Something New: Berta

I am a bear maker. But I am also a collector. Which is really fortunate, because I means I can supplement my collecting costs with the making of my own bears!

I was lamenting the price of some gorgeous specimens recently... (if I could just win the lotto...), when I wondered what it was about a bear that particularly drew me to it. I think it's the face.

I have a great respect for detailed paws and fancy armature - those are bloody tricky techniques! But at the end of the day, the reason I decide to add a new bear to my collection is always because of it's face.

So following this line of reasoning, I thought I'd see what happened if I made a bear with my full attention to it's face, but with a one piece body like that of my flop-about-bears, allowing for a faster process and thus a more affordable product.

Berta is the result!




She has one joint in her neck, which allows for her to be posed with her head facing over her shoulder - one of my particular favourites - or facing forward. She has all the expression and detail to her face that I would give any of my bears, but the rest of her is a simple, floppy body with turned out feet, bell shaped arms and just a slight back hump.



By not having to sew, turn, joint, stuff and close seams on limbs, I've managed to cut about 2hrs off the finishing time. And at the moment time is EVERYTHING to me! :P

I'm really interested to know what you guys think? Would you accept a bear like Berta into your collection, or is she not quite up to standard without a jointed body?

The Cotton Brothers - Norman and Arthur

Here are the colour photos of my Cotton Brothers Norman (panda) and Arthur (grubby one).

These guys are made from some lovely thick 100% cotton hand towels (which is why they look like towelling!). I was walking through K-mart with the kids recently when I spotted some really lush towels. I immediately thought of bears, and decided to see how they'd turn out.


[Norman]


It wasn't the easiest fabric to work with, and if I do it again I'll definitely make a bear bigger than 9". But I love the texture the towelling gives the bears. It really adds that sweet, whimsical look. I'm particularly pleased with Norman. The pattern and colours really worked for him. Arthur started out with real potential - but alas I got a bit heavy handed with my dye, and kind of ruined him!

He's still a perfectly fine bear. Just a little grubby looking. And not even the good kind of grubby. Because of this I'm listing him straight up at a sale price. You can find Norman and Arthur in my bearpile store.


[Arthur]

Sneak Peek

This is a little sneak peek at one of my latest bears made from cotton. (something a little experimental).

I'll upload some much better, colour photos tomorrow when I have some sunlight to take them in!

Zac in his new home

Zac's new mum sent me some lovely photos of him in his new home today! He got to meet Whitney the cat, and another awesome bear from bearpile! I think he looks quite at home! ;)

Moira and Heston

Meet the ever-lovely 'Moira'... one of the two bears I somehow managed to finish last night! I've used a stunning pair of 'living glass' blue eyes on her, and they just sparkle! She's not on bearpile yet (Heston - see below) is having his turn first. But if you are interested in her just send me an email and I'll give you a run down on her details.





Heston... ah Heston. What a gorgeous shape - if I do say so myself...



This big boy is the final bear from the piece of Schultz wool fur that I attempted to dye, and ended up felting from this post. I had drawn out this pattern on the fur before I dyed it too - so it was a super lucky accident that the fur ended up being the perfect match for the style of bear.



This is the kind of bear that I like to collect. Gorgeous lines, slouchy posture...
I don't know what it is, but as cute as the fluffy bears are, nothing beats a nice shaped head! ;)

My latest custom

I was asked to do a very special custom bear last week using the brilliant hand-dyed fur I made these bears from... how amazing does the orange and yellow look! I wouldn't have thought to mix them as they are quite similar, nor add the bright orange nose - all requests - but I think that's what makes little 'Precious' so stunning!

She is adopted now, but I do have two new bears to be photographed tomorrow morning. So stay tuned! ;)

Bonnie Butterscotch

I've been a little quiet this week on my bear blog... because of this sweet little creature! Meet 'Bonnie Butterscotch' - our surprise baby guinea pig!

I only realised her mum was pregnant the previous monday. And she was born on Wednesday! So I've been busily taking photos and video's and just generally fussing over her in all of her curly-haired goodness!

Her mum, (the big fat brown guinea pig from this post) has only been with us for 5-6weeks, so had just been knocked up before she left her last owner. Because she was so big to begin with, and because there was just one baby, it took that long for me to realise! But little Bonnie is a very welcome addition to our piggy family!

I have more photos and links on my guinea pig blog if you're interested :)