How gorgeous is this......

Linda Benson of Benson Bears is having another giveaway! How cute is this little guy! You just have to come up with his name for a chance to win him!

There's no place like home...

Well we are finally back in our house after 6 months and I have to say feeling a bit unsettled, which I guess is only natural. We really enjoyed our trip to SE Asia. It had its highs and lows and at times was difficult but when you look back all the bad parts just fade away.It did make us appreciate the easy life we have living in Australia.

One of the highlights of the trip was a visit to The Patara Elephant farm near Chiang Mai ,Thailand. The farm is family owned and they are doing a wonderful job of caring for the elephants. They rescue them from circuses, logging and poaching. We were elephant owners for the day which meant doing their health check, cleaning and washing them, feeding them and taking them for a walk in the jungle. It was very scary perching on top of the elephant and excruciatingly painful on the inner thighs!! Giving Nui a brush before her wash

Not looking very comfortable!

Another highlight was our 5 day motorbike ride through the Central Highlands of Vietnam. I was a bit worried about spending 5 days on the back of a bike but our guides were great. They took us to all sorts of places we wouldn't have seen if we were on our own. And it felt a lot safer than being in a bus. The bus drivers are crazy - they overtake cars and bikes that are already overtaking vehicles. And the fact that there is a truck coming towards you doesn't seem to bother them. It was scary stuff!!

Setting off from Dalat to Hoi An

At the end of our trip we went to Sapa in the far north of Vietnam. We did a two day trek through the terraced hillsides .We were accompanied by heaps of hilltribe women and children who at the end of the walk wouldn't leave us alone until we bought something.They are really lovely friendly people.

This woman from the Red Dao tribe was sewing as she walked along.

Climbing down the terraces - it was muddy and slippery.It was also very cold and misty.

Worldwide Teddies Holiday Bear Show...

Well the show has begun and what a wonderful selection of bears are available for adoption.


To see whats for sale go to http://www.teddiesworldwide.com/


Wee Nick was one of the bears I had for sale but he is now off to USA

Woodend -- here we come....

Well its only a few days now till the Woodend Teddy Bear Show. I'm looking forward to the show and catching up with friends and family while I am in Melbourne for the week.

Meet Tobias who's ready for a game of tennis and Roslin .These are just two new bears who will be looking for homes at the show.

Valentino Retrospective ...

Last weekend I went to the Brisbane Gallery of Modern Art to see the Valentino Retrospective Exhibition. Some of the dresses were just beautiful and the workmanship - all done by hand - totally amazing. Some of course over the top and not my thing at all! If you get the chance to see it it's worth a visit.I tried uploading some pics but they seem to be copyright protected.

I have also just finished "Fey" a 2"/5cm miniature bear. She is currently being auctioned on ebay and you can see more pics of her there.

Finally finished.....

This is the little bear I made with Linda B while at the Gold Coast in June. Brigit and I had a spare day so what better way to spend it than to make a beautiful Benson Bear creation. Thanks Linda for sharing your skills and talents.

Since then I've made "Podge" - an open mouthed bear, made from sassy mini bear fabric who is just 10cm/4" tall and has a fat tum!!! For more pics click here

How time flies!!!

I can hardly believe its been over two months since I blogged! But life seems to have been busy - sewing , quilting , dancing etc. I've finally finished the bear I made with Linda Benson while we were staying at the Gold Coast. Just have to take his pic. But I have been making several little bears. This is the latest - Dylan a 3.25" /8 cm bear sitting on his little rocking horse. He's made from sassy mini bear fabric and I've knitted his little jacket.

Elysia and Nissa the Nasturtium Elf

Elysia

Nissa the Nasturtium Elf

Well the Fantasy Ball is well under way and above are two of my bears that have been adopted.

Baby Filbert the dragon and Lilla are still looking for new homes.

Don't forget to vote for your favourite bear or critter in the Australian Creative Design Awards. Baby Filbert

Lilla

Not long to go...

Its only 6 sleeps until the Fantasy Ball . Don't forget to vote for your favourite entry in the Australian Creative Design awards. Here's another Sneak Peek of my critters you'll see at the Fantasy Ball.

I've also just finished Baby Alaska a miniature polar bear. He is currently being auctioned on ebay. You can see more pictures on ebay.

A Sneak Peek

I am just about to head south for a short break so thought I would whet your appetite with a "Sneak Peek" of the bears and critter I will have for sale at Teddy Bears and Critters Fantasy Ball which is an online show from 31st May to 6th June.

May Labour Day weekend

We just spent the weekend at Bell, a small country town at the base of the Bunya Mountains about 3 1/2 hours drive from Brisbane. We were there for the wedding of Jess and Adam. The service was held in the very small chapel at Jimbour and then drinks and canapes were at Jimbour house a very old building , with beautiful grounds.

Jess looked absolutely stunning as did the bridesmaids and the little flower girl and page boy were a delight. I mustn't forget Adam and his boys - all dressed in their long coats somewhat reminiscent of Mr.Darcy

Soooo. ... cute!

The reception followed back at Bell in the memorial hall. The country hall had been transformed and it looked amazing. Jess who is an events manager for Brisbane Convention Centre did a fantastic job.
It was a great wedding - good food , wine and plenty of dancing.

Busy,busy,busy.....

Life seems to have been so busy lately with little time to do the things I want to do. But things are settling down now and I can back into my bearmaking,quilting and painting. I am madly working on my pieces for Teddy Bears and Critters "Fantasy Ball" of which the deadline is looming.

Sally is my latest creation that is currently being auctioned on ebay . You can view more photos there. This is the first time I have used Lou Bear fabric from South Africa and I was pleased with the result. It is a combination of mohair and viscose. It doesn't show up well in the photo but is actually a very pale pink.

I'm Back...

Well its a long time since I did a post .... too much has been going on .... so my bearmaking has been very quiet. But I'm back with a few new littlies.

I finished Flossy last night - soo cute!

Flossy the miniature bunny is just 1.75"/4.5cm tall. I knitted her little jacket - how fiddly. I'm so pleased that Judy has her knitting needles out again! Flossy is being auctioned on ebay .Click here for more info and photos.

The next little fellow is Davy who is 3"/7.5cm tall and is having a great time on his rocking horse.He is wearing a hand knitted jacket made by my friend Judy Buist

To purchase Davy go to ebay.

And finally here is Mackenzie wearing a silk ribbon and vintage lace. Mackenzie is 3.5"/9cm tall.For more photos and to purchase go to ebay

Maleny has had only 7 rain free days since the beginning of Feb and we are getting very tired of this weather. I am amazed at how quickly mold starts growing and washing just doesn't want to dry. I had to resort to the dryer today. The mold even grows on the inside of the windows!! Anyway at least we have plenty of water not like those in the southern parts of Oz.

Time For A Sneak Peek!

Just thought I'd whet your appetite with a "Sneak Peek" of my bears for the "Be My Valentine"online bear show which is being held on 13th & 14th Feb. Thanks to Linda B and Linda D for help with this!

Benson Bears Blogiversary and a Giveaway!!

For all those bear lovers out there - you have a chance to become the proud owner of a Benson Bear! Just take a look at Bears in The Bush blog for a chance to win. Heres the link http://bensonbears.blogspot.com/2010/01/blogiversary-and-give-away.html

I have 3 minature Benson Bears in my collection , made by Linda in the 90's. They are quite different from the realistic bears Linda now makes but I still love them.

Rain ,Rain and More rain...

Well its been raining here since Christmas Eve and there is more to come! We shouldn't complain as now our water tanks are overflowing and everywhere is looking lush and green! The cows in the paddock over the road are certainly enjoying the luscious grass which grows at an incredilbly quick rate here. You need to mow about every 5 days or else it just gets away!
Finally my bears are finished for the Be My Valentine on line bear show being held on 13th and 14th Feb. When I work out how to do it I'll post a "Sneak Peek"
Below is "Michel" another little creation wearing a hand knitted dress made by Judy Buist. She is currently being auctioned on ebay.

Vegetarian Christmas Turkey

I just had to share the photo below with you. My son is a vegetarian and for Christmas Day he cooked a rather unusual turkey!!!

Fruit mince turkey,roadside roo and wombat!

Greetings...

There hasn't been much work done as far as bears go for some time, but with Teddy Bears and Critters "Be My Valentine Show" deadline looming I really need to get my act together and do some bear making, but there always seems to be something in the way! And I find it very hard to concentrate when so much is going on. The most recent bear I made was the Christmas gift for the quilting group. Actually it's a pin cushion - poor bear!!

Anyway I'd like to thank everyone for your support during 2009 and wish you all a happy and safe festive season whatever you do and see you in 2010.

How gorgeous is this....

Linda Benson of Benson Bears is having another giveaway! To have a chance of winning you just have to come up with a name for this cute little guy.

More Quilting

In November I started making a convergence quilt / wall hanging.which was a project I'd had in mind for a while but just couldn't get started. I followed the instructions in Ricky Tims book "Convergence Quilts" I used four fat quarters of fabric which were cut into strips and joined and then cut and pieced again. I found it hard to visualise the end result and hoped the fabrics work well together. I used some Japanese fabric. The Japanese pine tree motif has been machine and hand quilted and appliqued.
I'm really happy with the end result and I will probably hang it in my bedroom.