Pondering the New Month...

The end of the month is near, another about to begin and it's time to set some new goals for the month of April.  It's raining today and it's the kind of day to ponder the upcoming month.  What new things can I accomplish in the month of April?  What new adventures will be explored?  It's exciting to think of all the things I could start and finish in 30 days.  I have one more day to make the list... not too ambitious, not too unambitious, something right in the middle shall do.  Stay tuned!

Spring Cleaning...

Time to re-evaluate your nest and do a little spring cleaning!

Thank you Mette!

The wonderful Mette from A Polar Bear's Tale awarded me a Sunshine award!  There are rules I'm suposse to follow, but I'm like Mette and won't follow all the rules!  I'm also too shy to follow most of the rules!  So instead I thought I would thank Mette for her wonderful blogging and for inspiring me on my newest creations!

You see Mette is a fellow needle felter and she made the most wonderful large Hookah-Smoking Caterpillar that inspired me to make some larger pieces!  So this is a sneak preview of two of my newest large scale pieces.  They are modeled after Rein Poortvliet's Gnomes and are actually quite close to life size... in that the gnomes are 15 cm tall!  Hopefully I'll get them listed by the weekend on McBrideHouse!  Thank you Mette!!

Happy Spring Everybody!

Happy Spring Everybody!  The sap is flowing, the sun is shining, hope is near!  This is one of the sap buckets we have hung about our property for the annual Maple Syrup production so popular in this part of the world.  For us, however, it is a new adventure and one met with great gusto from DH.  I confess it is rather exciting and I myself was out at 6:30 am in my pajamas's, winter boots and one of DH's plaid coats checking the sap buckets to see how much was in them! 

Saint Patrick's Day at McBride House!

Since I am Irish (could you have guessed that with a name like McBride?) I thought I would introduce you to some of my little Irish friends!  This little frog certainly must be Irish!

Leander the Lion must have some Irish in him somewhere!  I know, I'm pushing that one, but I wanted to show you my newest creation!

Anne of Green Gables is all dressed in her green for the big day!

My little Squirrel wanted me to ask if anybody had any green acorns that he could trade you for!  Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

Spring Bunnies!

I can feel it in the air, Spring is just around the corner!  The snow is melting, there are a few tiny little bulbs poking through the dead foliage of last fall, the maple buds are swelling, the time changes tonight, the sky is blue, the air is fresh, the robins have arrived, geese and duck flying back home, a time for hope and a time for Easter Bunnies!! 

Sqweak! I've Been Overrun!

Sometimes something inspires me in so many ways I just don't know when to stop!

For example... for some reason I have mice on my mind.  This is one of my new Sewing Room Mice that is ready to jump in and give me a hand whenever I need an extra set of paws.

He is a very shy little mouse and just likes to sit on top of his wooden spool holding this special vintage button that he's always wanting me to use!

Then there came Cute as a Button Mouse.  Again, this little mouse is insistent that I use this button for something!  I keep telling them I don't need a button on everything!

She's a very helpful little mouse though and is very good at reminding me to do things.  I think it has something to do with that bow that she keeps tied to the end of her tail to remind herself.

The came along my new Companion Series.  These small little mice are so fat and fluffy that all they can do is sit and keep you company while you go about your work.  The Sewing Mice are already listed on McBride House, but the Companion Series are still getting their final touches before they will be listed.  Stay tuned though!

Cats, Felting and Free Patterns!

 

Piggy still has yet to catch a bird on his own (thank goodness!)... I wonder if he's using osmosis to learn their secrets!  As you can see, his hearing is still not up to par and I was able to capture quite a few shots of him dreaming of birds!  Pretty cute, isn't he?

A little felted Raccoon that's been in my shop for a few days.  I love the little pout that he developed as I was creating him.  I've said it before, but I love the way each creation turns out with it's own special personality!

 

If you haven't checked out my new site BellaMcBride.ca then you wouldn't have seen that I have a page of free patterns!  Stop on by and see the Belmont Neckwarmer and....

 

... the Windemere Caplet to just name a few!  Both are very simple patterns and show just how detailed my patterns are.  I really try to create every pattern so that any beginner can follow them.  Check them out!

Sunny Bunny Needle Felted One-of-a-kind Soft Sculpture

 

 If you know anything about me, you would know I love pink, animals and anything cute!  What do you think?  Covers all those bases? 

  

This is Sunny Bunny, named after my brother's favourite stuffed toy rabbit he had as a kid.  Just look at those little pink pads on her feet!

 

And she loves to curl up in your hand and snuggle!  As always, she and a whole bunch of other little creatures can be found here!

The Moose is Loose!

 

I've always wanted to create a Moose to add to my felting collection and finally "felt" that I was ready for the challenge.  When I was working in the field as a botanist, I had the opportunity to work in an area that was virtually overrun by moose.

They are really the most magnificant animal you will ever see.  There is such a serene power to them... it's hard to describe. 

 

 So with some advice from DH (my resident Forester and avid hunter) I came up with this guy!

  

 And before I even got him listed he was snatched up and will be going all the way to Tennessee!