feels funny

No bear making ... no friend making... no sewing ...no knitting. Glass Dragon Bears is quiet until after Christmas!!  And that feels really really strange!   So I guess I'll have to make more cookies and get ready for Christmas!!!

We are headed to our son's on Friday for a pre-Christmas get together... and then everyone comes here for a Christmas brunch and gifts!! Looking forward to it all!

The tree is done... I finished some outside lights etc. ... Now it is time to just add little stuff!!

Thanks for looking

Thanks to those of you who went to the Bear Blitz Show and took a look... not just at my "creations" but everyone else too!!
I have really been having fun with my felt gingerbread boys.  I joined a Facebook group called "Felt Craft Lovers" started by  Jennifer Tobicoe.... members of the group are from ALL over and post pictures of their work. I am amazed by some of the creations posted.... and the makers have made me step away from bears and friends to something new....
If you are on Facebook... take a look at this group.

Bear Blitz time!!!

The Bear Blitz show is only two days long!! Lenny is my lead bear... and he comes with a felt gingerbread man to hang on the tree.  Since I use USPS Priority Mail for US shipping I expect packages to arrive before Christmas in the US !

Off to the Post Office

Bears and friends are all packed up and headed to the PO.... I usually put packages in our mailbox for our mail person to pick up.... but there were too many!   These are some from the recent online bear shows!!

busy busy busy....

Sorry I have been away for so long.... the Folk School trip to North Carolina was loads of fun ! Managed to spend the entire trip in the back seat of my son's truck ( a huge 350 Silverado) and didn't have to take a turn at the wheel at all!! Hooray!!  Thank you husband and son!!
When we ruturned I had two online bears shows to prepare for and a physical one up in DesMoines!! And a small craft show at my daughter's non-profit on Thursday.  If I can make it through next week... I only have Thanksgiving, company and a CT scan to get through!!

Not sure we'll be using the hot tub.... they are predicting snow flurries this coming Sunday!! So we are planning on layering our clothes: jackets, sweaters etc!
We are all excited about going.  Our trip will take about 13 hours of driving time plus stops for gas etc. I have done my test drive  of my son's HUGE truck... I can manage it but don't want to drive in St. Louis, Nashville, Chattanoga or on the very steeps grades in Tenn. Nor do I want to park it or back it up. I know I sound particular but it it HUGE!!
I plan on lots of pictures!

Here's a link to the school    

I'll be making the sweet grass baskets!!

Working like mad!!!

Bob, Robb , my s-i-l Ellin and I are going to the Campbell Folk School for a week's classes  at the end of the month!!   We rented a house for all of us ( on a small river with hot tub etc.) and are working on lists of what to take!!

But I have two online shows in November !!

I am working like mad to have things ready before we leave!!!  But  I don't want to insert my PayPal buttons until I am back!

Halloween felt pattern club

Jennifer of Sassy Packrat Studios  has a Halloween felt pattern club ... and a giveaway.  Her first pattern is a candy corn.... go and take a look ..

SassyPackratStudios

I am waiting  anxiously for the black bat pattern !

Thank you...

Thank you everyone who went and took a look at my "Fall Stars" bears and friends!!!

Pumpkin season??

I really enjoy making pumpkins this time of the year... usually as an accessory for my bears or bear friends. But these two are on etsy by themselves.... etsyshop  .

These are made from a vintage Malden Mills long pile fabric.... bought I bought an interesting piece of mohair upholstery fabric with woven in stripes and texture. I dyed some of it... orangey of course... and will be turning out several more pumpkins shortly.

Fall Stars show creeping closer...

Arthur Mouse is my lead "bear" ... lol.   Here is the link  

Oscar's tiny house

Oscar the Mouse has joined the tiny house craze, with the help of the resident male big person.....Oscar will not be making his debut for awhile, but his house will be showing up to show off its changes!!

Canning... spicey tomato chutney

My son and I spent the weekend canning tomatoes at his house... plain sauces and two spaghetti sauces.... but we ran out of time. So I did the tomato chutney at my house on Monday.  I ddn't end up with lots... too much cooking down to a thick saucy consistency... but it is good. I think it will make a great condiment or with cheese and crackers!!

Restored qult

Thirty plus years ago my Mother-in-law made my youngest a tied quilt using redwork squares I bought at an estate sale in Rochester, NY.   When I washed it ( the last time) the batting became all matted and nasty. I put it away and we forgot about it for  YEARS!!  At least 20 years.  I came across it earlier this year and decided to take it apart and see what could be done with it.   Then I washed the fabric... ironed it etc..... and took it to a friend who quilts for a living. 
Denise and I saw that there wasn't enough backing fabric for a standard quilt so she sewed the backing to light blue fabric... added new batting... machine quilted the whole thing and added binding in the same fabric as she used on the backing....
So now my daughter has her Grandmother's present back.... Can't wait to give it to her.... she had no idea this was in the works!!

stripping wallpaper

My son has plans for his kitchen/ dining  area.... He wants to add a combination of cupboards and serving buffet... but first the wallpaper and chair rails have to go. So that's what we did this afternoon. There have been times when stripping wallpaper was the chore from hell... but not this time!! The surface layer came off easily and with a little spraying with water the bottom layer is gone too!  He will get some wallpaper glue remover and fill  any holes . Then prime and paint.  He wants to add two sconces above the serving buffet. So adding electricity will be next weekends task!! Good thing  they know how!!

Max and his time machine

Max... and his time machine... is in the September 2016 issue of "Teddy Bear and Friends"!!!  And will be heading for Hawaii and his new home tomorrow.

Busy busy weekend....

This is a busy busy weekend!!  I have been working on my items for the next online bear show... and struggling with not being able to upload pictures from this computer to my weebly website. We did everything the chat person suggested and still no downloading.  Bob finally gave up. Luckily we have another computer... one with Windows 10 not XP and I can upload from that!!  Bob decided that there must have been some software change and now that XP isn't supported... no uploading.  It is a "pain" but the two computers do network so it is not as much of a pain as it could be!
On a more fun note.... Today is my youngest's birthday.  I remember hearing fireworks go off while I was in the hospital!  Still hearing them here!! So birthday dinner and then a few fireworks for the grandkids.  More fireworks tomorrow from "official" sites!!

Then.. another birthday next weekend. Lili will be 14... unbelievable!!

Short respite... and then two more birthdays! My middle child and her husband!!

July full of birthdays!!!

Summertime distractions

The Kansas City area , Blue Springs lies about 20 miles East, is settling in for a hotter than usual summer. We even hit 100 last week. So fans are on and the air conditioner is too !  And I have been knitting bear and bear friend sweaters... I have a friend who sends me his leftover yarn balls.  Thank you Eddie Spencer!!
Here's what I have done these past few days....

show is over

The show is over... thanks to everyone who took a look!  Bears and friends have departed via the mailman to Oregon, Michigan, Texas, Kansas and Australia!!

Teddies Worldwide Preview Opens

Sid is my preview bear and is ready to celebrate Summertime and The Fourth of July!!  Click on the link and look at all the preview bears!!

When the show opens,  June 17th,  come and take a look!!

Wonderful sunshine

Yesterday was simply gorgeous... a breezy and sunny 80 degree day!! I decided to walk the track at St. Mary's Hospital.... each loop is .3 miles and I did four! It's funny how one can walk the same amount at three different places and be really tired at one!!
Two miles is my current limit... Rotary Park, Blue Springs !  I wonder how long it will take me to push it up to three??
The weather for the next week will be warm... but with scattered thunderstorms...EVERY day!! Guess I'll be working on jellies and jams... and bears!

Thank you and back to work...

Thanks to all of you that visited the Bright Star "Spring Stars" show!! Bears and a mouse are in the mail traveling  to new homes!

AND I am back to work.  The Teddies Worldwide Show will open June 16th. The theme is teddies and friends on vacation!!  The preview voting starts June 2nd ....  I have some new ones and will be making more!!

Wild Thing II and the "Spring Stars" show

Wild Thing II was also made from that vintage lap rug.  He is my preview bear for the upcoming Bright Star "Spring Stars" online show....

Here is the link!

I have seven new bears and a mouse...

vintage lap rugs... robes

Several years ago I started hunting antique stores for vintage lap rugs or robes. You know, the heavy blankets that people used in cars or buggies before heaters....  I would make them into bears or friends. Mohair rugs are not harsh like the horsehair ones.  They usually have a wildly patterned top and a solid back.
Anyway... I found one not too long ago and have  made a bear and a mouse. 
Here is the mouse. His name is "Wild One".

Lucky me!! I found a pair of Steiff chickens at an estate sale!! Poor Mrs. Hen if she had to lay such large eggs!! Really.. they are my needle felted ones!

Thanks to all

Thanks to all who went to the Teddy Bear Extravaganza show and checked out the bears!!! I have 7 boxes all sealed and with postage labels all set to head out to new homes!!!
The two remaining bears will be heading out to Des Moines in a few weeks for the Doll and Bear show held in the Iowa State Fairgrounds....I am looking forward to the show... it is one of the few chances I have to talk to bear collectors in person!!

Teddy Bear Extravaganza

Well the show is about half way through.... it closes 4pm Eastern on Sunday afternoon. I have three bears left.....

Go and take a look ... at mine or at others!!!    TeddyBearEatravaganza    

Teddies Worldwide Teddybear Extravaganza

The Teddybear Extravaganza is open for preview voting!!!  Here is the link  Teddies Worldwide . Take a look and vote for your favorites. There are three categories... you get to vote once  in each.

                                                            William is my preview bear!!

Mina the Mouse and Teddies Worldwide

I have been working hard on bears for the Teddies Worldwide Teddybear Extravaganza held at the end of March.... as a change of pace I made Mina the Mouse ( the Extravaganza is ALL bears!).
So far, I have eight bears all ready for the show..... and I will post a link later in March.
BTW... Mina is on BearPile...

Riley

Christmas 2014 my husband bought me a pattern from Gertie Knoevelkes.... I put off making it for a year. The pattern didn't have any instructions and I wasn't sure how things would turn out... LOL.  But I finally got to work about a week ago and it turned out fine. So I made another .... and here he is!  Or she is... my grand daughter, Lili, named her/him Riley saying others could decide whether Riley is a boy or girl!!

Riley was made from RED (!!) matted mohair with a blue gray backing.   He is on BearPile  .

another online show

Online bear shows are more and more frequent. I just finished one last weekend and now and preparing for another the end of March..... The upcoming show ( Teddies Worldwide Teddybear Extravaganza) is bears only and I  am enjoying coming up with some new ideas. 
I can't post any pictures just yet!

Thomas is on etsy with his quilt

I have listed Thomas in my etsy shop..
I made Thomas from some vintage mohair... probably a seat or couch cover. His rag quilt was made from scraps... from a bandanna to Japanese tiny cupcake fabric.

Rag quilt

I have several blogs that I follow... one of them, Mama Sparks World, explained how  she made a rag quilt. I thought one of my bears could really use a rag quilt and I wouldn't mind ( not at all!) using up some of my scraps. Mama Sparks' quilt used 5 inch squares which is way too large for my bears. I emailed her about using much smaller squares and she ok'd the idea. My final squares are 3 inches.

Here it is... and here is Thomas sitting on the quilt.  It was a lot of fun... and I was careful snipping the edges so I didn't cut where I wasn't supposed to !  LOL  I now have a bag full of squares .. scraps from other projects... waiting till I have enough for another quilt.

Winter Stars online show

Bright Star's online show is getting closer and closer...

 

Here is the link

 The show opens next Friday and runs all weekend.  I have 11 bears and friends on my page!!

Lead bear? No, lead mouse

Edith is my lead.... she will come with a Valentine box of chocolates  and with a caution not to eat them!! Your teeth would not appreciate it!!  Her dress was made from a vintage hankie and is embellished with smocking along the neckline.
If you would like to see the other lead bear or buds... here is the link  .  The show will start  February 5th.

Thank you ... thank you

Thanks you everyone who went to my etsy shop and took a look!!  It was such fun watching the stats!

Now that 2016 is here I have started working on my bears for the upcoming online shows. 

Winter Stars is the first one... opening in February.... a great time to highlight Valentine bears and friends.

Bob and I spent New Year's Eve afternoon at our son's house with Lili and Dominic ( the grandkids). I still am surprised every time I see her new shorter hair but I think it looks terrific! The 8 - 10 inches  cut off ( in a ponytail with rubber band) is off to the Pantene donation site.  Some cancer patient will be wearing a glorious red wig!!