COLLECTION #198: Stuffed Easter Bunnies

I love Easter! I love everything about it, especially the true meaning of Easter: the celebration of the Resurrection of the Savior and our promise of eternal life. I have happy memories of my own Easters past: wearing Easter bonnets and gloves to church when I was a little girl, coloring Easter eggs- both as a child, and with my own children, Easter egg hunts, eating all of those Easter goodies from my Easter basket, and playing with the little fuzzy chicks that were often found hiding in the Easter grass. I was baptized into my Church two days before Easter in 1959, and confirmed on Easter Sunday that year. I remember it so well, including the beautiful Easter dress I wore with the brown velvet sash.

So, this week, in honor of Easter coming up on Sunday, I'll be sharing my various Easter collections. Not so big as my Christmas or Valentine's stuff, but still, some fun things both vintage and newer.

Tiny little faux stuffed bunny, and a small Steiff bunny from the 1970s or '80s.

This is my cute Easter Bunny collection. I should say 'stuffed bunnies', because I have other Easter Bunnies, which I'll share with you during the week. These bunnies do not include the boxes full of old Easter Bunnies we've given our kids through the years. These are just my own bunnies, old and new, that I love.

I love Mitchell with a Twitchell, and Cousin Ben. So cute!

As a toy designer, I'm always looking for new materials, interesting styles, and fun characters to inspire me. Some of these bunnies were purchased for that very reason- they looked cute in my studio!

I love the plush on the bunny on the right... with it's fine, stringy surface.

This cute li'l guy above is my own creation. I made him long before I became a toy designer, I believe he was made even before we were married in 1978. I was into making little 2D felt characters in those days: Christmas decorations, even a couple of dolls. This bunny used to be snowy white, but the felt has turned the color of tea stain, and he's looking a little worn. But I still love him, and keep him up year 'round.

Don't the bunnies look fabulous in the vintage basket?

THE WEEKEND COLLECTOR: My Steiff Life

I discovered the fabulous collector blog My Steiff Life through the wonderful website Collectors Weekly.  Blogger and Steiff collector and expert Rebekah Kaufman, also known as Steiffgal, has been collecting, researching, writing, and cheerleading Steiff animals for over four decades. She's a third generation Steiff collector, and credits her German grandmother for kindling her love of Steiff. She inherited many of her grandmother's treasured Steiff animals, and has turned that collectors passion into a vocation, and a role as Steiff expert on many websites and publications. 

I had several Steiff animals when I was a child, and although those are gone, I still have a warm spot for the beautiful and high quality Steiff animals. I do have a couple of Steiffs on my toy shelves, but they aren't even enough for a collection. I'll just have to let Steiffgal's vast collections and knowledge take center stage on the Copycat Collector.



I hope you take the time to browse through some of her links,  especially the interesting articles that she has written about many categories of Steiff critters. I was really impressed with her vast knowledge, and  nice photos. She often helps readers identify their Steiffs, and tells stories of little known facts and interesting information about their history.

Thanks to Steiffgal for helping me bring you this fun edition of the Weekend Collector!