First for the Year..

.... First for the year on Bearpile that is! I've listed these two little cuties sitting in a vintage beaded handbag on my Bearpile page. Bearpile listings will be a bit thin on the ground while I work madly for the upcoming shows and start back at 'school', and I've even done some orders! Hopefully I can keep it up all year!:-D

Jumping for Joy!

Well, this year I had decided not to enter the Teddy Bear and Friends magazines TOBY awards... The deadline was looming and I had orders, and Christmas was looming- and for once I knuckled down and did my orders... then came the email from the TBF editor... deadline extended! Hmm... time for a rethink... and I am glad I did, because my little girl who I called "Sweet Dreams" has won a TOBY Industry's Choice award! What a thrill!

I can't wait to see photos of all the other winners, always a treat to see what people have dreamed up.

Now, nose back to the grindstone... :-D

A New Year..

Oh my gosh, where does time go?!? It's already halfway through January, all my ideas of posting Christmas cards and such went out the window, Christmas seems a distant memory, and even New Years is fading.... after having an few easy days, I am back into things.

Having a good end to 2011, working on some orders (which I am first to admit, I am NOT good at! hehe) and going well on Bearpile, I am looking forward to 2012. Just as well huh, because it's going to happen whether I am ready or not!:D

My first show for the year is looming- Hugglets Winter Bearfest in London! I was going to take a year out from Hugglets and apply for February 2012, but circumstances have made it possible for me to go this year. I am so excited, and so lucky! Of course that means more mad bearmaking- or should I say bearmaking at a mad rate- some would say I'm always mad bearmaking hehe... One of the reasons I wanted to try the Winter Hugglets show was to combine it with the Teddybear-Welt show in Wiesbaden, Germany... so yes, that's my second show of the year! Doubly exciting.... just a couple of weeks after Hugglets, it's great to be able to combine two shows for the one plane ticket:D

Then, as you can see, I have been accepted into the Teddies Worldwide March online show, "Teddybears Tea Party". Right up my alley! It's going to be fun thinking up Tea Party themed bears, and again, Daphne, Teddies Worldwide 'head honcho' has a 'under $100" section, which is also a fun challenge to rise to.

On top of this, I have decided to go 'back to school' and learn a new skill- Floristry! I've had an interest in floristry for the longest time ( since a teenager) and took a one day class at a famous Florist's school when I was away for Hugglets last September, which I really enjoyed, so the bug was planted. Late last year, I decided there wasn't going to be a better time, so I signed myself up! It's such a shock to the system going back and getting assignments and being the student.

My last two Saturdays were spent at the wonderful Bear Essence in Tooradin, teaching my ballerina girls sitting in a ballet slipper. Two fun days were had by all, I think it's safe to say. Even though it felt like we were all in holiday mode, the bears were finished on time- early even- *and* we managed to have a lovely time. Another class is scheduled to be running in April at Bear Essence.

So, there's the beginning of the year all lined up! Boy that turned into a long post didn't it lol... I hope you all had a lovely Christmas and New Years, and that we all have a great New Year ahead of us.. heres to health, friends, family, and lots of wonderful creations- either made or collected- or perhaps even both!

Bearpile again

Two new pieces added to Bearpile...

Woof!

I thought I'd share some of my recent work with you now he's reached his new home in England. Little Cookie is made in Japanese Silk plush, filled with wool and fine glass beads. I love the Japanese silk plush fabrics, the pile is so soft. I want to experiment with dying some more colours, but the pile really soaks in the dye fast, so I'll need a time when I'm not doing more than one thing at once or risk some very brightly coloured bears!




A few inspirational colours for dying perhaps?

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New on Bearpile

I've been busy putting some new faces up on Bearpile today...

Back to Paris...

....in bear form only unfortunately!:) I don't know about others, but when I get ideas for bears, sometimes it takes quite a while for them to 'gel' and finally come together- and sometimes I get straight to it and I can't rest until it's done... Well, after I had my first Macaron experience a bit over 2 years ago, I knew I wanted to make something that brought to mind Macarons, in some way. Just the colours were right up my alley! So the vague idea had sat in the back of my mind.. waiting waiting... til not long before I left for Hugglets at the end of August.

Now I can't honestly say what sparked the final idea, whether it was my Mum making some small boxes that were printed out on the computer or something else entirely, but before I knew it I just *had* to have her make me a tiny replica of a Laduree bag, and a Laduree box which I filled with tiny handmade macarons- (I spent an entire day making over 100 macarons when I needed 8! lol) And luckily, after Hugglets I was also able to scour the souvenir shops in Paris itself for the little Eiffel Tower to finish it off.... I call the set "Mon Petit Macaron" and they have just been listed on Bearpile, along with my little Robin.

Of course, knowing me, I bought more than one little Eiffel Tower- some silver, some gold, some with rhinestones, one with pink rhinestones, one with red, white and blue rhinestones- so there will no doubt be more little Parisian themed sets coming along- when I figure out *just what* to do with them!:)