There was a White Rabbit...

 
 There was a White Rabbit who dearly loved two things... Dillie her best friend, and Polka Dot rings!
 



 Dottie was that Rabbit and what could make her hop stop, was Dillie Bean's smile and a big polka dot!             Now Dillie had planned to knit Dottie a birthday gift, but her generous gesture only caused a big rift!                 A scarf for Dottie just had to have a Dot, but the ones Dillie knitted for her just did Not!                 So Dottie hinted and hinted, and finally came right out and said, "Dillie your colors are great but make dots on them instead!"                 Dottie decided to come up with a plan...  she conspired, "I know just how I can!"                   When her friend left her Stoop for lunch and was gone, Dottie was naughty and what she did you'll agree was quite wrong.                   She slid the needle from the half-finished scarf and hid it in her purse, but Dillie was so forgetful the offense grew worse.                         Dillie looked high and she looked low, 'til she found one needle behind her ear and cried,  "Oh no!"          

    Forgetful Dillie scratched her head and had not a clue, how she could have lost not one needle but two!                 So she substituted a chopstick for the other which worked out alright... but that disappeared too during the night!                
Though Dottie was stubborn for wanting some dots, as she drew near... she saw Dillie despondent and in her eye was a Big Tear.                     Suddenly, a polka dot scarf seemed not so important, Dottie had caused Dillie to cry and that was more urgent!                     Dottie sheepishly slid the stolen needle back into the loop, and watched the scarf completed as she waited gratefully on her Stoop.              

Dillie finally admitted she did not know how to knit dots, so Dottie found a brush and painted on spots!   .  
          The lesson learned as we go on our way... a heart is more valuable than a dot any day! ^o^
     

Bobbi Baldstraum's Christmas Wish

    A SNOWCHILD named Bobbi Baldstraum and the Pixie who believed in her.  
 
 
Mrs. Baldstraum loved her daughter more than just about anything. So of course for Christmas she took extra care to find just the right gift for her daughter Roberta. (who preferred to be called Bobbi)   But as she often said, "This child's mind was made up the moment she was born." So, finding  the perfect gift was no easy task.   This year, little Bobbi wanted a Snowman.  Not a toy snowman.  Not a big balloon snowman.  Not even a fancy snowman robot with jingling icicles.   Bobbi would have none of it. Because...SHE wanted to become a Snowman...Snowgirl...           Finally after a couple sleepless nights,  Mrs. Baldstraum came up with an idea.      On Christmas morning, Bobbi found a sparkly Snowchild suit  sewn by her mother beneath the tree. Next to a used pair of black Nutcracker Boots.     Leaving her cocoa and the rest of her gifts behind,  she squirmed into the suit and went out in the front yard to turn into Snow. She struck a Snow Pose.         Then Another.           And another until she was sure she looked just like a Snowgirl.   Then she waited.         And waited.     The suit was well padded, so her mother was not worried that she might catch a chill. Roberta waited so quietly that her mother could barely see from the kitchen window whether she was still breathing or not.              
    While cleaning up after breakfast, she began thinking about Frosty...  if Frosty's hat could bring him to life, what could an entire suit do to a child?!   While Mrs. Baldstraum was searching for Bobbi's Frosty book,  down the snowy path came a bright and cheery Pixie trying out her new red sled.     Her wings full of Christmas Cheer.           She stopped in awe right in front of Roberta. Is that what I think it is?   She wondered...?           She climbed up on the Snowchild's shoulder and peered deep within her twinkling eyes. Well, what do you know...a REAL Snowgirl!             Bobbi  could not help but smile really big.  Yet remembered to hold as still as freshly fallen snow so as not to scare her little friend.       Naturally, the merry little Pixie was beside herself and immediately flew home to tell her mother what she had seen!             Bobbi sighed a big satisfied frosty sigh. Her Christmas wish had been granted...             Now there was nothing left to do but to go finish her cocoa...  and see what else might be under the tree!










Description
  This Set includes   10" full sculpt Bobbie Baldstraum the Snow Child (she also can display your favorite ornament!) covered in German Glass Glitter and Mica Flakes   6" scale poseable Pixie, created by my daughter Angi!     Frosted pinecone ornament (brought back from our summer road trip)   3 1/2 x 4 1/2 glass display base  

This is my last sculpture offering of the year.   It is likely that I won't be listing again until spring. 

The next couple months will be spent working on commissions,

 and spending the longwinter evenings hunkered down by the wood stove.

If you are in the neighborhood, please stop by my blog

and see what is going on in our corner of the Forest.  I would love to see you there!

Have yourself a Very Merry Christmas,

and I hope there is something wonderful waiting for you under your tree!  Rose

Hildys and the Christmas Mouse

  This Companion Set is being presented as a living Christmas Card
for all my friends who have generously allowed me to continue to work my art... for one more year.
    The Prayer of the Christmas Mouse

   loosely based  on a True Story...    






There was once a Poor Mouse who came to the Northern Country during the Dead of Winter.  She was carried along by a wayward traveler while snacking on hazelnuts in his backpack. When discovered , she was quickly dumped out in the snow, along with her Mousling.  The ground was too hard to burrow a nest, and all the nuts and seed were buried under layers of snow and ice.  She did what she had to do...   Lying  under a fir branch, she tucked the baby under her belly and murmured a Christmas prayer.





On the other side of the forest,  Hildys,  was readying her wooden Wagon. 
  She was the House Gnome of the Toymaker and his Wife, and every evening the Wife sent her out to bring Christmas Cheer to the rabbits, mice, and birds of the Forest.






With a pot of hot peppermint tea and a warm knitted sweater she watched while the Wagon was loaded.  
As she stepped out the door, the voice of the Wife trailed after her...
 "Be careful to feed all that are hungry, but do NOT let any of them follow you home!" 

 This was the Toymaker's busiest time of year. 
 And his  Wife did not have time to chase little rodents running through her flour, or messing up her tidy cupboards. 







After a long walk in the woods, Hildys was ready to return home.  Turning to go, she almost stepped upon a bit of fur huddled in the snow.  Poor little thing, she thought.  But alas, I cannot bring it home.  Perhaps a couple nuts and a piece of moss will keep it warm through the night.  She left two acorns and slowly moved on.

Later that night as she sat by the mantle's candle, she could not get her mind off that tiny figure in the snow. 


 She was sure it was alive...and she knew what she had to do.






Well after dark, Hildys once again wrapped her sweater aound her shoulders, and trundeled off into the Forest.
By the Moon's light,  she carefully retraced her steps and came upon the still figure she had left behind.







Hildyce lifted the Mouse up into the wagon.  To her surprise, she found a tiny Baby curled up in a hazelnut shell beneath her.












Taking them home, she placed them in a Nest hidden deep in the Christmas tree, whispering a Christmas prayer that they would be alive and well in the morning.

The Mouse and her Baby thrived amidst the soft lights on the tree and the warmth of the little Gnome's care. 





Little did she know in the meantime, that the Toymaker had spotted the pair.  Just as he was about to shoo them from the house, the Mouse caught his gaze.  Suddenly he was taken back in time to a Humble  Barn and a Simple Manger.  He saw animals gathered around, even the smallest of mice, to keep a new Baby warm. 

And he knew what he had to do.






That evening, the Toymaker stopped his Toymaking to fashion a tiny Golden Bell.  He tied it upon the Mouse, and in return, he asked her to hang the silvery tinsel and to keep the tree lights twinkling. 
  And to NOT go into the Kitchen. 


All was well until Christmas Eve.




 
Hildys thought she might just faint when the Toymaker brought his Wife to the tree and pulled back the branches to show her the Nest.

"Wife, have you ever seen our tree look so Divine?  Nary a light has gone out over these long Work Days. 
And look how Perfectly the Tinsel is placed.
...My Gift to you...a Christmas Mouse who has done it all!" 







The Wife could not help but marvel that not one light bulb had gone dark.
And the tinsel had glittered with the sound of tiny bells in the quiet of the night.
  Nor had she seen a single sign of mouse tracks in her kitchen...
  She thought upon her Gift for one Moment,
 then kissed her Husband and off they went for their Long Winter's Nap.
  Hildys sighed with relief because...
Now, she could finally enjoy  Christmas. 
..









  Hildys gingerly climbed up the tree and curled up in the Nest with her Mice.
Together they thanked the Baby in the Manger for answering their prayers
as they waited for the Morn...









When off they would trundel with their Wagon full of Christmas Cheer...








Details
Included in this Set...   6 inch scale Hildys Gnome  with wire joints for gentle display posing... Original hand sewn Christmas Gown made of vintage fabrics, tulle, lace, Paper, and a Sweater and Scarf           Hildys is fully detailed in dyed woolies and breeches under her Gown.           Mama Mouse and Baby in a real hazelnut halfshell were sculpted by my Daughter.           Wooden Wagon is laden with found acorns, a sculpted Teapot, Pastry and Plates 5" x 9" Glass panel covered in glittered cotton snow nicely displays them all.           This little group of Friends and their Story was created with Wishes of Good Cheer for you and yours this Yuletide season!
Rose and the Toymaker (graciously played by my husband)