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)

End of Year SALE

I've just realised how long it has been since I've had any kind of sale/give-away... ages!!!

So, I've decided to celebrate the end of 2011 and welcome in the start of 2012 with a huge 35% off EVERYTHING in my etsy store. (Which includes all bears, bunnies, guinea pigs, patterns, tutorials, baby toys and sale items!).

All you need to do is use the coupon code 'HAPPYNEWYEAR' when you go through the esty checkout, and your discount will be applied. I'll run the sale until the 7th January, so you have a few days to decide if there's a bear you've had your eye on for a while, but couldn't justify buying! But just a little warning - most of the creations are one of a kind, and once they're gone, I cannot replicate them! Be quick if there is something/someone you really want!

And most importantly, have a wonderful new year!!!

Rosebud - the pink mohair rabbit

(Chelsea and her Uncle Sam enjoying MORE food at my Dad's place Christmas afternoon).


How was your Christmas? Ours was CRAZY! Definitely fun, but I am glad it's only a once-a-year event!


In the midst of all the craziness, I managed to get the pink mohair version of my new bunny design completed. It was actually really lovely to sit down with it on Christmas Eve after the house was spotless, the food prepared for the next day and the presents placed under the tree... just listening to Christmas Carols on the TV and sewing away.

I then got another chance to finish her off on Boxing Day after lunch while all of the family sat in our lounge room in air-conditioned comfort half watching the cricket on TV, and half watching the kids exploring their new toys.





So here she is! I've called her Rosebud - for obvious reasons... (I do seem to have a LOT of pink bears in stock at the moment... maybe 2011 was the 'year of pink' for me!?).



I think the mohair works quite well. She doesn't have the same puffy/soft/fat look at the faux fur gave her, but I think it works to give her a more lean/muscular 'wild hare' look.



She can currently be found for adoption on bearpile.

Melbourne

I was fully expecting to be uploading photos of the newest bunny pattern in mohair this time. But I got side tracked! I had just enough mohair left over for a little bear - and once I got started I couldn't stop.

Meet Melbourne:



I ended up decorating her with some over-the-top girly accessories, as it just seemed right. What's a pink teddy without a bit of lace, ribbon and feathers!


Melbourne is available for adoption. She can currently be found on bearpile.

Latest Design - realistic bunny shape

I was asked recently, to make a plush bunny rabbit that looks like the collector's own bunny. I set about examining the photos, researching rabbit shapes, the way they sit/stand, all the little lumps and bumps... and this is the pattern I came up with.

Every time I make a new non-bear pattern it takes a good 3-4 attempts to get it right (most recently in my quest to make a semi-realistic guinea pig!). So I wasn't expecting this to be any different.




I chose this gorgeous tonal faux fur to make the first prototype from. It most closely matched the real bunny's colouring and fur type. And faux fur can be a little more forgiving than mohair for some designs.




This was the bunny all laid out after sewing. Not looking quite right yet - but she has potential...




... and this is the finished product! I'm pretty bloody chuffed with her. Especially that gorgeous little face. I was able to incorporate some of the new techniques I'd developed in making the guinea pigs recently, and I think that helped achieve her pretty, shapely face.




Part of the collector's wishes was for her to be funky, wearing a little vest/jacket and with jewellery up one ear. A quick bit of research on vest patterns, and I had some basic shapes to work with. I tweaked them until I was happy my pattern would fit the bunny, then whipped her up a cute polka dot vest with satin skull-print lining. The faux fur trim was a last minute idea that I'm loving.


I can't wait to try this pattern in mohair now - I'm so curious to see if I'll get the same appeal, or if mohair will be the wrong texture... I've chosen a short, straight pink fur that is (not terribly realistic in colour, but) closest in appearance to the look of plush/bunny fur. So we'll see what happens next!

Two more collection bears

We had two more bear packages arrive for me this week! It's an early christmas around here. This little bundle of gorgeousness is 'Hetty' by Bry of Thingumy & Co.


And this is 'Stirling' by Pearls Bears. My photo really doesn't do the subtle highlights and shading any justice. He is a work of art.