Hey Kids! Looking for a screaming deal on some of my work, while simultaneously supporting a groovy community mural project in my neighborhood? Here's just a tiny sample of what you will find in the sale section of the Bunny with a Toolbelt Etsy site!

Monday

it's a brand....new.....contest!

Dearest ye who art recently engaged (and those who love them,)


Tell us your cutest, goofiest, or most swoonfully romantic story of your "I do moment." Then choose one of the designs on my Etsy site or one you spotted hanging out at the Chapel of Bunny Love that I can use to illustrate your saga on my blog. Send a picture of the two of you to sweeten the pot, but not required. I'll publish your stories between now and 11:59 PM, Pacific Standard Time on April 30th, 2010 and then we'll open it up for the readers to vote on which story made them go "awwww!" or "ohhhhhh!" or "mmmmmmmmm!"

The grand prize winner will get a custom cake topper set that I'll make with whatever critters make their hears go purrrrrrr!! I will also give you the keys to the castle where you can order custom invitations, big gifts for the wedding party, or little ones for the guests--all with the picture of your adorable Bunny with a Toolbelt wedding cake topper on them and whatever personalized text you like!

Please limit your entries to 500 words. This contest is intended for currently engaged couples. I'll post them as they come in. Email them to me at bunnywithatoolbelt@gmail.com. Thanks for playing!

tribute to a good dog

I recently made this sweet little commission for a customer who saw my "Best Dog in the World" piece on Etsy. She asked me to do a version that had a custom dog on top that looks just like their dearly departed pooch, who in their eyes, was the Best Dog in the World. I think it's a great way to remember the furry friends who make life just a little bit more awesome.

One new aspect to this piece is the patterning I did in the land masses on the globe. For some reason, the plain green in the original wasn't working for me, and I've recently had a lot of fun painting grass on the bases of some of my new wedding cake toppers:

got pink?

I have been meaning to make a flamingo for some time.....finally someone asked. Voila!

going to the chapel of Bunny Love!

I finished another little animation recently featuring my favorite old and new wedding cake toppers! So that means that now I have about 50 different designs to choose from. Phew, that makes me tired just typing it.... Click here to see what's on the Etsy site!

simple touches to customize your favorite piece

here's a cute commission I did last week, adding a heart balloon to a customer's custom pet commission:


and then one of the doggies who starred in my For the Love of Dog video was bought and the customer asked to have a yellow birdie added to its back. Super cute!

Yay! Instant Party took GOLD!

Thanks to everyone who voted for me in the rikrak Handmade Olympics! We did it!!!

it's always the season for LOVE

A few pictures from my life....my mother sent me the above image of their two penguins and a greeting card I made when I was an illustrious card designer. She piled a few quarters under the shorter one so it could kiss the taller one. Awwwww! Below is the beautiful bouquet my sweetie brought home for me yesterday. I think it's one of the most beautiful bouquets I ever received and the color combination is inspiring me today. I think it might find its way into the palette in the bathroom I'm painting, and maybe a few new elephants. This week is all about finishing up my brand new animation and showing you the 35+ new wedding cake toppers that will be added to the lineup this spring. Stay tuned!

all the bunnies and Ron wish Erika would get better soon.

This is starting to feel a lot like dedicating a song to the one you love on the radio! Love it!!! Click here to download your free all purpose sentimental card, color it in, write a message on it, and I'll post it on the blog for you.

valentine freebie!

Hey Kids! I designed a coloring page that you can download free and give to your favorite valentine, just by clicking here! It's just my little way of saying I have soooooo much love for my fans.

ps. If you send me your finished pieces today, I'll even post them here on the Bunny with a Toolbelt blog! Click here to submit your valentine.

me gustas tu

your vote really DOES count!

Hey kids! Bunny with a Toolbelt's Instant Party is neck in neck for the race for the gold in the Handmade Olympics! Only a few days left to vote, so I hope you'll participate in the hottest competition in craft! Click here to vote!!

can I muster one more vote from you this week?

Hey kids! My Instant Party figures were nominated in the Handmade Olympics, sponsored by Rikrak studio. What a fun event with many categories--I'm proud to have been nominated in the "favourite handmade item that's FUN" category. Click here if you'd like to cast your vote for Bunny with a Toolbelt!

and the winner is.....

Well, the public voted and the winner of the Bunny with a Toolbelt 2010 Love Poem contest was....Poem #6 about the lovebirds sitting in the tree! Congratulations Deanna!! Thanks everyone for participating!

In the next few weeks, I'll be launching my new wedding cake topper line and a new contest. The winner will win a custom cake topper set! Stay tuned for the scintillating details when they unfold.

Punxsutawney predicts....

Hello Beautiful People! Well, Punxsutawney Phil had his say today and the word is....well....we've still got some winter to get through. On a similar note, I wanted to show you a cute little groundhog commission I got recently. A customer who is a big squash player/fan asked me to make a little gift for someone in his athletic club who organizes an annual Groundhog Day Tournament. Here's the little guy, showing us exactly how he's going to spend the next six weeks:


Don't forget to vote for your favorite Love Poem this week! Details are below in yesterday's post.

time to vote! which love poem is the very best?

Okay...the final entries are in! And now it's YOUR turn to vote! Below are our seven contestants for the Bunny with a Toolbelt Love Poem Contest!

The way it will work this time is similar to our holiday photo extravaganza--leave a comment in the comments section below the poem you vote for. One vote per person and you have until Friday, February 5 at midnight PST to cast your vote.

Here's a recap of our entries--click the entry number to re-read the poem associated with each image. (Don't forget--you're voting on the poem, not the artwork!!)


Entry #1 (about the Nasty Little Secret figures)


Entry #2 (about the bride and groom penguins!)

Entry #3 (about the sweet squirrel!)


Entry #4 (about the rainbow dog and the bulldog characters from my new movie!)

Entry #5 (regarding the smiling gator with the toothy bird on its back)

Entry #6 (which involves my lovebirds sitting in the pear tree wedding cake topper display stand)

Entry #7 (also about the gator and bird piece from the previous entry)


Thanks everyone--this has been really fun!!

Love Poem Contest Entry #7!!

A second entry has come in about my toothy gator and bird piece!


Rosie the carnivorous bird had always found it difficult to find Love
Previous partners just couldn't understand her table manners
Then she met Radi the Alligator, a refined Gentleman
Who it turned out, had impeccable taste.....

Rosie was a Raptor Bird
Radi was an Alligator
When they met it was True Love.....
Then RADI-ATE-HER!

by Nicola of Murano Silver

Today is the last day you can enter the love poem contest! Click here for the rules. Voting starts tomorrow so check back to have your say on who's the baddest bard in Bunnywood!

Love Poem Contest Entry #6!!

Another last minute entry to the love poem contest! This one is about my lovebirds wedding cake topper display stand.


Above the earth high up in our tree

We can see a lot - you and me

Today the sky is a brilliant blue

From where we sit there’s quite a view



Below us standing in black and white

The most touching and romantic sight

Today a bride and groom are wed

Their eyes a-glow as vows are read




As they declare their love is true

All I can do is turn to you

“We’ve made out home up in this tree

I’d love for you to marry me?”



My feathers ruffle upon my chest

As you turn to me and whisper “yes”

Our beaks lock in love so true

As we sit in our tree – just me and you.


by Deanna


This is the last day to enter the love poem contest! Click here for the official rules and then get ready to vote!!

Love Poem Contest Entry #5!!

We have a fifth contender for the coveted $100 prize in our love poem contest. Dannie sent in this witty entry, inspired by the smiling gator.

Oh Bunny bunny!! You're so funny.
I want to enter but do not banter.
Hilary Hilary the gator's wary.
That is my pick and shall I parody or what was that???

Made to brush - my sink's the place.
I love your work and really dream.
A remodel job would have a place for this pair.
Never to ever brush in despair.



There's only a few days left to get into the love poem contest! Click here for details!

Love Poem Contest Entry #4!!

Dear Rainbow Dog, the letter read,
Something's gone wrong inside my head.
Though I'm not saying that it's true
It just may have to do with you

It began, you see, one rainy day,
The winds were strong, the clouds were grey
My windows rattled from the pour,
My mind was blank, my heart was sore

I was thinking of Valentine
I thought he'd be forever mine
He was big and strong and grey
Not unlike that rainy day

But it was not meant to be
He grew fat quite naturally
Till he became more bull than dog,
Weighing me down just like a bog

With him my days were dull and blank
With him my spirit simply sank
One day I sat him down and said
"NO MORE!"
He was booted out the door.

The sun rose above the lawn
Clouds were parting with a yawn

Seven streams of glimmering light
Hoops of colour loop your sides
You leapt across that shimmering field
I knew then that my love was sealed
Inside your little rainbow form
Emerging safely from my storm

by Jared Tong


pssst! Want to win $100 of cute stuff from my Etsy shop? There's only a few days left in the love poem contest! Click here for details!

Love Poem Contest Entry #3!!

About the squirrel.
(by Anna Lockwood)

Sweet squirrel,
Not from here
We’ve never met one.

We’d never met once.

Sweet squirrel.
Offers her heart
With both hands

Like mine, see.

Sweet squirrel
a bit different
But somehow known

Like you and me.

Sweet squirrel
Speaks my language
Despite all that

Like you do.

Sweet squirrel
Chose me
And I choose you.

Pick me.



Just a few more days to enter the Bunny with a Toolbelt love poem contest and win $100 worth of goodies from the Bunny with a Toolbelt Etsy shop! Learn more about it by clicking here.

for the love of DOG

for the love of DOG from Hilary Pfeifer on Vimeo.