Willow

Welcome to Willow, my latest Bumpkin Bear brought to life.

Willow is a gentle hearted, one of a kind, 17" Bumpkin Bear. His gorgeously soft Schulte mohair is a very special colour which reminded me of these Willow tree buds with their soft brown fawn colour with silvery tones.

As he just loves climbing the trees in the woodland (as long as you go with him) and is as soft and sweet as these buds that I felt Willow suited him as a name and he agreed!

Willow is looking forward to long woodland walks and warm cuddles with a good story book. You can see more of his photos and all his adoption information on my website.




Right now Willow and I will get back to work and look forward to seeing you back here soon. Hugs, Catherine x

Farewell Summer

With the temperatures dipping, dew sparkling in the mornings and leaves starting to fly gracefully to the ground I say farewell to Summer for another year. I thought it would be nice to take a glimpse back at these Summer moments I captured on the Dorset Coast looking out towards The Isle of Wight. I've got a pile of projects I'm working on that I can't wait to share, with Christmas on the horizon I'm getting some new Prints & Cards all ready, so if you love woodlands, snowmen and sledging with a little magic thrown in then come back soon! I've also got some exciting sewing projects I'm looking forward to sharing, oh yes and also a new Bear on the way! So as you can see busy days! Enjoy these relaxing photos as we welcome Autumn time.



Hugs, Catherine xx

The Summer Hill Bunnies discover a new home!

Not that long ago, a few steps backs I introduced you to Summer Hill, a care free, magical place very dear to my heart with oh so well dressed Bunnies peeping out when brave enough! Well they were very very brave when they packed up for their journey to the beautiful county of Kent in England to live with Nina and her family. I told them all about the rolling hills in Kent so I knew they would feel right at home.

I was over the moon to read of their journey and how they have settled in over at Nina's Tabiboo Blog. She described it all so charmingly that I knew you would all enjoy hopping over there to see them in their new home. Thank you to Nina for these kind words -

These beautiful little bunnies are the creation of the very talented and wonderful Catherine Young of Bumpkin Bears who illustrates the most fabulous images that not only delights a childs imagination, but any adult that holds onto the magical side of their childhood too.

And as these little bunnies are so dear to her heart I know in mine that they will be for the youngest Boo to treasure for many years to come.

In fact these Summer Hill Bunnies seem to have got the taste for travel and are hopping around the world, especially this Print that I have been personalising lots with the first letter of a child's name in her Dream Balloon.


Of course not to leave the boys out there is this Print.

It has been a delight to bring Summer Hill to print, brings back many happy childhood memories. I remember waking up in the mornings at my Granny's home, opening the little window, taking a deep breath of that lovely Dorset fresh air and looking out across the garden and then up to the hill across the lane. I would see the wild bunnies naughtily nibbling my Granny's lettuces, there was many a day that I would sit out by the back door under the porch and talk away to the bunnies and birds, imagining all the adventures they got up to! Yes, some may have thought me crazy, but these were happy times and now I capture these moments in my illustrations available at Etsy and love to think of children chatting to their new friends through my Art.

Cherie

Please let me introduce you to Cherie :) She was commissioned by a lovely lady in Singapore. I am running around very busy trying to work on so many different projects at the moment that I will let Cherie's photos do the talking for today!



There will be a boy Bear on the way soon to be available on my website. I hope you're all having a lovely week, see you back here soon, Hugs, Catherine xx

I Heart Cottages!

I've been busy with a needle in one hand and pencil in the other working on lots of new exciting projects! With my commission Bear ready to show next week I hope I wanted to share these gorgeous cottages I saw on my recent trip to The New Forest in the UK. These were in a sweet village called Beaulieau where there is a lovely tea room, Bear Shop and Art Gallery. Can't beat England for these gorgeous higglety pigglety buildings! Being pretty little I'm sure I would fit nicely through the front doors of these!





Hope you're all doing well and I'll see you back soon. Catherine x

Rescue Mission!

Whilst I'm busy working on a new girl commission Bear I thought you'd enjoy some more photos from my recent trip to England. Highcliffe Castle in Dorset has had quite a past, including being bought by developers, nearly destroyed to build an estate of bungalows on the site and then sadly burnt. Thank goodness the Council have stepped in and are busy with extensive renovation. You can read all about it here. If you love Castles, click on the link at the bottom of this post to see all my other posts on Castles.


I've got lots more photos to share of cute cottages and coastal scenes, so pop by again soon. Hugs, Catherine x

The winner is... and Halloween Adventures

Thanks to so many of you for entering my Summer Hill giveaway, I wrote and cut up all the names onto paper and the winner is Tabiboo (Nina). Congratulations Nina, the Bumpkin Bunnies will be hopping their way to you! For those that were not lucky to win this time you can still visit the Bunnies here.

In honour of Halloween and pumpkin hunting time approaching I've created these party invitations of the Bumpkin friends off on an adventure in their fancy dress costumes. You can buy sets of these invitations with free gift tags for treat bags here in my Etsy Store


For sending your greetings I've also got these Fall & Halloween Notecards.

My commission Bear is coming along and I'm busy sketching new illustrations for Christmas that is waving his snowy hands at me from the horizon! I've also been taking care of my kitty, Ollie, this week, after a visit to the vets and being told he has arthritis, the cortisone injection he was given had some pretty nasty side effects for him :( Today he seems to be a wee bit better, so I do hope he will be ok. Take care and have a great weekend, we're off Blackberry picking tomorrow! Hugs, Catherine xx

* Welcome to Summer Hill + a Giveaway *

The Day we are introduced to Summer Hill

Follow along the winding country lane, under the archway of trees with the sun peeking through. There on the corner is a wooden sign and up ahead The White House with pale yellow roses clambering around the windows. Take a peek over the little gate and then turn around to face The Old Oak Tree on the other side of the lane, where when the sun sets you can hear Owl’s lullabies!

Look up as high as you can behind Owl’s home and you will see a velvet green Hill with sheep dotted across it. At first glance you may wonder what is so special about this Hill. Well, if you keep as quiet as a mouse you may be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of some very well dressed Bumpkin Bunnies and their friends. This is their home and they call it Summer Hill, so let’s climb quietly over the rickety gate and tip toe up into their world.

***

(Set of 4 Our Very Best Outfits Postcards, charming if you framed them, - part of the Giveaway)

I have had such bringing these new friends to life to share with you all. I have been delighted by the precious clothes worn by children in the 1930's & 40's, taking inspiration from storybook illustrations passed to me from my Granny & Mum and the most precious photos of my Mum as a little girl riding out bare back on horses in the sweetest of dresses. There is a full range of Paper Goods for boys and girls (of any age from 0-100!). Prints that can be personalised, Postcard sets, Gift Tags, Party Invitations, Birthday Cards and the cutest Dress Me Up Paper Bunnies kit. All available in my Etsy store.

(Dress Me Up Kit - part of the Giveaway)

I have to say that I had such fun cutting them out and dressing the Bunnies in their different outfits! This kit comes with a page of fun ideas for your paper Bunnies, such as making a mobile & Table Place Cards for your special guests!

(Party Invitations, Gift Tags for Party Bags & Dress Me Up Bunny)

(Set of 4 Gift Tags, hop them onto your gifts for a sweet vintage touch - part of the Giveaway)

(Party Invitations, Gift Tags for Party Bags & Dress Me Up Bunny)

(Print "Dream Balloon"- can be personalised with a number to celebrate a child's birthday)

(Print "Off We Go" - can be personalised with a child's name if you wish)

(Birthday Card)
(Birthday Card - Off We Go!)

If you are still with me and have not yet got lost in the world of Summer Hill then I would love to reward you with a GIVEAWAY! I will be giving away to one lucky winner all these Summer Hill Goodies - 1 x Dress Me Up Bunny Kit, 1 x set of 4 Postcards & 1 x set of 4 Gift Tags.

How to enter (3 chances) :

1. Leave your comment here on my Blog.

2. Blog about this giveaway with a link back to this post (leave another comment with the link).

3. Tweet about this giveaway or post to your Facebook page (leave another comment here to let me know).

This giveaway will close at 8pm (CET) on Friday 10th September. One Winner will be chosen randomly from all of the comments. The winner will be notified by email, do check back to see the winner. This giveaway is now closed, thanks to everyone for entering. Congratulations to Nina. Bunny Hugs, Catherine x

Back from England!

Hi everyone, after a wonderful week in England I just got back a day ago. It is already all go here with the start of a new commission mohair Bear & photo shoots of my new secret project, I can't wait to share this new range with you! It always still amazes me just how much work goes into getting a product ready for launch even after making it. So now I'm selecting photos, re-sizing and getting ready to share with you all and put into my Etsy Store! I'll be having a Giveaway with the product launch to thank you all for your support and patience waiting to meet these new friends, so come back very soon! In the meantime here are a few photos of the wild ponies from my trip in The New Forest, Hampshire.


See you soon, Hugs, Catherine x