A combined order

 Hello! How are you going? Are you managing to find time to have relaxation? Do you have a hobby?

I was looking at a list of unique hobbies recently, and saw this: 

"Competitive duck herding. The perfect hobby if you have a dog to help you herd."

Doesn't strike me as very exciting, but to each their own, right?

I knit 😂

I was watching a seminar about knitting, and the lady said 

"set a reminder to knit every day"

Wow!

Do I set a reminder to breathe?

Nup!

 Why would I need a reminder to knit????

Anyway, that's enough about me!

Let me share another recent order...

Hopefully giving much joy to their new forever friends!

Tilly and the Bunny

 When Tilly joined our household in October last year, I really didn't realise what a help she would be!

She sits by me every day, as I knit and do all my other work. Her cheery smile helps the work go smoother. ☺

Last year I made another bunny! I must count up again one day to see how many I have made! This one was dressed, a very pink bunny.

Tilly enjoyed having someone new to talk to! ☺

But when it was time for the bunny to go to her new forever home, she and Tilly were quite sad. See them hug each other?

And just before the box was sealed, Tilly gave the bunny a reassuring pat.

Thanks Tilly! 😍

A BIG bunny!

My second BIG bunny was ordered without clothes ☺

At 50cm (19.5") these bunnies are very large, and this particular one was soft and very cuddly.

Pictured with Tilly, who enjoyed a few cuddles before the bunny was packaged up and mailed to his new forever home!

 

Cuddles are important! Make sure you get some today ☺☺☺

A beautiful bunny!

 It is quite plain that bunnies are my most popular large toy. 

It's been a while since I counted up how many I have made, 

but it must be getting to be quite a number now!

Bunnies can be made in so many colours, and with clothes, or not as the customer desires.

I enjoy them, for that reason, because each one is different, and has their own personality!

All in the pink!

Tilly enjoyed a few chats with a smaller friend 😊 

She does find it interesting to see who will come off my needles!

Covid has made some people very lonely, which is sad. We need to be sure to phone those who could be lonely, it will definitely make their day! 

Especially at this time of year...

Keep safe, take time to rest and just breathe during your Christmas/New Year break...

Big bunny!

 I was asked to make a bunny the size of an adult!

I didn't look to see if there was such a pattern, because I can't imagine there is!!! 

But I did my best...

and produced a bunny 51cm from top of head to bottom of toes. 

(Yep, that's 20" if you are outside of Australia)

Thankfully patterns can be changed to meet customer's needs! ☺

I've mostly knitted girl bunnies.

I wonder why?

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How are you doing? I hope that you are taking the time to unwind from the busyness of life on a regular basis. It is very important for all of us. A change of view. A change of pace. A change of routine.

Knitting is my therapy. I always have orders, but I also have items that I want to knit as gifts. So, more often than not, I have more than one item on the go at once. This is good for me. Means I don't get stuck in a rut. 

We all need rest. Be sure to rest!

Catching up with the huggables!

 Great to chat again!

Hope you have been well and things are happy in your corner of the world? 

It has been a while since I got an order of huggables,

but I really enjoyed doing this pair!

Checking up with the customer to make sure I am getting colours right 

may at times seem extreme, 

but I really want to produce something 

that the customer will be absolutely thrilled with!

I want every customer to be SO happy with each order, 

that they will order again!

Over the moon!

A new week of knitting!

Good morning, blog friends! 

New projects, upcoming projects, projects I’m pondering... and by the way, it would help me enormously to get some feedback from all you lovely people. Comments? Questions? Suggestions for new knits? I’d love to hear from you.

Okay, let’s talk fashion. Knit fashion, that is. Because I just love how this bunny’s dress turned out.

A longer skirt makes her very sweet!

Those ears just get you every time!

Even a little brown tail!

I mean, how cute is that? I love the story behind this project, too. A customer requested a bunny like the one in my shop’s logo (designed by the talented Clara VN), and I was happy to oblige. The customer was “over the moon” so I think it’s safe to say that this bunny went to a good home. By the way, if you know someone who needs a cute bunny in their life, let me know. I’d be happy to create another one. 

Blankie twins

Never done a grey bunny on a blankie before!

There are so many variations!

Ready to go

For some time I have thought of having toys ready made.

I prefer the idea of the customer being able to chose their colours, 

but sometimes people are in a hurry!

So here are a few friends ready to go!

These are in the small size, and very suitable for little hands, or as a gift to any age really!

And you can even get bags for them - look at this messenger bag!

And this little bag? She looks ready to shop till she drops!

And if desired, there are scarves available, just the right size to keep a bunny warm on a cold day - or to just feel cosy!

Got an urgent need for a bunny?  😉

A woodland duo

A grandmother and aunt came to me 

looking for two toys that would fit a woodland theme!

They also had to fit in with the nursery colour scheme...

I think they came out beautifully!

Seen here with their 4 week old forever friend!

I am sure he will love having two friends who will stick by him through all his childhood! ☺

Colourific!

I had wondered why my customers only ever ordered animals in "normal" colours.

So I thought I would experiment....

Nine different colours...

But the photos just don't do this bunny justice!!!! Ever so much better "in the flesh" ☺

What do YOU think?

Just love this....

I don't always get photos of my toys in their forever homes, but this one is really cute, so just had to share =)

That is a large bunny and a month old bub - almost the same size! 💓

Ballerina Bunny

One of the more popular bunnies has been my variation on the small bunny. I adventurously made up a pattern for skirt, and are now having fun from time to time changing the colours used to create gorgeous friends for girls...

My first was this little girl, bought as a Christmas present for Lucy! I do hope Lucy loves her little bunny! =) 

Then I was asked to make another ballerina for a 3 year old girl who LOVES ballet...

Another perfect Christmas present I hope! =)

Next I needed to give a present myself to a young girl as a going away present...

She is loved to bits, and my little friend has no chance of forgetting me ;)

I am sure there will be more ballerinas... And maybe we can do different skirts =)

A delightful duo!

Early next year a little boy will be born in America. As he grows up he will learn that his bedroom is the one which looks delightfully like a woodland. And I am hoping that his favourite little "friends" will be the above pictured bunny and his matching friend, seen below...

And yes, that hat comes off - I can't decide when he looks cuter!!!!

Putting them together, you can see just how well they match - that little boy will perhaps be thankful that his grandparents and auntie got together to decide on "welcome to the world" presents!

I am hoping it will be possible to do more combinations like this - it was a LOT of fun!

Bunnies, bunnies and more bunnies

It is pretty obvious that so far, bunnies are most popular request at Betsy's Boutique.

Here is the gallery of those done this year, though I am working on another order now which includes a bunny! =)

I love the way that the different yarns change the bunny to make it so individual, and even as the producer of these bunnies, I find that there are some of them that I really love more than others! So far, I have enjoyed the small bunnies most - they are not too big and not too small...

Which one is your favourite?

The process of producing a wonderful toy

Just in case you are wondering what goes into this great job I have - turning fairly boring looking balls of yarn into something amazing, I thought I would show you....

So we start:

with yarn and needles.

 I am a little different to most and  I always, always knit with circular needles - that is knitting needles that are connected - can't lose one, and they don't stick up my sleeves! 

I have a pattern - these patterns from Lorraine at Rainebo Designs are just BRILLIANT!

I bind the pages for each pattern together with yarn - makes it easy for me to take the pattern wherever I go =) 

I have LOTS of patterns - many of which I have not made yet, so customers have a good range to chose from. And they also need to decide which colour yarn they wish to be used, and what "extras". So far there have been hearts, a scarf and overalls in that category, but in time there may be more!!!

Then I knit up the pieces:

and then comes the REALLY fun part of putting them together 

 and LOOK!!!!!

These bunnies can be varied, so here is a few takes on what I have done so far ;)

This bunny is for a little boy - and to me he IS little boy! With movable limbs, he will definitely be a treasured and loved friend =)

Next I was asked to make a princess. And with a change in her stripes, and those eyes which have appealed to many, she is a real girl's girl =)

Did you see that tail? Amazing, huh? I love to work with my customers ideas, and often they are far better than mine - this bunny had a few differences from the "original" design, but they are a real winner =)

Another customer really wanted these gorgeous overalls - but didn't like the idea of the tail being hidden, so we have abandoned the idea of overalls for HER bunny, and they are available for someone else!

Here they are being modelled on that boy bunny (seen above). I think they are real cute, but I guess I could be a bit biased.

I am really hoping that others will see the overalls and get ideas, because once I got the hang of them, they were REAL easy, and could be done in other colours and look amazing!!!

Look at those ears!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2016 has been a big year for new products, and here we have another!

A friend contacted me looking for a toy/friend for a little one, and after showing her what was available, she ordered a little bunny...

"Oh, he's adorable!" - her reaction on seeing this picture says it all, doesn't it?

With moveable limbs, standing 32 cm tall (and this is the smallest of his family) and just gorgeous - this really is another great product from Rainebodesigns!

So, sorry, this one is sold - but please feel free to contact me with your order (contact form on the right) for your own. Options for colour, size, etc are available...