Bunnies for spring

Well, our snow hasn't quite melted and the flowers certainly aren't blooming, but the smell of spring is in the air and the Magic Cabin website is featuring their Easter Collection. This springy bunch of bunnies, baskets, crafts and gifts is just right for filling Easter baskets, celebrating the Spring Equinox, or just for anticipating that winter is almost over.

But, Arielle has been talking about Magic Cabin's rabbit hutch since she first saw it in the catalog in November. Fortunately, Magic Cabin was very kind and she got to do a pre-Easter review.

The Rabbit Hutch ($69 for hutch and three bunnies, also sold separately)



The hutch itself is beautifully handcrafted of solid pine with hardwood doors and a roof. The unfinished wood is nice and smooth - no worries about splinters. The hutch has two little rooms for bunny nests. Each room has its own door that opens and closes and "locks" to keep the bunnies safe and warm.

"What are the bunnies safe from, Arielle?"
" The wind and wild tigers and lions and dinosaurs."

It's good to know that these sweet little bunnies are safe. Each little felt bunny is about three inches long. They are made in Germany from 100% wool felt and have embroidered features and the cutest poofy cotton tails.



They especially like to eat wooden carrots and green beans and lettuce. Yum!



Arielle can spend hours playing with the bunnies. She used a green play silk to make a meadow for the bunnies to play in.



The bunnies are also available individually in dark brown, light brown and white ($12.98). They are suggested for ages three and up. The hutch is also available individually ($39.98), and can be used as a chicken coop or bird house for Holztiger figures or other small animals.



I've got more Easter suggestions coming up, but if you are looking for an easy, safe, non-junky Easter basket, Magic Cabin has a prefilled Easter Gift Basket ($24.98). This is a basket lined with paper grass and filled with five chocolate coins, a soft velour bunny, a natural lollipop, a rubber ball and sticker book - a nice Bunny surprise for any child.

NATURAL Kids and Toys

And, more cute little things from Etsy!



I grew up without Santa Claus. But, in our family, we have the legend of the New Year's Mouse. All year, the Mouse travels around the world in a toy helicopter collecting tiny treasures for his favorite people. On New Year's Eve, we leave our socks on the dining room table. We put out a little cheese and crackers, and when we wake up in the morning, the cheese and crackers are gone and the socks are filled with little gifts.

This year, the Mouse visited one of my very favorite Etsy stores Natural Kids and Toys. Christine, the mom behind the store, puts together fun, natural play sets made of wood and wool and other natural materials. Perfect toys for little girls who like little things. I especially love her needle-felted animals.

Owl Surprise Pot ($16.95)



The girls were absolutely delighted. Arielle got a pot with an owl. Linnea's had a mouse. And, they each received a hedgehog. Arielle, being an imaginative young lady, thought that the owl was stuck in the pot and needed to be saved before being eaten. Who would eat such a sweet owl?

The play sets are original, cute and show a sense of humor -- perfect for children who like to pretend. Arielle is playing with the hen set right now. Hen is being visited by her friends Owl and Mouse and there is some serious egg laying going on.

Hen Play Set with Wool Nest and Wooden Eggs ($16.95)



Christine's site is full of little bits of fun; I wish I could show them all. I've written before about how much my girls like acorns. And here they are, in rainbow colors -- just perfect for those imaginary rainbow squirrels or as troll treasure.

Rainbow Acorns ($7.95)



Lucky you, Christine is having a giveaway and you could win one of three play sets shown below: a wooden bowl and scoop play set, a honey bee play set, or a Waldorf-inspired doll baking set. Just click here to enter on her blog.



This set is perfect for a play kitchen. To me, the mom of an imaginary bird, the colorful balls look like delicious worm snacks, but they could also be stock for a pretend candy shop or peppers (says Arielle).


Several of her sets would make nice additions to a nature table. Wouldn't this bee a cute way to welcome spring?

Honey Bee Play Set ($22.95)


Just add some yellow and purple flowers because bees like those best.



There are also accessories for Waldorf dolls. Do your doll house dolls or fairies enjoy cooking?

Doll Baking Set ($12.95)


I wonder what kind of tasty treats this doll is cooking up.

Don't forget to enter and good luck!