Bear Vacation

Visiting grandchildren is great! A great time to make bears, it's not. I did bring a couple along to baste together and one to sew by hand but no time.

In one way it's good. I'm making a rabbit and didn't have enough wool to make the foot pads; paw pads and the inside of the ears so I shaved the fabric so I'd have something to match. With a little more time to think I now say that the inside of the ears should be a different color. This time around time was on my side.

Disappointment to Inspiration

I recently thought I had an order for a dog. Unfortunately it didn't come to fruition. Now I have a lot of long-haired mohair that is just begging to be used. The pattern I made for the original dog was way too big (I thought) so now I've scaled down and I'm actually making a slightly smaller and different breed. I'm not disclosing it because who knows what breed it will turn out to be.

I've also bought a few new pieces of mohair from e-bay so I've been inspired with a few new bears and because Easter is coming up a few rabbits. Isn't it funny how they multiply? I've got a big rabbit that's kind of a yellow gold background with brown tips; a little pink bunny with purple legs and arms (panda bunny?) and another one that's rolling around in my head that's yet to be determined with material and size.

I'm also wondering if some angorra mohair pelts that I saw in a store last week will go from the back of my mind and keep calling me until I have to go back and buy it.

The Joy of Bearmaking

I've just been browsing through e-bay looking at all the dogs trying to get some inspiration for a dog order I'm working on. I'm not copying anybody, I just want to see how they do their legs so I can figure out how to do a dog laying down who can also put their legs underneath.

Anyway, my point to this blog is the bids on e-bay. It's tempting to think, "wow, that bear got 22 bids and is up to hundreds of dollars, that must really be worth something!" Then you see an equally adorable bear that didn't get one bid and you wonder why no one wants it. I hope it doesn't diminish all the creativity that's out there. Just because something doesn't sell doesn't mean it's worthless or any less of an expression of an artist's imagination.

When I'm tempted to think that I'm not selling anything because something might be wrong with what I created or it isn't as good as the next person's, I just look at my bears and remember the fun I had creating them and what joy they bring me. Nothing else really matters.

New Mohair On The Way

The craft fair weather was really nice; although it was a little windy at times. There were quite a few people coming through but let's just say that the woman selling $3 necklaces was more popular. Not that my bears weren't appreciated. It just wasn't the right audience (I knew it but I tried anyway).

Now, I'm being challenged to make another dog for a woman who had to give away her favorite pet. It almost looks like the dog I just had on e-bay.

As for other bears, etc. I'm making a bright pink rabbit--really getting a jump on the Easter season and just a regular bear. I took those along on our grandchildren trip knowing I probably wouldn't get a chance to work on them but one never knows.

I just bought some mohair on e-bay and I'm excited with the possibilities of those pieces. The trouble with that is it's rather addicting and I could go broke!

Craft Show

We're here in Uvalde, Texas, and there's a craft show in the downtown square on Saturday. I thought a new venue might be nice so I booked a table amid the Christmas decorations and the live oaks.

I'm also on e-bay and I'm trying not to be discouraged with no bids after re-listing two items. I do have some watchers if that means anything.

I just finished an elf bear last night for the craft fair. Haven't come up with a name yet. I"m also working on a brown bear that will probably stand. Don't know if he's turning out quite the way I had envisioned. We'll see.

Onward and Upward

I finally put procrastination aside and listed Rrrascal on e-bay. It looks like there's one person watching. It wasn't too hard to do. I think next I'll list my monkey.

There's an arts and crafts fair here in Ulvalde on November 25. I'm going to sign up for it. I hope the weather is good. Nothing like a new venue.

Now that I'm listed on e-bay, maybe I'll do the Teddy Patch.

Next?

I finished my pawtrait and now it's on to the next project. What should it be? I have some brown mohair that I swapped with Linda and then highlighted with dishwasher detergent. That's kind of calling my name; but what kind of bear--or critter--could it be. Should my quest for an open mouth continue or sit on the back burner? I guess if I was going to do an open mouth it should be on that mohair since it's not the high-priced stuff and I wouldn't feel as bad if I ruined it. I'll have to think about it.

I do have a little guy to work on while I'm thinking.

I've been doing a lot of bearing but haven't been talking about it. My friend Linda and I have beared the last month of Sundays. We're both an inspiration to each other. She has some wonderful imagination with her bears and I'm really excited for her to get her website going.




I'm on a quest to make an open mouth bear. I've done it with a dog but he's so hairy that you can't really see it. This unnamed bruin's mouth, I think, is a little too open but it gives him a wonderfully happy look. I'm going for more realistic.

There's also a pawtrait I'm working on for an order. It's going well and I will post a picture when it's done.

Time Flies

I can't believe it's almost been a month since my last post. If you look close you might see a sheepish grin since I was going on and on about how addicting this is.



My excuse--lots of bearing! I entered the challenge on Teddy Talk using Sue Ann Holcomb's pattern. Not quite my style but was fun to do. Now I'm working on two large bears. One is about 22 inches tall and I think the other one is about the same. They look so huge because I've been working on mostly smaller bears. I can't stand having scraps of materal laying around. They're too big to throw away considering the initial cost and they're too small to make a regular sized bear. I love the challenge of trying to get a bear out of a limited amount of material.

Back to Bearing

I've been a little sidetracked this week from bearing because I'm working on a quilt for my new niece. It's finished now so I can concentrate on the bears.

I have been working on a new bear that's kind of rusty colored with a gold tummy and muzzle. I haven't decided how I'll finish him yet. I have a few ideas but then I'd be emmulating other artists and it wouldn't be my look. I know I'll figure it out.

I'm also going to list some bears on Teddy Patch and Bid4Bears and maybe even e-bay. I figure if I say this often enough the procrastination will break it's hold on me and I'll actually do it.

Onward and Upward

Now that the angel is done I can move on to (or back to) my regular bearing. Although that meant making a lion. He's not quite finished yet; I want to wax his nose and haven't decided if I'm going to color his face in a little more.

I'm getting ready to make a big bear. That's so strange since I've been using up all my scraps. I'm going to cut it out at Linda's (my local bear friend) house today. I also have a little wild bear cub to finish but I don't want to take all the paraphenalia with me.

Ken (DH)wants me to teach bearing when I get to Uvalde. The premise is good but there is so much equipment that one needs just to finish a bear I don't know if people would be willing to buy it just to make one bear. We'll see.

Angel

I finished the bear for Teddy Bear and Friends. I'm okay with the finished project although it was agony putting it together. I would have changed so many things. As always I second guess myself thinking that I could have used differnt mohair or I might have needlefelted the feet, etc. Maybe if I had seen the posting when it first came out I would have been able to spend more time on it. As it was I only had less than a week to finish it. Maybe they'll do a little air brushing on her like they do in the fashion magazines? I did learn a new skill. I made angel wings by taking two pieces of Solvay with bits of yarn and mohair in between the layers and then stippled with metallic thread. I think those turned out rather nice.

Now I'm working on another lion. I need to take pictures of a couple of bears to get them on my website. One of these days a buyer might stop buy. Although that's not my main concern. I enjoy the creative process and being able to take scraps of mohair and make a bear or a friend out of it.

Sticking To The Subject

While on my bike ride this morning I decided that maybe my Mohair Musings should be only about bears since that's what my profile says. So, I made another blog to contain the rest of my life; no matter how small. It's call Southwest Sidelights.

As for bears I think I'm out of my slump. I've changed one big bear into a small one and so far a cute bear. I always hold my breath until one is finished because I fall in love with them before they're completely stuffed and then have a sort of a grace period after they're finished. I can't explain why they look more lifelike without the stuffing in their bodies then when the stuffing is in them.

I've also got a chance to be in Teddy Bear and Friends magazine. Mindy Kinsey (Editor) sent out an e-mail asking for help with her project for the December magazine. Everyone participating will make the same pattern but decorate it like an angel. Should be interesting.

House Whine

I'm ready to cash it all in. I'm in one of those phases where everything I design turns to schlock! Remember that purple bear with the white tummy. I thought if I tipped it with what I thought was a matching color it wouldn't make the white look so white. HAH! It ruined it!! Don' know what I'll do. I'm thinking of tearing her apart and dyeing some white fabric a pale pink that might match the paw pads.

I'm afraid to try anything else. I just ordered some material and I don't even want to look at it.

Done Dragon My Feet

The procrastination is over; at least for today, that is!

My web site is finally re-done the way I wanted it. I think it looks pretty good. With everybody else with DSL/WI-FI, etc. it should load pretty fast. It takes a few seconds on my machine. Someday I will join the rest of the world.

I also finished my dragon. I think he's kind of cute.

Procrastination Patrol

Here I am without a bear to work on today. I finished the pink/lilac one yesterday and I'm still not sure if I like her. Maybe when I get some kind of decoration around her neck? She does have a sweet face. I also have a little blue bear that's begging to be finished but I haven't decided what to do with him yet.

As for new projects: I'm waiting on my order from Edinburgh to arrive to see if any of that inspires me. I'm kind of thinking another animal but have made enough lions and dogs. Cats aren't really my thing. A giraffe?

What I should work on is updating my web site just in case anyone wants to look at my new stuff. Can you see a procrastination pattern here.

Cure For A Chocoholic?

This blogging could be addicting. Maybe instead of reaching for a piece a chocolate I'll hop on the computer and blog! Don't worry I can't see myself giving up the sweet treat any time soon.

I'm sitting here surrounded by all my creations past and future. It's been a wonderful hobby and as I like to say "it keeps me out of the bars and away from strange men". Seriously, it's a major outlet for my creativity and allows me play.

My latest creation is being made from a pink/lilac batik mohair. I bought it at a show in either Albuquerque or Austin. I don't know why I bought it except for the fact that when I go to shows I seem to pick out the unusual fabrics rather than the tried and true. I get it home and then say--"why did I buy this?" She's turning out rather cute, so far. I'm saying she because I don't think you'd find many pink bears. I always like the bears best when the head is stuffed; they're jointed; but not stuffed. Go figure.

Welcome to the 21st Century

Today is my first day as a blogger.

My husband says I've made thousands of bears. He might be close to right (but not quite). I've just finished several smaller bears made from scraps of mohair. I'm too cheap to throw the scraps out since the price on the original piece was very dear. Also, it stretches my thinking into what kind of bear or animal I can make with only so many resources.

I remember when I first started making bears. I only bought the short pile mohair. Something that expensive was terrifying to cut into and heaven forbid I would make a mistake. Now after ten years I buy all sorts of pile lengths and variations; dye it; shave and trim it; and almost anything else to it besides run over it with my car.