Tuesday 29 December 2009

The Aftermath

Well that's it, another year over and roll on 2010.
Boy that's weird, I keep wanting to type 2001.
We had our second Christmas day yesterday, now don't thinking we are
all glutinous fiends on the fens................my poor Mum and Dad couldn't get on Christmas day
as the roads were lethel , with ice and my Dad was so disappointed
that I promised that as soon as they could get,
I would cook them another diner LOL Full or what!!!

I was very naughty on Boxing day and lets just say (hopefully)
we will have a new member of the family tomorrow or Thursday (knowing our post)

He needs a little tender loving care as he has horrible brown stitches
on his back, he needs a name.......................I mean every bear should have a name,
shouldn't they
I will reveal all when he arrives, with piccies of the op!!

I have listed 2 lovely bears on ebay this week, they are my old style bears
The first is Archie, he is made gorgeous tipped matted mohair, which I happen to love



and Christopher






Happy New Year xxx
Beary Hugs
Sue




Thursday 24 December 2009

Happy Christmas xxxxxxxx



Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas





This Briar Rose and the little girl above is Mulbeary
They are both on EBAY at the moment

We have had a busy few weeks down the fens
and our covering of snow this week has certainly
hampered proceeding these last few days

We have had buckets but it looks so pretty
Not very good driving conditions at all and
I will have to venture out today to get my last
minute bits.
I can't say I have really enjoyed my snow days,
normally they would be met with glee but
this time I caught a bug off my daughter, who was ill
on Saturday/Sunday. It is a particularly nasty bug
and actually sent me to bed, the thought of Christmas dinner is
..........................well lets just say I am not looking forward to it.
The silver lining is I have lost half a stone since Monday LOL

Anyway I hope you all have a joyous Christmas day and
you all get your hearts desire from Santa

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

Beary Hugs
Sue

Friday 4 December 2009

Brandy Snap and the National Debt

Well I am organised for Christmas, not unusual I hear you cry, it is after all December. For me it is a miracle, many a year past I have been rushing around at the last minute and wishing I have another week to go. This year I was determined to beat the clock, not least because I always end up the week before Christmas parting with the equivalent of the national debt to a major supermarket. Not this year, before you are all impressed, LOL. I will have to confess, the economy has forced me to make tough decisions this year and credit cards at Christmas are a big no. I faced the Autumn with a slight tear in my eye, impending doom were the key words. Have I spent less, well actually no, in fact I have spent a tad more than previous years, no magic wand or secret I have just made a plan and slowly eaten away at it, week by week. I have to say that beary sales have been good these last few months, enabling me to pay for shows and ads which normally I have to pay for from my salary, you never get rich making bears, don't you know its an addiction not a business LOLOLOL.

So if you are feeling frazzled at the moment, here is a hug (())


Beary wise I have a gorgeous bear on ebay at the moment called Brandy Snap, he is about 8 inches tall and is one of my aged bears, I do love making them.

Brandy Snap


I hope you like him as much as I do, he will be on ebay till Sunday



Well Beary Hugs for now
Sue xx

Saturday 28 November 2009

Holly and Berry on ebay

ADOPTION FEE £50 +p&p
Well Hi everyone, as per usual I am apologising for being abscent, I really must try harder because I do love blogging but November has been filled with shows and Christmas shopping. I am at the point where I have now ran out of money and still have a few things to buy !!!!
Typical, every year I get to this point and vow that next year I will be very good and save for Christmas, so I am determined in January to save. You could say its my first resolution for the new year LOL. Wonder how long it will last. I do envy those organised bods who have it all sewn up by the end of September, must be a fabulous feeling.

I have listed not one but two bears on ebay to finish Sunday (29th) teatime. The first is Holly (above) she was both a pleasure and a pain to make. The pleasure being herself, such a cutie. The pain all those Ivy leaves, making them was ok but I did have some fun joining all the leaves together at the end. As you can see though it was well worth it, she's a beaut.



NOW SOLD
This little fella is Berry and he is adorned by my famous hand made wings, his velvet is amazing, all tiny little rectangles of colour.

Ebay

So please say hi to them on ebay, they will appreciate it
Beary Hugs
Sue xxx

Thursday 15 October 2009

My Pandora's Box



For those that have met me, will know that I am a very positive person and that althougth I have my ups and downs, I am not down for long


I have found in my life that this positivity has been a blessing in many ways. But deep within my soul I have a Pandora's Box and occasionally this box is flung wide open to reveal its content to the world.


I have just seen this on facebook and my tears are now flowing


Please spare a thought for all those souls, who never had the chance to see life and say a small prayer for all the grieving parents around the world


I thank you from the bottom of my heart


Sue xx

Matthew John Pemblington
2nd August 1989 to 11th August 1989
Cherished always

Friday 9 October 2009

Podge and another year older!!!

Well another year older yesterday, I would like to say that time flies when you are having fun!!! but this year, as you know, life has had its ups and downs and the same could be said for yesterday.
The day started well with cards and phone calls but went down hill fast when I went to my car, pulled out of the drive and nooooooooooo power at all.
So off we goes to the garage and I am now £100 lighter, that on top of paying for the road fund licence and timing belt at £425 a few weeks ago ................if I could post a very unhappy face I would, LOL.
The day ended with a very cheesed off hubby, who was in a mood!!!! Men always pick those days don't they. Now if it was me I would have made the effort to be nice to him, but nooooo thats too much to ask........................good job I love him, that's what I say.
Luckily I had purchased my own present awhile back from my local bear shop, its a small shop in Bourne and jam packed to the rafters with loads of bears.......................just a feast to your eyes.
So if ever you are around my neck of the woods, it's well worth a visit
Teddy Bear and Friends of Bourne
Ok I know you are wanting to ask which bear said "take me home". Well it was "The Bell Boy" by Steiff, he is a sumptuous pearl grey fella and gorgeous.

I also update my website yesterday and added a wee bear called "Podge"
I hope you like him, he has a very rotund appearance and I am very pleased with how he turned out, I hope you agree






Well another day, another pound, so have to go now. Hope you all have a lovely weekend
Beary Hugs
Sue xxx

PS It's Christmas Day 11 weeks today LOLOLOL xx

Wednesday 16 September 2009

Lost, facebook and life !!!





I am feeling quite upbeat at the mo, after what can only be described, in the dear words of our Queen, as an Annis Horriblus. Everything now seems to be heading in the right direction and the season of goodwill is just around the corner (14 weeks!!!!)

Last week our daughter returned to college to start A levels, nothing unusual about that, but believe me it has been a fight. It all started 2 years ago, when we went to her secondary school to pick up her GCSE results, to say she was gutted was an understatement (3 A-C's the rest D's). She did not achieve the grades she required to do A levels. Needless to say she was devistated

I do believe that our schools are failing our children. During her time at school she had no homework, no books and any work done was not returned marked. Suffice it to say they announced the schools closure last week.

My biggest concern is that the education system teaches our children that you have to go to university, that no other life exists. I have always tried to teach her that she is a valuable human being and she can achieve anything, if she works at it.

That was borne out by her attitude these last two years, where she upped her English and Maths grades to a respectable C (even though the college discovered her to be dyslexia) Whilst at the same time doing a Business and Retail course, followed by a further Business course.
She has gone from her 3 little GCSE's to the equivalent of 10, 1 AS at A grade and a full A level. Due to changes in her course she made the decision to swap to A level, it was not easy and she was full of self doubt, not me though, the result.......................

She is loving every minute of it

My daughter, through determination is now following her dream.
So if you have a dream, however small, take little steps today, tomorrow you could be on your way to better things.

On a personal front I have finally joined Facebook, I can be found under FenBeary Folk. It has been a revelation, I have loads of friends already, so if you want to be my friend...........

Bear wise I have just listed wee "Lost" he is one of my aged bears and he has such a sweet face, his adoption fee is £45 +p&p


Told you he was sweet LOL!!!


Friday 4 September 2009

Nottingham Bear Fair


On Bank Holiday Monday I was at The Nottingham Bear Fair
...............and what a day it was, fabulous.
I had to part with quite a few bears but as they all went to live with some very nice collectors, I didn't mind too much. The day could have been a disaster, mainly due to the fact that several stall holders had to cancel at the last minute. I hasten to say the turn out was superb and the bears...............................well what can you say, they were all stunning.
If ever you get the chance to attend a small local fair then I would urge you to do so. In this current climate I have found that there is less focus on internet selling and an increase in buying a bear in the fur, so to speak. Not so difficult to understand why really, as less money means that people are more careful, me included.

As per usual I had a mad rush in the final hours, hehehe!!!
Typical, it doesn't matter how well I think I am organised I always end up at the last minute with loads of bears to finish and too little time.

This little fella is called Berry Elfdancer


He is just under 4 inches tall and is now available on my website
Berry Elfdancer

Please take a peak, I am sure he will be glad to see you

Huggies
Sue xxxx

Thursday 30 July 2009

Tutti Fruitti and Ice Cream



The devils in the detail.....................no it's in the ice cream!!!!
Well I had a bad week, last week, with the ole diet, I knew I was in trouble the moment my 2 caught sight of the BOGOF Magnums in Sainsburys. The trouble with diets is, if you stray from the straight and narrow, then you sin big time. Why is it, we always think of dieting in terms of weeks, is it just because you weigh your self every week?
Well anyway that was my starting point of my slide, next came a toasted sandwich......................................the damage, gained a pound, not too bad after all.
So, Monday I got straight back on the proverbial horse ;)

On the beary front, I have listed a bear on Ebay here's the link
Tutti Fruitti is a little unique, you may remember me trying my hand at dying. My first effort, was a little, um, lets just say, not that good, hehe!!! My next effort resulted in Tutti, I was really pleased with how she turned out, especially as I am a bit of a "go for it girl" and just mixed a few colours together. The result is a gorgeous shade of muted mauve/mulberry.
She will be on ebay til Sunday night and I hope you pay her a visit.

Beary Hugs for now
Sue
XXXX

PS I have a blog award, yipee from Ann-Marie at Bear Me Too
Thank you, I will hopefully have my choice of sites that inspire me at the weekend but it really is hard to choose from all the great sites, til then, xxx.




Friday 24 July 2009

Edward and The diet, um healthy eating


I have been so very very busy i forgot to mention I was back on my diet.
In the last 4 weeks I have lost a stone
I have spent a lifetime being told that I needed to stop eating too much and to stop eating rubbish. I could never get it, how can you stop eating rubbish, when you don't eat it in the first place?
I have been told that I needed self control, a padlock on the fridge, to stop buying sweets/chocolate/biscuits/crisps etc.......................well meaning people then offer advice on what I should be eating!! Then when I say I am eating what they suggest and not eating rubbish, you get the look.........................it's a look of pity crossed with disbelief followed by a "you are in denial" smile.
I hate clothes, I hate shopping for them even more but I am a wandering. After I had read the book 6 years ago, I followed the diet and lost 6 and half stone in a year. You see it wasn't my fault, wheat made me this way. Unfortunately migraines put all diets on hold and the weight went back on, so here I am again. I didn't put it all back on but I have about 4 stone to go. I will post every now and again and let you know how I am doing, but wish me luck, life can be tough, wheat is in everything
XXX

Anyway, onto nice beary things
This is Edward, who is now on my website, with a few of his beary friends.
Please pay him a visit, I am sure he would like it, he is on the Old style Bears page


I have also had a blog and website overhaul!!! Teaching myself a bit of html, hehe!! Nothing too complex, backgrounds, borders, colours etc. I hope you like it

Beary Hugs
Sue
xxxxx

Monday 13 July 2009

Kelham Bear & Doll Fair


The other Sunday I attended my second bear fair of the year, I do like a fair, it's such a lovely way to spend the day, chatting to new and old faces. Kelham Hall is a very Gothic Victorian Manor near Newark, Notts. An absolutely gorgeous setting both inside and out. Well worth a visit. It was a mixed day, with crowds seen queing outside before the doors opened but it did go quite flat in the afternoon, which left a bit of time to discuss "mice tails" with Bobby's Bears and Jenni's Bears. Something I will be trying courtesy of Bobby who very kindly gave me some fine sand stuff for filling!!! sorry I can't remember the name of it...............old age you know.
I did of course take a few new ones with me, I do like to have a good number of new ones for collectors to see, but sadly there is always one you don't quite finish!!!!
A new 4 inch Fairy Bear will be making his debut next week.......;)
This is Cerulean, he is a little 4 inch boy, who just reminded me so much of a beautiful Kingfisher, sadly he didn't quite find a new home, so will be on my website, tomorrow.


This sweetie is Magenta, a really really gorgeous pink little lady, who will also be venturing onto my website tomorrow

Speaking of websites, got a little fed up of mine, it didn't really work that well for me, so I had a bit of a think and a rummage and I found loads of stunning victorian clip art pictures. It is as always a work in progress!!!!! so be kind and sorry if the piccies take a long time to loan, I am working on it, hehe!!!!


Wednesday 17 June 2009

Blueberry and life


Well long time no post, as they say.
Life in the FenLand household has seen quite a few highs and lows these last few weeks, surfice it to say, I am not sure if I have met myself coming back yet but there was something vaguely familiar about this woman I passed last week, hehe LOL.
Oh where to begin, I will not bore you with the very personal stuff, lets just say it can be a tough life sometimes and Gordon (Brown) if you are reading this, Please flippin well do something about the pirates, no not the Carribean ones, the Credit card ones!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anyway enough of that depressing stuff and on to lighter things................
I would like to introduce Blueberry, he is my latest wee chubby little fella. He was for a birthday present and winged his way to N. Ireland the other week.


I am glad to say he was a hit, which is just as well because I adored his cute chubby cheaks and the little tummy he has, so he nearly didn't go anywhere!! I am still very busy with commissions and for every bear I make I seem to add 2 more to my order book, which is lovely.

A bear that I made a while ago for my mum's reunion group The Prince Rupert School, Wilhemshaven, Germany was in a raffle at the Annual Reunion, the bear went down a storm and will be featured in their newsletter which is due out in July. I understand that there quite a few enquiries about the bear, so I may be making a few more, just cross your fingers for me.............................the credit card monster has to be fed somehow, you know!!

Ah, yes, my baby was 18 last week.....................OMG did I just say 18, I really can't get my head around this one. I swear I have only just stopped buying nappies, I blinked and she grew up. I can't say that it makes me feel broody, its more of a nostalgic feel and a scream of

"NO I AM NOT THAT OLD YET"

I am one proud mum, she is a credit to herself- kind, thoughtful and caring.

Other beary news, the BBAA are fast approaching (entry by 31st July, piccies by September, I think) and planning is underway...........in my head though. I think I will enter two catagories this year, its all a bit scary. I was in the beginners class last year and boy was that tough but if you don't enter then you don't strive to be the best you can be and push your boundaries, well that what I think.

Bye bye for now and lots of beary hugs to you all

Sue

XXXXXXXXXXX

Thursday 7 May 2009

Bourbon

I would like you all to meet Bourbon, he is tricky little fella, who just wouldn't be photographed for love nor money, hehe!!!!
He is a gorgeous chocolate brown colour and measures a wee 3 3/4 inches tall.
He is 5 way cotter-pin jointed and filled with glass beads and top quality fibre fill.
He has tiny little black boot button eyes and I have both shaded and needle sculpted around his eye sockets


He is available from me via my blog at the moment, website issues!!!!!
So if you would like to give little Bourbon a home, his adoption fee is £35 plus £5 UK p&p and £8 overseas p&p



Many thanks for visiting Bourbon, hopefully I will be able to sort the website probs soon
Huggies for now
Sue xxxx

Sunday 3 May 2009

Blossom and the weekend


Well its back to work today, after the long weekend. I had a great weekend but have woken with neck ache and a bad head this morning.............................that taxman has a lots to answer for!!!! I swear its the stress of it, I checked the website but its the same as it was last week, so I have a horrible feeling that the tech guys didn't fix the problem.
Anyway summer is on the way, this is the cherry blossom tree in the front of the garden and the other picture is of our mad rampant Clemetis that covers our sewage system.


Isn't it fabulous


If ever you need a fast going pretty climber to cover something unsightly then a Clemetis is your gal.

I have revamped my blog this weekend, do you like it? I also spent an age trying to match my website to it, boy was that fustrating. Webs is great but it does have its limits, especially when you are not that computer savvyed. Hubs eventually fell out with me, well it did take most of Saturday and Sunday morning !!!! oops ;) I do hope the lady who made the graphics doesn't mind but I did put a link to her blog on the front of my home page, her designs are very beautiful.

Speaking of family, my baby has finally grown up, NO not my daughter, Hubs, I mean.
We didn't go to the truck festival, he decided that it wasn't worth it and we couldn't really afford it. I was so shocked I nearly fainted, a few years ago, he would have sulked and stamped a few feet, but not know, I am so proud of him. He was disappointed but very adult about it!!!!
I finished a little bear, who is patiently waiting a name and also work on a little blue bear for a commission, so very busy as ususal.
Yesterday we went to a caravan shop, we had a nice look round, it was a "what I would do if I won the lottery" trip. For second hand vans, they were a bit expensive but a lot had sold stickers on and times of collection. I am sure you could get a good deal on a brand new van right now, as these were about the £10,000 mark. We had a look at tents.....................um, I really don't think they are for me though, I just imagined myself cooking on a camp stove, with the dog running around and my blood pressure rose instantly.

To finish off, I thought you might like to see this, it was taken with my camera and I have never used the video facility before, so its very short but here is Dixie enjoying the water.
Funny she hated it as a puppy, we had to make crazy patterns in the air to entice her.......................................be careful what you wish for, this is now her favourite toy and it does cause problems when you are trying to water the plants that you have just lovingly planted, hehe!!!!!!!! She tramples everywhere to get to the hose pipe.

Friday 1 May 2009

Bear of the month and the tax man


This is Algernon, he is my bear of the month for May. He is a really early bear of mine (no.19) and as such is a softie and quite light in weight. He can be found by clicking the link, which takes you through to my website. I started the bear of the month awhile ago for members of my website, all you need to do is to register, its free. Algernon is available for £42 plus postage.
I hope you agree he really is a little different but sweet none the less.

Arrrrrrrrrrrrghhh the taxman!!!!! I was a really good girl last week and submitted my tax return, now before you are all too impressed, I am due a refund and just that little bit will get me up to date with my bills. After a few days I checked my account and it was telling me a funny message about "nothing to view", so last Friday I rang them and was told everything was fine and no further action was required by the taxman. Great money in a few days!!!! Move forward to this week, no cash, ooops and a few swear words!!!! I rang again yesterday and was told they had not received my return (submitted online)!!!!!?????? What??? It was in limbo, LIMBO, sorry the taxman doesn't do limbo, its automatic, computer generated. Did I have a submission number...........................................YES!!!!!!! I did, she couldn't help me, ring back in a month!!!! NO, I don't think so, I would be toast, bills wise, if I have to wait a month. When I got home I checked my printed submission and YES it declared the tax man had received it, so like a dog with a bone I rang again. It just shows you that if your gut tells you something is wrong then it probably is. This time I spoke to a lovely lady who told me the computer tax calculator had gone wobbley and the tech guys were going to fix it this weekend, as a result you can submit your tax return but everything after that is suspended. I have not got a clue if my money will turn up next week or if I have to wait for someone to manually check my submission.
I am sure that some of you are wondering if I make all this up, for those that regularily read my blog (and for that I am truely grateful) will know my path in life is never a smooth one, hehe!!
No my life is really like this, I think that when I was born, God saw my future struggles and gave me a rod of iron down my back and blessed me with the most optimistic nature, otherwise I think I would have gone mad by now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hubs says I am just bl**dy minded, um!!!
The plans for the weekend were to go to the truck festival, I even have discount vouchers for the entrance but now I am not so sure what to do, it's not my cup of tea. I do think hubby deserves a break though and maybe I will surprise him ;)
Anyway have a beautiful weekend whatever you are up to XXX
Huggies
Sue xx

Monday 27 April 2009

A Present, Man Flu and Other Stuff


Look what I received in the post, all the way from South Africa. Remember I mentioned a lovely surprise last Saturday when I got home from the craft fair, well this was it.
It came from a lovely lady whom I met through blogland, I am not sure if she would mind me telling you her name so for now she will be anonymous. The card is one of Catherine Young's (Bumpkin Bears) and is just beautiful and such quality. The little fella I have named Huggles, he is so soft and squiggy, he is made in South Africa (not China) and is embelished with little roses. There was also a key ring embroidered with a taxi on, which I am told is the source of some fun in South Africa and a gorgeous piece of mini bear fabric. I am not sure what I really did to deserve these things, I only offered a little advice and some support for a new bear maker. She really has a talent for this bear stuff and she is already making very sweet lovely bears and she has not been making them for long. So go girl............................................................................I have met some lovely people in this bear business of ours, who are willing to give encouragement, advice and tips. The help I recieved in the begging was invaluable and without it I would not have gotton this far, so to all the bear makers out there who do give freely of their time and advice I thank you from the bottom of my heart and to the lady in SA I thank you because you didn't have to, but you did, and it was wonderful to know you appreciated my words.

Well this weekend was quite, after the last few weekends I chilled out at home, only venturing to do the supermarket dash. We have an invalid at home at the moment, hubs has had a "cold" or "man flu" for the last few weeks, you now the sort that lingers, never to completely come out nor disappear. To be fair he has been in a lot of pain with his face, nose and joints.....................................actually EVERY BIT OF HIM HURTS, don't laugh he really is ill!!!!! Whilst I am sympathetic, I am getting fed up with having to raid our local pharmacy every day for potential remedies, of course it isn't a simple cold with the added problem of the rape flowering in the field opposite, its a chest infection, or "I don't know what I've got" infection. My opinion is he is run down, its been a rough few years since we lost his mum and I did warn him he was pushing himself too hard, not sleeping etc BUT I have been gracious and not said the "I TOLD YOU SO"................................................................don't worry I will get it in at some point. One thing he did do was pull the caravan out for an overhaul.................................not sure why as we can't afford to go anywhere at the moment, like everyone else we have very little spare money, in fact we are on a minus each month.....................come on Gordon Brown, sort it out. I felt a little teary eyed I must say, for years we didn't go on holiday, you don't miss what you have never had and then friends suggested we go with them on a Sun holiday (the newspaper) they are great and very very cheap. Until then we didn't realise how important it was to have a break away from your everyday life, you see the holidays stopped again when we got our GSD Dixie, we left her once with my mum and we spent the whole week worrying, we could tell things were not hunky dorry at home. Dixie had ripped the wall paper, demolished the bathroom carpet, growled at my dad and mum had to sleep on the settee with the dog for the first 3 nights. We then didn't holiday that next 18 months and it was aweful. So last year we bought a caravan from ebay, its a cracker, a biggy. We had to buy an older 4x4 to tow it but there is 3 of us and a dog. Now before you all mutter carbon footprint, we use this 4x4 for holidays and the thing does about 1500 miles a year so not a lot of carbon. It is currently off the road due to no MOT or tax, I let it lapse at the end of last year........................christmas coming and all that......................bad move, as we now have to spend money on that as well. I totted up how much money we needed and then screwed it up again...........................................................:(
I have also re-listed William on ebay............see I told you ebay and I were a bit at odds with each other. I have lowered his reserve and listed him at that starting point. He did get a lot of watchers, bless him and some bids but ebay seemed very quite this week, with several artists not selling. I told him (William) it's not cos they don't love you, I am sure there are a few collectors out there that would love to give you a home BUT its the way of the world at the moment, don't cry!!!! Hehehe!!!
Bye bye for now
Huggies Sue xx

Monday 20 April 2009

Ebay and A Raffle Win


William on ebay
Well I have finally listed William on ebay for 7 days, ending on Sunday night at 7.29pm. I have started him at 99p with a reserve at £55, no takers yet but I do have several watchers. But boy was it a hassle to list him, burnt dinner ensued!!!! I use Activa listing template and since my last listing in February they have changed it all and I lost all my templates!!! So I decided to just go with ebay this time, ok higher fees but at least it would be done in time to dish up dinner!!! Not so, I couldn't put my arrow in the description box at all, no matter how hard I tried, it was not having any of it. I have to admit to loosing my temper at this point and we had charcoal chicken for lunch.........................a new flavour!!!!! I eventually gave up and tried again later with Auctiva and it all worked, I can never firgure computers out they baffle me. I am not sure if he will sell, he is gorgeous and I am very happy with him but ebay and I don't have a great selling relationship, buying is a different matter. I seem to see bargains everywhere, especially when I am broke, like now. The so called "credit crunch" bit us in the poverbial butt last September and like everyone else I feel we are paying for the mistakes made by our banks. Don't get me on this one as I will be on my soap box for days, hehe!!! BUT why are the credit card companies INCREASING their interest rates when the Bank of England has reduced the base rate to vertually zero!!!! Come on Gordon Brown most of us home owners locked our mortgages into fixed rates!!! So has the drop in rates been helpful, NO!!!! Of soap box, yes you can do it gal, just step off ;)

Anyway I had a very busy weekend, on Saturday I rushed off shopping at 9am and did a supermarket sweep in 20 minutes, rushed home, unloaded shopping and loaded the car with my beary things. I have to say I was cursing "him who has man flu" all the way round, he insisted the shopping was done before I went off for the afternoon.
Ok let me back track a few months, I was asked if I would like to exhibit in a local craft fair, by a lovely lady called Avril, who is one of my daughters Kung Fu teachers. I said "yes, no probs, just let me know when.........................!" Well it was Saturday, so grumpy (hubby by another name) was none too happy, you see I had my quota of days out (1) for the last 3 months when I went to Nottingham on Bank Holiday Monday, only 5 days previous, how dare I???!!!!
So off I trots, now I didn't actually expect to sell anything and to be truthful that was not the point, I was on the artist bear promotions trail. It was a lovely afternoon and no, I didn't sell but I had loads of lovely questions and conversations about bears and "what an artist bear was". I donated a bear for the raffle and was very pleased when he was picked on the 3rd ticket, although a little girl won the first ticket and nearly picked him up, much to the dismay of several watchers but Quality Streets were her choice in the end. In the end he went to a very nice lady, who I had spend a good while in conversation earlier. At these things, I have a history of never winning anything and as more and nore tickets were pulled, the object of my desires sat there taunting me and I just knew we were destined not to be together...........................................................................................but I WON and grabbed this painting as fast as fast can be, It is painted by Avril of Kung Fu and it just classy, don't you think?


So the moral for today, give yourself freely, as you never know what will happen!!!!! I had another little surprise in the post when I got home, but more of that later!!!
Feel free to pay William a visit, he will be happy to see you in cold ebayland, his link is just below his picture.
Huggies for now
Sue xx

Friday 17 April 2009

An Old Bear - William


I would like you to meet William, now he is very special to me. Why??? I adore old looking bears and have wanted to "have a go" for ages. I think each artist must have, in their head, the idea of the perfect bear that they would like to make, some aim for a modern bear but for me I have wanted to try ageing a bear since I started this wonderful journey. The thought of where to start has, to be honest, put me off, the idea that you have to desecrate a gorgeous piece of mohair by plucking and "painting" is a really difficult thing to get a handle on, but as the burning need has been gathering a pace for many months now, I decided to just go for it.
William is the first, I have to say the little imp gave me bruises from the plucking and earned me scowls from the other members of the household!!! what do they know??? Back to William, he is a handsome fella at just over 11 inches and I have distressed him, which doesn't really show in the sunny pictures, he is floppy with a nice heavy feel and a wobbly head. I am not sure where to place him, he may venture onto ebay at the weekend (Sunday).




If you are interested in giving William a home, then please do email me for details etc and I will try to take some less sunny pics hehe!!!

Wednesday 15 April 2009

Nottingham Bear Fair


I just thought I would show you some of my piccies from the Nottingham Bear Fair, which was on Bank Holiday Monday and boy was it a great day. I sold a quite a few bears and the crowds were eager and plenty. It did tail off in the afternoon but the morning was buzzing. I made some new friends and met with some old ones, a good day was had by all. Nottingham is only a small venue and is a little strange as everyone can't fit in the main building, so they use a log cabin as you enter the main car park, that was were I was. I was a little disappointed but actually I think we were busier than the main building, plus you do get a bigger table.
I caught up with Andrea of Cubbyhole Cubs, Vicki of Baggaley Bears and Jenni's Bears (get that website done). I met Sue Quinn, which was a delight and her hedgehogs...............well they are just so sweet and such a lovely lady, as was Emily of Martha Makes, she makes the most sweetest bears and so tiny.
On the collector's side I had a great long chat with a lady called Julie (?? sorry I so am rubbish at names) I was sorry I missed her at the end, as by the time she had finished talking to me she had bought her first kit.........................good for you and I hope she gets in touch to let me know how she gets on....................even if I have her name wrong.


I do think that hats off to Maria who organised a great fair and really pushed on the advertising front, as most of us had a good sales day. I was a little worn out at the end as to be honest I did not stop talking all day.................hehe!! shy type that I am. Kat from Brierley Bears came for a visit and bless her she has booked for August so that will be great as I can't wait to see her bears. It was also a thrill to meet Barbara of Barbara Ann Bears and she is the nicest person you could wish to meet, she had amazing bright orange hair to match her kaftan top but boy was I thrilled when she said she had seen and heard of me, we had a cracking conversation about eyes and I will be winging my way to her website for some old eyes and some vintage fabric, it maybe slightly more expensive but that stuff is pure gold. Well I am sure by now that you get the picture and if you haven't been before, its certainly one to peg in your dairy.

I did promise a picture of Herbie last week and I got so carried away making bears last week that I didn't get round to it, there is always one more to do, isn't there?
So here is Herbie, he is about 4 inches and has a hand knitted scarf of fine mohair.
He will be going onto my website sometime this week at £25 plus postage of £5. So if you would like to give Herbie a home please contact me via email (top left of my blog) and he could be your new friend.
Added 16/04/09: I have just added Herbie to my website so if you would like to take a peak, here is a link FenBeary Folk


So got to go for now, as back at work today!!!!! It goes so quick, time flies is so true.

Sunday 5 April 2009

Wedding Tinkles and Herbie

Yes Wedding Tinkles not Bells, the tinkles are for my brother, he got married yesterday, I think? Does that surprise you that I don't know, well it does me. It all started a few months ago when my mum told me that my brother and his girlfriend are planning to marry in the Autumn. Now she is from another European country, so the plan was for them to marry there. A few weeks later I was told that they may just head off to a registry office and get married here, without any fuss. Ok by me, we do after all live in a free country and everyone has the right to do as they please, does that sound bad, it's not meant to, I am a great believer in everyone being equal regardless of colour, creed or anything else, so if that is what they want then that's fine. I jokingly said we could gatecrash, I wouldn't have, its not my style. Jump forward to Friday and my mum tells me they are getting married tomorrow with 2 witnesses, no family. I feel fine with that, a little sorry for my mum as she is heading off for a planned visit next week, so they could have waited or timed it better, but hey its their life.
You see I am writing this with tears in my eyes, why? because he has not told me himself nor has he contacted me to let me know that he is now married, I feel slightly hurt by this. He once along time ago told my mum that we were not close and believe me this was news to me, we don't live near each other but I have always felt that come whatever I would always be there for him if he needed me. A few years after that he told me he would never come back home to live as the area he was bought up in was full of louts who drank all the time and good for nothings, I did point out that we were not all like that and his reply was to tell me how un-cultured and un-educated we were.........................................say no more. This issue has a double edged sword for me as I sit here feeling very sad, you see a "colleague" a few months ago, during a heated exchange said that the trouble with me is that I always think everything is about ME, so you see I can't even feel sorry for myself anymore as I know the whole world is not about me, I never thought it was, now everytime I feel hurt, anger or sadness by what someone has said her words echo in my head..................see she was right. I just need a hug sometimes, like everyone else.
Huggies to everyone and I will post piccies of Herbie tomorrow, if you all don't mind, I haven't the heart to take his picture at the mo and I don't think I could see through the tears either.
Blessings xxxxx

Thursday 2 April 2009

Lily


I would like you to meet Lily, she is a friend for Periwinkle.
I delivered her to her new mum yesterday and she is now happily playing with her new friend.

I have been soooooooooooooo busy both at work and at home but tonight I am off work till the 16th April, don't get me wrong I love my job BUT a full time job doesn't go well with getting ready for a show. I vow each time I will be organised and be ready, it never seems to happen!!! Why is that....................best laid plans and all that hehe!!! My current situation is 2 complete bears, 3 bears need finishing, 5 bears part sewn, 3 bears waiting to be cut out and about 10 in my head, I have 11 days to go. The maths just don't add up, do they? I don't mind telling you I am starting to get stressed, one of my biggest problems is I am always trying to work out what collectors will like and I always feel that I miss it somehow. It's a case of shall I make that bear or that one or that one and I end up feeling that which ever one I choose I should be making another one, boy my head is just swimming, if anyone has the answer...................................I beg you tell me.

On the health front, I am feeling much better. I went and had a mini blood test (to check my kidney function) last week and having realised that they had not given me enough pills in the first place, put in an order prior to my visit. Boy what a drama, it transpires the "locum" I saw originally had not put on my records that I should up my dose after 2 weeks, so a lot of tutting and doctor consults went on, to see if I was allowed further medication. Now why would I double my medication without the doctor telling me too, I ask you!!!! Well eventually they agreed, under protest I add, I went back on Monday to find out the results and surprise surprise I did need the higher dose and my blood pressure is now at 138 over 84, which is amazing, no wonder I feel so much better, less tight heads, more energy and less down.........................................I was found Sunday morning dancing to Hot Chocolate's I believe in miracles, much to hubbies amusement!!!!!! At this rate I will be dancing on the ceiling in weeks, well maybe not.

I will hopefully have a few little one to show you over the next week, so keep paying me a visit and if you are in my neighbourhood then why not come and see me at The Nottingham Bear Fair
I will be the mad lady dancing in the aisles!!!!!

Tuesday 24 March 2009

Betrayal and A Commission Bear


I am cut to the quick, I have been betrayed by my own flesh and blood. The incident occurred on Sunday, I decided to take a bath, not a regular thing as I normally have a shower, quicker. Anyway I had a lovely Mothers Day, I went to see my mum and delivered her a bear that she had been eyeing for awhile and she was delighted. Hubby was painting the living room, so he was happy, like a pig in muck. When we got back I checked my usual pc for emails and posts etc, that is when I made my fatal error, I left my blog OPEN and went for a bath....................................................needless to say nosey parkers were about in the shape of our daughter!!!!!! She decide to see what her mum had been posting, oops!!!! She only went and read out my last post about hubby's training to hubby :(

So this is a message from my darling Husband "I have not undergone any training, I am naturally a loving caring supportive Husband, in fact a model for others to aspire to. I have no problems doing most of the housework, while my adorable wife makes her bears. It is a lie that I curse the mohair in my sandwiches nor do I refer to my wife's bear making as a "hobby". I ask you to refute any further adverse posts in my honour" YEAH RIGHT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

On the beary front, this little fella was finished this weekend and duly delivered yesterday to his new mum, he doesn't have a name yet. I hope you like him.

Monday 16 March 2009

Sunshine and Wilton


What a glorious weekend, such a contrast to a few weeks ago when we had snow and more snow.
I had a lovely weekend, my head behaved itself and I was able to get so much done, no not housework, I went food shopping Saturday morning while hubby did a few chores. I came back to a tidy house and washing on the the line. Now before you all groan with envy, it has taken me awhile to get to this level of training, by being firm you can achieve success. I must admit though winning an award did help, my "hobby" took on a new meaning for him after that. I am on the count down to Nottingham on Easter Monday, 4 weekends to go. Sunday was an even better day and I sat outside trimming, I hate this chore, fluff everywhere but at least in the sunshine I can let the mohair waft across the grass, the birds nests in our area are mohair lined. Do you like the view, this is out the front of the house and what a view. When we moved in nearly 8 years ago, the hedges were about 15 ft high and it was all gravel??? Never understand why anyone would want to live in the country and not enjoy the natural surroundings, suffice it to say the hedges didn't last long

On the beary front I finished 3 wee mini's, I am debating clothing the other 2, a lilac one and a lovely green one, so I can't show you them yet. This is Wilton, so called after those lovely carpets, he is velvety too the touch and I have painted/aged him. He is 4 inches tall and a skinny bear. I have so far been making the usual fatter chubby mini's and thought I would challange myself by going for something a little more traditional. Boy was he fiddly but worth it, I have another piece of this fabric which is more on the russet tones, so I will be making another in this style, called.................Axminster, hehehe! LOL!



Hope you all have a beary good day, huggies Sue xxx

Thursday 12 March 2009

Tablets and mohair

Well Hi everyone, just wanted to give you all a quick update on the old pills that the doc gave me last week, was supposed to be posting this all this morning but guess what NO INTERNET!!!!! Luckily this time it is not PC related, its handy having a laptop and an ipod touch in the house, you can check these things. It did not prevent my soapbox rantings whilst driving to work this morning though, I mean really in this day and age you would think that BT and the internet providers would get their act together and update all our flippin cables, so this inconvenience doesn't happen................off soapbox hehe!
The pills are great, I had a few minor side effects, the first few days but after that they have seemed to settle down. I am not sure if I am having a placebo grace period, as I seem to have bags of energy, scarily so. Yes I know shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth but......................I am so used to feeling, well knackered and now I feel great. I feel positive to the point of conquering the world. Them damned placebo's hehehe!!!!!

On the beary front, I have gone from OMG feeling I'm not going to get it all done to yay bring it on. I have been working on 2 mini patterns, one completely new. I have cut and sewn a commission bear (3 more to go) and also cut 2 12 inch bears. Nottingham is 4 weeks on Monday and boy is time running out. I have decided that organisation is the key, so if I sew one mini limb a day ;) then I will get there. I wish I could have taken a piccie of all the spare parts, they are sat on my desk at home in a huge pile. I have some very unusual Sassy fabric that I am really looking forward to showing you, I do like a bit of something different, it stretches the mind.
I am also on the look out for a bookcase/display for my minis, something in cream I think but gosh its hard to find anything, so far I have done Homebase, Matalan and TK Max, tonight is Dunelm's turn, wish me look.
Oh and I have also booked a week off just before Easter to make more bears (happy dancing here)
Beary hugs and byes for now
Sue xx

Sunday 8 March 2009

My Swap Bear

I can finally give you all details of the swap that I have taken part in. The idea is really neat and was organised by Peta of Wazza Bears on a teddy forum I belong to, Teddy Talk. Your names get drawn and paired with fellow Bear Artist and you then make a bear for that person. Now you may think that any ole bear will do but not so, as we artist are lovely people we all try to make the very best bear we can to send to our partners. Peta did an exceptional job she managed to pair artist very sympathetically and it was a great success.
So here is the bear that I received. He came from Sheryl Morrow of S M Designs and Gone to the Dogs, here is a link to her website, she makes fantastic dogs as well as bears, a talented lady. Well here is Shaiming, which means Sunshine and that he is, he came with a lovely wooden box and a necklace, just gorgeous, isn't he.
He is my very first artist bear and is sitting proudly amongst my Steiff's, its funny as it turned out it was Sheryl's first artist bear as well, which was special for both of us.

My bear to Sheryl, after a little fishing and a few discrete questions. I decided to make Sheryl a fairy bear and so Fidget Elfwand was born. Sheryl was so patient with me as the wings do take quite a long time to complete and then she was in transit for nearly 2 weeks, I can tell you I was getting worried that Sheryl didn't like her BUT I was so happy when the delay was the post offices and Sheryl was over the moon. So here is Fidget.............................
She is made from a peachy/pink Schulte mohair/silk, it difficult to tell from the piccie but she is shaded all over to compliment the wings. You can see why I rarely take pics outside, windswept or what!!!!Bless her, she is happy with her new mom and as for me I am delighted and will be taking part in further swaps.

Beary Hugs
Sue xx

Friday 6 March 2009

Black Thursday update

Firstly I would like to say a huge thanks to all of you who posted and sent messages of support, its so nice to have cyber friends who care.

Ok Black Thursday turned into a storm in a teacup day, thank god. My mum is fine, it turns out she had calcium deposits that had been there on her last test 3 years ago, so everyone was extremely relieved. They had not changed at all so the Doc felt there was no need to do any further tests.

Our daughter got stood up!!! We are not sure what happened at the moment but her reply was "his loss" I did point out that in my day people phoned, it was the polite thing to do, then I saw the look that only a daughter will give a mother and decided I was turning into the mother of the above mentioned tests, at that point I beat a hasty retreat and kept gob shut. I have promised her a gooey cake today, she works with me today, from the local bakery and promised her that a cake with loads of cream is far better than any lad any day, having received the withered look I now got the rolled eye look. I told her she will agree with me one day.

Now my turn, I have the pills and start to take them today, they are called Perindopril which I understand can give you a cough, so will have to watch for that one. I have to start with a low dose and increase in 2 weeks, with further blood test in 3 weeks. All the other tests, liver, kidney, diabetes etc were NORMAL yipee. I think the doctor was a little surprised at how good everything else was, my colesterol was 3.1.............................yes 3.1. Having been told the other week by the doctor that we will have to think of foods that will lower my colesterol, I had to smile to myself when she look a tad surprised it was so low.
You see I am not a small woman, in fact I weigh...............ok honesty here about 18 stone. People will judge a book by its cover won't they, obesity is unhealthy. I have been overweight/obese all my life and until 5 years ago I never understood why. I then came across a healthy eating plan by a Californian Heart Doctor. I followed his teaching and understood for the first time in my life the why's. After 2 weeks I lost 15lbs, after a year I lost 6 stone. I discovered that I am allergic to wheat, it doesn't give me a rash or any other side effects other than obesity and an irritable bowel. Surfice it to say the Doctors didn't believe me and constantly asked me if I had cut the chocolate and crisps!!!!! Well then the headaches started and I found that without bread they were twice as bad, so on went the weight again.
Today I feel more positive and after this medication is sorted I plan to go back to this eating plan again, so stay tuned and you can follow me on the diet and see how I get on, in about 2 weeks.
So all's well in the Pemblington House today....................tomorrow is another day, hehehe!

Oh and my dad was well cheesed off as he brags to mum that his colereol is only 5 and hers is higher, so she is now saying "Its not as low as our Susan's" sorry dad

Thanks again all of you and I hope you all have a lovely nice day
Huggies Sue xx

Thursday 5 March 2009

Black Thursday and Motherhood

Well today is the day I find out my results of my blood tests, I wasn't that worried as I have known this past year that the inevitable was acomin!!! I have done really well to have lasted so long but according to Hubby "I've just accepted it and given up" UH!!! I have been struggling/battling all my married life and am so fed up of the tight vice around my head, so roll on 5.50 when my appointment is. Believe me I could use all the help I can get.

My mum is off to the hospital on the same day, slightly more scary. She had routine tests that are a bit dodgy, so she has to go for a few more. She is quite calm about it all and although most of the time she twitters on about this and that ailment, when the chips are down she is a trooper. I do hope I inherit that stiff upper lip of hers, she did pass on her best qualities to me, so I am hopeful. So thinking of you mum and love you to bits xx

My third and final trauma of today is my daughter is meeting a lad after college (please don't tell her that I am telling you all, she would kill me) Really the trauma is how I feel, some of you will now from a previous post that she has a medical condition, its not an issue but due to how life has been, I don't mind telling you I am terrified. Our daughter is the most fantastic young lady who cares about how I feel and to be honest she deserves a nice time and a happy life. Over the years I have developed, what I will call a phobia.........................a terrifying fear that something will happen to her. Now I know all mothers have an inbuilt protective instinct but mine has gone beyond that. Ok lets rewind a bit, so you understand. A year after we were married we had a little baby boy, he would have been 20 in August this year, he was born 2 months premature and died at 9 days old, to be honest its not something that you accept, you just learn to live with it. 2 years later my joy came when we had our daughter, a full-term very healthy baby. At a week old I developed a bad cough, at 3 weeks old she started coughing, at 5 weeks she was in hospital for a month with whooping cough, seriously ill. She developed epilepsy at 4 years old and had several emergency trips in an ambulance, with fits lasting at worse 3 hours. So you can see were this phobia gathered pace. I am sure she will be fine, its me that is not. I worry all the time, silly I even worry that she will not watch what she is doing when she crosses the road..............................now how bad is that, she is nearly 18 for crying out loud. Well ta for listening to my mumblings this morning, I really appreciate it.....................oh and hubby is worse than me!!!! So he is not told anything until after the event, bless him.

PS She is a purple sash in Kung Fu (Thats 2 below a black belt-thumbs up here)

Sunday 1 March 2009

Dyeing (yummy) and housework (yuck) !!!


I arrived home on Friday night to find a note from the postman...........a parcel, yipee.......................well I had 2 choices, it could be my fabric from Susan at Bear Basics or my long awaited fabric from Sassy Bears . I didn't think it was my fabric from Susan, way to quick. So off we trots to town, luckily the depot is open Saturday morning. Well it was both parcels, I couldn't believe it, I only ordered from Susan Wednesday dinner, wow that's was very quick. Thanks ;)

I floated round the supermarket dreaming of little hand dyed traditional bears and trying to form a pattern in my head for the Sassy.................needless to say I am not sure if I ended up with all the supplies I needed hehe!! LOL hey-ho

On Sunday the great plan was to try the hand dyeing, very easy to do, just mix and microwave. Well maybe the doing is the easy bit and the "getting the colour just right" is the hard bit.........um you can say that again. More later...........first I had to get past "the housework"

I have come to the conclusion that I would be a top contender for an award for not doing housework, is there one?? The Slovenly Maid Award here I come. Now don't get me wrong my pots are clean, my toilet is clean etc but its the corners and the dust, OH the dust. Anyway there's me sat pre-dye mode finishing a little bear in a lovely violet colour, oh the bliss of Sunday morning. Hubby is in painting mode and in the bathroom, having decided to paint the ceiling, ok whatever floats your boat, honey. I lasted all of 20 minutes before the cry came (why is it men cannot do things alone) off I goes to investigate and find a light shade thrust in my face, "wash this". Ok I can do that................foot pads not finished yet!!!! Armed with a damp sponge I sets to. OMG, the dust, it was that bad I swear they (dust mites) had build skyrise flats in the creases, it was so thick. Like a hurricane I swept them away and that was the moment I decided I needed the "Sloven Award of the year". HEHE!!! like I said to hubby, you knew 20 years ago when you married me, I was not kitchen sink slave, his reply.............well lets just say NOT REPEATABLE. Before you all tut at me in disgust, just remember years ago our mothers kept house, yes they washed in twin tubs and used non steam irons, walked 100 miles to the shops in bare feet BUT they didn't work................................gosh thats another topic isn't it, Modern woman vs House slave!!!

I finally took the opportunity to dye my bit of sparse, I went for Arctic Green Apple with a smidgen of Tamarindo (the brown to you) heavy handed!!! just a little, a smidgen too much I think. The result as my daughter so eloquently put it "like a rotten apple core" YES I cried that was what I was after (snigger here) like hell it was, I was aiming for an apple green with a hint of brown. Back to the mixing bowl for me.................................Hubby was last seen on the stairs, having finished the bathroom ceiling, he started on the stairs, bless him and you know what he doesn't drink or like football either, what more could a girl ask for?????

Friday 27 February 2009

My tears for Candy Floss



Well not quite tears, the Candy Floss in the title is a bear I made just under a year ago, gosh that long. When I had finished her I was so so proud, why cos she was had a unique nose and it was the first time I felt I could do this craft, no I mean really really crack this wonderful, fantastic huggable world of bears.
Anyway she went to her new home yesterday.................to Joan, she is a great woman, real and like me has a bit of life thrown at her sometimes. I am not sure why I decided to part with her having made the decision to keep Candy all that long ago, I suppose I felt Candy deserved better than being on my shelf, looking after all the new bears that came along and went, seemed a bit unfair to her in the end. I know Joan will love her to bits, so Candy is finally where she belongs, to be hugged and loved by a lady who was the first to meet her, can't get better than that, can you? It would have been cruel to have kept her.
This morning, I am reminded of a friends (I would like to think she is, cos she is a fantastic artist and has my utmost respect) plight to find a bear from her early days, having sold all the bears she made, she dearly wishes that she had kept a bear from those days.................................I wonder how many other artists wish they had kept a bear. You see you never end up making a bear for yourself, I am not sure why that is. Maybe like me, bringing pleasure to others is more important than anything else. Not a bad thing.
Anyway thanks Joan for giving Candy Floss the love she deserves.

Other news um!!!! No fabric yet???? Two weeks now, so hopefully they will arrive today from the US. I can't wait, I just hope Mr Customs man hasn't decided that my parcel is suspect and is holding said parcel for ransom. The other thing I have been looking into for awhile now is hand dyeing, so I was really really bad and ordered some ivory sparse from Susan at Bear Basics . I then went in search of some Kool aid, its an American drink that dyes natural fibres in soft colours. I liked the idea of these as you can control the amount of drink you use and therefore control the colour outcome, no doubt the fabric will arrive today and the drink will arrive next week, just so I can't play this weekend!!!!

I am also finally an artist bear collector. I took part in a bear swop....................................more about that next week, when my bear arrives in the US, wouldn't be right to show you a piccie when she hasn't arrived at her new moms yet :)

Well Huggies for now
Sue xx

PS damned headache is still with me !!!!!!