Woolnimals

I've been slowly going through my favorite Etsy shops and finding/reading their blogs. I just love reading blogs of other artists. It's inspiring and informative and I feel like I have friends. :) Here are two of my recent favorites: * Oh Chalet - The blog for Cool Ranch Studio , fine purveyors of awesome paintings of pugs, foxes, and other delightful things. * Maybeads - the blog for Maybeads' Etsy Shop . Lauren does amazing lampwork beads. One of her little beads was inspired by my needle felted Koala bear - you can see her post about it here! More to come soon!

As everyone already knows, I love Etsy. It's my favorite place to buy gifts for others, and every now and then I buy myself a little treat too. I have been nothing but pleased with every purchase I've made on Etsy...until now. Meet Hamilton the Pig: I am not simply "pleased" with this purchase...he is hands down my favorite purchase ever! I bought him from Knitted for Ewe on Etsy after reading this blog post on Nicole's Knitting Blog. Hamilton is made from bubblegum pink yarn - upcycled from a thrifted sweater. He's so plump and squishy and fat and pink that I can barely stand it. I brought him to a Father's Day picnic at Charlotte Beach in Charlotte, Vermont - and he enjoyed the lake views and being hugged by my husband's entire family. His first adventure was hanging out on the dock, catching some sun. And my husband may love him even more than me. Here he is posing proudly with our new piglet... I think Hamilton has a lot of adventures ahead of...

"Fox in Winter" Woodcut Print by Vermont artist Sabra Field . This day is so beautiful.