hugabyebears

MY NEW BEAR BLOG.

2011-10-03T22:27:00.001+01:00

Come and see what I'm doing at my new blog http://www.ginieleebears.blogspot.com
See you there !!!

Summer Blossom

2011-05-09T21:15:00.003+01:00

To celebrate the fabulous summer weather that we've been having here in the UK I've made a cute little pink bear called Summer Blossom. 4 1/2" of cuteness with some pretty pink flowers in her hair, just what I needed to kick start my summer bear making! Go to my Etsy shop for more pics, I'm sure she'd welcome a visit!

Unfinished Business.

2011-02-15T19:57:00.004Z

Just a quick note to let you know that I'm still here and having fun making my wee bears. This latest one was started last year when I went to France. I had almost completed her and somehow she must have been put away and forgotton about! I don't know why or how I managed to forget about something as sweet as her but I did!

I have a plethora of unfinished projects in my past but never never any bears! What was I thinking?

Anyway she was worth the wait and when I look at her now I'm reminded of hot summer lazy French days sat by the lake where we stayed, sewing and soaking up the sun.

Oooh how I wish I was there right now, the weather here is turning cold again and spring still feels so far away, but I'm not going to let that stop me working on some spring projects.

I'm working on a new bear design, it'll be another wee one and maybe I'll have some sneak peek pics later on this week.

Hello

2011-02-07T18:47:00.002Z

It's been a while since I last looked in and today I pay a visit and notice that people are still visiting this blog. I read through some of the posts and I can honestly say that I have missed this place. How strange!
I've decided to start blogging over here again so look out for some more posts and pics real soon.

Back Home.

2009-11-13T06:57:00.003Z

Well I'm back with batteries recharged and my creative head swimming with ideas. I had a great time with my sister and only wish that I could go and visit more often , but now that I've conquered my fear of long drives then maybe I will!
The journey down there was going well until a trucker drifted into my lane forcing me to swerve, narrowly missing the central reservation and sending my pulse rate off the scale! It was scarey but I just carried on as I had no choice. It hasn't put me off because I think that I reacted to the situation well enough to avoid a collision - I was in control even if the crazy trucker wasn't!
I didn't get any decent pics while I was in Dorset because I kept forgetting to take my camera when we went out, so no photos I'm afraid.
Hope it's a great weekend for everyone x

Dorset Days.

2009-11-06T08:24:00.003Z

Just a quick one, I'm off to to visit my sister who lives on the beautiful Dorset coast. Can't wait , I always come back with my batteries recharged feeling totally refreshed. The only downside is that I'm driving down there on my own :-( This is a big step for me as I had a car crash a few years ago ( I was driving ) I've been a very cautious driver ever since....................
Wish me luck it, feels like I'm going on an adventure, better go now, gotta check my tyre pressure. Ta ta for now !

Miss Polly.

2009-11-02T17:45:00.004Z

Hello , thought you might like to meet my latest mini bear. She's 5" small and a mischievous little madam. Don't tell her I told you but she "borrowed" those pearls from her Mother, you'd never know by that innocent expression on her face. Oh Polly what will we do with you!

She's available now from my Etsy shop, and she'd love you to pay her a visit.

Princess Celia.

2009-09-30T18:06:00.005+01:00

Ooh I'm having lots of fun making new bears with a feminine edge. I have lots of silks ,trimmings, beads and crystals just begging to be used, so Princess Celia has her very own custom made tiara and necklace to go with her silk satin skirt. Princess Celia , you will be the Belle of the ball!!

Hello again Mabel.

2009-09-24T09:11:00.005+01:00

It occured to me that Mabel wasn't showing her true colours in the pic I posted yesterday. The lighting was terrible and Mabel looked blonde when in fact she's really a very soft pink. So here she is again in her finery showing off her pinkness!

Note to self - must get around to reading the camera manual......................
Have a great weekend x

Hello Mabel.

2009-09-23T20:50:00.004+01:00

Hello Mabel, you are in a mood, could it have anything to do with the fact that I left you totally bare for a whole 5 months before I reached into my trimmings box and pulled out some tulle, crystals and ribbons just for you ? So now you're dressed in your finery was it worth the wait my dear ?

This poor little madam was languishing in a wip box for way too long ! I'm glad she's finally got an outfit, it was always my intention to make something feminine for this little girlie but I guess I got side tracked with other things and forgot she was there. Well that's one of the things on my to do list ticked off, now on to the other 99 things!!

Mmmm Mohair.

2009-09-20T09:31:00.004+01:00

Just a selection of the delicious mohair I'm starting work on next week. I especially love the grey tipped one third from the bottom, the grey is very subtle but it gives a lovely depth to the mohair, I haven't worked with this before and can't wait to get those scissors out!

The one at the bottom is a mohair and rayon mix - lovely and silky, again I haven't worked with this either so I'm champing at the bit again. Steady now girl! All I need to do now is figure out how to squeeze an extra couple of hours into my day.......

Look what I got today!!

2009-09-18T18:40:00.005+01:00

My friend at work gave me a lovely surprise today when she gave me a shabby little faded bear! How totally unexpected , in fact it's the second surprise gift I've had this week - my Dad gave me a gorgeous vintage brooch with semi precious stones and it's not even my birthday! I think gifts are all the more wonderful when they are given for no reason in particular, why wait until a birthday or Christmas ? I plan to pass it on and give someone a surprise pressie to brighten their day , why not try it yourself.

My pressie is gonna be for a very special person called Di she's one of the warmest most generous people I know. For my birthday this year she got me a craft book on all sorts of goodies to make from linen, so I think I'll have a stab at making her something from the book. Will let you know how I get on. Have a great weekend, hubby and I have an wedding reception to go to tomorrow night. Can't wait, ta a for now.

Summer 09.

2009-09-17T18:31:00.006+01:00

Here are some of the things that I got up to over the summer! These gorgeous bears live in a toy museum in France where I went for a break with my hubby. We stayed with our beautiful friend Joelle in a teeny village near Beziers.

Love this pair!

The landscape in the region is just staggering and the road leading up this mountain was like something out of The Italian Job - hair raising and I'm such an awful passenger since being in a car crash , so I closed my eyes and held onto my seat and was rewarded with this magnificent view at the top. Well worth it, only then I had to go down !!

This is the little hamlet where we stayed, to be honest I didn't take many photos because the blistering heat kept me firmly rooted in the shade most of the time. It was the hottest I've ever experienced in France, the local fire brigade and helicopters where on constant look out and alert in case of forest fires .

This is a beach on the beautiful Dorset coast where we went visiting my sister and her family. I'm so jealous of the lovely weather that those guys get. I live near the Pennines which are synonymous with wind, rain and snow!!

Well the summer went in a flash and now autumn is upon us, time to dig out those woollies again........

It's me again!

2009-09-15T22:02:00.002+01:00

Hi, I can't believe it's over a month since my last post! I just want to let you know that I am still around and will be back to blogging again this week. I've had a great summer and hope you have too, will post some pics soon. Ta ta for now.

Sugar Plum Kitty.

2009-08-01T07:06:00.006+01:00

Sugar Plum is 5" of cute kitty made from black Schulte
mohair with 100% wool paws and inner ears in lilac. She
has matt black English glass eyes, and a pink sparkly
nose.
I made her some silk roses and a hand dyed ribbon
bow and lilac tutu. I think her whiskers and bendy tail
( it has wire armature) finish her off nicely.
Sugar is gently weighted with steel shot .

I love experimenting with design and have made many
bears and friends in different styles but now that I have
found my groove I'm selling all my earlier bears at a reduced
price. Sugar Plum is OOAK and is just £25.
ginie@hotmail.co.uk email me for details.
Grab yourself a bargain!
Scroll down for details of Belle .

Belle.

2009-08-01T06:46:00.006+01:00

The first little bear in the sale, up for grabs at a bargain
price of just £23 with free p+p ginie@hotmail.co.uk email me for details
Belle is just 3.5" and is made from a blonde sassy long
pile, blue English glass eyes, pink lightly waxed nose and
ultra suede paws. She has a hand tinted vintage lace collar
with silk rosette and a teeny silk bow in her hair, oh and
a flower just for you.

Belle is weighted with steel shot and can stand on her own
with a little help from you.

A Bear Sale.

2009-07-31T07:38:00.003+01:00

Hello there , it's been another long stretch since my last post. Where does the time go? Every day last week seemed to be taken up with family get togethers , there are so many birthdays for me at this time of year including my own which is next Wednesday when I'll be 44. Again where does the time go , it only seems like a week ago since my last one ???
I have been busy making new patterns and bears and still have about 6 in different stages of completion ( my husband would say that I've been having a bear frenzy ) ha ha. I love utilising the pattern drafting skills that I learned in college and it is this that has driven me to make lots of different bears. I also love trying new techniques and experimenting with different fabrics and sizes of bear but I think at long last I have found the type of bear that I enjoy making the most - small to miniature.
For this reason I am going to have a sale of my early and recent bears to clear the way for my new ones. Watch this space for details.

Another little one.

2009-07-14T08:32:00.006+01:00

Just a quick post before I go off to work. It's our wedding anniversery today and hubby and I will be celebrating tonight, so I thought I'd show these pics now as there won't be time tonight. She's not quite finished yet but let me know what you think, she's measures just under 3.75 inches of cuteness ! Have a great day!

Hello.

2009-07-08T21:38:00.003+01:00

Oh my poor little neglected blog! I haven't been keeping up with posts this month so if you've been wondering if I'm still around , yes I am ! I have been enjoying the fabulous weather which has now turned back into the usual Northern summer - grey and overcast, oh well it was good while it lasted.....
I've been working on some new designs so I'll have something to show very soon, no pics for today though it's bedtime now and I need my beauty sleep so ta ta for now!

Sadie is here!!

2009-06-17T15:32:00.003+01:00

My sister Kyla gave birth to a beautiful baby girl last Saturday !!! She's called Sadie which was my Nana's name and I promise I did try and post the good news twice before but lost my connection to the net because of the thunder storms we've been having here. A new member of the family is a true gift and I love the way it changes the dynamics of the whole clan! The youngest members of the family now seem quite grown up , the Grandparents have a new role to play and the parents are set for the most important job in life!!!

I bought the beautiful flower fairy from my talented friend Chyna who has a studio in the craft centre in Manchester, it's a wall plaque for the nursery and completes a set of three, when I get a chance there will be a special little bear too for Sadie.

Congratulations Kyla and Danny!!!

The Birthday Girl.

2009-06-03T18:41:00.005+01:00

It's my little sister's 29th birthday today and we spent the day enjoying afternoon tea and cakes at a local retreat centre/cafe and relaxing in the sun. My Mum is out of hospital now and was able to join us, my other sister is back from her holiday in Canada and America and things are back to normal again . Phew! My Mum is never ill and this health scare has made me appreciate her more than ever, we're a close family and always enjoy getting together. We all had a lovely day and my sister got the bear that she'd been hinting for !

I knew that she liked the mini bears best and she loves pink so I decided on a clown bear with a pink silk ruff. She called him Freddie and was over the moon with him!!

Happy Bithday Sis xx

Unfinished Business.

2009-06-02T20:32:00.003+01:00

Do you ever start a project and then start another leaving the first one unfinshed? Well I know I do , but this time I managed to muster up enough will to finish it and the result is Molly Pancake Head. I made a few of these bears at the beginning of the year and really enjoyed doing something slightly different for a change. Molly lay languishing in my sewing box without any legs until today when I found her by accident, anyhow I thought I'd put her in my Etsy shop which has been empty for months now! She's there with her friend Moo if you want to pay her a visit. ( You'll need to scroll down a bit to get to the shop )

Tomorrow I'll have some pics to show you of a birthday bear that I've made for my sister, ta ta for now x

Joey up for adoption!

2009-05-27T14:49:00.002+01:00

Things are a little hectic around here at the moment as my Mum is in hospital under going tests for DVT and I've been called upon to take care of my nephew (my younger sister's son ) who she was looking after before she took ill. My sister is on holiday in Canada and has another week left , so it looks like Auntie Gin will be busy next week as well.
My nephew is 10 years old and great company! He also shares my love of bears and has been reading the latest copy of Teddy Bear Times today! He's also been busy designing his own bear for me to make!
Anyway I just managed to grab some time today and put Joey on my new website. The site is in its infancy as are my computer skills so please bear with me, do excuse the pun!
I will be adding more bears over the next week or so , please let me know what you think, it would be great to get some feedback, hop over and take a look-http://ginieleebears.webs.com

The end of the day.

2009-05-20T21:50:00.004+01:00

Well it's nearing the end of the day now and I'm only just getting around to updating my blog. It's been a great day though , you know the days when everything runs smoothly and just falls into place - one of those, which is rare for me. I joined an art group today which is something that I've been meaning to do for some time . I'm so glad I did it at last. I have to confess that I'm more confidant with a needle and thread in my hand than a paintbrush !! I'm already thinking of ways to incorporate thread and textiles into the piece!! The art teacher likes to recycle all kinds of things and one of the best ideas is the one where she turns a discarded video into a box canvas by covering it with cloth cut from old sheets! Will show some pics tomorrow of a painting I bought that's done like this.

I also finished sewing a little grey bear today. He's called Cedric and is going to live in Copenhagen, what a lucky boy!

Joey the blue eyed sailor boy.

2009-05-19T11:41:00.004+01:00

Meet Joey the cheeky sailor boy. I've been busy the last few days and Joey is just one of the projects I've been working on. He measures 9" and sports a silk sailor collar and hat (worn at the obligatory jaunty angle) . I'm putting him up for adoption on my new website tomorrow!!

So do pop back and take a peek, I'd love to know what you think!!

Lets get busy!

2009-05-08T19:20:00.003+01:00

Hi, just letting you know that I'm still here!! Been quite busy with family birthdays and housey stuff but the bear creating is still going on in the background. I'm playing around with a new design and will show the finished bears when I'm done tweaking. It's almost like I can't even stop to catch my breath because I'm so focussed on getting my pattern right. Ooh I love it when I get into a creative whizz , because it feels just like that - a whizz, instead of the creative quagmire that I sometimes find myself wading through when I can't muster up any new ideas and feel unable to make even the most simple decision . So while I'm in this mood I'll crack on !!
Back with pics soon, have a great weekend x

Best Friends Part Two.

2009-05-01T09:45:00.005+01:00

Yes I know it's been a long time in between posts but there is so much to distract me at the moment!! The lure of a sunny day is far too tempting for me and I find myself in the outdoors exploring the beautiful country walks nearby, needless to say my plans for the new workroom have been dragged out and I'm eager to get it finished, so please pray for rain then I can get back to completing it!!

These are some of the pics from my walks , the two best friends are my godson and stepson, Shea and Sam , two cuties!!

Best Friends Part One.

2009-04-22T19:07:00.005+01:00

I've finally finished my little bear, no name yet but I've got my thinking cap on, I've been really busy lately and don't have time to write much but hope you enjoy the pics x

Back Soon.

2009-04-16T07:19:00.002+01:00

Just a quick post to let you know what I have been doing. I haven't yet finished my little pink bear but that's not because I'm the slowest bear maker in the world , it's because I've been painting my work room. I was supposed to be rearranging and reorganising it - not being able to find stuff was driving me mad. So I emptied the room and then decided on impulse to paint over the nauseating yellow with a lovely calming shade of duck egg and white. I'm pleased with the results and can't wait to get started in there, just got to organise my stash now! Pics of the new bear coming soon .

Oh for the love of pink!!

2009-04-02T07:25:00.006+01:00

I currently have a thing for pink at the moment!! The long dark winter and sombre colours that I've been wearing are now a thing of the past and I'm surging ahead with new designs all with a frisson of the said pinkness!!

It's amazing how this rosy colour has an effect on my mood, some shades of pink actually make me smile, especially the colour of these teeny legs!!!

April.

2009-04-01T12:33:00.005+01:00

Hi all, I've been busy creating a new pattern for my mini bears and April has been made from the first draft. I'm pleased with the way she turned out , just needed to make a few alterations to the pattern .She's made with sassy fabric which I've never tried before. I love it!!

Spring is on it's way now and I'm feeling the benefit of the odd ray of sun by getting out in the garden and preparing the beds for summer flowers and the odd bit of veg. I've got big plans for my garden this summer, I'm ashamed to say it's been neglected for too long and desperately needs some love so I'm off to my local garden centre for some bits and pieces today. Ta ta for now x.

Mini Obsession!!

2009-03-18T15:47:00.005Z

Hello, sorry it's been a while since my last post, I have been busy I promise you! I've been totally self indulgent and made a bear just for me!! You see I made a very teeny bear a few weeks ago that went along to a local shop with some others on SOR. I didn't expect him to go but he sold straight away , it was only then that I realised how much I really liked this little bear! To make things worse I didn't even get a photo of him. To stop myself from whingeing I've made myself one to keep! He's cute but not quite as cute as the one that got away!

Freddy is my first attempt at using American upholstery fabric , it's a short pile one so my stitches had to be smaller than small but I like the way he turned out. I gave him a wobble head and aged his paw pads to make him old and loved. Hope you like him x.

Daisy Daisy.

2009-02-09T12:25:00.009Z

Although I've been keeping a low profile on the blog front , life on the bear front has been quite busy , which I suppose explains why I haven't posted for over a week!

I finished one of my bigger bears for a commission and have almost finished a cute pink cat and I've made a new pattern for a 9.5" bear (a new size for me) . The bear I've made from it is called Daisy, with the long winter showing no sign of letting up I felt like making something to remind me of spring !!

I've made her a lovely lemon skirt in silk dupion and she has a petticoat underneath made from antique Broderie Anglaise, vintage pearls , ribbons and daisies give her the spring feel that I'm yearning for! Daisy is made from a lovely golden mohair with wool paws , a wobble head , and weighted with steel shot . Thanks for taking a peek . Hope you like her, I've made a move back to the style of bear that I enjoyed when I first began making bears. Please email if you're interested in more details. ADOPTED.

The Small Hug.

2009-01-22T13:24:00.004Z

Well look what arrived ! My lovely little bear from Aleta is here! Hooray! What a journey he's had making his way from America all alone only to find himself dumped in my recycle bin! Thanks Postie!!!

He was there overnight because I didn't notice the PARCEL IN GREEN BIN note that had been left. Luckily this was a brand new glass recycling bin so no swigging the dregs from wine bottles for my little bear. There was about 1/2" of rainwater in the bottom of this bin which just goes to show that careful packaging is always wise when sending a bear through the postal system . Aleta had made sure of this and he was dry and none the worse for wear when I unwrapped him! I won this little bear by taking part in a giveaway on Aleta's Silly Bear blog , thank you Aleta I love him!!

The pic shows him with his new moggy pals x

100 Best Bear Artist Blogs!

2009-01-20T20:26:00.002Z

I've just signed up to 100 best bear artist blogs. It's a clever idea that's been implemented by Paula Carter , thanks Paula! I think it will give me the impetus to update my blog on a more regular basis, I also have the urge to get a bit more computer savvy as my skills are shall we say lacking ever so slightly!!
I've been working on a pink cat today and already have a cute shabby kitty finished but pics will have to wait until my camera battery has been charged. These pesky felines are breeding at an alarming rate and I can't for the life of me think of the word for a gang of cats, is there one?
I've also been working on an order for a traditional bear which is coming together nicely even
though I've had to restrain my creative hand as the new mum has a particular look in mind!
Anyway more about that later if you would like to visit 100 Best Bear Artist Blogs just click on the bear banner on the left x

Fifi on eBay !

2009-01-14T19:32:00.003Z

Little lemon meringue now has a proper name and is on ebay now ! Fifi would love you to pay her a visit x
edit. Oops forgot to put in a link ! Thanks Pam ! http://myworld.ebay.co.uk/leechild1407

Pretty Plum Fairy and Little Lemon Meringue.

2009-01-07T20:56:00.010Z

Well at last I've managed to finish my first bear of 2009 and a first ever kitty , woohoo! I really enjoyed dressing them up in their little tutu minis. I went to ballet class as a child and still love all the frills and sparkle that accompany the whole ballet thing although I must say that I don't miss the blisters on my feet and the pulled muscles in my legs! Anyway Miss Plum and Miss Lemon are destined to dance their way over to eBay soon. Let me know what you think it's good to get a bit of feedback , oh and they are quite mini by the way 4" and 4.5", so reasonably small, I'm liking small at the mo . I'm going to order some more mini mohairs and also some silk, has anyone tried the 100% silk plush that around ? I'd be interested to know what it's like. xox

Lucky Me!!!

2009-01-05T21:06:00.002Z

How lucky am I to win a giveaway on The Silly Bear blog !The lovely Aleta picked out three winners and I was one of the lucky girls! The prize ? A sweet little Tuck-In bear no less!
Aleta's blog is one of my favourites, filled with beautiful bears ,vintage finds and charming whimsy. Hop over and take a look http://thesillybear.blogspot.com .
Pics of a new bear coming soon x

Happy New Year!

2009-01-02T23:13:00.005Z

Happy New Year to you all!

I've been busy with making and doing stuff and getting over flu which knocked me for six just before Christmas. Anyway I'm better now and looking forward to what 2009 has in store! I plan to make more bears and I've already started on some new patterns . Look out for some small teds in the coming weeks! The pics are of a bear that I gave away for Xmas and me and the hubster partying on New Years Eve. All the best to you !!

Pierre and Billy Boo.

2008-10-12T17:44:00.018+01:00

I had a photo session this lovely sunny afternoon with the bears in the garden . A random frog hopped in to say hello and I ran in the house until he'd hopped off. Silly I know but they're so erratic the way they jump that I find them unpredictable and worry that they might jump on me! Anyway I got some nice shots , I find natural light is so much better for taking photos and getting true colours, I was glad it was sunny.

My new bear is wearing his hat with pride and I've decided to call him Pierre, I think it suits him. Let me know what you think. I'm going to put his friend Billy Boo on eBay.com tonight for a three day auction . Ta ta for now x

A Handful of Mischief.

2008-10-11T08:05:00.002+01:00

Time For Change.

2008-10-10T15:46:00.004+01:00

Hello, thought I'd better check in and let you know that I'm still blogging. After a nasty cold that kept me in bed for a few days I have been taking it easy, but not too easy! I find it hard to do nothing at all and I've been putting some ideas down on paper - new designs for bears and generally organising myself and my sewing room. I've also been thinking about which direction I'm heading in, with the change of season so definately here now I'm getting a bit restless , I feel it's time for something new and even though I'm still a bit unsure of what exactly that may be , I'm excited! I hope that I'm making sense, please let me know if you think I'm going mad. With so much doom and gloom in the media maybe we all need something to look forward to ......

I've been putting the finishing touches to a new bear today , he's bigger than my usual and I've had great fun making him and seeing his personality emerging as I go . I gave him a growler and I'm sure he must be dizzy since I can't resist getting him to make some noise every time I pick him up. He's based on a gorgeous old bear that I saw at an antique fair in the summer. Unfortunately I didn't buy him (my funds wouldn't allow) but I did have a hug and he did inspire me to make this fellow. Haven't given him a name yet but hey look what happened to Billy. He's now Billy Boo! I wasn't entirely happy with Billy's features so I set about improving them and then I went ahead and made a new outfit and a pumpkin and I love him.

Back in a jiffy.

2008-09-23T08:38:00.005+01:00

My apologies for being gone so long without even saying farewell, the truth is that I never intended to have a break it just kind of happened. I've been busy helping my sister with her wedding and now that she's wed normality can once again take over. It's been a wonderful time of socialising and creativity with lots of effort put in by many clever people. I love weddings but I really don't agree with spending { or borrowing } obscene amounts of money for the big day. This was one of the best that I've been to and it cost a third of the average wedding in the UK. I made the dress together with my girlfriend Corinne. I had the difficult task of making a boned strapless beaded lace and silk bodice to fit my sister's ample bosom and I'm relieved to say that I fulfilled my duty and the bodice was a perfect fit! We had lots of girly nights which were thinly disguised as dress fittings where we'd spend 30 mins on the dress and the rest of the evening eating nibbles and drinking wine { no wonder it took so long to complete }.

Well I must say I missed the bear world and now is about the right time to begin making another bear as it's my grandsons first birthday next week ! Better get my skates on ! Ta ta for now.

Gone in a flash.

2008-07-07T10:48:00.009+01:00

This past week has gone in a flash and tomorrow I will be back at work :-( . I had a great time doing just what I wanted to do rather than what I had to do. I went to Janine's birthday party and decorated some cakes. I went for a refreshing walk and gathered some elder flowers to make elder flower champagne, the results of which I can't wait to try! I made hats, hats ,hats. I went for Sunday curry at Martin and Bina's and drank Pimms for the first time in ages. I made a little bear called Billy who really makes me smile. I had a great week and feel well rested and stress free. Hope all is well with you too x

Good Morning Mr Sunshine.

2008-07-01T07:12:00.002+01:00

Hooray ! At last there is some decent weather here in the north west of England , the sun is shining and I feel energised and eager to get on with some serious crafting so I'm gonna keep this early morning post short and sweet and I'll return later today hopefully with some pics of the fruits of my crafting..........
Oh I've gone and done it now , I'd better have something to show.........

Flowers for me!

2008-06-30T18:13:00.003+01:00

I always love to receive flowers and these were given to me by my sweet little flower of a daughter Freya as a thankyou for her prom dress. They smell as good as they look. I've almost finished the new bear I've been making and will show some pics tomorrow , I have got a week off work to catch up with jobs that I have to do. Hooray for a break from my day job and Yay to making loads of mess in my craft room WOO HOO x

Prom Queen.

2008-06-25T20:15:00.000+01:00

Pics of my baby girl in her prom outfit that I made , tiara , earrings ,bag and necklace included! So as you can see I've been v busy lately and can't wait to get some bear time . I do have something on the back burner tho..... you can have a sneak peek and there will be more pics following later in the week... ta ta for now x

Pretty in Pink!

2008-06-19T07:22:00.000+01:00

Hello there, just wanted to show you some pics of Rosie now she's dressed! It's been a struggle for me to blog lately as I have been busy making my daughter's prom dress. I can't believe it's my baby's very last day in school , she sits her final exam this afternoon and then we have the long wait for the GCSE results.....Anyway I finally put some clothes on Rosie and gave her a little tweak here and there. I just love the Liberty Kinnear fabric that I made her skirt from, I think it really suits her as she has very subtle blush tones in her fur. Hope you like her , she's on eBay now , have a great weekend ! xxx

Shy.

2008-06-05T05:55:00.000+01:00

Good morning folks. Sorry about the whingey post yesterday , I've been thinking about the situation and maybe the problem is with me really. Cris feels indifferent about the bears , he neither loves them or hates them and he has the right to think whatever he wants about them . I guess it's hard when someone close doesn't share your passion . I also think that I'm a little embarrassed about it because I'm a grown woman who loves teddy bears but I've gotta get over it!

I showed this little nameless bear to Cris last night and he was surprised cos seemingly to him the little cutie had appeared from nowhere! I'm not gonna be so secretive about my craft any more . Anyway I'm pleased with my new creation , I love the blue eyes and rosy cheeks ( which don't show up too well on the pic) . I tried out a new technique for the nose . I think it's my best bear yet ! There's still some tweaking to be done but there's a certain shyness about this one that I really like. Will show the finished bear next week . x

Hats versus bears.

2008-06-04T18:35:00.000+01:00

Hello, it's been ages since my last post and that's because I've been busy with the hats again. Those damn hats ! I love them and so do other people, I just sold some more today and I know that's good but they're getting in the way of the bears ! Something else that's sabotaging my bear making is my husband! Now I don't mean that literally but I know he doesn't like bears and I'm sure he thinks I've gone quite mad. I can't explain to him how wonderful it is to take a piece of mohair and see it transform in your hands into a bear , he just doesn't get it! I'm embarrassed to admit that I hide any signs of bear making from him . Pathetic I know but it's just easier , I'm really sensitive and can't cope with the fact that he dislikes them , anyway he's gone out so I'm gonna finish the bear that's been a wip for weeks. I'll post the pics later tonight, sorry for moaning on x

Fun football and bears.

2008-05-16T09:57:00.000+01:00

Hooray for summer ! The sunshine has given me a real boost and I've been spending a lot of time outdoors tidying the garden and sowing seeds , even hand sewing bears ! There's a delicious breeze that blows over from the pennines so that even when the sun is blazing there's usually a little cooling relief . I've had a busy week and Friday has come around very quickly. I went to Manchester on Wednesday ( day of the UEFA cup final ). My sisters were singing with a band in a Albert square where the council had put up a big screen for the fans. They were the pre match entertainment . We took the train into town and from the moment we got into Piccadilly station I wanted to go home! I hate crowds and this was the biggest I'd ever seen , there were 100,000 Rangers fans in M/CR that day , the roads were grid locked but not with traffic , with people! The police had relaxed the law on alcohol consumption in the street and the fans made easy work of drinking the city dry! I have to say that the atmosphere in Albert Square was amazing and the fans were all in good spirit. The band went down well and I eventually relaxed enough to enjoy myself but things soon turned sour when one of the big screens wouldn't work! As you can imagine there were some very angry people ! We made a quick dash to the station and got there just in time for the train to take us home to our peacefully quiet village. I know it's easy for me to say but there was lot of mistakes made that day and a lot of people out to make a quick buck selling alcohol and all because a few men are kicking a bit of leather around on some grass. Sorry I just don't get football! Anyway on a lighter note I've a new bear coming together nicely and should have some pics on Monday. Hope all is well , enjoy the sun and have a great weekend!! xx

Back with the bears.

2008-05-02T07:27:00.000+01:00

Thank goodness ! Things have been busy around here lately and bear making was put on the back burner for a while but I'm back in production now and having fun with new patterns! I love the way that even a small pattern alteration can make a HUGE difference. Betty and Flo are my latest bears and I'm so pleased with them, they're a more sophisticated version of my very first bears. Flo is already for sale on eBay and Betty goes on at 9pm tonight . I'm in work today and so looking forward to the bank holiday weekend when I'll be spending time with family and friends . I hope you all have a great weekend - the sun is shining right now , hope it lasts! Hugs Ginie-Lee xx

2008-04-10T18:04:00.000+01:00

Hello it seems a long time since my last post but I've been v busy getting a little hat collection together for a new shop that has opened in Stockport. For anyone that doesn't know Stockport, it's main industry used to be hatting and it now boasts the countrys only Hat Museum which is housed in one of the original mills from the turn of the century, I just love that place! but then I just love hats! On the bear front, Amy has gone to her new Mum and I'm working on some new head patterns which are quite similar to my very first bear heads only with a higher forehead , I'm eager to see the results. Cris has taken a week off work to give the front garden a makeover . Yesterday I had a quagmire instead of a drive but today and four tonnes of gravel later I have a nice new drive! Just need a nice new car to put on it now!!

Amy

2008-04-02T19:16:00.000+01:00

Here she is finished at last! she will be on eBay tonight at 10pm GMT . Hope you like her , if you've been reading my blog you'll know that I took inspiration from a pink vintage Chad Valley bear. She's a little chubby baby bear so nothing like the old bear really but I just love the pink mohair with the biscuit colour backing and I managed to get a similar colour by dyeing it myself. She's a 7 inch bundle of pink joy! edit .Amy's natural colour is the one you see in the outdoor pics not the indoors where she looks a tad orange (too much fake tan ???? maybe........)

Hi ho hi ho.

2008-04-01T07:36:00.000+01:00

Yes I'm off to work. Oh how I wish that I could stay at home and just surround myself with mountains of mohair , and make bears until I was dizzy!! But it's off to work I go and very reluctantly too because I really need to finish my pink bear in order to start my next! I don't know about anyone else but I'm beginning to feel that I can't work on more than one bear at a time. I feel that the rhythm is broken if I start another project and then the spark is lost and it's so hard to go back to. Maybe it's because I'm so new to this and still developing my techniques , I have a hilarious reminder of just how much I've learnt when I look at the first bear/"thing" that I made. It was made out of wool boucle with quite a lot of stretch to it so when I stuffed the head it just kept getting bigger and bigger and BIGGER!! Does anyone else have any pics of the first bear or softie that they made??????????? Please share ;-) . Hugs Ginie-Lee xx

Special Delivery!!

2008-03-28T13:01:00.000Z

Hurray my bear making supplies have arrived from Susan at Bear Basics !!! So it's straight back to work on my new creation . I am trying out wood wool for the first time and already I'm loving the texture and fresh smell of it. I can honestly say that I was as excited about opening the parcel as I would be about opening a birthday pressie (even tho I knew what was inside ). Speaking of birthdays it's Matthew's birthday today , why not pop over and send him some birthday greetings ! Anyway I'm itching to make some progress on my bear so no time for pics now , but maybe later..... Have a great weekend , hugs Ginie-Lee x

Pink to make the bears wink!!

2008-03-26T10:38:00.000Z

Think I must be going thru a bit of a pink phase at the mo. I found a picture of the most darling old Chad Valley bear and it's given me inspiration to make something with a vintage air about it. I dyed some mohair and to my utter astonishment it's turned out better than I expected and looks v similar to the old bears mohair . Although the pic may not show the true colour , it is a lovely shade of soft faded pink. I've started my pink bear today and am pleased with the results so far!!! The other pics are of some scrummy pink earrings that I made and a photo from my wedding last July .As you can see my husband and I are surrounded by a sea of pink! Pink to make the bears/boys wink ;-)

Happy Easter Monday!

2008-03-22T18:22:00.000Z

This blogging business is taking a bit of getting used to , I mean don't get me wrong , I love it, it's just that as with all text sometimes things can be read in a totally different light/context! The other day I left a comment on paula's blog allbear.blogspot.com that made it sound like I was facing imminent death when all I was doing was dyeing some mohair ( well actually I did spell dyeing incorrectly ) cringe. Anyway I just want to wish you a Happy Easter Monday and I have some more pics of Millie who I have decided to put in my newly opened Etsy shop, do stop by and say hello to her! I plan to put Storm up for auction on eBay tonight , many Easter hugs Ginie-Lee x

Introducing Storm .

2008-03-22T10:10:00.000Z

At last I finally get to post some pics of my latest creation. I spent the entire day decorating yesterday and was forbidden to go anywhere near my blog ( my husband and I are aiming to have our dining room decorated by Tues ) . I have to admit we made great progress and I'm pleased with the results but I don't think it's the best way to spend Good Friday!

The rest of the weekend looks more promising as my youngest sis has just got engaged and is having a party tonight to celebrate !! And I'm also looking forward to seeing my other sister Anna who's come up from Dorset with her children. And then of course there's Easter Sunday when I'm going to my friend Tim's baptism, so lots to do.

Anyway here's Storm who didn't turn out quite how I'd expected , as you can see she's a definite girl! I did plan on makin a boy bear but the features were so blatantly feminine that I just went with it. She measures 8 inches and has a wobble neck joint and can stand with ease due to those sturdy legs! She's quite loosely jointed and is weighted so she feels quite life like when in your hand. I think she has a cute quizzical expression but I get the feeling she knows more than she lets on! She wears a pretty vintage lace collar which is removable and has a vintage button fastened to her chest , I love embroidery so I did a little stitchery on her too. She's made with Schulte mohair and lots of love , I plan to put her on Ebay on Monday and she will be my first bear for sale ! Hope you like her , Happy Easter ,

Hugs Ginie-Lee x

Pics a- comin tomorrow.......

2008-03-20T19:49:00.000Z

So sorry but I'm just too tired to take any pics of Storm right now. It's been a really horrid day at work and I feel worn out but I promise I will take some tomorrow.
Hugs Ginie-Lee x

Pics a-comin .

2008-03-20T07:22:00.000Z

Just a quick note before I rush off to work , I plan to show some pics of the finished Storm when I get back tonight . Hope all is well , hugs Ginie-Lee x

Vintage finds.

2008-03-18T21:32:00.000Z

On a work day one of my favourite lunch hour pastimes is visiting the local charity shops , it almost makes going to work worthwhile ! Lately I've been looking for anything interesting or quirky to accessorize my bears but the haul has been very meagre indeed. All I've managed to find up to now are a mini straw hat , a wee aran jumper and some vintage fabric. However I did find these , a boxed set of Jane Hissey's Old Bear collection!! I remember these books from when my kids were still small and I used to read them bedtime stories every night ( regularly falling asleep before they did, book still in hand ).I know that you can probably still buy these books new and they are not really vintage but I think you'll agree the subject matter certainly is! The illustrations are simply beautiful and a great source of inspiration . Lovely Old Bear I miss those days................

2008-03-14T20:56:00.000Z

So glad it's Friday , I'm really looking forward to getting back to my unfinished bears and relaxing over the weekend . I found some lovely vintage fabric today in the form of a pinny and I know it's sacrilege but I think it would cut up nicely and make a dress for one of my bears !! It's in blues and greens and has a spring feel about it . The light has gone now so I'll show you a pic next time , have a great weekend , hugs Ginie-Lee x

ps , I know the photo is totally unrelated to my post but I had to show something it feels weird not to !!!

Storm dies down.....

2008-03-13T20:37:00.000Z

After getting so excited about creating a new bear things have ground to a frustrating halt ! I don't have the right size cotter pins to finish the joints , Fred Aldous in M/cr sell them but I'll have to wait til Saturday cos I'm working tomorrow , why they don't stock them in Sainsbury's I'll never know :-) !!! anyway I may just play around with another idea I've got for a mini cutie ( that'll be ok with thread joints) I've set myself the challenge of making three bears a week and so far so good but running out of supplies could be a major set back . I'll let you know how it goes , hugs Ginie-Lee x

Storm.

2008-03-12T09:04:00.000Z

We've had one heck of a storm over night here in the northwest of England, I hardly slept a wink wondering if the roof was going to be blown off! Today is still very windy so I've decided to stay warm indoors and take inspiration from the weather and make a bear called Storm! I want a boy bear with a windswept slightly bedraggled look , I'd also like to give him a wobble head which is something I've not tried before . Wish me luck and I'll leave you with some pics of my first bears x

LoveLee blogs.

2008-03-11T20:36:00.000Z

Hello and welcome to my new blog . I have ended up with this blog thinking that I was just starting a google account so that I could leave comments on other blogs ! Anyway in for a penny in for a pound as they say! I've been with typepad for a couple of months and have just discovered that a whole new world of bear artists and community exists over here at blogger and I wanna join in the fun. I've been making bears for about 4 months now so I'm still a fledgling bear artist but definately hooked. Pop by and say hello x