Tuesday 31 May 2011

What a difference a day makes..................................

Horrible isn't it, this is my bedroom or was!!!!


A chance conversation with my other half led me to
believe that this monstrosity had been painted
You can imagine my face when I came home
friday to discover that it had not been painted and
how on earth did I think that it would be when we have no paint!!!
I ask you, he says LOL
I have to say I was gutted, when funds are limited
there are certain things that have to go by the way side
and decorating is one of them.
Due to very pouting mouth and near tears,
he promised to go out the very next day and get some paint, YAY!!!
We have lived here for 10 years and have not done a thing
exept the odd lick of paint. So the house is well neglected.
I have to say the draw of buying mohair does tend to
overshadow all else in this house.
Anyway, paint chart in sticky mitts, off we pops to Homebase.
Along the first isle was a trolley with some wallpaper in it,
not expecting to find anything nice, I gave it a cursery glance,
hubby, on the other hand, delved right in. He loves wallpaper
and is very opinionated on the subject, even down to the colour!!
(our very first argument was over wallpaper LOL)
You can imagine my surprise when he found
8 rolls of Arthouse, vintage paper at £1.50, even better they were
having a 15% day so it cost £1.27, you can't beat that.
Here is the result

What a difference, amazing, in one short day
we have treansformed the room
The cost ........
.......wallpaper ...............................£8.89
.........curtains ................................£9.99
.......crystal (plastic) chandelier........ £16.00
...........red cushions...................... £3.98
........total .......................................£38.86
..............the throw I bought about 6 years ago and refused
to use until I had a nice bedroom
A bargain all round really.
As for bear making I only had time to finish a little commission,
so me thinks I have a bear making weekend coming next weekend
Hope you like it..........................and the moral is,
you may be poor but you can have a nice house
(I hope your reading this hubby LOL)

Tuesday 17 May 2011

A commercial dilemma.........................


I thought I would share a few thoughts about this topic; it’s a subject that sits uneasy in my lap.

I started making bears 4 years ago and my inspiration for making them came from two very diverse bears, a sweet fluffy modern bear and an aged old style bear!!! I know opposite sides of the coin. The first few bears that I made were certainly in the more modern category of puffed cheeks and lots of fur. I loved them but my heart would just twinge, a pang of something was missing, do you get what I mean. So I tried my hand at an old style one……………………………..Nutmeg was his name and as I looked at him my heart skipped a beat. I still had lots to learn but my heart had found its place, I continued to dabble with the sweet trimmed cheeks or should I say wrestle, LOL. After awhile my hubby said to me why do you continue to make these bears, if all you ever do is moan about them? That stopped me in my track and at that point I decided to follow my soul.

Fast forward about 3 ½ years to today and as I look back on that decision I have to wonder was I committing commercial suicide. All around us we are faced with such choices in size, colour but most of all style, the rise in popularity of Charlie Bears…………………………yes we have a few in the house, my daughter loves them and I too think they offer great value and are pretty cute………………………………well it makes me wonder, should I have been swayed by the market forces and continued my more modern design. I see fellow artist who make these types of bears sell frequently and sell well, eBay and facebook being a popular venue for them. Older style bears seem to be out of favour, selling at often below price and less frequently. It does test your convictions, while the bills mount and stock dipleats, should I be making the more popular "Charlie Bear" style? Whilst I pondered this issue over the weekend I completed two bears, they aren’t old tattered ones or modern fluffy ones but delightful traditional bears which will have clothes and I adore them…………………………..I have found my comfy slippers, my home.

As for their commercial success, who knows, I love them and hopefully that love will shine through……………………………………. and yes I did make the right decision, even when times are lean I still love a good old fashioned bear, fads will come and go but a traditional bear will last forever.

Here is a sneaky peak of them; they are for my new autumn collection (hark at me, the designer).
 I was given the idea by my daughter after a chance comment from a collector at a show……………………..the idea then just grew.

As you can see we have no noses and they are un trimmed, LOL
( I always tremble at that bit)
and they are naked.
I hope, like me, you have the courage to follow your dreams.
Beary hugs
Sue xxx

Monday 9 May 2011

The Devil on my shoulder……………………..

……………………….Do you have a devil too?? I do, my devil’s called “insecurity” I am cursed, like most artists with a one and mine is not a wee little monster but a huge one. Let me explain, when I am getting ready for a show I am all guns blazing for about a month, no time to think or stop, so my devil is kept at bay. After a show however he starts to flex his muscles and whisper in my ear. The things he says can be very hurtful, for example he tells me that I am not really that good at this bear making lark, he pops out at the most opportune moments and asks “what are you doing”, “what’s the point”.
This weekend he has been very conspicuous and asked just such a question as I sat drawing out a new bear for a series of bears due for release this autumn.  I told him to get lost but he persisted.

Joking aside I have been making bears for 4 years now, how time flies and I am still as insecure about myself and my bears as I have ever been, why??? I can only imagine that each bears is made with some of my love and soul placed in them and as such they are from my heart.  Like most industries in a recession, we, in the bear world are experiencing a drought, after all bears are meant to be a luxury, money is tight. I know it is for me, with rising costs for food and huge increases in petrol, I have seen my paltry bit of spare money disappear completely, so my head tells me it’s ok collectors do love your bears, they just haven’t any money at the moment but my wee devil says "nah, they don't like 'em". 
What's a girl to do, my motto is if in doubt sew and explore other avenues to display my bears.
So I have joined etsy, I know its a bit hit and miss but you have to keep trying, don't you.
If you are a fellow artist, who feels this way, at least you know you are not alone. 
If you are a collector, we artist understand
Here is my new etsy shop 

This is Olive, who is available on my website 
Beary hugs for now
Sue xx

Tuesday 3 May 2011

A Grand Day Out

On Sunday we went to the Peterborough Truckfest, they have various events through the year around the country. I bought the tickets for my husband as a Christmas present, as each year, when the event comes round we always say we are going but funds usually mean we can't, so this year I was determined to go.
They have alsorts of things going on and celebrity guest.................Alex from Ice Road Truckers.
I have to say i is not my cup of tea but the Custom Trucks do make it worth a visit, these things are amazing
This is my favourite, as you can see its a pirate themed truck,
with "Stand and Deliver" written on the front
This is from the film "Ghost Rider"
..............and Shrek
.....Alex from Ice Road Truckers
The weather was a real treat, sunny but with a nice breeze, needless to say we all got a touch of the sun, including my hubbies head (I may be going grey but I STILL have plenty of hair unlike some, LOL)
They were truely amazing

My only gripe was the cost of food, I had taken some supplies so it wasn't too bad.......................even the ice cream was £2 each!!!!

This morning, true to form, for those that read my blog regularily, I have had a banking mishap!!!!
Non of my doing, I awoke to find a company I had paid on the 18th had taken the money again, or so I thought, ha....................I am but a fool.
Actually they have taken it upon themselves to alter their policy and not told anyone. They had taken money for a service in advance of that event...............a whole flippin month in advance, instead of paying when due. They have promised to refund but I am to be denied that service this time or they keep the money and I get the service.
I can only begin to describe how angry I am, I have supported this bear frim the past 3 years, I have encouraged others to support them too. I have never once not paid even when things have been really tight financially and this is how you get your rewards. If it wasn't for the fact I would be cutting my nose off I would have told them they could stick it.
On that sour bear note, I am off to sew, at least bears don't stab you in the back
Beary Hugs
Sue xxx