Fluff-addiction

I've been scouring the internet, trying to find the best pieces of fur for my creations recently. I tend to do this once a year - buy a fair bit in bulk, and slowly use it up over the following months.

This year I went a little crazy with a trip to the coast to feel furs in person, and came back with a car boot FULL of fabric. I really don't think I'm going to use all of this in a year, so have listed some of the excess pieces in my etsy store.

They're all the best of the best - the softest, most luxurious pieces I could get. Perfect for creations intended for little people, or just for the collector who likes to be able to hug a bear without getting mohair-itchy!


There are also a number of other longer pile pieces sourced internationally as well, and possibly some tissavel fur in time. Just got my sample booklet yesterday and am still obsessively feeling each piece!

Yes, my name is Emma, and I am a fur addict!

Missy

I'd like to introduce little 'Missy' - my latest design.



I thought for sure I'd need to adjust this pattern after seeing how it went together this time around, and wrote down a list of things I was going to change as I was assembling her... but now that she's finished, I don't think I want to change anything!




Missy is 8" tall and has jointed legs and head but floppy arms - meaning they sit so beautifully in her lap. She is currently on etsy and bearpile if you think she might fit into your collection.

Kimora

My awesome husband recently expressed an interest in helping me out with some of my creations - kind of like an experiment to see if he could do it, and secondly to try and speed up the process a little (as the kids have slowed me right down!)

This is 'Kimora', and she's our first collaborative bear.

She's my design, and completely sewn and finished by me. But assembled/stuffed/weighted by Mark. And he did a bloody awesome job too. I think there's a bear-making career for him yet! (Just have to get him designing now!)



Kimora is a gorgeous little golden bear, and is currently available in our etsy store for immediate adoption.

I've re-accessorised!

I decided to revamp some of the old Christmas themed bears, and give them a new look for the new year... These two are the remaining 'floppy bear', now named 'Glitter' and 'Sparkle'! They now have funky rainbow collars and cute little bows. They can both be found in my etsy store.




And this little lady is just divine now, with her big cobalt blue wings, heart pendant and matching blue bow...


I will admit that I think these new accessories look SO MUCH BETTER than the old Christmas ones. I'm so glad I took the time to do this. I wasn't going to at first because I thought it was a bit mean... I'd dressed her a certain way, and named her accordingly... it just felt like I was taking away her identity.

So I've kept her original name of 'Joy', and just added to it (Beyonce style!). This bear is now known as 'Blue Joy'.



Blue Joy can also be found in my etsy store.

Fruit Smoothie

My latest creation! Meet 'Fruit Smoothie', made from a gorgeous piece of mohair hand-dyed by Allison of e-Teddies. The colours on this little lady are so 'edible', which was the inspiration for her name.




I was finishing her up LATE last night (early this morning) and got a little clumsy with the shading. There was that awful moment when you think you've ruined the bear in one wrong movement of the paint brush... but I was determined that she was ok and wouldn't need a new head! The little face you see before you is the result of such determination. And I think she looks great (if I do say so myself!).


I tried all my different coloured painted eye against her fur, but the green looked the best. Which set the path for her very 'fruity' colour scheme of greens/yellows/golds. I am just loving this little girl, and feel like she's the perfect way to celebrate the end of our Aussie summer!

She's currently on bearpile and etsy if you want to check out more pics/read more details about her.

An update on my 'critter' sewing adventures

I've been a bit slack with updating my bear blog lately. Between the two very active children in my life, the husband who is home for a few weeks over the christmas/new year period, 40+ guinea pigs in the backyard, a reasonably well behaved dog, giant fish and now two new baby cockatiels... we have a busy little world!

But here is a look at the last bunny I made in my newest rabbit pattern. This little lady is named 'Maple', and she has already been claimed. She was made from a mix of coffee and cream ratinee curly mohair - which I think worked quite well as something a little different.



Maple ended up sitting a lot straighter - which is what I originally wanted, after I changed the method of stuffing the tummy/legs (really firm, heavily weighted belly, firmly stuffed and weighted feet, and much softer top-part of the legs).







I've also been working on some quirky new guinea pig plushies (because I am a little guinea pig obsessed...).




(The belly of the mumma piggy is lined in 100% cotton quilting fabric, and padded so that the babies snuggle in well and stay in place while mumma sits over them - kind of like a guinea pig version of a babushka doll!).


Babies in the tummy...

...babies out! I think it's something a little different, and a little fun, and will appeal to those who loved those 'puppy surprise' toys from years ago. (or even those pregnant barbie dolls that used to be available... which was me! lol)