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! 

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!

Christmas Decorations...In February?

 When you only remember to take down your Christmas decorations in February...

Oops....

Seriously though, I should have a new post up soon. I have been renovating a cottage for my Appleblossom family and am currently furnishing it. I’m looking forward to sharing it! :) 

I hope you are well! 

Merry Christmas!

 Hello friends! 

I hope you are all well and enjoying the last little bit of 2022 and the lead up to Christmas. I’m afraid I have neglected my Sylvanians a bit lately, and I haven’t had time to do a proper story, but I just wanted to share a festive scene of the Buttercups enjoying their Christmas Eve together, eating candy canes. 

I wish you all a very happy Christmas and New Year, and remember take care of yourselves! As always I appreciate each of you so much!

Best wishes! 

The Buttercups

 Hi everyone! I hope you are all doing well and enjoying the beginning of Spring or Autumn! The weather has cooled down a little here but is still very pleasant!

I took some photos this evening because I wanted to show some figures that I haven't yet introduced, starting with the Buttercups!

I was actually given the Buttercup family for a Christmas present, so I have had them for a little while but I just had to do a post to show them! I have wanted them for many years, ever since I got baby Cheddar years ago (another Christmas present) but I had resigned myself to the fact that they were discontinued and I wouldn't be able to get them anywhere. So it's so lovely they're being made again, and for Cheddar to have a family at long last! 

Hornbull and Daisy are so sweet. I can imagine them as teenage sweethearts that are still walking through life together, hand in hand. They seem to match and balance one another out very well. 

Despite the reputation of bulls being hot-headed and aggressive, I think Hornbull seems quite gentle at heart. Perhaps he is just misunderstood by many.

"Mmm, the grass in good in this pasture, Hornbull!"

                                 

Cheddar is delighted to have his brother and sister, Paddock and Annabel, as playmates. He has lots of friends at nursery, but it's not quite the same as your own siblings. 

Speaking of friends, Cheddar brought some of them with him out into the garden, and it gives me the chance to show one of my other recent-ish buys (well, from the end of last year). I was doing some online shopping and couldn't resist little Alfie Maple! 

Isn't he adorable with his darling little hat and bag? I currently don't have any other Maple cats apart from one of the blind bag babies, his sister, but one day they may get their own family too! 

Alfie and Poppy Fenton had to stop and investigate an anthill in the cobbles. 

'Smile for the camera!' My cat Poppy snuck into the background of this one because she decided she wanted to investigate whatever interesting thing I was doing on the lawn with small furry creatures! Luckily she then became more interested in a piece of grass than the Sylvanians.

I'm really happy to have the Buttercups at last! They've already become one of my favourite families. Do you have any new arrivals or items on your wish list? I'd love to hear in the comments! 

Thanks for reading! 

The River Ripple

The River Ripple has long since been a part of life in Bluebell Oaks. From the very first travellers who settled by the waters and built their settlement around it, to the wheel on the Water Mill Bakery that the river powers, it has always been appreciated and made use of. It's summer here at the moment, and in the afternoons the banks of the River Ripple are dotted with villagers, swimming, paddling, or dipping tails and paws in the cool water, all trying to seek refuge from the heat.

The Robinson family decided to spend their afternoon enjoying a picnic by the river's edge. 

Florence packed a variety of food and summer fruit.

After the picnic, Wilbur and Florence can relax a little while they watch the children playing. Wilbur loves the summertime, but Florence can't stand the heat. Her favourite season is winter, when she can snuggle up beside the fire with a good book. 

The heat has brought alot more villagers out of their houses or workplaces and down to the river. Ripple and Pebble Clearwater, who live in a little house tucked away amongst the willow trees down in Reed's Bend, seldom venture into the village, but even they have been seen more often recently. 

Ripple is a needlewoman, doing embroidery. Both she and her daughter Pebble are very skilled with their hands, and Pebble too is learning the art of needlework. They both love taking a break, however, and spend time by the river; whether swimming or just sitting on the banks, they have both always adored being by the water.

Wade Waters is another who has spent his life on the banks of a river. He prefers to keep away from the main areas near the village that are filled with hustle and bustle, but down where the river widens and the waters float by amiably in a deep blue, Wade has his fishing spot.

Although Wade doesn't really keep alot of fish for himself, he still enjoys the thrill of waiting for a bite on the line and then seeing what he's caught. Most of his catches, he throws back and only keeps the odd one.

Lately, Wade has been trying to share his hobby with his son, and teach him his first fishing skills, just as Wade's father taught him when he was that age. 

I think Bucky's interest in fishing will need a little more cultivating yet, though. He is more interested in floating his toy boat. 

Wade's fishing rod proved to be useful though when Bucky's boat floated too far out in the stream out of reach.

As soon as Wade put his fishing rod down to get ready to pack up, he spotted some fish out in the river, swimming just below the surface. Sighing, he wondered how the fish always manage to just evade him. 

Bucky and Wade were just about to make their way through the forest to home when a little rowboat appeared around the bend. 

It's a common sight on the River Ripple to see Yvette Blackberry and her little boat floating by. Yvette learnt to row when she was a young child, and has always been intrigued by its flowing waters and different species of plants and creatures. The lapping of the river against the sides of her boat is very calming. 

Yvette saw Wade and Bucky standing on the bank and gave them a friendly wave. They waved back and watched her float past.

A little way up the river Yvette paused her rowing and manouvered her boat beside an overhanging branch. Something had caught her eye-a stunning blue butterfly perched on its leaves!

Yvette's mind raced and she scrambled for her camera, thankfully still strung around her neck from earlier when she photographed a patch of irises growing on the riverbank. Quickly, she snapped some pictures before the butterfly could flit away and made a mental note to mark it in her butterfly and moth spotting journal later. 

Someone is also a regular visitor to the River. Deep in the woods, Briar Wildwood has her caravan home tucked away. Her creativity has an outlet here, and it allows her to always take inspiration for her art from the nature around her. Just a short distance from her caravan, through a patch of birch trees and down a grassy slope is the river. 

In the heat of the day she prefers to stay beneath the shady canopy of trees in the woods, but in the evenings she has started venturing out to paint by the river. She loves setting up her easel just on the water's edge.

 Evening is the perfect time to capture the golden dappled light that falls on the water in her painting. Her work is still relatively unknown in Sylvania, although it is gaining popularity. There is an art competition coming up, and this new work is what she is hoping to enter. 

Sometimes when her work is done for the day she dabbles her feet in the cool water and watches it as it floats by peacefully. The River Ripple never stops, it never slows; the waters gently pass by in a continuous flow.

Thanks for reading! 

Hope you are all managing to stay cool, or warm!