Never too old!

Never too old to blow out the candles!

My son had the bad manners to turn 23 on Sunday. I think I will have to stop being seen in public with both my children in future because there's now't as ageing as standing beside two twenty somethings, especially when one of them is a strapping 6' 3"!

Anthony's amazing birthday cake was lovingly created by the gorgeous girl who has put up with him for eight long years ... believe me, that dear girl qualifies for a sainthood.

Isn't it an incredible work of art? I truly believe you can put inches on your hips just by looking at this cake!

The years between this picture and the first have flown by way too quickly, but one thing remains the same, this is a boy who still loves his footie and has done ever since he was two, when he used to play in his bunny slippers!

Happy birthday Blossom, with much love, your Muvva x

Eye, eye!

It has been said the eyes are the windows of the soul and of course, this is true for bears too! A teddy bear's eyes help create his personality, so making the right choice of eye for a new design is vital. I like to keep a wide selection of good quality glass eyes in many different sizes and colours. There are many colours and styles available to choose from these days, ranging from plain black matt or gloss, through to realistic styles with veins and pupils! Aside from those offered by suppliers, it is also possible to purchase clear glass eyes and paint them for a personalised result, one of my favourite things to do!

As eyes are such fiddly little blighters and so that I can see what I need at a glance when I am working, I like to keep them organised like this ...

Inserting glass eyes can be fiddly, but the process isn't terribly difficult. As the end result will be responsible for bringing a bear to life, a simple but effective method should help to guarantee a professional finish.

This is my favourite method:

1. Holding the bear's head level (I like to balance my bear's head between my knees!) use two coloured head pins to mark each eye placement. I like to set mine just outside the head gusset seam, but this is a personal choice and will vary from maker to maker. Take your time to decide exactly where you would like your eyes to sit as this is an important factor in determining the bear's final expression.

Tip: I find it helps to have embroidered the nose before placing the eyes, to ensure the eyes are level.

2. Cut two long lengths of extra strong thread (carpet thread or bonded nylon will do very nicely). Each thread should be approximately twice your own arm's length. Using one of the threads, fold it in half and slip the eye onto the doubled thread. Tie the doubled thread tightly in the middle, so that the eye is caught securely in the knot. Repeat the process using the second thread, so that once both threads have been tied, the eye is secured in the middle and eight threads hang loose.

3. Using an awl, make a hole in the mohair backing where your first eye is to be positioned.

4. Using a sturdy doll maker's needle (in this case I am working on a 20" bear's head, so I am working with an unbendable 10" needle) thread two of the eye threads and insert the needle into the hole you have just made with your awl, exiting at the centre of the head, just above the head joint at the back of your bear's head. Repeat this process with two more threads, so that you have four threads hanging loose from the back of your head.

5. Using the same process, exit the remaining four eye threads on the opposite side of your bear's head, just behind his ear placement. (The ear will cover the finishing knots when it is sewn onto the head). Pull all eight stitches firmly until the eye post fits snuggly into the eye hole.

6. With your thumb to guide the eye into position, use a little pressure to create a 'socket' effect, whilst balancing the head between your knees and pulling on one set of threads from the base of the head. Then take one pair of threads from the base of the head in one hand, and the other pair in your other hand making sure you maintain a firm tension (this sounds tricky, but if you get comfortable it soon becomes an easy process! You may need to tilt the head forwards at this point to see what you are doing) and tie them tightly together, at least three times, to secure.

Tip: try not to catch mohair in the knot, for a professional finish.

8. (At this point I usually repeat steps 2-7 with the second eye, ensuring that both eyes are secured at the base of the head. It is important to ensure you have pulled both eyes back into their sockets equally.) Taking both sets of threads from behind one ear, use tension to determine the final position of your eye. Note: This will raise the eye slightly from its previous position. When you are happy with the positioning, tie threads tightly as for base of head.

9. Repeat process for second eye.

10. Using a curved needle, weave all the remaining threads through the backing fabric several times, making sure you take the needle back into each exit point so that your stitches are invisible, then trim off all excess thread as close to the backing as possible.

11. Give your bear's head a good brush and using embroidery scissors, trim away any excess mohair from his eye area until you can see his beautiful new eyes gazing adoringly right back at you!

First love

I was hunting through some old black and white photographs yesterday and found these. Of course I couldn't resist scanning them in to share here with you. They were taken in Nigeria when I was a wee, toddling 17 months old. The beautiful bear is my first ever Chiltern Hugmee 'Big Ted,' back then he was just about as big as I was!

All say 'aaah' now!

First date: Paula and Big Ted 1964

He's the one for me? Really Mum?

Checking out Big Ted's pedigree!

Falling in love for the very first time!

Friends for life.

Lilac Whisper

' Lilac Whisper' 2008

As promised and by the skin of my teeth, here is the bear I mentioned yesterday! I have called him 'Lilac Whisper' because his colouring reminds me so much of my beautiful lilac tree which grew at the bottom of the garden at my last house. Is it daft to tell you I miss that tree? Well, I do! I loved its perfume in the early evening and when it bloomed, I knew Spring was here to stay ... ah, this bear whispers such memories to me!

Specs, sniffles, submissions and so much to do!

ALL BEAR publicity postcards, new design for 2008

I'm feeling a bit sorry for myself today, with a stuffy nose and a burning throat. I've munched my way through half a packet of lozenges this afternoon but despite being a wee bit on the pathetic side, I expect I'll live, so please ignore my sorry sniffles.

On a brighter note, I can now thread a needle again! For quite a while I've been aware of holding reading matter, sewing needles and so on, at arm's length and peering with one eye closed to gain focus, so I finally gave in and made an appointment to see the optician; she categorically confirmed old age is definitely creeping up on me and promptly issued a prescription for reading glasses. I don't mind wearing specs at all though, in fact, I'm rather chuffed with them and after struggling manfully for so long, my tired old eyes are most appreciative of their posh new glasses!
After my family filled weekend, I was eager to get back into my workroom today. I hope you'll be pleased to hear I have been hard at work on another Spring bear destined for my website; with luck I will have this bear ready to show you tomorrow. No, I'm not going to reveal too much just yet, but I don't mind telling you the mohair is a very pretty lavender ... a tease? Me? As if!

It's almost time for the annual URSA Awards to take place. As you may remember, I entered last year for the first time, but without success. It's not always easy to dust oneself down and take the plunge again as even teddy bear designers have delicate ego's to consider, but this particular bear designer is no Prima Dona, so hey ho, here I go again ... I'll let you know which bears I've submitted a little nearer the time.

New hangtags for 2008

It's going to be a busy week for me, what with another order to complete for Sue Pearson's lovely shop in Brighton and an article to write for a New Zealand magazine, not to mention the All Bear accounts needing to be knocked into shape for the tax man, (groan) a task which definitely qualifies as my least favourite of the entire year.
Rear of new hangtag

Fortunately, I managed to find some time recently to put some of Tina's gorgeous photographs to practical use. It's all jolly fine having fabulous professional photographs taken, but once the bears have enjoyed their big day out in the studio, I need to consider how best to employ the pics. This time I thought the group shot would be perfect for creating some new hangtags and publicity postcards, with the aim of keeping my promotional materials fresh for collectors. I've also used a lovely head shot of Raffles for the black and white backside of the hangtag. I'm quite pleased with the results, so now I can cross that particular job off my 'to do' list, put the kettle on, pour a Lemsip and whine pitifully in the hope of gaining a little sympathy from my lot when they get home this evening!

In the blink of an eyelid ...

Birthday girl!

Don't the weekends fly by? This weekend has hurtled through at breakneck speed and here I am, back at Monday all over again! Today I have to box and post 'Blush', my Spring-spiration bear as she's going to be be flying over the Atlantic to the US to meet her new owner this week. Oh and guess what? My Tribute Ted Leon sold at the weekend too! He'll be staying in the UK though, which seems completely appropriate for him; he will soon be settling into his lovely new home with several other of my 'All Bear's' to keep him company. Unfortunately, despite having lots of interest in his auction, little elephant 'Abe' didn't find a new friend on Ebay last week, but to be honest, I'm quite happy to keep him with me for a while longer, he is very cute after all!

And speaking of cute, Stuart and I spent Saturday afternoon at the park running around in the pouring rain with his grandson; Grandad forgot he's no longer a 'footballer extraordinaire' and succeeded in kicking our ball so high, it wedged in the top of a tree, rather than flying over said tree as had been intended, so there was nothing else for it, that tree had to be climbed! I did worry for the tree's safety as my hulk of other half hauled himself through the branches, but to his credit, he managed to free the ball and what's more, lived to tell the tale.

Unusually for April, it snowed very heavily here yesterday ... well, heavily by Maidstone standards anyway. Needless to say, I couldn't resist snapping a few pics because everything looked so picture postcard pretty for a brief while, but it didn't lay for long and has just about all melted now. Hopefully we'll be basking in Spring sunshine again in a few days' time!

April snow showers!
Yesterday was my Mum's birthday. Two of my sisters and I contrived to descend on her house and between us, managed to scrape together a not too shabby four grandchildren, plus my son's lovely girlfriend, for a family afternoon. Cards, pressies, nibbles, natter ... as you can see, Mum enjoyed having her family around her for her special day, most especially her grandchildren!

More Auntie cuddles!
And while we're talking of birthdays, my daughter had her 25th birthday a couple of weeks ago. An entire quarter of a century has flown past in the bat of an eyelid! How does that happen? She'll no doubt give me a sound telling off, but please indulge this proud mum by sharing a few rare photographs of my beautiful girl ...

Spring-spiration!

'Blush' 22"

I couldn't leave it at the spring flower photographs, now could I? After my recent diversion towards the vintage genre, I have been bursting to return to some colour and my contemporary designs, but needed a splash of inspiration and hey presto, a little fresh air in my newly emerging Spring garden has worked wonders for me! There is something quite magical and very energising about the the gentle warmth of Springtime colour after so many dull grey Winter days, don't you think?

Much as I enjoy taking a sidestep now and again, wandering off course always refreshes my drive to return to what I love doing best, which of course as you know, is creating big bears.

I spotted this piece of mohair on one of the UK supplier's websites recently and I swear it cried out to me! It's one of Schulte's finest, most beautiful kid mohairs, new into the UK and it's in the most delicate pale peach, absolutely perfect for a Spring bear. I've had the vintage pale green silk velvet for a little while, waiting for the right bear and with all the fresh green shoots popping out in the garden, I came to the conclusion it would make a lovely complement for my peachy mohair. For me, this bear is all about colour, a fresh new zingy palate for a special Springtime bear!

'Blush' 2008

Spring Celebration

We may still be suffering grey skies, rain and chilly winds, but look what's happening in my garden ... plenty of inspiration for Spring bears!