Easter Crafting Part Two . . . . ~ Miss Milly Rabbit ~

Greetings lovely friends & readers

 Instead of flowers today, we have ornamental Gourds which I picked last weekend.  I had a very small crop this year but my seeds were old so I wasn't surprised & just thankful that any came up.

This old round baking tin was in my stash, no doubt thrifted at some time & showing signs of rust.  I gave it the Resene Rust FX treatment & it came up well.  It was the perfect size to fit under my wire cloche & just big enough to hold my gourds.  

Last Easter I purchased a half metre length of gorgeous rabbit fabric with the plan to make Miss Milly Rabbit out of the above (old) pattern book.

  The fabric sat in my stash for a year & just prior to this Easter I got it out & made the rabbits body.  I enlarged the length of the legs by 3 inches as I wanted a long legged rabbit.  I teadyed the calico & I also sewed chenille pipecleaners into her ears when I attached them to the head as I like the ears standing up somewhat - I feel it adds character.  

The last time I made this pattern was in * this blog post * way back in 2013.

I added a ring to the back of my Miss Milly as I thought she might look good hanging on a wall - she is a good long length measuring 65 cms from head to toe.

I made sure I fussy cut the bodice piece with the rabbit right in the centre.  I also gave my girl some bloomers as we don't want her getting chilly in her nether regions !!  

I purchased this swing tag from Love from Seventeen - I've bought their personalised items before to attach to gifts for the Grandchildren.  This rabbit motif was in my stash so I gave Miss Milly a pocket so I could stitch the motif to it.  I also stitched a vintage lace doiley to her hand as every good rabbit needs a clean handkerchief !

After I'd completed her I decided to paint some shoes on her feet.  I had no pastel coloured paint that matched her so I used chalk paint in the colour Robins Egg.  It was a wonderful match colour-wise.

It's overcast & grey this week so I've photographed her on my deck table where it's a bit lighter.  I'm really pleased with her & have told her she can stay out for awhile longer so long as she behaves herself.  🐰💙

When I went to pack my Easter decor away I came across a bag with these wooden rabbit buttons in & the 3 tiny wood frames.  I can't remember how many years I've had these for but it was time to  

do something with them!!  

I covered the frames with wadding & Tilda scraps,  then stitched the rabbit buttons in the centre.  I tried to use colours that complimented the buttons.  Then I thought I needed something to display them on.

This was one of those vintage frames with the silk pictures in but it was torn & faded so I removed it, painted the frame & backing & then glued some scrapbooking paper to the backing.  

I thought the soft blue toile paper just set the rabbit frames off nicely & I had some leftover ribbon from Miss Milly's ears so I added a bow & a rabbit peg.  I will enjoy adding this to my displays next Easter.  

The recipe calls for 3/4 cup of feijoas - I double this & use Extra!

As I was on hen-feeding-duties over Easter I was able to gather a bucket of feijoas & make my favourite feijoa recipe Feijoa and Coconut Cake.   Yes I served it with lashings of cream because Why Ever Not ??!!

Yesterday morning I lit my first fire of the season.  It was Cold & I'd spent many days stacking firewood so I told myself that it was not for display only & gave myself permission to Use it!!!  It didn't take long for a certain Ginger Princess to find the heat!!!  

Wishing you a wonderful rest-of-the-week dear friends,

Thank you, as always, for your welcome visits here today,

Sending much love & friendship to you all,