Alicia's first day.

Alicia "Not" Alice is finally finished 

and will be going to her new home shortly :D

and this is how she fits in to the 

Adventures of Hortense Hare

Alicia "not" Alice

Alicia is truly a good girl at heart

although you wouldn't have thought it.

She arrived in our story with a bit of a start,

with nothing to show her true merit.

 Luckier than most she was found by our host

Hortense "the elegant" Hare.

While others would scoff (or chop her head off)

Hortense was minded to care.

For not long ago Hortense' daughter , you know,

was removed to a far distant land.

And work hard as she could, this wise Hare understood

that this girl could lend her a hand.

 While avoiding the glare she combed out the girl's hair,

which was tangled and stressed from the all.

Added trim to her dress, and a pinny for mess

saying "You really don't look bad at all!"

I wander if Hortense is as good a judge of character as she thinks?

Only time will tell...

Enjoy XXX

Finally....

I have finished the cross-stitch panel I've been working on

all winter.

 To be fair I should have finished sooner, but I get

"SQUIRREL!!!"

if you know what I mean lol

 I'm  rather quite pleased that I caught the feel of the original bouquet

and that I managed to salvage a few petals/rosebuds/lavender/leaves

to place in the little initialled bag.

Now for some doll making YAAY!

This doll will be "Not Alice"

 I never made an Alice for my 

"Adventures of Hortense Hare"

because the story wasn't about Alice's adventures in their Wonderland

 So Cora and her flock/family will have to wait 

a little longer while I finish birthing

"Alicia NOT Alice"

*she's a bit of a rebel*

Enjoy :D XXX

Tis the Season...

After the trauma Hortense went through on her wedding day, her friends decided she needed a truly special Yuletide party.

Last year she missed out on her Nativity play, as she had to organize a welcome for an unexpected guest, Krampus Lord of the Yule.

 An ancient but beautiful little Angel joined the fun, and marshalled the pigeons on the roof to form an Angelic choir...

while Clara organised the Hedgehogs to play shepherd and sheep...

who quite happily rolled in cotton wool for better effect.

It wasn't long before the others noticed what was going on.

Even Krampus called in, congratulated Hortense on last years celebrations,...

and asked if he could be one of the 3 Kings?

 Her Maj was more than happy to supply three crowns *she has quite a few since the spider incident*

She even agreed to allow Simeon Whyte to join the festivities...as long as Krampus kept an eye on him.

 Hortense and Horatio had the parts of Mary and Joseph, and more than a few heartfelt tears were shed as a cute little fox cub snuggled and slept in their loving arms...

 After all, what is the point of a party if not to share emotional memories with friends old and new?

BLessings of the Season to you all

Enjoy XXX

Hortense's Wedding....and how it nearly didn't happen!

*Should have been posted in July and I totally forgot sorry*

It was the morning of what should have been the happiest day of Hortense's life....

 Miss Fiona was frantically, but skilfully,  adding the finishing touches to the veil and dress...

 "My goodness...that was a close call" she sighed as she snipped off  the last silken threads.

 With time to spare Hortense was dressed in her beautifully woven finest.

Meanwhile, Horatio was seated by the window of his room, clutching the diamond encrusted bracelet he had commissioned on his last voyage for just this day. *rabbits and Hares struggle to wear rings*

 Hortense had gone for a walk in the garden to compose herself before the celebrations began...

this was when things took a hideous turn!!

Simeon Whyte stepped out from behind the Monbretia.

"My dearest Hortense..." he crooned, "why are you doing this to me?"

 " I don't understand your meaning sir" was her curt response.

"Why are you agreeing to marry Horatio, when you know you belong to me?"

"BELONG to YOU!" Hortense almost squealed, such was her amazement at his words.

 " Yes" retorted Simeon, " Remember this ?"

He held out his pocket watch, in the back of which was enclosed a collection of forget-me-not flowers.

"You gave me this as a symbol of our love...before Harriet arrived". His speech now held more than a suggestion of a threat.

"Call off the wedding right now, or I will have to have a little chat with Horatio...and maybe Her Maj too?"

Hortense was distraught, she had no intention of marrying Simeon. The gift was given in the flush of youth. To be honest, she had forgotten all about it, such was her love for Horatio.

As she sat, dumbfounded by the events, Her Majesty the Queen came looking for her.

"What on earth are you doing here? You should be greeting your guests!"

"Hortense?....Are you crying?"

Hortense totally broke down, blurting out the secret that she had kept for so long, 

"Simeon IS Harriet's father!!!!....I knew it! The Ace of Clubs owes me £5 HA!"

Not quite the response Hortense was expecting.

"Now stop being silly, go inside and wash your face, Horatio is waiting for you...and don't worry about Simeon. What is the use of being besties with the Queen if you can't tust her to help you out occasionally?"

Simeon wasn't quite so pleased to be in Her Maj's company as he had expected to be...

in fact, after there "little chat", he made his excuses and left the area...much faster than anyone had seen him move in many a year.

As for Hortense and Horatio...

they were married amongst the last roses of the year...

 their love for each other clearly visible for all to see.

 Horatio said he was the happiest Hare in the land...

but I think we know that Hortense feels doubly blessed :D

Enjoy XXX

It's almost time!!!

EDIT: Won't be able to make the tea party after all(just too many bodies around to get organised)but I will post next week about the wedding shenanigans...promise XXX

~ 

For the 8th annual Mad Tea Party

over at A Fanciful Twist....

and the Adventures of Hortense Hare continue. 

 This tiny pocket watch was the inspiration I needed to get past the blockage of "manthings" laying around the house this month...

As you may be aware, the last time we saw Hortense she was being proposed to by Horatio...she accepted of course, and preparations for the wedding are well in hand.

 But there is still one pasty skeleton n Hortense's closet...

 He is always hanging around Hortense and her Maj...

 dressed in a manner that rather catches the eye of any passing female...

 His finely coiffured mane, swinging like a thurible during Mass, wafting clouds of irresistible fragrance...

 His piercing green eyes have been responsible for many a "swoon" in the corridors and gardens of the Queen's Palace.

 He has the reputation of being a bit of a dandy...

 and keeps a very special watch chained to his vest....

 as his "time" is always in demand.

 But it is the secret behind the casing that could lead to Hortense's downfall...

for she is the one who gave it to him....and the case holds several faded Forget-me-not flowers.

Will Simeon Whyte keeps Hortense's secret safe?...Or will attending her wedding be too much for him to bear???

Join me on Sunday to find out what happens next....

Enjoy :D XXX

A strange affair....

"SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAL!!!!!!....." cried Her Majesty as she dropped to her knees in front of Hortense.

 "Oh Your Majesty!!, whatever is the matter?" 

Hortense tried to comfort her distraught friend.

 "S...S....S...SPIDER!!!!" she hiss/screamed in Hortense's ear.

" For goodness sakes..." tutted Hortense, "Your not carrying on like this over a little harmless creature?"

"It has my crown!" Stated Her Maj in a strangely matter of fact way.

Hortense sighed , rather too loudly. "Let me go and get it for you...where is it?"

"In your sewing room...."

Choosing not to question the Queen as to what she was actually doing in her sewing room, Hortense went to retrieve the regal ornament....

....

"AAAaaaaaaaaaaaargh.....!!!!!" Screamed Hortense as she hurtled back to the Queen...

"You never said it was THAT big!!!"

"You didn't get my crown then?" shuddered Her Maj. "What are we going to do?"

 "HORATIOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!"

Captain Horatio Hornbeam ran to find the two ladies shivering with fright....

"I don't care how big it is...it's only a spider" he scolded, and went off to investigate.

After what seemed a lifetime, accompanied by distant sounds of female giggling, male guffawing and way too much shushing for Hortense's liking, Horatio returned looking way to pleased with himself.

 "My apologies, dear ladies. May I introduce Ms Fiona Tarantella...."

 " Your crown Your Majesty." spoke the beautiful but deadly Ms Fiona.

 "Explain.....NOW!" demanded the Queen and Hortense as one.

 "Fiona and I met on my last voyage....".  "I was talking to HER!" Hortense glared at Fiona with an intensity that would have melted a suit of armour....

 " Most gracious Lady, you have nothing to fear from me...I asked Captain Horatio if I could call on you...as a Sister Seamstress. I wondered if you would be interested in working with some of my silk? I am the Greatest "spinner" in the World!"

 And with that Ms Fiona commenced a little dance that involved lots of foot stamping 

 and spinning around on the spot...

 "It's no good Fiona...I must tell her the truth...

I asked Fiona to come here for a special purpose..

to spin silk for your veil."

And with that Horatio dropped onto one knee...

"Will you marry me dear lady?"

...

Oh My!...I don't think Hortense was expecting that, do you?

Wonder if she will accept his Proposal ?

This was my post for May Monster Madness 2015

I will post about how Ms Fiona was created in a few days.

Enjoy :D XXX