Dear Sylvanian fans, I can't believe it has been more than a month since I last blogged. Time has flown by, just like it usually does this time of the year.
Sylvanian wise not much has happened in Sugarbush Valley. The villagers go about their daily tasks and I'm trying to get my motivation back to play with them and tell new stories. Unfortunately, nothing! Very frustrating, I know!
So as I'm not one for just giving up and ending a hobby out of the blue, I started to let my head go about just exactly how I'm gonna get my (Sylvanian) groove back. As I got thinking, one thing was VERY clear - "I'm not going to end collecting!" Then I took a hard unbiased (if that is possible) look at my families and collection, and I came to the realisation, some things need to go! And then I remembered that a year ago I was exactly at this point, and strangely, the same items I wanted to get rid of them came to mind again. It was the exact same three families and an extra one. They were
- The Hazelwood Mouse Family
- The Chestnut Raccoon Family
- The Furbanks Squirrel Family
- The Puddleford Duck family
Some would think me mad to choose families as the first step in getting my motivation back, but I'm standing by my original collecting objective of giving a home to each family living in SV, and that is just too difficult with 50+ families. Even the approach that I tried a few months ago of giving fictional houses to families, still didn't satisfy me, so with this four families moving away I have three less 'house-less' families and an extra house.
After deciding on the families, the tough process of getting new homes in other villages for them started. Three of the families were easy, but the last one remains a challenge (more about that in a minute).
The first family that were picked up were the Hazelwoods, Basil and his family, is already off to the wonderful magical village of Marigold Creek. They are still in 'transit', but I hope to hear from them soon.
Finding a new village for the Chestnuts was a no brainer, I knew that Rooibosch Hill would be perfect for them, so they were off. As Rooibosch Hill is very close to Sugarbush Valley, I'm happy to tell you that they already arrived safely, and are settling in nicely.
The final 2 families that will be leaving Sugarbush Valley is the Puddleford family and the Furbanks family. The only problem is I don't know where to send them. So I have came up with a brilliant idea... "A GIVEAWAY"
I think it is perfect timing with Christmas just around the corner. So this is how it will work: in the comment section of this post (or reply to the post in the forum) write a short paragraph of why the Puddlefords or Furbanks should come and live in your village. Entries will close Sunday 11 December 2016 and I will announce the winner on Monday.
Though the Puddlefords and Furbanks (FYI - little Alfie will remain in my collection and I have a plan for him and big sister Alyssa already) were never two of my favorite families, I still like them very much and they are very close to my heart, so I will be biased as to were they will go. So the better your motivation, the bigger chance you have of convincing me.
That is all for today, and I'm still hoping for a story before the end of 2016.
Oh wow!!
ReplyDeleteOh no, is Nelson so unpleasant, he is going to be kicked out of Sugarbush Valley?! :O I thought Hatty would be forced walk off a plank xD
ReplyDeleteOn a serious note, I think you might be right with this decision - less is more. It applies to so many things, and organizing inspires some creative people. I hope the movers will be happy in their new homes and Sugarbush Valley will be more active in 2018 :D
2016 was a big clear-out year for me! So I think it is the best decision too, I don't miss them yet, so I'm satisfied with my decision.
DeleteOpening this thread I was just fearing the worst. I fully expected to read that you had stopped collecting. -_-
ReplyDeleteI was so relieved at the latter, that I nearly cried! The Chestnuts are taking over here in Rooibosch... they have rallied a group of critters and are already setting up camp in a corner of the woods closest to the Watermill bakery. They keep mumbling something about needing easy access to fresh milkbread every morning... Looks like they are settling in very nicely!
Don't fear, I wont just leave that easily ;-)
DeleteGlad they are settling in!
What a lovely thing to do! Thank you! I already have the Puddlefords although they aren't in the best shape, as I've examined. I wouldn't get a new family just because the shipping fee via GSP is expensive. But if I do get a chance, I would love a family in better shape! Also, the Puddlefords are scarce in this part of Sylvania (Japan), so I think they would be very welcome here. ^^
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment. I hope you get a 'new' family soon.
DeleteSugarbush Valley was one of the blogs that started me on my collecting journey earlier this year! I love your stories. I've made one and a half stories so far. My website is in its infancy but I can definitely quote Sugarbush Valley as inspiration. Here is my little story if you're interested: https://sfmulberrywoods.wordpress.com/2016/11/06/the-trouble-with-kids/
ReplyDeleteI don't have the Puddlefords yet however I recently got Mr Webster and I looooooooove him so much. He is very lonely though, being the only fowl in the village of Mulberry Woods. ;) He is one of the Sylvanians who I have loved even more in real life than I anticipated. So I expect I would feel the same about the Puddlefords.... and Mr Webster would get his jolly disposition back if he had relatives arrive in the village!
I hope you get your mojo back at some point. It sounds upsetting for you... :( I find my hobbies wax and wane over the years but never fully leave me and now I focus on not feeling guilty and just go with the flow of whatever I feel like doing. Good luck. x
Ps I am P iffle on the forum. ;)
DeleteThanks for the comment Emily, and visiting my blog. I hope you get a family for Mr Webster soon!
DeleteMarigold Creek is looking much forward to welcome its new residents :). I'm totally feeling with you - sometimes the motivation just needs a longer rest. But I'm sure it comes back again :*. It is sooo kind of you to host a giveaway :)
ReplyDeleteLuckily I have you who always encourages me!
DeleteI have a little squirrel girl whom I found from flea market ( I just had to give her home...) - she has lost her tail and has no family, so I think Furbanks would be perfect family for her. Other little ones I have have all their families, but she is all alone.
ReplyDeleteKeeping fingers crossed ;)
Hugs, Irina
Thanks for the comment and visiting my blog. I hope your little one gets a family soon!
DeleteI hope you have had some joy in finding your SF inspiration since you posted here? I have toddled over from the SF Community (Meggles) and have enjoyed looking at your page <3
ReplyDeleteI've been lucky enough to complete my Puddleford family very recently (thanks to the community page) which has been my biggest goal, as I've owned the ducklings from when I was a little girl and they were first released but I've coveted the parents for a long time... I have a great love of the vintage Sylvanians and would love to introduce the Furbanks to my Puddlefords, Forresters and my nearly completed Cat-Wood and Babblebrook families :)
I appreciate you coming over and visiting my blog, I hope you will do so more often in the future!
DeleteHi Eaton! Your blog was one of the first I followed when I started my collection and it has always been very inspiring.As I´ve already told you some other times, reading your stories is always a real pleasure and I still love to re-read some of your old posts. It really helps me to relax and unwind after a long and stressful day.
ReplyDeleteThat´s why ,it would be a great honour to welcome the Puddlefords to my village. The villagers of Sweet Bery Valley are very kind and friendly and I´m sure they will help the Puddlefords to settled down and feel at home. Probably, Daisy Buttercup will be the only one who could bother them a little bit. She would like to know every single detail about Sugarbush Valley, one of the most renowed villages in the Sylvanian map.
I know Beth will soon make friends with Eleanor Bramble, she is the village dress maker, and Mabel Periwinkle who was the owner of a small sewing shop, and now that she is retired has even more time to knit and sew. The three of them will love to chat about their sewing tips and skills over a cup of tea.
Besides, Beth will be able to be closer to her sister and brother in law. Sweet Berry Valley is not that far from Marigold Creek and now that Nelson has tasted the wine his relatives sell in their pub he might not be so reluctant to visit them and have a toast for a new beginning.
I also believe a change of scenery will help Nelson to improve his mood. We never know , he might not be so grumpy in a new place.He will be the foreigner this time and he´ll have to try his best to make new friends, or at least one or two.
I don´t know if Beth and Nelson would like to continue running their little business but if they do I´m sure their new neighbours will appreciate the good quality of the fabrics and Beth´s ability to turn a piece of fabric into dreamy cozy bed linens.
As for the triplets, they will be well looked after by Lucie Fenton at the nursery village. Lucie is a sweet, caring and patient teacher and they´ll love her as much as they love their former nursery teacher.
I hope you don´t mind such a long reply. I read your post in the forum a few days ago but I didn´t have my laptop with me until today and it was a very long reply to write on my phone. I knew tomorrow was the dead line to enter the giveaway and I thought I was not going to be able to take part.
I also hope the new year brings you, among other things, the motivation and inspiration to write at least a short story from time to time. Your stories are lovely and your readers really appreciate them.
After much consideration I have decided that Nelson and his family will be most happy in Sweet Berry Valley! Congratulations!
DeleteGosh... It took a few days for me to realize it but now it hit me and hard.... The Hazelwood Mouse Family!!!! You want to get rid of it???!?!?!! 0_0
ReplyDeleteGee I don't even know for how long have I tried to get my hands on a mouse family!! I LOVE - no, I ADORE Brambly Hedge books and have viewed videos (first with my kids when they were little, then just by myself) for who knows how many times, and I have dreamed and drooled after mouses ever since. One of my biggest dreams for at least 5 to 6 years has been to find one - if not whole family then at least one mouse, so I could finally try to make on scene from Brambly Hedge all my own... Aaa *sigh* What happiness it would be!
In my search for mice I'm now in a place that I have a Chocolate Bunny family, a Fox family and a Hedgehog family whom belong to Sylvanian Families characters (as you know ;) - got them all from my dear hubby as presents during the years) and I have few bears too - one of them is Calico Critter, but I don't mind it, and then there's that poor little orphaned squirrel-girl without a tail.... But no mouses :/
I haven't given up... yet. And I'm putting on a lot of hope on this Christmas, but I admit - I don't have very good feeling about it. Let's hope I'll get lucky this time :)
Hugs, Irina
Irina, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that a cute mouse family will soon move to your village. Merry Christmas!
DeleteHi, i hope you find your inspirations because i really like you stories. You have so much orginal sylvanian families goods and families. Puddleford family is funny and so authentic-looking family. i also liked to tell stories about sylvanian families but my blog is in finnish and i use the dollhouse toys in photographers in my villages. Greetings from finland.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kind comment. I really hope my SF groove returns in 2017! Thanks for visiting my blog!
DeleteHuge thanks to each and every one who entered and left a comment! In the end Cutata was the lucky winner. I'm honored to have the Puddlefords move to her wonderful village. Just to keep everyone in the loop and have 'witnessess' I'm delaying the postage of the family till middle Jan 2017, purely because I'm worried it will get lost. Our SA post office is notorious for losing things during this time of the year, and I know I will be heartbroken if Nelson and his family never arrives in Sweet Berry Valley.
ReplyDelete