Gingerbread men: little surprises

I can now reveal the project I was working on before Christmas (I assume everyone will have received and opened their little surprises by now)! And as usual they were little... I don't seem happy unless I am miniaturising something!

 I made and embroidered miniature felt gingerbread men...

... which I sent as Christmas cards. I hope that they will be reused as tree decorations and enjoyed in Christmasses to come.

 

 

 

  Sadly we didn't have a Christmas tree this year so the money tree had to stand in! My parents took this photo of their gingerbread man on their tree...

 

... he looks quite happy there I think! 

If anyone else would like to send me a picture, I'll add it on.

A very Merry Christmas to all...

A very Merry Christmas to everyone. I hope all your preparations are successfully completed (in time to relax and enjoy the day) and that Father Christmas brings you something lovely...

Dungarees: first foray into bear clothing...

As Christmas is fast approaching, I thought I'd get one more post in before my life gets completely hectic!

Unfortunately, I can't actually share my main project with you because some of the intended recipients may well see this and that would spoil the surprise! So I will save that until next time.

Instead I'll tell you about my other project: completing a set of clothes for the exbeariment. So now the bear has a pair of stripy dungarees...

It was quite a challenge to make them fit, but I think they have worked pretty well...

 

...although I'm not 100% convinced!

Even the bear seems to be a little unsure...

... do they contribute sufficiently to his cuteness? What do you think?

Ex-bear-iment completed

Let me introduce you to the results of this week's exbeariment.

I'm very pleased with how he's turned out and with a few tweaks to the pattern I think he'll be even better. I managed to finish him surprisingly quickly - amazing what a challenge can do to motivation!

Just to recap - this is my first attempt at an unjointed bear: with limbs and head in fixed positions. I've given him some flexibility by soft stuffing and adding weight to his paws and belly. He's not quite as floppy as I'd have liked but I think making him a little larger would solve that problem.

 

He has black antique boot button eyes and a nose embroidered with dark brown thread.

He has come out about 25cm (10in) tall. His fur is a synthetic fur fabric in dark brown. I have to confess to him being fully hand sewn mainly due to my utter inability to sew smooth curves on the machine! Apparently I need a lot more practice...

 

I could get used to making larger bears: much less fiddly and the results are indisputably more huggable...

I shall leave him here for a while, contemplating his future - I think clothing of some sort might be called for...

"Stuff"

My second fair was completed successfully on Friday. I said I'd share the new improved stall, so here it is...

I think the black linen shows off the bears (and other items) much better. Adding height to the bear display improved customers' perceptions of the little critters...

It will need further tweaking and probably a banner of some kind, bunting seems very popular this year... Anyway, lots to think on before the next fair. I am feeling far more positive about the whole craft selling thing and will be looking at places to sell on-line, although this may take some time (sooooo many options!).

After the craft fair (and an observation from Lorna) I have also decided it is time for an experiment - or perhaps that should be exbeariment - time to design and make a larger bear...

So - now that I have a project that motivates, interests and challenges me - life keeps throwing "stuff" in the way! Just to reassure you, this is not the self-inflicted "stuff" otherwise known as procrastination. This is the "stuff" that is unavoidable; the "stuff" that I have been putting off due to craft fair preparation. So I have been attempting to tackle the "stuff": I spent a long day getting my car back from its major surgery; I am slowly regaining control after the invasion of craft fair bits into our living space; and I am gradually catching up with the cleaning.

When I'd far rather be working on this...

This (if all works according to plan) will be a 10in (25cm) bear. I am practising with synthetic fur and attempting to make a non-jointed floppy bear. This will be a first and I am actually enjoying the excitement of creating something that could be a complete disaster! I've got the foot pads to sew before I can turn him right side out to find out if the work so far has been a success. As far as I know I have a quiet day tomorrow so I'll let you know how the turning goes...

My mum and sister have been having a creative/craft week together quilting, designing and creating. Check out Mum's blog to see how they get on (Work in Progress, Day Two, Third Day, Update!, Finale).

First successful craft fair

I attended a craft fair on Saturday at the Town Hall in Chipping Sodbury. I have been to a couple of local fairs with my bears and bits, but this has been the best so far. I have learned the importance of being selective about the fairs I do, as the approach of the organisers varies wildly. This fair "felt" like a craft fair. All of the stall holders were exibiting good quality, handmade items and it was evident from their attitude that the customers appreciated the standard of crafts on sale.

Personally, I have learned a lot about how to fill and set out my stall, as well as how to engage with customers. My friend Lorna came along to help out and had lots of fun arranging scenery for the bears...

 

...and here she is, behind the stall, discussing the tiny size of the bears with our neighbouring stallholder...

 

With a few tweaks we think that it could be a much more striking stall, so I intend to implement as many of the changes as possible in time for my next fair on Friday...

Craft fair preparation

As was perhaps to be expected, I have spent most of this week avoiding craft fair preparation. While I should have been making labels, price tags and checking that I have everything I need for Saturday, I have been largely preoccupied with another elephant. I was meant to be making the prototype of an elephant kit for sale - well I did make one and it turned out well (I think anyway).

Every stage of his construction was photographed carefully and the instructions were written. All would have been well if it hadn't been for the blanket.

 

And it wasn't really the blanket's fault. The problem was that I had to look up stitch ideas. This led me to Sharon B's Pintangle - a very dangerous blog to find at such a time. Suffice it to say that I would like to participate in TAST to expand my stitching skills and this site should bear some responsibility for the elephant that has been engaging my attention this week.

 

Inspired by the fabulously decorated elephants at the elephant festivals in India, this white felt creature is now quite heavily embroidered with flowers. 

 

I have got characteristically caught up in the detail and have, almost completely, failed to get anything useful done. 

Oh well, it is finished now and I have blogged about it. Hopefully it is now out of my system, so I may be able to get back to more pressing tasks. And maybe I'll get the kits ready for sale. We'll see...

Meet the bears... Harry

This is a photo of Harry. He is one of my larger bear creations (at 12in tall he's a giant in comparison with my other bears).

I can't take all the credit for Harry as he is made from a pattern by the wonderful Ted Menten. This American bear designer's distinctive muzzle design is unmistakable even when given a "Silent Companions" nose. I love the sculptural quality of Ted's teds: the unique personality of each bear expressed vividly through expression and clothing.

Harry was a lovely bear to make once I'd found the perfect fabric: a tipped 8mm mohair in a warm brown. He has taken on a lovely expression. He reminds me of a toddler who has done something wrong; the turned in toes, slightly tilted head and rather worried expression all add to this impression. He needed some sort of clothing so, as I was experimenting with crochet at the time, a hat and scarf seemed a good start. 

They seem to suit him so now he permanently looks like he's going out to play in the snow...

I love the original "Teddy Bear Studio" book (sadly now out of print, as far as I can see) and it has taught me a great deal about bear making. So a huge thank you to Ted Menten for all the inspiration!

Craft fair dates for your diary

I have finally chosen the craft fairs that I will be attending before Christmas. 

Craft Fayre

Saturday 26th November, 10am to 4pm

Chipping Sodbury Town Hall

Victorian Evening Craft and Gift Fayre 

Friday 2nd December, 5pm to 9.30pm

Chipping Sodbury Town Hall

I will be taking a selection of my creations to each fair:

teddy bears,

notebooks,

elephants,

Liberty hairclips,

 

and probably a few other random goodies!

It would be lovely to see you there!

Newest creation...

I have finally produced another miniature bear. It's taken a long time to overcome the complete lack of inspiration and motivation that has hovered over any attempt at tiny teddy production, but I have done it! Here is the first completed miniature of 2011.

Huge thanks to HB for inspiration - she liked the idea of a series of snowflake-inspired Christmassy bears and this little teddy has gone from idea to reality in a very short space of time. Maybe the rest of the series will follow...

 This little red bear has a ruff crocheted from gold embroidery thread. He is definitely a "he" although as yet unnamed. I'm still searching for a suitably snowy boy name...

He is 5cm tall when standing and made from red cashmere plush fabric. This fabric is delightful to work with - very easy to sew and turn (and reasonably forgiving of errors) - and the finished effect is lovely. Unfortunately I have discovered that it is impossible to photograph successfully. Without the flash the colour isn't true, but with the flash the sheen is too much for the camera! More experimentation needed...

The bear is lovely (though I say it myself!); he's come out really well. I'm not 100% sure about the ruff yet - it may change before he gets his final name...

Let me know what you think. Any suggestions or name possibilities welcomed!

A week of ups and downs

It's been a funny old week really...

It's been a week of car-related stress: getting rescued by the RAC from a chilly M4 (2nd call-out in 2 weeks), 8 hours and 20 miles after getting the car back from the garage; anxiously waiting to hear from the mechanic to find out if I would have to cancel all my appointments AGAIN; and driving nervously through the countryside hoping that it won't conk out on me in the middle of nowhere.

It's been a week of family events: packing the OH off to London for a month; a visit from my parents; and a lovely meal with Mum, Dad, sister, brother and sister-in-law.

It's been a week of elephants: 

one whose progress is interminably slow (body complete on 3rd attempt, legs... don't ask!) 

and one who was just a delightful surprise!

I think the spice boat tips the balance though...

...it's been a good week!