Twit-twoooooooooooo! I would like to introduce you to a new friend who has come to live with me in the Attic. Isn't she pretty? Miss Dotty has been here just over a week and I am already rather in love with her colourful, dotty-spotty presence around here.
I knew just where she was going to roost. Above the jugs, below the coffee pots, in front of the books on the shelf second from the top. Perfect. She is very happy there next to my Jane Cat, I can just tell.
I'm sorry for the fuzzy-wuzzy photos, the light levels at this time of year make it hard to take decent pictures. But I really did want to introduce you to Miss Dotty, wanted to tell you that she was made especially for me by the wonderfully talented Caroline. Some of you may remember Caroline, she is the lady who set my heart a-flutter in the Spring when she made her delightful mixed media caravan collage and took me along for the ride. Some folk are just so talented aren't they? Not only does Caroline make the most amazing mixed media collages, but as you can see she is also a whizz with fabric, needle and thread too. Her owls have become very sought after as they are made in limited numbers, so I feel very lucky to have Miss Dotty.
These look like my kind of fabrics don't they? This collection is almost identical to my own, only it belongs to Caroline. We have remarkably similar Creative Minds it seems.
These fabrics are all destined to become gorgeous twit-twoooooo's in the next few weeks, I can already imagine how beautiful they will look. If you think you would like to give an owl a home for Christmas, then please do bob along and pay Caroline a visit, her contact details are all on her website. She will be making up an email list of anyone interested in knowing as soon as they are listed in her shop. See, I told you they were sought after.
Now then, shall we talk Piggies? Want to see the two Little Piggies who have taken up residence in the Attic?
Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!! These are six week old baby guinea pigs and they are the cutest, most adorable little things imaginable. Haha.....were you expecting homemade piggies? Crochet ones perhaps? I think I may have surprised you with the Real Deal??!!!
Let me introduce you to our new girls......
This is Pip :: a little shy still, but she is quietly confident, calm and gentle.
And this is Lola :: quite a scatty little thing, she has an inquisitive nature and playful personality.
Ever since we visited the Children's Farm in Dorset during the summer, there have been persistent and very persuasive pleas for guinea pigs. I kept guinea pigs as a child and have some very fond memories of the experience, so I felt that perhaps the time was right to finally say YeS to the pet plea. YES.....lets do it! Lets be a family who Has Pets!!
We picked them up a week ago, and they have brought a huge heap of happiness to our household. The Little People are so enchanted by them, and I have to admit I am too. I really love them. I love love love the noises they make, and I love their happy little personalities. I love that they love food sooooooooo much!
For the time being, we are keeping them indoors, and it's lovely to observe them throughout the day and see them settling in and getting used to us and our noisy ways.
We handle them several times a day and they seem to quite like their out-of-cage time. Little B is still a wee bit noisy and fidgety with them, but he is learning fast...he really loves them though. Well we all do. Little Lady is positively beaming from ear to ear with her new Pet Ownership role.
I've been wondering whether it is a little bit too crazy to want to crochet them a snuggle blanket? Just a small one? Can I? Pleeeeeeeeeeease????
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oh Lucy what a wonderful web sight. What wonderful colours. I have just learnt to crochet, and hope to end up doing lovely colourful things. Thanks for the inspiration. I will definately try to find crochet clases. How clever you are. From Carol xx
Posted by: Carol Powell | January 19, 2013 at 08:05 PM
I am almost as guinea pig obsessed as I am all things fiber. My piggy is named Rhino and she's probably one of those most spoiled babies ever. She gets her own handmade caves and blankets.
Posted by: Samantha | December 30, 2012 at 04:31 AM
Oh my goodness, they are sooooo CUTE! Dottie is lovely, and the piggies are adorable. Of course there has to be a snuggle blanket for them!
Posted by: Beate | December 21, 2012 at 10:01 AM
They're absolutely gorgeous!!!
Posted by: Julia | December 17, 2012 at 05:20 PM
Your guinea pigs are darling...and definitely deserving of a little crocheted love! We had them growing up...and my kids had them growing up, but there haven't been any in our home for a while. Seeing yours made me a little nostalgic! I hope my grandchildren get to enjoy the pleasures of piggies soon! :)
Posted by: Denise :) | December 14, 2012 at 12:44 PM
LOL! my guinea pig was called Pip!
Posted by: Valerie | December 08, 2012 at 02:38 PM
Lucy,
Thank for sharing Caroline's work again. I was looking for two prints for niece's new step-daughter's room (she is 1 and 1/2). Specifically, we were looking for a bumblebee print. Yes! Caroline had one, and with nodding girl, they are both headed to Virginia (USA). Addison's room will look lovely. Now, to fight off the competition to get an owl!
Love your blog. Thanks for sharing your ideas and work with us.
Posted by: Tina-Marie Hamilton | December 08, 2012 at 12:01 AM
I've never commented on your blog before, even though I am a regular reader, but when I saw your guinea pigs, there was no stopping me. Guinea pigs make the best pets. We have two girls, now quite elderly at four and a half, but they are so much fun. My two boys are now teenagers, but they still find time for 'the ladies' as they're known. Ours live outside, well wrapped up and with lots of hay at all times, but on cold nights, we do bring them in, and we let them roam around the living room. They are (sort of) house trained, because if you put their blanket and some food down by the radiator, they make that their base, just making occasional forays to the fridge and for a dash round the chairs. Enjoy your lovely guinea pigs!
Posted by: fiona miller | December 07, 2012 at 03:01 PM
Hello Lucy,
you can at least sew some cosy stuff for your piggies:
http://www.spikeskleinewelt.de/Kuschelecke.html
It is in German but with many pictures wich are self explaining. Our piggies love sleeping in their cosy caves and rolls, this is so cute. Oh, and our piggies don't eat their cosies. They are not like rabbits or rats who eat everything.
You could also crochet a hay net for them:
http://www.sifle.de/Heunetz.htm
We also built our pigs a large wooden cage with plexiglass windows and a second floor providing them the space they need and looking more beautiful than those cages you can buy.
Have fun crafting for your new friends!
Anika
Posted by: Anika | December 07, 2012 at 12:35 PM
my daughter has a piggie, too. they are so cute! I think a little blanket/nest/hidey-place would be a great thing for them!
Posted by: Cecilia | December 07, 2012 at 03:46 AM
growing up, my family had a pet store and as a result, we were fortunate to have a variety of pets, and I always thought guinea pigs were so sweet-- I love their cute little sounds. They'll be wonderful pets for your children!
Posted by: lee | December 07, 2012 at 01:24 AM
Hi, love the new arrivals !! having had winnies (as we call them ) since i was 5. From past experience wool always gets nibbled so i wouldnt advise a blanket. Good to have girls we have 3 boys now and they are so much more of a handfull so much mischief !! Good to keep inside we do with ours it socialise them well. You will notice when they are sure of you they will squeak and popcorn lots !!
Posted by: Gingerspice | December 06, 2012 at 08:26 PM
Your piggies are beautiful, adorable and so lucky to have a sweet, loving home. But please do be careful with them around crocheted things.
I knew of little pig that got one of it's claws caught in a crocheted blanket and hurt itself very badly in it's panic to set itself free. I also know (my husband is a vet) that many little piggies (including, sadly, one of my own when i was young :( have lost their lives through chewing crocheted, knitted and even (as in the case of my poor piggy) plain cotton fabric things. If they are to be near such items they need very strict supervision. Guinea pigs have very complex and sensitive digestive systems - a good cavies book will tell you this.
Really it is best to stick to hay bedding and use a (non fluffy) towel for cuddles.
Perhaps you could crochet a couple of colourful piggies for your mantlepiece.. that would be so much fun :)
Wishing you and your family much happiness with your sweet charges xxx
Posted by: sue | December 06, 2012 at 06:40 PM
Your wee guineas are just so cute. We welcomed two wee dudes into our home in June and they are a constant source of amusement. Im not so sure either about the crochet blanket for them but fabric definitely. Ive seen a site where they are always making things for the guineas. Just need to remember what it was again, lol.
I love your festive wreath, I'm never that great at colour matching.
Posted by: lillypip | December 05, 2012 at 11:23 AM
How adorable! Piggies are the best little creatures. Enjoy every moment with them :)
Posted by: Carolin | December 05, 2012 at 01:18 AM
Hi Lucy - I love guinea pigs and their little squeeky noises make me really happy. We are expecting a puppy in January and I am busy crocheting him a snuggly blanket. I think its a lovely idea to make the guinea pigs one but they may shred them so a natural yarn may be safest in case they eat it! xxx
Posted by: Lily | December 04, 2012 at 07:29 PM
I whink you have to crochet them a littel blanket. They're so so so cute, they deserve it.
Have a nice week!
Posted by: tejeme mucho | December 04, 2012 at 12:26 PM
Hi Lucy, I love that little owl you have there, so cute! We used to have a couple of guinea pigs when my boys were younger, they are very cute little creatures, although a bit too rat like for my liking! (bit phobic in that regard) Thankyou for your lovely comment recently, so nice to hear from you! Julie xx
Posted by: Julie | December 04, 2012 at 11:06 AM
How cute they are!!
Posted by: Randi | December 04, 2012 at 06:38 AM
Hi Lucy, I just wanted to let you know I've nominated you for a Beautiful Blogger Award. I know you don't really go in for blog awards (and of course, this comes obligation-free), but I couldn't help myself, I'm such a tragic fan of yours! Thank you for your beautiful blog! (gush gush!)
http://jamesjamesmorrisonmorrison.wordpress.com/2012/12/04/ooooooh/
Posted by: Kate | December 04, 2012 at 04:48 AM
And I meant to say that piggies go mad for fresh coriander...try it..their eyes will pop out of their heads with excitement!
Posted by: Clare | December 03, 2012 at 10:47 PM
I love those little piggies. I used to raise them for a pet shop when I was a kid.
So cute....hope to see LOTS of pictures of them.
Posted by: Claudia V | December 03, 2012 at 10:44 PM
We just love piggies in our house. Toffee and Crumble are saying a big hello squeek to Pip and Lola. They are the best pets for little people - and your two piggies will surely be loved and fussed over to no end - they are very lucky.
Posted by: Clare | December 03, 2012 at 10:44 PM
Lovely to read this - my nearly-six-year-old is campaigning hard for a pet and i think a guinea pig would be a great choice. They are incredibly cute! x
Posted by: Gillian | December 03, 2012 at 10:30 PM
Awww guinea pigs are the best! Now I'm looking forward to reading your posts even more, crochet and guineas, two of my favourite things! and of course you should make them a snuggly blanket! :D
Posted by: Helen | December 03, 2012 at 09:34 PM