Rose's Collector's Corner ~

This is one of my favorite sections of the website. I wanted to include it so I could share some of our wonderful customers with you and to let them tell the stories of their collections.

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Last evening I was chatting with my daughter and this section came up in conversation and Christina said, "Mom please let me be the next to write in this section. And of course I said..Yes.

So let me introduce you to my beautiful grown daughter, Christina ('Sweet Pea' to me) who is an absolute delight and a joy in my life!   ~Rose~

Hi Everyone!

I am thrilled to be able to share my story about the Wee Forest Folk and the connection they have in my life.

I remember the day it all began, I was 8 years old and with my parents and brother walking around the mall 'window shopping'. We walked into a gift store and there they were... right at my eye level... at the counter... behind glass.... smiling at me! Oh my gosh!!!

From that very second on, my ponies and dolls were just a memory. Well, not really but I was in love with those mice!!
We left that store with 'our' very first mice. Little Squirt, April Showers also Stars and Stripes and a catalog!!!! Oh... that catalog!!! I still have it, with circles and stars all over it, it's all worn out and torn and oh so loved!

Now, MY very first mouse arrived  that Christmas...Pageant mouse... in purple, my most favorite color.

 I can tell you, whenever there was anything important going on, like birthdays, holidays, when I was really sick for that summer, when the new pieces came out, when I learned to drive, my first date, tea parties, my graduation, my marriage, the birth of my two sons, my little home. Everyone of those times and many many 'just because' times my collection grew.

 It's been 22 years now and I can tell you everything about everyone of my precious Wee Folk. My parents always made sure that we opened a special new mouse in that great little box.

I moved into my new little place last month and Moma met me there the night I got the keys. We had a great time that evening giggling and sharing dreams, sitting outside on my deck listening to all the frogs singing and just for my mom... a hummingbird buzzed by several times to say 'Welcome'. So between the hummingbird humming and all the frogs croaking.. I felt right at home!

 After Moma left I walked into my new little kitchen and there sitting on my window sill, in that oh so special little box was... a mouse.... just it... and me... Oh my gosh!!!!
I opened the box and saw 'Mouse' smiling at me!

Each and every mouse is so special to me that it would be hard to pick favorites (and besides 'they' all live in very close quarters! te-te) But I will say among the top are Freddie and Flirty Frogs... in lavender of course.

I've not had the pleasure of meeting Mrs. Petersen,Willie or Donna but the wonderful stories I've been told and the emotion that shows on each little Wee Folk's face warms my heart and allows me to feel that special love that only a collector would know.

Thanks for reading my 'tale' and Happy Mousing!
Christina



 

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I'd like to introduce you to Melanie. From the moment she stepped into the shop and exclaimed, "Oh, you have Wee Forest Folk!" we connected. Four hours later, and still chatting away, our hearts had connected too. It was pure serendipity. Melanie is oh so sweet and if you ever get the chance to meet her, I'm sure you will agree that she is the kindest and sweetest lady and a pleasure to know. ~Rose~

Hi All!

I'm Melanie and a while ago I had the very good fortune of discovering the most delightful shop that I think I have ever been in… and it carried Wee Forest Folk! The shop's name is Sweet Hummingbird Lane.  Rose, the shop's owner, is honestly one of the friendliest, warmest ladies you would ever hope to meet. Her passion for and knowledge of Wee Forest Folk is truly amazing and it definitely shows in the way she lovingly and creatively displays the mice.

As for me, it was in 1982 that I fell head over heels in love with a mouse. Yes, a mouse! Go figure! This wee mouse, a.k.a. Baby Sitter, was a very special gift from my dear sister to thank me for my help after she had her first child. I was totally, unabashedly, and quite happily smitten, not only with my niece of course, but with a mouse!

My collection has grown over the years as I have fallen in love with another sweet mouse that seemed to reflect a significant event in my life that I hold dear to my heart or that reminded me of one of my loved ones. Some of my mice have been given to me by friends or family or I have gotten just because I thought they were just so darn cute!

One of my very favorite places to be is the beach. I rarely get to go, but when I look at my On the Beach pieces, they transport me there and I'm as happy as (don't groan) a clam. All of my beach mouseys are sitting on a clear glass dish filled with fine sand (to keep their little feet happy), tiny shells and small bits of driftwood…maybe they're having a beach party…fun times!

It would be difficult for me to pick a favorite mouse…each is so special to me for it's own reason. The Forest Scene pieces I have honor my dear husband and our courtship—Gosh, do they still use that word?! When he got his first chainsaw, I got Woody Woodmouse…a good deal, I thought!  Colleen O'Green and That's Blarney celebrate a dream come true of the two of us going to Ireland…and yes, he did kiss the Blarney Stone… I didn't; I was a big chicken! All of the mom and baby girl pieces like Beddy-bye Mousey, Sweet Dreams, Her Big Hug, and especially Ring Around Rosie make me think of our two beloved daughters. Both are now grown with precious families of their own and have blessed us with 3 beautiful grandchildren. Oh boy, that means more WFF!!!

Our 7-1/2 year-old granddaughter, Sara, loves to hear the "stories" about each mouse. She'll say, "Tell me about this one, Gramma! Why did you get that one?" And as she carefully holds them, I'll tell her, "Oh, I got that one, Christmas Cutie, after you were born…" or "I got that one, Kitty Cuddle, because you love kitties…" or, "I got Slap-Shot (a.k.a Phil Mouseposito), because your daddy played junior hockey…" or, "I got Ace to honor your great-grandpa who was a WWII pilot." I smile because I see the sparkle in her eyes and the love on her face as I tell her our family history. These are special moments for us.

Last Christmas my darling girls surprised me with Helpful Elf. Now…I love all of my Christmas pieces but oh, this piece...it's special! I was so captivated by this sweet little piece that does such a wonderful job of expressing the kind, gentle care of one creature for another. It's no wonder that it won the Collector's Choice Award!

I am so grateful to the truly gifted Petersen's, the talented painters and those that help them for bringing so many smiles to so many faces over the years. For me, their creations never, ever fail to make me happy.

Happy Mousing to all!

~Melanie~