Yet More Bears...

I took a couple of evenings away from commissioned work to knit this little finger puppet from a kit free with this month's Let's Knit magazine.

He even has a tail!  There are other animals in the kit - looking forward to making them too.  I have the excuse that I have a baby granddaughter that I need to make toys for...

I'm also in the process of making another painted trinket box for a commission.  This needs lining with fabric and re-assembling.

And then, two more bear paintings...it will be nice to paint something different after months of bears!

Not So Prickly Customers...

 I crocheted this adorable cacti collection this week, pattern from the book Whimsical Stitches.  This is a birthday surprise for someone who really loves their plants...

Grazer...

I completed this yesterday - bear 128 Grazer in watercolour on paper.  This is a private commission and will be a surprise gift for someone - wish I could be there when they open the parcel!

Next up, more bears...

Slight Change...

I've been sewing Otis stuffed toys for a few years now, but have always been very aware that the fabric I used did not match the real bear's fur exactly.  People didn't seem to mind, and I could not find an alternative, so I carried on.  However, the other day while at Hobbycraft, I discovered a fur fabric that was almost perfect!

 So I have made a new and improved Otis!  I am very happy with the end result - this one already has a home, but there are 4 more in the pipeline.

You watch though, next time I go to Hobbycraft, there will be no more of this fabric...

Which Of The 7 Dwarves Are You?

 I got given the brilliant book Knitting With Disney for Christmas...this is my first make.  Just about sums it all up really...

Holly...

Back in the summer, the American magazine Travel Guide ran a competition for it's readers with the first prize being a painting of their favourite bear done by me.  I have finally completed the winner's painting - I'm only so late in doing so because the winner could not decide which bear to choose for her prize, so commissioned me to do a second painting of the other bear!

This is bear 435 Holly, who lives in Katmai National Park, Alaska.  She is quite something, being fairly old for a bear and yet still producing cubs which she raises in a calm, well practised style. She has also won the annual fun Fat Bear contest in the past - as you can see here, she gets large!  This has been painted in watercolour on paper.

Up next, another commission, another bear...
 

Otis Visits Red Square...

 A couple of weeks ago I posted one of my Otis stuffed bears to Russia.  He made it through customs and immigration and this week I received this amazing photo.  Looks like Otis is already having a wonderful time taking in the sights of Moscow - now we know what he gets up to during the hibernation period, haha!

Thank you to Angelika for letting me use her photo and for taking such good care of Otis!