Hello!

It's been a long time since I've posted and a lot in my world has changed. Been going through a lot of serious family issues and I'm afraid my heart has not been into sewing for awhile now. I will however find my 'happy place' again and once my life gets back into some sort of routine I will get caught up. Sometimes life just throws you a curveball and it takes awhile to recover from it! God has really been holding my hand lately and I'll come through the storm no matter how scary it looks from inside it!
April dawn

Ketchup

Long time no blog!  I've been MIA for a couple of months now!  No real excuse except that I've been a busy girl!  Even my bear making has taken a back seat to everything else going on in my life.

I've now completed another 5K and my first 10K races!  Yes, ME.........and the fat girl who can't run!!  Better than that, I've lost ALL of my pregnancy weight PLUS a few pounds!  Even Laura completed in record time. I'm officially addicted to running and love, love, love it!  I'm already planning my first marathon next spring, which will be the Oklahoma City Bombing Memorial Run.  Very exciting huh?

Other than running, I've been busy sewing baby bedding for my sisters baby which is due in October.  I'm so very excited and because she has chosen not to learn the sex of the baby before it's birth, I am also very curious to see  if I'm getting a new nephew or a niece!

It's been  busy time at the shop.  We are busy remodeling the back part of the shop.  I'll have to share pics of our improvements!  I'm really eager for fall to arrive because I love decorating the shop for Autumn and then before we know it, it will be time to transform the store into a Christmas wonderland!  I know I'm getting ahead of myself, but it is retail and we do start early!  Can't wait!

I will be finishing up a couple of bears in the next week or two so keep an eye out for new orphan teds!

Gabriella

Here's another one ya'll.  (Can you hear my southern accent?  I am from Texas after all *wink*)  Another bunny!  You probably thought I was kiddin' when I said it was 'wabbit season' huh?  I've been having so much fun making rabbits that I've pushed all of my other projects to the side.  I have a little bag full of bear parts including a sweet little face that keeps staring at me as if to ask me "Is it my turn yet?"  Poor little soul!    Your turn is coming soon.  I promise! 
For now, here's Gabriella, or just Gabby for short! She's ready for Easter and has been playing in our egg basket already!  Gabby is going to live in warm, sunny, Florida!  I've already decided that I want to go with her to live in Florida too, but have not yet convinced her new owner to adopt me as well.  Sigh!  Perhaps she will at least send me a postcard? =)

Bernadette Bunny

I'm at it again!  Please meet Bernadette Bunny, my latest bunny wabbit!   Bernadette is 3” tall and made from a soft lavender velvet. She is fully jointed and stuffed with a combination of poly and steel to give her a nice weighted feeling when you hold her in the palm of your hand. Bernadette’s eyes are genuine onyx and she has silk floss embroidered facial features. Her long ears are wired so you can bend and pose them different ways to suit your taste. She has silk ribbon flowers embroidered on her head and chest in pretty spring colors. Her paw pads are ultra suede and she has sculpted toesies!  Thank you for stopping by to meet her!

Fat Girls Can Run too!!!

Yay!  Thanks to Nike's Run for Haiti Challenge, I was able to run 83 kilometers and raise 83 dollars for Haiti relief fund last month!  I've run over 55 miles so far this year too!  Not bad for some one who had never even run a mile before, huh? I'm ready for a 5K now.  I just have to decide which one to try and do first.  I'm nervous and excited at the same time.  I worry because all of my training so far has been on a somewhat springy treadmill and from what I've read, it's a lot different when running on a hard road. Still, I think I can do it if I set my mind to it. 

I've been having a 'LOST' marathon this week!  Catching up on last season so I can start tuning into the final season. I know I've missed a few episodes but I've never watched them on tv ever.  I watch them after the fact either online or on DVD.  I have limited tolerance for commercials, plus I get really frustrated when I miss a week and then can't figure out what's going on.  This particularly holds true for 'LOST' as any fan can tell you!   As happy as I am to finally know I'm going to learn all of the answers to my questions about what the HELL is up with this island they are stuck on, I'm also very sad to think of it ending.  It's funny how we get so attached to characters on a show.  I feel like some of my friends are going to be moving way soon! LOL

On a more exciting note......ALICE IN WONDERLAND COMES OUT TOMORROW!!!! Another chance to gaze upon the ever glorious Johnny Depp!  (Deep Sigh) YES, I ALREADY HAVE TICKETS!!  Hubs and I are headed out to watch it Saturday night, which coincidentally will be the first time we've had a real 'date' since Natalie was born 5 years ago.  Pathetic huh?  We should have dates more often, but I just feel horrible asking my mom or sister to watch the kids, but Hubs doesn't trust any one else to watch them, so we just stay home or take kids with us.  I am so ready to have a kid'less night.  Whoohooo!!  Dinner, a movie, and Johnny Depp........could my world get any better?!?!  ........Maybe if ice cream were involved!

Well, better get back to my sewing.  Have a bunch of bunnies to make!  Have a fantastic weekend every one!
bear hugs
April Dawn

Bella Baloo!

I held off as long as I could but now it's officially 'wabbit season' at my house!  Bunnies are my second favorite thing after teddy bears and I absolutely love making them every spring.  This is the first one for this year. 

Her name is Bella Baloo, named after a big fat white rabbit who showed up on my front porch one day!  We already had one pet lop eared bunny named Alfey who lived in the house and was litter box trained.  I suppose some one had adopted Bella as a pet and later decided they didn't want her any more so they dumped her at my doorstep.  Perhaps she just wandered up by herself, although I don't see how she could have possible gotten up the steep stairs.  Regardless, she was a very sweet and lovable rabbit and I took her in as my pet until she died. 

This particular Bella Baloo is only 3.25 inches tall however!  She is made from a lovely white velvet and has ultrasuede paw pads. She is stuffed with poly and stainless steel shot for a nice weighted feeling when she is in your hand.  She has embroidered facial features and her eyes are genuine onyx. Her ears are wired so you can bend them different ways to change her look. She wears a big ol' bow made of silk ribbon and around her neck she has two jingle bells to you can hear her coming!  Her adoption fee is $145 plus $6.00 insured shipping within the continental US.  International shipping varies accordingly.  Email if you are interested in giving this sweet girl a home! 

New Year, New Attitude

It's been a looooong time since I've posted! What can I say...I'm in retail and from October through December it gets crazy at the shop. Leaves little time for any thing else. I haven't even had time for my beloved bears! My sewing case sits on my desk begging for my attention or at least 5 minutes of decluttering. I'll be back to sewing before long, I promise! After all, before we know it, it will be my favorite time of year.....Easter bunny time! <> As much as I love making tiny teddies, I love making little 'wabbits' even more!

I've been running! And I don't just mean that as in staying busy, but I've actually donned my sneakers, jumped on the treadmill and logged miles 3-4 times a week! For some people that isn't a big deal, but for me......someone who has never liked to run, in fact quite despised running for any reason.....it's a huge deal! It's weird how it happened. Hubby bought me new Nike kicks for Christmas. Pretty ones! Pink, black, and white.........like a zebra with a rose in her hair as my 4 yr. old pointed out. I was quite happy to find them, as I have wide feet and usually end up with ugly 'man' shoes to accomodate them. Finally found some purty ones that actually fit my big ol' feet! Anyway, they have the little pocket in the sole for this Nike+ thing that monitors how far you've gone, how many calories you've burned, and how long you walk/run. Then it registers it on your Nike+ account which helps you keep track of goals, and then it uploads it to your facebook. It makes me want to run more often, faster, and for longer periods of time. Anything that makes me want to exercise more is a good thing!

I turn another year older tomorrow. 38 years old. That big Four-Oh is sneaking up on me. I remember being in my early 20's and thinking 40 was SO DAMN OLD! Now here I am, closing in on it with a fury, and I don't 'feel' old. I'm scared of the day when I do feel old! For now I'll put on my sneakers and try to outrun old age as long as I can!