Saturday, February 19, 2011

Show and Tell

This past week I had two pretty things I was just dying to show here on my blog. The first thing you can see now!!! I have a lovely new blogger background and header custom designed for me by Shelli Heinemann of Potbelly Design! I am so pleased with it. Shelli is delightful to work with, and her prices are quite reasonable.

I'm afraid I still can't show the second one. It is a bear I have designed for the upcoming Blooming Bear online show and sale All of the show bears are to be debuted for the first time at the show. You can get a sneak peek at my bear as well as one preview bear from each of the other artists starting March 1st. Until then I can only tell you two things; first he is a natural style bear, and secondly, I LOVE him! I want to keep him! Don't worry, though, I won't be selfish, but usually that's a sign that a bear will be well received by collectors as well.

After creating the natural style bear I got a crazy idea to dye some alpaca green!



Perhaps, I'm just longing for some spring color in the brown and gray Ohio landscape.




It should make an interesting bear. The color makes me think of Oscar the Grouch from Sesame Street! I'm doing some pallet planning here.



This bear won't be shown in his finished form until the Blooming Bear Show. Stay tuned.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Pink Hearts and Chocolate

Happy Valentines Day! I always seem to be a bit late to the party when it comes to creating seasonally inspired Teddy Bears, but I think that my newest bear will be a welcome addition anytime of year. I hope you think so too.

Earlier this week, I went down to my studio with every intention of working on three big bears which I have in progress right now for the Bloomin Bears Online Show March 12th and 13th. Then my eyes happened to fall on a stack of pawpad fabrics (ultrasuede and wool felt) I had ordered which were waiting to be put away. The pink and brown pieces lying side by side caught my attention, and my ever distractable mind took a detour!

"OOOH, pretty... cherry cordial ice cream! yum!... pink hearts and chocolate--Valentine's Day! I must make a Valentine's Day Bear!" This speedy little train of thought took only a second to go through my head, and before I knew what I was doing, I was pushing aside my other projects, clearing the table for a big piece of pink alpaca fur!

So here is my scrumptious little Valentine-inspired cutie, Hugo.


He is available directly from me. Please click on the "available" tab above for more photos and information!