I had a visitor....

in my Garden! I could hear all sorts of strange noises coming from the back garden, thinking it was just some birds making a scene, I went to check it out and was stopped in my tracks by a .... Sheep! She was tucking into the weeds that I had just cleared into my wheelbarrow on my patio. I thought she had come through from the field behind my garden but there were no holes. Before I had a chance to think what to do she casually swaggered off back down the lane back into the field at the end!


As promised here are the photos I took in Antwerp last Friday evening, we had a lovely dinner in one restaurant and then had a sublime dessert in a little patisserie! The evening sky was truly this most amazing vivid blue.




I'm busy working on an upcoming article for Oh My Handmade Goodness as well as searching for and ordering lots more supplies. So it's all go in this crazy sheep filled village! Coming up next are photos of a wonderful toy store! See you soon, Hugs, Catherine x

Ellie

Sorry dear Blog for neglecting you over the last few days, there has been a little Bear that has been demanding my attention! Her name is Ellie, she has a gentleness of spirit that makes you want to be her friend. She would be delighted to share her tea parties with you, especially if you brought some delicious cup cakes! What fun you could have together. You can see lots more photos over at my website.**UPDATE 27th April Ellie has now found a loving new home**


Little girl Bumpkin Bears do not come along as often as the boy bears so I felt she deserved a special treat. I made her a beautiful collar out of adorable vintage trim with silk polka dots. It has a precious vintage peach button attachement at the back so can be removed if she wants to change outfits! At first she can be a little quiet but once she feels comfortable she will fill your days with wonderful stories!

I was given her beautiful polka dot trim from a lovely friend called Susy, do check out her adorable Etsy store.

I have so much to share in my upcoming Blog posts, had a lovely stroll in the city of Antwerp on Friday night and on Saturday visited a fabulous toy store that had lots of Steiff Bears, I was glad I had my camera! So do pop back again soon.
By the way there is only 1 day left of my Friends for Tea Giveaway .

Hugs, Catherine & Ellie x

Giveaway Time!

I am thrilled to be featured over at the Not Just A Mummy Blog. As a thank you I am offering a Giveaway for a set of my Friends for Tea Party Invitations, perfect for kids and adults alike, after all we all love Tea Parties don't we! So hop on over to the Blog to enter and be in with a chance of winning. Whilst you are there do take time to browse around Dawn's Blog, she has some fabulous party ideas.


Not wanting to sound like I am blowing my own trumpet but I'm also excited to say that my Mother's Love Personalised Print has been featured today as part of a Mother's Day Gift Ideas Article over at Oh My Handmade Goodness! This Mama Bear with her Cub is also available in my Etsy Store as a precious notecard, magnet & button.




My new Bear is coming along well, so pop back soon and Good Luck with the Giveaway! Hugs, Catherine x

Bunnies & Lambs!

Spring is well and truly here in Belgium with the sweetest lambs skipping about in the field behind my garden, just precious. Makes me think of this Print. The sound of them baa-a-a-a-ing in the early evening takes me right back to my childhood when I used to help the next door farmer at lambing time. I hand reared any that were rejected, feeding them with the bottle and of course naming each one!

I was also delighted to receive these photos from Vicki of a lovely Baby Shower where my Bunny Cameo Gift Tags were used on these ornate Evian bottles. I love the decoration on those bottles and luckily they didn't all smash when the table collapsed just before the guests were due to arrive!!



Look at these stunning paper flowers also used in the decor.

Vicki creates the most beautiful birds nests and she has a giveaway for a wonderful bag over at her Blog.

Today I started on a new Bear, in a scrummy peach mohair, soon a new friend to meet! In the meantime come back very soon for news of a Giveaway! Hugs, Catherine x

Magical Woodland Baby Shower

I'm thrilled to say that my first article as Guest Contributor is live on the Oh My Handmade Goodness Blog. Have fun reading all about this wonderful Woodland Themed Baby Shower that I created the invitations & gift tags for.



Take a peek below for my new range of Buttons & Magnets, all live in my Etsy Store. Thanks for popping by, it's always lovely to have you visiting. See you again soon, Hugs, Catherine x

Buttons, Magnets & News!

Well it's been all go here so I'm a little late getting back to my Blog. I'm excited to share with you all my news, I have been asked to be part of an International Judging panel of 5 for the Gläserner Teddybär Competition. It is a real honour to be asked and to stand alongside such wonderfully talented Bear Artists. It's going to be quite a task with all the wonderful Bears. You too can vote here. This week is the beginners section voting and everyone that joins in with voting has a chance to win a prize!

Other exciting news is that I have been accepted as a Guest Contributor for the Oh My Handmade Goodness Blog. Tomorrow (April 15th) you'll be able to read my article about the enchanting Woodland Themed Baby Shower that I was lucky enough to design the invitations for.

Today has been a busy busy day taking lots of photographs, getting them ready in Photoshop and creating listings in my Etsy Store for my new range of Buttons (badges if you're in the UK!) & Magnets - SO excited :) They are nearly all loaded up. There is a limited amount of each so catch them when you can.
Friends for Tea Set

Sweet Dreams

Mother's Love

I Love Books

Love Hedgehog Magnet

Bedtime Story


Thank you for all your kind words about Beau in my previous post, he is a little quiet hoping to find his new family.

See you back tomorrow for the Woodland Article and I've got some cute photos of the lambs in the field behind my garden.
Hugs, Catherine x

Beau

Here he is as promised, fresh from his photo shoot! Beau is a darling, one of a kind, 17" Bear, with a heart of gold to match his adorable true teddy golden mohair. He loves to sit reading a book in a comfy arm chair or sitting on the windowsill watching the birds in the garden. If you listen carefully you can hear him chuckle with delight as he hears the birds sing their chorus.

This classic ted captured my heart and his name came instantly to me as I looked into his twinkly eyes, so his name is Beau, from French origin meaning handsome and sweetheart. Maybe he too could have appeared as the "Beau Wilks" character in Gone with the Wind! You can see all his photos and adoption info at my website. It's funny, I've decided that my Bears just love books, everytime I try all sorts of different backdrops they just look happiest nestled up against my Granny's books, especially Winnie The Pooh of course!



It's going to be a very busy and exciting week, I'll share some news tomorrow, so do pop back. In the meantime Beau sends you all lots of hugs. Catherine x

Hello!

I'm still here!

It's been all go behind the scenes, I nearly have a new Bear ready to introduce, I must say I'm loving this chap! He's a new design and a sweet old time bear in a beautiful teddy gold. Just a day or two and he'll be ready, can't wait to give him a proper hug and share him with you all. I've also been putting a lot of thought into my paper products photos to keep improving on them, the sun has been kind enough to provide some nice natural light. I've also got some very exciting news to share next week! So lots to come I promise. In the meantime here are some photos of the Castle in our local forest, can't you just imagine how it must have been when ladies strolled around the lake in their grand dresses!



Thanks for visiting, your comments always mean a lot. See you back soon, Hugs, Catherine x

Sunlight captured in a Raindrop

Just as my daffodils decided to flower the rain has hardly stopped! But what delight this can bring when the sun peers through the clouds, creating little drops of silver on the petals! I have been so inspired by the beautiful photography of Georgianna Lane that I have been getting back to my photography lately and have just started a new Flickr account just for my Bumpkin Photography. I will enjoy sharing lots of images showing my love of nature.


Wishing you all a very Happy Easter, I hope the Easter Bunny will visit you all! Catherine x