Beatrix Potter Exhibit

         Even though this post isn't exactly about painting, sewing or gardening, it is about painting, sewing and gardening.  For the month of April, I created a Beatrix Potter display at work.   With the recent movie of "The Tale of Peter Rabbit", I really wanted to pay homage to Beatrix Potter, who was an incredible artist, gardener and land conservationist.  The lady had guts & when her little tales were rejected by various publishers; she continued on until Frederick Warne Publishing finally published her stories. 

     Check out the photo of the display:

Beatrix Potter Display, books in left bookcase

      Also, to entice the little ones to read, I created a wool felted Peter Rabbit and placed him in  a diorama; which will be raffled off to anyone who checks out a Potter book.  I used a shoe box to create the diorama and wrapped it in felt.  The diorama has a real swinging potting shed door, wood fence, wood wheel barrel, and of course the green watering can.  Also, I must admit,  I am addicted to wool / needle felting.  I love that you can make little miniature sculptures.  Little wool felted Peter Rabbit is only 2 1/2" inches tall!   Check it out: 

Wool Felted Peter Rabbit & hanging clouds in Diorama

 Ok so I thought it would be cute to place Peter in our little veggie garden:

Peter in our garden

    Beatrix Potter based her illustrations from the many  pets she had.  For ex: she really had a bunny named Peter.  Also, there is a well known photo of Beatrix with her little pet mouse Xarifa.  So it was only natural to wool felt a little mouse too for the display.  Check her out in her little mouse cage:

Xarifa- pet mouse

    Also, I did find this wonderful Potter craft book; which contains the pattern for a "Mrs. Tiggy Winkle pincushion".....check it out: 

Mrs. Tiggy Winkle Pincushion

Lastly, I did paint (a copy) of Peter in the garden from Potter's classic "The Tale of Peter Rabbit" .  It is not an exact duplicate, but close enough.  Yeah, I left out a white section of his chest....oh well.  Check it out: 

Peter Rabbit in the Garden

I thoroughly enjoyed creating and executing this display...........but even more so, knowing that people are checking out Potter's books!