Happy Easter!

Happy Easter! Eat some jelly beans...hide some eggs...enjoy time with your family and friends!

Enjoy the day!

Robyn

...generous gifts

These wonderful bunnies arrived today! The very talented Julie, Primitive Heartstrings, made them and I was lucky enough to win them in her generous give away. They are so sweet...and they smell heavenly! 

Such personality in their adorable faces, and the aged linen they are sewn from is perfect. They even arrived with their own basket. Thank you so much, Julie...we love them!

Not only did I win these delightful "Spring Hares" on Tuesday...I woke up to find this lovely greeting hanging in my living room...

Tuesday was a very good day!

 My roommates hung it while it was still dark...it's an original...just had to share it with you.

And, since I shared my birthday banner, I'll share my goodies, too.

...a beautiful Liberty of London print scarf...a fox tea cup by the oh so talented Julie Whitmore...and a lion pin by the gifted fiber artist Sophie Digard.

Julie Whitmore 

J.Crew

Sophie Digard Lion Brooch from Selvedge, London

Spring Hares by my friend, Julie

It was a wonderful day!

Enjoy the evening,

Robyn

...the long journey of a little basket

This is a photo of my grandmother, my sister and my mother taken on a long ago Easter Sunday. My mother is holding a little wicker basket...a well loved...well traveled humble, little basket.

A few years later, my sister and I on another Easter Sunday...the little basket has been passed to me.

Years ago, with my own little girl...the humble wicker basket celebrates another Easter Sunday.

Ready and waiting...

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Thank you so much to all of you who left such warm and kind comments on my last post. I cannot tell you how much I loved hearing the stories you shared...about your kids, "special" playmates, family members, friends...I so appreciate the time you took to share your experiences...and your kind words. I'll come back to them often...on hard days...and they will again, make me smile. Thank you.

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God's blessings to you all on this holiest of weeks!

Enjoy the day,

Robyn

...a little something extra

It has never been my intention to make this a blog about Down Syndrome. When I first started Mugwump Woolies I hesitated to even mention it...but then little by little...well, it is part of my life and it crept in here and there. 

Yesterday, March 21st was Down Syndrome Awareness Day. In truth, I have never really heard much about this day before, but it popped up on a blog I follow so here I am talking about it.

I am always more than happy to answer questions about our experience with Down Syndrome, to help educate, inform...whatever. But today, I thought I'd "advocate" a little...even though I'm a day late. 

As the mother of the lovely young lady above, there are a few things that really get me peeved. First and foremost...the r-word. It is out there in movies and t.v. shows, politicians and comedians use it... I've had people I know use it in everyday conversations. I won't bore you with my many experiences with this ugly, hurtful word and the damage it does. Please don't use it...teach your children not to use it.

Next, I have a daughter with Down Syndrome...not a Down Syndrome daughter. Please, recognize the humanity first...and then the diagnosis. Down Syndrome does not define my daughter...she is so much more than an extra chromosome.

Lastly, teach your children...grandchildren...not to stare. I have seen kids, literally, walk into walls while staring at my daughter. It hurts. Kids are kids, they need parents to teach them appropriate behavior in dealing with all people...including those with special needs.

O.K. I'm done. This was difficult to write, but if it helps even a little it is more than worth my while. It is not my intention to offend, rather, only to enlighten.

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Have a great weekend!

Enjoy the evening,

Robyn 

...a lovely lone lion

I've been hooking as much as life will allow. It's seems to work...Leo is done...for the most part...his tail  is in need of a bit tweaking. 

The early morning light does not show his colors at their best...he's a very colorful guy.

Now, it's on to the flowers and background. 

I made a big booboo when I first outlined his body. Do you see the double row going up his leg and then turning?...it shouldn't be there. His mane should be there. (I was taught to outline the main motif!!!) Big dilemma here...if I take the line out and try to piece in the tiny ends of his mane it will look horrendous.  In truth, the booboo is growing on me...it somehow looks more antique-y primitive. I'm pretty sure I'm going to leave it alone. Comments...ideas? You hookers extraordinaire please share your thoughts. Critiques are most welcome. 

The lavender flower is coming out..I was playing around.

Enjoy the day,

Robyn

Slainte...French Market...Folk Art

Happy Saint Patrick's Day! 

In days gone by, our home would be filled with the wonderful aroma of a "boiled dinner" on the 17th of March. Corned beef and cabbage is a part of our heritage, and the main course of our Paddy's Day celebration. These days, in an effort to be a wee bit more healthy, that tasty fare is no longer served here. However...on a trip to Whole Foods yesterday...my defenses were weakened...I helped myself to a lovely serving of corned beef and cabbage, and kale mashed potatoes that were calling to me from the steam table. I brought home my little cardboard container...warmed it up...and relished every morsel. My ancestors...those with Irish eyes...were smiling!

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Earlier in the morning, my sister and I made our way to "A French Market". This Spring happening takes place at Julie's Cottage at Provence in Largo, Florida. That's my sister, in the red, with Cathy...a most talented lady. You might remember that I first introduced to you Cathy and her wonderful creations after last year's market.

Cathy uses antique candy molds to create wonderful bunnies in the Spring...and Santas in the Fall.

Her work is so special...just like this sweet lady herself...she's fun!

Bunnies bearing gifts!

Sheep!!!

Bunnies in carrots!

Rabbits with polka dots!

Rabbits on wheels!

As soon as we parked the car we made a bee-line to see all the wonderful critters! 

We were not disappointed! What a talented lady!

This handsome little lamb came home with me. 

And this bunny...complete with a wool shawl...is now hanging in my kitchen window.

...so sweet...

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Julie always has the best garden vendors...lots of beautiful plants and flowers!

This beauty also came home with me. It will become the center piece of my herb garden. I put it in a huge urn...it covered it! 

It's huge, and so colorful! Can't wait to get out there this week and do a little gardening. We also stopped at a nursery and I scored lots of Lamb's Ear plants... one of my most favorites!

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Hope you are enjoying the weekend...

and that you have a wonderful Saint Patrick's Day!

Enjoy the day,

Robyn

Progress...

I've made some progress on Antique Lion. Some of these pics were taken with the flash and some were not. The above photo was with the flash...so the colors appear a bit brighter than they really are.

I "un-hooked" the blue around the large flower. I really tired to leave it alone, but I just couldn't do it. I replaced it with an olive green color more to my liking...more within my comfort zone. 

I like the blue/green ribbon that runs around the rug. The outer border will be more of the black.

This fellow's body is twenty nine and a half inches from his mane to his rump...that gives you an idea of the size of this endeavor...it's a biggie!

This pic...above... shows the true colors...or at least close to the true colors.

Remember...this is a large rug...26x52...so even though the progress looks slow...it represents large blocks of time.

My aim is to hook some each day...slow and steady wins the race.

Have a great week!

Enjoy the day,

Robyn

March kitchen window...

This early white leather bunny is nesting in my kitchen window this month. His calm presence sets the tone for a simple neutral theme. 

...daffodils provide a bit of color...

...a sure sign Spring is on the way...

...a favorite pair of tiny shoes and a lovely old turned wooden candlestick in early black paint...complete with original tallow candle.....these things make me wonder about their journeys...what baby wore these little shoes...whose table was lit by this simple light...

These are the things I wonder...as I look out my kitchen window.

Thank you to all who left comments about my ongoing struggle with my lion rug. I appreciate every bit of encouragement and will share my progress...slow as it is.

Enjoy the day,

Robyn