Happy New Year

Well Another year nearly over. Never been big on the old New Year celebrations, but we've got friends around tonight, so some fun on the Wii fit! 2009 won't be the easiest of years for everyone, but for me, a time to reflect and remember how well off I really am. Cheers everyone!

Enjoying the break

Hi everyone. I've been enjoying the Christmas holidays but in the back of my mind already looking forward to what to do in the New Year. I know which direction I want my bears to go in and have enjoyed having a 'mood' folder where I collect Blogs, websites, pictures anything that captures something I'd like my bears to be. It can be a colour, a pattern or just a photo of something that is nice. Great fun and I've stumbled on some lovely interesting people. What an inspirational lot of people are out there! See you all in the New Year!

Candice 6" bear

Here is the bear I finished on thursday, I'm quite pleased with her.

Did I get busy?

Well just goes to show how time flies, either that or I'm lazy.....bit of both actually! I got my mohair stash and have started. Next on my list is a lovely dark pink bear with felted eyelids, I got a matching wool felt so there you go. I just need to get some paperwork done today then the evening is free to finish her.

I also want to do my Teddy Talk challenge bear. It was a challenge to recreate, in your own style, the look of your childhood bear or friend. I want to do my panda, I can't make my mind up if in miniature or bigger. Maybe both! I thought it would be nice over christmas, time for me.

Get busy!!!!

Hi everyone, after a real holiday and a very 'can't be bovvered' holiday I feel ready to go. Just before I went away, the new little mohair bear design really inspired me. Well after a little email chat with a trusted bear friend (thank you), I feel so ready to do some work. I've ordered some stuff and well, hopefully I'll come up with some bears that people like. Watch this space!

Robbie on ebay

I liked Larry but though I would just tweak a few parts, pattern and eye style. So this is Robbie who is on ebay at the moment.

Larry new 7" pattern

Well here is Larry, so called as he is very lamb like. I hope you like him.

Naughty me!

Well I just saw when I last posted, naughty me! I have been designing a new pattern for a 7" bear. Still small, but not miniature. It was a lovely change and I'm very pleased with the bear. I'll get some photos done tomorrow. I do get bored easily and I've not gone off my miniatures, but a change always does you good. Hopefully it will still have a Pandy Potter look. I used my usual 4 piece head pattern style so I'm sure it will. Well until tomorrow......

Time flies!

Well I've been so naughty and not got much sewing done. I have been decorating, but just excuses all said and done. Hopefully in a few weeks I can get moving a bit. I've started a little bear but thats about it. Anyway I finally got Wade listed on ebay. Cross fingers!

Charlie on ebay

Hi this is Charlie on ebay at the moment. I tried to do a different needlesculpting for the eye sockets and I do think it gives a different look.

Rosie Ripple on ebay

Hi everyone. I'm finally back to it, well when tomorrow comes around! I'm looking forward to the next few months, my favourite time of year. As we missed summer I may as well look forward to autumn and cosy dark nights. Catch ya later. x

Time for action...

Well what a weird couple of weeks its been. I blame the weather! I've been putting things off, tired, lazy and just generally unmotivated. Even nice things like my daughter's birthday seemed...low key. Anyway today I decided enough was enough and managed to sort some things out. Its a start. So hopefully I can start getting that mojo back, I could'nt even find the umph to make anything last week. I've just drawn out an elephant, my fave design at the moment so I'll get on with that this week.

On another note, whens summer coming? I can already feel that Autumn feeling creaping in. Darker nights (which I like) and that fab run up to christmas feeling. But we have'nt had summer yet!!!!! Hey ho, there is a rumour that we'll get a little bit of sun this weekend.....

Marty 3" Wooly Mammoth on ebay sunday evening

Hi everyone, what a busy few weeks, but back to it now. I was sorting through my fabric stash when I found a piece of vintage rayon that a friend had given me. It just shouted Whooly Mamoth! So here is Marty. I hope you like him.

Heuy on ebay

I have'nt had much time this week so my weekly ebay bear is Huey the koala, who has had a makeover! I think it suits him. I've started a lovely soft cashmere type panda in cream and tan. I'm also trying to develop a mouse for a lovely lady, I'll let you know how it goes as another busy working week ahead.

Sonny 3" panda on ebay

Hi everyone, flying visit. I'm covering for holiday leave and with trying to at least enjoy a bit of the nice weather with my family, well where does the time go! So love ya and leave ya with Sonny.

Denby on ebay

Heres Denby made from the new dense pile ulpholstery fabric. I must say it was the softest fabric I've ever used, you can't help but keep stroking it. I hope you think it makes a cute bear!

Funny two days....

Well what an odd start to the week, my daughter kept being sick yesterday (better now) so I was at home all day, then today stressing as trying to sort plans out for a dropped kerb for off street parking. Yes I need to do two sets of plans for the council. Yet again its because we are on a main road. They want £150 thats before I pay for the site plans (hopefully get them done for nothing, if not £40). Then theres the cost to get them look at the kerb, thats Highways department, planners will already of had a look, then quotes to do the work, then of course sorting the front garden out if its all OK. If I can get a little change out of £2000, I'll be lucky. Easy come, easy go!

So to cheer myself up...I've been looking for a weeks holiday late september, eeekkkk, holidays have shot up. I get fed up about hearing about credit crunch but costs are sure rising. Still I'm a firm believer in not wasting money so then when you deserve a treat, theres something in the pot. Cross fingers!

My treat last week was some new fabric. I started a bear but the new fabric was calling. Its the new dense cashmere type from Sassy fabrics. Its the softest yet, with a dense, strokeable pile. The backing is a little softer, which is weird at first but then you get used to it and it sews up lovely. Two legs, then an arm and its done! Kept me good for an hour or two.

and here is Habika, African for Sweetheart, on ebay

Arnold 5" bear on ebay

Well here he is, my new 5" pattern. I'm rather pleased how he turned out, first time round too. Hope you like him!

Got the bug.....

Well these elephants are really addictive. I'm halfway through another one. Saying that, halfway through, as I decided to start my challenge bear for Teddy Talk. Paula set the 'panda' challenge. As I make pandas anyway I though I should do a brand new pattern. This one will be just under 5". A bit larger than usual! I've only enough fabric to draw the pattern and get it right first time. I'm too impatient to do it a few times, I like to go straight in there. I did just draw on the fabric until I realised I'd need a pattern for other bears and to tweak it at a later date. So there I was drawing around cut out material to make the pattern! Doh! Watch this space....

Rosebud and Marco on ebay

Well this is my second elephant Marco, what fun he was to make. I don't think it will be my last. I love bears but piggies, elephants, koalas are such a nice change.

Benny on ebay sunday evening

Benny will be on ebay sunday evening. I'm starting a little pink/lilac Koala bear, I think I need to work with some summery colours, dull, dull, dull weather! I'm also looking forward to monday or tuesday as my new Sassy fabric should arrive. Steph works hard to give us miniature makers something wonderful to work with, its her brand new cashmere look range. Watch this space!!!

Big 40

Well 18th June saw the big birthday come along. I had a fantastic day and then followed a couple of days away in St Annes. All in all a birthday that was one to remember. Also a time of looking back as well as forward I think. Life begins, so they say and I do feel that after a few years of different things going on, its quite a true saying for me.

Huey 3" koala available from my website

Reno on ebay now

Finished garden

Well, before we went away we finally got our garden sorted. We just need to get our table and chairs then of course let the years do the work as we get plants along the way. It was all well worth it. The before photo was from late last year as we were doing the base for the conservatory. All the soil/rubble was from the foundations we dug out for the extension, we ended up hiding most of it under the decking! Skips cost a fortune! My back sure knew about it, the earth mounds got moved around as we ran out of space. My dad even lost his car keys, which turned up a week later as we yet again....moved the earth piles!

Fudge on ebay

Sugar on ebay

Hi everyone. Back from my hols and plenty of catching up to do! Here is Sugar who is on ebay. Hopefully when I get myself sorted I would like to try and make a bear to sell from my website, at the moment its just one a week for ebay.

Toots on ebay

Hi everyone. Sorry but I've been really busy trying to get the garden done. Nearly there, although lets face gardens are hardly instant. I'll post some photos later this week. Anyhow here is Toots, a lovely little girl panda.

Yancy on ebay

Hi everyone. I just got Yancy finished in time to list last night. I've been doing the garden and today trying gets accounts done and sent to the accountant, very boring!!!! Hopefully later I'll have time to get a bear started. Pictures of the garden soon, not much more to do to get it looking presentable.

Little Blue on ebay

Claude on ebay

Hi this is Claude, my first Koala in many years. I so enjoyed making him and I'm sure others will follow. Luckily he was made early last week as I ended up moving soil/mud around in the pouring rain late last week in my 'garden'. Saying that the decking is helping it to at least look partly gardenish. All that digging did unearth my dads lost car keys which had been missing over a week. Phew, one less thing to sort and our house key was on there too! Although I was at a work meeting all day today, hubby managed to catch some sun on the deck. I'm hoping my dad can build be a little pergola/gazebo, my little outside bearmaking den. Dadddddd......he's a fab dad, so watch this space for garden updates.

Radley on ebay

Hi this is Radley. He's a little shy, as after three photos the camera packed in. Mind you I've always hated having my photo taken. It took me ages to put one on here.

Hi ho, hi ho, its off to work I make them go!

Hi all. For the next few weeks my bears may have to take a slight backseat while I 'supervise' my workers (Mark and dad). I dare say I'll get my hands dirty as well, but lugging soil and bricks does'nt go well with making miniature bears, thats my excuse. Hee hee. We spent all of last year renovating this house and we are now left with a building site to turn into a garden. I feel so much more comfortable here and would love somewhere where we can sit out and even make my bears. The last house had a lovely little garden but as I had neighbour trouble I never wanted to be in it. So this hopefully will be my little oasis.

Pascal new Manda's Pandas on ebay now

Manda's Pandas

Hi everyone. As some of you know or you can tell from my bear name, I'm more than fond of pandas. Today with a little prompt from Lynne of Buttercup Bears I made a panda in the new Dilly design. I'm really pleased with it. It does mean there is now a half finished bear with no legs, I never learn, finish one at a time or they don't get finished!!!! I'll get some nice pictures done then post them on here.

Thanks to everyone who has been really supportive while I find 'my place' with the designs.

Dilly Dolly Mixture on ebay until sunday

Hi everyone, here is Dilly Dolly Mixture. She is 3" tall and made from ulpholstery fabric that I distressed slightly. She has a new larger head pattern and the body and limbs are a newish pattern too. I wanted to capture a sort of 50/60's look and colours and used my 39 year old panda as a guide to get the fur looking messy and loved. I also like anime style bears so went for a larger head. I'm very pleased with her and hope you like her too.

And I still have'nt found what I'm looking for....

I've realised in the last few weeks I'm kind of lost with my bearmaking. As I don't collect bears I can take a step back from them, in other words I love to make them and see them go off to people who like what I do. Thats what I enjoy, but....I think I've been torn towards what collectors like and what I like. Theres the problem, I don't know what I like, I don't collect! I've always been flitting from one thing to another, never quite seeing things through. Well after a little thought and a lovely honest conversation with another maker, off I went to my work cupboard and....I've done, well half done, something that I like and hopefully the collectors will want to own. Its got a sort of vintage 50/60's look, I like that, its miniature and cute, collectors seem to like that, and has a very subtle cartoon/anime look. What a dolly mixture! Well I'll get it done for tuesday and put it on ebay as a 5 day listing, to see what reaction it gets. If no one likes it then I guess I've got a bear that I like and I finally become a collector! LOL :)

Check out my Slide Show!

Here kitty kitty...

Well I finally got a cat finished. The photos make the ears appear a little rounder but all in all I'm quite pleased. Slight chipmunk face but hey maybe there are chpimunk looking cats out there! Mr Tibbs is just under 3".

Good things come in threes....

Well it started off last friday with a mystery parcel. I never get presents, even at Christmas I buy my own! Its not that we are mean but after years of having no cash we got out of the habit and parents were helpful and gave money. So it was with great delight I opened my box. Thank you my dear bear friend! Best of all they were presents that mattered and were well thought out for me. Hee hee, just lovely.

Today I got a £50 premium bond check! Yippeee...I won! That will go toward some plants for the new garden....nah...I'll have a new handbag, the other one is two years old! Told you I have to buy my own presents.

Then also today I got my lovely new templates off Linda. She has been more than generous and has done a lovely job. Thanks Linda. Check her work out, stunning.

http://www.lindapindadesigns.com/

Back to work now, stuff to do, as usual!

Abbot 3" bear on ebay

Here is Milton on ebay 8" mohair bear

A change is as good as a rest

Well Saturday I called Leek to visit Jac-Q-lyns bear shop. They sell some lovely mohair. I've now gone off cats (odd thing for me anyway) and decided I would like to do a larger mohair bear. Its years since I've done one. Watch this space!

Have break...have a Kitty Kat

Well after the head, came a break doing the old day job. Today is paperwork day, but I'm easily distracted and started thinking what I'd like to do tomorrow. I don't know why but it suddenly came into my head to do a pink cat. Its odd because I'm not a cat person or a pink one. That said I'm really determined to do a pink kitty. I think its tiredness and too much coffee.....I feel like I have candy floss for brains today!

Ahead of the game.....

Well I got some new fabric and bits and after messing around a few hours decided to try a new head pattern out. I'm not that fussed on it. Its such a major part of your bears personality and your style, its just got to be right. My bears have a four piece, domed look and I was going for a five piece pattern including a nose gusset. Its good to be progressing or changing things but when does this become 'not your style or thing'. I can tell its going to be one of those weeks when I need to take a step back then come back to it.

Dacey 3 1/2"

I've finished Dacey, I can't make my mind up if its a boy or girl. The general opinion is its a she. I have listed her on ebay to finish sunday 9th.

One bear at a time....

I think I've found out this week why its good for me to do one bear at a time, I don't finish any otherwise! I'm 1/3 of the way through my friend's present but I've just seen the bits of bears. A head I did yesterday then decided to wait for some new fabric to do the rest, half a panda and a bear nearly done but for one leg. Then the one today, a head and an arm. Hmmm....I'll go do at least another arm and the body before today is done. Promise!

Tommy 3 1/2" panda

I've just finished Tommy from a new fabric. The black was hard work, I couldn't see to sew! I'm getting one of those magnifying lights, it should help. Middle age charging at full speed! I'll also be doing a present for a friend this week, I'll post it when she's received it, not to spoil the surprise. Something a little different.

Beatrice, silk bear, available from my website

Bluebell, the bear Amy designed

Life gets in the way

Well I managed to finish my silk bear, pictures coming soon. Amy also designed a bear that I made. The big bear is on hold until I get myself motivated. I've got to sort some stuff out for my 'other job'. These things come to stress us. I think, although I'll lose money and custom (long story, problem that needs sorting by me, but not caused by me) it feels like I'm letting so many people down, and that feels bad. I can only do my best, but I definitely could not do a stressful job, I don't care how much you could be
paid! So hopefully sort a bit of work stuff out tomorrow and then back 
to it!

Harder than I imagined

Well you'd think as I started out doing larger bears I'd find this next project a breeze, but I can't seem to do anything right. I've got nothing much done. I'll keep trying but I probably need to do it in between doing a miniature as its beginning to make me feel...narked!

Getting bigger....

Getting bigger....yes I know I still need to lose that Christmas weight, but I also mean bears! Amy has been asking me to show her how to make a bear and that got me thinking of big bears again. So I've ordered some fabric and tomorrow I'll start the pattern. I threw all my large bear patterns out years ago so it is literally back to the drawing board. I'd like to do a pattern based on my miniature look so will see if the four piece head patern translates to large bears. I predict a week of huffing and puffing and body parts being thrown around!

Getting there

I've finally finished my new clown. I'd love to do some more and lookout for a few little bits to go with them. The other bear I've done is a little older looking bear, Samuel. I'm quite pleased with him but think he could be improved on. Thats how it goes. They are both on ebay later this evening. Wish me luck and thanks to Kay for being understanding and so supportive.

Hmmmm....one of those bear days

To cut a long story short I had nearly finished a bear when I found the black limbs were a slightly different shade of black. Not good enough, darn. I'll finish it and give it Amy. The open mouth bear will be put on hold now as I have ran out of black.

I've started a clown bear, I feel a bit of a clown myself today.

Don't start what you can't finish!

Well I started my open mouth panda and then this morning......the postman arrived with new fabric! I nearly always do one bear at a time but....the fabric was shouting me. I started a new bear but realised I needed the last bit of black fabric that I was using for the panda. Poor panda will now have to wait for another order from America. I would like to say the new panda bear will be finished for tomorrow but I have to go a work meeting most of the day.

I work for a Slimming company called Slimming World. I lost 5 stone nearly 9 years ago now. That said I'm struggling to get my Christmas weight off. Its just a few pounds but I seem to have bears running around in my head! Excuses really, but if it was easy I'd be out of a job!

Ginger 3 1/4" open mouth bear

Here is my first open mouth miniature bear. I enjoyed making him for the Outside your comfort zone challenge on Teddy Talk. I also designed a new leg and arm pattern. I used plenty of needlesculpting too. I feel a panda would be brilliant like this.....

Derwin on ebay

Hi. I have listed Derwin on ebay. He is the first panda of the year. I have started with a low starting price as I think its a good way of getting out there. I'm working on an open mouth bear at the moment. Although it has given me a slight headache. I think I need one of those lights with a magnifiyning glass. I've done the head and a new arm pattern. So far so good.

Grrrr on ebay now

I finally got Grrrr onto ebay tonight. He is the first miniature black bear and about only the third I've ever made. I must admit although I don't really collect bears I do have a soft spot for dark or black ones. I was pleased how he turned out as sometimes black bears look too mean!

New Bears

Hi everyone. I hope this week to get my act together and do some more designing. I should finish a little black bear today. Never the easiest of bears to do. I think I've only made two before and they were large ones. After that I want to start developing a new style as part of The Teddy Talk challenge. Its to try something that really does challenge you and is'nt your usual thing. We'll see!

Here is Codie. He is 3" tall and a new pattern. He has already been adopted.

Here they are

Here is my first bear after a whole year. Nidge is 3" tall and made from two types of fabric. He will either be going on ebay or my website this sunday. I hope you like him.

After all this time....

Well after a shaky start of just sitting there, I got sewing! A leg did get thrown away but I would say I have the start of a bear. Watch this space!