A Very Clarrey Christmas!

The merry year is born
Like the bright berry from the naked thorn.
~Hartley Coleridge

Dear friends, may our lives be filled with peace, love and happiness. 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! 

and little Clarebear

Preparing to Paint

Well, I didn't actually get to painting today, I was so distracted trying to figure out this video stuff. I did manage to get a few pointers from my favourite water colour artist, Billy Showell. I'm using art masking fluid to mask off the flowers so I don't get unwanted paint on them when I put a wash of colour on his coat.

I would like to say I paint tomorrow, but I'm pretty sure that's not happening. The next few days are super busy around here, getting ready for family. I can hardly wait to see everyone. Hope you all have a very Merry Christmas with your loved ones too. See you soon.

My Journey Into Self Publishing

I wanted to try and make a video diary documenting the progress of my book cover. I only wish I'd thought of it sooner because as you can see I'm already a couple of days into my painting. I'm using water colour, pencil crayon and my husband as a model. But shhh, he doesn't want anyone to know.  

Tale of the Black Mamba is my first YA novel which will be self published by Rare Rabbits Press in mid January. And despite the fact that I really don't know how to make a movie I'm still pretty proud of myself. Considering there's no music, the beginning moves around as if I was wearing a beanie cam and the ending cuts off rather suddenly, I still think it's great. But then I would, wouldn't I?

 Even though my movie was cut short, I kept working and managed to finish quite a bit of my painting today. Looks like it won't take as long as I thought. There's hope yet. Tomorrow I start on the evil Dr. Wu. 

Hockey Night in Canada!

I watched my grandson play hockey tonight. Here's the team getting their pre-game pep talk.

 Taking pictures was no easy task. 

Half the time I didn't know who was who, never mind what the rules were.

Here's the poor guy stuck in the penalty box. 

There he is number 18, a Defenceman, he's big for his age.  

Always ready for action.

Then down he goes, a stick to the neck.

But not for long. Racing to the puck!

60 second rest period.

Contemplating his next move. 

Ready for a pass.

Shaking hands after a good game, a tie, 2 to 2. And all's well in hockey town. 

Christmas Cards are Here!

I've been working really hard making Christmas cards and here's what I've created. 

Twelve new designs! They come individually wrapped or in two different variety packs. It's been a real labour of love and took much longer than I expected but I'm very pleased with what I've accomplished. 

It was so much fun coming up with these designs and figuring out my new camera.

 And now I'm all revved up for Valentine's Day! 

If you'd like a closer look please check out my Etsy shop, Rare Rabbits Designs

Christmas, Again?

 Where does the time go? Seems like only yesterday I was posting about Christmas and this time last year was just the beginning for my little Rare Rabbits Designs. 

Even though I'm still finding my way through my creative business and knitting bunnies is thoroughly wonderful, I must say. I thought over the next few weeks I'd try my hand at card making and bookmarks.

I spent the day taking a few practise shots.

"Oops! Vintage? You never said it was a vintage! What's a vintage?"

Bunnies don't know from vintage. Never ask a bunny to decorate your tree. Bunnies are not big decorators. Bunnies are bouncers. End of story. 

But I loves 'em.

Gyspy Bunny Marushka is part of a Blog Hop!

Guess what, I made it! I finished my little Marushka Gypsy Bunny for my dear friend Dolly and just in time to take part in this fun blog hop! 

What's a blog hop? That's what I said to the wonderful group of artists I was so lucky enough join up with after taking Kelly Rae Roberts e-course. All I know is we're artists with blogs who encourage and help each other. It's way fun! 

I'm so happy to belong to this group of many talented women who are so caring and knowledgeable, all working towards the same goal, living a creative life. 

And this is one of the ways we're doing it, by sharing our art with everyone!

So if you want to have a look at some fabulous artists, 

hop around (perfect expression) and visit all my sistas. And don't be shy leave a comment, that's half the fun! 

Amaranthine Violet:  http://magic-gypsy.blogspot.com/

Amy Hillenbrand:  http://amyhillenbrand.blogspot.com

Beatriz Peñas B.:  http://beatrizbepe.blogspot.com/

Beth Cougler Blom:   http://sobliss.wordpress.com/

Carmen Patti:  http://carmenpattistudio.com/wordpress/

Carol Bray:  http://theredpaintedcottage.blogspot.com

Christina Fajardo:  http://christinafajardo.blogspot.com/

Cindy Jones Lantier:  http://www.lantier.org

Connie Rawlins :  http://www.dabblinginlife.blogspot.com/

Dana Brock: http://www.dzynbydana.blogspot.com

Deborah Velásquez : http://deborahvelasquez.blogspot.com

Elissa Brown:  http://thefreckledarmy.blogspot.com

Hillary Courson:  http://www.hillarycourson.com

Jacquie Williamson:  http://www.jacquiewilliamson.blogspot.com/

Jane Paynting: http://inkspiredwings.wordpress.com

Janet Forrest: http://tatterednworn.wordpress.com/

Jennifer DeVille:  http://jenniferdeville.com/blog/

Jill Lambert :  http://www.jill-lambert.blogspot.com/

Julie Hamilton:  http://spaark.wordpress.com

Kanchan Mahon:  http://Kanchan-Mahon.blogspot.com/

Karen Claverie:  http://giddyupletsride.blogspot.com

Kari DeSaulnier:  http://karidesi.blogspot.com/

Kathleen Conard : http://newfromoldcreations.blogspot.com/

Kathleen McKinnon:  http://harmonyschoolhouse.com/expressions-blog.html

Kathy May:  http://kathymaydesigns.org

Kelley Miller:  http://www.kelleymillerartworks.blogspot.com/

Kelly Corso:  http://birdinatreecreations.blogspot.com/

Kelly Hoernig:  http://www.kellyhoernig.blogspot.com/

Kim Hyer:  http://www.apaperaddict.com/

Kris Lanae Binsfeld:  http://cherishdesigns.wordpress.com

Linda Barutha:  http://lindabaruthadesigns.blogspot.com

Lisa Michele Products:
http://www.lisamicheleproducts.blogspot.com/

Liza Zeni Baker:  http://lizazeni.wordpress.com/

Lynn Richards:  http://alittlebluesky.blogspot.com

Lori Leissner:  http://leissnerart.blogspot.com

Lori Moon:  http://lorimoonstudio.blogspot.com

Mary Cottingham:   http://www.barnbugstudio.blogspot.com/

Mary Sterk:  http://justmarydesigns.wordpress.com

Megan Schmitt:  http://www.schmittenwithwords.blogspot.com/

Melanie Douthit:  www.douthitgallery.blogspot.com

Michelle Dwyer:  http://www.magnetisedbylife.com/

Michelle Reynolds:  http://shellsinthebush.blogspot.com/

Rachél Payne (Rae):  http://collectingyourself.wordpress.com/

Rain Hannah:  http://honeyandollie.com/

Rhiannon Connelly:  http://www.starrybluesky.wordpress.com

Ruth-Mary Smith:  http://patchworkfamilieshub.blogspot.com

Sherry Richert Belul:
http://simplycelebrate.net/cherry-blossom-soup

Shirley Ann:  http://leonardarenaissancewoman.blogspot.com/

Stacey Chadwick
Brown:  http://staceybrownarts.blogspot.com/

Susan M. Walls-Beverly:
http://www.susanscharmingtrinkets.blogspot.com

Teresa Cash-Czech: http://www.asmilemaker.com/

Tina Carlborg:  http://www.tinachicky.blogspot.com/

Tonya Love:  http://passport2creativity.com/

Ursula Smith:  http://www.EasyScraps.com/blog

Zulma Cadena:  http://edustory.wordpress.com/

Mary Cottingham  http://www.barnbugstudio.blogspot.com

All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up!

Petal graciously consented to be my model the other night. Truth be told, she's a bit of a ham and it didn't take much convincing for her to sit still. 

Though I could tell by the way she was eyeing the dress I was knitting for the new bunny she had an ulterior motive. 

Silly Petal, you're perfect just the way you are. 

Trick or Treat!

Frankenbunny, Iggy leads the way yelling, "Trick or treat, smell my feet, give me something good to eat!" 

Petal says,"Yeah!" 

Esmeralda wonders if her siblings might be a tad over zealous and grips her getaway broom with one hand,

and Petal with the other.

All's well that ends well. Have a safe and happy Halloween from the bunniest Halloweeners ever!

Carving Pumpkins

Everybody needs a little helping hand once in awhile.

Iggy's talent lies in carving pumpkins with a butter knife.

Esmeralda excels in spider therapy.

Petal believes in Bunnerflies and smarties.

Everybody say cheezies. 

Happiness is a warm bunny. 

Bye for now.