Thursday 25 January 2018

A soft spot

Meet Albert! 

It has been so nice to make a proper big teddy bear again, my first of 2018. I always feel most in my comfort zone whilst working on a large
scale ... must be something about returning to my bear making roots! There is also a joy in creating a teddy bear I would chose for myself if I were able, a beautiful big, traditional teddy bear, the kind I have always had a soft spot for!

21" Albert is now available for adoption.

This handsome fellow is made from my favourite densely curled Schulte mohair, which, as I am sure I have said before, is pure teddy bear luxury.

I am hoping there is someone very special out there for Albert. If I could chose a home for him myself, it would have to be with someone who loves teddy bears for the comfort and friendship they offer, someone who will enjoy the company of a teddy created from the heart.

If you would like further details, please pop over to my website:


Thank you!

:-)

Sunday 21 January 2018

Away with the fairies

As regular readers may know (forgive my assumption, but I am praying I still have a few regular readers as I have been blogging since 2007!) each new year, I like to try to give myself a challenge to learn something new.


After a brief and rather fanciful foray into drawing fairies last Autumn, I chose this year, to sign up for an online art course with the lovely Jane Davenport , a fabulously expressive Aussie artist.


Jane's 'Joynal' course is proving to be a lovely escape from reality; my imagine is on overdrive and I confess to having heaps of fun finding fairies here, there and just about everywhere!


Drawing is still a huge challenge for me. It never came instinctively and I have felt uncomfortable in this artistic department since I was a little girl, so throwing caution to the wind and sharing work now, is quite a biggy for me. However, since settling into my mid-fifties, I have reached the conclusion life is way too short for such inhibitions ... colour and fun should be shared!


As CS Lewis once said,

'You are never too old to set another goal, or to dream a new dream.'

I couldn't agree more!

:-)





Come rain, come shine

Being a maker of teddy bears can be a very sedentary and isolating job ... in fact, I don't recall how I  stayed sane before this daft pair moved in and took over my life.


Come rain, come shine, Polly and Betty never fail to ensure I keep my priorities in order by ensuring we go out into the big wide world for fresh air, exercise, obedience training and most importantly, fun.  They also keep me sociable by introducing themselves to other dogs and their owners whenever they spot one. My girls love to say hello!

So, I may not have time to make quite as many bears as I once did, but thanks to my beautiful golden girls, I am no longer at my desk for such long hours and am thankfully, a much healthier bear-maker than I used to be!

:-)

Friday 12 January 2018

Black 'n white

I thought I was sailing along with my bear-making this week but then hit a snag with this cute teddy; I wanted him to have a hat to match his jumper, but ran out of wool part way through my knitting. Annoying! There's nothing for it, I will have to exercise a little patience and sit him on my sideboard for a day or two, just until his new wool arrives.



I'm going to keep you guessing about the colours of teddy until I can photograph him properly. So until then, here's a little peek in good ol' fashioned black and white!

:-)

Update:

15" Igloo

So, eventually the yarn I needed arrived. I finished knitting the pom pom hat mentioned in my earlier post and popped into the garden to take photos on my little stone bench (I named him 'Igloo' by the way) before listing him on my website and heading out to walk the dogs. When I returned from our rather squelchy walk through the woods, Igloo had been adopted! A keen collector spotted him (now her) in the black and white photo above and fell in love, waiting patiently to find this little sweet little bear on my website!

Ooh, I do love a happy ending!

:-)

Thursday 11 January 2018

Going with the flow in 2018

I first started blogging over a decade ago, in March 2007. 
Back then I had no idea where my blog would lead me and to be honest, I still don't! I'm not one of life's planners, I tend to 'go with the flow', especially when I write, so this blog has seen me through times of great happiness and great sadness, it has steadfastly offered me a focus for my bear making and from time to time has guided me gently onto new creative pathways. My blog has expressed my innermost feelings when words haven't come so easily and has held the isolation of working alone for many years, at bay. If you have ever visited, I thank you for taking the time to read my posts and if you haven't visited before, please know you are always welcome here.


I am looking forward to sharing my thoughts as a blogger again in 2018.

 I hope you will join me. 💜

Wednesday 10 January 2018

A gaggle of geese

First day back with our dog training group this year and already it's been eventful! Polly worked hard in class this morning, doing a great job of showing off her obedience moves in our local park, before being allowed a free run with her doggy friends. Then, after a quick circuit of the bushes, she took off in the direction of the main lake and the next thing I heard was a splash and indignant squawks from a gaggle of geese as Polly chased them into the lake,  jumping in behind them! By the time I caught up with her ladyship, she had plonked her paws on top of a large piece of wood at the edge of the lake and was waiting helplessly to be rescued. There was nothing for it but to brave the muddy bank and haul madam unceremoniously out by her collar. Needless to say, she thanked me by shaking as hard as possible and soaking me. One thing's for sure, there's never a dull moment when you are a dog owner!


It has been a lively start to Wednesday and Polly and I have had a whale of a time together. She's snoozing at home in the sunny spot now while she dries off - this time after a bath and a banana and mango shampoo.

It would have/should have, been my Dad's 82nd birthday today and I know he would have enjoyed hearing about Polly's antics. I still miss being able to share these simple things with him over a cuppa, or on the telephone, like we used to.

Happy Birthday to you Dad, 
I miss you. 
Love always, 
PJ xxx

Monday 8 January 2018

A new year, a new crop!

Whoo, it is time to introduce my first teddy bear of 2018. I feel very upbeat about my bear-making this year, so am looking forward to sharing the new season's crop with you!

16" Lonnie

Lonnie is a 16" teddy bear, a lovely 'not too small, not too big', size. 
I spent a very pleasant few days working on this bear last week, which was a welcome calm after the hectic festive period. I really hope you like him!

Lonnie is now available to adopt. I wonder where he will relocate to? It's always such an exciting time for a new bear!

If you would like to see more pics of Lonnie and maybe even invite him to live with you, please visit my website:

www.allbearbypaula.com


Thank you and Happy New year!

:-)

Wednesday 3 January 2018

Unwinding from the twinkly whirl

Christmas wasn't all festive dash. Thankfully I did manage to squeeze in a little quiet time between family visits, to unwind from the twinkly whirl.


This collection of 'Sketchy Teds' and friends, was fun to create. I have enjoyed learning to draw and paint throughout 2017 and am hoping to develop my new hobby further in 2018 ... it is such a lovely way to relax!

:-)

Monday 1 January 2018

Happy New 2018!

Happy New Year everyone! 

I woke to dark skies, a downpour and a heavy cold this morning; probably not the most auspicious start to a new year. I do hope your first day of 2018 was more befitting the occasion!


After a lovely Christmas celebration with my family, the decorations have today been packed safely back into the loft for next year and our tree, unceremoniously chopped for recycling. Such is the way of these things!


Given the awful weather, Polly and Betty will have to make do with a local walk for their first of 2018 as I have very little enthusiasm for the great outdoors today. Luckily the weather was better on Boxing Day, so we took them to the seaside for a lovely sunny, breezy walk from Whitstable to Tankerton and back. It certainly blew away the Christmas cobwebs and was good to walk off some of our festive excess.

Christmas ended with a family trip to the panto to watch Aladdin. It was so much fun to share my three year old grandson's first ever panto experience .. he loved all the singing, dancing and daftness and I don't mind admitting, so did I!

So, there it was, a merry Christmas, full of family, just the way I like it. On New Year's Eve, my son and his family joined us for a simple beef stew and dumplings dinner at home as we didn't feel up to accepting party invitations. In fact a quiet evening playing Hungry Hippos on the rug with Toby was plenty enough excitement for me this year!

Now Christmas has been packed away for another year, it will soon be time for me to tidy up my workroom and think about creating my first teddy bear of 2018. Last year was a bit slow on production, so hopefully I will manage to organise my time better this year and make a few more bears to share in the coming year ... that's my plan anyway!

:-)

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