New Tricks for a new decade.

As you may already know, during the past decade I have battled my way through the vagaries of learning to maintain and develop my website, participate on selected internet forums, sell my work at online auction, create this very blog (which has to be my favourite modern 'must have'!) share photographs on Flickr.com, run online teddy bear webshows, join the Facebook network, build 'The Top 100 Best Bear Artist Blogs' and 'The Guild of Master Bearcrafters' and now, she who has never created a video in her life before, has decided to test out 'You Tube' for no other sensible reason, than plain old curiosity ... I know, there's not much hope for me is there?!

My first You Tube video slideshow created 31st December 2009

After a very frustrating morning which began in total ignorance and ended here with you in time for lunch, this is my very first video 'You Tube' slideshow featuring many of my bears past and present - a fitting end to this bear maker's decade of work and maybe even a fresh skill to offer 2010!

So, here's to a forthcoming year full of new challenges, creative thought and much happinness for us all.  Thank you so much for sharing my thoughts throughout 2009 ... I look forward to seeing you again in 2010!

A raggy birthday wish for Leah!

This little lady was kept top secret until the day after Boxing Day, a special day in our family because my eldest niece Leah-Marie celebrated her twenty second birthday. 

I visited Leah in her new home that morning to wish her a 'Happy Birthday' in person and have the pleasure of seeing her open her gift ...

Sweet-Marie

Now 'Sweet-Marie' is settled comfortably on Leah's sofa, I'm sure she won't mind me sharing a quick peek with you - by the way, I'm very happy to say that as grown up as she now is, lovely Leah was thrilled to receive her special birthday raggy doll!

Step inside ...

After my snowy post yesterday, I thought I'd warm things up today, by welcoming you inside ...

 
Welcome!  Come on in ...

...  share our Christmas tree and say hello to Miss Tingle Twankey sat by the fireside.

I hope you like my frosted glass baubles ...

A little Christmas sparkle ...

And some festive pazazz ...

It's all so pretty!

And here's little Rica waiting under my Christmas fairy tree ... if you look carefully, you'll spot Blitzy by Elanor of Shantock Bears too!

Can you see the tiny Christmas fairies on my little tree?

Please  join me in a sip of sherry and a slice of the Christmas cake my son and his lovely girlfriend made for us ... enjoy! 

I'm feeling cosier now, I hope you are too.  Thank you so much for visiting!

Wishing you all a very Happy Christmas!

Deep and crisp and even ...

For the first time in heaven only knows how many years it looks as though we will come within a hare's whisker of a white Christmas!  Who would have thought it here in Kent?!  We woke to a Winter Wonderland on Friday morning, a thick blanket of pure white snow laying as far as the eye could see.  It was so pretty!

We're not used to heavy snow here in the South East of England, so cars couldn't make their way to work, schools were closed and children and adults alike delighted in snow ball fights and building snowmen.  Stuart and I wrapped up well and went out for a very slippery walk with my kids ... which naturally descended into a snow ball challenge between the boys!

Puddle cat was very excited by the snow and bounced across the garden up to her little black nose, before deciding the white stuff was a little too chilly on her paws.  It didn't take long for her to bounce right back into the warmth of the house!

Our snow Puddle! 

My kids enjoying their snow stroll.

 

Our snowy road!

Snowy smiles with my daughter.

It snowed again last night, so there's still about a foot of snow outside ... I wonder if it will all melt away by Christmas Day?

If you would like to book tickets for the panto, please visit www.fairfieldhalls.co.uk

The boys dug my little car out of the snow on Saturday, so we could slip slide our way to collect Stuart's grandson yesterday and take him to see the pantomime at Croydon's Fairfield Halls ... well, some Christmas traditions should be upheld whatever the weather (not to mention the fact I was on a mission to introduce the little man to 'Sooty and Sweep')! 

Fortunately by the time we set out the main roads out of town had been salted, so we arrived at the theatre without too much trouble and had a wonderful afternoon full of fairy dust and laughter!

Ssssshhhhh, a Christmas secret!

Look who's peeking out from under my Christmas tree ... isn't he adorable?!  Little 'Rica' was created by Rita Diesing in Germany and I am so thrilled he has come to live with me!  I haven't told anyone yet - you are the very first to share my special Christmas secret!

'Rica' by Rita Diesing of Ridibears

Panto comes to Raggy Land ...

I love the pantomime, don't you?  It's such fun and the characters are so wonderfully colourful ... we will be taking Stuart's grandson to watch Snow White very soon, but in the meantime, the spirit of panto definitely seems to be spilling over into my Prim Dolly Doodles ... 

'Miss Tingle Twankey'

'Miss Tingle Twankey', youngest daughter of the Widow Twankey, came to life in my workroom today with only the tiniest sprinkling of Christmas Fairy dust ... I do hope she makes you smile!

Making time for a raggy Christmas treat!

As you know, I've been hard at work with my Christmas bears lately, so this week  I have decided to give myself a little breather for a few days to work on a few Christmas raggy dolls.  'Witch Hazel' has been sitting by my fireplace since Halloween and much as I love her, it really is time she hibernated and made way for my planned special Christmas dolly!

I've had a lovely time in my workroom this afternoon choosing dolly fabrics, while listening to Frank Sinatra croon Christmas tunes.  Needless to say my ideas of making one raggy doll, quickly multiplied into four, because I couldn't decide between all the gorgeous prints I've hoarded over the past few months. 

Well, it's almost time for me to cook our evening meal, so I think I'll leave these headless dollies sitting in row on my worktable for now and go peel some spuds!

Bah Humbug!

Well, it wouldn't be Christmas without a festive (bah) Humbug, would it now?!


20" Humbug is now available at www.allbear.co.uk/

This Humbug bear hopped into Santa's Sack on my website a couple of hours ago; he's not a true bah humbug though, because unlike Scrooge, he's hoping to spread a little peace and goodwill over the Christmas holidays.

Humbug update:  Humbug will be spending Christmas with his new owner in America!

A sprinkling of fairy dust ...

My Christmas cards have been written, my first little tree decorated, tickets for the panto booked, so I am at last ready to mix the all important Christmas pudding (a little late I know, but tradition dictates the family pud, made to my Grandmother's receipe, must still be made!)  Yes, I think I can safely say, it really is beginning to feel a little like Christmas!

I still have a festive bear or two up my sleeve, yet to be brought to life and even though the days are now hastening towards our seasonal celebrations, I'm certain that with a little fairy dust blown in my direction, will soon have those Christmas bears ready to hop into Santa's Sack ... just in the St. Nicholas of time!

A Christmas Wish for Santa's Sack!

Last night I mentioned I was about to wax a bear's nose, since then I have photographed him and can now share 'Christmas Wish' with you.  He hopped into Santa's Sack about an hour ago and was adopted within minutes!  I am delighted to tell you, this lovely bear will soon be flying over to Singapore to spend Christmas with his new owner.

19" Christmas Wish

Time to cosy up.

The curtains are pulled tight this evening; it's raining heavily here so the only thing to do is batten down the hatches, cosy up and enjoy a little candlelight.

My final bear making task of the day will be to polish my latest bear's waxed nose, then I can set him aside and peel the spuds for our evening meal ... 

My armchair is beckoning on this dark December night ... *sighs* ... it won't be too much longer before I can settle into it and put my feet up for the evening ... lovely!

I hope you're cosy out there, wherever you are!