Stanley Rabbit in Real Life!

Just a little note to let you know that for the first time ever, I put a couple of Stanley Rabbits (crocheted by me) into my etsy shop today.  One has already hopped away to a new home but one is  still waiting for you. I'm hoping to make a couple more over the next little while. I only make a few each year so each one is a limited edition and comes with a birth certificate which also acts as proof of authenticity.
Love Kate xxx

Hello Again!

I've gathered up the courage to write on my blog again. Thank you so much for all of your lovely comments expressing your concern and wishes for me to start up again. I really appreciate it and it has made a huge difference to me in coming back.

I won't go into the full story but sadly there were a couple of tricky people who engaged in some nasty plagiarism which made me question whether it was all worth it. And of course it is, I just had to retreat for a while and think about how to stay true to myself, what is worth protecting and how to keep singing (metaphorically - I won't be popping my shower tunes up for you....).

And it is so good to be back. I was starting to forget the wonderful community that exists in the blogosphere.  Hello!!!!

Now, the photos above are some that I took for the latest edition of Taproot. Traveling Stanley has finally had his pattern published. Stanley is now a teenager and loves to go camping with his banjo. I think making the banjo was one of my favourite things ever.

Lots more to write about but I will save it up for my next post.

Lots of love,

Kate xx

Tiny Mice!

Here is an unused photo from 'Stanley and the Hot Air Balloon'. I was so chuffed to read this review left in my etsy shop about the book.
Superman speed of postage. Wonderful! This flight into fancy is an incredibly addictive book, that brings joy to our smallest household members. Stanley flew into our house(by balloon)and promptly requested he be accompanied by his three little friends(mice) unfortunate for us we are now experiencing a mouse plague. Do not hesitate to get this book as I was told by my 4yr old "I need my Stanley book", she also needs rows of hospital beds full of baby rabbits, but that's another story :)
Thank you so much Kim, you made my day!
Lots of love,
Kate. xxooxx

Pink Rope and Macrame.

 Eeeeek, I was searching for paracord on trade me (New Zealand's version of ebay) and came across this pink paracord - so perfect for macrame. Of course I snapped it up with a sweaty fury and then waited anxiously for it to arrive in the mail.

On the day it finally appeared in the mailbox, I was on my way to town and bought this huge, glass bowl to use the rope with. I found one for $25NZ ($20US) - it really is big - so felt it was quite the bargain. Of course the first thing I did was start knotting up the moment I came home. 

The air plant in the photographs was borrowed from another little terrarium and has since returned to its home. A trip to the nursery will be my next job!

 I'm also really excited because my Christmas postcards and magnets arrived at the end of last week. If you order a copy of 'Stanley and the Hot Air Balloon' between now and the 10th of December, you will receive them as a little thank you treat with your book. AND did you know that the books come wrapped AND postage is free so I can send them for you to anywhere and anyone in the world! Hassle free Christmas shopping at its best.

 Here is a bee in our blossom tree. I had to include it because it is so sweet and there is also a burgeoning pink theme in this post.

 And to top it off, my favourite pink rose in my favourite teacup with pink roses...

Lots and lots of love,
Kate. xxooxx.

Stanley's Christmas Count Down....

This was Stanley's first Christmas. He was just a little lad, firmly swaddled and braving the snow. I do feel sorry for his mother as she looks exhausted in the photo. On the other hand, Stanley's father looks so content. He travels for work so was very relieved to be home Christmas Eve. His job? Stanley's father works alongside a travelling magician, he is the rabbit that jumps out of the hat. Not the most regular of hours but as he constantly reminds himself, somebody has to do it.

This is one of the photos from the inner leaf of 'Stanley and the Hot Air Balloon'. Stanley's mother stuck some family snaps into the book with washi tape which was very kind of her. 

Now.... the count down is on for Christmas. If you would like to order a copy for some lucky person's present and they (or you) happen to live in Europe, America or the UK (or anywhere else), be sure to order by the Friday 5th December to make sure that it arrives before the big day. If you are in Australia, you have a few more days with the last being Wednesday 10th December.

BUT the best news is that I have ordered some postcards of Stanley's first Christmas and I will send one out with each book ordered over the next few weeks. Yay. Usually I pop in a little card to say thank you - this one I will leave blank so you can send it (or keep it) or do whatever you like with it.

As for the book, sales are going really well and I am starting to receive some lovely reviews (which are always nice). Kat Goldin from Slugs on the Refrigerator, my crochet hero and author of 'Crochet at Play' and 'Hook, Stitch & Give', had this to say....

"There are few things I love more than watching people do what they love and so, when Kate Bruning from Greedy with Colour published her children's book Stanley and the Hot Air Balloon, I immediately clicked over to etsy to ensure one would be arriving on our doorstep.

From the moment it was opened, it became our new favourite, with Georgia declaring Stanley her best friend and insisting I read it every time I sat down.I have long loved Kate's sense of colour and whimsy in her work - from her awesome bicycle bunting to her crazy awesome hot air balloons - Kate brings fun to whatever she is making.

Stanley and the Hot Air Balloon pulls all of that together in one beautiful package. The idea is so simple- the first half of the book is the adventures of Stanley the bunny. The second half of the book includes patterns for making many of the elements seen in the story. Its a truly amazing work of art - the story is sweet and relatable, the photos are lush and full of detail and the patterns are sweet and simple. I can not recommend it highly enough.  We love sitting and looking at the pictures and just taking in all of the details".

Sooooo, only if you feel like it, hop on over here and make sure Stanley (just like his dad), arrives in time for Christmas!

Lots of love,

Kate. xxooxx.

From the Stanley House - How to Make a Button Stool.

Here is the first official tutorial for 'The Stanley Files' and to celebrate this, I have a very special giveaway to announce tomorrow. 

How to make a Button Stool.

This is a really easy and fun project to do with the kids. Supervision is of course required with the hot glue gun....

 Materials:

4 tooth picks or bamboo skewers

A button

Hot glue gun

Secateurs

Insert your skewer into the button hole. Make a mark with a pencil where the skewer sticks out. Cut all four skewers off at this point with secateurs.

Measure and mark the desired length for your legs and once again, cut off the excess with secateurs.

 Place a dab of hot glue on the end of the skewer.

Insert the leg into the button hole - repeat with the other legs reasonably quickly so that they can dry with complimentary angles.

Et voila.

And now they are ready to use for a little house or, as they are in this photo, a cork castle (made by Hugo - more photos to follow...)

I hope you have lots and lots of fun with these.

Love Kate xxooxx.

How Stanley and the Hot Air Balloon was Made.

This is a long story so feel free to make yourself a cup of tea before relaxing into the tale! 

Stanley came into being about five years ago. I was visiting my sister in Melbourne and started making this funny little rabbit who was wearing a red and white striped jumper with blue pants. His legs were stumpy and his arms a little short (see the first rabbit on the left) but I liked him straight away and thought to myself, "Now there's a rabbit with dash.  And so, I immediately set to work on the next one (as you do). This chap (2nd from left) was a bit further down the evolutionary line but still wasn't quite there. For one thing, his paws were plunged slightly too far down his pants, giving him a 'Harry high pants' air. His legs were a too straight and with those colours, looked as though he could work in fast food outlet.

The middle rabbit was where it all began to come together - the colours were right, the posture pretty good and the proportions almost there. Just some tweaking with the stuffing and lengthening of legs meant the Stanley we know and love peered out!

  Hugo was four at the time of all of this rabbitty crochet and going through a very similar stage to Stanley (you will have to read the book to discover just what that is...). Ideas began to form for a story, but it wasn't until Hugo began school the following year that I had the time to sit down and write it out. Then it flowed. Wherever I was, I would have to run to the kitchen table whenever a line, thought or word popped into my head. I think the boys probably thought I was a completely mad as I was constantly muttering the verses under my breath. And just like Stanley himself, the story slowly evolved over time, at least two years were spent polishing it until a friend forced me to put it aside lest it become thread bare. I have to say, that was an extremely difficult thing to do... important though as it allowed me concentrate on building sets.

Another day I will show you how the sets came to be but that is an even longer story - very crafty too, so shouldn't be rushed. For the time being, I will just give you a couple of behind the scene photos to look at.

Awwww - sleeping Stanley and his little teddy rabbit.... sadly the ric-rac didn't stay as it interfered with a couple of the scenes.

The photography stage was my favourite part - I've always had such joy from taking photos and capturing Stanley and his adventures was so much fun - he is so photogenic but once again, I will save this for another day as there is so much to write about with it.

Then came the pattern writing part. Thankfully, I already had lots of practise from writing up various tutorials for the blog and the added bonus of writing patterns for magazines. That part of it was probably the most fast and I was very lucky to have wonderful pattern testers with Rachel, Dominique and another lovely friend. Their contribution cannot be underestimated as it is sooooooo important that the patterns not only work, but make sense.

Next came a whole new skill set. Learning how to use Photoshop. This was a great challenge and saw me reading through huge manuals as though they were thrillers and spending hours watching youtube clips. The boys were fascinated by this stage and often peered over my shoulder as I explained the ins and outs of what was going on. I have to admit that they were only allowed to watch if they weren't eating... do you find it a little off-putting - working on the computer with somebody crunching an apple in your ear????? 

Learning photoshop was a lengthy process but also one of the most valuable skills I have learnt. I use it most days now and usually for good rather than evil.

So this is just the beginning. As I mentioned earlier in the post, over the next few weeks I am going to share with you all sorts of stories from the Stanley book including how I published it AND tutorials that were not featured in the book (starting with the stool above). 

I hope you enjoy it and I can't wait to start getting more tutorials up for you!!!!!

Lots and lots of love,

Kate xxooxx.

A Giveaway with Little Woolie.

 Did you know that Stanley came travelling with us? He was very well behaved, no food or toileting require. In my mind, a perfect travelling companion to have.  He even came to my most favourite shop in Bath - Wool. I am going to do a whole 'nother post on it because I love it sooooo much but here are a couple of photos for the meantime.

Now, onto other news. Did you know that Julie from Little Woolie is having a Stanley and the Hot Air Balloon giveaway over at her blog. If not you had better pop there now and enter. Quicksticks!

 Isn't this just the most beautiful shop ever. I can't wait to show you some more photos. 

Lots and lots of love,

Kate xxooxx.

Stanley and the Hot Air Balloon - On Sale Now!

I don't know how this day came about so suddenly... but, 'Stanley and the Hot Air Balloon' is now waiting to be bought from my shop here. I post all over the world and at this stage, postage is FREE!!! Can you believe it.

If you haven't visited my blog before, let me tell you about Stanley. He is a little rabbit that I made a few years ago. You can imagine how startled I was when he began to talk. Not only that, but when he began to tell me his life story. This book is only the first instalment of his life set on a day when he was supposed to be having a nap but instead, went adventuring in a hot air balloon - you know how it can be with bunnies.

At the back of the book is a special crafting section where you can learn to make all sorts of things from the story like a hot air balloon, or tiny mice, or even.... your very own Stanley!!!

Here are some photos from the book.

Anyway, please feel free to go over and have a look. I will be doing all sorts of exciting things with it this month so please stay tuned.
Lots and lots of love,
Kate xxooxx.