Mud and strawberries

Well, the number might be a little harsher these days (!) but thankfully my 55th birthday was still heaps of fun!

Not that tromping through extreme mud in the pouring rain would be everyone's idea of birthday fun (!) but when you have very excited dogs and little 'uns eager to try out wellies in puddles, anything is possible! For me, it was all about sharing birthday time with my sister and her family. These days work and family commitments pull us in all directions, so getting together like this was extra special.  I must admit to missing our sister time, so was delighted when Fo organised this fun muddy walk and invited us all back to her home, dogs included, for a lovely celebration and a warm up afterwards.

Thank you Sis, it was so good to catch up with you all and to share some proper sister time.

My actual birthday was a couple of days after the muddy walk and by some strange fluke, my kids, their partners and my mum, all had time off work, so were able to visit me on a weekday afternoon. As I thought I would be spending the day alone with Polly and Betty, I couldn't believe my luck when 'my lot' and mum told me they would be celebrating with me!  We shared a super afternoon together, chatting, laughing, eating the delicious strawberry and fresh cream cake my daughter-in-law made especially for my birthday ... and generally being entertained by my very lively grandson! Come to think of it, we were four generations of family celebrating my birthday this year, making it a very special birthday for me.

Thank you family, for sharing my birthday.

You made my day a very happy one!

Much love to you all xxx

Available teddy bears

January is always a tough month for teddy bear adoptions as Christmas takes its toll on us all, so, I have decided to sweeten the price of my two available teddy bears this week with a little 'Winter Sale', in the hope it may help them find their way to caring new owners soon. 

www.allbearbypaula.com

16" Lonnie

21" Albert

Also, as it's my birthday tomorrow, it couldn't be a better time to be a tiny bit frivolous!

;-)

Fairy Faraway

I confess, I am not the most patient person when it comes to doing arty stuff. For example, I am a terror for not allowing layers to dry properly and can't tell you how many pictures I've messed up through sheer impatience!

Unlike teddy bears, fairies don't take kindly to being worked on for long hours at a time, indeed, they are rather fickle creatures, preferring to reveal themselves to their creator, a little at a time.

I have come to love the process of spreading my art materials around my fairy as we consider together, what might suit her best. By listening carefully I usually find a fairy knows what suits her temperament; in case you didn't know, some fairies are fiesty, some are flitty and some, like this one, are rather thoughtful. One thing is for certain though, they all enjoy revealing their fairy personalities through the magic of colour.

And then of course, there are wings ... should they be bold and bright, soft and subtle, flittery, or still? In the case of 'Fairy Faraway', she concluded her wings should be translucent and shimmery yet motionless, because she required quietude whilst pondering her future ...

So I listened to Faraway's request and in keeping with this thoroughly modern Miss, we Googled such matters and discovered the perfect paint medium to lend her wings the beautiful soft shimmer she desired.

Lastly, Fairy Faraway whispered a little poem into my ear and I noticed with a smile, she had borrowed a few of the lines from an old poem I wrote years ago. Fairies are practical creatures and as that little poem had been gathering dust whilst discarded in the back of an old folder, she decided it was time to put it to good use, so reworked it and claimed it as her own. I didn't mind at all, after all, fairies always know best.

:-)

The 'Joynal' course referred to in my pics is an online course, run by lovely Australian artist Jane Davenport. I am currently thoroughly enjoying this lovely escape from reality ... and as you can see, I'm learning heaps of fun stuff too! 

www.janedavenport.com

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:

www.allbearbypaula.com

Thank you!

:-)

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!

:-)

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!

:-)

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. 💜

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

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!

:-)

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

Peggy Sue flew!

You may have blinked and missed this pretty teddy girl on my website today as she flew off the site within a nanosecond of making her debut.

15" Peggy Sue has been adopted

In fact, she was adopted so quickly, I didn't even have time to post my mailing list newsletter! Please accept my apologies if you were wondering why you hadn't received notification of my latest arrival.

I have several more lovely teddy bears planned for my website in the coming weeks, so please don't lose hope, your special bear may be just around the corner!

:-)

Sad news

Away with the fairies is a lovely place to be on a day when the world might seem a bit too topsy turvy to make sense of ...

Yesterday I heard the sad and unexpected news of Beatrix Harries' passing. She was the creator of the most beautiful, sweet faced teddy bears and a truly generous teacher of the bear making art. Beatrix was well respected internationally but more importantly, well liked within our magical world of teddy bears.  Beatrix, you gave so much of yourself through your creativity and it has been my pleasure to know you. Your lovely smile and wonderful bears will be missed by so many. 

Goodnight and sleep tight, lovely lady x

One day, you will be old enough to read fairytales again

'One day you will be old enough to read fairy tales again' ... I stumbled across this lovely quote recently and for some reason, at the grand old age of fifty four, it struck a chord, inspiring me to start a new art journal. I plan to escape reality within those hot pressed pages, by filling it with fantastical characters and fanciful stories!

After all, no one should never be too old to believe in the magic of fairy tales, should they?!

;-)

Champagne and Oo-bi-doo

I've been working on a big teddy bear for a collector in the US ... 'I'll leave it up to you Paula' she said, when asked about mohair choices. So, I created this lovely big cuddle of a bear in the hope 'Champagne' might be the perfect bear for my collector and happily, he was!

22" Champagne

So yesterday was 'up, up and away' day for Champagne. I booked a courier collection for the afternoon and quite literally, jogged back from our local playground with my grandson and two dogs in tow, to ensure we could be home as the van pulled up, to hand our precious cargo over in person.  We waved the van off, then settled on the sofa to watch Disney's 'Jungle Book'. Oh how I love grey November afternoons snuggled with my Grandson, singing along to 'Oo-bi-doo!' and 'I'm the king of the swingers'! Fun, fun,fun!

:-)

Success on a whim

I very nearly didn't enter the EBAA's year, but at the last minute, changed my mind and on a complete whim, entered my cloth teddy 'Lolly' ...

Lolly is a 2017 Excellence in Bear Artistry Award Winner!

Then I promptly forgot all about the competition until I received an email a few days ago, telling me my cloth bear has been honoured with a 2017 'Excellence in Bear Artistry' Award" ... as you can imagine, I am thrilled to bits with this unexpected news!

:-)

They're spooky and they're scary!

As regular readers will know, I have enjoyed the magical mayhem of Halloween since I was a very young girl. My favourite childhood stories always featured spooky witches and sad ghosts ... and even now, almost half a century later, I still clearly remember a picture from my favourite school library book featuring witches flying in silhouette across the night sky.

Halloween fun with my family

To be completely honest, I'm less than keen on playing dress-up these days (feeling my age I think!) but did scrape myself into a long black witchypoo cape, a pair of rather fetching black and orange striped tights, batty t-shirt and a small pointy hat, to join my family for some Halloween fun at my niece's house-warming party last weekend. 

Everyone rose to the occasion by dressing in Halloween finery for the evening. The house was dressed spectacularly in cobwebs, cackling witches, bats, spiders and carved pumpkins, with all manner of spooks dangling in dark corners. It was heaps of fun to see everyone in costume, although at first glance, quite tricky to work out who was who in some cases!

The party went with a swing and the dance floor quickly filled with an eclectic group of witches, ghostly pirates, skeletons, a vicar, a nun and even a ghostly jester! The children had a wonderful time (except my sweet little Great Niece, who is just a year old and was understandably a wee bit overwhelmed by the Halloween madness in her house). The older kids danced, apple bobbed and chased around excitedly, relishing the spooky atmosphere. As for our very own mini werewolf Toby, well, he soon had the hang of Halloween, dancing happily with the spooks, eating chocolate apples and at the grand old age of three, simply accepting the fact that sometimes adults behave rather strangely!

:-)

An INKRedibleTOBER inspiration

I am still busy teaching myself to draw and paint, so throughout October, took part in a fun challenge called #Inkredibletober.  The idea was to interpret Halloween prompts each day using ink in one form or another.  I didn't manage to complete the entire thirty one prompts, but I did do most, learned heaps and thoroughly enjoyed the challenge!

Here are a few of my favourite prompts ...

Last but not least, I squeezed in a little Trick or Treat teddy bear!

In fact I especially enjoyed drawing teddy bear scenes, so with Christmas on the distant horizon, I think I might try to paint a little festive teddy bear and if he turns out okay, could even be bold enough to turn him into a Christmas card ... fingers crossed!

:-)

Travelling Teddies

This teddy girl will be travelling far further than I ever have!  She will be heading all the way to Australia to meet her new owner.

It never ceases to amaze me when my teddies travel such incredible distances to meet new owners. Aside from the many who live in the UK, I have bears living in Australia, Singapore, Japan, China, America, Canada, South Africa, Hong Kong, Germany, Switzerland, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Holland and Ireland! 

Wishing this little girl a safe journey to her new home.

:-)