My Favourite Teddy - A Homage to Flossie

I am really lucky to have a beautiful collection of artist and vintage bears which I absolutely love and get inspiration from every day.  The bear that lives on my bed and travels with me when I go away is probably the least expensive bear I have ever adopted.  Her name is Flossie and I think she is a 1950s Pedigree bear.  She was an eBay purchase about 5 years ago, and the minute I saw her, I knew she was special.  She doesn't have the glamour of luxurious long kid mohair, but is a nice golden mohair that wants to lay in all directions, although thinning from lots of cuddles.   I bought her a little hand knitted cardigan about 3 years ago to keep her warm.  Her glass eyes are a little scratched, but she can still give me loving looks. Her head is stuffed with wood wool, but the rest of her is softly stuffed,  She is more slender than the chubby bears I normally like but for me, she just has that special something that makes me love her to bits.

I have been playing around with my camera in the garden this morning.  I wish you could smell the Philadephus Belle Etoile and the Ferdinand Pichard roses...just bliss!

Going Off Piste

I love and enjoy making my realistic style bears, but classic bears were my first love.  I have been playing around with a classic teddy design and have come up with two different little fellows, Chester and Tommy.  Unfortunately, I cannot help myself, and I added hand moulded epoxy clay noses and eye whites (in felt) to each.  Tommy has hand-painted eyes.  (So not that classic!) They are both made with a lovely curly, tipped Schulte mohair.

I had a couple of small pieces of lovely ivory and golden curly kid mohair left from an earlier bear project and made a little bunny, Alice.  Variety is the spice of life!

I am still recovering from the Minstead Bear Fair on Sunday.  It was a long day, but enjoyable.  It was great to catch up with a couple of old friends and make a few new ones.

Next week is half-term, so I hope to find the time to make a new bear or two for the Stratford fair in June.

Hugs
Sue

The 2011 National Teddy Bear Artists' Awards (NTBAA) & Minstead Hall Teddy Bear Fair this Sunday

Why do I always leave things until the last minute?  I still have all my teddy tags to make!  This involves printing a small photo of each bear, then printing the information tags, followed by sticking the photo to the tag.  It may sound a small task, but it takes me forever. 

This will be my second fair and I am going on my own, so am quite nervous.  If you are planning to go, please come and say hello.  I am quite shy but always happy to talk about bears!

I am taking a selection of mostly realistic and character  bears that I have been busy making.  I will try to take a photo of my table, and post it when I get back.

I'm off now to find all the bits I need for the tags!

Photography Learning Curve

I went on a one day course for beginners Photography two weeks back.  It now means that I am no longer terrified of pressing the wrong button.  It has helped me to understand the basics and I think my photography has improved.  I still have a long way to go, but now feel I have got past a mental block where taking photos is concerned.  I have taken a few photos this morning as practice.

My Tissavel Sable

I have had a piece of Tissavel sable synthetic fur in my stash for the past three years, but haven't had the courage to cut into it.  I finally took the plunge and made a lifesize hare from it using taxidermy glass eyes.  He has a double-neck joint, jointed rear legs and wired front legs.  This may be the last time I use synthetic fur.  I think I may be allergic to it!

Happy Floral Easter

There are few places more beautiful than England in the Spring.  I took a few photos of the flowers in my garden very early Easter Sunday morning.  There is something joyous about nature waking up and showing off its colours after a long winter.

New Black Bear Cub

The weather here is glorious...25 degrees yesterday and the forecast is good for the Easter break.  I have been struggling ever since I began bearmaking, to design a teddy that will stand on all fours that lives up to my expectations.  I think I have made a bit of a breakthrough this week with 'Cub'.  (She doesn't have a name yet).  With each bear, I am gradually getting closer to what I want, but it is a slow, baby steps process. I am not a draftsperson or terribly methodical or logical in my approach, so refining the pattern takes a long time.  I have used one of my favourite tipped alpacas...the fur makes such a difference to the look of a realistic bear.  I have yet to decide whether to give her claws.  She has six joints and her legs are wired for flexibility of posing.  Hope you like her.

Hugs

Sue