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...

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...

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!

Meet the bears... Christopher

I have just realised how long it has been since my last post, so it seems like an ideal time to introduce another bear.

This is Christopher. He is made from "old gold" coloured cashmere plush fabric with cream ultrasuede paw pads. His limbs are thread jointed, his nose is hand embroidered and his eyes are tiny black glass beads. He stands just 4.7cm tall. 

Sometimes a completed bear wants no embellishment and this was certainly true of Christopher. Although obviously a boy bear he didn't seem to suit a bow or any other clothing. The cashmere fabric he is made from gives a glorious textured look to his fur and it seemed such a shame to cover it up. For a little while he remained just as he was...

A little while later I stumbled across the art of crochet and, after a little practice, the inevitable happened: I began to wonder if I could crochet items in miniature for the bears. With a little perseverance and a lot of patience I finally completed a miniature blanket in turquoise thread...

As soon as Christopher got his paws on it I knew he was complete. Christopher and his blanket are now inseparable.

 

 

If you would like to see more of my bears visit my website, my Folksy or WowThankYou shop.

Meet the bears... Bella

Today I would like to introduce you to Bella.

As soon as this little bear was completed, it was obvious that "it" was a "she". Her big eyes and rounded head, set slightly to one side, left no doubt. How to dress her took rather a lot more thought. So she sat for a while (as most of my bears do) trying out a bow for size as I waited for inspiration...

A while later I saw a delightful photo of a friend's little girl. Like most small children she loves to dress up and in this photo she was wearing a fairy costume complete with wings and a wand. She was sitting looking up at the camera with her head slightly to one side....

The tiny bear's expression was so much like that photo that I knew that she would have to have a fairy costume.

So now she has a skirt made from pink and white flowers cut from Guipure trim. She has tiny bows made from a single strand of embroidery cotton and a tiny pink bead. In her right hand she holds a wand made from coloured beads and topped with a star.

Bella stands just 5cm tall. She is made from a light brown upholstery velvet with cream ultrasuede paw pads. Her limbs are thread jointed so she can stand or sit. Her eyes are black glass beads; her nose is hand embroidered with black cotton.

Bella has now been adopted and is enjoying life in her new home. If you would like to see more of my bears visit my website, my Folksy or WowThankYou shop.