ISN'T SHE BEAUTIFUL????

Isn't Joy absolutely gorgeous? She is my Christmas Swap. I did a Swap with Susan Mitchell from Blue Valley Bears. It was the first time that I have done a Swap with anybody, but what great fun. It was so exciting receiving the box in the post and opening it, and seeing the wonderful bear that had been made for me.

NEW WORKSHOP

I will be doing one day workshops on the 16th & 17th January 2010 at Teddys Bits, Castle Hill, NSW. We will be making Kassandra, a gorgeous bunny in a soft pink mohair and white alpaca. She has detailed appliqued pads on her feet. For more information, please contact me on susan@bearleighbears.com. Here is a photo of her.

He Ho, He Ho, It's off to Woodend I go!!!!

I am going to Woodend Teddy Bear Show in Victoria today, flying there today, doing the show tomorrow and then flying back in the evening on Sunday. I am looking forward to this show and also to meet a few of the ladies from TBACA that I have only ever spoken to by e-mail. This is a picture of the main street. It is a quaint town in the Macedon Ranges in Victoria.

It's a Dog's Life

Here are photos of Honey and Sam relaxing.........no stress in their lives. Aren't they just gorgeous??? They are brother and sister and are cross labradors/golden retrievers.

AREN'T THESE CUTE!!!

Here are two new bears that I have just completed. I found the containers that they are in and then created the bears to fit in them. I just love the way they have turned out. Blossom is the little bear in the pod with a blue cap and wool trim skirt and Dewdrop is the little white bear made from Japanese silk in the glass dewdrop lying on a bed of moss and flowers. Go to my website: www.bearleighbears.com for more information.

A BEAUTIFUL TIME OF THE YEAR

Don't you love spring? When everything bursts into life after being dormant for winter. Here are
a few photos from my garden. Starting with Blueberries, camellias, clivia's, strawberries and a minature azalea in full bloom. Hope that you enjoy it as much as I do!!!!! Get into your garden and look around!!! I hope that this season I get to eat the strawberries and blueberries before the possums!!!!

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NOW YOU CAN SEE

Over the weekend of the 5th & 6th September 2009 I took part in an online show with www.who is who-in-bearmaking.com. Now I can show you the bears that I had on show there. They are Snuggles, Oreo and Kaitlyn starting from the left. Snuggles is on his way to his new mom in New South Wales, Australia. The others will soon be available on my website.

Real Fur Workshops

I have just finished running two real fur workshops at Teddys Bits in Castle Hill, New South Wales. Great fun was had by all. We only finished the heads on the workshops, so hopefully soon I will get photos from the ladies to show everyone the completed bears. Here are a few photos from the
workshops.

SPRING HAS SPRUNG

Here is Rosebud, my Spring challenge Bear for Teddy Bear & Critters. Have a look on www.teddybearsandcritters.com. I just love this time of the year, when all the new buds are starting to emerge.

EXPERIMENTING

I have been wanting to make a mouse for a while, so about 2 weeks ago, I put everything else aside and set about designing a pattern for a mouse. And this is what emerged. He has found a new home in South Australia.

IT'S A BOY

I have just completed a new bear and it's a boy. He is made from a recycled mink coat in a gorgeous cream shade. He has such a sorrowful look on his face. He will soon be off on his way to his new home in NSW.

SNEEK PEAK

Here is a sneek peak of my three bears which I have made for the "Who is who in bearmaking Online Show". The show is on the 5th and 6th of September 2009. Visit it on www.whoiswho-in-bearmaking.com

South Australian Doll & Bear Show 2009

Hi there! Sorry that I have not blogged for a while, but my fingers have been working overtime. I have been getting ready for the South Australian Doll & Bear Show which is on th 15th and 16th August, 2009 at the Norwood Town Hall, Norwood, Adelaide. I have had quite a few orders to get done and an online show to also prepare for. But it is fantastic. What more could I want, to be able to sew bears all day everyday, and leave all that awful, mundane housework for a while.

The two bears shown below have gone off to their new homes. Tai Shan, on the left, has gone to live in the United Kingdom and Sweetpea, on the right, has gone to live in Forster, New South Wales.

What I have been up to!!!!

I have been busy sewing like mad, as I have a few shows coming up. I am doing an online show on the 5th and 6th September on www.whoiswho-in-bearmaking.com. I am also going to Adelaide for the South Australian Show on 15th and 16th August 2009. And I have also have two workshops coming up in August. I will be showing the ladies how to take that gorgeous fur coat and turn it into a beautiful bear. I will be doing these courses at Teddys Bits in Castle Hill, NSW on the 22nd and 23rd August and also on 25th and 26th August 2009. So things have been really busy!!!!!

Feel like a Tim Tam

To stop myself eating Tim Tams - it is so difficult when it is cold and you just feel like something sweet. Once you open that packet, you just can't stop. So to keep my hands busy and mouth shut, I decided to make a bear from recycled fur called Tim Tam. Now my fingers are sore, but I think that Tim Tam is as delicious as the biscuit.

Now I can show you......

Now that the Black and White Ball is over, I can show you the bears that went to the Ball.

Firstly, there is Diana. She is on the right. She is made from a recycled mink fur coat is a beautiful cream shade.

Then there is Caramello. He is on the left. He is made from mink fur coats in ginger and cream shades.

Lastly, pictures in the middle at the top dressed in red, comes Mr and Mrs Warren dressed for the ball. They are made from a Schulte mohair/alpaca ratinee blend.

Please go to my website for more information about the bears. www.bearleighbears.com

What a wonderful week!!!

Now that the Black and White Ball is over on www.teddybearsandcritters.com, we can catch our breath. What a lovely range of bears and critters were available. The winners of TACDA awards were announced and Katrina from Bumble Bears was the winner. Her bear was absolutely gorgeous. Linda from Benson Bears and Kim from Russel Bears were the runner ups. I was a nominee. I entered the Domino Brothers, which is the picture on the right. I think that Sandi Smith did a fantastic job and everyone had a great time.

What has been keeping me busy!

Here are a few of my new bears that I have been busy with the last few weeks.

Black and White Ball

It is all very exciting. The Black and White Balls starts at 8am on Monday 1st June 2009 and runs till 8pm 7th June 2009. Go and have a look at www.teddybearsandcritters.com.

Sutherland Show

Long time, no blog. I have been very busy with some orders, but now that they are done, I hope to blog more often.

I am attending a show on the 30th May in Sutherland, New South Wales from 10am till 4pm. Hope to see you there!!

Sneak Peek of the Black and White Ball

Here is a sneak Peak of the bears that will be on www.teddybearsandcritters.com from June 1 till June 7. They are in the Black and White Ball online show. The show runs for the whole week. Come and have a look.

Leigh Ting, my new Panda

Look at the cute new panda I have made. I have the pattern and kits available on my website, www.bearleighbears.com. The number of kits are limited because I am not able to get the gorgeous brown alpaca any more.

A little Magic!

I have just finished 4 bears for 2 orders. I was given a mink fur coat and a rabbitt coat. Look how they turned out!!!

Return from Hahndorf

What a beautiful town is Hahndorf. I had not been there before, but it is a beautiful village in South Australia. The show was fantastic, I met a lot of people that I had only spoken to before and everyone made me feel so welcome. It was amazing to see the diverse world of dolls and bears. Now it is back to the grindstone as I have a few orders to complete and more bears to make for my next show.

DOLLS, BEARS AND COLLECTABLES SHOW, HAHNDORF, SOUTH AUSTRALIA

I am off in the morning to the Doll, Bear and Collectables Show in the beautiful village of Hahndorf, South Australia. The show is on the 4th and 5th of April, 2009. Here is one of the creations that I have been working on for the show. His name is Cadbury and he is made from a vintage French rabbitt coat.

Thanks

We had a wonderful show at the Sydney Teddy Bear Show. It was very busy and I met a lot of new people. What was really good, was to meet people that have bought my bears at on-line shows in the flesh, as I had only spoken to them by e-mail before. I hope that everyone had as much fun as I did!!!!!!

Amongst the bears that I sold was Cuddles, my favourite little boy bear, he went to a new home in Sydney, New South Wales.

The Sydney Teddy Bear Fair : 22nd March 2009

I am off to the Sydney Teddy Bear Fair on Saturday evening for a Preview evening and then for Sunday 22nd for the whole day. I have been sewing up a storm and have a few new bears to display. Fifi, a bear made from a recycled fur coat(the one with the blue background) was nominated in the People's Choice Awards and she has started her journey to her new home in Canada. Luckily she is not travelling alone, Cupcake went with her. Cupcake is also a bear made from a recycled fur coat. Cupcake is only 11cm tall. Pop in and visit me at the show! I hope to see you there!!!!!

Have a look at Bugsie, my Easter challenge for www.teddybearsandcritters.com

My family

I thought it would be great to introduce some members of my family....Mascot with David, my husband and Lone Pine Sundown with Jessica, my youngest daughter on the left and Sarah-Jane, my eldest daughter with me.

After the "Be My Valentine" Online Show on Saturday on the Teddy bear and critters website, 4 bears are off to their new homes.

I have been sewing all day everyday for the last week. My fingers are so sore. So I thought that I would take a break and let you know what is happening over the weekend.

On Saturday from 8am on the 14th February 2009, the "BE MY VALENTINE SHOW" on www.teddybearsandcritters.com starts and runs for 24 hours until Sunday 8am on the 15th February 2009(these times are Australian times). Go onto the website www.teddybearsandcritters.com and have a look at all the gorgeous teddies and critters. Hope to see you there.

Heavenly Stitches Fair 1st February 2009

Hi there! Just a quick note to say that I traded at the Heavenly Stitches Fair at Eden Park on 1st February 2009. What a lovely venue. I sold a new bear Su Lin. She is a little panda.