Advent

I have been so busy this week trying to get this advent calendar finished for my daughter. She very much adores Sentimental Circus so thats the theme I went with.

The photo is not very good as its off my phone, we've had a new computer and the camera software needs to installed. Which does mean there will be a wait as I have a new bear to photograph.

I know...its been awhile life certainly got in the way. Back to the beginning years... its a miniature! I'm so pleased how he turned out.

Show and tell soon, promise x

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Cathy's creations

What a glorious sunny day and what was a girl supposed to do but while away an hour on Facebook :) Real work has been very stressful then other things and my bears and any interest in them took a severe back seat. Just catching up on Facebook really cheered me up and it was lovely to meet Cathy on there. Here is a link to her blog http://legrenierdecathy.blogspot.co.uk/

I've a much needed holiday coming up then hopefully I'll get some mojo back and start making again. I need to try and not let other people stress me out, its nearly always other people's stress too! Hope you have some sunshine too.

The Snowman....

Hi, like a lot of Bloggers I did'nt intend to be away for so long but hey ho avoiding the white stuff and stopping in has its advantages. No real reason for being away but I suppose a few changes in my 'real' job and I sometimes feel I can only concentrate on one thing at a time. So bears will be appearing but it might take a while.

Did you enjoy The Snowman? I know I did old and new. Here is something else I enjoyed over Christmas.....

Eek...look what appeared in my garden yesterday! One of the snowmen from Dr Who. My daughter is also a fan and it makes a change from the cuddly looking Snowman. Well I think it does.....

Albie

Now where did that time fly to! Here, finally, is one of my latest bears, Albie.

I've got to admit I do love a panda. Hope everyone likes him.

Its been a while.....

I think the less you blog, the less you blog, so apologies for going AWOL. Here are some of the things I've been up to.....

A trip to St Annes stopping rather cheaply at the new Travelodge. We love St Annes and have'nt been for a few years. Also a £3.50 day ticket saw us get the bus into Blackpool and a tram to Fleetwood. We've got another Travelodge deal booked for September and December, if you can catch the offers its great.

This is the case of a grandfather clock my dad made many years back, its my next project for a makeover. I'm having a bit of a bearmaking break until autumn but need something to 'do'.

This is where we spent a wonderful week in May. We love the Antalya region of Turkey, there are some wonderful hotels. This one is The Delphin Diva in Lara beach, a great hotel with the best staff ever..

Late but not least here is a bear I made a while back, bear with no name yet!

Oh and here is where we've been spending loads of time, barbecues, sunbathing.....

OK thats a fib, roll on summer!

Jue Billy

Hi everyone. Here is my latest creation, an ellie! Its ages since I've made one and  I so enjoyed creating him. I hope you like him.

One more Bear....

 I'm really pleased to say my bears are now also available from One more Bear.

One more Bear is situated at Trentham Estate which is well worth a visit. Its just a few minutes away from me and I know I'll have to go and see all the lovely bears.

A big thank you to Tracy and I hope the bears find their forever homes soon.

Hoppy Easter

Just hopping in to say hello. I've had a busy few weeks, long story short I've had to concentrate on my 'day' job as someone dumped a load of proverbial lemons on me. So I could either remain sour over the matter or make lemonade! So I've been busy turning the situation around.

Time for a break now and hopefully back to creating some bears soon. Here is a bunny I did a few years back

Have a wonderful weekend!

Feeling Blue

After a long....while here is my latest available bear....Blue.

i,m NOT a Robot....or a bear for that matter :)

So Blogger you think I look like this? So you now want me to jump through more hoops than ever in word verification? Don't you realise I fessed up in the last post on how I look, I AM NOT A ROBOT...... or a bear for that matter!

Please consider turning off word verification its got even more annoying. Mine is off and I get no spam.

Go to your dashboard, its in settings, then comments.

If you have trouble just google 'turn of word verification blogger' there are loads of sites that help you, thats what I did.

How to 'look' stupid in four easy steps

Step 1: Be blessed with Mr Magoo short sightedness and at nearly 44 have the eye prescription of -10.75 and -11.25!

Step 2: Although invention has provided relief in the shape of contact lenses, go and put the wrong strength lens in the bad right eye.

Step 3: Spend three days not seeing quite right, being out of sorts and generally feeling like the Wonky Donkey.

Step 4: Finally click in, replace with right power lens and feel as if a miracle has happened, sight and what sanity I ever had, restored.

P.S. yep thats me, Amanda, aged 43 and 3/4 :) Bet you thought I looked like a teddy bear so I thought it time to put a face to the Pandy Potter name.

Pimp my wellies

Well yesterday the forecast was for snow, snow and more snow. So thinking better not go far, Stoke roads and snow do not go well together, we decided to walk to the local pub and Wacky warehouse. Unfortunately I'm too tall for the wacky part but was more than old enough for the pub end. I decided my trusty wellies needed a makeover so found my boot cuffs. Teamed with leggings and jumper dress hubby decided I looked like an extra from Elf....

Talking of Stoke roads, below is supposed to be our 'main' road. Does that look like its been gritted to you? A few minutes away the A50 was at a standstill, trying its best to look like a carpark. Hmmm.....Stoke council triumph again!

Still its already thawing and I'm snug inside until tomorrow. Trusty wellies at the ready, maybe without the cuffs. I don't want any little children seeing me, getting excited, thinking I work for a certain red suited, rotund fella! Its snow joke ya know, got to think of their elf and safety.

Busy January, Peterborough

 

January is always a busy time for me, real workwise and our anniversary (see previous post). We are'nt big card givers, celebrations, but we do like to use it as an excuse to have a weekend away. We stopped at a lovely grade two listed hotel, The Bull in Peterborough. Absolute bargain, we payed £99 for a golden ticket, very Willy Wonka, and for that we got two nigths stay in an executive room with three course evening meal included. Its right in town and lets just say very convenient for the shops and pubs. Would be rude not to partake in the said establishments. Hey the Wetherspoons even have a bit of history, former college and drapers.

Theres not an awful lot at Peterbourgh, apart from shops, pubs/clubs, but the cathedral is stunning. I'm reading The Pillars of Earth so it made it extra special to go visit. Rosie from Corners of my Mind read it last year and I also enjoyed the TV series. I also read a novel about Catherine of Aragon a while back. Sad to think a Spanish princess should end up laid to rest in Peterborough, although I can think of worse places but you know what I mean. Mary Queen of Scots was also buried here but was later moved to Westminster abbey.

I really liked Peterborough and would definitely go back with the same deal. Nice to have 4* treatment at B&B prices.

Happy Here and Now

I'm not much for New Years Eve, for some reason the looking back thing, well I try my best to be a here and now person, finding that the easiest way to contentment. Of course today theres also the looking forward bit too. Back, forward, sideways...oh sorry theres no sideways!

Then of course thinking on my last post I start feeling a bit hmmmm because its nearly time to pack Christmas away. Still tonight will involve, DVDs, wine and takeaway well you can'nt ignore the date totally.

So how ever your year has been, and will be in 2012, have a very Happy Here and Now.

Have you had a nice Christmas?

 

I was a child of the 70's, Tiny Tears.....

Weeble wobbles....but they don't fall down!

Pack of knickers.....

Pack of knickers!!!! Santa, I don't wish to be ungrateful but tell auntie Maureen I don't want knickers at Christmas.

Good old Wizard of Oz

Heres the thing though did'nt Christmas last until at least New Years day? In fact did'nt it last until you went back school?

Have you had a nice Christmas? I'm HAVING a nice Christmas thanks.....its not over yet!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas time....

I find it very hard to photograph my decorations so this is the best I could do. I am very sad in that I like colour themes and they tend to change each year. Just as well I've got a big loft. In the conservatory its winter white.

We'd recently wallpapered a feature wall in the kitchen so it was a grey/silver, fushia and black scheme.

The lounge this year was ivy, pine cones, gold, brown and a touch of green. The glowing candles were a brilliant present from hubby. They are glass, you turn them over, they light up and can be recharged. We went on holiday once and they had them on the tables outside. Still like my candles though!

OK I'm a sad theme queen....I used to decorate an old people's home at Christmas and I remember a girl doing some crafts with them and then hanging them on the tree! Errrr they don't 'go'....so I put them in the bedrooms. It used to take me ages, two lounges, dinning room and the corridors but everyone loved it. I just hate the putting back bit don't you?

Edit: just realised as I'm sat in front of the tree, hmmm.....I buy wrapping paper to match the colours and everyones pressies get wrapped to match my trees. Apart from Amy's hers get wrapped in Hello Kitty paper and get locked in a suitcase, no peeking now!

The senses of Christmas....

This was my view through the summerhouse window on friday. I'm well set up in there, internet, heating, telly, so sewing is very much a pleasure, although its not bear related at the moment. As the snow came down I felt like a little kid and what with the red berries, well so Christmassy!

Today it was home baked sausage rolls, oh the smell.....yummy. 

Then there is my favourite room spray from Dunelm, cinnamon and ginger.....

Oranges studded with cloves.....

Later in the week mince pies.....

The turkey roasting in the oven.....

And that long ago memory, the smell of pine needles.....

Whats your favourite smell of Christmas?

Mrs Laalaa's giveaway!

What can I say? Lynda at Hookin' with Laalaa has only gone and become Mrs! Congratulations Lynda. You're a lovely, warm, generous lady and deserve a fantastic wedding.

Talking of generous, Lynda is having a blog giveaway, so why not pop over and visit her at Hookin' with Laalaa.

Smudge

Heres my latest bear, Smudge. I used an old pattern and would like to do some more from it, when I get chance! Smudge is waiting to join lots of other panda bears in Australia, lucky Smudge.