Bon Fortune

Just popping in to show you my latest panda bear before I head for the kitchen to prepare our evening meal.  I think I mentioned this bear in an earlier blog post - he's destined for France and was a special commission for a collector.  Well, at last he's finished - a little later than planned, but better late than never!
 

20" 'Fortune'

Thank you so much for your patience Patricia; your new panda bear will be joining you in France in the next few days and I hope he brings you all the good fortune his name promises!

Plum crazy?

When Stuart came home from work on his birthday at the end of January and stumbled across an eight foot tall plum tree plonked in the middle of our lounge, he raised a questioning eyebrow. Men are so hard to choose gifts for, don't you think? After scratching my head for weeks, I had a lightbulb moment and on impulse ordered him a Victoria plum tree. He chuckled and dutifully thanked me, then put on an overcoat and planted it a few chilly days later, wondering what on earth the mad woman he lives with might do next.

Stuart's first crop

Well, this lady might be daft, but she's not quite crazy ... Stuart's little plum tree has now grown and we have been enjoying his first crop of deliciously juicy plums this week!

My little Chickadee

'Little Chickadee'
12.5"

Tut, tut! Those naughty little raggies are so immodest posing in their nothings! Naturally, I couldn't leave my latest cheeky little miss prancing around here in the nud, so here's the prim and proper version!

This little Raggy ...

Raggy in progress!

I know it's Sunday and truth be told, I ought to be dashing round the supermarket with a trolley full of groceries right now, but instead I thought I'd steal a few moments to show you a little raggy doll I managed to pull together yesterday afternoon ... she's still nekkid (blush!) and waiting for a hairdo, but I'm quite happy with her so far. Hopefully I'll find an hour or two to finish her later today and then it's back to my French panda tomorrow morning ...

Right, must dash, my trolley awaits!

Piles in progress

Three weeks until the 'Teddies 2009' show in London and am I almost ready? Am I 'eck as like. I still have piles (quite literally) of work to complete. So, my apologies for a lack of blog entries recently, but I'm afraid life took a wobbly turn a couple of weeks ago and dear old blog was of necessity, plonked on the back burner together with my show preparation, while I waited anxiously for my world to turn itself back up the right way again.

Piles in progress

After his spell in hospital, I'm relieved to say Stuart is now home again and well on the road to recovery. So, panic averted, it's time once again to focus my energies on those piles of bear pieces in my workroom, or 'Teddies 2009' will pass me by! First though, I must complete the navy and white panda bear waiting patiently (thank you so much to the kindness of his new owner) on my table. Once he's finished and on his way to France, I'll start on the show bears ... and raggy dolls. Yes, I had planned to take some of my raggies to the show too!

Raggies too!

I have no idea whether I can wave my magic wand and make my piles materialise into beautiful creative works in time for September 13th ... hey ho, I can but try!

Teddy Bear Scene Supplement out now!

Full 'Teddy Bear Scene' supplement in this month's Collect It magazine!

Have you heard there's a super 'Teddy Bear Scene' supplement in this month's 'Collect It' magazine?! Yes, Kathy Martin has done us proud by putting together a detailed twenty two page publication all about the imminent 'Teddies 2009' show and it's so good to see the 'Teddy Bear Scene' title back in print again! The 'Collect It' magazine, complete with 'Teddy Bear Scene' supplement, is on sale now in branches of WH Smith and can also be purchased online direct from the Collect It website.

All Bear will be exhibiting on Stand 75 in Hall 2

And of course, I couldn't be more delighted to see my work included in the supplement! As you can see from the pic above, I will be exhibiting in Hall 2 on Stand 75. This really is a magnificent bear show, bursting with talent from all four corners of the globe, so if you would like to share a truly memorable day, please come along to Kensington Town Hall in London on the 13th September!

Full details for the 'Teddies 2009' show can be found at www.hugglets.co.uk

Elephant legs and Puddle Paws!

After claiming my mohair as her own and chasing the dressmaking scissors with every snip I made, my naughty little assistant was unceremoniously fired for her own safety!

Lending a paw ...

Ooh goody, a tail to tweak!

It's been a while since I let you know how my Puddle Cat is, so I thought I'd show you what's she's been up to lately. She's two years old now and a real bundle of affectionate feline trouble. I'm not sure how this little lady still has four dainty paws attached to her four furry legs, she came so close to having them snipped off while I was cutting out my elephant's new legs!
 

It's mine I tell you, all mine!

Elephant steps ...

As those of you who know my work will be aware, with the exception of my new raggy dolls this year, I very rarely make anything that isn't teddy bear shaped, so whilst waiting for delivery of some mohair for a customer's order, I decided to take the plunge and use my creative time to come up with something a little different ... and I designed my first fully jointed elephant! Well, that's to say, I have so far designed his head and body - hopefully he will soon have some limbs too!

So far he has an extravagant trunk, dozy eyelids and a little open mouth ...

... and BIG stripey ears!

Collect It - in the meantime!

The news of Teddy Bear Scene's revival has been very well received in the past twenty four hours! Let's hope there will be sufficient support in terms of magazine sales and advertising revenue, to ensure the publishers are able to let us to have our mag back next year too!

In the meantime, I've just heard from Kathy Martin that 'Collect It' magazine will be on general sale next week. Kathy has put together a full supplement for our 'Teddies 2009' in Kensington Town Hall, London SW8 on 13th September (please see www.hugglets.co.uk for further show details) so please support her hard work by purchasing a copy of the mag!

The September issue of 'Collect It' magazine will be available in branches of WH Smith on your local High Street and can also be purchased online from http://www.collectors-club-of-great-britain.co.uk/magazines/default.asp?article=27&magazine=5

Happy Dance!

Ta ra ra ra ra!!!!!

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!

I have just been given permission by Kathy Martin (editor) to tell you there will be a very special, one-off issue of Teddy Bear Scene magazine published in November! HIP HIP HOORAY!!!!

This much loved teddy bear mag will be on sale in WH Smith and also from Warners Publications. The best news is that if this mag sells well, TBS may even return as a quarterly publication next year! Whoooooooweeeeeee!!!!!

Please purchase a copy when it is published and let's help get Teddy Bear Scene back on our bookshelves again!

Taking a moment ...

23" 'Horace' - one of my very early designs, pictured here sharing a hug with my little niece - she's eighteen now!

I'm sure most bearmakers remember their very first creations with a happy nostalgia - I know I do! There was something so inwardly satisfying about crafting teddy bears purely for pleasure back in the early 90's. Advice and guidance on how to create a teddy bear was limited in those pre-internet days, so we made do with a much anticipated bi-monthly teddy magazine for inspiration and the occasional bear-making book for more detailed technical advice. 'Bear artistry' wasn't our goal, simply making teddy bears was.

23" 'Berenice' created especially for my Mum in the early 90's

'Bailey' 23" - my first ever pattern design

'Pomeroy' 23" - one of my earliest independent designs

As time moves on, it's natural for a bearmaker to want to improve techniques and develop creative ideas, but I also think it's important that every so often, we take a moment to recall the wonderful naive charm captured in our earliest creations, because those bears truly encompassed our passion for the teddy bear and our desire to share it.