Christmas Wrapping

Christmas Wrapping

As our thoughts turn towards Christmas wrapping and all things festive, I would like to take a moment to say my heartfelt 'thank you' for your support throughout 2025. It has been my absolute pleasure to create teddy bears to share with you this year and to hear from my teddy bear friends around the world.

I plan to take a break and recharge my bearmaking batteries over Christmas, while I spend time with my family and enjoy a well earned rest. I'm not sure yet, but I think  'Little Drummer' may well be my last teddy bear before Christmas ... I will have to see how things work out with the elves!

Hopefully you are all looking forward to Christmas, but of course, it can be an evocative time of year and I do know that is not always possible. Wherever you are though and whoever you will, or perhaps won't, be with over Christmas, just know you are in my thoughts and I will always be grateful for the time we have shared through our love of teddy bears.

I wish you warmth, comfort and peace this Christmas. 

With hugs and gratitude always,
From,
Paula and the bears xxx  

A festive hiccup

 

A FESTIVE HICCUP

I had planned several more festive teddy bears before Christmas arrives, but unfortunately was zapped with the 'head cold from hell' about a week ago, which proved far from conducive to creativity. I hope to finish one or two new bears over the next week, including a rather handsome Tweedy Ted, so all is not quite lost, although overseas shipping may prove a little late for the Big Day.

I have been creating my 2023 portfolio of teddy bear designs as they come to life and really wanted to include one more Tweedy Ted, after finding some glorious deep red and green Harris Tweed to work with, perfect for a Christmas Tweedy. 2023 has been a busy bear-making bear for me, with each new teddy quickly finding a lovely new owner... thank you all so much for wanting to share my bear-making world with me, I am so grateful to you.

Thankfully I feel better today, so am looking forward to a quiet afternoon with my sewing machine. As the song goes, 'The weather outside is frightful' (heavy rain laden skies as I write) so once my dog walk is done and the inevitable mud hosed away, I will pull up the drawbridge and settle to work. With luck, I may finish a sweet mohair teddy bear in time for Christmas too ... fingers crossed.  The other beautiful pieces of mohair I had planned to work on, including a very pretty rose pink fabric, perfect for a larger girly bear, will inspire me to begin my bear-making again in the New Year...

2024 we are heading your way!

 

• 13 DECEMBER 2023

It's just another New Year's Eve

It's another New Year's Eve with our year almost at an end and to be honest, I'm all for a quiet night in with the telly tonight. It always seems to me there is something a wee bit maudlin about ringing in a new year after a family Christmas, then letting the old one, full of memories of loved ones, slip like grains of sand through the fingertips on the stroke of midnight...

So 2019, I thank you for my family times, for the fun times ... and for the days of sunshine. I wish our time together could have lasted longer; maybe less of a race from start to finish, perhaps more of a gentle stroll with warm sun on our faces but here we are, just another New Year's Eve, another one like all the rest.

And of course tomorrow a new decade will dawn. May it be full of hope, possibility and of course, love and laughter for everyone.

2020, I ask that you take good care of my family, continue to fill my grandchildren's days with magic and above all, keep safe our world for them.

xxXxx

Thank you Blog Reader, for sharing a glimpse of my creative world this year, for reading my ramblings and simply for being out there ... wherever there is. I wish you all a kind and gentle 2020 and hope to see you here again soon.

Happy New Year!

:-)

Christmas Magic

Christmas 2019 crept up on me, so my preparations were very impromptu this year but somehow, everything came together at the last minute and as always, we enjoyed our traditional family holiday at home together. 

Somehow, despite the festive rush, I did manage to fit in a pantomime with the Grandchildren and make a pudding, cake, mince pies and a cute new angel tree topper ...

Miracles can still happen at Christmas it seems!

Then in a blink of an eye, almost as quickly as it had arrived, our Christmas magic vanished, along with Father Christmas and the shreds of leftover wrapping paper. 

Having my children and grandchildren together under our roof for Christmas is something I never take for granted and am always very grateful for ... because for me, being together around the table with my family at this time of year, is the true magic of Christmas.

:-)

Robin's Red

After yesterday's far too luminous photographs of my latest teddy bear, I thought I'd better try again, so I went back out to the garden this morning, armed with my faithful Canon EOS 400D SLR camera...

There is occasionally a teddy bear who is determined to be more of a challenge than most of his easy going pals and Robin Red is certainly one of those bears! He is the sweetest of teddy bears and his mohair is very beautiful, but I don't mind telling you, it really is quite a challenge to photograph for a simple 'point and shoot' photographer of teddy bears like myself!

I think I'm just about there and for now, these photographs will suffice - they aren't perfect but at least they are an improvement on the virtually fluorescent pics snapped on my mobile 'phone camera yesterday.

I think I will update my website with these photographs for the time being and just keep trying with the photography of little Robin Red ... fingers crossed I figure out my camera settings soon.

In the meantime, if anyone has any handy tips on how best to photograph red teddy bears, I would be happy to hear them!

:-)

Robin Red

Well, I couldn't let Christmas pass without a red teddy bear now, could I?! 

12" Robin

While I was out walking with my dogs earlier this week, I spotted a cheeky little robin redbreast sat upon a branch with his chest feathers fluffed, as he watched us, watching him. He made me smile and think of my Dad, so I have named this red teddy bear, Robin Red.  

Incidentally Robin teddy is not flourescent red as his photograph suggests, he is in fact a beautiful deep Christmas red, but heaven only knows how you convince a camera lens of that! Cameras seem to have a mind of their own when it comes to red fabric ... I may try to photograph my little Robin Red again tomorrow, please wish me luck!

In the meantime, if you would like to adopt this sweet festive teddy bear, he is now available from my website and ready to hop into Santa's Sack!

www.allbearbypaula.com

:-)

Update: Robin Red has now been adopted.

A frosty start!

The world turned white in my little corner of the UK earlier today. It wasn't quite snow, but the heavy frost covering the garden first thing this morning was absolutely beautiful and the spider's webs woven through my washing line were so lacy and delicate!

I braved the cold to take a few photographs of my latest bear 'Neve', a sweet 14" teddy and her larger pal Brandysnap, a rather fabulous 20" traditional boy.

I wasn't sure about the studio pics I took of Brandysnap last week, so thought I'd try again in the natural morning light ...

I must admit, I like the outdoor shots best ... but the question is, which do you prefer?!

Both Neve and Brandysnap are now featured on my website, so if you would like to find out a little more about them, please pop over to:

www.allbearbypaula.com

Thanks!

:-)

Update: Neve and Brandysnap have now been adopted!

Santa's Sack

So here it is, Merry Christmas!  

(Well, almost!)

20" Plumduff

Yes, Christmas is just around the corner and for this bearmaker, it is a time to cosy up in my workroom and simply enjoy creating a few special teddy bears, with a gentle nod to the spirit of our most festive season.

20" Brandysnap

The first two such teddy bears are Brandysnap, now wearing a cheerful Christmas collar tied with seasonal gold ribbon and Plumduff, who jingles happily whenever he is hugged. Both of these beautiful teddy bears are now on my website, hoping to hop into Santa's Sack in time for Christmas Day!

www.allbearbypaula.com

:-)

Update: Plumduff and Brandysnap have now been adopted!

The All Bears in 2018

The All Bears arrived at a steady pace throughout 2018, finding new homes around the world, with most settling in America, Australia, Germany and the UK. They made their débuts in a lovely array of colours, some traditional, others more flamboyant ... and they welcomed 'The Tweedy Teds' to their midst, a collection of colourful cloth bears, created from traditionally hand woven Harris Tweed.  It was also fun to reintroduce large panda bears after a long break and to squeeze in a rare mischievous black bear, just in time for Halloween!  

Sadly we lost dear Strudel bear in our first ever delivery disaster in twenty five years of international shipping, but thanks to my extremely kind spirited and patient collector, I was able to remedy this heartbreaking loss by creating a beautiful new Strudel teddy, now living happily in the US with her delighted new owner. All bar one teddy bear, found new homes this year and I am certain Douglas will soon join the list of happy 'All Bear' adoptées. In the meantime, I am enjoying the company of this handsome teddy very much! To bring my year of teddy bear making to a close, I introduced my final teddy of 2018 to my website today, a sweet fuchsia pink girl named Ivy.

After a busy year, it is now time for me to set down my stuffing stick, tidy up my workroom in readiness for 2019 and welcome in the spirit of Christmas, but first I would like to thank you all for sharing my blog and for your kind interest in my teddy bears throughout 2018, with extra special thanks to those of you who were kind enough to adopt one of my bears.

Wishing you all a very Happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year,

With warmest hugs,

Paula ... and the bears xxx

Update: Ivy and Douglas were both adopted before Christmas!

The time has come..

It hardly seems possible that, with only a few days until Christmas, it is now time to introduce you to my final teddy bear of 2018. Ivy is a lovely 14" teddy girl, created from a pretty, dark fuchsia, mohair (please note, her mohair is slightly darker than the photograph but as usual I have struggled with my photography with this fabulous coloured mohair!) To find out a little more about Ivy, please pop over to my website: www.allbearbypaula.com 'Ivy' 2018 raced by and besides making your teddy bears, I have also been busy looking after my cheeky Grandson every week (he is now four years old and full of mischief!) ... as well as obedience training my bouncy golden girls. Somehow I also managed to squeeze in a lovely family holiday in beautiful (but windy!) Cornwall in September, which despite the inclement weather, was the absolute highlight of my year. It sure has been a busy one! So, the time has come for for me to wind down and welcome in the spirit of Christmas but first, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your kind interest in my teddy bear this year. It has been my absolute pleasure to send my teddy bears around the world to live with their special people! Wishing you all a very Happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year. :-) Updated: Ivy has been adopted!

Seeing Red

Red has to be the most tricky of colours to photograph and boy have I struggled with these today! It's a shame the pics aren't better, because this little bear's mohair is a gorgeous deep velvety red in reality.

12" Pip

If you would like to know more about 'Pip', he is now available on my website:

www.allbearbypaula.com

(And if you happen to have any suggestions about how I can photograph red bears more successfully, I'd be delighted to hear them!)

;-)

Update: Pip has now been adopted.

Snowy

We had a dusting of snow a couple of nights ago but it didn't stay long. There's no doubt Winter is around the corner - my dog walks are definitely getting colder and muddier as the days pass! I suppose it's time to start thinking about big coats, boots, scarves and of course, the festive juggernaut that is inevitably heading our way ... 

18" Snowy

I can't say I'm feeling very festive yet, but December is still a week away, so I daresay it'll creep up on me. I couldn't resist making a wintery polar cub with a cheery red nose this week, so perhaps my festive cheer is bubbling under after all!

'Snowy' is now available to adopt, so if you have a corner of your sofa, or a comfy armchair needing a teddy, please pop over to my website for full details. 

Thank you!

www.allbearbypaula.com 

Update: Snowy has been adopted!

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!

:-)

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!

:-)

We wish you...

Our tree is twinkling, our cupboards are packed full of waist busting goodies, the pudding is made and all that remains now, is for us to sign off and wish you all a very happy Christmas!

Thank you everyone, for your kind interest in my teddy bears and beyond throughout 2017 and for taking time to pop in to read my blog.

I look forward to seeing you all again in 2018!

With festive hugs from me and my bears ... and of course, from Polly, Betty, Rodney and Puddle too!

Happy Christmas Everyone.

:-)

Christmas Spirit

I don't mind admitting, that the prospect of a wet muddy dog walk on a dark December afternoon, doesn't exactly overwhelm me with enthusiasm, but as my niece and her husband were travelling up from Hampshire for their annual pre-Christmas family catch-up yesterday, I donned my wellies, grabbed the dogs and headed to Mote Park to join some of my family for an afternoon stroll.

It was wet, it was muddy and it was cold, but that didn't dampen anyone's festive twinkle ... especially our four dogs, who had a whale of a time chasing each other through the mud as three generations of our family walked and talked in the rain together.

We are a large family, so not everyone could be with us in person this year, but it did feel as though the whole family was there in Christmas spirit and it was a lovely start to family festivities.

Happy Christmas everyone, it was great to see you all! xxx

:-)

My final teddy bear of 2017!

On this rainy, grey, December Sunday, I would like introduce you to my last bear of 2017, a stunning red teddy, oozing warmth and seasonal cheer. 

I have named him 'Tam'.

20" Tam

This particular mohair is very special as it is Schulte's finest densely curled kid mohair and very hard to find in this wonderfully festive red colour. I have teamed it with gorgeous red velvet paws and a tartan bow, to create this lovely teddy bear. 

Tam has just been made available for adoption on my website. If you are in the UK and would like to find him under your tree on Christmas morning, please adopt no later than Wednesday 20th December and I will do my utmost to get him to you in time. If you are overseas and would like to adopt Tam, he would be delighted to fly to meet you in early January!

For full details and pictures, please visit Tam on my website:

www.allbearbypaula.com

:-)

Update: Tam has been adopted.

Christmas Wishes 2017

As we near Christmas, I would like to take this moment to say a big thank you to everyone who has adopted one of my teddy bears this year! Thank you also, to all my website visitors and everyone who has been kind enough to keep in touch throughout the year. Your continued support is as ever, hugely appreciated.

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a peaceful New Year.

I look forward to sharing my 'All Bear' teddy bears with you again in 2018

With festive hugs 'n smiles,

Paula xxx

A lifetime buddy..

As Christmas drew closer, I was given a top secret commission last year, which, I am delighted to say, I am now able to share with you. However, rather than tell you about this special teddy myself, I would like to share a testimonial and some wonderful photographs taken by my sister Tina ...

"We commissioned a very special bear from Paula, as our first Granddaughter's first Christmas gift. Paula has done a fantastic job. We described what we thought Willow would like... a traditional vintage styled bear, a bit floppy and designed to be loved.....not a toy but definitely not to lurk permanently on a shelf.

Paula took everything we suggested for onboard and 'Doddy' was born. He is GORGEOUS! Willow loves him. We know that he will make the most perfect lifetime buddy for her.

Thank you x"

As you can imagine, I was thrilled to receive these beautiful photographs and absolutely delighted to be invited to create this precious little girl's very first Christmas teddy bear, gifted with much love from her Grandparents.

It is always lovely to make teddy bears for grown-up collectors, but to create a bear to become 'a lifetime buddy' to a child, is very special indeed. I wish Doddy and little Willow much magic and hope they will share many adventures together in the years to come!

:-)

PS ... if you would like to see more of Tina's fabulous photography, please visit her website:

www.tinaallinghamphotography.co.uk

Christmas catch up..

I don't think I have ever had quite such a disorganised lead into Christmas! Between my son's wedding, dog training and the usual pre-Christmas family commitments, there has been very little Christmas teddy bear making time available, so for the first year ever, horror or horrors, I don't have even a tiny clutch of festive teddies to offer collectors ... I know, shocking isn't it?! Thankfully I have squeezed just enough time to work on a couple of long standing commissions, so hopefully these at least, will carry smiles to their new owners on Christmas Day.

It has been a long time since I created a careworn teddy bear, so the sweet fellow above was a real pleasure to make.  As he is to be a surprise Christmas gift, I'm sworn to secrecy and can't tell you anything more about him ... no sorry, not even his name!

And this cuddlesome autumnal alpaca teddy bear is rather overdue, not to mention still not quite ready to travel. Thankfully his lovely owner has been very patient. I was asked to create a bear to celebrate the season, so hand dyed alpaca to create a unique autumn teddy in a pretty soft russet and pale bark brown combination. As you can see by the pins, I haven't yet stitched on his ears and still need to add a few finishing touches, but he really is a super teddy bear. Fingers crossed he will prove well worth the wait ...

And on that note, I'd better hop away from this keyboard and up to my workroom to finish 'Autumn' while there are still leaves on the ground and before the Winter snows arrive to hide them!

:-)

Update:
Here is the finished Autumn bear photograph! 

Now living happily with new owner in the UK ...

16" Autumn