houseful of hedgehogs

HEDGEHOG CHRISTMAS 2020

2020 has sadly been a bleak year in many ways.  However, when it comes to hedgehog Christmas gifts, it was great! My son and his wife gave me the adorable "Awakening" hedgehog cushion by Wrendale Design. It even has a beautiful back displaying some of their many woodland creatures. They also gave me the precious Wrendale Christmas ornament with two hedgehogs touching noses under the mistletoe. I love them so much!

My dear hedgehog friend didn't forget me either. She cross-stitched a lovely hedgehog ornament, complete with a Christmas star button! It is proudly displayed on my new hedgehog Christmas tree. This year, my hedgehog friend found a Victorian "feather" tree, and I thought it was such a good idea that I got one too.

Last, but certainly not least, a special friend gave me the sweet, fluffy hedgehog skiing along with his blue scarf. What a cute face he has!

HEDGEHOGS FOR ALL SEASONS

The fact that I'm posting a Thanksgiving Day card in January says that I'm really behind in posting new additions to my collection. No excuses. This happy card and the jaunty felt ornament arrived as a surprise from my dear hedgehog friend! There is nothing as sweet as a homemade ornament, and it is now on my Christmas tree (which is still decorated with hedgehogs.) Again, no excuses.

This shiny, gold hedgehog tape dispenser is made by Scotch 3M. It's heavy and easy to use. I decided to give myself a Christmas gift this year, and I did use it for wrapping packages. It made Christmas gift-wrapping even more fun!

 

A WONDERFUL HEDGEHOG PACKAGE FROM VIENNA

The wonderfully generous Connie (The Hedgehog Collector) from Vienna, Austria, sent a package brimming with dinner napkins and cards. My hedgehog friend from Kansas and I each have a set. We have been having Zoom meetings with Connie, and it's a lot of fun!

Most of these images are ones I've never seen.  It seems Europeans have admired hedgehogs for decades before Americans even knew what they were.

I do love all the hedgehog cuteness! The next two pictures are cards and stationery. We can't thank Connie enough for sharing!!!

 

MORE BELATED BIRTHDAY GIFTS

We were lucky enough to have a visit from my brother-in-law and sister-in-law around the time of my birthday. She always gathers up hedgehogs when she sees them and saves them to give to me. I know the white salt and pepper hedgehogs by Creative Co-op came from the Portland Art Museum. The furry little guy with a mushroom and a big smile came from somewhere in Europe, and the tiny hedgehog with them is just cute.

When she said I probably already had this woodland hedgehog with the sticks for quills, I said I didn't but I have his mother! Now they are reunited.  They do look very much the same. She also said she thought she should cut back on giving me hedgehogs. I said that's fine.  Now we'll see if she can really do it!

 

 

BELATED BIRTHDAY HEDGEHOGS

This whimsical hedgehog billfold by Chala Handbags was a birthday gift from my son and his wife. I love the fall colors! I had a key-chain coin purse that matches it, which was a gift from my sister-in-law. I'm lucky to have such sweet and thoughtful relatives!

I don't always post cards, but these two were exceptionally great!

 

TWO BLUE HEDGEHOGS, ONE OLD AND ONE NEW

I have a wonderful sister-in-law who always finds hedgehogs for me when she travels. This cheery felt and cloth trivet came all the way from Estonia! Someday I should make a list of the various country origins that make up the history of my hedgehog collection. That sounds like fun!

BIZARRE BLUE HEDGEHOG TOY

I'm not sure what to say about this hedgehog toy, also a gift from my sister-in-law in 2013. I know she found it at a street market in a U.S. city. Recently, it has attracted some comments to the blog. It's video wasn't working anymore, but thanks to my son, it is up and running again.  You can be the judge by clicking on the link. Just don't have the volume up too loud. Imagine having to listen to it for more than a few minutes, which would be impossible for most.

OCTOBER HEDGEHOG BIRTHDAY SURPRISES

Some great things about having an October birthday are the cute fall hedgehogs. My sweet "hedgehog friend" made this beautiful candle or penny mat for my birthday. I love the colors she chose and the tiny buttons on the mushrooms! She is so talented in stitchery, quilting, and related arts. I'm truly impressed!

Another adorable birthday gift is from a dear friend who happened to see these cute, cute fall hedgehog towels while she was strolling through Kohl's. They have really brightened up my kitchen, and I smile every time I see them.

I don't know where another great friend of mine ran across this festive hedgehog, because she's not much of a shopper. The corrugated tin and the little pumpkins stuck to his sides make this such a unique and clever decoration. I'll look forward to putting him out every fall! I'm so happy to have friends who think of me with hedgehogs on my birthday.

PRECIOUS HEDGEHOG ORNAMENTS

I have a new "hedgehog friend," and I couldn't be more thrilled. We share the same love of hedgehogs, and she lives only four hours away! My husband and I went to visit her and her husband at their beautiful farm on a spectacular fall-like day. She had a lovely table set, complete with a delicious hedgehog cheese ball and my favorite German beer.

I was so surprised when she presented me with a gift! She had made the precious hedgehog ornaments at the top of the page. I can't express how much I love them! Even the backs of the ornaments are so sweet! She also made the box for the ornaments and included a beautiful card.

I know this is just the beginning of a wonderful friendship! There will be many fun times ahead and, of course, much more about hedgehogs!

HEDGEHOG GIFTS FROM GRANDCHILDREN

Even though I'm sure they had help picking them out, I did receive some hedgehog gifts from the grandchildren. I have two new books to add to my collection and an especially cute zippered bag. What makes it extra-special are their initials on the tummies of the hand-holding hedgehogs! As a background, I included some of the cheerful gift wrap that my son and daughter-in-law used to wrap one of my gifts.

ADORABLE HEDGEHOG GIFTS

I have a very sweet friend with two wonderful girls.  I was hoping to make cookies with them using this cute cookie roller they gave me, but that will have to wait for a while. (The wooden roller is made by a Polish company called Goody Woody.) We might be able to have an outdoor tea party this fall! They also gave me a bright blue hedgehog pen and this peaceful hedgehog magnet.  They know how much I love hedgehogs and always find some that make me happy!

LOVELY HEDGEHOG LAMP

I don't know what to say about this hedgehog lamp except that it's perfect and I love it! It was a gift from my son and his wife.  I needed a lamp to sit on the desk in the guestroom, and this lovely light is just what I wanted. It matches the decor and, more importantly, it's a hedgehog! I could not be happier!!!

PAIRS OF HEDGEHOGS

I feel that hedgehogs in a picture should have something with them. What is better than another hedgehog? This pretty stuffed fellow by Nat and Jules is wondering why a hedgehog would be on wheels. He was a gift from a great college friend of my husband's who appreciates my affection for hedgehogs.

Here are a fine-looking TY hedgehog "Prickles" and a scrunchy silver dog toy focusing their attention on a little crystal hedgehog that came all the way from Cartagena, Columbia, as a gift from my husband.

These two fuzzy hedgehogs look like they have a lot of personality. The larger one was a gift from a colleague many years ago. The tiny one, made in West Germany, was a gift from my mother,  also many years ago. This concludes the posting of a few hedgehogs that have been patiently waiting for their moment in the sun. I hope that I haven't left any out. Every one from this point on should be a new member of the houseful of hedgehogs.

ORGAN GRINDER MECKI AND SONIC THE HEDGEHOG

 

This is probably first hedgehog I ever saw, as a child. I remember that Captain Kangaroo had an organ grinder on his show, and I loved seeing him play.  It was Mecki! I remember the first time I went to Germany on vacation, I saw a Mecki in a shop window and recognized him as something I had seen before. It's funny the things from childhood that leave an impression on us.  Does anyone else remember the organ grinder from Captain Kangaroo?

Of course, everyone knows Sonic the Hedgehog. My husband started giving me these, and I told him one was enough.  I know he is a famous hedgehog, but he is a cartoon character to me.

 

 

ODDS AND ENDS HEDGEHOGS FROM THE PAST

When I was a little girl, I had to put all my stuffed animals in bed with me because I didn't want to leave any one out. Now I feel that all my hedgehogs should appear in a post.  It wouldn't be fair to leave any of them out either. Above are many of the tiny hedgehogs that might get lost if they weren't in a display.

Many of these little resin hedgehogs were given to me by people who saw them in shops as hedgehogs were becoming more popular here. I'm pretty sure they were copies of original resin cast hedgehogs, because so many look similar.

Here is an assortment of rubber or plastic hedgehogs that I received from various people. No matter what they are made of, hedgehogs still catch my eye when I'm in a shop glancing around.  Many years ago, I bought every hedgehog I saw, but now that they are so numerous I've had to stop that behavior!

HEDGEHOGS FOR BABIES

This baby hedgehog finger puppet book is one in a series by Chronicle Kids Books. It's such a clever idea and really entertaining for tiny children.  I found this at a great local store called The Thicket.

My niece, who finds crafty hedgehog items at art fairs near Des Moines, presented me with these sweet gifts. Here is a strap to hook onto just about anything, a picnic tea towel, and a baby bib. I love the originality crafters use to design their things with hedgehogs in mind!

HEDGEHOGS WITH PERSONALITY

I'm more than a little late posting my Christmas gifts, but here are two very sweet little faces that are livening up the blue room in the houseful of hedgehogs. This dapper hedgehog won "Best Dressed" along with several other awards according to the artist Ryan Berkley. He and his artist wife live in Portland, Oregon. My very sweet, dear friend made me so happy with this portrait!

My sister-in-law found this adorable hedgehog pillow at Society6.  I love the almost surprised look on her face and the fact that she's sticking out of a pocket on a pillow. The artist is Monica Vera. These are two fantastic hedgehog presents!

MOTHERS DAY SURPRISES

This adorable hedgehog planter filled with a hen and chicks cactus made me so happy on Mothers Day! It's so perfect and prickly!

I received another sweet gift on Mothers Day from a very dear girl. It's a tea infuser made by Fred. Cute TEA. It looks like it was made for this mug! Below is the scratch-off card she gave me.  It was quite touching and meant a lot to me!

BRIGHT SPRINGTIME HEDGEHOGS

This is definitely a springtime hedgehog scene.  It's actually a birthday card I received last year from a dear friend. It's a coloring card, so I sent it to my sweet sister who is an expert at adult coloring. She did a fantastic job, and I found the perfect frame. She used some iridescent pens for some of the colors, but they don't show up well in this picture. It's really quite sparkly and beautiful! 

I found this great puzzle at Birds Unlimited in Galena, Illinois. It's so colorful and happy-looking, it just makes me smile! It's definitely a good time to work on a puzzle while we are all at home during the pandemic.

MORE SWEET HEDGEHOG GIFTS

This perky felt hedgehog by Delilah Iris Designs was a gift from a sweet, sweet friend of mine. It's still in the box, but maybe this spring? Delilah has some adorable animals in her shop.

This hedgehog cord biter is attached to my iPad regularly. The tiny biter and the little white hedgehog-topped dish below are from another precious friend I am so thrilled to have. The miniature puzzle is from my generous sister-in-law. The smiling little guy ready to give a big hug is one I found in Frankenmuth, MI, at the always overwhelming Bronners.

HEDGEHOG GIFT ROUND-UP

I am so fortunate to have friends and relatives who think of me when they see a hedgehog. Therefore, I receive some of them for birthdays, Christmas and "just because." My sister-in-law, who travels frequently, seems to find quite a few--even in Peru. The tagua nut is carved into many types of animals, including hedgehogs! This cute key chain has a zipper for change. The cards are adorable, too. She thinks of me often!

These lovely hedgehog measuring cups are a birthday gift from a friend who finds some unique items. I'm so lucky!

EASTERN EUROPEAN and OTHER HEDGEHOGS from RECENT TRAVELS

While in Prague last fall, we happened into a charming shop full of wooden gifts. Amadea has a lovely collection of unique wooden items--so fun! From this link, you can view their shops, most of which are in Prague. The painted ornament and bark-quilled hedgehog came from Amadea. The two teeny, tiny wooden hedgehogs are ones my husband brought back from Taiwan. Wooderful Life is the company where the little guys were created. Their website is also worth a look.

The miniature brass fellow with a big smile is carrying a book and has a mushroom, an apple, and some leaves stuck to his quills. My husband brought him back from Armenia (Yes, he does get around.) I'm always so amused by thinking of what inspired the artist to create some of these unusual hedgehogs. The "Fairy Hedgehog" by Regency Arts, has a lot going on. In addition to the large flowers, she has pink wings covered with glitter and a garland of leaves around her waist. Someone spent a lot of time designing her. It would be fun to know something about these artists, but I'm sure that's impossible.

The two colorful glass hedgehogs came from a gift shop in Vienna, but I don't recall the name. I was just overwhelmed by the beauty of Vienna and the many shops in the city center! 

HEDGEHOGS from MY VIENNA VISIT

When I visited Vienna in October, as I said in my prior post, I was happily able to see the World's Largest Hedgehog Collection. I thought this tall fellow was just charming. I could have taken pictures of great hedgehogs all day, but I had to stop myself.

In addition to being kind and generous, Connie is also a talented artist.  She let me choose from some of her collection and some of the hedgehogs she has created, and I love them! The stitching and originality of the cloth hedgehogs are wonderful. Even her tags are adorable! Below are some more creations. One is a ball, one is a stone, and the others are Easter eggs that I managed to bring home in my suitcase without breaking. I can tell Connie has an artistic mind, because she can see a hedgehog in many forms and shapes. Fantastic!

 

WORLD'S LARGEST HEDGEHOG COLLECTION

On a recent trip to beautiful Vienna, Austria, I was privileged to visit the home of the world's largest hedgehog collection! The Hedgehog Collector is the title of her website, and you can view her entire collection by category. I was filled with joy, because hedgehogs make me very happy. I hope sometime in 2020 to go to Vienna again and spend a little time with Connie, the kind and generous owner of the collection. I know we would have a lot to talk about!

 

Here are a few more pictures from her vast collection:

 

 

 

 

HEDGEHOGS from CHRISTMAS PAST

A belated Merry Christmas wish to all! I have let my posting fall far behind, but I'm ready to catch up beginning with some new hedgehogs from December 2019. These festive little guys make a great pair. The Santa fellow and the bag he came in were from a dear friend I always see at Christmas. The admiring little brother was a gift from my sweet sister, who was so happy to find him! Both look very wintery with their frosty pine-cone backs.

This collection of Christmas cuties is a combination of gifts from my daughter-in-law, sister-in-law, and a friend I've known for many years. The shiny golden ornament is blown glass.  I love the glittery quills on the glass Santa and the Christmas tree tied on the hedgehog's back. The two funny little hedgehogs in the back are ones I found this December in Galena, Illinois. They are a great addition to hedgehog Christmas cheer around the house. I don't want to put them away just yet.

HEDGEHOG SUMMER COMING TO AN END

 

These bright and summery-looking hedgehogs aren't ready for summer to end.  Oh well, they just sit in my kitchen anyway. I have had the measuring cups for a while, but my sister-in-law gave me the matching butter dish as a gift.  So cute together!

As soon as I saw these little planters at Walmart, I bought one.  When I went back for another a few days later, they were gone. The tiny plant is still alive! We'll see if fall brings any new hedgehogs to my house. I have a feeling . . .

 

SCOTTISH HEDGEHOG STOWAWAYS AND A SURPRISE

It's always a challenge when I'm in the UK. There are just too many hedgehogs around, and I am really trying to cut back on buying them for myself. Here are some that made it home with me from a recent trip to Scotland. There are some cute shops in Pitlochry, so I chose the best Christmas ornament I could find. (Christmas ornaments are always allowed.) I liked the sassy expression of the hedgehog sitting on a mushroom. The sweet card from Paper Bird says, "We like the same things."

It was a total surprise when I found that there was a hedgehog hanging over my bed in the B and B in Kiltyrie! Jane has the lovely Kiltyrie Farmhouse near Killin in Scotland.

HAPPY HEDGEHOG EASTER

Mrs. Tiggywinkle nursed me through a terrible cough last month while I was in Florida. I'll always be grateful! She was at CVS near the cough syrup and looked like a kind little friend. She is from the Ty Company and is flanked by two hedgehog Easter bunnies. The fellow on the left was holding a bag of Easter eggs and is from the Frankford Candy Company. The other sweet hedgehog playing bunny is from the Ganz Company.  I found her a few years ago, also in Florida. There's a pattern here . . .

HANDMADE AND FELTED HEDGEHOGS

I received two unique hedgehogs this Christmas. The first, and most unusual, is this felted hedgehog birdhouse. A dear friend was thrilled to find this woolly fellow, handmade in Katmandu, Nepal. This is a product made in association with the Fair Trade Federation. Yes it is made to be a birdhouse, and no I'm not going to put it out in the rain.

My niece, who loves to attend art fairs, brought me a felting kit for hedgehogs. It's made by woolpets, and I am excited to give it a try--we'll see how I do at felting. She also gave me this pretty blue handmade necklace. Such thoughtful gifts!

NEW CUTE KITCHEN HEDGEHOGS

I'm still adding to my collection due to the sweet efforts of my friends and relatives. Christmas brought several new hedgehogs to my house. These stylish measuring cups were a gift from my brother and his wife. The little guy on top isn't related, but they all came from Creative Co-op.

The tiny white hedgehog bowl is from my son's family as are the great lime green spatula and the shiny ornament. My husband found the mother hedgehog with the baby in the bath. All such adorable gifts, and I thank them very much!

COZY HEDGEHOG CHRISTMAS BLANKET AND TOWELS

My sister-in-law from Chicago gave me the most wonderful Christmas blanket.  It's so soft and warm--I love it! Did I mention how cute the woodland print is? This blanket is from the "Save The Children" project. Below are the blanket and the cheery hedgehog kitchen towels she brought. The towels are by Casaba Home and just make me smile! I'm so lucky to have two very sweet sisters-in-law.