Anne-Marie ventures out into the snow.

Is it snowing?

Yes!  What fun!

The Gnomes get a house cow and a job for Mrs Squirrel

Sean & Sandra are pleased to see the arrival of Thea the house cow who will provide them with milk.

Mrs Squirrel is delighted to have her first customer

Ronald Rabbit, explains he needs some clothes suitable for him to wear when showing families around the various houses and properties.  After all the young proprietor of Ronald Rabbit Reality really needs to be suited up in something befitting of his profession.

Meanwhile the Otter family are moving in and looking for somewhere on the river or waterways to moor their Canal boat when not out cruising.

Oleander and Olive are proud of their two children Noah and Brooke, who enjoy their river life.

They want to have a good sniff...I mean look around to find the most suitable place.

Families arriving!

The families of Bramble Downs Common are moving in much faster than anticipated!  The news has obviously spread fast and they are all arriving ahead of schedule.

Mrs Sybil Squirrel and her daughter Sylvia are very excited about moving into Sycamore Square.  Mrs Squirrel is looking forward to opening her sewing and repairs business.  Sylvia is hoping to make some friends with the other children who will be living in Bramble Downs.  Sadly Mr Squirrel is absent, having never returned from nut collection several months before.  They live in hope that he is okay, but in the meantime have to get on with their lives and try to make the best of things, hence Mrs Squirrel opening her sewing and clothing repairs shop.

Mrs Myrtle Mole has arrived early with her daughter Minnie, as Professor Mahonia Mole is very busy lecturing at the moment.  They will be moving into Maple Hill.

Mrs Mole is very shy, but likes nothing more than playing the piano while Minnie sings.  I'm sure once the other residents of Bramble Downs Common realise these talents they will be wanting to hear more.  Poor Mrs Mole must master her extreme shyness.

While so much coming and going is happening, with families viewing houses and the area, it was thought that PC Bobby Badger had better move in ahead of his wife Beatrice, who is busy packing their belongings.

PC Badger and his wife will be living in Buckthorn Close.

PC Bobby Badger is an avid gardener and enjoys spending his spare time working on his vegetable and flower gardens or playing chess with Professor Mahonia Mole when he is home.

Bramble Downs Common

Lots of thinking and planning and drawing up charts has been going on... 

When I was young I had a set of books by Jane Pilgrim...Blackberry Farm.  I still have these books...somewhere.  Either buried away in the loft somewhere or stored in boxes with a load of other books.  Sadly I just can't remember where and I am not about to scramble around the loft as have too many other things to do.  However, the stories remain a strong memory and some in particular I remember with fondness.  So I thought I might make my own 'Blackberry Farm' equivalent and have been thinking of families and stories that I can develop.  I blame my little Sylvanian Cavy Family - they started it all really.  I was just going to have them, and in fact it will only be them for a while, but in the meantime I can plan.

I think my little community will be called 'Bramble Downs Common' and at the moment I am thinking along the lines of another five families:

Squirrel, Hedgehog, Mole, Badger and Otter.  I have thought of some story lines, although only an outline so far.

Mr Bobby Badger will be the local policeman and his wife Beatrice is a bit of a busy body, but means well and likes to bake cakes and organise fêtes.  In his spare time Mr Bobby Badger likes to spend time in his garden, and also enjoys a game of chess with Professor Mahonia Mole.  

The squirrel family I am taking the characters very much from the Blackberry Farm story which was one of my favourites where the mother made a dress for her daughter.    So Mrs Squirrel will be a dressmaker, who lives on her own with her daughter as her husband is absent.  The reason for his absence is not known at this stage.

The Cavy family hope to eventually run a boarding house/hotel, as they enjoy having guests.

This will indeed be a long term project as no little families can join me at present, and I have very little materials available to build the various homes they will live in.  But I think it will be fun, and worth working for.

I have to say a big thanks to Vicki of Hittyville Gazette who has indirectly given me the courage to follow through with this project that has been nestled in my mind for a long time.

Love this dress

I thought I would quickly post these photos before I head off to see the neurologist - couldn't decide on which one to post so decided on them all!  I just love this pattern and how the wool knits up, it really is perfect for it.  Chrissy is such a lovely model as well.  

Chrissy and Holly Noelle in their dresses.

Connory starts work on a house

Connery has been busy today gathering materials available to build his wife a little home.

He shows her what he has managed so far...

and invites her in to inspect his work.

They both sit down at the table to have a cup of warm brew.

Yes with a bit more work this will do nicely they think to themselves.

Saturday today

I finished Chrissy's mittens yesterday morning,  just the hat to make now.

On my needles...

Yes another dress!  Loving these pretty colours.

Reading...

Getting ideas for my two gnomes.  I remember my sister having this book...I wonder whether she still has it?

Budding saxophone player?  

More photos can be seen over at the Schoenhut School of the Arts.