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.