More Knitting...

Did I tell you that I hand knit too? I knit at home in the evenings and weekends and also when I travel to work on the underground, although sometimes these long needles poke my fellow passengers if it's a busy time of day! I've already bought a pair of children's short needles for tackling my next project. I'm making a scarf, a scarf is a manageable size to carry around whilst travelling, a jumper gets a bit too big and bulky to take to work unless you plan on taking a suitcase! The stitch I am using is called Harris Tweed stitch, its a kind of fancy rib - fancy eh?

You aint nothing but a hound dog!

I got out the old knitting machine and starting experimenting with some houndstooth check designs, I'm quite happy with the last one I knitted - the red & green number.

Sleep Walking

I dressed a few bears using my denim scraps, that's the long and short of it!

Heart

It's an old heart but it's still true to you my Valentine xxxxx

Long Time Coming

More draft excluders, this time made out of denim.

Bargain Bear Bonanza

It's getting rather crowded here in Barbarabearo Central, I'm up to my eyeballs in bears. It's time for a sort and clear-out! Over the next few weeks I'll be listing bears that have been keeping me company here in my studio, including a special offer - half price Bits & Bobs Bears (see photo), yes only $35.00! I need to make space for new projects so if you need a little gift for a friend or want to treat yourself to a cuddly friend, just click here.

Teacher's Pet

I found an old photo album that Maria our daughter made when she was a dot. I hope the bear offerings didn't affect her education in an adverse way!

Boxing Day Fox

Monsters Inc.

Last Saturday I took part in the Mangle Christmas Sale, I shared a table with one of my studio mates - Maggie. As well as creating amazing effects and puppets for film and television she makes her 'Monsters' which were for sale that day (on the right hand side of the table). She acquired a box full of knitting samples which she delves into until she finds an interesting piece of fabric, she then transforms it into a one off wonder. We listened to music all day provided by Rocky the Elf and part-time disc-jockey, ate mince pies and took it in turns to look around at all the interesting objects on offer.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.......

Here's one I made earlier

The Long And Short of It

I've started making draught excluders from some great fabric that I found in a thrift shop in New York - the fabric was made in Ireland though and made into sausage dogs here in a very wet and windy London!

Pinny Pin Pin!

Came across the cut-offs from my new jeans today, some one (Other Half) used one cut off as a temporary pin cushion!

The Three Bears

I used up the scraps from my 'Grid-locked Bears' to make these denim delights.

Don't Eat Us!

I started making these gingerbread men, then thought "what am I doing? I should be making ginger bread bears!" Here they are then, made from old corduroy and decorated with rick-rack and buttons & beads from our daughter's old broken bracelets and necklaces.

A Date For Your Diaries

The popular East End Christmas sale is returning after a long break, but this year the Mangle sale is being held at the lovely Tabernacle Centre ( Not far from The George & Dragon pub on the Hackney Road).

Pick up original designer and handmade goodies for your loved ones this Christmas.

Choose me!

Some of my bears are now available at Anthropologie a new American store recently opened on Regent Street in London Town (see pic above). Also at a lovely shop filled with designer goodies called 'Family Tree'-.

Here Bear And Everywhere!

We visited the American Museum of Natural History for the first time ( a great way to spend a rainy day, thanks for the tip Barbs!). The dioramas were amazing, I particularly loved the Alaska brown bear above - wow! Look at that heart shaped face.

High Life on the High Line

Last spring when we were in New York a project was underway building a city park with a difference, a park built on a disused elevated train line, called the High Line We returned this week to find it open - it's great, full of local grasses and plants with loads of sympathetically designed seating with an incredible viewing deck overlooking one of the main streets running through the Meat Packing District.

Autumn in New York

Walking through a very wet Central Park yesterday, saw these lovely leaves on a footpath.

Have Wheels Will Travel!

Sitting Pretty

More bears to add to the fold.

On and Off

Hoods off or on? I don't know which I prefer, mmmmmm...

Top Of The World!

Little Brinsley Bear had an outing this afternoon and found this post box that sort of matches his jumper! - "What's the weather like up there?"

Studio Stool

I haven't spent a lot of time in the studio of late, but will be back next week......can't wait!!!

I recently bought this great stool, it has been re-upholstered using factory waste threads from Spain. I sit on it when I am using the computer at the studio. Other great stools like this are available at Bev's shop, 158A Columbia Road, London, E2 7PJ.

Kneel on Me!

While we were away we visited a little village called Axbridge. We found a lovely old old church that has beautiful kneelers for the congregation, they were all of different styles and designs but made using the same colours that you see above. This little fellow caught my eye, I took a sneaky pic when the warden wasn't looking our way!

Holiday Hobby

While me and the other half were away on holiday we developed a fascination with the 'help yourself' signs you often see in the countryside and in small villages during the summer. We saw fruit, flowers, veg and all sorts of things for the taking and door step sales with honesty jars set aside if the occupants were out. Here are a few from our new collection..........

I Love Colour Too - and Wood!

I was so excited when an ex - colleague of mine said she was having a clear out at school. She found a big bag of cuisenaire rods, sadly no longer in use. When I was a little girl at infant school we used them during our maths lessons, I thought they were fabulous because of all the different colours and the great sound they made when they clattered onto our wooden desks. I couldn't resist having a play with them, here I found different ways of making ten - the longest orange rod represents 10 units, blue 9 and so on.

So-fa So Good

I recently made this denim cover for my other half's sofa-bed that sits in his new studio.

Fancy That!

Just got back from Birmingham, we managed to fit in a visit to The Fancy Silk Store in the centre of Brum. It's a dressmaker's dream filled with every type of fabric on each of its four floors. Here's a pic of some of the denim they have on offer.

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