Tuesday 13 February 2024

New Additions :)

 Hello friends! 

As the first post of 2024, I'd like to begin by wishing you a happy belated New Year! I hope January and February have been kind to you so far.

Lately I've been getting back into my Sylvanians, and because of that, I splurged a little and bought some new sets! (Isn't it wonderful to treat yourself once in awhile?) 

I've got a few stories I'm working on at the moment, but in the meantime I wanted to show you  my new purchases.

It felt like a birthday when I came home to the parcel and pile of boxes inside!

I admit I've been sceptical of some of the newer sets because they look a bit 'plasticky' in my opinion, but of course I am happy to be proven wrong, and I love these newest additions to my collection.


The baby sets were particularly interesting to me, because I didn't know they were even available in my country. I've never seen them for sale before, and only one online store here had them! But as soon as I saw them I knew I had to have them <3


They are too cute! My first panda and Marshmellow mouse too. She would probably fit in well enough with my Hawthorne mouse family, as the only difference I am aware of is the heart shaped ears.


They have darling little booties so their feet don't get wet in the puddles! I din't realise too that they are actually wearing their own clothes under their raincoats.


I also bought the Undersea Costume Babies!


To be honest, the baby sets, especially the costume ones, aren't the easiest to 'integrate' or include in general village or family life, but I'm still happy to have them even if I just have to display them. I have a few seaside themed sets so perhaps they could fit in there.

They're gorgeous! When I first saw them, I thought the stingray was a little unusual, but it's definitely grown on me! This is the first mole figure I've ever owned and I wish I could get my hands on more!


The shark tail is adorable too! 


Next was the Weekend Travel Set. I love baby sets for their cute factor, but I also do really like sets that include an adult figure and 'activity' pieces. It gives a lot more potential to develop the character and their story.


In this case, meet Alyssum Snowdrop. She goes by Alyss, for short, though it is pronounced the same way as 'Alice'. 


There are so many detailed and working pieces in this set! I love how even her box background is travel themed!


Here is Alyss all dressed up and ready for her adventures! I hope to feature her properly in my blog sometime. She's an exciting individual!



And finally, the Sunny Picnic Set.


Now, I had to have them, partially because I love picnic sets (and you can never have too many) and because I had to see the Fennec foxes in real life. I never would have suspected they would make such creatures, but I love them! 



Everything is wonderful in this set - the colours, the sweet siblings, the bike, the food. 
"Can you pass me a banana, please?"
I'm yet to come up with names for these two, as with both baby sets.


Anyway, I hope I didn't bore you with this post! It feels kind of funny posting again, as I've been so irregular on here for so long. I can't promise things will be different in the future, all I can say is I am enjoying this hobby again very much! 

...Though I'm never quite sure what to do with boxes after I've unpacked them!Sometimes the backgrounds are too lovely to through away, and I keep them under the decision that 'I might use them again...' but I never really do! Do you through away your boxes/backgrounds or keep them?

Thank you for reading and have a lovely week! 



Tuesday 22 August 2023

Appleblossom Cottage

Okay, so I have been working irregularly on this for the last ten (?) months and drafting it for two of those. It was great fun renovating this nondescript cottage into a beloved family home for my Appleblossoms. They are so dear and sweet, and I'm very excited to finally be sharing this! 

~

It was the end of a long, fulfilling day at the Watermill Bakery. The shelves were almost empty, the sales were over, and the fire in the bread oven was out. The owner, Christopher Appleblossom, dusted off his floury paws on his apron and sighed with the satisfaction of a good day's work.


His wife, Jane was tidying up the last of the day's leftovers. 


"All done?" she asked. Christopher nodded and took off his apron, hanging it over its peg. Jane took a basket in hand of the leftover bread; they would take it home and eat it. Neither she or Christopher could abide waste. 


Then they went out and Christopher locked the bakery door. It would be so early it would still be dark when Christopher would arrive next morning. 


"Thank you for today," Christopher thanked his wife. She works as a ballet teacher in the village most evenings, but helps in the bakery during the day. The bakery has been in Christopher's family since his great-great-grandfather built it when he settled. 


On this evening, however, there were no ballet lessons in the school, and Jane was free. They wandered leisurely through the woods, enjoying the sweet birdsong and dappled sunlight. On the way home, they meet their daughter, Jasmine, coming through the woods on her own way home from school with her friend Misty Waters and cousin Saffron Walnut. 


"Hi Uncle Chris, Aunty Jane!" Saffron gave them a wave. Jasmine said goodbye to her friends till tomorrow and joined her parents on the path that led to their cottage. 


It was a lovely early evening and they chatted about their days as the neared home. Jasmine told her parents about her latest school project and reveled in the news of the upcoming school talent show and a chance to dance. Jasmine was a very keen ballerina, just as her mother was at her age.


Everyone's heart lightened a little as they reached the garden. Home is a wonderful world to the little Appleblossom family. 


They went up to it, and Christopher opened the door. The Appleblossoms have lived in their namesake cottage for three generations - not as long as they have ran the bakery, but still a substantial amount of time. Christopher can remember many happy years spent growing up in the cottage. 

At times, it may have been a bit of a squish, especially for Chester Appleblossom (Christopher's dad) and his two brothers and three sisters, along with their parents. But it is a very comfortable home for a family of three. 


It is always lovely to step inside, no matter how thrilling or tiring your day might have been, or if you had been baking baguettes, serving customers, teaching pirouettes, or learning your times-tables.


The house always smells sweet with the slightest hint of fresh bread. Jane put the leftover buns and pastry in the basket by the bench. They would have it later for dinner. Because they spend their days in the bakery, neither she or Christopher ever feel much like cooking. It suits them just fine.


Here we have a view of the downstairs: 


The living room is the favourite spot in the cottage. (and mine too!)


Because the house is quite old fashioned, they don't have a TV like some others in the village, and Jane and Christopher have never made any effort to amend this. They don't even have a radio. The living room is the scene of many happy evenings spent talking, reading, dancing, and piano playing. 


One of Christopher's favourite ways to relax in the evening is to sip a cup of hot tea and read the latest paper, checking up on the latest village news.

On the shelf beside him is a plate that belonged to Jane's grandmother: a valuable porcelain. 


But not all of the things about the house are hand-me-downs or antiques. Many is their own, including the large collection of books, and of course their family photos. 

In a walnut frame above the piano was a picture of Jane when she was younger, in her prima ballerina days. She might live a simple life now, but she was actually very famous.

It was at this show that she met Christopher, just a humble baker's son, watching in the audience with starry eyes (like, it must be said, all the other young males in the theatre). Jane was the subject of much attention and affections, but it was Christopher that she fell in love with. 


It is Christopher's favourite photo of his wife, because it always takes him back to that magical evening.


He also enjoys listening to the piano music that Jane and Jasmine made. Jane plays well, and she is also teaching Jasmine too.


At other times, Jasmine will sing or dance and they have a little concert of their own in the living room.


This evening, on her way upstairs, Jasmine stopped to sniff the heavenly scent of wildflowers she had gathered from her latest expedition into the woods. 


Her little bedroom is at the top of the ladder.


It is, in every way, the abode of an aspiring ballerina. Can you tell that her favourite colour is pink? ;)


Jasmine has always loved to cosy up by her window overlooking the garden. 

The shoe painting above the window was given to her by her grandmother. All the other posters and pictures Jasmine has collected or gleaned from magazines.


She lives, breathes and sleeps ballet. She dreams of following in the footsteps of her mother and being one of the best dancers in Sylvania.


This week, she saved her pocket money and bought The Sylvanian Dancer from the Village Store. 


It is a lovely spot to sit and read, dream, or get homework done.


Across the landing is Christopher and Jane's bedroom. 

(I really wanted to change the bedspread to something that fitted more with the pink and green theme but I didn't have any suitable material :(


On the left is Jane's side, and a shelf where she keeps books (some from childhood), her purse and a picture of an old friend.


Here is Christopher's side, with a picture of his family. 

It also looks as though he has been reading 'The Holiday Summer Annual'. Maybe he is dreaming of his next summer holiday? It can be hard for a baker to get away, but he would be very deserving of a break. 


Here is an upstairs view:

Anyway, it was the end of a long day and we will leave the Appleblossoms to rest and enjoy the comforts of their little house. 


They hope you have enjoyed your visit! May you find relaxation and comfort in your own home too. 

Best wishes! 

Sunday 14 May 2023

Sunny Autumn Days

The last couple of days have been so sunny here after about two weeks of constant rain, and with the lovely autumn colours and fallen leaves at the moment, I just had to get outside and make the most of the sunshine. Taking photos of Sylvanians in nature is one of my favourite things, so it was also a great way to help rekindle my inspirations and imagination. 
(I know this isn't like a proper story, but I wanted to share anyway.)

Here's a few of my villagers playing in the leaves in my garden:



Tiffany Golightly and her little sister had a nice stroll.


Here's Yardley and Alfie Walnut. Alfie and this little car came with the Babies Ride and Play set, which has always been a favourite of mine. That little car is just too cute! And of course Alfie in his bright green dungarees!


Flopsy and Cottontail Buttermilk also came with that set. 


And there's another Alfie too, little Alfie Maple! (why is the name Alfie so cute?) 
I'm still in two minds about getting him a family. It's tempting...but then I already have so many families that have no houses and get lost in the masses. I'd really like to develop my current characters and village more and I guess adding to what I already have won't help that. 


"The leaves are the same colour as me!" 


And Alfie discovering what a chicken is, with my photobombing pets. (He noted that the chicken is also the same colour as himself)


And now we come to a shyer and lesser seen resident, the elusive Briar Wildwood. 


On sunny days she sets up her easel in the woods and paints for hours on end, only stopping to evaluate her picture or nibble the lunch she has brought along. 


Inspiration is all around her with the beauty of nature, and it isn't hard to get creative. Her creativity has always run riot, anyway. 


She takes frequent walks through the woodland, whenever time allows. Living in the woods, she knows all the plants, trees and mosses like friends and has learned to recognise them. 



While it is true that she has little in the way of critter companions, she is never lonely. And as another famous painter once said, 'There's nothing wrong with having a tree as a friend.' 


On sunny evenings, she walks up the hill to grassy clearings to watch the sun getting low, before it's time to hurry back to the caravan and the warmth of home as night's chills spread of the forest. 


It's a lovely life spent in the company of nature.



Anyway, that's all I got before I got cold myself and had to come back inside! Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoyed this little post! Have a lovely week!