Pud Bears - New Artist Bears Born Recently

I have been busy getting my stock built up of Pud Bears.  I had neglected them over the winter in favour of making the vintage toys and craft fair items.
Now though, in the words of a famous action hero 'They are back'.
I have made a few larger bears than I was making last year - 10" and 12" as well as the popular 6" and 8".
Here is what I have got so far -

6" bears and pandas


6" Dillon



6" Gilbert

6" Burgundy and Tan Panda

6" Jackson

6" Roly and Baby Berry

 8" bears and pandas

8" Jade

8" Purple and Black Tip Panda



8" Lemon Panda and Blue Panda

10" and 12" bears and pandas



10" Ivan

10" Becky

12" Fuzz

12" Tan and Fawn Panda

12" Traditional Panda



12" Susie Panda

Some of these bears will be going to Alices Bear Shop in Lyme Regis, and House of Bears in Bath, Somerset.  The remainder will be available in my Etsy shop. 
There will be more to come in the next few weeks as I am trying to get enough stock made to do a Teddy Bear Fair later in the year.





My First Auction Bears

I have never purchased bears from an auction before, but thought I would try my hand when a collection of well worn bears were listed at a local one.
Most lots went well above my 'absentee' bids.  I couldn't attend in person as I was 100 miles away looking after my Grandsons.  However I managed to get 2 lots and this great hug of bears came home with me. :)

Pedigree mohair, Unkown plush, Lefray mohair

Lefray plush, Deans mohair, Chad Valley mohair

 The first to have a makeover was this little Pedigree bear.  He is not in bad condition, and just needed a good clean and brush.  He is available in my Etsy shop.



Next came this big English plush bear with a deep growl who I named Big Boy.

He was listed on Etsy and sold within 24 hours to a customer of mine who lives in Japan.  As we speak, he is winging his way overseas, as he was posted yesterday.  He caused a bit of amusement in the Post Office as every time his parcel was tipped over he complained in his deep growly voice.

The next to be mended and cleaned up was the Lefray plush bear.

His arm needed a new joint and while I was at it I took a look at his non working squeaker.  He can now make a little squeak with a poke in the tummy (not surprising, it would make me squeak if someone did that to me!).  He is listed in my Etsy shop.

I have started mending the paws of the Chad Valley bear, but his hand paws will need patches.

The 1930's Deans bear I looked at late one night and got so engrossed in sorting out his problems that it was past midnight before I got to bed!  He needs a new head joint, and new hand paws.  He only had one ear so I have found suitable mohair in my offcuts and dyed it as close as I can to the original.  The original two pieces of ear will form the fronts of his 2 new ears, with the dyed pieces at the back.  I think he will be a handsome bear when he is finished.

Finally, the Lefray mohair bear, who needs his arm joints mending.

So, between restoring these. and making up a stock of little Pud Bears, I will be busy for a few weeks. :)  If you would like to know when these bears and the new artist bears go on sale, go to my FB page and 'like' it to get updates on the bears' progress.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pud-Bears-and-Pollys-Vintage-Bears/174222365967942

My Etsy shops are  www.etsy.com/shop/PollysVintageBears and www.etsy.com/shop/pollyspinsandneedles

 

A Fleeting Visit From a Terrier and Three More Pud Bears are Born

I enjoyed making the 12" Panda so much I have made two more 12" bears.  


Fuzz standing

This one is made from light brown long pile sparse mohair with a slightly darker backing.  He can nearly stand unaided, but did need a little help in the shape of a small stapler.  When he was completed I felt he needed a fashion accessory.  I tried the usual ribbons and lace, but they just were not right for him.  I found these beads in my oddments drawer and they are perfect for him. 
I have named him Fuzz.





Loving the goatee beard look

 
 

This next one named Treacle Panda is a new 3 coloured Panda with striking bronze coloured ears and upper chest.  I have started putting white behind the Pandas eyes. This makes them stand out much better and seems to give the bears more life. 

Treacle Panda was born in the garden surrounded by Roses and bird song. This week's weather has been lovely and warm so far, and I have been taking my sewing outside.

Next is this little 8" red bear named Jill.  Her look was created  when I found the bow with anchors on it in my buttons and bows box.  I knew I had material decorated with boats, so made her a summer dress to complete the look.  I do not do many dressed bears so I am pleased with how she has turned out

Lastly, here is a handsome black and white terrier dog made by Wendy Boston that visited me for a short while.  He was only listed on Etsy for under 12 hours before he was snapped up by a lucky customer.

The Pud Bears shown above are for sale in my Etsy shop www.etsy.com/shop/pollysvintagebears 

Go and have a browse, there are many vintage bears, animals, dolls and other toys available as well as the Pud Bears artist bears.

New Pud Bears Jade and 12" Panda

I have finally finished the 12" Panda, and he has turned out really well. 

I loved making a larger bear again, he is the first for many years.  I used to make up to 18 inch bears years ago, but scaled them down due to demand for the smaller bears. 
I have changed the way I trim the noses for the Pud Bears and doing a bit of mohair sculpting on them.  Also the eyes have a white rim which really seems to make them stand out and gives the bear more character.  He still has the Pud Bears shape and design which has evolved since 1996 when I first started making bears - long arms, large feet, a shaped back and tubby tummy. 

I have also finished an 8" jade green bear, called Jade (not very original I know, but I had a brain block on choosing a name for her). 
She is made from my trusted 8" bear pattern, but again I have not trimmed her nose back a much, and she has the white rims to her eyes.  My niece says she looks as if she is thinking of something naughty to do - a very mischievous bear.
They are both available in my Etsy shop www.etsy.com/shop/pollysvintagebears

Pud Bears Flower Pandas

I started making 3 coloured Pud Bears Pandas in the 1990's.  They were very popular so I have made a few since I restarted making bears.  Here are a selection of past and present Pandas.



8" Biscuit - SOLD

8" Cherry Panda - SOLD

 

8" Rusty Panda - SOLD

8" Purple Panda - SOLD

8" Tan and Green Panda - SOLD

6" Tan Panda - SOLD





Pastel Panda - available at House of Bears, Bath



I am currently making a new 8" Panda in black, shaggy blue tipped, and royal blue.



Dolls from the Past

A couple more little dolls that I have dressed.
Here they are before I set to work on them (I had already made a vest for the one on the right).

The first is a 3 inch baby with a diamond mark and  open/close eyes.
I do not know her maker.  She is probably a mass produced doll from the 1960's.

 

The other one is 2.7 inches long and is clockwork and crawls when wound up.  This is a really cute little doll.  I had a bit of a job working out how to dress her so that she could still crawl.  I am really pleased with the result, especially the frilly knickers.

The next job has to be making more Pud Bears.  The holiday season should be starting shortly  (if the snow and wind goes away), so the bear shops will be getting more customers and I have to be ready to restock when they sell some of my bears.  Also, the craft fairs start in May and I like to take a few Pud Bears along as I have a few return customers who are bear collectors. 

Hopefully I will be able to sit long enough to man a stall.  If not my husband will help out as he has before, so that I can have a break.  This darn arthritis and back problems make me so frustrated at times.  I used to be an active person and now a short spell on my feet, or sitting in one position for too long, and that is me finished for the day - and probably the next one too.