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Collecting Royal Doulton Bunnykins is a thriving hobby, with about 400 figures to collect ranging from the common (£10-20) to limited editions (£50-£250). At any one moment there are between 1500 and 2000 Bunnykins figures for sale on Ebay with the rarest figures commanding high prices. The Bunnykins range is cleverly designed to appeal both to the gift market and collectors. Figures with a Christmas or Easter theme are fairly commonly issued, and there is a Bunnykins to represent most trades and professions. To appeal the collector market there are frequent limited edition and collectors club issues.

This article specialises in the Bunnykins figures. Originally six figures were produced in 1939, production ceasing during World War II. These six original figures are very rare and cost between £500 and £2000. The six original figures are “Billy”, “Mary”, “Farmer”, “Mother”, “Freddie”, and “Reggie”. Of these “Mary” turns up on Ebay the most, one recently selling for £681. Less common figures sell for more, with “Reggie” recently achieving £1500 on Ebay.

After the war production was not resumed until Royal Doulton purchased the Beswick factory and the first of the modern figures was produced in 1972. This range of figures is labelled “DB” and now numbers some 400 figures, varying in rarity and value. Several limited editions have been produced, most notably, Happy Millennium Bunnykins Tableau, of which only two have been produced (one in the Royal Doulton Museum and the other sold at auction in 2000 for £9,800).

Ebay has certainly driven prices of Bunnykins down, and Ebay auctions for common Bunnykins rarely reach more than half the retail price or book value. However, the limited editions continue to hold prices well especially the limited editions with low issue numbers. To illustrate, the Bunnykins Oompah Band, comprising a sousaphone player, trumpeter, cymbals player, drummer and band major has been issued three times. The first, a red version, was issued between 1984 and 1990 and sell for £40-45 per figure on Ebay. The second edition, a blue version, was produced in a limited edition of 250, and sells for £200-300 per figure. Interestingly the 3rd version (green) was also produced in a limited edition of 250 but has not been seen by the author on Ebay.

As well as limited editions prototypes and one off variations occasionally come onto the market. Genuine examples generate high prices on Ebay, recently a prototype of Father Bunnykins, which usually sells for £15-£20, sold for £700.

Bunnykins are great to collect and whilst the prices are low they make a good investment. The low prices currently being seen on Ebay are not sustainable in the long term, and it is likely that the number of figures on the market will reduce in the near future prompting a rebound on the prices. So, buy them now whilst they’re great value!

Contact Lance@bunnykinscollector.co.uk, http://www.bunnykinscollector.co.uk

An indescribable sensation

streaming through my body

a sensation of pain

a sensation of sadness,

It is a mix of many emotions

It is causing great commotion

It is become chaotic

It is like a tornado

Or something fierce

It is an indescribable sensation

The sensation is strong

Like fireworks in my mind,

causing crackling in my mind

the explosion almost more

intense than I can handle

It is like a fearsome mouth of fire is in me

A monstrous being

Trapped in my very body

This creature is in me

In the very thing that keeps me alive

in my very own body

This thing this, is intimidating

With such drama accruing

My mind has begun to have sudden convulsions,

The trauma will be permanent

It is causing me to be antagonized buy anxiety

I ask myself is this possible

Is this really happening

Can it be true

Am I dreaming

I have an indescribable sensation

The sensation of longing

The sensation of need

The sensation that should not be

The sensation that only causes more pain

I feel I have been framed

Framed of a horrendous crime

Something unforgivable

Something that I am not able to handle

There for causing this traumatic sensation

An undescribable sensation

one that is not meant for any human to experience

one that was never meant to be felt or known of

I can not take it on I am no match for it

it shale termanate me

This indescribable sensation,

shall certainly terminate me

and all that shall be left is silence,

silence and darkness

I am big on philosophy and I am a big fan of Nietzsches work. I also fins that Marilyn Manson (Brian Werner) has some very good philosophys (although controversal and he is not thecnically a philosopher but of course neither am I) I also enjoy many other philosophers and I am considering a carrer with something to do with philosophy and or writeing. I am a very dramatic person and like anything to do with drama, including theater. I also like photography!

Poetry is more than just rhyming and prose that is in meters and verse. It is an art form. It is something that can not be judged by its cover and can not be criticized to the point where it just “sucks.” Poetry is about expression. Poetry expresses the way we feel on a certain subject through imagery and other senses. It helps us deal with our daily problems, be it good or bad.

The emotion which is put within the poem brings it life. A poem without emotion is not a poem at all but simply prose. Poetry is what makes us feel happy or sad, mad or gleeful, loving or broken hearted. Poetry is life on paper. It does not need to be of a certain subject or even rhyme.

Poetry is poetry. It has its own mind. If it flows good if not… it needs work. The rules can be bent but not broken. Our life is our life and no one can tell us what we have been through but ourselves. We know best not some stranger reading our poems. Our poetry is our life, not what someone says.

Rhyming in poetry is not always the best way to express yourself. Rhyming actually takes away many words that could have been used. If you try to rhyme it cuts your dictionary into little pieces. It doesn’t need to be this way, choose flow over rhyme.

As a result of this, poetry is defined as a way of putting flowing words together in meter and verse to show emotion or tell a story.

Poetry in a Nutshell is written by Gary R. Hess, author and owner of Famous Poems — a haven for poets.

If you’ve been looking for a creative art project to do with the kids, look no further! I recently did a fun project with my daughter and thought I’d share the how-to for other parents who are looking for ways to keep their kids busy and creative all while making something useful for around the home!

What You’ll Need

A wooden step ladder
Spray paint (your choice of color)
Sponges (either cut into shapes of your choice or pre-purchased in shapes)
Letter Stencils (of your child’s name)
Craft Paint (your choice of colors)
Newspaper (the older the better)
Smock or old clothing for you and your child

Now you’re ready to start creating. A little preparation is needed before bringing your child into the project. Take the step ladder outside and put it on the newspaper and spray paint it, covering the entire step ladder thoroughly. Let it dry overnight and you’ll be ready to bring your child into the project the next day!

Bring the painted ladder to your work area (outside is recommended). Work with your child to sponge paint the shapes onto the ladder in the colors of your choice. Let it dry thoroughly.

Next, help your child stencil their name(s) onto the ladder. I’d recommend doing it on the side, and not the top, as the top will take a bit of wear if you plan to let your child use it. If it is to be a decoration for the porch of your child’s room, putting the name on top will be ok if you choose to do so. Let it dry.

Your child now has a ladder, personally designed by them, to use. Put it in the corner of their room and through their favorite stuffed animal or trophies or photographs on top. You can also use the ladder as décor in your garden or on your porch. More practically, you can let your child use it for help in reaching the bathroom sink or other out of the way place they need to get to on a frequent basis.

While you can buy a step stool in the store, making one with your child not only gives you an activity to do together to get in some quality time, but it also will serve as a reminder for many years of the time you spent together and may even end up as a hand me down to your grandchildren.

And remember, above all, have fun!

Chuck Greene is the owner and operator of a little ladder website called Ladder Fanatic. It is a testament to his unique (some may call it crazy) love of ladders – especially the Little Giant Ladder brand ladders. www.ladderfanatic.com

Funny Love Poems

When most people think of love poems, they think of serious and soulful expressions of passion. Long sonnets by Shakespeare or romantic poems by Browning and Lord Byron are the norm for love poetry. However, funny love poems can be good for a laugh. They may not be romantic, but they do give your friends something to enjoy.

Some of the best funny love poems are limericks. Limericks started in Ireland and follow a standard form of five lines and a rhyme scheme of aabba. Here are a few limericks written by anonymous authors:

There once was an old man of Lyme
Who married three wives at a time
When asked “Why a third?”
He replied, “One’s absurd!
And bigamy, Sir, is a crime.”

There was a young fellow named Hammer
Whose had an unfortunate stammer
“The b-bane of my life”
Said he, “Is m-m-my wife
D-d-d-d-d-d-damn ‘er!”

She made friends with a young undertaker;
Her last boyfriend had forsaken her.
But she started to curse
When he turned up in a hearse.
She said next time I’ll date a baker!

There was a young lady named Constance,
From boys she wouldn’t stand any nonsense.
If her partners grew deft
She would lead with her left;
The results would not weigh on her conscience.

My sweetheart and I are just wed.
Already I wish I were dead.
Two weeks she’s been spending.
It was time never ending.
We are thousands of pounds in the red!

Limericks are fairly easy to write if you can rhyme well, so you might try writing a limerick yourself that includes the name of your friend or loved one. This is a good way to make a funny love poem that is personalized.

You can find more information about funny poems at:
http://www.love-poems-quotes.info/funny-love-poems.html

Art Hill is an internet poet who operates an independant poetry publishing company.

Scrapbooking:

Tie onto a tag, photo mat, border, or photo as an accent.

Use with a hole punch to make a booklet.

Tie onto clips attached to paper.

Use to secure a fold open photo frame.

Staple along the edge of a photo for a border.

Place behind a photo to use as a mat.

Tie in a knot and adhere with a glue dot.

Attach a ribbon charm and use as a long border.

Thread through eyelets and tie as an accent.

Tie onto a slide holder for a small picture frame.

Tie onto each end of a metal label holder.

Tie small bits of ribbon onto a larger piece of ribbon for a unique border.

Attach diagonally along the corner(s) of a photo.

Stamp words and sayings onto ribbons for titles.

Crafting:

Tie numerous ribbons around the lid of a gift box.

Tie small bits of ribbon along the handle of a gift bag.

Tie small bits of ribbon on each piece of a spiral notebook.

Fold and staple along the top of a gift bag.

Tie around a sketchbook, journal or diary.

Tie ribbons through buttonholes and attach with glue dots.

Weave ribbons to use as placements, wallhangings, etc.

Use fabric stiffener to make ribbon bookmarks.

Make a french ribbon board to hold notes and photos.

Tie around the handle of a mug and fill with candy for a gift.

Use a hoop and long ribbons to make a mobile for breezy summer days.

Home Decor:

Use long/wide ribbons to store and display barrettes and pins.

Overlap and hang various ribbon styles/lengths on a bathroom window.

Tie around glass jars in the kitchen and bathroom.

Tie onto candle holders (away from the heat/flame, please!).

Decorate old wooden cigar boxes with ribbon and glue dots.

Wrap around an old or damage photo frame.

Sew ribbon to your plain dishtowels.

Tie large ribbons to the backs of chairs for a fun lunch or dinner.

Tie ribbons onto napkin holders.

Tie beads onto ribbon and then attach to a lampshade.

Use ribbons and painted clothespins to make a card/artwork wall display.

Tie to the tops of curtains for a festive display.

Make ribbon tassels to hang in your home.

Sew ribbons onto the edges of your sheets, pillowcases and curtains.

Decorate a flower pot with ribbons.

Fashion:

Tie ribbons onto your hangers, drawer pulls and shower curtain.

Tie a ribbon onto any zipper pulls you have!

Tie bits of ribbon onto a large safety pin for a quick accessory.

Use your ribbons as hair bows.

Tie around your neck for a quick accent.

Use wide ribbon alone or weave smaller ribbons to make a belt.

Use for a watch band.

Tie bits of ribbon around the handles of your pocketbook.

Sew/attach ribbon onto hats, clothing, socks, shoes and belts.

Use slide holders, ribbons and photos to make jewelry.

Copyright 2005 Antuanette Wheeler www.misstonigifts.com

A note for store owners, list owners, website owners or others: You may use this
article on your website, store newsletter or any other media as long as you allow the
article to be printed or show in its entirety and include any links that are within the
article. If you have any questions, comments, suggestions or ideas, feel free to
contact me at misstonigiftsnet@aol.com. Thanks!

Miss Toni Gifts started out as a small pin sales site and blossomed over the last few
years into a pin/bookmark combo design business. We are three women who have
known each other forever. We have all been involved in scouting, scrapbooking and
general arts and crafts for a LONG time. This is really a family affair because Glenda
is the Mom, Toni is the daughter, and Missy is a friend for over 20 years!

Millions of people throughout the world take great joy in the hobby of collecting figurines. If you are thinking of starting your own collectible figurine collection, you can purchase your first figurine through various channels, such as buying it online or going to a wholesale figurine market.

Nowadays, figurine collection has become an interesting and fascinating hobby. In fact, with the use of the internet, starting your own figurine collection has become even easier. No matter what type of figurine you are looking for, you will find a wide range of collectible figurines available on the internet, which you can buy from the comfort of your own home and at a reasonable price too. You can also purchase figurines by bidding on online auctions. However, take care not to bid too much on figurines as you would not want your figurine collection to become a financial burden on you.

If you want to order a special type of figurine such as an angel figurine or a fairy figurine, be sure to ask the supplier to display the models and list of your choice. It is also important to specify the size of your figurine before placing the purchase order. Images and pictures of figurines online are often not truly representative of the actual size of the figurines and may often appear larger than the actual dimensions.

Furthermore, some special figurines such as angel figurine may cost you more, as they can be custom made according to your desire. The modern porcelain angel figurine comes in various materials and shapes, so be sure to specify the material and other features that you wish your angel figurine or fairy figurine to have. Fairy figurines are also available in many models and dimensions. Another type of collectible figurine that many people love to collect is the pewter figurine of mythical creatures.

If you consider your figurine collection to be of great value, you should consider passing it on to your future generation as collectible figurines increase in values over time. You will be surprised to know that there is a science to collecting figurines and the more you become involved in the hobby of collecting figurines, the more you will want to learn about it.

Before starting your collection, visit specialty shops like wholesale figurine shops or ask a few friends or relatives who are experienced in collecting figurines for suggestions on how to get started and also on how to negotiate successfully with sellers of figurines

Science poetry or scientific poetry is a specialized poetic genre that makes use of science as its subject. Written by scientists and nonscientists, science poets are generally avid readers and appreciators of science and “science matters.” Science poetry may be found in anthologies, in collections, in science fiction magazines that sometimes include poetry, in other magazines and journals. Many science fiction magazines, including online magazines, such as Strange Horizons, often publish science fiction poetry, another form of science poetry. Of course science fiction poetry is a somewhat different genre. Online there is the Science Poetry Center for those interested in science poetry, and for those interested in science fiction poetry The Science Fiction Poetry Association. In addition, there’s Science Fiction Poetry Handbook and Ultimate Science Fiction Poetry Guide, all found online. Strange Horizons has published the science fiction poetry of Joanne Merriam, Gary Lehmann and Mike Allen.

As for science poetry, science or scientific poets like science fiction poets may also publish collections of poetry in almost any stylistic format. Science or scientific poets, like other poets, must know the “art and craft” of poetry, and science or scientific poetry appears in all the poetic forms: free verse, blank verse, metrical, rhymed, unrhymed, abstract and concrete, ballad, dramatic monologue, narrative, lyrical, etc. All the poetic devices are in use also, from alliteration to apostrophe to pun to irony and understatement, to every poetic diction, figures of speech and rhythm, etc. Even metaphysical scientific poetry is possible. In his anthology, The World Treasury of Physics, Astronomy, and Mathematics, editor Timothy Ferris aptly includes a section entitled “The Poetry of Science.” Says Ferris in the introduction to this section, “Science (or the ‘natural philosophy’ from which science evolved) has long provided poets with raw material, inspiring some to praise scientific ideas and others to react against them.”

Such greats as Milton, Blake, Wordsworth, Goethe either praised or “excoriated” science and/or a combination of both. This continued into the twentieth century with such poets as Marianne Moore, T. S. Eliot, Robinson Jeffers, Robert Frost and Robert Hayden (e.g. “Full Moon”–”the brilliant challenger of rocket experts”) not to mention many of the lesser known poets, who nevertheless maintain a poetic response to scientific matters. Says Ferris, “This is not to say that scientists should try to emulate poets, or that poets should turn proselytes for science….But they need each other, and the world needs both.” Included in his anthology along with the best scientific prose/essays are the poets Walt Whitman (“When I Heard the Learn’d Astronomer”), Gerard Manley Hopkins “(“I am Like a Slip of Comet…”), Emily Dickinson (“Arcturus”), Robinson Jeffers (“Star-Swirls”), Richard Ryan (“Galaxy”), James Clerk Maxwell (“Molecular Evolution”), John Updike (“Cosmic Gall”), Diane Ackerman (“Space Shuttle”) and others.

Certainly those writing scientific poetry like those writing science fiction need not praise all of science, but science nevertheless the subject matter, and there is often a greater relationship between poetry and science than either poets and/or scientists admit. Creativity and romance can be in both, as can the intellectual and the mathematical. Both can be aesthetic and logical. Or both can be nonaesthetic and nonlogical, depending on the type of science and the type of poetry.

Science poetry takes it subject from scientific measurements to scientific symbols to time & space to biology to chemistry to physics to astronomy to earth science/geology to meteorology to environmental science to computer science to engineering/technical science. It may also take its subject from scientists themselves, from Brahmagypta to Einstein, from Galileo to Annie Cannon. It may speak to specific types of scientists in general as Goethe “True Enough: To the Physicist” in the Ferris anthology. (Subsequent poets mentioned are also from this anthology.)

Science poetry may make use of many forms or any form from lyrical to narrative to sonnet to dramatic monologue to free verse to light verse to haiku to villanelle, from poetry for children or adults or both, for the scientist for the nonscientist or both. John Frederick Nims has written for example, “The Observatory Ode.” (“The Universe: We’d like to understand.”) There are poems that rhyme, poems that don’t rhythms. There’s “concrete poetry” such as Annie Dillard’s “The Windy Planet” in which the poem in in the shape of a planet, from “pole” to “pole,” an inventive poem. “Chaos Theory” even becomes the subject of poetry as in Wallace Stevens’ “The Connoisseur of Chaos.”

And what of your science and/or scientific poem? Think of all the techniques of poetry and all the techniques of science. What poet of view should you use? Third person? First person, a dramatic monologue? Does a star speak? Or the universe itself? Does a sound wave speak? Or a micrometer? Can you personify radio astronomy?

What are the main themes, the rhythms? What figures of speech, metaphors, similes, metaphor, can be derived from science. What is your attitude toward science and these scientific matters?

Read. Revise. Think. Proofread. Revise again. Shall you write of evolution, of the atom, of magnetism? Of quanta, of the galaxies, of the speed of sound, of the speed of light? Of Kepler’s laws? Shall you write of the history of science? Of scientific news?

Read all the science you can.
Read all the poetry you can.

You are a poet.
You are a scientist.
What have you to say of the astronomer, the comet, of arcturus, of star-sirls, of galaxies, of molecular evolution, of atomic architecture, of “planck time” to allude to other poetic titles.

What does poetry say to science?
What does science say to poetry?

Susan Shaw is a freelance writer and web content writer. Her articles and web content appear online.