Just a minute in.... March

Listening: Lots!! Kid Sam, a new local band has just put out their self titled debut, and it's wonderful, Noble Beast by Andrew Bird ( already a contender for one of my favourite albums of the year), The feel good music of Dent May and his Magnificent Ukulele, Pains of Being Pure at heart are just some of the new stuff I've been listening to and loving.  I also can't get past Dark Was the night, a wonderful double LP which proceeds benefit the Red Hot Foundation and I usually am not the biggest fan complilations, but this IS definetly an album of the year. March has been a very musical month I've also been really in a Joni Mitchell mood, sometimes is there anyone better?

Reading: Meet Me at Mikes-  by Pip Lincolne, one of the most beautiful craft books ever. ( and I'm not just biased, you know)

Making: After a terrible disaster( not me being picky) colin head number 12 got damaged, and so you guessed it, it's head #13. Also an Eric too.

Washing: Ok I'm feeling quite self righteous as yesterday I did a heap of hand washing I'd been putting off, and you don't know how much I hate hand washing.

Watching: Still on West Wing, now I'm up to season 4, it's such a superb show, you know and I don't even really like or understand politics! Also the FOOTY!!!! Yep it's back, ( although don't even talk to me about my boys on Saturday night.)

Thanks to Jen to being our lovely host.

Little Things.

I generally love bits, you know bits, totally non useful little things, but these are some of my favourites. This is the mantle piece in my bedroom, and they were on the mantle piece in my last bedroom too. I remember when I moved, these guys were among the last things I packed up and the first things I unpacked, to me they some how signify me sort of or home or something.

In the first pic me have  Pebble a miniature steiff bear, Mummy cat- an old steiff cat my mum owned as a girl that mum gave me when I moved, a little knitted bear behing her, a pot of dry flowers, an old embroidered cushion, the four characters from Wind in the Willows I had as a child ( velvet I think over hard stuff) and a sullvainian type bear.

in the second pic we have Snug another miniature steiff bear ( old), Bellboy an old mammoth who is vertically challenged and needs to lean against things,  a pooh childs mug, Squirelly ( a toy from my childhood) and a advent calender house.

FOr more little things and stuff pop over here to find out what it's all about.

Op shop finds

Today I had at great time at my local Op Shop. I'm giddy with excitement of finds, and wanting to show them to anyone!

From top down

Framed bear painting

two strips of bunnikins fabric 1.5 metre+ in length

15 parts/issues of Golden Hands!!!

three little friends, echidna, very primitive animal a wombat perhaps? and a wombat 

soft cream flannel ( 1 metre+) and vintage lace

green top

My creative space

New Colin head, head number 12 ( the head that did my arm in), and fingers crossed, I'm thinking perhaps I am there.... with his inspiration, my old boy Gus.

For more creative spaces click over here.

PS

And my arm is pretty much better, thanks for those who were so sweet, although he's not quite feeling himself yet, a bit spaced out I think (i'm not sure why my arm is a boy, since I'm a girl but there you have it).

Garden update

I realise it's been a while since I've given an update on my garden. It's changed a bit, zinnias have been added, many things died in our heat wave, and Thelma, of Thelma's garden fame, has a totally green thumb and has been making me pots from cuttings from her own garden. So most of the additions have come from the kindness of Thelma. 

Yesterday I arrived home to find these guys ( below) waiting for me on my dear step, Thelma's latest delivery. I'm very very spoilt. I may not have had a nanna Nanna, if that makes sense, but I've got Thelma.

In a sling

It seems bear making can be dangerous. Today when stuffing a bear head, I did something to my left upper arm, strained it, pulled it or i'm suffering from a bit of RSI and am presently in a homemade sling ( of a Swans scarf). Even though I'm though I'm right handed, I've realised how much you use your left arm...

Mr Bramble- a rabbit

A very special and nice lady asked me to make her gorgeous baby daughter a rabbit for Easter,and firstly I do love making things for people I know and like it always feels special and to be honest to was also a great excuse for me to finally make a rabbit, that I've been wanting to make for a bit now, but never got around to it. His name is Mr Bramble and he is inspired by a very adorable vintage rabbit in a Japanese toy book I have. 

Mr Bramble, has a mohair body, head and ears which I've dyed, vintage velvet pant legs, and black felt feet/shoes. His clothes do not come off. He has glass eyes and wears a vintage ribbon round his neck. He measures 25cm tall not including ears and 28cm tall including ears.

I'm thinking about doing a few more of these, do you think? Also I think I might like to use a different mohair next time...... 

Molly

Here is Molly she is my latest new bear. IF you are thinking  she looks familiar like a look like Beetle, well your smart, she is like her twin sister, simliar pattern etc. I had a lot of fun making Beetle, and so I wanted to make another bear in the same sort of vein to her.

Anyway,

Molly is a vintage style mohair bear. She stands 28 cm tall. She is made from a felted mohair, is fully jointed, has one antique shoe button eye and one vintage mother of pearl button for the other eye and hand-dyed felt pads. She has been treated in a way to make her look old and has been aged.
She is a happy although quiet little bear. She enjoys skipping, playing hopscotch and baking.
She is available through my etsy shop.
thanks.

I think Turtle has a thing for Mr Rusty

A week of Favourite things

Another one of my favourite things. My little silver jointed bear pendant, that always hangs around my neck, I hardly ever take it off. I feel naked without it.

Week of favourite things

THis old embroidery is another one of my all time favourite things. The linen was printed or painted(?) with the bear pictures and then it is embroidery around the edges.

 I bought it off ebay years ago for a pittance something like $20. It dates before 1920, and According "Teddy Bears and Steiff Animals" by Margaret Fox Mandel its worth $350USD and that was in 1984!

Anyway the fact that is was a bargain, isn't why I love it, I just love it I love the print with the embroidery and how the linen is all brown and how beautiful it is.

Week of Favourite things

                                               




I've in slight agony over the week of favourite things and what to choose, and although I did a post about Rolph ( my favourite bear), the thing is out of all my "things", my old guys are my favourite, above and beyond. Wilbur, Mr Rusty, Peter,Gus, Ferdy, Polar,Wally and the Pipe all take the cake. But I've posted so many pictures of them, and you are all probably bored to death of them but it seems odd in a week of favourite things not to mention/ or post them. So I don't know what to do, so I thought if I mentioned them, but didn't post them each one by one it would be OK and not too boring?

From top to bottom , Polar, Mr Rusty, a picnic featuring The Pipe, Wally, Peter, Ferdy and Wilbur, and last pic Gus.

For more favourite things, pop over here.

more song love

From his debut album the wonderfully titled " The Feel Good Music of Dent May and his Magnificent Ukulele"

While You Sleep - Gorker Gallery

While You Sleep - Gorker Gallery, originally uploaded by ghostpatrol.

I went and saw this on the weekend. It is beautiful. It's really not something to miss

A week of favourite things

Rolph1, originally uploaded by teddybearswednesday.

Pip is doing another one of her great "weeks of..." This week it is a "A week a favourite things" So I'm playing along.

Rolph- My favourite bear.
As alot of you know as well as making bears, I collect old bears. And although I hate to pick favourites, they are all my favourites, Rolph is top bear. They actually all know that, and are Ok with it ( he is their favourite too).
I love old bears probably more than any "thing" in the world. They are so beautiful, generally have so much life and soul, and I love the signs of love and wear on them, and their little faults and wonks, make them all the more beautiful.
Rolph is an old steiff bear. His 99 years old and will be 100 next year. He is rather huge 28" tall in total. And to me he is the most beautiful bear in the world. He has the most beautiful soulful eyes, with so much love, life and wisdom in them. He still sleeps on my bed, ( i know at 28) and he just is very wise and a good listener and hugger. I can't really imagine life without him, and well he is priceless to me. I just love him really it's a bit hard to put it into words but I hope you can see why.
Visit Pip to see her favourite things, and to see who else is playing, and join in if you'd like.

Ben Gibbard and Feist

I just love this song!