The pile - it grows...and a sort-of finish

 I think I need at least 17 strips for the mile-a-minute afghan for Resident Chef and as you can see, the pile is growing!

Our wee granddaughter is turning one in a couple of weeks and what self-respecting grandmother doesn't step up and make her a teddy bear?  Once the bear was done it was decided that going on that long trip without any clothes was just too much to contemplate...so....a dress was added AND I'm working on panties too. 

- Rabbit Hole Warning!!!  If you go HERE, be prepared with snacks and beverages of choice because you're going to need 'em!  Found via Canadian Needle Nana (thank you!)

- Many of you choose a 'word of the year' so perhaps you might like to read about a little different approach (that of choosing a monthly word) and can read more HERE.

- THIS might be a fun project that would be easy to do.

- I know I won't do any of THESE but I was intrigued by the creative ideas people have come up with.

Today's quote..."Nothing in nature lives for itself.  The rivers do not drink their own water; the trees do not eat their own fruit; the sun does not shine on itself and flowers do not spread their fragrance for themselves.  Living for others is a rule of nature"

A hug - of sorts

 In the comments on my last post Becki mentioned that she didn't know about safety joints such as I use in my bears so thought I'd show a picture...

The back of the picture shows how they go together....the part with the post goes in the arm (or leg) and the mid-sized circle is a washer....the small circle clamps the entire thing together.  

And here is the result of much trial and error....

Here's a recipe we tried over the weekend, adapted

from one found on WellPlated.com

MEDITERRANEAN CHICKPEA SALAD

¼ c. fine diced red onion       

1 can chickpeas, rinsed & drained

¾ c. chopped fresh parsley

½  EACH Red, orange & green peppers, chopped

¼ large cucumber, chopped (1 c)

1 c. crumbled feta cheese

DRESSING:

1 ½ T. olive oil                1 ½ T. red wine vinegar

1 clove garlic, minced  ¾ tsp. dried oregano

½ tsp. kosher salt         ¼ tsp. pepper

    Soak onions in bowl of cool water while

prepping the remainder.  Combine all and refrigerate.

Today's quote..."Teddy bears don't need hearts because they are already stuffed with love"

Just a little bear

My stash yielded just enough fake fur fabric to create this little guy...

Pattern is an old one - Vogue #7534 - and probably is no longer available.  He's about 15" tall.

Today the quote is from Jules Renard...."It's not how old you are, it's how you are old"

Rusting away! and toy for a little boy

This little fellow winged his way out west to live with our youngest grandbaby and by all reports it seems to have been a big success.  So much fun to make, and used up some scrap yarn from my stash. Pattern is 'Donato' and is a free pattern found on Ravelry HERE.  

(and before you ask, no I didn't do the watercolor that he's posing with!  It was painted by my Australian cousin).  

I can't (won't) show you what I'm doing right at the moment because it's an icky mess.  Currently there's little bits of cloth hanging over the chairs on the balcony so they can dry after I've rust dyed them.  Not exciting at this stage (come to think of it....maybe not exciting at ANY stage!!).  

This is another quote from an anonymous source..."We get so worried about being 'pretty'.  Let's be pretty kind, pretty funny, pretty smart, pretty strong"

Bear vs Bare

I must say that the title of this blog post is very apropos today.  It's exceedingly hot here once again and the humidity level is climbing rapidly.  No rain in sight either, so there's not much hope of a cooling down for at least a few days.  So 'bare' would be a wonderful thing!!!

However, since this isn't an x-rated blog, I will have to simply share with you this fellow...

He stands about 15" tall and was created using Vogue pattern # 7534.  It's an older pattern and might not still be available.


Today your quote is from Orison Swett Marden...."All men who have achieved great things have been great dreamers"

Continuing the 2007 look back

2007 was a busy year.  I created my first (and possibly last!) beaded doll.  It was fun to do, but terribly time consuming.

2007 was also the year that I made this beauty (??!!).  Her name was Doll-E Parton.














 It was  also the year that I took part in a crazy quilted Teddy Bear round robin and this was the bear I ended up with.  She now lives on our bed during the day.

  

Today your quote is from Saint Jerome.... "The face is the mirror of the mind and eyes, without speaking, confess the secrets of the heart"

 

Do you know?

Here's a question for you.  Do you know what a group of bears is called?  You'll have to read to the end of this post to find out!

Reason for the question is that I wanted to show you this...

These little critters, also known as 'lovies', are seemingly all the rage around the internet.  They combine an animal, in this case a bear, and a security blanket.  There are lots of free patterns on Ravelry (which is where I got this pattern) if you want to go and check them out.  They also come up under 'blankies'.  If you aren't familiar with Ravelry, you should be!  It's a marvelous resource for knitters and crocheters and you can join for free.  There are tons of free patterns available there, as well as those you can pay a nominal sum for.

I don't know if you will remember about a month ago me showing a picture of the 31-year old cradle that we were sprucing up for our soon-to-be-born grandbaby (you can go HERE to read the story behind it).  Yesterday we delivered it to our #1 son and daughter-in-love and here it is, all set up and ready for Logan to arrive....

The quote of the day, from Diane Grant.... "It's better to walk alone, than with a crowd going in the wrong direction"

Oh....and the answer to the question?  A group of teddy bears is called a 'hug'.  Fitting, don't you think?

Ta dah!

One Ted E. Bear, completed!

Here's a quote from Anonymous.... "Usually it's a lot easier to nod as if you agree with someone than it would be to explain why you don't.  

A hug...of bears

I finished the bears today and they are already in their new home. These little guys are 15" tall and come from a pattern by Hemer House Designs - pattern name is 'Tiffany'. I like the lambs wool one the best...there's just something about her personality.

Now for a bit of trivia...do you know what a group of teddy bears is called? The title of this post will tell you!

Bear # 4...finished!

Looks like I made an Ewok! This bear is very fuzzy. I think the fur is raccoon but I'm not sure. Right now he's sporting a white bow, but that will change once I know whether it's a boy or a girl.

Now I'm off to make a receiving blanket.

Bear # 3!

I made this bear today from fake fur for a baby gift. I'll put the bow on once I know whether it's a girl or a boy. It's made from the same pattern as I used for the chenille one yesterday.

Next I'll be working on a 'real' fur one, which will be much more detailed. It will have moveable limbs, which this one doesn't. This bear is meant to be loved and not put on a shelf.

Bear #2

I finished this cuddly bear today, which is a gift for my SIL and is made from a recycled chenille bedspread she gave me awhile ago. This bear is actually a test run for the next one I'll be making using fake fur. I wanted a bear that is suitable for a baby to cuddle with and is a little on the soft and squishy side. I think this one will do nicely. Tomorrow I will start working on it.

TAST Week 18 and Completed Bear

I'm a week behind in the Take A Stitch Tuesday challenge, but better late than never! Actually, I was saving a spot on this bear to play with the stitch and you can see the results in the close-up picture.

The bear is one that was sent around in the latest round robin in the group I belong to. It's a fairly simple pattern with a minimum of seaming to allow for easier embellishing. Clicking on the pictures will give you greater detail.

Now I'm off to start making three more bears...one of real fur, one from a recycled chenille bedspread, and one from fake fur. All three are for gifts. Enjoy your day!

Why, oh why?

Todays pictures are of a couple of teddy bears I made, using old fur coats. They were both special orders and very fun to do.

To explain the title of this particular post...why, oh why are computers so complicated? The first disaster (if you choose to call it that) is that, when Shawn tried to install the program for the new digital camera, the computer locked up and absolutely refused to do anything. He, being computer literate, backed up and re-installed. Problem solved..right? Wrong! Still didn't work. Ok, so I can keep trying (even though I have NO clue what I'm doing!). Problem two...why, oh why when one thing is changed on your computer does it have to affect something else? My carefully noted instructions on how to scan pictures and post them here are no longer valid. Suddenly what WAS there, isn't. So....after much use of creative language, I think I got that figured out (again).

I swear, there's a gremlin living in this thing...