Pattern Time

We've been having almost wintery weather again here with lots of rather gloomy rainy days.  But these kind of days are great to sit quietly stitching a new Embroidery design.  I don't know why but I always feel more like stitching and knitting when it's wet and cold outside!

Anyway, forget the rain, let's dream of Summer days with the flower beds full of the most beautiful cottage garden flowers and a welcome visitor complete with her own basket!  This Pattern, as they all are, is created from my Illustration and was chosen as the favourite for a Pattern on my Facebook page.

The 5 page Pattern comes complete with all you need to know including how to easily transfer, clear stitch and thread guide and of course the outline drawing.  She is created with straight forward stitches including a lot of back stitch which I always find relaxing to do.

Over the Garden Gate Art Print & Stationery including Gift Tags, Invitations, 

Notecards, Badges & Magnets.. Click here to see them.

Foxgloves, Bluebells, Poppies.. oh my!

This Pattern is available in the embroidery section of my Etsy Shop.  Etsy has done a wonderful improvement so that now you don't even need to wait for me to send your Pattern via email.  You can instantly download it from Etsy after purchase!

This week has been all about Patterns.  I  have been taking the first steps into Pattern layouts on my Art & Business of Surface Pattern Design Course.  This may even have the making of a fabric design one day!  I certainly would love to create fabric.

Hugs, 

Catherine

x

Petal is looking for a home

There is a new friend that would love to meet you, her name is Petal, inspired by all the beautiful delicate blossom in the woods around here.

She is brought to life with the sweetest pale pink Schulte Mohair, the finest Mohair a Bear could ask for.  With adorable hand sculpted toes on her baby soft faux Cashmere feet she just asks to be hugged.  A little shy at first once she has become your friend she can be quite mischievous, look at that cheeky little smile.  Her warmth and gentleness will melt your heart and bring comfort and smiles to even the hardest of days.  A true friend for life, Petal, would love to be adopted into your family. 

**UPDATE May 18th - Petal has been adopted to a loving home in Australia**  If you would like to adopt her she is available for 175 euros plus travel (Registered Postage: Europe & USA 20 euros, Australia/Canada 27 euros).  Payment via Paypal.  Paypal will convert to your currency but to give you an idea you can use this site.  

* Email me directly at catherine@bumpkinbears.com if you would like to welcome Petal into your home. x

Extra details for Petal:

One of a Kind Bumpkin Bear

15" tall when standing holding your hand

Pastel Pink Schulte Mohair

5 way cotter pin jointed

Hand embroidered nose and smile

Smokey topaz eyes with cute white accents and hand shading

Sculpted toes on her feet and hand shading on all cashmere paws

Lovingly filled with quality polyfill and plastic pellets in her tummy for a nice "hug me" weight.

Bumpkin Bears label proudly sewn in her lower back

A lifetime of friendship x

Lots of Love & Hugs from Petal, she can't wait to meet her new family.

Catherine

x

See you in the garden

Everyday I've been picking little bunches of the Scillas from my garden and they sit on my desk keeping me company as I paint.  They are nearly finished in the garden but now the Lilly of the Valley & Bluebells are stepping into the spotlight!  I have been gazing at flowers and nature around me even more than normal, opening my eyes to their inspiration for the E-Course I am following - The Art & Business of Surface Pattern Design , I'll share some of the designs I'm creating soon, I'm excited how this will influence my illustrations.

 Here are some new Watercolor Art Prints available right HERE in my Etsy Shop.  

The Flower Jugglers

The Giraffe Ride

Catherine

x

Inspiration round every corner

This week I started the online course Art & Business of Surface Pattern Design!  Who knows where it will lead and be integrated into my designs, the fun is in the creative journey.  It's been really inspiring so far, I've been out on treasure hunts looking for patterns.  It really makes you open your eyes and see everything around you in a different light.

Smiles can be found everywhere if you look hard enough!

Who would have thought that concrete posts could be beautiful until I looked closely and found the most amazing yellow lichen growing!  Here is a small collection of my photos over the last 2 days.

Oh and look at this beautiful new friend that visited my garden this morning! Any idea on the breed?

Busy sewing a new Mohair Bear and working on lots of orders for Party Stationery alongside this course, so quite the whirlwind of creativity here!  I hope you're well, thanks for visiting,

Catherine

x

Excitement overload!

It has been a long time that I've had news to share, I've been bursting to tell, but only now am I allowed to give you an idea!  

A year ago I was approached by the renowned, hugely inspirational blog Print & Pattern  with this email "I am currently working on a brand new book called 'print & pattern kids' all about designing for children.  I would love to include some of your fantastic work in the book.  I will keep my fingers crossed that you would agree to take part ..." 

You could have blown me over with a feather, of course it didn't even take me a second to leap at this opportunity with a big, jumping up and down with excitement, YES PLEASE!     It is due to be released in August and here is a sneak peek at the front cover!  

This is the write up on Amazon "The latest book from the cult Print & Pattern website, Print & Pattern: Kids celebrates beautiful surface design created with little people in mind. This book documents the work of the best designers in the field, featuring both successful commercial designs and previously unseen work. Children's design is an exciting marketplace, full of cute and colourful patterns, wallpaper, fabrics, clothing, ceramics, greetings cards and in fact just about anything aimed at kids (much of which will also appeal to adults!) Includes work from DG Kids, Marc Boutavant, Laura Ashley, Paapii and Dan Stiles, among other top international designers."

Eeek, I had to pinch myself that I'm going to be amongst such incredibly talented company, jumping up and down again like this Bunny on one of my Invites!

Ever since I was a child I have dreamt of writing, illustrating books, cards, fabrics, in fact I did all these as a child with family getting many many hand made gifts! Then progressing onto Art & Textile Design at College just added fuel to these dreams.  To help reach these goals and expand and stretch my creativity even further I have just registered for the E-Course Art & Business of Surface Pattern Design with module 1 starting on April 29th.  So if you fancy joining in too there is just time.  Can't wait to share what I design with you all, lots of fun ahead.

Catherine

x

Rays of sun

"Well hello there neighbour" is the daily conversation I have with my nosey neighbours that stand at my garden fence watching me do the washing up!  Still they keep me entertained! I can hear the sound of lambs coming from the barn so I hope if this sunny warm weather keeps up they may come hopping and skipping out into the field to continually and happily distract me!  The Lambs above were photographed last year.  Luckily they are cuter than their parents, I usually love sheep, but these really have the kind of face "that only a mother could love"!!

Despite the cold these vivid beautiful blue Scillas have been flowering their little socks off and I've been picking mini bunches for my studio all week.  Keeping me company whilst I've been painting with my watercolors, bringing some new friends to life, how I love the effect of watercolor.

Thanks for skipping by, Catherine x

Bringing Spring indoors

This morning I woke up to a white world... again! I've lost count of how many times it has snowed, my daffodils are putting on brave faces and doing their best to stand up against Jack Frost!  I'm keeping my feathered friends stocked up on food, I've got Great Tits nesting in a bird house, Black Birds in a cosy shrub, little adorable Blue Tits building a home somewhere nearby I'm sure... so I'm doing my best to look after them, after all they give me so much pleasure it's the least I can do.

I feel like bringing Spring into my life at least indoors!  I've been rescuing Daffodils and mini blue Scillas to enjoy in my studio.

Then designed this new Illustration, inspiration hit rather close to Easter but who am I to refuse these friends so had to bring them to life!  So you can all enjoy them as well they are available as Printables, sent direct to your email as pdf files to have fun printing and creating.  There is a whole range or you can find the Happy Easter Banner, Easter Bunny Personalised Sign, Cupcake Wrappers & Cupcake Toppers available individually with very special prices for you all from www.bumpkin.etsy.com

Busy with lots of other illustration projects I hope to be able to share with you soon.

Hugs

Catherine

x

Still here!

Hi, how are you today? Remember me!  February was quite a month, very tough. My darling Cat, Phoebe got more and more poorly and sadly I had to say good night to her last week, just 2 days before my Birthday.  Sweet dreams my little girl.

Having lost my other cat Ollie, last year, it is now very quiet in the house.  

Thank goodness for some Spring sunshine and bird song lifting my spirits.

 It was a Pollen frenzy for the Bees in my garden the other day, just look at the pollen on the legs!

Only about once a year do these adorable Long Tailed Tits visit my garden, so I always feel very lucky to spot them peeking through the twigs!

I have been throwing myself into creating, with lots of orders being made and exciting illustration projects behind the scenes.  I have also finished a brand new Embroidery Pattern that has been on my mind since last Spring!  When I get some time I will make it into a cushion which I think would be really cute, with this little vintagey floral fabric.  For quilters amongst you this would be super cute I bet!  These running bunnies are sweet stitched on their own too, just imagine along the base of an Easter dress!  This may look complicated but really it was a delight to stitch, using common stitches those of you that love embroidery will be familiar with, back stitch, lazy daisy, french knot..

Dream of Bunnies Pattern

I have so much I am planning, a new Website & Blog design but for now I'm trying to keep on top of orders for Easter. Don't forget with Easter landing on March 31st this year that if you would like to choose any Cards, Party items, Decor items from my Etsy Shop for Easter, allow 2 weeks to arrive outside Europe, so don't be "late, late for a very important date"!

Bumpkin Bunnies Easter Decoration Kit

Cute for Decor but so many other ideas, even fun as a Puppet show for children from behind the sofa!

I remember doing that as a child, do you?

Thanks for visiting, your comments and friendship really make my day, see you all back here again soon, Catherine x

Spring must be on the way!

Bunnies & Lambs are hopping and skipping all over my Studio lately so Spring & Easter must be on the way!  New Easter Cards in my Shop -

I've also been having fun designing a Pattern for these felt "Blossom Bunnies", they would be cute in Easter Baskets & hanging from twigs with a ribbon loop!  The Pattern is now available here in my Shop.

This last week has been hail one minute, bright sunshine the next, so the Spring bulbs don't know what to do, but yesterday I spotted the first crocus & grape hyacinth about to open!  So exciting!  I just LOVE Spring, my favourite time of the year.  Of course I'll take some photos to show you.

I have been so busy with illustration projects that I have not been posting as often here as I would like, but I do post everyday on my Facebook page, would love to see you there too.

Due to demand I have also decided to sew some of these "Berry Bunnies", they make the sweetest gifts for babies & children at Easter as well as a lovely decorative touch in the home.  It was quite a thrill to see my illustration printed on fabric for the first time, it is a beautiful quality cotton Poplin.  There are only a very limited amount available as a hand sewn Bunny or as a "Sew your own Kit" .

Just to add to my Bunny Bonanza today here is a sneak peek at a new Embroidery Pattern I am designing, this has been on my mind since last Spring so about time it finally got stitched!

Time to hop off and pack some orders!

Thanks so much for visiting and commenting, you brighten my days.

Hugs

Catherine

x

Slide on over...

Well, the snow is still sparkling outside my studio window, I wish I could go sledging in a Teacup like this Bunny, oh such fun!  I'm hopping around with excitement today at being featured on the fabulous "The Making Spot" Blog.  If you slide on over there you can join in with a Giveaway for this Bumpkin Embroidery Pattern!

As with all my Embroidery Patterns this one was created from my hand illustration, "Happiness is a Cup of Tea" available as a whole range of Stationery, Badges, Magnets... & this Print from my Etsy Shop www.bumpkin.etsy.com

I've been busy hibernating from the cold and working on lots of Party orders and making this new Ornament Pattern, Love you Beary Much, so cute for hanging in a child's room to show how much you love them or a friendly companion for your craft space.

If you've got snow this weekend, wishing you a fun filled time, time to get the Tea Cups out!

Hugs

Catherine

x

Some Bunny Loves You!

It's still very frosty here, so glad you enjoyed the photos of my garden friends in my last post.  I'll share a few more photos I took this morning at the end of this letter to you :)  Before then I have been busy drawing these new friends that would love to help you show those you love how much you care.  When I was little my Granny always gave me a Valentines Card, how about you?  These "Some Bunny Loves You!" Postcards, on pretty linen textured card, can be personalised with initials to make them extra special to give.  Available from my Etsy Shop .  Don't forget postage can take up to 14 days to arrive outside Europe so don't let these hop along too late for Valentines!

As an extra Valentines Treat, I have got this special offer for my 

"Sew your own Bumpkin Bunny" Kits

Right back to my pencils for me! In the meantime I will leave you with a few more photos I took this morning!

Stay Warm or keep cool (for those in Australia!), Catherine x