Why Do I Support The Buckeye House Rabbit Society?

When I joined etsy in December 2007 and began to list my items for sale I came across a team I wanted to join - it was Etsy For Animals. I was delighted to be part of this international organisation, made up of single artists and crafters across the globe who all gave in their own way, (money, time, fostering, rescuing) to all types of animals everywhere!

Every month an animal charity was nominated to receive collective profits from the artist's sales and early last year it happened to be The Buckeye House Rabbit Society. I visited their website, (since I love rabbits!) and I searched around and came to the special needs bunnies - the ones with problems, psychological or physical, who would have a very hard time being adopted out.
In most cases visitors just overlook these types of rabbits, and I know from my own experience that it is purely because of inexperience in handling special rabbits.

Many years ago my fiance and I were very lucky to adopt a rescue rabbit, Zai, who had been badly mistreated. He had a very sensitive digestive system and very low immune system. This led us on discovery after discovery to help Zai and to make the bad days not so bad. We were blessed to have Zai in our lives and now we have a soft spot for 'those other bunnies'.

I came across the pictures of Malcolm and immediately felt a lump in my throat - he looked so like my Zai! A little orange coloured lop rabbit with a caring and beautiful face, and with a few 'problems'. Malcolm had deformed back legs that were still in use, he could jump around and hop but needed weekly baths. Zai had intermittent diahorreah and sometimes daily baths! so immediately I felt for Malcolm.

Malcolm also had ear problems because he couldn't keep them clean due to his deformed legs. In the sanctuary he was put on a programme of regular ear flushings and medications to prevent future infections. Due to his problems he was the first rabbit at Buckeye to be made a sanctuary rabbit.

Malcolm lived for approx 5 years. His favourite food was cilantro and he enjoyed pressing his head flat on the ground to receive pats - anyone who has a house-rabbit will know exactly what I mean!

Malcolm is no longer here, but he was loved deeply, and in the words of his fosterers 'The day you came to our home, our lives changed for the better. You showed us that adversity could be overcome with a little patience and a lot of caring.' There are other rabbits who cannot be adopted out due to their special circumstances and will stay at the Society in their Sanctuary.

It is with this heartfelt story of the very brave Malcolm that I decided to support The Buckeye House Rabbit Society, 3650 miles away (as the long distance crow flies), in memory of my own special needs rescue rabbit Zai.

When the tears finally dried on my cheeks, after reading his story, I emailed Herta at Buckeye and asked if she would be happy to let her members know about my charitable pledging on the sale of my rabbit bags. If I could give a little perhaps I could help a lot?

Herta was delighted that I could help out, and I was extremely touched that she was so generous with her time and publicity, especially considering that I was a continent away! I have been very happy in helping the rabbits at Buckeye whenever I can, and late last year I asked Herta if she could use one of the rabbit bags that I make to help raise funds for their buns. Herta said the bag could come in handy for their Spring raffle.

I know that with the funds raised many, many deserving rabbits will have a life of love, quality and happiness.

Here is Tinkerbell a very happily Buckeye adopted bun - and has another companion rabbit to keep her company, as well as a very large soft toy to snuggle up to! (or chew on!)

Here are some deserving rabbits currently looking for forever homes, and waiting patiently for you - could one (or two) of these amazing bunnies be your forever friend?

Maggie is a very friendly bunny and loves to follow you all over the place! Now that's devotion! She also loves to stand up on her hind feet to receive belly rubs - only very trusting rabbits do that! Here she is playing inside her Bunny's Magic Dream Cottage - could your own cottage be the forever home for her?

Kelby is a petite and sweet young lady, she loves running in her cardboard tunnel and tossing her plastic keys around! Days after being found in woods last September she gave birth to 4 babies. Now she is looking for her forever home. You can see how gorgeous she is!

Jongee's bite wound on his back has now finally healed and he is ready to find his forever home. He has a calm and pleasant temperament and would love to give and receive unconditional love - just look at that beautiful pink nose! What a gentle rabbit.

Lucy is a mini-rex with grey and white velvet fur. She was born in spring 2006 and is just turning into a fine young lady. What a very beautiful doe she is, she loves her food and is good in the kitty litter!

Kitty Kat is looking for a forever home. She is a good eater and excellent in the kitty litter. She is a little on the quiet side although very friendly. Look at her single beautiful white paw! What a lovely bunny she is.

Mr Bun welcomes Miss Bonnie and Miss Buttons. Two very happily adopted youngsters!

Mr Bun with Miss Bonnie and Miss Buttons - in their forever home.

Do you live in Ohio, USA? Could you offer a loving and safe forever home to a needy lagomorph?

If so - then contact them today and make a world of difference happen to a tiny little world (or two).

Giving plays such an important part in my life and I am grateful to be able to contribute to such a worthy cause as The Buckeye House Rabbit Society thru the sale of my Arabella Art-Accessory Rabbit Bags.

There are so many dedicated and hard working people who give constantly to help the animals and it is wonderful to be part of this great team.

I was so fortunate to have had Zai in my life, he is helping me help other bunnies in need.

Thank you to all the wonderful, wonderful people for purchasing raffle tickets to win the bag that I donated. The Buckeye House Rabbit Society take paypal payments for non US folks. Only a week and a bit left to purchase tickets.

Every dollar spent will be used to help their rabbits!

Thank you so much!

Purchase Your Raffle Tickets for Buckeye HERE with PayPal

Only a couple of weeks left to be WIN this super cute Arabella Blue Star White Star Art-Accessory Rabbit Bag!!

Modelled on my very own rescue rabbit Arabella, who was locked in a cage for 2 years and had no name. Gladly she made her way to a rescue, and Zai my first rescue rabbit chose her by licking her on the nose!

This bag is handmade and made with love :)

Herta from Buckeye wanted to let all the wonderful people know that you can now pay for your rafffle tickets via this blog.

There has been a couple of problems with the Buckeye website, and the draw is getting nearer, so I thank you all for your interest in the bag I have donated and for purchasing tickets!!

Donate On-Line with your PayPal account or credit card

To send help for a homeless rabbit the quickest way possible, click on the PayPal logo below. You'll be asked to register with PayPal if you aren't already, and then you will be able to send your donation directly to the Buckeye House Rabbit Society.

1. Log In (or register, if you are not already a PayPal user)

2. Click on "Send Money"

3. For "To", enter

(sorry - I am not a very good 'blogger' and I can't get the paypal email address above to be just a piece of text! If you have trouble then just type it in the paypal 'To' section)

4. For "Amount", choose USD

5. For "Send money for," choose Services/Other

6. On the page for "Review your payment and send," scroll down to "Payment Method" and choose PayPal Balance or eCheck (e.g. to use a charge card)

7. On the same page, scroll down to "Email to recipient" and add a Message if you wish your donation to go to a specific cause or specific rabbit (e.g. a Sanctuary Rabbit), or if you are buying raffle tickets ($10 worth or more, please)

This service has proven to be secure, reliable, and convenient. If you have any cause for concern, don't hesitate to email us at

If you prefer, please use the honorable snail instead to reach us by 31st March.

Mail your donation to the

Buckeye House Rabbit Society,

P.O. Box 5767,

Athens

OH 45701

USA

(check payable to "Buckeye House Rabbit Society").

All donations are tax-deductible.

Please have a look at this article on the donated bag for more details.

Good luck with your Raffle Tickets! and thank you very much for supporting the rabbits, from my own Arabella and me!

Little Plump Bird with Eggs

Some new additions to my shop (soon). Some with familys on the way, one like a small king and one with a fluffy bum. Does everyone love birds like I do? (after rabbits, hares and deer!)

Here is a lovely plump mother standing over her single precious blue and turquoise egg. She spent a long time gathering the materials for the nest - the earl grey tea bag shreds - and had asked me to pour the tea leaves (dust!) from the bag into an infuser so that she may use the bag new! Which I gladly did! after all, I would like to see her baby too.

This mother has 2 beautiful jet black eggs on a nest of more earl grey tea bag bits. Won't be long before they hatch into fluffy little blue, white and yellow birds.

This plump bird is in my etsy shop now - and has an elegant fluffy tail.

This bird has an amazing crest of feathers - rather like an opulent crown!

They will all be in my shop soon.

Don't forget to buy raffle tickets form The Buckeye House Rabbit Society for a chance to win my Arabella Art-Accessory Rabbit Bag that I donated to them. Only a couple of weeks left.

They take payapl and if you are in America they accept cheques.

Please send cheques to

Buckeye HRS

P.O. Box 5767

Athens,

OHIO 45701

thank you

Deer Brooch New in my Shop!

I have a couple of new brooches going into my shop! Deer!

This one is in already. Seen here standing next to my Arabella and White Tail Deer applique bag.

I just love deer, they are so elegant and graceful with such handsome features! This is a slightly padded applique brooch and would look wonderful on a jumper or scarf or bag - or the strap of you shoulder bag!

Close up you can see the sparkly earring added to the hind quarters. It catches the light beautifully.

This brooch will be going into my shop shortly. Lots of white faux fur, real pearls and sparkly bits!

I love deer and have a small collection of all sorts of them including the ones below.

Here are my 3 Jeol animals. At the front is a Waterbuck - in real life they are stunning and very beautiful antelopes. This one here has very long horns. The white crescent can be seen on his rump. This is a stunning little model!

Behind are 2 Jeol zebra. They are both in very good condition for their age. Most Jeol animals are around 30 years old and they were made in Hong Kong using good quality heavy plastic. The paint detailing was accurate and well applied. All scale is 1/32nd.

These are wonderful collectors items! and part of my small plastic animal collection that I refer to for inspiration.

The waterbuck is at the back. To the front is a Cherilea antelope. I have created a new species of antelope here - hence the unusual markings!

The white tail from the front, made in China - but looking superb after a careful paint restoration. Behind are 2 Britains red deer, minus their antlers - rutting season has finished!

back of the White Tail deer and the 2 red deer. I have improvised a bit with the markings on the white tail!

and finally 2 Britains Eland antelope to the back and 2 smaller orangy coloured ones made in China at the front. I have restored them all. Eland are majestic antelope and very beautiful indeed! They are also the largest antelope in the world.

Wondering about the difference bewteen deer and antelope?
Deer shed their antlers every year and antelope have horns which are from hairy matter. Horns are never shed but with the animal for life.

Don't forget to get your raffle ticket for the Arabella Bag that I donated to The Buckeye House Rabbit Society - only $1 - good luck!!

Link at the top of this page on the rabbit bag at the right!

SALE 20% off all BABY HARES

The baby hares are now on sale with 20% off . They were $25 but are now $20. All prices have been reduced already in my etsy shop.
All baby hares come beautifully gift wrapped with their little stories on a small card tag and I put in a Free baby hare handmade card and baby hare handmade gift tag.
Just ready for Giving or Keeping!!

This is Baby Hare Phyrr. He is best friends with a young bullfinch and they play games all day long. For sale here.

This is Baby Hare Uffy. He loves exploring and he is one of the fastest runners. For sale here.

This is Baby Hare Flurry. He wants to be the first hare to reach the North Pole and Ice Station Zebra is his favourite book. For sale here.

This is Baby Hare Dieter. He is an avid explorer and was saved in a marsh by Heron Small - now his best friend. For sale here.

This is Baby Hare Zip. He is best friends with Heski the baby heron. For sale here.

There is still time to purchase a raffle ticket to win the Arabella Bag that I have donated to The Buckeye House Rabbit Society.

Tickets are $1 and payapl is accepted.

Arabella is raising funds for their homeless rabbits and she hopes that all the rabbits finds loving and safe forever homes.

The bag can be sen at the top right of this blog and visiting this earlier post.

Thank you!

The Perfect Birthday card for that Grey Haired 'oldie'

Do you know someone who is Over the Hill? or Past It? or Getting On?
or someone who spends a lot of time pulling out platinum coloured hairs from their head on their birthday month?

If so - then this is the perfect card for them!

It features a cut-out grey hare for every year of their life! This card here has 41 of the furries!! (gosh!). Just as well all the hares get on and there are no disagreements.

Inside each page is filled with hares. They have pencilled in fur markings and some of them have faint numbers, just visible. Especially the last hare - where the number is most visible, lest the birthday person thinks they are trying to kid someone.

This card will be made to order for each lucky recipient because I will have to cut out each hare for every year! The card size that you see here will only be suitable for fogies up to 65, after that I have to extend it with another section to fit on more hares!

Order yours now from my etsy shop. For those fortunate to be under 65 it costs $8 and those over will have to fork out another $3. (Those hares take up a lot of card!) This card is made by me, by hand and is my design and artwork.

Available now in my etsy shop.

Don't forget to buy a raffle ticket (or two) to win the beautiful Arabella Art-Accessory Bag to the right, here.

All proceeds will be used by The Buckeye House Rabbit Society to care for their rescued rabbits as they wait patiently for their forever homes.

Thank you.

Donations needed for puppy Jack

Gorgeous little Jack was found walking along a country road dragging his left front leg. The animal rescuer immediately took him for treatment and the leg will need to be amputated.
Jack had apparently no feeling in the leg because there was no skin and the bone was exposed. The wound is infected and he needs an amputation straight away to stop the infection spreading.

Dawn is hoping to raise $300 immediately to pay for the vet fees. I have donated already and every amount, no matter how small, will be appreciated.

Jack is a sweet loving puppy about 8 months old. He was a little scared when first found but warmed up quickly. He is an Australian Kelpie / Heeler cross and obviously a very beautiful young dog with a great future ahead. These dogs are Aussie working dogs and are small to medium sized with great intelligence. Jack will make someone very happy!

Please consider donating - any amount, no matter how small, will be gratefully welcome.

The PayPal email is ashtabulaanimaladvocates@gmail.com

Jack is listed on petfinder and is looking for a forever home to treat him with love and kindness.

Dawn has a shop on etsy, FashionSplatter, which sells her collage pendants like the one above 'and other small animals'.

All monies raised from these sales go towards her rabbit rescue Serenity Now Ranch, in Ohio, and the deserving animals there.

She also raises funds for any other animals that desparately need help, especially Jack, by helping out the Ashtabula County Animal Protective League .

Dawn also has a blog where she posts the latest news about animals that have just been rescued and need help, and about animals that are still looking for their forever homes.

Thank you,

and don't forget to have a look at look at the Arabella bag on the right - raffle tickets to win her are only $1.

I was Invited to Judge an Art Competition

by my very special homeopathic vet Margot Hunter of Dunedin Veterinary Centres, in Tranent, East Lothian, Scotland. Phone (24hrs) 01875 613593.

I received these beautiful flowers as a thank you! But actually it is Margot that I want to thank!

I found Margot a few years ago as I frantically searched the internet for a homeopathic vet to treat my rescue rabbit Zai. Zai was unable to accept any orthodox medicine in his body due to his very weak immune system. He had been bought as a pet for a child - who became bored after a short while - and the parents couldn't be bothered looking after him, so he had been badly mistreated. He had been terribly sick when given antibiotics and I couldn't take any chances of making him sicker by using 'conventional' medicine. So I searched for an alternative medicine vet for nearly a month and after going to America and a few other countries I finally found Margot, only 10 miles away!

I can't say enough good things about Margot and if your pet has any problems at all you should consider trying the less invasive treatment of homeopathy. Margot is the only person I trust to look after Arabella and Wesley. She has such an amazing rapport with animals and treats them so gently and respectfully.

Zai lives on in my memory and heart :)

When the Practice first opened 15 years ago they had a lovely young dog called Pete and a kitten called Perky stop by in their first month. Here they both are to join in the celebrations.

Pete the handsome Cairn Terrier - who will be an amazing 18 in August, enjoyed lots of attention and head rubs! Here are their humans receiving awards on their behalf!

Perky the cat, at 15 , is content to stay in the carrier! Margot is on the left, and Chris at right.

Great to see them doing well - though when they heard they were going to the vets - they might have not been too happy at first!

I had the pleasure of cutting the ribbon to celebrate the 15 years of Margot and Chris at Dunedin Vets caring for the animals. Arabella, my own art-accessory bag, accompanied me - when she heard I would be surrounded by hundreds of little artists she was so excited! (plus she also wanted to receive admiring glances in the melee!).

To help celebrate there was also a raffle. All monies raised went to the Hearing Dogs and The Cats Protection. What deserving causes! Marion, who runs Howpark Cattery, volunteered for the Cats Protection. Marion used to do home checks on their behalf to make sure the cats got forever homes for ever! If you are considering adding a furry addition to your family please visit the Cats Protection and The Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home. They have many very deserving animals looking for a forever home and endless love.

I donated Baby Hare Coco to go in the raffle! A small soft sculpture to brighten anybodies heart.

When Coco grows up she wants to be an animal communicator for all species. She has already read Amelia Kinkade's book Straight From the Horses Mouth and she has been practising on all the forest and field animals. No species is too small to talk with and she usually has small bees accompanying her on her appointments. She is now on a work experience placement at her local homeopathic vets and has been helping out so much by letting the vet know exactly how unwell the rabbits, dogs, cats and lizards actually feel!

and I also donated 6 of my Arabella and Baby Hare handmade art cards!

Helping celebrate was Dodie Piddock from Bee-Aloe to let all the visitors know about the great health benefits of the aloe vera plant - not just for people but all animals aswell. And it is not tested on animals! phone 07967 117841 (UK)

It was early last month when Margot asked me if I would like to judge an art competition in celebration of the Dunedin Veterinary Centre Practice being open for 15 years. All the school children would be drawing a picture and the winning one would be used on the booster reminder cards. Ofcourse I was flattered, delighted and honoured and accepted immediately!

To assist in the selection would be Practice Partner Chris Monk, a trained acupuncturist (great in alleviating joint stiffness in cats and dogs), Margot, my mum (a very talented artist) and myself.

For nealry 2 hours we discussed, looked, agreed, disagreed, swithered and looked some more over all these amazing entries!

Every picture was an absolute gem - every child who entered clearly showed a love for animals.

However, after a lengthy selection process and choosing a 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the 3 age categories and finally making one of those choices the final winner - we happily agreed (with the help from two lovely staff members!) that this super piece of art by Holly would take overall prize!

just look at those delightful hearts surrounding the cat and dog! plus bones too! yummy! this drawing was in the 7-10 category and will look great on the reminder cards being sent out. Congratulations Holly!

An amazing siamese cat took 3rd place in the 7-10 category. I just love the black nose and brown legs and tail!and I was very impressed by this beautiful and serene cat - just look at that amazing pose and attention to detail with that tail across the front of the body and those pink eyes! Drawn by Archie in the under 7 category.

and this is the talented youngster who drew that gorgeous cat! Holding his super prize!

This picture of Honey the beagle by young Sam was Commended, and it really stood out (and got a double commended in my opinion) because it was on drawn on the back of the flyer that advertised the competition! What a bright chap Sam is by Reusing, and in such a creative way - and don't you just love how expressive Honey is with her wagging tail and red tongue!

This wonderful dog was drawn by Jodie, in the 7-10 category. What a great angle and usually a very challenging angle for artists too! well done!

Here are all the catergory winners - aren' they amazing!

and look at these two super little mice celebrating! This won first prize in the under 7's.

I want to say that every piece of art work was very special, there was so much effort put into every one of them and picking a winner was one of the hardest things I have ever done! To me every picture was a winner because I could see that it was drawn from the heart!

and finally, don't forget to purchase a ticket or two to be in the raffle to win my Arabella Bag. All proceeds go to helping the rescued rabbits at The Buckeye House Rabbit Society as they wait patiently for their forever homes.

Thank You!