I love MOGU!!!

My creative space

Thanks so much for the encouragement and support last week re "Foxy" bear . Sadly he aint gonna make it and the poor thing is now subject to my experiments in the ageing and is now a all spotted with different dyes,paints, shoe polish and whatever else takes my fancy. This wonderful woman put it, he has been donated to science for the greater good of all bears to come.

Any further progess on the next version of him has been delayed by a couple of orders I recieved.

the first one is above, my second go at the centre seam pattern. This time I decided to cut the mohair a different way, all going in the same direction rather than opposite directions as I did for Albie. I'm quite amazed at how it's created quite a different bear from Albie ( at this time you're probably thinking" OK Jess has finally lost the plot, they look the same" whatever plot I had to begin with) I also made the nose higher, eyes closer and more uneven as I was trying to make him a bit different. He has a different spirit to me than Albie, ( he hasn't got a name yet ) a bit more goofy and cheeky in my opinion. Whatever

And now I'm working on an order for a polar.

For more sane creative spaces click over here.

Thrifty finds

I've been hanging out all week for Flea Market Finds this week, it has been really hard for me not to post my findings until now because I'm pretty excited about them ( and I sort of did a small little thing but didn't explain)

I had made a decision not to do any op shopping this week, after my stint at Sunday Best and my pennies were running rather low.

But as I was walking along past one of my regulars, sitting outside I spotted a little metal bike, perfect for bears, and I had actually been wanting a bike for them, because i think some of them might quite fancy a ride.

And not far away from the bike, was this little miniature chalkboard complete with chalk and duster and it's also a white board on the other side.

At at a total of $6, I couldn't resist.

The only problem is it's been rather distracting having this sitting in my living room. Both the bears and I can't stop playing with it and writing things. And of course now I'm dreaming up creating a little classroom.

to see what other people have found this week head over to Sophies.

pincushion thanks

I've been meaning to post the pincushion I received from Julie in Kate's wonderful swap.
It's amazing the way she has combined all these different materials and really looks like a heirloom piece. She also included this beautiful worn looking wooden box.
thank you so much Julie for making this for me, and a huge thanks to Kate for doing such a incredible job at organizing it all.

My creative space

I'm back to making the next one this bear, who I'm sure you are well and truly sick of. But there is something that still is bugging me, not right, and I can't rest and until I'm happy ( this bear is also very special to me.) The thing is I know interlectully what I want/need to change, but don't know if I've done it this time or exactly how to do it, if that makes sense. One of the hardest things I find about making these sorts of bears is drawing something on paper ( ie the pattern ) to change/ make something in 3d. It's still so much trial and error. I suppose I should have figured it all out by now but well I haven't

And also an ami bear in need of life, if all falls through.

For more creative spaces check out Kirstys.

Just wanted to say..

Albie the bear who tried hard to be a wombat

Meet Albie ( the name came courtesy of super star Jodie), who tried very hard to be a wombat, and threw his mother ( me) into a bit of state when he was first arriving into the world at exactly what he was ( thanks very much for all the bear encouragement.)

Albie as Jodie puts it is the sort of bear who likes to keep snails in his pockets, and go on many outdoor "adventures". His favourite food is Cheddarmite Scrolls but he is equally happy with vegemite and cheese on toast.

Albie's a new style of bear for a with a centre seam head, and quite boofy compared to the bears I usually made, which I did find a bit of challenge ( hence my wombat fears)

Anyway I hope you like him.

Sunday Best

thanks to the wonderful Gemma, I went to Sunday Best, a jumble sale of vintage clothes , bric brac and whatnot of things all from the 1920's -60's, hosted by the very cool Captains of Industry.

It was heaps of fun ( sorry I forgot my camera, ) there was definitely a vintage feel to whole thing, with retro music pumping, fairy floss, cupcakes and a sweet sandwiches. All the female sellers looked amazing, and even some of the blokes too putting me to shame in my tshirt and slacks (very unvintage). the sellers were super nice and friendly too. And the most amazing things, and really cheap for clothes and things as this calibre.

I managed to score a summer dress, a short little cardy from the 50's

and a pair of vintage sunny's.

thanks Gem!

for more thrifty finds visit Flea Market finds thanks to Sophie.

Poor Turtle

Turtle has a new game, in which she hangs out the front of my place and meows pitifly at passers by as if to say "I'm abandoned and unloved." And they fall for it everytime. Because she's a pretty cat and an affectionate one too, if i'm sitting in the front room ( my work come living room) I hear every little " oh what a sweet kitty" "poor pussy" " oh aren't you gorgeous".

Suckers, little do they know she goes out the back and walks round the front just waiting for them.

Clever cat.

Wombat or Bear?

Can't decide about this one? Whatdaya think?

( it's meant to be a bear...

I love this song

I'm loving Surfer Blood at the moment. Don't let their name discourage you, I know it brings to mind, some blood loving Heavy Thrashing Surfer Band, but they're quite the opposite.

My creative space

the past few days have been about an order for Posswonk. Donna had been waiting pateintly for the yarn to arrive from the US which isn't the same colour as the original but it was discontinued ( something that seems to happen to the yarns I like a lot) and then they bought out this colour which is pretty close ( don't understand the logic there but) last week it finally arrived and after a few hiccups included hook size adjustments and eye issues he is all done.

I do hope she thinks he is worth the wait. I always love using this yarn as frustrating and difficult in can be at times and Posswonk in particular makes me go a little crazy so excuse the photo overload.

Also I've started working on a new mohair bear, a more japanese style time and this time attempting a centre seam head. I'm really enjoying making my mohair jointed guys at the moment and have so many ideas so I'm just going with that at the moment.

To see what other people have been up to this week visit Kirsty.

thrifty finds

tYou know what I love about op shopping? How most of the time, you go in and come out with something you weren't expecting.

Todays example is I managed to score my dad's birthday present, the Nice Put putting practise machine and a golf ball monogrammer, for those awkward moments on the golf course when someone's hit it in the bunker and you don't know whose ball it is . A situation we all know so well. My dad's birthday isn't til August so I wasn't really thinking about when I entered the Oppy, but I'm pretty damn stoked that he's all sorted for presents, as he is soo hard to buy for ( list most men) But he is mad about golf, in case you haven't figured that one out.

Also found today a sweet Pyrex dish and another sort of knit lace top.

For more on thrifting and finds pop over to Sophies.

Frog Pincushion

I finished my pincushion yesterday for Kate's wonderful swap.

Remember those wonderful steiff pincushions I posted a while back, this is sort my own take on the frog cushion.

I do hope my person likes him!

Seven things

Lovely special Angela of three buttons has given me a Kreative Blogger award, but so did superstar wonder woman Lexi about two weeks ago, and so I'm feeling both super lucky and a little awkward as well. Thank you both lovely ladies, I'm quite honoured and as part of the award you are asked to share seven things about me. So here we go, some super tantilising facts about me.

1. When I was about 3 I had conjunctivitis. One time it was so bad I woke up and was blinded by it and walked screaming down the corridor to mum and dad. ON my way I split my head open on a corner and still have the scar in the centre of my head, i love this scar it's a nice scar and I hope it never goes away.

2. I'm a really good hugger.

3.I have quite an addictive personality- cigarettes, diet coke, gum etc. My latest new addicition is to Chewy Quickeze, especially the peppermint flavour, but now there's also orange and strawberry - not flavours for all the time, but nice to vary a bit. I think I like to convince myself I have indigestion quite a lot, just so I can have some. ( I'm not sure this is entirely good for me)

4. I used to be absolutely terrified of swimming, in primary school when it was swimming day I used to become so sick and come down with terrible gastro. I wasn't faking it, I was that scared I made myself sick. One day the teachers dragged me a long and somehow persuaded me to get in the pool. I didn't want to get out. I loved it so much . I went on to the highest level and am a qualified lifesaver. I think mum probably wanted to kick me.

5. I love Pajama bottoms, but not a big fan of Pj tops, they annoy me I'm not sure why. i prefer a tshirt or spencer or a singlet.

6. I have never dyed my hair. I'm also scared of the hairdresser. I can't remember the last time I went to the hairdresser, I think it was four years ago. My hair is very long, how long I wouldn't know, but last time I checked it was down to my hip bone.

7. I cry quite easily. I cry when I'm really happy, or moved, I cry when I'm sad, hurt and fragile, I cry at movies and tv shows- even the most stupid ones, the football especially the Grand Final even if I hate the losing side, I cry at the airport seeing strangers both part and meet and are so happy to see each other. It can be quite dehydrating.

Now I would like to pass this award on to Foxslane, dandelion, the doily, ric rac, melbourne epicure, handmaderomance and punkysmamma

beautiful stuff

For a key part of my pincushion for the swap I needed some green felt. I got this beautiful felt from Trudi ( I had total colour indecision so decided to buy both) and it really is a joy to work with. I can't recommend it highly enough, I definitely know where I'll be getting my felt from now on. I'm even dreaming up felty theme things just so I can use it again. All her felts are hand dyed and give them an love uneven colour, to see more of her range visit Me and Ewe,

My creative space

Been back to a bit of ami in the last few days, working on the beginnings of my pincushion for Kate's swap and a order for Posswonk, and Howie too.

I also wanted to thank you for your encouraging and kind comments re new bear last week. He's all finished and to see more pics and you can look here, although I'm quite sure you are throughly sick of this bear, he took long enough!!
Also thanks to Kirsty for being our host each week, to check out other creative spaces pop here.

We all need a bit of

, originally uploaded by mogu..

Just because.

Monty, I think

Well I finally finished him. His name is Monty I think ( I had tossed up calling him Kwonk because that was the word that kept going through my head when making his head), and he's been extensively aged, by sanding, plucking dyeing and staining with various dyes and pens and even ironed in a hope of recreating some of the "old bear" look and something a bit like Ferdy my antique steiff bear, he's based off. He measures 10"

It's funny the whole jointing putting together part of making a jointed bear always feels funnily both like the climax and a bit of anti climax, after all the time and work I've done on him, putting him altogether takes no time at all. It's always at that point when he's first finished I always see everything I don't like about him..

Five years ago

On this very day, Good Friday, my grandfather died. Grandpa was a deeply special man, he was a deeply kind and humane man, an intelligent man, a man of great integrity and real goddamn handsome man. He was also a famous man , I suppose, but I never cared about that. Meaning that didn't make him more or less special to me.

I love my Grandpa, we were close, we had a special connection, whenever I was around him, I felt ok and was able to be. You know someone you can just sit with comfortably in silence? I still miss him, although I'm not still cut up or something by his death. When he died I grieved big time, let it all out and then was able to move on.

Five years ago I was also a different person, and very ill person. In some ways it makes me sad Grandpa never saw me as I am today: well, healthy and stronger. But he was also one of the few people, who saw me past me illness saw the person not the sickness, loved and excepted me for who I was.

My creative space

Still working on same bears as last week .A few hiccups have delayed progresss on him, first realizing i didn't have enough mohair to finish him- which meant waiting for it for arrive , then double dyeing it and secondly a slight arm disaster ( too big too wrong even after I had done 2 or 3 test arms in odd scraps of mohair). So I been doing my ageing where I can, experimenting a bit, with different stain effects. Trying a get an affect similar to Ferdy my antique bear.

Sorry if it's a bit boring.

thank you to everyone for your lovely comments last week and encouragement. It really meant a lot and was a great help, I always love feedback so thank you, as sometimes you are so close it's hard to see stuff, and I think we are all our own biggest critics.

Anyway at least he has a body, although I started to worry last night if he is worth it.

For more creative spaces pop over to Kirsty's.