Hello and sorry to have been away so long – I've become a pattern-writing recluse again! The response to the bunny patterns completely overwhelmed me and it's been fantastic to see so many of them popping up on ravelry and to have so many lovely people come and join in conversations on the group. It's clear that lots of people would like to make their bunnies different clothes so I've put the animal patterns on the back burner for a bit and have been drawing charts and writing instructions for a wardrobe of dress designs.
I'm almost done though I've gone a bit crossed eyed and brain addled from the process and of course I've fallen behind again with everything else that I should be doing, I am not terribly good at multi-tasking these days. I have made time in the evenings though to make a new cushion for the garden room. It matches the misty afghan that I made a while back which has found a new home on the sofa that was delivered last week.
The garden room is getting lots of use now that there is something to sit on but I'll wait until all the furniture is delivered before taking more pictures. Outside is starting to come together nicely although there is still lots of paving and stuff to finish off. I've planted up one of my raised beds with carrots, lettuce, beetroot and french beans. Keeping the insect netting on just looked too scruffy so I've decided to try a bit of barrier planting instead.
I've used mostly strong smelling herbs (hopefully to distract any unwanted munchers like carrot root fly) and have also planted some flowers to attract the pollinators and hoverflies whose larvae feed on aphids and leafhoppers. We will see how it develops and how my veggies grow this year without netting.
Well I hope to pop back soon with news of the dresses pattern and I was hoping to have another animal pattern ready before the start of the summer holidays but time is fast running out, this year has gone unbelievably quickly. I'm also hoping to finish of a bunch of bunnies soon, so will keep you posted on that if you're on the mailing list.
Hope you have a good week. Thanks for dropping in x
little cotton rabbits 
Hi Julie. Well the cushion looks very good. The glimpse of your new garden room is tantalizing. I can’t wait to see the whole thing. Xx
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I love the cushion and the covers on the veggies are so cute, looking forward to seeing the completed garden room.
Clare x
http://summerhousebythesea.blogspot.co.uk/
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Thank you, thank you. So wonderful – for us – that you are still working on patterns. What a treat it will be to have so many options from which to choose. Your talent is oh so amazing. Your garden design is also beautiful. Makes me want to go work in my herb garden and get it going again. Thanks for popping in with an update.
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Hi Julie, it’s so nice to see an update from you. I hope the garden room is working well for your family; the new couch is very nice and looks lovely with your beautiful misty afghan and matching cushion.
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Lovely to hear from you Julie! Your cushion is beautiful, looking forward to the big garden room reveal!
I agree netting isn’t the prettiest thing to look at, I hope your barrier method is a success !
V xxx
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I love your crochet afghan and cushion. Such nice colours. Can’t wait for the dress patterns to be ready!! I’m on my 4th bunny just now and can’t make them quick enough : )
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Hello! Your garden is looking lovely Julie, what a great view to look out onto from your new garden room … I can just picture you, sitting on the sofa, leaning on that stylish cushion, and if it’s as chilly there as it is here this evening with your blanket across your knees 🙂
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Glad all reasonably OK we all suffer these days from galloping time. I love the garden & the cushion & the wonderful very elegant cloches. I am delighted with the thought of clothes for the bus & the new babe. Take care & all best wishes from London………….
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Wow all of this is fab – I am going to make a bunny as soon as I finish all (or at least some!) of my other projects!
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Try again lol…………….
Glad all reasonably OK we all suffer these days from galloping time. I love the garden & the cushion & the wonderful very elegant cloches. I am delighted with the thought of clothes for the Bunnys & the new babe. Take care & all best wishes from London………….
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Love the lettuce baskets and the garden room! Can you tell me a source for the baskets?
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I love it! I love the new bunny dresses and the blanket and pillow. I’m inspired by your loveliness. I don’t know if I would be able to knit a bunny, they are so stinkin’ cute, I’m gonna have to try. Cheers!
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what herbs have you planted along the edges to deter the buggies? i recognize chives & thyme, i think… 🙂
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So lovely to see the garden develop. X
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Thank you for sharing the lovely pics, and for writing more patterns. I can’t wait to see them! Your cushion it gorgeous, but I haven’t seen anything you’ve made that isn’t lovely. Even your garden is flawless…
It appears that I’ve become a little pattern greedy, and I look forward to buying every pattern you write!
Thank you again, Julie.
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oh the patterns look gorgeous, far too tricky for me though……
love your garden, I have a huge problem with pigeons, I don’t think I can fool those with herbs……
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The clothes look amazing as does the garden. Love the wicker cloches they look much nicer than the tops of plastic bottles that I use! . Bit incapacitated by a wrist injury at the mo but really want to knit one of your rabbits plus clothing for my niece, once I recover
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Dress patterns?! Can’t wait. Three girl bunnies and two boy bunnies are now part of my warren. They are addictive.
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I am going to check everyday and as soon as you publish I ll be ready. Thank you so much for making these beautiful patterns available to us.
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Your garden is so lovely! Does Toby like to play in the vegetable beds?
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I’m so excited for the next batch of patterns. And grateful for the opportunity to be able to make your wonderful animals. I don’t know which I am more excited about…the dress options or the next animal pattern. It’s a toss-up. Thanks for sharing your talents with us.
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Bless you. You give and give and give. I hope you are doing something for you!!! If I lived by you I would come and give you a foot rub and that is saying something because I think feet are from the land of the trolls. 🙂
Your pillow turned out yummy and will make your garden room even more of a haven.
Your garden looks scrumptious. Do keep us posted on the barrier plantings. I’m having a dreadful time of it with bugs with some of my plants. If it would defeat the purpose of gardening, I would let my chickens loose on the bugs! But then I really wouldn’t have any plants left…..
My gardens are chalk full of weeds too. I don’t know what the deal is this year but oh my heavens!!! The weeds are winning I am afraid.
Do take time for yourself my dear Julie. I worry about you so.
XXX
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Julie
It is so good to here your updates. I am looking forward to the new patterns.
Take care
Jennifer Utopia Canada
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I’m so glad to hear from you! And very excited about the upcoming patterns! Thank you again, for your generosity in sharing them.
Your garden really does look very pretty with the baskets! I hope they work well!
Take care of yourself!
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Glad to have you back looking forward to more patterns. But don’t get in a tizz over them. Hope to see you soon. Take care.
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So good to see the dress patterns. Bare bunnies get cold in this weather! Your garden room looks fab and I love the throw and cushion in those colours.
Penny
x
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I love your raised bed… if only mine looked as pretty! Beautiful cushion.. love the colours 🙂
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Hi The garden looks amazing. You certainly have the nac to present everything so lovely. Take care thinking of you.
Sue
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Your knitting and crochet is wonderful and your garden looks great too!
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I can’t wait to see your garden room Julie — especially with your handcrafted touches — I know it will be beautiful. Also excited about the new patterns — Oh to have more time in the day!!! ;-D
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Hello! Oh I do love your little woven cloches – your garden looks amazing already.
Nina x
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Hi Julie, wow the garden room looks truly amazing, the cushion and blanket are so beautifully made, I love your choice of colours too 🙂 oh how exciting new clothes I cant wait …… also so excited for other animal patterns too …. your a lovely lady who is kept so busy indeed, and sometimes we could all do with more hours in a day 🙂 x x x
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Your cushion and afghan look so stunning on your new sofa! I wish I had a scrap of your colour sense – I know I’m always saying that! ;o) I’m very excited about the dresses patterns too – I haven’t started a bunny yet as I don’t have nice enough yarn for it but I was reading through the forum posts last night and getting very inspired! You really are amazing Julie! We do love you!! Lucy xx
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THANK YOU JULIE YOU MAKE ME SO HAPPY YOU ARE SO KIND,LOVE THE DRESSES GOING TO MAKE ONE NOW. PS LOVE YOUR GARDEN.
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Your new cushion turned out so lovely, a perfect match to your afghan! I can´t wait to see more of your garden room. Thank you so much for taking your time to write down more patterns for us! So, I will wait with the dress for my second bunny until you are ready!
Have a great week Julie!!
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I ran straight to Ravelry and bought the dress patterns !! I love them, thankyou so much for letting us in to your wonderful world of bunnies 🙂
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LOve the colour scheme of the cushions. Very subtle and sophisticated. Makes me wish I could crotchet.
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Lovely to read your post and catch up with all of your craftiness – love the bunny clothes and cushion x
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….. and when do you actually get time to eat, sleep & shop!! I envy your skill to design and record patterns, definitely a gift.
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Your basket of knits looks delightful! And the garden just makes me want to step outside with my bag of yarn.
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Hi Julie,
Thanks so much for the bunny dresses pattern.
I ordered it yesterday and can’t wait to get started.
I have to make the bunny first I ordered that pattern last week.
I’m waiting on the postman to bring me the yarn I ordered to make it.
Hopefully it will all be here tomorrow so I can get started.
And I hope my bunny turns out as nice as yours.
I have been reading through the patterns in the mean time, the instructions are so clear.
I love your work and your blog, the afghan is amazing.
Thanks again
Chris Xx
P.S I was going to ask you about a pattern for the other animals, if you were thinking of making one that is.
But I read in your post that you are working on it!!! I can’t wait.
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Oh, dear J – your garden is just as the rest of the things that come to life under your hands – not just neat and tidy, but a wee work of art. If you could see my yard just now, you’d cry. I want to come and sit in your garden. You know how to make peace with your hands, but that’s no surprise, of course. I tried to buy the dresses pattern this morning, but had to remember that I have recently changed all my passwords. I am now a prisoner of my own making. Have to find the list and look up what I did with PayPal. Here is what Rachel and I have found – when there are so many excellent things to do, it doesn’t matter which one you choose to focus on, you will still feel ashamed that you are not doing something “important” instead – if I were doing the accounting, I’d feel guilty for not cleaning (which grows less and less important to me every day) or doing something more significant, like family history or learning more skills, or creating something. But choose any one of those things, and the rest of the list leans over my shoulder subtly ahem-ing because I SHOULD be doing something else. May I submit to the universe of the heart and mind that life is simply a string of days – and that love is the true business of it? That a surfeit of possible interesting and exciting and engaging projects is a blessing, and should not be transformed into a burden of regret for wasted opportunities or shame for “duties” undone? Loving our people and creating – these things walk in the footsteps of divinity. I’m not sure how often Heavenly Father dusts –
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I love your pictures and thank you so much for the dress patterns! I am hoping to knit a bunny this summer.
Tell me more about your basket cover. I have a terrible time with the birds breaking my plants when they are tender….so frustrating. Those baskets would keep them off of the plants while they are still young…brilliant idea!
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Hello from the States. I have shown your Etsy site to everyone I know. You are extraordinary. My mom could knit but alas I have two left hands. I also would like to know about your basket covers. I will be over next spring and if I know where to purchase them to send home I will. That will certainly keep the bunnies and birds from noshing on all my goodies.
Thanks again for your wonderful work and artful you!
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LOVE THE COLORS ON THE CUSHION AND BLANKET WHAT WOOL ARE YOU USING AND WHERE IS THE PATTERN I WOULD LOVE TO MAKE SOME FOR MY SUMMERHOUSE
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