I hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas Day, filled with family and friends and lots of joy and laughter. 
It's been ages since my last post and I feel as if I have been on another planet. Sam here was born some time ago but I have not had the time to show him. There are a few bears and nik nax that have been completed and I'll show them soon.
This amazing animal is a cross between a Donkey and a Zebra. I met her wondering around a resort we visited some time ago. Unfortunately she is sterile and there can be no other little Zonkeys.
Little Nancy has been adopted and will be living in Scotland. I wanted to dress her warmly but she was adamant that she wanted the vintage silk and lace ribbons. A little silver heart is pinned to her ribbons and she wears tiny velvet vintage flowers on her ear. She has a German mohair coat (very fancy, our Nancy) and her footpads are pale pink velvet. Nancy has been "aged" to look like a vintage bunny from an old toy box. Although the bears love their bunny friends, they are all celebrating that their little friend has found a new home. Let's all wish her BON VOYAGE!
To all the amazing artists out there ... I wish I could send flowers to all of you. You are ny inspiration and my crutch. Thank you.
Tom, my newst Southern Bear - 10" tall, standing. This lovely picture was taken by my friend Elena of the Paper Daisy Company. Tom has a fat little tummy and is very cuddly.
Ohh wow! My very first blog award! Thank you so much Juliet at julietkbears.blogspot.com - what a thrill.
His name is Teddy ... just Teddy. I made him in honour of my childhood ted, whom I loved and cherished and spent years and years wondering why he had no fur. Now I know - the fur disappeared from all the loving he had from me. I kept him until after my children were born and have absolutely no recollection of how he disappeared from my life. I know I would never have given him away or thrown him away and my girls never played with him. Perhaps he slipped away to Teddyland??
This gorgeous little bear is Ginger's Spring giveaway. Visit bearbits.blogspot.com to see more delightful pictures!
Please meet Lemondrop, my new baby girl elephant. I cannot help myself .... I just love making these. They are very lovable and have the sweetest personalities.
A new addition to my Steiff collection. My daughter in Scotland found this little bear on E-Bay and he arrived from the UK last week. His body is a strawberry, quite chunky. He is absolutely adorable and the other bears have welcomed him with open arms.
My Valentine bear, Alice, completed just in the nick of time. Her coat is felted mohair and here's an interesting story about her little dungarees ... my friend Linda used this fabric to make herself a blouse for a special party when we were 14. We are now 55!! Originally it was white, then with age turned cream and when I planned to make this outfit I boiled blackberries and dyed the fabric. It's such a pretty pink. So my little vintage bear is wearing a genuine vintage outfit.
The family has returned to Australia, Christmas and New Festivities are done and dusted and I'm back at work too. Last weekend I cleaned and cleared my teddy bear workroom and added the new items I received as presents. I have a very talented artist friend, Karen, who gave me the painting of the hat for my workroom. I asked her to do it for me but when I opened my Christmas gift, not only had she given me the hat painting but had done the two paintings of the teddy bears for me as well. What a labour of love! Many years ago my mother had said that if I cannot afford original paintings in my home then leave the walls bear. I have always lived by this and I have a wonderful collection of art - paintings and ceramics - given to me by extremely artistic friends and a few items which I purchased myself. I am absolutely thrilled with my teddy paintings and will treasure them forever.
