them and the CE testing would be done by them. I would be selling them at a wholesale price and the RRP would have to be a much lower price point than they are already because they lose their handmade appeal. I needed to get the cost down another £1.00 but the factory could not make their price any lower and it is now on the back-burner. I also needed to buy 3,000 bunnies as a minimum. Luckily I have a contact who has a good relationship with the factory and they agreed to produce 3 different designs, 1,000 of each. It is still a whole loada bunnies.
WHY NOT:
They won't be handmade and there are only three designs. I don't have the money to pay for 3,000 bunnies. To make it achievable I would have to have sold a chunk of the bunnies, from working samples, whilst the 3,000 are in production so I know I have money to pay for them. 3,000 bunnies in my garage, unsold, is very, very scary indeed. I would need to pay around £2500 to attend a trade fair such as Top Drawer.
This ties in with me expanding Widget and Friends too. I have reached a time when I need to expand 'off the kitchen table' but no retailer will buy my bunnies wholesale because they do not conform with the CE mark and they, themselves, could face a fine for selling them. Dead end.
The above changes Widget and Friends totally and I am unsure of the appeal of a mass-produced sock bunny - hence the back-burner status.

SOLUTION 3:
I have my own socks manufactured that conform to the EN71 tests.
As it stands I am in talks with a UK sock manufacturer (yay uk!) who is looking into the situation for me. Their minimum is 600 pairs in my design. That's pretty exciting but still a whole lot of socks/money.
PROBLEM:
They think flammability is a problem as fabrics are usually pretreated and socks aren't. I still don't have the money for 600 pairs. That's 1200 socks and I use one sock per bunny. Which design do I choose? I would need THE most appealing design - but which is it?
Even if the socks conform I will still have to have a made up (1200 sewn by me GULP) bunny CE tested and the stitching etc many not stand up to their rhino-pulling techniques. By nature socks are stretchy and the sewing threads don't stretch as far as the sock fibres - therefore 'riiiiiiip'.

SOLUTION 4:
I start a company supplying EN71 conforming socks to everyone who makes toys from them.
PROBLEM:
Its a great idea but ..... money/knowledge/blahblah and the rest of it. There are not really enough people out there to buy them to really make much money.

AS IT STANDS:
I should not be selling the sock bunnies at all nor anyone else be selling toys made from socks either for that matter - but because I'm selling small numbers (relative to the volume toy market) it is not a 'remove those from the market now' situation. The Trading Standards officer said that I must state 'Not for anyone under the age of 14' as a temporary statement whilst I sort out what to do for the long term. I am now a 'reference number' with Trading Standards which means it is documented that I am selling 'non-conformist bunnies'. I have had to be removed from one website that was selling the bunnies (amicably of course!) - the rest will follow eventually. Boooo.

Some interesting reading The Laboratory at The Birmingham Assay Office.

For now ........

CE Testing and 'The Sock Problem' - PART ONE

2010-06-23T04:29:00.000-07:00

Its a problem indeed and one that A LOT of you are asking about. Could this be curtains for the bunnies? The best way to answer all these things is to do a blog post - otherwise i'm typing the same thing 84 times whenever anyone asks!
I'm going to do a two-parter - otherwise it's too long.

So. I will mush it all down here - in layman's terms- so don't expect any technical terms - but, who needs those anyway - that's why everyone is confused in the first place!
The following is how I understand it - Please, if I have got it wrong, or you have any other insights, please let me know, I'm still finding out about it all and need all the information I can get.

PART ONE: SORTING OUT THE INFORMATION

The Sock Bunnies are toys. I cannot call them 'Collectables'. Well, I can, but it won't hold much truck. You cannot omit the title 'toy' or get away with refuting the title 'toy' if the item is displayed with, tagged or associated with toys. If you make an item that is appealing to children the it is a 'toy' and needs to be tested. Period. Listing it under 'Accessories' on Folksy won't do either!

Stating they are 'Not suitable for children under 36 months' doesn't cover it either. That statement is for toys that have passed the test but may have small parts which come with it. EG. You make a teddy bear who wears a waistcoat with buttons. The teddy passes the CE test but to cover themselves the company might choose to state - 'Please remove the waistcoat before giving to children under 36 months.' Or they can just say 'Not suitable for under 36 months due to small parts). The crux is that the toy still passed the test.

To sell toys, handmade or otherwise, in the UK they, legally, need to comply to DTI Production Standards UK Toys (safety) Regulations 1995 and and pass the CE test. This is changing in 2011 but remains pretty much the same really,

The test is pretty much as follows: Pulling all seams and bits to see if they come off. (Mechanical/physical properties). Burning it to see if it ..er .. burns (flammawotsit test) and lastly (the problem for socks) testing it for heavy metals in the dyes.

Hold still Widget!

Before I carry on I need to interject; You can self-certify your toys. To do this you need to keep a record of where all the parts of that toy have come from. Take a photo of the label that came with the toy filling, for example.
Toy filling already complies, so you are off to a good start.
Toy fabric manufacturers tend to test their fabrics so you will be able to get documentation. Keep a record of where you sourced your fabrics from, contact the company to ask them for any documentation showing that it is safe.
A fire test certificate from a fabric manufacturer will not do as flammawotsit can also depend on the shape of the toy. You will need to have it tested (yup you have to sacrifice a toy up for burning). Ouch!

Widget, that is NOT what I had in mind. Put that match away!

Now, this is important: You cannot self-certify a toy made from a sock that you have bought from a retailer - and, come on, Top Shop do have some great designs!
BECAUSE: Socks do not have to conform to any safety standards, even children's socks, because they are just that, socks. Socks are for feet and not for making into things to play with.
The sock bunnies: I can safely say that the stuffing is safe because it says so on the bag. I cannot, however, safely say that the socks are safe. Most high-street bought socks are manufactured abroad and the factory/company do not need to comply with toy safety regulations. The socks are probably safe but that is not enough, you need a piece of paper saying so. Damnations.

Now is a good time to call your local Trading Standards office. They are astoundingly helpful. Just google your local council and there will be a link there. Find the phone number and give them a call.
The one problem I now have is that I have 'A reference number'. I am documented as selling un-safe rabbit.
THE PROBLEM: The nice TS officer was relieved to hear that I wasn't shifting thousands of unsafe bunny toys. He said that it was something I will have to sort out for the long term but for now I need to say 'Not suitable for anyone under the age of 14 years'. This is a short-term safeguard that will not hold a lot of water in court but is better than nothing whilst I 'sort out what to do'. The long and short of it is, if I want to sell these bunnies they are going to have to pass the CE test.

WHAT CAN I DO NOW? Read Part two of my CE nightmare

The Rabbit Welfare Assocation.

2010-06-23T03:04:00.001-07:00

Today is Bunny Maker's Son Number One's birthday. It is his fault that all this started, all this bunniness business. So today, Midsummer, Summer Solstice, the Longest Day of the Year, marks the day when we going to help make lives better for bunnies by donating a percentage of all Widget and Friends bunny sales to the Rabbit Welfare Association.

A rabbit is the third most popular pet in Britain, and one of the most neglected. In 40% of cases of rabbits being given up for re-homing it is after only 6 months of ownership.

"Mummy, can we have a dog?"
"No, it's too much work and I'll end up doing all the walking and cleaning up after it."
"But I want a pet!"
"Okay, we'll get something else instead."
"Can I have a wabbit? I love bunnies, they're soooo cute!"
"Yes, we'll got to the pet store at the weekend, but you will have to promise to look after it, do all the feeding and cleaning..."
"Of course I will, Mummy!"

At the pet store you buy a hutch. It's not very big but you accept that that is a good size for a rabbit if that is what is for sale. You also buy a big bag of 'Rabbit Food'. It's pelleted and has interesting raisony bits in it. Mmm tasty for my wabbit! You also buy wood shavings and some hay. If you had been reading a bit you might also pick up some colourful treats. You spend a lot. You take a shivering, terrified but cute, fluffy bunny rabbit home in a cardboard carrier.
Back at home you open the carrier and pull out your rabbit for a cuddle. It wiggles, struggles and tries to escape so you quickly put it into its hutch and shut the door to let it 'get used to it's new home'.

The 'cuddly fluffy bunny' you bought for your child didn't turn out to like being picked up very much and, perhaps, he gave your child a nip as he/she reached in to pull it out from under its hiding place. Hi hutch needed cleaning every day and a total clean out and disinfection once a week.
"Go and clean the bunny out", was a constant nag.
Because the bunny didn't respond in the assumed manner, and didn't really want to be lifted up, interest soon waned. The hutch only got cleaned once a week and certainly not disinfected.

The hutch has a small run underneath it, so the bunny could come down the ramp to the grass. It is tiny. He is getting bigger and can't stand up on his hind legs without bumping its head. Two long hops and he's across the length of it. He's very bored, and cramped. Sometimes you get him out and put him into a lawn run your bought, but that isn't much taller and he just flops and snoozes in it in the day anyway, so he's obviously not needing anymore space, right?

You feed him pellets and give him extra lettuce and carrots, which he isn't that interested in because you have given him too many pellets and he's full. He quite enjoys being petted, and will come onto your lap to eat, but he really hates being lifted up.

He also needs jabs of Myxomatosis, and VHD and at 5 months he needs to be neutered. A female rabbit needs to be spayed - 80% of rabbits who do not have this procedure will die of ovarian cancer. He needs the jabs every six months. He also needs to be treated for Fly Strike, every two weeks throughout the summer, and you find that a treatment pack isn't cheap either. Suddenly you have a burden.

After a while your child grows tired of the bunny. Yes, he's cute and he will eat lettuce from you hand but the novelty has worn off. You feel sorry for the poor thing but you really can't, and don't, want to have to feed and clean it every day, after all, you only got it on the condition that your child looked after it.
You are stuck with a rabbit, in a hutch that is too small, eating the wrong type of foods, getting no mental stimulation or company. His cramped conditions and bad diet could lead to expensive vet bills

You have no choice but to take him to a shelter so someone else can give him a home.

Organizations such as The Rabbit Welfare Association works to improve the lives of domestic rabbits across the UK through education and communication of what a rabbit needs to become a happy, healthy animal and a rewarding pet.
You can join at www.rabbitwelfare.co.uk or help a little buy buying a Widget and Friends bunny, where 10% will be donated directly to the fund.

Please take proper care of us.

The Rabbit Welfare Association

2010-06-21T06:58:00.000-07:00

Today is Bunny Maker's Son Number One's birthday. It is his fault that all this started, all this bunniness business. So today, Midsummer, Summer Solstice, the Longest Day of the Year, marks the day when we going to help make lives better for bunnies by donating a percentage of all Widget and Friends bunny sales to the Rabbit Welfare Association.

A rabbit is the third most popular pet in Britain, and one of the most neglected. In 40% of cases of rabbits being given up for re-homing it is after only 6 months of ownership.

"Mummy, can we have a dog?"
"No, it's too much work and I'll end up doing all the walking and cleaning up after it."
"But I want a pet!"
"Okay, we'll get something else instead."
"Can I have a wabbit? I love bunnies, they're soooo cute!"
"Yes, we'll got to the pet store at the weekend, but you will have to promise to look after it, do all the feeding and cleaning..."
"Of course I will, Mummy!"

At the pet store you buy a hutch. It's not very big but you accept that that is a good size for a rabbit if that is what is for sale. You also buy a big bag of 'Rabbit Food'. It's pelleted and has interesting raisony bits in it. You also buy wood shavings and some hay. If you had been reading a bit you might also pick up some colourful treats. You spend a lot. You take a shivering, terrified but cute, fluffy bunny rabbit home in a cardboard carrier.
Back at home you open the carrier and pull out your rabbit for a cuddle. It wiggles, struggles and tries to escape so you quickly put it into its hutch and shut the door to let it 'get used to it's new home'.

Please take proper care of us.

MYTH: Bunnies are nice and cheap to keep.

In the 2 month I have had my two rabbits I have spent:

Hutch: £200.00

Runs: £300.00 (I had one custom made because I could not find one large enough and bought two of another type to join together for the lawn.?

Jabs: £60

Neutering: £128.00

Carrier for traveling: £30.00

Xenex (for Fly Strike): £17.00

Insurance: £22.00 per month

In 4 months time I will have to repeat their jabs and will have paid £132.00 in insurance. This is on top of hay, litter, willow toys, fresh herbs and greens, dried grasses and other food for them as I have chosen not to pellet feed them.

Thock Thnake Newth.

2010-06-20T15:22:00.000-07:00

Up until now it is only the bunnies who have sent in news to The Warren so we were all very chuffed when this arrived in their inbox....

Sharing cereal? Being spoon fed? Cuddles? Now all the Thnakes want new homes!! There are some very lonely ones waiting in the Bunny Shop on Folksy. They would like to say that they are really very soft, cuddly and not at all rude or noisy.

Above, displaying his marvelous purple tongue, is Thargeant Eth Thnake Reconnaissance Division, a very loving Thnake and desperate for love........

Half term and the crab-fest begins.

2010-06-15T15:35:00.000-07:00

I have been alerted by Grandpa Bunnymaker that I have not 'updated the blog' lately so, off we go....

Half term was spent in our usual way, catching a ridiculous number of crabs off the rocks in Seaview, Isle of Wight, using putrid limpits, prized off the rocks with a rusty screwdriver, pierced with bent coat-hanger wire and dangled from sticky, fishy, orange nylon line into the waters of The Solent. With this archaic method we caught 495 of the little beggers. We are experts. In the pipeline I have a little guide book to crabbing. Actually, it's blocked in the pipeline but I will get around to it one day. Son Number 2 caught the best one to date .... an Eddie! Four hundred and ninety five boring Shore Crabs and one wonderful Edible Crab.

We didn't eat him - because he's called Eddie and you can't eat things with names. He wasn't really big enough either and I wouldn't have known what to do with all those crabby parts anyway. They are hard to catch on a limpit on orange fishing line, hence the greater kudos of the catch. Edibles lurk under the rocks and let go of the bait if they feel a movement or tug making them very hard to get. This one just came straight up. Sweet.

What else?
The Burrow got a new sign - custom made by Cinnamon and Hill on Folksy.

I'm hoping it will enable me to find my workroom more easily as I haven't been it in much over these last two weeks and keep avoiding the piles of work in there. The Warren Bunnies and snoozing in the dappled shade with them is a lot more appealing.

What have the fuzzy-butts been up to?

A lot of bunniness, that's for sure. They both escaped yesterday much to my terror. I had forgotten to fasten one corner of the lawn run and they'd pushed their nosy noses out and bounced off into the corners of the garden. Yikes!
You know now they are obsessed with their plastic carrier? I put it in the middle of the lawn, called "Bunners, Bunners....." and out they both boinged, across the lawn, noses a-twitching in nosiness, and hopped straight into it. I slapped the door shut and it was 'Gotcha' all round.

I gave in and made World Cup Bunny ...

And met with a very nice lady from the Rabbit Welfare Association because a percentage of every bunny sold will now go to the charity and there were 'things to discuss'.

The Cloth Store (my part-time day job) has opened a new interior design shop just round the corner from it's Horsham branch, and I have been busy taking pictures for promotional stuff and sorting out some annoying email problems. The shop looks wonderful .....

I'm finally catching up ......

Sock Bunny News: Lawrence and Barnaby Bunny check in!

2010-06-15T13:39:00.000-07:00

Lawrence and Barnaby Bunnies went to live with Clare in London, but it looks like they have been having some lovely countryside adventures....

'Lawrence and Barnaby have settled in nicely and are best bunny buddies.'

'One morning, the bunnies noticd that it was nice and sunny outside, so they asked the 'Ooman' if they could go for a day trip. Two little bunnies can be quite difficult to resist.'

'Yes, the Ooman had made them a bunny hammock! The Ooman may or may not have issues with a misplaced maternal instinct. Turns out the Ooman is also pretty handy when it comes to bunny-based transport solutions.'

'Everyone piled into the car and off they went.'

'It was a lovely day for a walk in the country. Whilst the Ooman wrestled with a map, the bunnies hopped off to find the best bouncing, snoozing and snacking spots. The Ooman couldn't work out how they knew where to go - perhaps they've been here before?'

'They were especially delighted to see so much lush green grass. There was a lot of munching, nibbling and chomping. A few happy hours ticked by in the sunshine.'

'Then the Ooman realised that she couldn't see the bunnies anywhere. A frantic search ensued.'

'Thankfully the bunnies had climbed into a tree and waited in a convenient hollow until the handbag-transport could come and pick them up. How sensible.'

'Just in the nick of time too - a hungry owl was on the prowl!'

'Lawrence and Barnaby wasted no time in climbing aboard.'

'Not wanting to be out late with a hungry owl on the loose, everyone decided they'd had a lovely day in the sum and it was time to go home. The Ooman noticed that the bunnies were quick to snuggle back into their sleeping bags and hop into the bunny hammock. It wasn't long before she heard the sound of little bunny snores.'

Update on The Warren Bunnies

2010-05-27T14:33:00.000-07:00

We've had the bunz for about a month now and, all together now, "Haven't they grown!". Yes, indeed they have, which makes me wonder how big exactly they intended to get. Did I mistakenly get those giant Netherland Giant giant things? They are only 12 weeks old and well, they were bigger than fully grown dwarf buns when I first got them. Oh dear.

Nosy

Spike

Today I decided that they would be 'pellet-free' bunnies. They don't need these commercially available foods, least of all the 'treats' the pet stores sell. Bunnies in the wild eat grasses (dried and fresh), bark, leaves, flowers and herbs. So, that is what mine will eat from now on. I've tried them on 'treats' - trying to find something irrisistable so I can reward them for doing things, but they are having none of it. Clover is the favourite, with Parsley a close second. Their digestive systems should be all the better for it and I want them to be as healthy as possible.

They are getting used to living with us, although, being prey animals, they are very way of being held, let alone being picked up. There is plenty of time to work on it though, and I'm having fun gaining their trust, even though it is a case of 'bribary via clover'!

A death in the family

2010-05-24T05:11:00.000-07:00

We kept him in the fridge as it was such a hot day. Sticky the Stickleback was no more. He died with one little stickle up - a testament to his slightly agitated nature.

I feel that I should say that he was kept in the fridge after he died, not 'kept in the fridge'. That would have killed him for sure.

We decided a funeral was the right thing to do. A matchbox was found, sprayed a suitable blue and a small cross cobbled together. Youngest Son, and owner of said fish, dressed in suitable attire.

A few words were said and Sticky was laid to rest under the oak tree, by the vegetable patch.

Youngest Son was obviously traumatized by the cold, harsh realities of death as he spent quite a while afterwards trying to make red pepper stick in his ears.

It's a funny old life.

News From Summer Bun and Basil in Florida.

2010-05-19T05:32:00.000-07:00

Summer Bun went to live in Florida a little while ago, closely followed by Basil. Something to do with his very smart tie, we think. It took a little while for them to arrive because 'Merica' is a very long way away, according to Widget, but, we have just received a message from them .......

Hello to everybun at The Warren!

This is Summer Bun with Basil and we are happily settled into our home in Florida. Everyone was excited and very happy when we each arrived!

When I arrrived, my family had a Welcome party for me and gave me my own toy bunny. I met a new friend named Skipper and his dog Scooter. When Basil arrived there was more excitement and we had a Welcome party all ready for him!

Basil and Skipper have become best friends and spend their day talking about everything and anything. Skipper liked to hear all about the famous Widget and the other bunnies at The Warren. Skipper is very impressed with Widget and says Widget is a bon vivant and bunny about town--actually anywhere and everywhere!

Today Skipper and Basil were discussing chocolate chip cookies (biscuits) and agreed walnuts should NOT be added; extra chocolate chunks are okay but no walnuts!
We have our very own travel basket and like to go for a ride in the car and do errands.

We hope all The Warren bunnies find families to love them like our family loves us.

Happy Summer Days to everybun at The Warren

From

Summer Bun and Basil!

The Best Stripey Monsters

2010-05-18T04:11:00.000-07:00

The Bunny Maker came home the other day and found these little fellows on her doorstep.

They said they had come from The Stripey Monster Shop having heard that The Warren was a place full of weird and wonderful creatures who had a lovely life having adventures with The Bunny Maker.
The BM immediately welcomed them with squeals of delight and rushed them off to have a celebratory coffee and cake with Widget. Into her bag they went and off to the cafe.

On the way to the cafe the monsters told The BM that their friend Clement had been left back in the shop and they missed him. She screeched the car back round, headed back home ....

..... and bought him too! Now she is worried that Dexter looks a bit lonely there in the shop. Well, we can't be having lonely monsters now, can we?

A problem with greenfly.

2010-05-14T05:33:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year. The roses are coming into leaf and the buds are forming. That means one thing. Greenfly. We have an Albertine outside our front door, which fills the air with its luscious scent throughout june. I have to spend most of May squeezing the greenfly off the flower buds.
The other day I went out to have a general poke around and found that we had the biggest greenfly problem of all time ...

Wah! He was HUGE! I screamed. He screamed. I screamed. He said "Is this number 3?". I said it was. He said that he had been sent to live with us and had come from Minxtures shop on Folksy. He also said that he didn't really like eating roses. Good news.

I asked him in and he showed me his two leaves that he'd brought with him to sleep under at night. He said that he would try to not be too much trouble. After hearing that he wasn't a rose-eating greenfly I was very happy to have him in the house.

So far he has been very quiet, every now and again having a little fly around and then settling down for a snooze under his leaves...

I'm hoping he will become good friends with Cheesy the Cheeselog, who also found his way to our house from Minxtures, a truly temptatious shop full of fuzzy creatures with 'take me home' eyes. Although I did catch him sniffing a rose in the back garden earlier .... hmmmmmm

Smelly Sock Bunnies at The Warren

2010-05-13T03:14:00.000-07:00

This bunny smells.

Yup - stinks, of Lavender! The Warren had a lovely custom order for a 'lavender-filled bunny' to go and live with Barnaby B. Bun, Sailor, probably to counteract the smell of Rum!!!

The bunnies all gathered round to have a sniff. They all agreed that he did smell wonderful and that The Bunny Maker should make a whole lot more. She said that she would, having bought a bag of it from Pembrokeshire Lavender. It is a lovely, lovely blue, no dust and very very smelly - perfect! In fact, it was so perfect that the BM has put a link into the sidebar as she thinks that all her smelly bunnies should have lovely British lavender in them. She also says that she will only make them if they are not for knicker drawers!!

Smelly Bunnies are now in the Widget and Friends shop! Woot Woot!

Special Offer for Bunny Lovers

2010-05-12T07:14:00.000-07:00

It's been sooooo cold lately. "Much too cold for May", says the Weather Bunny. To try and force the weather to turn the corner the bunnies have decided to launch a spring offer.

When you buy a bunny from the Widget and Friends bunny shop you will receive a free packet of carrot seeds in a cute packet, tucked into your bunny's travelling box. An excellent idea as those buns can certainly chomp through a few!

This, of course, leaves a dilemma. What do the snakes come with? Sunflowers?
Any suggestions gratefully received...

Coming soon: Lavender filled bunnies.

A Message From Barnaby B. Bun

2010-05-10T13:03:00.000-07:00

Remember Barnaby B. Bun, The Warren's sailor bunny? Well, he was very quickly bought and he set sail for his new home. Fresh from the high, salty seas of his journey he writes.....

dere bunni maker,

i has arrived at new ome. Miss other bunnis but new owner has lettus sanwichs n carrot cake so v. happi. Shes put the rum out of reech tho so no yo ho ho for now. Must go as eers are hurtin from this typin.

Barnaby b bun

PS (from bunny-adopter) - thank you, he's gorgeous.

We'll keep in touch - possibly after Barnaby's had a few English lessons.

Thanks for letting us know that you got there safely Barnaby! We can't wait to hear about your adventures...

Mrs Happy

2010-05-10T06:31:00.000-07:00

According to my 6 year old son who made it, this is Mrs Happy ....

Not much more to say really.

The Warren gets bunnies!

2010-05-09T13:46:00.000-07:00

It has finally happened. We haz bunz. Real bunz. Two twelve week old boy bunz.

They are almost identical - even down to their not-quite-lopped ears. Therefore, I do not know who is who in the pictures above! The top one is probably Nosey, being very nosy. Actually the bottom is probably Nosey too, being more gregarious than Spike. Spike is a tiny bit bigger and less nosy (!) and not as keen on being touched. Their personalities were blindingly obvious from the moment I opened their traveling box back at home.

Nosey indulges in some comprehensive ear-cleaning. I never knew that anything could be quite as cute. I am totally in love. Widget, on the other hand is having a bit of a rough time of it.

Widget meets The Warren bunnies

2010-05-09T13:20:00.000-07:00

It was time for introductions. Widget, after sulking for a whole four days, was dragged outside and told to get on with it and say hello. For those of you who haven't heard, The Warren has two new residents, Nosey and Spike. Real bunnies!

Widget hopped into the bunnies' run and waited.

He waited in a kinda harumphy way. The Bunny Maker had been spending way too long with these new bunnies, sitting in with them, stroking them, talking in a stupid voice to them, feeding them freshly picked clover, brushing .....GRRR Widget was getting angrier and angrier just thinking about it.

Nosey rushed over and sniffed. Nosey nibbled and nuzzled and nibbled and chewed on Widget's scarf.
"Mwmwmfffllllffffffllll" protested Widget. Nosey decided that Widget was not very tasty and pouffled off to find something tastier.

Widget was humiliated. Poor bun, we spent the rest of the day resolutely NOT TALKING to the BM. Things are a bit frosty at The Warren.

Munkeh Bunny gets a warm welcome in Ann Arbor, USA

2010-05-07T14:16:00.000-07:00

Hi Widget and Bunny Maker,

I am writing on behalf of all the plushies in the house.
Munkeh arrived last week (April 27), making wonderful time considering the volcano ash.
Munkeh got a warm (and somewhat confusing) welcome from the gang (George, Gund, and Nigel). Gund actually was not confused by the mix of Monkey and Bunny since he is a Rhino with a monkey for best friend.

The Ann Arbor Dashing Daring Danish Bunny Sled Team came around to welcome Munkeh as well, they are excited to see what wonderful ideas and skills he will bring to the team.

In honour of Munkeh's arrival they had tasty treats from a special cupcake shop, Cake Nouveau.

Fridays are known as Pintday for us since Nigel (our PG Tips monkey) joined us from England 3 years ago. Nigel felt that taking Monkeh with us on Pintday was only right since he is from England to and might enjoy a pint. We started the day with a 'Biggest Biggby Coffee' and toasted dounut.

Nigel loves Biggby's. One of his good friends is Biggby Bob Fish, CEO and Co-founder. At Naner Lady's work Nigel actually offered to share a naner snack, he must really be taking to Munkeh.

After The Hand and Naner Lady are out of work Pintday really begins, and Munkeh is introduced to our tradition at our favorite townie tavern... Casey's.

Of course Nigel has to show off to Monkeh that he is a celebrity because all the staff know him. I'm not sure what he thought of it all, there is a lot to take in when being shown around by such a pal as Nigel.
Munkeh will be exploring the arboreum with the Naner Lady as the weather gets nicer. I think the calm walks might be more his pace.

Thank you for the wonderful addition to our home,
Kate (Naner Lady)

Carrot growing for small bunny lovers.

2010-05-06T15:54:00.000-07:00

The Bunny Maker is really pleased to be able to list these carrot growing kits on Folksy today.

A bunny of your choice from The Warren Shop, complete with hand-painted seed labels and carrot seed packet (with seeds) designed by The BM. With your bunny will also come a natural jute tote bag, two enamel garden tools and some childrens' sized gardening gloves.

All the bunnies think this is the perfect gift for EVERYONE and you should all rush to get one HERE because The BM doesn't have very many of them.

Summer Bun gets ready for her trip to Florida

2010-05-06T03:31:00.000-07:00

Summer Bun has been chosen! Carefully picked from The Warren shop, she is off to Florida. What a treat and so exciting. She fussed around for ages getting ready and the Bunny Maker found her this morning messing around in the ribbon tin.

Summer said she wanted to look her best on arrival and could she please wear a ribbon? A suitable one was chosen.

Very pretty!

Summer is now all snuggled up in her travelling box (she insisted on a ribbon on that too) and about to be taken off to the post office to begin her journey. Everyone here hopes she arrives safely and sends messages and photos soon.

The Warren gets a message from Mini in Arizona

2010-05-04T04:10:00.000-07:00

Dear Widget and Bunnymaker,

Happy day! Minimum Bun (hereinafter called Mini) and the newly christened Bunnie (never give naming duties to a 2 year old) have made it safely to Arizona, despite all efforts to thwart the journey by Mt. Eyjafjallajokull in Iceland. The bunnies, although seemingly hungry, had even saved one last carrot – presumably in case we were unable to open their box in time.

Oh the excitement! The children could not wait to get the box opened. Once we got the bunnies out, they were promptly snatched by little Rowan, our 2 year old alpha-girl. Big Seth, our 4 year old, merely got a glimpse. Resigned as such to his sister’s dominance, he said, “Mom, I want a blue one next time” and left her to her love-fest with Mini and Bunnie. He will have his day.

First thing first (after kisses of course) – Rowan realized that these bunnies needed a castle to live in at their house. She promptly built them one. She has not yet gone to architecture school so her castles often need to be renovated. Attached is a picture of her with Mini and Bunnie at the castle.

Next, we felt it important to give the bunnies the proper tour. She immediately got into her ballerina gear, pink patent leather shoes, and jewelry. She gathered up Mini and Bunnie and away we go. Uh oh, Bunnie! We’ll get you right side up in no time!

Firstly, the garden. The bunnies were disturbed to find a lack of ready carrots there in the garden but we quickly explained that we always keep a supply in the refrigerator. They were appeased. I think the readiness and accessibility of the spinach and sweet peas helped.

Please ignore our unsightly holey spinach – inchworms have snuck in overnight.
Mini had a bit of a look-round and also found something – jellybeans! Go on and dive right in, Mini!

Finally, after a bike ride, some stories and other adventures (including meeting two unimpressed cats and a snuffly dog who gave them entry to the family’s inner circle), the exhausted bunnies fell asleep with their new best friend.

Tomorrow – on to new adventures!

Best wishes,

The Collie Family

Cheesy, Widget and the fight over the curry house.

2010-05-02T13:58:00.000-07:00

As you may know already The Warren now has a Cheeselog living at it. Cheesy came to us from Minxtures on Folksy. The problems were not with Cheesy himself but with his rather lovely traveling box.... 'The Curry House'.

Ikea Woody Woodlouse (kids are so creative with names) wasn't too sure what to make of Cheesy. There was a lot of feeling with feelers and eyeballing with eyeballs. Cheesy sat totally still, not knowing quite what to do.

Woody wanted to know if Cheesy 'would fit'. Poor Cheesy, being the new boy he had to go along with it. He was almost totally zipped up. Luckily Woody can only digest small bits of fruit and didn't look to happy with a fuzzy fellow woodlouse in this mouth.

Widget came to his rescue, unzipping Woody's mouth and helping Cheesy out.

Whilst all this was going on Murky, Isabow and Meep had moved themselves into 'The Curry House'. Fed up with being stuck, homeless, on The Bunny Maker's shelf they had staged a sit-in, claiming squatters' rights.

Cheesy didn't know what to do. Woody lurked. Widget faffed about worrying. The BM coaxed the meerkats out.

Widget tired to reason with the meerkats but the were very adamant that 'enough was enough' and it was time for their own home. The shelf was all very nice, with access to bunny bunk beds and cosy fabrics to lie on, but it as not a proper home.

Murkey and Isabow said that The Curry House was just about perfect and could they have something similiar? So, this week, the BM is tasked with finding something suitable. It is on her 'to do' list, which is rather long and she has something VERY important and exciting happening this week ........... (what could that be?).

Murky, Isabow and Meep are made by NiftyKnits and she has lots of others in need of good homes HERE.

Cheese Logs

2010-04-29T06:33:00.000-07:00

If the Bunny Maker can get a new pet then the bunnies can too!. Widget took delivery today of a Cheese Log (Woodlouse!). The BM liked the packaging almost as the contents.

Cheesy was really glad to get out of his box as Minxtures hadn't put in any air holes, let alone a door or a window!

Cheesy was a little shy and had to be prized out of the confines of his box. Widget offered to cut him out but bunnies/knives and woodlice don't mix well.
He came out in the end...

The BM said it must be a bit bright for him, having been crammed in a box for a day or two. Widget made him stand up and pose for an 'arrival photo'. Cheesy looked very self-conscious.

Widget is now introducing Cheesy to the fish, the other bunnies, the Thnakes, Meerkats, Hotdog Doggies and goodness knows who else who lives at The Warren.
Poor Cheesy, wait until the BM's boys get home!

The winner is ......

2010-04-28T12:55:00.000-07:00

The giveaway is now ended. The winner is about to be announced right here!.

There were 30 eyeballs crammed in. Outhch!

There were three people who guessed the correct number of Thnake eyeballs in the jar...

Sarah Griffiths:

I think 30 eyeballs and with 6 bunnies already living here we have experience of how to welcome bunnies to our home - we have found a little felty carrot , a cuddle and a play always does the trick !

Karen Scott:

30 eyes and I would give him to my daughter who would cuddle him and love him forever :-)

Lynda Knott:

I think 30 thnake eyeballs are in the jar. If I won a sockbunny I would give it to my 4 year old grand-daughter, who would love it.

As happens with giveaways, The Bunny Maker's Son Number 1 does the choosing, because, without him, none of this would have ever started.

For reasons known to a bunny lovin' 10 year old he has chosen .... Karen Scott.

Dun dun duuuuuuun! Karen, you get to choose your bunny from the shop, chose the colour for your bed and choose the bed linen too.

Thank you so much to everyone who entered, there were loads of you, and all the bunnies loved reading about the type of homes they themselves might get to live at. True bunny heaven at all your homes!

The Warren gets a fish.

2010-04-25T15:01:00.000-07:00

The other day I took Sons 1,2 & 3 to the garden centre to get plants. As you do. We came home with a fish bowl, some purple gravel, 2 nice green planty things and a water filter. This happened because I found one of those old fashioned proper fish bowls on a dusty shelf in the 'Aquatic Centre'.
'Lets get some fish!' I announced to three surprised boys.
What a spontaneous parent I am. Ha.
The tank was taken home, filter assembled, gravel plumped, water added, plants planted. Then we had to wait a blooming 5 days! No instant gratification going on at all. Gone are the days of plastic bags from the local fair with a sad fish glooming around only to get plonked straight into tap water and left to stagnate.
Nope - it all has to be aerated now, hence the filter. The water bubbles like a jacuzzi.

This is one of the fish we were allowed to get after waiting 5 days. Yup, we had to wait for the water to 'do something' first. He's pretty cute. Something looks a little familiar don't you think? He only ever looks up.
I'm quite worried about him, because he looks a bit gloomy. I worry he should have some toys to play with, but fish don't play with things. I feel the need to cheer him up. Every few days we get to drop in a frozen cube of blood worms. Oh yum.
There are two other fish - a boring gold one and a Stickleback. The Stickleback puts up his little stickles if you startle him. The boring gold one does nothing interesting.
Next to the Stick Insects these fish are pretty damn exciting.

Happy Socks make Happy Bunnies!

2010-04-24T15:08:00.000-07:00

"Widget?", said The Bunny Maker, "what are you doing."
Widget had been staring at the computer for some time, deep in thought.

"I've found some socks for happy bunnies," he said.
"Widget, its says Socks For Happy People, not bunnies!" chuckled The Bunny Maker, "Silly bun."

Widget was reading was all about Proportional Striped Socks. It said..
"The proportional stripe shows the whereabouts of the unruly pennies that have gone missing since the penny was introduced in 1971."

"They are organanic too", he said.
"Organic, Widget", tutted the BM.

"Bunny Maker?", said Widget, with that sort of tone to his voice, "happy socks make happy bunnies, and happy bunnies make happy people, so er, can we get some happy socks to make happy bunnies to make people happy?".

"Yes."

They bought these ones ....

In buying a pair of socks, The Bunny Maker discovered that she was also giving another pair of to a Mongolian street child via the Christina Noble Children's Foundation. That made her happy too. She was even happier when the socks arrived the very next day!

She set to work. Two hours later (or maybe not quite that long) a little bunny, who's turquoise-tipped ears show that £11million worth of pennies are lost in handbags and suitcases, was born.

This is, of course, Happy Bunny. A happy bunny made from happy socks, from Socks For Happy People ....
That's a whole lotta happiness wrapped up in one little bunny!

For more Socks For Happy People click here

Bad Bunnehs.

2010-04-24T14:06:00.000-07:00

Woah! What is that?

It's a Bad Bunneh.......
The other bunnies are a bit wary of them but they seem to be okay, not causing any trouble. The Bunny Maker thinks they might just be misunderstood. Anyway, this one went off to a new home within 10 minutes of having hopped into the bunny shop!
Luckily another was found, lucking in the old daffodil leaves ..

They are very rare, so if you think you can deal with one and can provide a tolerant home then this Bunneh could be just what you are looking for!

Bad Bunnehs at Widget and Friends on Folksy

New shop on Etsy = Giveaway time!

2010-04-21T06:59:00.000-07:00

Widget and Friends has been on Etsy a little while now, but in a quiet, still, kind of way. Not anymore! The bunnies are all rushing into the shop there - eager to join some of their cousins who have already gone to live in America. So ... to mark this new .. er, new thingy, a bunny bed is up for grabs. Not just any bunny bed but one in your choice of colour, with your choice of bed linen and ..... your choice of bunny! So much choice, how will you choose!

You can see the beds listed in the shop - see them stacked, see them in lilac :D

Widget and Friends on Etsy

This is what you need to do.

1: Estimate how many Thock Thnake eyeballs there in the the eyeball jar
2: Become a fan of Widget Sockbunny on Facebook

Then post on the fan page:

A) You eyeball estimate
and your answer to this question
B) How would you look after your sock bunny if you were the winner?

THE EYEBALL JAR

Closing date: Wednesday 28th April at 4pm GMT

Preparations for Skelly Bunny ...

2010-04-19T12:17:00.000-07:00

There has been another commission. For a Skelly Bunny. The Bunny Maker did alert the customer's attention to the lovely Hotdogandme Skelly Dogs, but it was a bunny that was wanted.
Trouble was, The Burrow had no white felt for bones. The BM, Widget and Skelly Dog thought a shopping trip was in order ....

The BM had to turf them out of the drivers seat as the situation was clearly impossible. She put them on the dashboard, only they got a little hot ...

Come you, you two, stop snoozing!

The BM got the felt she wanted and .... a whole pile of socks that she didn't want. Well, she did WANT them but, after having done a little stock check, decided that she had quite enough socks at the moment. The summery colours were too much to resist ......

And the thought of a few super-hero bunnies was way too tempting ...

On returning home Widget and Skully got everything ready even though the BM was getting on with other things.

Everytime she went past The Burrow they were staring, waiting.
"Okay, okay, I'm coming!", was pretty much the stock phrase for the afternoon. The up shot is that Skully Bun has NOT been made today. Widget and Skully are STILL fussing around The Burrow, choosing threads and plumping stuffing.

"Tomorrow, I promise," says the BM....

Bunny 300!

2010-04-15T14:20:00.000-07:00

This little bunny and baby are off to live in Arizona! It is also Bunny 300 - the 300th to be rehomed from Widget and Friends. A carrot is packed into their travelling box just in case they get hungry. With the eruption of the volcano in Iceland everyone is wondering if there is a plane for them to be taken there on! Some of the other bunnies are getting out their flying goggles and trying to make a plane from sticks and leaves.

Perhaps there should be two carrots in the box - in case they are held up for a long time. Perhaps there will just be a saggy sock left in the box! Oh no! They might starve to death!! The Bunny Maker is worrying now.....

The Bunny Maker's Shelf Heaven.

2010-04-15T06:26:00.000-07:00

I am in shelf heaven. All the sawing and banging, sanding and waxing is over. The shelves are all up and everything is on them. Look ...

Gaze upon their beauteous shelfiness..........

Added to this heaven, The Burrow shelves are also finished...

and I am all moved in and organized ....

I'm sitting at that desk right now!
The boys don't seem to mind that their playroom has quartered in size either. Summer is on it's way and they will be outside most of the time then. Trouble is, our right-hand neighbours have stolen all our footballs ...... a story for another day.

Cecil C. Bun, Cellist

2010-04-15T05:56:00.000-07:00

Meet Cecil, he loves to play the cello. His father taught him when he was a weeny bunny. His musical brother, Bertie B. Bun, went to live in Alaska so Cecil is thrilled that he is also off to a new home.

Cecil C. Bun, Cellist

Bertie B. Bun, Baritone.

The Bunny Maker is wondering if a whole orchestra might end up getting made.

Do you have an idea for a custom Widget and Friends sock bunny? Pop into the bunny shop and contact The BM here >>>> Widget and Friends on Folksy

We hope Splash doesn't cause a crash!

2010-04-13T00:13:00.000-07:00

Splash has found a new home! Dotties Cards has bought him for her little boy who has just learnt to ride his bike. He was offered all sorts of incentives to get him going but he chose a sock bunny! The Bunny Maker is often asked who likes the bunnies the most. She always answers that it is small boys who like them best. Small boys between 6 and 12, just the age you would think that football and other things would take precedent over a soft toy rabbit. You would be wrong indeed - very wrong. The bunnies seem to sneak into a part of their psyche which people overlook. The BM has three small boys. The BM knows about small boys.

Splash is all tucked up in his travelling box and on his way to his new home. He can't wait to whizz along on a super-fast bicycle, the wind in his ears, nose a-twitching, catching the smells of spring. Just don't cause a crash, Splash!

Meerkat Update.

2010-04-12T05:37:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since any news came out about Murky, Isabow and baby Meep. After their 'on blog' romance, the arrival of their baby Meep and trying to find a new home, everything went quiet. The recession hit hard for the meerkats and they just couldn't muster enough pennies for a new house so they have had to lodge on The Bunny Maker's shelf in her workroom.

Isabow is getting very fed up as she would like a place of her own. Nosey Mouse is very nice but she would really like to NOT have to share the place with anyone else. Meep is getting bigger now and can almost scamper. He is getting perilously near the edge of those shelves .... Now that spring is here a house will have to be found.

Widget found the below the other day ....

Pretty scary huh? Nothing like our wonderful Meerkats from NiftyKnits.

The weather has been wonderful lately and the bunnies at The Warren have been spring cleaning, brushing out the dried carrot ends and dust from the ears. There have been two more new arrivals; Karl, who helped The Bunny Maker out at An Easter Event, and Snake. Snake just arrived. He was first spotted sneaking around in the 'after bath' photo of Widget. Don't know where he came from but it looks like he is here to stay. He's living in the flowers in The BM's watering can in her workroom..

Karl has been given the new job of 'Carrot Dispenser'.

He is keeping them all .... er, safe, and promises not to nibble any of them. They are all for sale in the bunny shop .... the bunnies get hungry in transit, you know!

Buy your carrots here.... CLICK!

Bathtime for Widget

2010-04-09T02:53:00.000-07:00

He was grubby. Very grubby about himself. Especially the bottom of that stinky sleeping bag. There were no two ways about it, Widget needed a bath. It has taken a while to find him ....

But found he was. He made a right old fuss about having his ears untied and smelly old sleeping bag removed. In fact he refused to speak to the Bunny Maker whilst she was making preparations.

It was ugly but she got him in ....

You could be mistaken but isn't that a bunny enjoying himself just a little in the spring sunshine?
After a swooshing and a minor scrubbing Widget was well and truly squeezed out and dried via tea towel.

Then he was laid out for a lovely snoozle in the sunshine - ears outspread.

As the sun went down Widget was still decidedly damp. Into the airing cupboard with the underpants and school uniform!

Widget, you look lovely! Your droopy, saggy ear has gone all perky again and Sprout has come home from the Isle of Wight with us too.

Erm, who's snake is that?

Widget's Easter Break

2010-04-08T00:41:00.000-07:00

As is usual Widget went to the Isle of Wight for Easter. The weather was, for the most part, lovely but he still announced the need for a 'double-socker' to keep out the salty sea spray! It was all blustery and flustery but Widget loved blowing the dust out of his ears and watching his scarf fly in the wind.

Mr BunnyMaker didn't seem to have the required skills for looking after a small sock rabbit. Widget regretted the sock at that moment until rescued by a tutting BunnyMaker.

Then he found him. Buried under the wet pebbles by the water, sticking out was a little green shoot.
"Hello", said Widget.
"Hello", said the shoot, "I'm Sprout. I've been lost on the beach for months".

Sprout was taken home and given a wash (just in case he'd been in 'something nasty') and he and Widget have been inseparable ever since ....

The beach kept Widget and Sprout amused for ages. They found Snail, who had come a very long way to find Widget. He said he read his blog. Hmmm.

Mr BM wasn't asked to look after Widget again after his last display of disregard and the BM showed him how to care properly for a tired, salty bunny ..... a nice, fleecy pocket. Nothing better.

Back at The Warren (Isle of Wight HQ) Widget hovered annoyingly waiting to open the Easter chocolate. The BM thought the chicks had something a little menacing about them and told Widget to quit lining them up in that way.

Surprisingly Widget didn't eat that much chocolate. He said that the outer sock he wore earlier was alarmingly tight and he thought a little stoutness might be occurring. The BM says its not so much about tightness but more about down right filthiness.
"You need a bath, Widget, and you need it NOW!".

Widget has gone missing.

The BM excels herself in the matter of parenting.

2010-03-30T14:14:00.000-07:00

I am feeling like a smug parent. Not only have I combined craft with education, I have actually finished a task I started! Bunny Maker's Son No.1 has a new desk. 'The Desk of Knowledge'.

Inspired by the boys' love of The Map Table and the fact that they all know where the Gulf of Bothnia is (seriously, there is one), The Desk is covered in facts and knowledge courtesy of Schotts Miscellany and The Ultimate Book of Lists.

Son No.1 chose the main desk colour, which the BM sprayed with her new and fab Montana Gold spray paint. He chose Fuchsia Pink. This is because, being the BM's son, he likes to do the opposite of what is expected of him. So, a ten year old boy should NOT chose PINK. So he chooses pink. The BM is proud.

It has useful information such as the chemical structure of caffeine and lists of phobias, cloud formations and Pi to about a thousand places. All great stuff for a small boy with an insatiable curiosity about the world. And the BM got to cut and stick and 'create' something. All-round happiness at The Warren.

The Bunny Maker gets more new stuff

2010-03-28T06:37:00.000-07:00

It has certainly been a very exciting month at The Warren. What with a new workroom and now .... a kitchen revamp. As soon as The New Burrow was finished a whole shebang of shelves were built in the kitchen. The Bunny Maker is in seventh heaven but this does makes her wonder what the other six are all about though.

The ones on the left still need to be painted white but all the plates and kerfuffle had to be put onto it as it was way too tempting. It has all got to come off again this week - but who cares, it was eighth heaven loading it all on. (Son No.3 is eating chicken, in case you are interested). The other shelves ....

..are made from sanded scaffold boards which will be waxed using wire wool later on. The white, beachy washed out look is lovely but Mr Bunny Maker wants the waxing for 'durability and protection'. Yawn.
Tomorrow, work starts on scaffold board shelves all down the wall of the new workroom. This is almost too much for the Bunny Maker and she has nearly burst with joy spray-painting all the baskets to line up on them. These Montana Gold paints from Graff-City are possible the most amazing discovery ever for the BM. She has been spraying everything - chairs, baskets, old storage drawers, bunny beds etc. It dries in seconds and covers EVERTHING. There are 180 (yes, one hundred and eighty) colours to choose from. It is almost too much. Ninth heaven indeed.

To celebrate all this newness there is going to be a caption competition coming soon. The prize will be a custom bunny of your choice. The BM will announce it shortly....... over and out.

An Easter event.

2010-03-27T12:57:00.000-07:00

Today the Bunny Maker took everyone out for the afternoon to an Easter Fair at the local pre-school. It was a jolly event.

The bunnies' display table has a new addition .... Karl (don't ask) has joined the crew tp hold business cards in his nice green, felt bucket but today he had a more seasonal job to do. Plastic egg carrier. Lucky Karl.

The Thnakes came too. They weren't impressed. Someone bought the Thinging Thnake and Gween Thtwippy Thnake (below). Being crammed into small baskets for decorative effect is not what they want to do of an afternoon and they were both very happy to be taken off to new homes.

Then something BAD happened. The Bunny Maker spotted THIS .... across the room.

It was too horrible .... The bunnies on the table got very aggitated and wanted to start a protest. The Thnakes wanted to mount a rescue operation. Everything was very worrying.

After a lot of heated discussion the Bunny Maker convinced the bunnies that the bunnies involved in the 'bashing' must be having fun because they kept jumping back up for more. It seemed to settle them down for a while.

Some of the bunnies hid. Some of them put together a petition to sign entitled 'Stop Cruelty to Bunnies at Easter Events'. To the point.

Luckily it all came to an end before they could think about it all too hard and the Bunny Maker shuffled them back into their travelling tub trug and into the back of the car before any trouble 'went down'.