It's a jungle out there!

I'm trying hard to stay focused on my show bear preparation, but I'll confess it has been a little tricky since Daisy moved in at the weekend, because she has enchanted us all!

Time for a cuppa

Potting

Wassat?????

Ready, steady ...

Peek-a-boo!

Who'da boss?!

After playing in the garden, guess who's a sleepy kitty cat now?!

Hopefully I will have some new bear photographs to share with you soon, but in the meantime, I hope you are enjoying my kitty pics!

Daisy, Daisy!

I received a call on Friday to tell me little Daisy was big enough to leave her mum and come to live with us, on Saturday morning, my son and I scrambled to the local pet store to buy pretty pink kitty toys before driving to Charing to collect our new charge ... and here she is!

Daisy on adoption day

On the prowl ...

Playtime with Anthony!

Anthony with his new love!

Kitty cuddles with Fay ...

... and finally, one very sleepy kitty snuggling with Han!

As you can see, little Daisy has settled in beautifully and she is so much fun!  Puddle is naturally a little miffed by our newcomer, but I'm sure she'll come round in a day or so; as for Toffee, he's not in the least bit bothered by our new kitty, but is far too interested in her food bowl, naughty boy!

With only two more weeks until the Stratford show, I'm going to have to make a concerted effort not to be too distracted from my bear-making by this cheeky little bundle!

Show prep for the 'Teddy Bear Artist Event'

I've escaped from my workroom this morning ... you see, the sun came out and as there wasn't a cloud in the sky, I decided to plonk myself in the conservatory with 'This Morning' on the telly to finish knitting a cute little cardigan for one of my show bears.  The weather is so beautiful, I'm even wearing shorts today!

 

My pink girl bear, waiting for her cardigan to be knitted

I thought you might like to see how I'm getting on with my show preparation with only two and a half weeks until show day.  As you can see below, I've left my worktable under a pile of 'in progress' bits 'n pieces, so will need to have a big tidy up soon because I don't like being in a mess (albeit a creative one) for too long!  By the way, if you look closely, you can spot the head of my pink bear (above) lolling on the table.

In progress ... my work table is buried under there somewhere!

I have a few show bears with all relevant limbs and ears attached, waiting patiently on my workroom shelf for their final titivations, so at least I can see some progress now ... there's still a long way to go before I'll be completely ready for the show though!

On the shelf ...

Well, on that note, I suppose I had better get back to my knitting needles and make the most of our lovely May sunshine!

Bluebells in May.

After spending seven hours in the Accident and Emergency department of our local hospital with my son and his dislocated knee the previous weekend, it was a treat to take a stroll with Stuart to hunt for some bluebells yesterday, before the rain began to pour.  We are fortunate that behind our garden lies a lane and a short toddle along that lane takes us to Allington Woods.  With bluebells carpeting the ground, this lovely pocket of Kentish countryside is definitely at its best ...

There was an extra treat for us yesterday, when through the trees we spotted spectacular fields of gloriously sunny rape ...

Stuart enjoying the yellow!

Don't you just love how the English countryside suddenly bursts into colour at this time of year?  I know I do!

A hop, skip and ... two work-in-progress bears.

After my last post, I thought it was about time I shared some work with you just to prove I haven't quite drifted away with the breeze!  Here is a little work-in-progress peek at two of the bears I have been working on for my next show 'The Teddy Bear Artist Event,' which takes place in beautiful Stratford Upon Avon on June 6th.

They aren't aren't quite finished yet and are waiting patiently on my workroom shelf for a few final fiddlings while I crack on with a few more bears.  I snapped this pic quickly on my new 'point 'n shoot' camera yesterday - it's a Canon Ixus 210 by the way and I really must read the book to find out how to use the camera properly;  I know it takes better pics than this ... I blame the photographer!

All in all, bear production hasn't been as successful as it should have been during the past few days, unfortunately my son dislocated his knee whilst playing football at the weekend, so we spent seven hours waiting for treatment in the Accident and Emergency department of our local hospital, which wasn't much fun as you can imagine!  Poor Anthony is now hopping around on crutches with a knee the size of a football.  Typically he was grateful the accident happened during his last match of the season, so he can be match fit again for next season's games ... boys and their footie eh?!


The Civic Hall, Rother Street, Stratford Upon Avon

Before I go, perhaps I should mention the bear show in detail for anyone who might like to visit!  It's a truly lovely bear show, celebrating the very best in teddy bear artistry.  It will take place at the Civic Hall in Rother Street, Stratford Upon Avon on Sunday 6th June and I do hope you can visit!

For full details, including the exhibitor's list, please visit http://www.teddybearartistevent.co.uk/

On the breeze ...

It's one of those days, you know the kind where you can't quite put your mind to any one thing?  Rather it wafts away on the breeze, here, there and almost anywhere ...

My sewing will have to wait, on days like today I need to ponder things, rather than do them! 

The Careworn Pastel Collection

It feels like ages since I have had a new bear to share with you and all of a sudden, today I can share an entire collection of five!  I have been working hard finishing this collection for a shop in Scotland for the past few weeks. 

The Careworn Pastels Collection

13" Doolittle & 19" Higgins

13" Doolittle & 15" Porgy

Bess & Porgy both 15"

17" Eliza shown with 15" Porgy & Bess

I met Julieann, the owner of 'Silly Bears', at the Winter Bearfest show in London back in February when she visited my stand to view my work. We hit it off immediately and Julieann liked my bears so much she invited me to work with her.  So, if you were wondering why news on my bear front has been a little quiet lately, these lovely, shabby bears, destined for Silly Bears in Aberdeen, right up in Scotland, are the reason why.  By the way, the 'Careworn Pastels Collection' will be launched and available exclusively from Silly Bears later today!