Inspirational Sunday

I only have 40 minutes before the day is technically over, and I have been wanting to do this for a while. I know that the title "Inspirational Sunday" is just a smidgen dorky, but Oh Well. I am going to emulate many many other bloggers who post pictures of things that inspire them, and I'm going to try (operative word, here) to post pics I find or take of things that inspire me, both in my art and in my life. So here goes...
First, I just love the cutout and artwork on this Christmas CD from Starbucks (from a few years back). I have no idea if the music is good, but with that sleeve, it has to be.


Also, in a holiday spirit is a vintage tiny doll dress found at a secondhand shop. I love vintage and tiny things, also red and polka dots, so this little dress takes the cake!

black cats and weddings

My llttle sister got married today! In honor of her wedding is this pic of a black kitty I made wearing a tiny vintage wedding dress. BEST WISHES TO YOU LITTLE SIS!

It's not morning sickness

Well, I'm finally starting to feel better after a solid 3 months of morning sickness. Only it hasn't been morning sickness, it's been all day and all night sickness. I know there are some women out there who are sick their whole pregnancy, and I truly cannot imagine it. I felt like I had a really bad flu constantly. I am soo thankful I am finally starting to feel better. So now maybe I can get back to all the things I was working on before....




I have several bears ready to go, they just need some cute pictures taken of them, then to Etsy they will go.
I had a pink kick awhile back, and the result was the 2 cuties shown with one of my three and a half inch pandas. They are both a smidgen under 3 inches tall. The other pink bear (most definitely a boy) will be going on Etsy tonight or tomorrow.

The change of the Seasons

It might not officially be fall yet, but in my little corner of the world, it sure feels like it is. I love the fall and have started getting my October issues of saved magazines out for inspiration and ideas for decorating. My favorite mag for inspiration was Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion, which is sadly not published anymore. One of the places I like to seasonally decorate is my mantel. This was my spring mantel.....



Here is my summer mantle, which is about to come down for my fall/Halloween mantle.



Here is one of my bigger bears in his little popcorn cone....hanging from one of my Friday Finds (the little red box of drawers).



And as I say farewell to the summer, I also send a fond farewell to 3 bears that have been adopted and sent off over the Ocean to their new home...

Past Projects and woodland themes

Here are a few pictures of a tree stump house I made way too many years back, I have been thinking alot lately about Woodland Themes, it seems like I do every Fall. Growing up, I always loved stories that had big, deep dark woods in them—The Three Bears, Snow White, Little Red Riding Hood, even Sleeping Beauty. I visited the Redwoods in California when I was thirteen, and I wanted to stay and live in the house built in a live tree (one of the tourist things) soo badly.


The tree stump was made in quarter scale (1:48th) for my micro mini bears which are around an inch tall. I had so much fun with this project, and I even made some of the furniture.

Been gone awhile

Sooo,
I've been gone awhile, and without the Internet for a couple of months. I am back, and my life seems back to normal now, but I still feel a bit unsettled and like things could change in a split second. I was on a grand adventure, but I am very glad to be back home—with my garden and my front porch where I like to sit and sew bears. I am trying to get ready for a bear show (my first ever!), and to finish different bear requests (thanks to all my dear bear customers who have waited patiently). Here are a few pics of finished bears......
Both are made of different materials than I usually use. The pink one is an antique or vintage velvet. It is an absolutely beautiful fabric, but an absolute BEAR to sew, I probably will never make a bear from it again. The other bear is made from a wispy viscose fur that I absolutely love. It is old stock from Edinburgh Imports that I have had for a long time, and had hoarded because it was discontinued. I also have a Pooh-ish yellow and light pink of this fabric, that I need to cut into.
Both bears are ADOPTED.

Panda Bear

For some reason lately, I have been fixated with little clothes that fit my bears. I have been trying out different patterns, and came up with this cute little jacket. It fits most of my little bears, which are usually in the three inch range. I have been collecting tiny vintage doll clothes, but it's hard to find really tiny pieces. I haven't decided whether I'm going to put this little panda on Etsy, or eBay. I haven't done eBay in a long time now, and I feel like if you don't list regularly, you won't get enough interest to sell them well. I have gotten myself a little stockpile of bears, now, because I was planning on doing a show sometime this year. There are 2 fairly local ones this fall.

Vintage Trifles and a long overdue post

This is a long overdue post and a little shoutout to Martha of Vintage Trifles. I purchased a little crown from her at Christmastime for one of my larger bears. (The lavender bear in the shoe).This spring, I happened upon her during an errand run, and found out about her Four Friends Sale, which I had to attend. It was so very beautifully set up, and I came home with a little bag full of goodies! She had graciously saved me some more crowns, of which one of my tiny bears is now wearing.

Here are a few pics of my goodies including French dictionary pages & pink glass glitter. Martha is such a wonderful artist. If you ever get a chance to visit one of her events, don't pass it up!

Yummi Shop

My daughter is growing so fast! She is not quite 2 yet but can already wear 3t! People don't mistake her for a boy as often as they used to.
I found this little sweet shop in a thrift store, and thought it was soo cute, and it matched my Yummi-bears theme. I think it was probably made in the sixties or seventies. Some of the treats in the window have come unglued, and I don't know how I would go about fixing that. I am going to paint new signs for the missing ones.
I am really curious to know if there are any other themed shops like this. It is just the front of the store, and it hangs on the wall. If anybody out there in blogland has seen anything like this, drop me a note or a pic....

new on ebay and etsy

I put an elf bear on ebay, I started him at .99 cents, just to do something different. Then I listed a little pig I made, and listed that on eBay at .99 cents, too! The elf bear is ending today, the piggie has 6 days left. I also put a valentine panda on Etsy (sold already) Thank you Anne-Sophie!
Elf Bear ending today and
Pig ending in 6 days