Finally - a new bear to show you!

I've finally finished a new bear that I can show you guys! This is Mackenzie. She's actually a bear that I drew up, cut out, hand dyed and partially sewed about 12 months ago. She's been sitting on the shelf, waiting for some inspiration on my behalf to turn her into the spectacular girl that I knew she could be.




And here she is. All 21" of her! If you're interested in her she is currently on bearpile, and is also on my available page.

Quinn and Eden are home

Quinn and Eden were the duo I created as project bears for the Australian Bears Creations magazine, and are in fact published in the latest edition for you to make yourself if you so desire!

The girls have just come home again, so I've popped them up on my Available page for sale. I've just mastered the art of PayPal 'Buy Now' buttons too, so adoption is easier than ever!

Bear show preview!!!

The Teddies Worldwide Christmas Treasures Bear Show PREVIEW is available for your viewing pleasure!!! And - you can vote for your favourite bears. (hint hint! lol)

This is my preview bear Trinket, just one of 8 bears I'll have available during the show.

It has been a crazy-busy couple of months, frantically working behind the scenes getting these bears finished in time (I actually only just got the last three done yesterday!). But in less than a fortnight I'll be able to show you all the gorgeous new faces!

Byron's Octopus

This is the result of my toy-making adventure, attempt no. II. It's still basically an octopus. Only with longer, individually sewn legs this time, that I've left quite floppy. This gives Mr Octopus a lot more movement.



Of which Byron seems to respond to really well. The long crazy legs also seem to be quite useful for chewing on! So, at this stage the new toy is ok, but definitely no 'Mr Elephant'. We'll see how the relationship between boy and octopus develops over the next few months though...





Oh - and just because I know you guys appreciate cute fluffy things - how gorgeous is this Koala mum and baby we spotted at my mum's place today. They are so lucky to get these incredible creatures sleeping only a matter of metres from their house!

Can I do it again!?

Byron is 8 months old now and just starting to figure out how to get what he wants. A lot of the time he wants what Chelsea has. And vice versa. Pretty normal behaviour, but pretty exhausting when it happens constantly, ALL day! His latest target has been Chelsea's most beloved 'Mr Elephant' that I made for her (exactly) a year ago. Every opportunity that Mr Elephant is left unattended, and within reach, Byron snatches him and starts munching away! Needless to say, Chelsea does not handle this very well at all!

Mr Elephant comes with us everywhere. Chelsea sleeps with him, travels with him, plays with him, and is comforted by him. In fact, there are some situations when only Mr Elephant will comfort her! Not even a mummy or daddy hug will do!







I don't know what it is/was about the home made elephant cushion that became so magical for Chelsea, but with the current squabbling over him, it is time to try to work the magic again for Byron.




This was attempt no. 1. An 'octopus'. Lets just say it kind of looks more like a mutant flower with eyes! :P Byron doesn't mind it. But's it's no 'Mr Elephant'.
So I'm going to try again with a less bulky design. Fingers crossed there's still a bit of magic left!

Sewing on a nose

I was recently asked if I could help finish two bears that had been lovingly hand made, but work had stalled on their faces. This is like my ideal situation - all the hard work (cutting, pinning, sewing, jointing, stuffing...) is already done, and I get to focus purely on the face!


Shortly after this discussion, these two cuties arrived in the mail.



I set to work on the little one first. Had to put him down a few times thanks to busy little 'helpers'. But eventually got him trimmed and looking cute.





With a bit of trimming and shading to the big bear as well, we had a funky looking duo on our hands. My 8-month old was particularly partial to the little bear... I think he would have chewed him all up if given half the chance! (mind you, he'd chew anything up at the moment... Obviously 8 teeth aren't enough for one little mouth - more are coming in!).

Beres - the second pink bear

Meet Beres!

The second, and last of the two pink bears I was able to squeeze out of the piece of crazy fur mum gave me for my birthday back in July.



I did question whether or not a bright pink bear could actually be a 'he', but look at that little face. If that's not the most handsome little man than I must be getting a bit confused! Plus - he has a blue bow. That's all the masculinity he needs ;)



I actually finished him last night, but like to photograph my bears in the daylight. So first thing this morning (after breastfeeding Byron, cooking up porridge for all of us, trying to get more porridge into their tummies than the floor, having to clean 80% of the porridge from the floor/table/high chair/clothes, changing two very soggy nappies and soiled PJs, and then grabbing a quick shower myself), I finally got a chance to pop outside with Beres. Thankfully the weather was behaving for me, and we got some nice true-colour shots. He can be seen on my Available page now too.

This was my audience while I posed and snapped away. (Oh, and yes, Chelsea has a cast again. She'd had the previous pink cast off for about 2 weeks when she and Oliver were messing around on the trampoline and he knocked her off - quite badly breaking her arm this time. I knew immediately - her arm was in a zig-zag formation! She had snapped the top arm bone clean away from her elbow and has had to have wires put in it. She got the purple cast on yesterday after they checked that the wires were still in position. She's doing really well considering too. Such a little trouper!)