So the title ... 30 years of Bear Making ! I cannot quite believe it!
I went from buying a bear making kit from a craft show many many years ago, to now making my own professional adult collectable one of a kind artist bears.
I used to attend Bear shows around the country, I would drive an hour to pick my Mom up in the early Hours and off we would go on our adventures. She would always have a flask of Tea and soggy cucumber sandwiches. How I miss those days, we had quite a few laughs.
My bear making has improved over the years, going from wonky noses to not so wonky noses, OK, wonky noses and wonky ears add to the handmade effect don't they so they can be forgiven I am sure. Ears are my nemesis to this day! I was having a clear out the other day and if I remember correctly I threw away loads of old original photographs of my early bears, Why did I do that? !! here is one I have found though of a miniature bear I made 
I must find my pictures of my bear show days, I know I kept those, me and my mom looking way younger. I will save those for a future blog because for now the time is ticking while I am writing this and I want to get sewing.
Here are a few pictures of my bear making behind the scenes though.
I have always had a huge love for dolls. When I was a child I hankered after my friends Rag doll. It was beautiful, I am sure it was a collectors doll and not meant to be played with and thinking about it, it was on a high shelf, we had to stand on something to get it down. How I loved that doll. She had the most gorgeous silky blonde hair and a silk green dress with matching shoes. I wanted a doll like that so badly, but my Mom and Dad could not afford things like that back then, so my Mom knitted me a doll. It was the ugliest doll you have ever seen, and I am affectionately laughing as I write this, I have recently done a vlog on my you tube channel and I was talking about this doll and I did try to find it, but cannot find her as yet. Honestly I did not get my crafting skills off my Mom.
So over the years I have dabbled in doll making, here is an early doll I made which unfortunately I don't think I have anymore, she was a casualty of our house move, and may still be up in the loft waiting to scare someone who finds her.
Over the years my doll making skills have also improved, well I hope you would agree ! here are two of my recent dolls.
You can find them with their Bear friends at the Gallery at 12 in Eccleshall Staffordshire.
Waldorf inspired dolls have always intrigued me too, you have the Waldorf dolls made for children and then Waldorf inspired art dolls. I never knew you felted the head, my dolls have always been a round shape and stuffed. So of course I have gone down that rabbit hole now. If you know me, or follow my blogs and you tube you will see I have many rabbit holes that I wander down.
First head
I am currently in the process of making her clothes, which I love as I am a dressmaker for myself, and also the hair, this is a lengthy process but hopefully the end result will be beautiful. You can see my Waldorf inspired art doll progress in the header of this blog post.
So for now I will leave it at that, it has given me lots of ideas to write about and I hope you enjoy my blogs. I would appreciate any comments.
I will be blogging about my mother of the groom outfit soon, I had an expensive purchase disaster which has led me to make my own for my sons wedding, we have 9 weeks !!! AND I have to alter the bridesmaids dresses! So look out for that blog.
I was also thinking of starting a Patreon to show people bear making, and doll making, free style embroidery, appliqué, quilting and lots more. What do you think ? would anybody be interested in this ? this is always my biggest hold back, the fear nobody will be interested or people will just think I am not good enough to teach anything.
Anyway thanks for reading this
Happy Crafting xxx