Keeping the Faith

I have recently been working with a beautiful, curly Schulte.  It has been a real challenge for me to turn all those lovely curls into a recognisable teddy bear face.   This is probably due to having working with straight alpaca for quite a while which is a breeze to scissor sculpt.  The mohair does not have an obvious direction to the pile.  It goes everyway possible!

I have really had to take a deep breath before cutting into this curly mohair.  Too much brushing and it loses its lustre.  Too little cutting and the face has no definition.  I think that if I had tried using this mohair a year ago, the head would probably have ended up in a box of failures. 

However, by wetting the muzzle fur and using a hairdrier I have managed to straighten the fur enough to scissor sculpt the muzzle, at the same time avoiding brushing the rest of the fur that I want to remain curly.   He just needs a body now!

Reflections

It's funny how something can set off thoughts and memories of loved ones.  A couple of days ago, I was looking for a watch I had mislaid and came across a small jewellery box containing my granfather's 'pips'.  For those of you not from a military background, pips are insignia that are worn on lapels and shoulders.  (He was, during WW2, a Major in the Indian Army who served in Manchuria and was twice mentioned in despatches). My beloved grandfather was Reginald Charles Quentin Von Donop Hardinge, otherwise known as Rex.  He was a wonderful person...very, very witty and a wonderful teller of stories.  Although reasonably tall, he was always very slender and it always amazed me that he ever survived his childhood in India.  He was born in Poonah.  His father, Colonel Henry Hardinge, spent much of his working life posted in India. Rex was also the author of a large number of books, some of the best known were Sexton Blake detective stories. He was a great walker and enjoyed smoking a pipe. Although he was wonderful company, he needed peace and quiet for his writing and spent much of his writing time living on Dartmoor in Devon with his cocker spaniel dogs Jasper and Sandy.  I absolutely worshipped him and still miss him.  He passed away in 1990 at 89 years of age in Dawlish, Devon.  I have always felt that he is my Guardian Angel.

My Stash and Deadlines

One of the greatest pleasures of teddy making, is to have an idea for a design and then to look through my stash of mohair to see if I have any fur that will suit my idea.  I have spent quite a long time working nearly exclusively with alpaca, but recently have wanted to create bears from two different coloured mohairs.

So today I have dragged out my stash and played around with different combinations of colours...such fun!  I have found combinations for three new bears. 

I am busy bear making for the online Holiday Bear Show on November 20th and 21st and for the British Bear Fair in Brighton on December 12th, so am unlikely to have any available for adoption before then.

Linda Benson Course

On the 18th and 19th September I attended a two day bearmaking course, taught by the wonderful Linda Benson and hosted by Bill and Jean Ashburner of BearBits fame.

The two days were full on and packed with plenty of techniques and tips that were new to me and should help me to improve and extend the way I work.  Jean and Bill were very hospitable hosts and great fun.  They provided delicious lunches and kept us plied with refreshments.

I have always adored Linda's work, so the opportunity to spend two days learning from her was an opportunity not to be missed!

I still haven't quite finished my bear as I have some bearmaking commitments and deadlines to meet...so my little bear will have to sit and wait for time to finish.

It was really lovely to spend the weekend with others that share the same bearmaking passion!

Hugs

Sue

British Bear Artist Awards 2010 Nominations

Teddybuys bears have been shortlisted in this year's competition in two categories: Blossom in Realistic Designs and 'I need a hug', otherwise known as Magic and Socks in the Group of Bears over six inches categories.  So they are all looking forward to a day out at the finals at the British Bear Fair located at Brighton racecourse on Sunday, the 12th December.

 Blossom

'I need a hug'

Hugglets and Linda Benson Course

I travelled up to Kensington via the High Speed train from Kent to visit Hugglets on Sunday.  Had a lovely pub lunch with the long-suffering other half and headed into the Halls.  As usual, there was a sufeit of fabulous bears.  I only managed to see 3 of Paula's (All Bear) bears as the others were sold, but they were just wonderful.  There is no doubt that although photos are great, there is no substitution for holding the bears yourself.  I had a chat with Marjan Jorritsma of Tonnibears (another of my favourite artists).  Her bears have such a lovely, gently aged appearance to them and she had brought with her some absolutely charming little prim dogs.  I must have one soon!  I also managed a good hug from one of Dawn's (Hugs Unlimited) bears. He was very hard to put down...just like holding a baby and just as appealing.  So many other wonderful artists...I could go on forever!

I picked up a couple of lovely pieces of ivory pure silk plush fabric from the Japan Bear Co.  I will need to think carefully about how best to use them...possibly another polar bear???

I am off to Lincolnshire on Friday evening for a weekend ourse with the wonderful Linda Benson.  I said hi to her at Hugglets and had the opportunity to see the bear we will be making.  Can't wait but also feeling some trepidation.  Hope I will be able to keep up and not make a hash of my bear.

I have done the pre-sewing and hope to produce a sequence of photos of my progress.

The kit has arrived from Jean and Bill Ashburner.  Just beautiful shiny black and ivory mohair.

I have carefully cut out the pattern and completed the presewing.  No head yet!

More to follow next week...

A new blog giveaway

Gorgeous bear Giveaway,  by Wayne Lim !  Click the image below and follow the instructions to give yourself a chance of winning this lovely bear!  I hope it's me!