Meet the Mice...

Some of you will know I was a crafter - (a professional one ie: it paid the mortgage, ) for many years.
From 1982 to 1997 I made these.....

 I sold them all over the world and in shops like Harrods and Liberty.

When I say I made them...I must give credit to my 12 outworkers without whom I couldn't have done it. The mice have been hibernating for 16 years and so I thought it was now time to re- awaken them.

I've updated them for the present age and have been working on a new pattern which will allow as much freedom of expression as the old Rice Mice- yes they were filled with rice and so rather poseable. Rice Mice were Wood mice, made in white felt with large ears and were very realistically painted in fabric paint. This time my mice will be Harvest Mice and will come in pastel colours. They have poseable arms and sometimes legs, too.

I have no idea where they came from  ;) but twelve little mice came to live under the tree all at once. The mice are made completely by hand, from a mixture of wool and acrylic felt and are decorated with antique and Vintage lace where possible, and are finished with hand dyed silk ribbons and tiny old beads.

There’s Pirouette...she was only here for a while as she was bought by a lady further up the hill. She wants to be a prima ballerina but I think she's a little stout for that don't you?

Then there is Diet. She is definitely portly and loves to eat cake. She has a small fancy cake in her hand now, just about to take a bite..... But here she is saying " diet...what diet? " She has very pretty beads and ribbons on her hair fur and frilly feet.

Lavender likes to go out shopping and when I took this photo it was a very windy day. She had to hang onto her hat. Her tail went streaming out behind her and her shopping bag was being pulled by the gusts. It was thankfully, empty at the time. :)

On that same windy day, Miss Lemon was hanging out her washing. She wears a sweet embroidered pinny and a mob cap when she does her washing, to keep her pretty yellow fur from the soap suds.

It was a cold and wet day when I photographed Pistachio. She likes to work in the garden but on that day it was far too horrible. So, she busied herself with her pot plants instead. The pot in her paws is made from real terracotta  and I think she'd make a nice Mother's Day present for someone who likes  gardening.

Pretty pale blue Blueberry has only one wish, to be a Princess. The nearest she gets is to wear pretty lace frocks and a tiara and she pretends that the bunch of roses she is sniffing was sent by a Prince who is madly in love with her. What fun she would be as a Valentine's present. ( Her dress is a piece of Edwardian lace.)

Persuasion is a Jane Austen fan, ( like her creator ). Under her arm she carries a copy of her favourite book....Persuasion of course. She wears a short Spencer jacket and on her head she sports a fine lace trimmed bonnet. She would be great for someone who likes books wouldn't she?

Sorbet has just had some babies. Ten to be precise. This one is little Sprinkle. The others are all named after cake toppings too. Angelica, Glacé, Icing, Malteser, Chocdrop, Nutnib, Cocoa, Gumdrop, Spunsugar. I suppose that's how you get sugar mice?

Now she really would be perfect as a Mother's Day present....except that she has gone to live in Kenilworth. Perhaps you'd like me to make some more like her?

We have two little French mice visiting Medlar House.

Chartreuse is a pretty little turquoise green mouse who wears a hand wound felt 'straw hat' decorated with silk ribbons and beads. She is a rather dreamy mouse with a very Romantic disposition who reads poetry and who loves to star gaze. Under her arm is a little book of ...yes, you've guessed it...mouse poems which are perfectly readable.

Mme. Chambord is a striking pink mouse who wears a beret and a fine net scarf. She loves roses of every hue but she is named for the one she likes best - Comte de Chambord a very pretty pink Bourbon rose. She has carried her basket of roses all the way from Paris!

Lastly at this time..we have the lovers... Caramel and Mint. ( sold separately )

I think that Caramel has just asked Mint to marry him as she looks a little flushed.....she's blushing. Look - he has a red rose in his hand and he carries a box of chocolates in the form a sparkly heart, under his right arm. Do you think she'll accept and if she does...will the babies be Mint Caramels?

Now I'm off to see who has recently turned up under the Medlar Tree.
It's snowing here...so I hope they are well wrapped up!

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