As with a lot people's inspiration mine has come from a childhood memory. My favourite book as a little girl was called Shrewbittana's Birthday, it had no words but beautiful illustrations, as  you can see. Did anyone else have this book? Is it still in print ? Do e mail me at cdbdi.co.uk if you loved it too, i don't know anyone other than my sister who owned it . So the shrews came to be in my head because of this and probably a smattering of the Clangers and Bagpusses mice !