Showing posts with label An OFG Spring Time Team Story. Show all posts
Showing posts with label An OFG Spring Time Team Story. Show all posts

Thursday, February 28, 2013

An OFG Spring Time Story Continues.....

Our story started HERE...

When the baby bunnies awoke the next morning and saw their gift, they hopped up and down with excitement! "Thank you Mommy and Daddy!" chimed twelve little baby bunny voices. But the gift for their baby bunnies was not the only surprise Lilly Mae and Benny had come home with the night before. They had also gone shopping at the Motherlode Toad Factory, www.etsy.com/shop/MotherlodeToad for gifts for Grandma Bunny and Francesca! They knew for sure that they would find the perfect one of a kind, hand crafted creative gift for each of them in Robyn's shop to thank them for taking such good care of their baby bunnies and they were so right! For Grandma Bunny, since she loves to stitch and sew, they purchased an adorable Sunflower Pin Cushion Mouse
and for Francesca, who loves birds so very much, they purchased an amazing bluebird wall hanging.
Grandma Bunny and Francesca were such great baby sitters for the 12 little bunnies. Lily Mae thought an extra hand was definitely needed to help with meals for all of them. Fortunately, a wonderful chef lived right down the street and was available at this wonderful shop on Etsy called www.etsy.com/shop/PaintspotsnSplinters 
"Hop" came over immediately to talk to Lilly Mae. Lilly Mae said: "These babies are very particular about their meals." 
"Clarice likes only carrots.
Chuck likes only chocolate!" 
With a giant gasp, "Hop" fainted and fell to the floor. The very thought of thinking he would have to prepare 12 individual meals three times a day scared him senseless! 
Lilly Mae rushed to revive "Hop" and said how very sorry she was to have upset him so greatly!
As soon as he could "Hop", streaked on back home. Lilly Mae thought: I will have to check all of the great Old Farmhouse Gathering team to find extra helpers for meals, maybe more than one this time?

Benny was beside himself with the thought of how expensive this was going to get. "Lilly Mae" he said in his Big Bunny Honey voice. "We simply cannot afford to provide all of our little ones with 'silver spoons' in their mouths. It's time to teach them what real rabbits do. Let's go and get the gardening tools out of the bunny shed. I found some GREAT fruits and vegetables over at the www.etsy.com/shop/farmersattic."

Since it was such a beautiful day, Lilly Mae and Benny took their little bunnies outside to teach them the basics of gardening, complete with delicious vegetables and most especially, CARROTS!

After they went out to the garden and Benny saw all the wonderful veggies the garden had to offer for this growing family, he went out to the potting shed where he remembered he bought the perfect pail at www.etsy.com/shop/barbsheartstrokes.
This would be just what they needed to carry all their food for the day back to their nest. 

As it is with most growing babies, it's hard for them to concentrate on one task for very long. Lillie Mae and Benny let the babies explore the garden while they finished gathering their beautiful veggies. 

It wasn't long before the babies came hopping over to mom and dad excitedly having found the most beautiful creature they have ever seen. Lillie Mae and Benny laughed at the little ones remembering the first time they were allowed to explore their world as children.

"Benny, why don't you sit with the children and explain to them what amazing creatures there are in the world and how very beneficial they are to our environment?"

"Great idea, Lillie Mae. It is our responsibility to teach the children how to care for the world around them and to respect all living creatures."

"Gather around children. Let's see what it is you have found in the garden today." said Benny to the babies. With the excitement and wonder only children have, Benny began to explain to them about the beautiful red lady bug they found hiding among the daisies.
“Ladybugs are need in our gardens to help our plants grow by eating other harmful bugs.”
"Do you remember your Grand poppa Maxwell Bunny?" asked Benny.
 www.etsy.com/shop/MROriginals
All the little bunnies nodded yes.
"He grew up during WWII and during that period of time everyone was encouraged to have a 'Victory Garden'. He became quite an avid gardener. This is where I learned the importance of ladybugs and other helpful bugs in a garden."
"Every morning he would say hang out is Victory Banner then start doing his part for the war effort." 
"He took care of his garden, turned in all the worn rubber car tires to the collecting stations, as well as all scrap metal he could find. This was all for the War effort. It was a difficult time in history and everyone had to do his part." 
"But every autumn his garden paid off and they had food to eat during the upcoming winter." said Benny
“We are lucky to live in a different and easier period of time,” said Benny to his brood. “Now it is time to go help out your Mother fix dinner.” So off they hopped….

Benny and Lilly Mae gathered all of their brood to help fix dinner. Each one of the little ones had a task to do, dishes, silverware, napkins glasses and extra chairs for the guests that have been invited to dinner. The Twisted Knickers family are coming for dinner, they all jumped up and down with excitement to hear their friends were coming.
The first to arrive is Maple Sugar, oh how they loved to cuddle next to his fur.
Momma made a special dish for him, roast beef.

The next to arrive was Ronnie Ribbit. They all played Leap Frog with him. I think maybe the little hoppers loved him most.

As the night progressed many stories were told over the table, lots of laughs were heard and many memories were placed in their hearts forever.
As everyone went to bed after a splendid party they were wondering what was going to happen tomorrow........

The little bunnies woke up early the next morning before anyone else. They were very excited to do something nice for their parents. 

They wanted to show their Mommy and Daddy that they had listened to the stories about Grand-poppa bunny and how it was important to grow a garden. So they decided to plant a herb garden and use tags from www.etsy.com/shop/MarysMontage to label the plant pots. They knew the way to Old Farmhouse Gathering by now, and off they bounced to get the special tags.
It was the Best Day Ever, a day to remember forever and share with their friends with the help of a spring scrapbook kit for the pictures they would take of their first garden. Such clever little bunnies!
The little bunnies were so proud of all the hard work they had done on the spring garden. They had tilled up the ground, covered all the seeds with the dark rich soil, then gently sprinkled the entire garden with water. The sun was beginning to sink in the sky. The little bunnies knew that momma would soon be calling them to dinner. They scurried about putting up the garden tools. The bunnies all agreed to keep the garden a secret & surprise their parents in the morning. They finished tidying up & scampered inside giggling & whispering ....All except for one little bunny.....This bunny wanted to surprise everyone with a primitive garden angel to look over the newly planted garden. An angel to bless the seeds. She knew she could find just the perfect angel at www.etsy.com/shop/PrimitiveHart.
 .......Meanwhile in the rabbit hole, Momma rabbit had sent all the dirty little bunnies to the bathtub to get clean before dinner.

"Oh Dear Oh Dear What a mess my little bunnies made! What can they be up too?" Spring was coming and Lillie Mae wanted to bring a little spring into their rabbit hole. She knew she could find just want she needed at the www.etsy.com/shop/raggedyjan shop. There were so many wonderful things in the shop but... Large Bunches of Sweet Annie caught her eye and they would fill their home with wonderful springtime freshness! 
After putting all those tired little bunnies to bed, Lilly Mae settles down in her comfy chair with the basket of mending in her lap. The colorful pin cushion that she bought at 
www.etsy.com/shop/happyvalleyprimitive is too pretty to keep in the sewing basket ..so it sits on the shelf behind her chair.
After she had finished the mending, she went to the kitchen and set the table for breakfast with the kid's favorite bunny napkins.
Her days work is finished. Lilly Mae yawns and hops off to bed.

She looked over at her beloved Benny and even with a day full of activities, noise and a little chaos, she remembered just how much he meant to her. He reached over to hold her hand as they always did and she rested her weary head on their new little pillow. 
And, in what seemed to be just a blink, they were welcomed into the new day by The Clucks, a pair of very early risers!
Just as Lilly Mae was making breakfast there was a knock at the door.
Prim Fabric Bunny, Spring Decor, Bunny Doll, Prim Rabbit, Easter Bunny,
 Benny opened the door and it was Mr. Hopper from next door. "I need a favor Benny. My wife is in labor so can you and Lilly Mae watch our little ones until my Mother arrives?" www.etsy.com/shop/MystitchestoTreasure 
Prim Fabric Bunny, Bunny Bowl fillers, Easter Decor, Spring Decor, Chocolate Bunnies
 "Of course Mr. Hopper," Benny replied. "We are just about to eat breakfast so bring them on in." After all, what is a few more bunnies in the world of bunnies!

Mama sent the bunnies to wash up for breakfast, reminding them to use soap...after all, she was thrilled with the new soap dispenser she had just bought at www.etsy.com/shop/YorkiesPrimitives
Later that afternoon, Mama decided to give all of the bunnies a special treat before it was time for the neighbor bunnies to go home. She had some candy bars and kisses she had also picked up while she was at Yorkie's Primitives.

The bunnies had all played together so nicely that Mama was able to relax and browse through the shops of The OFG Team. Mama was so happy she decided to let them have one of each!! Talk about hoppy...I mean happy bunnies!

After the bunnies finished their candy, Mama gave them all a bath and put them to bed. Then she went back to The OFG Team and found the perfect Baby Card from www.etsy.com/shop/thetinysparrow to welcome the new bunnies at the Hopper home.
She was excited to know that her babies would have friends to play with and all was well at Benny and Lilly Mae's bunny home!
This would be a fun Spring with all the new bunnies hopping around!!
Spring had Sprung with help from The Old Farm House Gathering Team!!

THE END

We hope you have enjoyed this Spring Time Adventure!!

Brought to you by these talented members of the Old Farmhouse Gathering team!




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Posted by Barb at 10:54 AM 4 comments
Primitives, Etsy, Cottage, Prim, Altered Art, ,

Thursday, February 21, 2013

An OFG Spring Time Team Story

“Once there lived a bunny couple named Lilly Mae and Benny www.etsy.com/shop/PaintspotsnSplinters .
  They were ready for a change. They wanted to find fun, unique, and interesting items not only to decorate their bunny home but to share their findings with all their friends this Easter Season. 

They had heard of a wonderful team on Etsy called the Old Farmhouse Gathering Team. This team was known for exactly what they were looking for; handmade, hand crafted, unique, and one of a kind items. Off they hopped looking for some wonderful finds….”

Lilly Mae and Benny came across Ilene's shop www.etsy.com/shop/happyvalleyprimitive
 at the Old Farmhouse Gathering Team.
The store was filled with items for every occasion! There were spring colors of pink and green and pastel stripes. Lilly Mae 'ooohed and awwwwwed' over the Spring Napkin set. "Benny Bunny honey!" she exclaimed, " This would look FABulous on our Easter Table!" Benny agreed and so they made their first purchase.
Then Benny looked over to the living room. "We definitely need something in here, and I know just the place!" They hopped on in to Deb's cute little shop, www.etsy.com/shop/PaxtonValleyFolkArt,  and found such a wonderful assortment of folk art with such a prim flair. "Look what I found, Lilly Mae!" and with that Benny presented her with this
"Oh my, Benny! This cute little love Bunny looks just like you! It's perfect!"

Lilly Mae then said to Benny "You know what we need is some new curtains for the kitchen, do you have any idea where we might find some?" Benny thought for a minute and then said "I remember seeing a really cute kitchen valance in Colleen's shop, www.etsy.com/shop/needlesnpinsstichery,  let's go take a look". Off they hopped to Colleen's shop and when Lilly Mae saw the valance 
she said "Benny, it's perfect, what a great choice!"

So then they started to think of what other places in their home that needed a little something special added to it. Lilly Mae said "dear you know that wall over by the front door? It needs something really nice to fill that space" Then they saw the Farmers Attic shop at www.etsy.com/shop/farmersattic and said "oh look at all the wonderful items in that shop! Let's go in and look". As they entered the shop right there on the wall was a beautiful quilt that would fit that space perfectly! 
So they hopped right over to it and purchased it.

As Lilly Mae and Benny were hopping from shop to shop they came across the Holly Ridge Creations shop at www.etsy.com/shop/HollyRidgeCreations. 
"Oooh look Benny - Judy has the most wonderful Easter Egg painted vintage dish!!! Wouldn't that look just perfect on display?"
"Lilly Mae, you're right. Let's hop right on into Holly Ridge Creations and snatch up the perfect find!"
Lilly Mae and Benny are now the proud owners of Holly Ridge Creations Vintage Easter Egg plate!

This journey through the Old Farmhouse Gathering is so much fun, Lily Mae and Benny had never dreamed the Farmhouse was filled with so many things and they had only just begun their journey. They had been looking for things to fill their home with beauty and were finding just what they wanted. 
But, then to their amazement, they were looking into the Motherlode Toad Factory and couldn't believe their eyes. You see, they had been talking about starting a family for awhile now and here at www.etsy.com/shop/MotherlodeToad was the family they had been dreaming of!
Now, besides looking for things to decorate their home, they can look for things for their babies!! 

Lilly Mae had a HUGE surprise for Benny. Over a fabulous dinner of Carrot Casserole and a dessert of Carrot Cake , she gently told him "Benny we're having 12 Babies! They are cheeper by the dozen you know!" Benny choked on his carrot cake and said "I am amazed and excited!" Lilly Mae said: "Now, Benny don't get your knickers in a knot!
We'll need lots of baby blankets and I just saw these over at the greatest shop, Twisted Knickers on Etsy." www.etsy.com/shop/TwistedKnickersInc
Oh dear oh dear, this was all a bit much for Benny, he needed an after dinner hop. Off he went fidgeting and twitching with much on his mind. “What’s wrong Benny?” chirped Tiny Sparrow. “Well,” said Benny, “I’m going to be a new Dad and Lilly Mae will take care of all that… but I haven’t gotten Lilly Mae a birthday present yet and I mustn't forget.” “Benny come to my nest, I have just the thing for Lilly Mae , tweeted Tiny Sparrow. www.etsy.com/shop/thetinysparrow
Tiny Sparrow had beautiful handmade broaches, perfect for a coat, a hat or a purse. 
“Don’t worry Benny I’ll wrap it up and mail it to you, it will be a great surprise for Lilly Mae ” sang Tiny Sparrow. Oh this online shopping is fun thought Benny, and he hopped happily home.

Benny arrived back at the cozy burrow and found Lilly Mae with her feet up but she was tossing and turning as she just couldn't get comfortable.  He didn't tell her about the brooch (or broach - Benny was sure either spelling was fine!) as he wanted it to be a surprise.
"Oh Benny" said Lilly Mae " I really can't seem to get any proper rest, these 12 little bunnies sure make it hard to sleep"
Benny thought for a few minutes and then said "Lilly Mae, what you need is a proper hand made pillow and I am sure I saw one in the Primitive Hart shop. www.etsy.com/shop/PrimitiveHart

Sure enough when Benny went along to the shop there was a great pillow - just right for Lilly Mae AND it was on sale which pleased Benny no end as he would have watch the pennies with lots more mouths to feed in the not too distant future!
Over Sunday dinner Benny and Lilly Mae worried and worried! "How will we take care of all our little ones?" cried Lilly Mae  Their carrot and cabbage meal cooled. Then Benny came up with the best idea any bunny ever had! "Let's hire a Nanny, Lilly Mae! She will need to be kind, loving and want to live with us in our cozy cottage. I know exactly where to look! A few days ago as I traveled through all the wonderful shops of Old Farmhouse Gathering team I visited www.etsy.com/shop/yorkiesprimitives and saw the most wonderful bunny and I am sure Lil' Bunny will be perfect for us!
Well, when Benny and Lilly Mae asked Lil' Bunny to be their nanny she realized that with all those bunny babies to take care of she was going to need some way of keeping them quiet. 
So she searched through the OFG Team and found the cutest Pigs at www.etsy.com/shop/MyStitchesToTreasure and ding, dong, the lights went on! These adorable pigs would be perfect to use to tell the story of the Three Little Pigs to these little ones. This should keep them quiet for a little while.
Excitement is building in the bunny home as the exciting day draws closer. The home is looking beautiful, there are plans to entertain the babies, and Lilly Mae has some wonderful new gifts. Lilly Mae is soooo happy she found the Old Farmhouse Gathering Shops! 

One afternoon Lilly Mae and Benny were trying to figure out how they were going to share the news of their new blessings with 1200 of their closest friends and family. Lilly Mae, being a little on the crafty side herself, beamed and said "I know how!" and scurries off to Mary's Montage at www.etsy.com/shop/MarysMontage. She picks out some adorable card making sheets so she can make as many announcements as she needs! And while she was there, she picked out some scrap booking sheets to make some memory pages of her babies as they grow. 
Being the smart little bunny she is, Lilly Mae gets busy working on those announcements right away!

Just as the spring flowers were beginning to bloom, the BIG day arrived. Benny & Lilly Mae were blessed with one dozen precious baby bunnies! It was a happy day in the rabbit hole! Lilly Mae added the birth details to the announcements & Benny rushed them over to the post office. Soon all their 1200 friends would get news ! And soon all those 1200 friends would be dropping by to see the bunnies!
"Hmmmm", thought Benny "How ever will I afford to pay for refreshments for all these visitors? They will drink us out of house & hole! " Suddenly he remembered something he had seen at the Old Farmhouse Gathering! " Yes, that will do the trick! " chuckled Benny. He hopped online and clicked on RaggedyJan's shop  www.etsy.com/shop/raggedyjan
There was the solution! A Folk Art Sign He would hang it in the kitchen....And he would charge 5 cents for each glass of carrot juice he served. !! 

Just as the sun came up there was a knock at the door..who could possibly be arriving this early Lilly Mae wondered. 
Benny hopped over and peek out the small window...there stood Granny Cottontail peeking right back at him over her wire glasses...He could barely get the door open when she tossed a package to Lilly Mae and hopped right over to the babies....(You know how Grannys can not wait to hug those babies)

Benny and Lilly Mae tore into the package. They were both so touched by the beautiful Tote Bag that Granny found at NeedlesnPinsStichery. www.etsy.com/shop/NeedlesnPinsStichery
Wise old Granny knew the wonderful craftsmanship could withstand all the abuse from 12 kicking little babies and later Lilly Mae could use if for her shopping trips to the Farmers Market..and with 12 little mouths to feed there will be many trips to the market.

The days went by and Benny and Lilly May were so busy taking care of their little brood of bunnies.
Benny was working hard at the carrot patch and Lilly May was busy with the bunnies. 
One day Benny came home to Lilly May sitting in the chair all tired out. Benny could see that she needed a little time away from all the bunnies. He asked Lilly May if she would like to go out for a date to the Hippity Hoppity Dance. She said she would love to, but they need to find a babysitter. Benny thought and thought and remembered that www.etsy.com/shop/PatchworkFriends had some wonderful Grandmother bunnies that they could hire to babysit for them.
So Benny went to Patchwork Friends and asked the wonderful Grandma bunny to come babysit for them and she said she would love too. So Benny and Lilly May had a night out on the town!

Lilly Mae and Benny called Grandma bunny to check in before they went into the movie theater. "Everything is great!' Grandma bunny replied. "Remember my friend Francesca, you met her at my birthday party last week. She is from that cute shop, www.etsy.com/shop/mroriginals down on Cabbage Patch Lane and loves to read to babies". And just as she said that, the doorbell rang and there was Francesca with her bag full of story books.
It is good to see you Grandma bunny, now where are all those precious little bunny babies!

Lilly Mae and Benny were so happy to meet Francesca, they knew that their little babies would be in good hands after all Francesca took care of children for over 23 years and knew how to read books, play games and sing songs. She had the bunnies all get into a circle for "Circle Time". How about a game of Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes, oh the fun they were all having, making memories too......Francesca brought along a book full of really good songs that she found in this wonderful store in Cabbage Patch Lane called www.etsy.com/shop/HollyRidgeCreations We should learn this song so we are all ready for Sunday Church.
The little ones all started hopping up and down with joy to learn a new song. The little bunnies will never forget their time with Francesca.

Finally, after Lilly Mae was satisfied everything was okay at home, she and Benny headed on into the theater. They grabbed a bag of candied carrot chips and a dewdrop slushy and settled in to enjoy the movie. But, since this was the first time they had been away from their little hoppers, Lilly Mae just could not get them off her mind. As soon as they were outside the theater, she made another call and was told all was well at home. Although, Francesca did sound a bit hoarse! And, just cause they just knew their little ones had been perfect angels, they decided to make a stop at The Farmhouse and to find something special for them. There are so many wonderful shops at they Farmhouse and they found just what they were looking for at PaxtonValleyFolkArt www.etsy.com/shop/PaxtonValleyFolkArt
The babies were all tucked in and fast asleep when they got home. Even Granny Bunny and Francesca had dozed off. They decided not to wake any of them up. They would wait until morning to see what the little ones would do when they see their gifts..........

To be continued so stay tuned!

Our Story continues HERE.

Brought to you by these talented members of the Old Farmhouse Gathering team!

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Posted by Barb at 8:30 AM 7 comments
Primitives, Etsy, Cottage, Prim, Altered Art,
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