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

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!

The Handmade Bunny Giveaway Winner is picked

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!

Bunny Gifts Galore!: The Handmade Bunny is ready!

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

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!)