Belle

Belle is all set for Spring in her pretty dress and beret. She loves sherbet dips and apple turnovers and lemonade.

Spring's Green Gauze

All of a sudden, there is a little greenness here and there. I'm not a fan of Spring in its obvious sense, by that I mean the gaudy yellow daffodils that to me look a little plastic, (sorry if you are a massive daffodil fan!) I do like narcissus, they're a bit less bright...
I like the tiny little warm green furry buds that appear like magic on the ends of the branches and the dusky pink nubs in the hedgerows. Today is a hazy day, just perfect.

I've been playing around with some colours inspired by the Northamptonshire countryside around me, lots of soft, misty greens and young bud pinks. I've got lots of half finished mousey projects on my sewing table just now, including a Spring bride waiting for her groom.

I hope Spring has sprung in your very own little corner of the world, wherever that may be...

Bunny Hugs

Happy Easter! From All Things Ottoline xxx

Easter bunnies and Spring Mice

Available in the shop now :) Erica x

World Book Day

Yesterday saw the publication of 'The Mermaids of Starfish Reef", book one in my Petticoat Pirates series! It's been a very busy week with a trip to Windsor and a trip to Essex where I was doing lots of exciting events with the children. After a very, very long day yesterday I arrived home to find a beautiful bouquet of flowers from my publisher. What a lovely surprise! You can order your very own copy of my book here Thank-you to the lovely girls at Caxton Books in Frinton on Sea for organising yesterday's World Book Day event at Kirby Cross Primary school. I had really good fun and thank-you for helping me finish off those eye patches! And thank-you to Jeanette and her team at Dedworth Library for such a great event on Tuesday! Erica x

The Mermaids of Starfish Reef

At long last I am able to share what I've been working away on for so many months! The first of three books written and illustrated by me is to be published Thursday 7th March. The Mermaids of Starfish Reef is the first book, to be followed by The Sea Fairies of Whirlpool Gully and then the Seahorses of Scallop Bay. If you would like to buy a copy and have a peek inside you can do so HERE I've got lots of exciting events lined up so watch this space :) Erica x

Vanessa

Vanessa once lived beneath the Metro in Paris in a tiny apartment above a brasserie that she ran with her then husband, Bernard. Mice would flock from all over Paris to sample her Tarte aux Framboise, her Cerise Brioche and the eternally popular Gateau D'Amour. Her recipes proved so popular that she was asked to write a cookbook, which in turn was made into a very successful TV series. Just at the height of her fame, she discovered Bernard had been having an affair with one of the waitresses at the Brasserie. Bernard claimed that she was no longer at home, always off shooting an episode of her TV series and that they had nothing left in common. Heartbroken, Vanessa packed a small suitcase and a copy of her book - 'Recettes D'Amour' and moved away from Paris. She now happily runs another small Brasserie, this time overlooking the river Dronne where her tartes and cakes are as popular as ever.