Merry Christmas!

Sayonara

We said goodbye to the lovely Kei last week, she's now back in Japan with her family after a long stay in the UK. I knew that she didn't have a lot of packing space so I gave her one of my miniature bears to tuck into a tiny space.

How Many More Days?

My Latest Offerings

I've now finished the button embellished denim snowflake baubles I started last week, together with some santa baby bears including my poor one legged sample bear ( I was a bit rough when turning her the right side out though....shame! They'll be for sale on Saturday at the Mangle Christmas   Sale together with some of my other creations including bears, draught excluder sausage dogs and foxes.

Am I Too Early?

It's the 1st of December, not long now before we put our Christmas stockings out for Santa!

Snow Way!

I've started working on the above denim snowflakes using buttons that I've been holding onto for years.........I'm beginning to feel a little Christmasy now!

Christmas is a coming!

Hello Hoodsie

Here's one of my hooded bears, looking a tiny bit shy though!

Latest Project/4 - Finished

Finished!!!! Yes I worked my socks off these past few weeks. I thought I'd give the other half this quilt as an anniversary present, we've been together all in all for 31 years and he is a bugger to buy presents for, so I thought I'd pull out all the stops and finish it in time. Here it is in its final stages (ha ha like a birth!)

Latest Project/3

Winter is approaching so I'm stepping up my patchwork production because we need an extra layer on our bed as the cold nights draw in.., so far 44 blocks made, tons more to do!

What's A Girl To Do?

Sometimes I really, really, really want to get a dachshund. When I get that feeling I go to my studio and create one and in this case two to keep each other company!

Latest Project/2

When I get the chance I make a square or two for our log cabin quilt (possibly quilts) I've made about 25 squares so far, here are a few of the latest..

Into The Hoods

I only had one day in the studio this week, I had a go at making a snorkel style hoodie as you can see from these samples. I also popped into one of our local haberdashers called Beyond Fabrics, it wasn't until I got back to the studio that I noticed how my threads had been cleverly packaged using a carefully folded page of a magazine, top marks to Beyond Fabrics, check them out here.

It's Catching!

I thought I wouldn't be attempting another tapestry this decade until I saw this great kit at the British Museum. It's perfect - lots of delicious colours, a great design and what sold it for me - is it is only 7 inches by 7 inches - whoopeee - I'll be able to do it on the way to work on the tube! What's more is it's by Grayson Perry depicting his 'childhood teddy bear and god of his imaginary world' named Alan Measles after the boy next door and the bout of measles he had in his childhood - marvellous!
The photograph does not do the kit justice, the colours are much more intense.

Shut That Door!

Went to a great exhibition that has just opened at the British Museum with the other half. I have a weird block with this artist's name where I get him mixed up with two other great artists with similar sounding names. So whose work did we see ?.....errrrrrr........Larry Grayson - no! Perry Mason - no! I mean GRAYSON PERRY, yes third time lucky, Grayson Perry. I love them all so I hope I will be forgiven!'


It is an inspirational exhibition that celebrates craftsmen past and present and their well honed skills. GP spent two years trawling through the British Museum's archives to choose work to go along side his latest work. Check out what the exhibition is about here, I highly recommend it if you're in town.


Here you can see GP's teddy (not his actual special ted) sitting on his throne, on a bike that GP rode on during a tour around Germany. His bear called Alan Measles features greatly throughout this exhibition. 

Hoodwinked

As promised, here are the hoodie-bear samples that I have been working on......

Fitting in Florals

After my 'knitting Disaster Week', this week is turning out much better. Instead of knitting bear outfits I am making them out of fabric - needlecord in the above instance. They are not removable but are part of the bear design and are so much quicker to make than knitting! I'll show you the hoodie design that I have been working on when I get the chance.

Jeanius

On the way home from work the other night, I caught a glimpse of that familiar blue out of the corner of my eye. I dragged the other half to get a closer look and discovered this installation ....

From a distance it looks like someone's put their washing out on a load of toothpicks, but on closer inspection the display has been carefully arranged to show this every day item at its best, these jeans look as if they are setting off on a campaign to take over the world, well Chelsea School of Art at least!
Here's a link to what it's all about  http://www.catalytic-clothing.org/

Maz Baz Badge Collection

I forgot to show you Maria's denim pocket holdall. I made it years ago when she was a girl, it has since become the repository for her badge collection. She is now on holdall numero 2, watch this space for her next collection.. . . . . . . . . 

Voodoo Bear

No, I haven't gone mad - although once or twice this week I've gone a bit loopy trying to work out how to knit a hoodie on my knitting machine! In this photo you can see where I've pinned a piece to a bear to check the fit. This if the fourth attempt at getting the pattern right, I might have to go back to my old method of making hoodies because this version takes sooooooooo long, although the back piece is quicker to knit, the front takes about 2 hours - a bit too long eh? Back to the drawing board!

Finished!

One year and four months later I finally fiinshed the cushions for the birthday present tapestries that Maria and I worked on. Here they are in her new home in Nottingham sitting comfortably with Barbara's 'Ten Pence' cushion and Maria's orange patchwork.

Bear Faced Cheek!

Went out to dinner tonight at Maggie & Richards place. Richard spotted this shy koala  bear hiding in their dining table!

International Stock?

Visited the folks and also popped into the local high street to look at the charity shops and such like. I also went to International Stock which is always amusing - check out the bizarre polar bear display. International Stock sells a wide range of fire & flood damaged/ end of line/bankrupt stock. I've visited it for years, when the girls were little i would stock up on stationery that must have been printed up in the 1960's, fuelling hours of imaginative play with old forms/stickers and chits from another era. Today I looked around and on offer was: about 100 child car seats, music sheets, instrument cases and violins, horse saddles, fishing tackle, doors, christmas decorations, tropical fish tanks and stuff that I couldn't recognise! Bliss!

Studio Study

My studio is way up on the top floor of this block, my window is under the O and D of PLYWOOD. On my floor works Kim (see her work here) and Clare a talented costumier. On the other floors we have an interesting mix of artists, film makers, a carpenter and a seamstress. I feel really lucky to have such a great place to work - it makes me happy!

In Stitches

I've been making small bears again, these have been cut out of jean pockets as you can see from the different designs of topstitching.

Knitting Knick - Knacks

Pottering around Rye's charity shops I found this fabulously thick woolly blanket. I also picked up some more knitting accoutrements - there is always room for one more row counter!

Stone The Crows!

I was a little bit concerned when I saw this saluting mouse on the way to Winchelsea Summer Fair, for a second I thought it was a nazi salute, but on reading a nearby notice discovered that there were other 'scarecrows' dotted around the village to look out for - must be a tradition around these parts!

I Missed You Sew Much!

Yesterday we went to Bexhill, we've been going there for over twenty years now. There are quite a few charity shops around the town - I think we visited them all! There's a brilliant sewing shop there too that boasts two windows full of sewing machines old and new, made me feel a bit nostalgic for taking up sewing again. Above is a knitting needle gauge, I haven't seen a bell shaped one before -I'll add it to my collection.

Wool Whaddaya Know!

I picked up these lovely old balls of wool today, to be added to the collection!