Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween  to everyone out there !

Dickie of "Hickory Dickory Dock" fame

Dickie is headed off to the UK.... he is a 7 inch mohair mouse - blue with a caramel brown backing

His "clock" is a wooden box with a clock face, hands and a steampunk variety of gears and a key...

Mother Nature ?

It looks like Mother nature is encouraging me to work more on my bears and friends. It has rained everyday... sometimes just sprinkles but other times it pours, which it is doing again right now!!  I feel like I will be turning green with mildew anytime now!!
However the rain does make for great snuggle down and sew days!!  I will post a few pictures when I can get enough light through the windows into my "studio" to take reasonable pictures.

Getting ready

Even before we left for Ireland I began working of my bears and friends for the two online shows and one actual show I have scheduled.  I am headed for the Des Moines Doll and Bear show Saturday November 8th at the State Fairgrounds - 30th and University. Then the Teddies Worldwide online show November 21 through 23rd.  Then the Bright Star online show December 5 through 8th. They should keep me working like mad for the next few weeks!!
I must admit that even though many complain about stores having Christmas item on display ( stores like Hobby Lobby and Michael's and JoAnn's) I like being able to find seasonal stuff when I am working ahead... like this past summer! AND some stuff doesn't get reordered. If I don't buy when I see something... it probably won't be there closer to the holiday.

Here is Liam... I do find time to be in-sync with the calendar!

This is Thomasina.... I was working on needle felting a pumpkin for her. But when I took it off the Styrofoam ball and was felting it even more, it morphed into a cloche hat... lol. I added a flower with leaves  from  wet felted sweaters. Her muzzle is also felted with a polymer resin sewn-on nose. Her black German glass eyes have Australian eyeliners.

Back home... more later

Here's Paddy riding  on a Hop On/Hop Off double decker bus in Dublin ... he enjoyed visiting the Guinness Station where he learned all about brewing beer... visiting a sweet shop... making pots and pots of tea ( each hotel room comes with an electric kettle and supplies) ... going to Kilarney   - seeing  its lakes ,the National Park, Ross Castle, neat old downtown with loads of shops - then onto Ennis and the Old Ground Hotel and Ennis' wonderful cafe and bakery and shops  - then onto Doolin and a ferry out to the Aran Islands where we saw  the ruins of a monastery build around 800 ad  and a fort built even earlier.  He  received a kiss from an Aran Island sweater knitter ! Then it was back to Dublin...

where a very tired Paddy relaxed in a luxurious four poster bed in the Clontarf Castle Hotel  - a real castle built in about 1200 ad and added onto over the years. The newest part is the entry to this hotel!!!