Celebrating Mother's Day

I thought I'd celebrate Mother's Day this year by sharing a new little one with the rest of the world.  As most of you all know I'm the Founder of the Thread Artist Guild (R).  Periodically the Guild holds challenges for it's members and right now they are holding a "Something Different" challenge.  The members have been challenged to make something that is 'not a bear' doing something 'that the animal wouldn't normally do'.  With that criteria in mind I started out designing what turned into little Antoinette.

Antoinette is a little Hippo that loves to Ballet Dance! She just got a new TuTu and is practicing her 'en pointe'. She still needs to hold on to something to stand on her toes but one day she will be a prima ballerina! Her name is Antoinette (pronounced "An - twon - ette") and means "en pointe" in Hippoese.

Antoinette is 2.5 inches tall, made of gray acrylic thread, and is wearing a net tutu and incorporated ballet shoes (tied in the traditional ballet manner). She has an open mouth design and her facial features have been slightly shaded to give her an enhanced expression.  Her little tutu was specially made for her by Lindsay's Whimsies Tutu on Etsy.
 
Antoinette is available for purchase on Etsy - http://www.etsy.com/listing/73655649/miniature-ballet-hippo-ooak-artist
 
For the rest of today's Mother's Day I'm going to kick back, relax, and do as much of nothing as I can for the day.  My daughter gave me some gifts that I plan to really enjoy and a very nice card to tell me that she loves me.  :-)
 
Tomorrow I will start on my next creation.  I already have an idea for that which was giving to me by one of the fans of my facebook page - http://www.facebook.com/peachtreecottage
 
I have done some more tatting and as soon as everything is blocked and photographed I will post them!
 
I hope everyone is enjoying their Mother's Day!