Over the River and Through the Woods

Bill and I are headed to the Oregon Coast tomorrow for a mini-vacation. We love it out there, especially this time of year, when we have it much to ourselves.



It’s a lovely back roads trip, usually taking under 2 hours. Occasionally it’s taken much longer, when we’ve run into snow and ice in the coastal mountain range. White knuckle time and not for me, or my tummy.

But they say there’s no chance of that, as the current storm is more tropical in nature, rolling in from Hawaii. It’s bringing lots of warm rain and high winds, with 70 mph wind gusts predicted at the coast.

So why on earth are we going?
We love the coast in stormy weather. The ocean is gorgeously wild with huge swells, white caps and enormous waves that come crashing to shore.



We stay at a resort that’s right on the beach, top floor, high and dry. We’re the adventurous type, so we also wander out for a closer look. But we always stay off the beaches, as sneaker waves have been known to take beachcombers permanently out to sea.

I’ve packed my camera, so I’ll share the adventure with you! (These pix are from our last trip.)
I’ve also packed some teddy bear makings, just in case the weather gets too wild for outings.
Hugs,
Laura

Lacey

Kindly meet Lacey..

my new

little tomboy.

Lacey may look all dainty in her ribbons and bows, but looks can be deceiving. She’s already off rough-housing with the hug. There goes all her fancies, and her sparkling white fur.

Oh well...

She’s happy and that’s all that matters.

Lacey is a dreamy soft faux fur and has pale pink suede leather inner ears, paw and foot pads.

She stands about 12 inches tall, has black German glass eyes and an embroidered pretty pink, pearl cotton nose and mouth.

Lacey’s from a new pattern of mine and she was really fun to make.

I’ve started a new teddy, from a newly drawn pattern. I like to experiment! I’m making it from a very dense, vintage faux fur coat that has lovely beige to light brown colorations. I’m anxious to have this little one looking back at me, as it’s a very different head shape...for me.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

Do something fun!
Hugs,
Laura

Come Take a Ride with Me to My Studio!

It was a spur of the moment kind of thing. I looked out this morning and saw the sun was shining. Wow. Take some pix, I thought. So I grabbed my camera, as I headed out the door and down to my studio. Around here you do when the doings good. Not a half hour later raindrops were once again falling.

So come along with me on my short but lovely drive to my studio!

We’ve just turned out of our driveway and we’re heading down our little country road.

We’re at the bottom of the hill we live on. (My Escort's yellow hood is showing.)

We’re on the road at bottom of hill, heading toward town.

We’re on the same road, closer to town.

We’re sightseeing. This is the fairgrounds for Castle Rock.

Now we’re crossing the Cowlitz River

The Cowlitz River.

We’re on the same road which takes us right into town. We'll be making a left up there, then another quick left.

We’re now on Castle Rock’s one and only main street. My studio is in the greenish storefront on the far left of intersection.

We’re there, in just three minutes!
I hope you enjoyed the ride. It’s short but I always enjoy it.

I just finished a teddy. Her name is Lacey and she’ll be debuting tomorrow!
Hugs,
Laura

PS: Scroll down 2 posts to get a glimpse of inside my studio.

I love rain!

Call me crazy, but I love rain!
Its sight, sound, smells, all mesmerize me.

And I love weather watching. I’m always looking for signs of change, like when the winds shift warning us a storm is on the horizon, then watching the storm as it rumbles through. And this time of year, with the rainy season upon us, there’s lots to observe in the skies above.

The rainy season in the Pacific Northwest is November through April. The forecast usually goes like this: Rain turning to showers turning to rain. Sometimes, but not often, snow will be thrown into the equation. We do get a glimpse of the sun occasionally, just to remind us it’s up there, somewhere.

And occasionally, Mother Nature gets a wee bit rambunctious and it floods. (This was taken last winter.) We live on a hill, so we’re high and dry. But we can turn into an island. Being the adventurous type, when power challenged and hill bound I take it in stride. It’s all how a situation is perceived. Since Mother Nature will have her way no matter what, might as well accept it, even try to enjoy it.





And all that rain makes for glorious springs!
Hugs,
Laura

My New Studio

I finally finished fussing with my store turned studio and have happily settled in to creating teddy bears.
And I finally took some pix! Here’s a little tour of my studio.

This is my main work area. The layout is basically the same as before, except expanded.

My sewing machine is adjacent to my L-shaped work space.

This is a little seating area. I can sit with blankey over my legs and hand sew, or read, or fall asleep.☺

This is the back room, where I store my fur and whatnots, and have a second sewing machine set up.

I am so enjoying my teddy bear making sanctuary. It’s like heaven on Earth!
Hugs,
Laura

Master Marty

Please meet Marty, my new little boy.

Marty was born yesterday, after he said enough to my fussing with his fur. So I put the trimming scissors down, found him some girlish frou-frou neckwear (his words), then sat him down for a long and tedious (yup, his words again) photo shoot.

Marty got first dibs on a revamped early pattern of mine. He is 11 inches in height and made from a vintage faux fur coat. He is fully jointed, has a pearl cotton nose and mouth, and black German glass eyes. His paw pads and inner ears are a soft leather suede. I needle and scissor sculpted his little face, which tested his patience greatly.

Marty had to push and shove a bit, but he finally found his very own cozy little spot in our living room, with all our happy hug about him.

I’m having way too much fun!
Hugs,
Laura

Stuff Stuff Stuff

My teddy-to-be, patiently waiting for his ears to be sewn on (right now they’re just pinned on) and to get his final trimming and primping.

He would have been finished days ago but I decided to try to clear out more of my collectible-antiquey stuff from my store turned studio.

No, you’re not experiencing déjà-vu. I have done this before. And before that. But I still had so much stuff. So I moved all my bins of fur and whatnots out of my back room and put everything I wanted to part with back there. Then I called a good friend who has a shop like mine and offered it all to her for a price she couldn’t refuse.

And it’s all gone! I now have only the things I really want to keep to decorate my studio with. All my storage shelves are empty! Hurray!
Well, they were. I went down today and moved all my bins back. But I have so much more storage space now, I’m not tripping over things anymore.

While the gal was boxing up all her goodies (she wouldn’t let me help as she has a system) I sat and sketched out a few designs. I made some test teddy bear heads using paper towels, scotch tape, and staples. One looked real intriguing so I made a permanent pattern. It’s just the head and gusset, I have an existing body pattern that should work well with it.
Tomorrow I’ll pick out the fur. Sometimes the fur dictates the bear-to-be, sometimes it’s the other way around, like now.
I’m eager to make this newbie. My excitement level is high!
Hugs,
Laura

Serendipity at Work

I stuff my teddys with the help of a wooden spoon (handle end) and/or a chopstick (both ends). But before stuffing and after I turn I use them to push out and form the individual bear parts, from inside, along the seams. Gingerly, I might add. I’m always concerned I might jab too forcefully and poke a hole in my newly sewn seams.

I’ve been looking around for a tool that would be gentler, something with a nice soft tip. I thought of a pencil with a big eraser on the end. That might do. But the erasers just aren’t big enough.
Well, hit me with an eraser, I found the perfect tool! Actually it’s a makeshift tool, but a tool nonetheless.

Over the summer I bought boxes and bags full of sewing goodies, at garage sales. Many items were very useful right off, others I had absolutely no use for, and some I simply couldn’t identify. But I rarely throw anything away, unless it’s pure junk. I stick all the useless or unknown use of stuff in a drawer at my studio. Actually several drawers.

A few days ago I was rummaging around and found an unopened packet of two knitting needle rubber tips. I don’t knit, so I don’t know what these are used for. Nevertheless, I kept them. When I rediscovered them, that little light above my head lit up brightly. Ah-ha, I said.
I grabbed a chopstick, pounded one of the rubber tippy jobs on the pointy end, and made a turning all the little parts out/inside smoothing tool. It doesn’t look like much, but it sure works! It may, however, need a new name.

I usually make 10 to 12 inch bears, so this little gadget works perfectly. The rubber tip, being I had to pound it on, stays on.

Serendipity at its finest!
Hugs,
Laura

Introducing .. Eldwin

Hello! Happy Thursday. Or is it Friday? I'm lost in time again.

Kindly meet Eldwin, my newest teddy creation. Eldwin was made from a luxuriously soft, thick, long faux fur. I seem to be in love with long fur.
Eldwin is 13 inches tall, when standing. He has a black pearl cotton nose, premium black glass eyes and is fully cotter-pin jointed. He was really fun to make and, as always, I’m still learning and stretching.
Eldwin is residing in our very merry teddy bear living room.

There’s a huge fabric store in Portland that sells to-die-for faux furs. Their selection is mind boggling and every so often I go down and splurge. My kind of fun!

I’m loving my studio! It’s gotten me super motivated. I’m down there every week day. It's just minutes from home. And I promise, pix will come. (I'm still moving things around a bit.)

I’ve stopped fretting over style. You were right, it’ll just come, and be. Thank you all for your kind, encouraging words!
Hugs,
Laura

Finding My Style

I made bears about 20 years ago, but never really took it very far. When I re-entered the wonderful world of teddy, about 2 years ago, I wasn’t sure where it would take me this time around. Would I make a few and say, that’s nice, then put away my sewing machine for another 20 years? Only time would tell.
Well, it turned out time wasn’t needed, as I fell head over heels in love with bearmaking, and that love continues to grow.

I’ve made around 40 bears. Not really that many as I had to divide my work time between bearmaking and my antique store. Since closing my shop I can now happily spend lots more time on teddy making.
And teddy learning. Looking at my bearmaking progression I can see I’m slowly improving, but I also know I have a long way to go. And during this journey I hope to find my style, a look that will define my bears.

Most artists have their own certain style that they’ve perfected through the years. So I wonder, how do I find my style and will I ever find it?
My bear artist friends say to give it time, give it a chance. That one’s style doesn’t evolve overnight.
And they’re right. I know, eventually, I’ll find my defining look. Or it’ll find me. But I confess to being a wee bit impatient.
Note to myself: Slow down and enjoy the journey.
Hugs,
Laura

Listen

Listen
to your child within
Remember
where she has been.
Hear
her inward cries
Answer
all her whys.
Wipe
away all her sorrow
Give
her hope for tomorrow.
Listen
to your child within
Free
her spirit to let love in.

A Photo Shoot of a Photo Shoot

While I was intently prepping and photographing Hobbs, Bill was photographing me, photographing Hobbs. Unbeknownst to me, I might add. I had on my house grubbies, with unkempt hair, unkempt me! Anyway, I thought I’d share them with you, as Hobbs requested.

The above photo is Hobbs waiting patiently for the shoot to begin. He’s quite the gentleman.

Then came all the mom fussing, fiddling, and photoing.

The last one is of a not so happy Hobbs. Poor thing thought I’d abandoned him. I just left him alone for a moment, but he said it seemed like hours. I apologized.

Hobbs is now happily residing with all the hug, in our somewhat overcrowded living room. But Bill and I don’t mind. After all, they are family.

Hugs,
Laura
..and the gang

Summer's Last Hurrah

Just a little mind candy of the last vestiges of summer.
I took this pic while wandering through our local woods. No Photoshop magic, it just somehow came out this way. Haven't a clue what I did.




I hope your week is going well. I've been busy making a teddy. I'm also still fussing with my studio. But it's so much fun!

Happy Tibbar-Tibbar Day!
Hugs,
Laura

Hobbs

Kindly meet Hobbs, my newest teddy creation. Hobbs is made from a dense, dreamy soft, faux fur and has leather suede paws and foot pads. He’s about 13 inches in height, fully jointed, with German glass eyes and a pearl cotton nose.
Hobbs was a challenge, with all that long unruly fur. But also fun. I’m still learning and this teddy taught me a lot. Little light bulbs kept going off in my head.

I’m on to my next bundle of fur. It’s good to be back bear making. I’m pretty much done arranging and rearranging my studio. It was more work than I expected, but totally worth it.
I was going to sell my display case, then decided against it. Bill and I moved it to the front of the shop, where it looks so much better. It’s incredibly heavy but we managed to inch it along. I filled it with teddy bears and teddy bear trinkets. The bears were all gifts from Bill, some dating back 28 years to when we first met. They’re my very special hug. Yup, pix will be taken!
My bears? They’re home where we both can enjoy them. Pretty soon, however, there won’t be any more room for any more bears. It’ll be them or us!
Hugs,
Laura

My Studio ..Scene One, Act Two

I’ve been fussing with my new studio, ex-store, for days and days. I’m almost there, wherever there is. Actually, I’ve thought that three or four times already. I dragged Bill down this afternoon for his input. He’s great at visualizing and, as usual, came to the rescue. Me, I just drag the furniture around and around until I’m tired.
The place is slowly looking more like a studio and less like a store. That was the hardest hurdle for me, seeing my store as something else. I have a six foot display case that I was going to keep. But it screams store no matter where I put it, and it’s not easily moved. So it’s going bye-bye. Then maybe I’ll stop seeing a store and really start seeing a studio.

Between these bursts of furniture moving I’ve been working on a teddy. It’s pretty much done, just doing some final tweaking. Here’s a sneak peek.
And I’m all excited about a new teddy design idea. Three in the morning and my brain is buzzing with pattern plans and studio organizing. Sleep is overrated.

Pictures will be taken, I promise. When the dust settles, which hopefully will be soon.
But but if I moved that there, and that over there, then I can move that there..
Hugs,
Laura

Oh I wish..

Oh I wish I were a cuddly teddy bear
that is what I truly wanna be
Cause if I were a cuddly teddy bear
everyone would be in love with me!

Hugs,

Laura

My Teddy Bear Studio ..Finally!

My ball of fluff is still a ball of fluff. It’s sitting on the back of my sofa with all its other unfinished parts and pieces. I promised the untidy pile that I will very shortly transform it into a teddy.
So why is teddy not yet a teddy? Because I’ve been at my antiques store every day this past week, as well as today.
Transforming it into a bona-fide teddy bear studio!

I have retired from the crazy world of antiques. Crazy is putting it mildly. It’s a very cut throat business and I’m simply not a cut throat kinda gal. I did enjoy all my regular customers and I’ll miss them and the many chats we had.
Basically, I'm your typical hermit. I work best when I’m alone, listening to my music. And that's also when I’m most creative.
I had a bit of a sale and, for now, keeping the rest. I buy what I like. For me it was a better approach than trying to second guess customers. So, I love my inventory!
I rearranged things, making a more warm and cozy atmosphere. My store has finally been transformed into my teddy bear studio. I'll take better pix soon, but for now here's a sneak peek.

I may someday go back into the antiques business, one never knows what the future holds. I’m a strong believer in never saying never!
Hugs,
Laura

A Teddy to Be ..Maybe

So, what do you think so far?
I’m attempting to make a teddy out of some wonderful long fur I have. It’s white with golden brown tips and very dense. I haven’t worked with fur this long in a while.
The head is the hard part. It starts out as a confusing ball of fluff that I slowly trim and sculpt. But where to start this process always eludes me.
After staring at my fluff ball for a while I kinda decided to just dive in. I have plenty of this fur, so I can experiment some. I found the seams and trimmed a small amount off the muzzle and needle sculpted just a bit to shape the nose. This hopefully will give me a feel for what this teddy wants to look like. The green tipped straight pins are temporary and roughly placed eyes. The blue pin is under the nose to be, where the seams meet.
And that’s as far as I’ve gotten.
Tomorrow I’ll put in temporary black glass stick-pin eyes, and embroider the nose. When the nose is complete I’ll set in permanent eyes and trim and sculpt some more. Or maybe vice-versa. I trim slowly, so I don’t get carried away and cut too much. Which I'm really good at. I don’t want to trim down to the backing, I like a short length of fur to remain on the muzzle.
I love long furry teddy bears, even if I’m still not sure how to make them.
But I’m learning.
Hugs,
Laura

Kaleidoscope of Hope

Seek out happiness
love and light
peace and fulfillment
truth and insight.

Search for answers
to questions unclear
of distant truths
that are so near.

Welcome tomorrow
and all it will bring
the wonders of life
on golden wing.

Hugs,
Laura

Toast

Kindly meet Toast. The little teddy with the big nose. It’s not my fault!
I was engrossed in a really good movie while embroidering Toast’s nose. Before I knew it I’d made a Godzilla sized nose. And an awful shaped Godzilla sized nose. Oh dear. (Now you’re probably wondering what Godzilla’s nose looked like. Me too!)
The little fellow was nearly toast (hence his name), as I couldn’t stand looking at that nose. But the rest of him was so cute I decided to try to salvage him and his nose. So I nipped at it from both ends (don’t tell anyone) and squished it here and there. His nose is still sadly misshapen but a wee bit smaller.
Toast is about 10 inches tall when standing, that is if he could stand, which he can’t. His legs bend at the knees. I seem to be fond of the bent leg look. I guess it's the baby bear thing and I love baby anythings.

My shop is done and so is my back. Seems I put too much strain on an already messed up back. Bad Laura. Oh well. It’ll calm down soon and I’ll be back at it. Then I’ll take some pix. Funny, all that work and it really looks very much the same. Well, almost. My work space doubled in size and that was my main goal.

Happy September! Oh I love September! Our weather is usually gorgeous here in the Pacific Northwest. It’s truly our best month of the year!
Hugs,
Laura