A little story...

Me: Hey Kidogo, whatcha up to?

Kidogo: Writing Sebastian, I said I would.

Me: Uhm, you know this is Christmas stationary, right?

Kidogo: Yes... but it was the only bear sized stationary you had with bears on it.

Me: Ah, well, yes, I guess it was.

Kidogo: You should look into that.

Me: Will do, good sir.

Kidogo: And, also, if it's not too much trouble, you should help me mail this, please.

Goodies!

Well, yesterday I went out in search of something I didn't find... instead... I found all of this!

One of my favorite magazines, ImagineFX has a 4 part special that they're releasing over the next few months, and part 2 is now out!... It's filled with so many helpful photoshop tips that it's very worth the high price... plus it comes with a disk with lessons and free stuff on it!

I also bought the "Where Women Create" magazine, which is full of amazing stuff... just not pictured because someone was looking through it when I snapped the shot XD

Then I found a bunch of sparkly stuff on clearance at Michaels.... and how could I pass that up?!
Random Martha Stewart glitter colors were on clearance... along with floral embellishments that I intend on adding to bears... it was a good day for the glitter obsessed... and not only that, but it was so cheaply clearanced out that it didn't even come close to breaking the bank!

... although now I want more glitter. Dammit.

More bears are in the works... and will be pictured in the next week. :)

Busy Week!

While my mailing address remains the same, my actual place of residence has changed! I have spent this last week moving and I am done!!!
Granted, there is still organizing to do... but all my junk is moved :)

I will post pictures of the new abode next week :)

Until then, despite the chaos, I did manage to make a new bear, my own miniature bear, who stands 3 inches tall!

There are certain things about the pattern that I am tweaking, so the next bear I have cut out will be slightly different... but overall, I kind of like this pattern!

New Bear from a New Pattern! And link to a giveaway

Well... I had said I wanted to try my hand at a needle felted muzzle... so I did!
I LOVE IT! HAHA!

It didn't turn out quite like I pictured, but since it's my first try, I'll let this one slide. This little one isn't complete yet, (and no, that pin is not through it's ear, just kind of harmlessly clamped on to the outside)... they have a little Halloween friend and a few other embellishments.

I put coated wire in the arms for poseability and this little gal is made from faux fur, wool, suade and little plastic eyes.
Currently nameless (although Pumpkin springs to mind... wonder why?...) I'm not sure what I'm going to do with this little one.

Oh no! She dropped her staff!!



Bye!

Also! Gumi Gumi Island is having another lovely giveaway! Her stuff is just so cute! You will be able to choose one of the following little Halloween creatures!


http://amigurumiandpizza.blogspot.com/2009/09/halloween-giveaway.html

First Bear Ever

So I've finally completed my first bear... mind you, he's made out of what I could scrape together locally... which wasn't much.

Hopefully for future bears I will be a bit more prepared... but here he is, Bear #1, from a jennylovesbenny pattern. He's about 6 inches tall from footpads to the top of his head.

I'd love to start making my own patterns... I have to say though, gussett lineup with the side head pieces still baffles me a bit. How do I measure this out? What happens if I change the dips and curves? Did everyone learn this just through trial and error, or is there some great, secret tome of the Bear Maker???

Anyways, I'm calling this little guy "V", he's a bit "starey eyed" because I didn't have any good eyes to use... lesson # one, get better eyes... his nose is also not even, because I hadn't read any techniques when I sewed it, I just grabbed a needle and went to town *shudder* lesson # two, draw shape on first:

Getting Going

I've, since yesterday, found several helpful forums where a lot of my questions have been answered.

More than anything, I now have a list of books that I want:

1. Making and Dressing Miniature Teddy Bears by Julie K. Owen
2. The Encyclopedia of Teddy-Bear Making Techniques: A Comprehensive Visual Guide to Traditional and Contemporary Techniques by Alicia Merrett and Ann Stephens
3. Learn Bear Making: Easy-Intermediate-Advanced by Judy Maddigan
4. Teddy Bear Art: How to Design and Make Great Teddy Bears by Jennifer Laing

If anyone has any input on any of those books... or others you feel I should add to the list, please let me know!

I've almost finished my first bear... he just needs his back seam sewn up. He's... not quite what I figured, since I ended up not being able to find the correct joints... his poor little head is just sewn on and the joints I ended up using in his arms and legs (the smallest ones I could find in the area) were still way too large!
I also didn't have the right eyeballs or a good color floss for his nose! All in all... a bit of a disaster, and yet, I still love him. He's my first, so I'm not discouraged, I figure it can only get better!

I don't have a picture yet, I felt I should sew up his back first... but tomorrow hopefully I will have an image of my first little disaster bear! :)