Watery things

Mermaids, Sea Fairies and an underwater (cloud) summer...

It seems that the rest of Britain is basking in glorious sunshine...um, not here. To be frank, I don't actually mind that much. There are umpteen deadlines to be met, and lots of books to read.

My studio is a work of art in itself. I've never seen it so messy. I won't mention the rest of the house. 

Petticoat Pirates - The Sea Fairies of Whirlpool Gully, the second book in my series is available in the shops now! Huzzah! You can purchase it here 

There are some new micelettes in the shop, Emily above is one of them. I've opened an ETSY shop so if you are in America you can easily purchase my mice should the fancy take you. Just click here and you will be transported as if by magic to my shop.

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.

An illustrated interview

My lovely agents Plum Pudding Illustration asked me to do an interview for their blog. You can read it here

A Valentine's Stroll

I'm just *bursting* with excitement to show you all this cute little Valentines couple! I have several of these on my sewing table so if you would like to order one then please email me. £49.95 plus P&P. The base is vintage lambs wool trimmed with vintage button and lace. The young man wears raspberry pink dupion silk trousers and an aged felt lapel. The young lady wears an aged Tilda fabric dress and raspberry beret. I see them walking along the banks of the Seine holding hands and wondering whether to go for fondue or cheesy pizza...

Mathilde

Mathilde is five years old and loves birds. Her favourite bird is the kingfisher and she loves to dress in the same colours. In fact, everything she owns must be *kingfisher* coloured or else there will be tears, many mousey tears. Her mustard cardigan is merino/cotton mix and her dress is hand aged Tilda fabric. Her book is hand painted. £29.95 plus £3.95 P&P Mathilde is now sold :)

Wedding Mice

I just couldn't wait to share the 'official' photos of the wedding mice that are going in my shop.(NOTE - These mice have now sold, please email me if you would like to order your own). These would make wonderful wedding cake toppers or a beautiful and unique heirloom gift for the happy couple to treasure until they are old, old mice. Same sex wedding mice are also available. The bride wears antique french lace, (lace may vary for your order but rest assured it will be very old and very french). The groom's trousers, hat, ribbon colours can be changed to match the theme of yours or your friend's wedding, as can the bride's flowers. The base is made from 100% lambswool vintage blanket. The mice are priced at £69 plus postage. Please allow four weeks for stitching and delivery :) Please message me for more details. You can follow me on Facebook here

Fleurette and Cerise

Fleurette lives in a dry stone chabanos on the road out of town towards Nontron. She shares this tiny round building with her sister, Cerise and their mother, Framboise. Fleurette along with her sister and mother are the town's laundry mice. Each day they wash the pantaloons and frilly blouses of the townsfolk in the fresh waters of the Dronne then hang them to dry in the trees and bushes along the bank. They are paid handsomely for their labours due to the dangerous nature of the work. Once, it is rumoured, Fleurette fought off a large Mallard that had taken a fancy to Madame Maude's silk bloomers using nothing but a bar of soap and a bobby pin.

The girls have been taking over the kitchen table a little lately. I've decided it would be nice to sit and eat at the table for a few days, so everybody has been moved onto the dresser for now.

Right, I've got bills to pay, errands to run, shopping to do and one hundred deadlines to meet! Have a wonderful rest of your Wednesday all. xxx

Madame Clémence Bisset and Mademoiselle Pénélope Bisset

Madame Clémence Bisset owns the Manoir Mûre high on the wooded hills overlooking the town. Her and Monsieur Éduoard are the twenty-eighth generation of Bisset mice to inhabit the golden stoned and turreted pile. They have a number of children, although nobody is quite sure how many as no-one has ever counted. Madame Clémence will be available in the shop later. She is priced at £26.99 plus P&P.

Mademoiselle Pénélope is one of the Manoir Mûre children. She loves to play in the black woods that coat the hillsides around the manoir. She climbs the great oak trees and gazes down upon the town, wishing that she was an ordinary mouse in an ordinary dress. Then perhaps a certain boy mouse called Phillipe would buy her a milkshake. Pénélope is priced at £24.99 plus P&P and will be available in the shop later.