Tuesday, June 21, 2011

The Mouse Hole - Where it all began

Below: Inside the Mouse Hole                                                                     Above:Granny's Shop "The Mouse Hole"

Hello everyone, Anna here. Today I thought I would tell you how The House of Mouse came to be what it is today.

The story starts with my Granny, Margret Greaves. Granny and my Grandad “Crispy” (short for Christopher) lived in a little seaside village called Mousehole (pronounced “Mou-zul”) in Devon, England. They owned a little shop on the seafront that sold Crispy’s watercolor paintings, tourist gifts, postcards, shells and little felt mice that my Granny made. Granny would sew these little mice during the winter when the shop was quiet; she made them wearing little costumes – a priest, a chef, a gypsy lady and many others.

Sadly Granny passed away when I was only three, so I don’t really remember her. I have a vague memory of being in her shop – where the shelves seemed to go up forever - But I grew up with her little mice peeking out of nooks and crannies in my parents’ home. Many of the mice came to live with us after Granny died.


Granny's mice still live with Anna's parents

I used to make my gifts for family and friends and for Christmas 2007 I took inspiration from Granny’s mice and decided to make one for everyone: A Chef mouse for an uncle that likes to cook, a photographer mouse for my snap-happy dad. I didn’t know Granny’s pattern or technique, so it took a month or so to work out my own. Everyone was so thrilled with their gifts! My Grannys three children - My dad and his two sisters - all said that I should sell them! Which is when I took my first steps to opening The House of Mouse on Etsy. My family regularly tell me how proud they think Granny would be, if she could see what I was doing now.




Granny and baby Anna
Taken in 1980
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29 comments:

  1. NafsikaJune 21, 2011 at 12:08 PM

    This is a great post! Thank you for sharing!

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  2. kraplapJune 21, 2011 at 12:13 PM

    Wow, that is a great story ! Thanks for sharing this with us. I love the mouse on your granny's shop too :)

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  3. limonadaJune 21, 2011 at 12:26 PM

    What an amazing story to share with us!!! Thank you Anna!
    I love your granny's mice :)
    Sweet sweet story!

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  4. etherealflowersJune 21, 2011 at 12:27 PM

    love this story!! the mice-making runs in your blood :D the granny's ones are beautiful and yes, i'm sure she would be so proud of you!!

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  5. Colours and TexturesJune 21, 2011 at 12:29 PM

    Lovely story. I have been to Mousehole a number of times over the years (70s and 80s)so I may have bought something from that shop as I have bought a few things there.

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  6. Andreanna GlamasaurusJune 21, 2011 at 12:33 PM

    Aww what a sweet story and that gypsy mouse is so cute.

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  7. Happee MonkeeJune 21, 2011 at 12:35 PM

    Terrific post. It's really love that you've carried on the tradition. I'm sure she's very proud of you. I'm a fan of your work. I think it's really lovely!
    xx
    Mable

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  8. PoesyGirlJune 21, 2011 at 12:44 PM

    That is such a sweet story! What a legacy. It's really neat that you're doing this, it's such a nice way to share your Grandmother with all of us.
    Hugs

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  9. AimarroJune 21, 2011 at 1:49 PM

    Simply beautiful story! I love it when I see how such wonderful talents pass on to other generations. Your work is wonderful and I hope you'll amaze us for many, many years. Good luck to you :)

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  10. zsazsazsuJune 21, 2011 at 1:57 PM

    what a great story. Your grandmother would of been soooooooooo proud of what you do ! Did you make a tribute 'crispy' mouse already ;-) ?

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  11. Erna PriceJune 21, 2011 at 2:08 PM

    Such a lovely story! I really enjoyed reading about how The House of Mouse came to be what it is today.

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  12. BHB KidstyleJune 21, 2011 at 2:09 PM

    Such a touching story! Your granny would definitely be very proud of you! A great tribute, indeed!

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  13. AnonymousJune 21, 2011 at 2:18 PM

    Aww, What a lovely post. The shop looks very cute and I love that that's where you got the idea to create The house of mouse. Your Granny's mice are very cute and I think she'd be very proud of yours. This is lovely :)

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  14. RitaJCJune 21, 2011 at 2:53 PM

    A sweet story! Thank you so much for sharing!

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  15. Mruna MistryJune 21, 2011 at 3:28 PM

    Oh now I know...I was always curious about why mice plushies?

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  16. baaharJune 21, 2011 at 4:11 PM

    What a lovely story. And I absolutely love the pic with the Mousehole !! What a precious place it must have been

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  17. StaroftheEastJune 21, 2011 at 5:19 PM

    Such a sweet story, how nice that somehow you are continueing a family tradition :)

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  18. MariJune 21, 2011 at 7:03 PM

    What a wonderful Story Anna, It's fabulous that you have taken up the wonderful craft and I'm sure your Granny would be more than proud.

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  19. rokstudyJune 21, 2011 at 8:43 PM

    That is a special memorial to your gran.

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  20. Erika PriceJune 21, 2011 at 8:48 PM

    A beautiful story, and such a wonderful looking shop too. It's very touching that you are carrying on her mouse-making tradition with your gorgeous little creations :) Erika Price Jewelry

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  21. Natalka PavlyshJune 21, 2011 at 10:21 PM

    Amazing story!

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  22. Sandra RosaJune 21, 2011 at 11:41 PM

    Woow! I love your story!
    It's wonderful as you are recovering and maintain the tradition, I think your grandmother would be so proud!
    Thank you for sharing!
    I love, love, love!!!

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  23. creationsbyeveJune 22, 2011 at 5:43 AM

    such a sweet story!thanks for sharing with us Anna!

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  24. Cari-Jane HakesJune 22, 2011 at 8:53 AM

    I love this story - the shop looks lovely!

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  25. Jane_BoJune 25, 2011 at 8:14 PM

    Wonderful story!

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  26. UnknownJune 26, 2011 at 9:14 PM

    What a wonderful post Anna. So nice to see how you started. And I love the old mousies and the picture of your Grandmother and you! Thanks for sharing, the mousies mean even more to me now, knowing this story! x

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  27. Renathe SchneiderJune 26, 2011 at 9:28 PM

    Great post :)
    Your granny must be so happy looking down at you now :)

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  28. JKSeptember 23, 2011 at 11:36 AM

    Now I know how it all started. Amazing and lovely story. Love the old mice, so much fun to compare them with your own designs. Each represent a time era.

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  29. Sprayed ExpressionsMarch 20, 2012 at 5:53 PM

    What a great back story to how the shop got started! I love that you are paying tribute to your grandmother, and I agree - she would be so proud!

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