Easter Keeps Egg Decorator, ‘Bunny Lady’ Hopping

If the Easter Bunny loses his way this year, there are two places in Orange County where he (or she, depending on how you interpret the story) will feel right at home.

Delores Bowles’ small Newport Beach home that has been decorated with hundreds of Beatrix Potter items and Amsbury’s in La Habra, where more than 20,000 ceramic Easter Eggs are created each spring.

Bowles, also known as “The Bunny Lady,” has made her love of the famed author public knowledge. Dressed in a shawl and apron, the former Newport Beach grammar school teacher visits hundreds of local schools, libraries and special events each year, telling the stories of Peter Rabbit, Benjamin Bunny, Squirrel Nutkin and Jeremy Fisher to thousands of young listeners.

“The children today often don’t know all the stories,” she said. “But there’s such a flow and melody to the words. The popularity of these books is really catching on again.”

Her home pays tribute to her favorite author.

“I have Beatrix Potter characters everywhere,” she said. “Even in the bathroom.”

Indeed, her bathroom sink features Peter Rabbit soap dishes and soap, talcum powder in a Peter Rabbit container and a rug featuring Peter Rabbit.

In the front entryway, visitors are greeted by two large curio cupboards bursting with Beatrix Potter memorabilia: hundreds of figurines of various characters, stuffed animals, collectors’ plates, music boxes . . . all featuring the small, gentle creatures that have delighted children and adults for almost 100 years.

Bowles came about her interest naturally. When her daughter was born, she went looking for picture books to read to her.

“She always loved the stories and pictures,” Bowles said. “Then when I was a schoolteacher, I noticed that Beatrix Potter stories had a natural appeal to the children. Whenever I pulled out one of her books, the class would settle down.”

She began her collection decades ago when she first saw some of the early Beatrix Potter figurines.

“I remember looking at them and saying to myself, ‘Oh, I mustn’t,’ but I did anyway,” she said. “I bought a few--I remember they cost a few dollars apiece, and that was pretty expensive.”

Now her home is a virtual museum of Beatrix Potter memorabilia, complete with Beatrix Potter dishes and a teapot to serve guests, kitchen chairs upholstered in a Peter Rabbit print, and even Chamomile tea (which, as you’ll recall, Peter’s mother served him after he returned home from his frightening adventure in Mr. McGregor’s garden).

And who are her favorite characters?

“Well, they are all so delightful,” she said. “I kind of like Jemima Puddle Duck because she reminds me of some of the simple-minded people I see, but that naughty little Peter is just captivating.”

The Easter season is also a busy time for Ray and Michelle Amsbury, owners of Amsbury’s in La Habra, one of the largest manufacturers of collectible ceramic Easter eggs in the country. More than 20,000 hand-crated eggs have been delivered to Nordstrom, small gift shops and gift catalogue houses such as Potpourri and Abbey Press.

“When we first started producing Easter eggs, we didn’t realize how big it was going to become,” said Michelle Amsbury. “We started out making ceramic beads in the early 70s. That was the heyday of macrame and love beads, so they were very popular. From there, we branched out into making ceramic Christmas ornaments, wind chimes, game boards (such as Chinese checkers) and eventually the collectible eggs. Now the eggs represent about 50% of our work.”

The Amsburys laugh when they recall their first attempts at making the ceramic eggs.

“We weren’t really sure of what we were doing,” said Michelle. “With those first eggs, there were big holes cut in the bottom, and there was a lot of trail and error. Now, we know exactly what to do.”

Each egg is poured in a mold, cleaned, scraped, fired, hand-painted (or a decal is applied), dipped in a protective glaze and fired again. Inside the ceramics company, racks of eggs in various stages of completion line the walls.

The Amsburys currently offer 135 different designs on their eggs ranging from the most popular designs--rabbits, ducks and religious styles--to florals, ships, horses, butterflies and several hand-painted varieties.

Some of this year’s popular looks include eggs decorated with decals of English or Dutch cottages or villages. Recently, the Audubon Society has been selling eggs featuring designs of birds and local zoos offer eggs sporting images of pandas and koalas.

“Of course, the Easter-looking motifs are always the bestsellers,” said Ray. “We have a traditional bunny in the grass design that’s always very popular.”

The sizes differ from small (the size of an actual egg), medium (about four inches in diameter), large (the size of an ostrich egg) and jumbo, which are so large they need to be carried with both hands.

Small eggs sell for anywhere from $8 to $12, the medium eggs sell for about $15, and the large eggs cost $30 and more. The jumbo eggs (which are generally hand-carved) sell for up to $300.

“Collectible eggs seem to appeal to a wide group of people,” Michelle said, “although I think we get a lot of grandmothers buying them to give to their grandchildren, since most people are trying to cut back on the sweets given to children. Grandmothers and parents are often starting collections for their children, and much like Christmas ornaments, give an egg each year to a child.”

Most display their collections on special egg stands, or grouped together in a basket or “nest.” Egg trees, once popular in Victorian homes, are also gaining favor with today’s new collectors.

“We have some eggs that are specially made for egg trees,” Michelle said. “They have a little loop in the top so they can hang from the tree’s branches.”

The Amsburys will be demonstrating their craft at this year’s Renaissance Faire in San Bernardino as they have for the past two decades.

Recently the Amsburys have been selling eggs with designs from popular fairy tales that customers also seem to enjoy.

Any Beatrix Potter designs?

“Sure,” said Michelle. “Everyone loves those characters.”