Friday 30 December 2011

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.


Saturday 24 December 2011

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...


Friday 16 December 2011

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?


Friday 9 December 2011

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...


Tuesday 6 December 2011

"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).
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