Baby Bear Bauble...

Painted yesterday with the aid of magnifying lens head set - no way could I paint this without help!  For sale in my Etsy shop.

Yet More Bears...

 I'm slowly getting through my commissions, I can see a light at the end of the tunnel.  I have been sewing bear 128 Grazer this week - love her fluffy ears!  This one already has a home to go to, must be the quickest sale on Etsy I have ever had.

Finished the final box in a commission for 4 yesterday too - I love Otis but I'd really like a rest from painting him for a week or two!

Still to come?  I don't know, I'll have to check that list...

Otis, Otis, Everywhere...

Two more Otis bears - my life is revolving around Otis at the moment!  One more trinket box to paint for now, and a few different toy bears to make.  Good job I like bears...

Box Of Bears...

 I've been a bit busy of late - not only have I had to make 9 felt monkeys for an animation, I have also got an order for four of these painted boxes to fulfill by the end of the month.  Three complete, the last one nearly done.  I think I would be able to paint Otis the bear with my eyes shut now!

Lining the boxes has been a nightmare - the fabric I ordered came from Australia as it was simply perfect with it's salmon print.  However, nothing prepared me for finding out it was silky and stretchy and definitely did not want to be manhandled into a box.  I ended up using about 30 small clamps to hold the edges in place while the glue dried - worth the effort though.

Also sewing a number of stuffed bears, also Christmas commissions.  So with the glue and the fluff, it's a bit messy round here!

Monkey Business...

This week I have been mostly making monkeys...

Popeye...A Winning Bear

Hot off the easel, here is a painting of bear No.634, known as Popeye, who lives in Katmai National Park, Alaska.  Watercolour on paper.

During the summer an American magazine called Travel Guide ran a competition with the first prize being a painting by me of the winner's favourite bear seen at KPS.  I was expecting to have to paint Otis for the umpteenth time, but got a welcome surprise when the winner chose Popeye - he really is a magnificent bear.  We searched through various photographs to use as a reference and found one that we both agreed upon, taken by Theresa Bielawski who very kindly gave me permission to use it. This one was an absolute pleasure to work on, and I am so pleased to learn that the recipient loves it too.

Now it's back to the various commissions that have to be done for Christmas!