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I have known about Marjolein Bastin for many years, but never knew much about her, other than she is Dutch and she is an extremely talented artist. Some may know of her because of her partnership with Hallmark. I first learned of her beautiful work from a cross-stitch magazine. Her work is about nature--the trees, flowers, plants, the wonderful creatures. What drew my attention to one of her cross-stitch designs was her incorporation of a little hedgehog, and I used to own a little African pygmy hedgehog by the name of Jezzie. She was CUTE!

Marjolein has a website where you can read extensively about her, view her artwork, purchase her art and other items. When I went there, I was just thrilled with all the little touches of her art in the website that really make it her own. Her detailed drawings and paintings make me want to reach out and touch. They make me want to step outside with my dog tomorrow morning and really watch those sweet little birds going after the seed my neighbor sprinkles under the pine trees.

It is the dead of winter here in Michigan. It did reach 33 degrees today and we had significant sunshine, so my driveway did melt off, thank goodness. However, I think I'll go dig up my cross-stitch magazines from the early nineties and see if I can find that hedgehog amidst all the spring flora and fauna.