engagement story contest entry #4!!

Hello Beautiful People!! We have now our fourth contestant in the "tell us your engagement story" contest! This is from LeeLa and Adam, in what looks like a hot air balloon, which is super romantic in my book!! (Need a refresher on the rules? Click here.) Voting will commence in early May. The couple chose the Robot Bride and Groom cake toppers to illustrate this story.

In March 2006, I moved into a duplex in a neighborhood just north of uptown Charlotte called NoDa. I received an email from Adam on a social networking site called Friendster (never heard of it, its okay I think we were the only ones on it). We emailed back and forth for about a month. I discovered he lived in NoDa too, and we have mutual friends in the neighborhood. I decided to meet him for coffee at the local coffee shop Smelly Cat. Fast forward 2 1/2 years, traveling the world, living together, adopting a rescue dog, then navigating unemployment, and him enrolling in law school. *whew*

One rainy, dreary Sunday morning, Adam and I planned to have Sunday Brunch with his sister and his mom at a great Cajun restaurant. Despite the fact, that I had to go straight to the Children's Theatre for work immediately following brunch, Adam insisted on driving.

He received a call that his sister was running late, and asking us to meet his mom at the coffee shop across the street, Smelly Cat. I thought this was odd, why not wait in the restaurant but I relented.


We parked behind the building, and Adam insisted that we walk in the rain to the front door of Smelly Cat since the side door was kept locked. I was certain that was clear Fire Code violation but I relented. *I'm really picky about little things* a bit of a character flaw, but Adam likes to think of it has an endearing imperfection.

Now's where it gets a little blurry. We walk in to Smelly Cat - where we met. I see Adam's best friend then one of my best friends.

I was very confused, a coffee shop of people I know. I turned to Adam and he was on one knee. I combusted into tears and don't have any clue what he said but I know what I my response was. I said yes. Adam orchestrated the whole thing. He had my parents, his family, our close friends. And he even got my best friend Amy up from Atlanta. I had no clue that my friends and family could keep this a secret from me. He is that amazing! Adam is my best friend and I'm thrilled to call him my husband in August.

what's on the bunny's workbench?

Here's a project I'm finishing up this week for the window at one of the sweetest little bookstores I know, Green Bean Books! It's where I bought the penguins book I made the figures for last Christmas, and since then, I've gotten to know the owner Jennifer and we cooked up a plan for a nice window display with the theme of birds.

This will be my biggest tree ever, filled with birds in the branches. There are also a lot of interesting recycled materials in this piece that I'll walk you through. First of all, a friend recently gave me a bunch of old piano keys, so I used pieces of them to make the songbirds. They will be various colors and breeds of birds.

Next, since it's a bookstore, I decided to make the leaves out of old Scrabble tiles so there will be a subtle letter pattern to each one. The finished pieces will be two or three shades of green.

Even the tree and base itself is from known found objects! The trunk is a broom handle, and the base is one of those wood bowls you commonly see at thrift stores in these parts. I love the natural bark sides, so I filled it with heavy wood and flipped it upside down. I'll make one of my reading figures to lean up against the base, engrossed in his favorite book. In the next week, I'll paint it a grassy green and fill it with daisies.

I'll make sure to take more pictures next weekend when it's done!

happy bunny day!

engagement story contest entry #3!!

Hello Beautiful People!! Here it is: our third contestant in the "tell us your engagement story" contest! This is from Monica and David, pictured here after they ballroom danced for David's Grandparent's 66th Wedding Anniversary! (Need a refresher on the rules? Click here.) Voting will commence in early May. The couple chose the Flamingo Bride and Groom cake toppers to depict their saga and took turns telling the story from both perspectives.


As told by David: Monica was told Christmas Eve that one of her gifts needed to be "assembled" as it was in parts and I could only put it together once she had gone to bed. Once she went to bed for the night she was not allowed out of the room (probably the only time I could use the words "not allowed" and actually get away with it). I had purchased many rolls of different types of decorative Christmas ribbon. Actually, over 2200 feet worth of ribbon (slight overkill on my part). Anyhow, I had also purchased 96 different small bows. By the way, 96 wasn't a significant number or anything to us, it's just that the bows came in packs of 12...(-: I strung the ribbon throughout the entire apartment (minus the bedroom obviously) using thumb tacks so that it made one long ribbon-chain, about 650 feet long (see, I told what I purchased was overkill). I then tied the bows all throughout the ribbon. Attached to each bow was a small piece of paper in the shape of a cloud, and inside the cloud was a word. The words each pertained to my definition of love (ok, altogether now, awwwww). The next morning, Monica's task was to take her stocking, and follow the ribbon around to each bow and collect all the pieces of paper. But wait, there's more! While Monica was occupied with that I went out on our balcony (which connects to the bedroom) where I had more surprises. I had a few hundred blue and white silk rose petals that I sprinkled on the floor, and on the bedspread I wrote the word "LOVE" in white and red petals. I also had two dozen white and red roses (yes, real ones) sitting on a table near the bed. I had arranged that chain of ribbon she was following to end right next to our bedroom door, so I strung up one more ribbon from that point leading into the bedroom and right to the word "LOVE" I had spelled out in petals. When Monica came in, I was there with one of the white roses. I then said some things that neither one of us could recall 10 seconds after I said them. I got down on one knee and had the ring inside the rose. I think you know what words I "asked" next...

As told by Monica: One of my favorite details was that in his elaborate planning to execute this proposal David even did a “trial run” before-hand where he timed himself to make sure that he could alternate the colors of each red and white petal to spell out the word love on the bed. I was so shocked when I first saw all of the ribbon! David brings so much magic to our relationship and this proposal is a testament to that. What else could I say when he asked me to marry him except: “OF COURSE!”

mark your calendars!

Bunny with a Toolbelt will be making its debut at this spring's Crafty Wonderland!

engagement story contest entry #2!!

Hello Beautiful People!! We have just received our second entry in the "tell us your engagement story" contest! Here's the latest sweet tale of love from Kelle and Collier, pictured here. (Need a refresher on the rules? Click here.) Voting will commence in early May. The couple chose the Pretty Kitty Bride and Groom cake toppers to depict their saga.

Collier and I have had quite the history - we dated for a year then broke up and lost touch for another two. Proving that true love DOES exist, we reconnected, both expressed that we never had stopped loving the other, and started dating again in 2007. When we reconnected we both realized this was it and were both ready to move forward with our commitment to each other and the only thing standing between us and our engagement was finding money to buy the engagement ring! We were blessed with an heirloom diamond that has been worn by Collier's Grandmother and his Mom, and went to a few stores so Collier could get an idea on what types of rings I like as I don't ever wear other jewelry! Collier took a trip to his hometown and told me he and his mom would be working on designing my ring. A month or so later he mysteriously had to take an urgent trip to his hometown and I knew my ring was ready! The week prior to his proposal was pretty brutal...I kept expecting him to propose every time I turned around!

I started selling my handmade soaps on Etsy about 6 months prior to our engagement and my business was just starting to really take off. Receiving special requests was not totally unheard of and I did receive quite a few local customer requests for pickup rather than paying shipping. But when a new customer sent a request for me to bring 3 bars of soap to my favorite restaurant on Saturday night at 7 pm because she was working, I knew something was up. I thought about it long and hard and then decided to tell Collier that I knew what he was planning. He was upset as I'd ruined the surprise, but ultimately the surprise wouldn't have happened and I knew he wanted it to get me when I least expected it! I also confessed to him that I would really prefer a less public engagement.

For the few days thereafter there were many perfect "pop the question" moments. We were walking along an ice shelf along the lake with our dog on a gorgeous spring day. At our favorite park the next. But nothing. I was convinced that he'd just decided not to ask if I was going to ruin his surprises! We were having a very normal Saturday at home that weekend, Collier was watching a movie and I was in the dining room working on my soap business. I decided to take an inventory of my soaps that day. I went to count one batch and turned around to find Collier standing in the doorway. He asked what I was doing and I told him I was counting soaps. I approached him and asked him to excuse me as I had to update the list in my computer. He said, "I think you should go count the soaps again." I looked at him as though he was from another planet and said, "There are 14 bars of Oatmeal, Milk, and Honey...I just counted...excuse me please." We went back and forth several times with him telling me to recount and me telling him I really didn't need to. Finally I went back just so he would give up and let me pass and saw an open ring box sitting on top of my soap shelves. I immediately started crying and wondering how I'd missed seeing it when I initially went back to the room! I turned around, speechless, and Collier kneeled down on the floor (this room was also temporarily being used for one of the kitty litterboxes so he kneeled on scattered cat litter no less!) and asked if I would marry him. Of course I said yes! We were then able to celebrate at my favorite restaurant which was the perfect end to a beautiful day.

a tale of two doxies

I just received these wonderful images from the wedding ceremony and reception of one of my fabulous customers, who saw my bride and groom dachshunds and ordered a custom set to match her two adorable pups! I really love the picture of the couple with their dogs, but the cake is pretty nice as well. Thanks so much for sending them, Meghan--it really makes me happy that I could be part of your big day, the Bunny with a Toolbelt way!

engagement story contest entry #1!!

Woo hoo! We have just received our first entry in the "tell us your engagement story" contest! Romantic souls, read this sweet tale of love from Tori and Nic (pictured here) and keep it in mind when it's voting time. (Need a refresher on the rules? Click here.) They chose the Owl Love You Forever cake toppers to depict their saga.
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“Tori, will you marry me? Oh Crap! I should kneel down shouldn’t I?”

Nicholas and I have always been silly and it’s only appropriate that our engagement story is too. After dating for a wonderful four years we knew that we wanted to get married but it was just a matter of when. We knew that we would like to be engaged for 18 months and to get married shortly after graduating college. This meant that we should to get engaged sometime between my birthday in November 2009 and Valentines Day 2010. Along with being a planner, I am also impatient. Therefore, when I received a Nintendo DS for my birthday instead of a diamond ring I was surprised. I love my Gameboy don’t get me wrong. It’s just not a diamond. While visiting his family for my birthday I made light of the situation by mentioning to his mother, “ I wanted to get engaged for my birthday but instead I got a Gameboy! How could he do anything more opposite?”

A few weeks later his mom mentioned that to him and he panicked. For Christmas Nicholas bought me a bike that I have been lusting over for years. Thinking that I would be disappointed again (I never was) he decided that he should propose before Christmas. He planned to ask me in January on our anniversary. Instead he decided on a Wednesday that he was going to propose that Saturday on our annual trip to the Christmas lights at the zoo.

I knew from the start that something was going on. Nic is easy to read but this time I couldn’t put my finger on it. We walked around the zoo appreciated the beautiful lights and I listened to him complain about all the people around, people walking too slowly and so on. I just decided that he probably just really had to go to the bathroom. When we got to our favourite part, the big center tree Nic suggested that we go into the restricted section to get a better view. Normally, I would have agreed but I was being difficult for no reason. I resisted but he insisted and I eventually relented. Nic looked me in the eye and told me how much I mean to him and how much he loved me. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a brown box. “Will you marry me?” He was so nervous he forgot to kneel. I cried and laughed and screamed, “YES!” We embraced as I made weird half crying half laughing noses that sounded like a sea creature. Not a minute later a zoo employee came and told us that we were not allowed back there. When she heard noises I was making and saw that I was missing a glove she apologized congratulated us and scurried away. I couldn’t be happier and neither could he.

interview on Rikrak studio is live

Hey Bunny with a Toolbelt fans! Thanks to you, I won the Handmade Olympics last month, and my big prize was this interview on Rikrak Studio's website! She asked me to share four of my inspirations so you can get a little insight into the inner world of the Bunny with a Toolbelt. I'm also doing a giveaway to her blog's readers where you can win one of my latest designs: the Oh Happy Day elephant! Click here to read the interview, comment, and win the big prize!

sneak preview: Crafty Crafty Crafty Crafty Wonderland!

Hey Kids! Have you heard that there's a brand new animation in the works? It's a two minute animation featuring our crafty little monsters doing crafty little things, all in honor of the Bunny with a Toolbelt debut at Portland's Crafty Wonderland Show during the first weekend of May! I'll be teaming up with Tripper Dungan again (remember Neighborhood Birds?) as we transform our booth into a garden of earthly delights.

The new animation will also feature an original ditty by Portland's favorite dynamic duo Gravy. Here's a few shots I took while working on the figures a few weeks ago to whet your appetite.....see how many art making activities you can identify, then check back soon to see the most recent two minute bundle of joy from your headquarters for cuteness: Bunny with a Toolbelt!

okay....who's getting hitched?

Hey beautiful person! Are you or is someone you know getting married soon? Did you know I'm having a contest and the winner gets a custom wedding cake topper designed and made especially for them of whatever they want? There's just a few weeks left to enter--here's the rules again for those of you who need to know:

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!

Indian Inspirations

I had a recent commission that was really fun--a couple saw my bride and groom elephant figures, but wanted their set to reflect their Indian heritage. I was sent a few images of traditional outfits worn by Indian brides and grooms, and we talked about options, finally deciding to do a pattern on each elephant inspired by the elegant fabrics. Jasmine flowers and a sparkly bindi on the bride too!

oranges are not the only fruit

...because as everyone well knows, there's also apples, bananas, pears, lemons, and strange purple things. I just filled up the Flora and Fauna section with a fruity-delicious assortment of pieces to make you smile. Here's a sneak preview--see the whole gang by clicking here!

look who just swam in

I have shipped thousands of packages in the past 21 years of my art career, and finding ways to re-use packing materials has always been important to me. I often find little surprises in the packing peanuts I get from multiple sources. Today, these two little wood duckies showed up to say hi.

sweet little easter birdy

Hey all! I made a limited edition of 16 original Easter eggs, all smartly priced at $35. Grab yours now before someone else does! They're all in the "holidays" section of my Etsy site, which you can see by clicking here.

the sale is officially ON!

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!

Bunny with a Toolbelt on Facebook

Which Bunny with a Toolbelt character are you? on Facebook