Bears and stitching

Hope you are all managing to cope in the heat in Australia at the moment. I am off to kids club and have still not taken any pictures of the crafts. Must try to remember to do that today. Here are a couple of bear friends made ages ago. I made quite a few grandma ones and even plaited the little hat! I was going through my raffia hat phase.The little fellow on the right is a favourite in his little felt vest. They are sitting on a miniature foundation pieced flying geese quilt. Great for using those tiny scraps that I can't bear to throw out.

There had been a tiny bit of stitching. I have finished this month's block of the Gardener's journal quilt. It is the sprinkler one...mind you we are not allowed to sprinkle these days due to water restrictions. I remember loving to run under the sprinkler as a kid in the heat of summer.

Hope you have all had a good week and that you have managed to do some stitching.

More bears and a collection of little things

Here are a couple of my favourite bears that sit on the kitchen shelf. I'm glad you can't see the dust up there.

These fellows sit happily on the piano. The little fellow on the right belonged to my hubby when he was little.

Lisa linked to a picture of her printer's tray yesterday filled with lovely little bears. This is my one and it is a collection of little things. Small bears, little houses, cotton reels and thimbles.

Here is a closeup. The VERY SMALL bear in matching fur to the larger one was made for me by Fiona years ago. She is so small and would have been so hard to stitch, turn and stuff!

Fiona is having a giveaway to celebrate one year of blogging. Make sure you check it out.

Bears

I have been "wasting time" looking at lovely blogs again this afternoon as I am not at work! I was at the kids club so took today off to do that. Another benefit is that I am home this afternoon and though I should be stitching or quilting or even doing some housework, I have been fiddling around on the computer. Sue had just blogged about bears and collections so I thought I would join in the fun and show you some of my collection of bears. I don't make too many these days but have enjoyed making bears, especially little ones, over the years. These ones are some little Christmas fellows. The gorgeous little (very little) white bear was made for me as a gift many years ago by the very talented Lisa. I made the others from various patterns.

The bear on the left was my first ever little bear made after seeing Gerry's Bears at a craft show in Sydney.

Here are two more. The left one was one we did at Batemans Bay needlework years ago. I think Lisa designed that one too.

I did branch out and make some bigger bears. The two oldies at the back are very odd as they were first attempts. I did think they were lovely at the time and can't bear to get rid of them.

The old trunk that they are sitting on came to Australia with my parents and me many years ago from Austria. Our entire possessions were in this trunk!