Floral Beauties

This Sunday I am showing you some non-growing flowers!
They are so beautiful and don't need watering or weeding and they make great gifts.
Firstly, flower bouquets made from socks - yes, you did hear me right - socks!

These beautiful gift arrangements are available from www.folksy.com/shops/FloralGifts4U

L toR - Girls' socks, Ladies trainer socks, Pantie sock Posy, A single sock buttonhole.  There is even one made from babies socks which would be ideal for a gift for the new baby.

Next up are these pretty ribbon and fancy yarn flowers.  Made and sold as single stems they look beautiful on their own or as an arrangement in a vase.  Such a clever idea and again, a great gift, especially with Mothers Day coming up.

My favourites are the double looking blue selection.

They are available from www.folksy.com/shops/ffflowers

I hope these floral arrangements have brightened up your Sunday.  You may have noticed from my blogs that I like bright colours.  These certainly fit the bill.

Pollyxxx

From the Beginning...



      Pretty teddy earrings from                                        Bear in a Balloon from       
www.folksy.com/shops/PinkBijou            www.folksy.com/shops/PaulinesCrafts



Mummy plaque from
www.folksy.com/shops/Auntyjoan

....there was a piece of gold mohair bought from Oakley Fabrics in Luton, a treasure trove for the bear maker, with huge rolls of wonderful mohair, and everything else needed to make a bear.  The shop is sadly no longer there but they do still trade online.
It was 1996 and I had looked through a magazine that had come from our news suppliers with the ordered magazines (we ran a newsagent in Merseyside in the 1990's).  The magazine was called Teddy Bear Times and I was fascinated by all of the wonderful bears amongst it's colourful pages.  I ordered other bear magazines available at the time - Teddy Bear Scene, Teddy Bear Club International, Teddy Bear and Friends to name a few.  This was the start of a long association with the artist/collectors teddy bear.
We visited relatives in Hertfordshire and I found the Oakley shop, bought my piece of mohair, a pattern and other bits and pieces I needed and proceeded to make my first bear.
I even gave him a growler and, very proud of him, I called him Uno, because he was my first and we had just got back from a holiday in Spain (uno is one in Spanish).  I had a bit of mohair left over, so using the original pattern as a guide made a smaller bear and Dos was born (two in Spanish).


A fair at Horwich

 I made more and more bears, gradually developing my own style, went to a couple of craft fairs, visited a few craft type shops and persuaded them to take some of the bears.  I was on a roll now so I booked my first Teddy Bear Fair at Manchester.  It didn't go too well as I only sold one bear.  Not deterred and loving the buzz I got from someone wanting to actually buy something that I had made, I made more bears and booked more fairs at Tatton Park, Horwich, and Altringham.
These proved to be much more successful.
One of the high spots of my bear making was being invited to Alexander Palace in London for the finals of the EVA bear making awards.  These were sponsored by the magazine Teddy Bear Scene and were held at this huge venue along with a Teddy Bear Fair with stalls as far as the eye could see.  Two of my bears had got through in the 'new bear makers' category (bearmakers who had been making bears for less than a year).  I didn't come in the top three but I was so proud to see my bears in the cabinet with the other bears.  Some of the other bear artists in this final went on to build quite a big reputation in the bear world. Arnie, the white bear is in the top of the left hand cabinet and Freddie is the brown bear (waving) on the second shelf down of the right hand cabinet.  I still have both of these bears.
                           The bears at Ally Pally

I was making bears every spare minute I had now, mohair and cotton was everywhere in the flat, much to my husband's dismay.  I advertised in one of the bear magazines and managed to get a few regular customers by mail order.  For the first year or so I had a standard camera and spent a fortune having films developed and prints copied for my brochures. 
Then I discovered digital cameras and a computer.  Wow! this was great, not only could I pick out the best photos, but edit them and produce a more professional looking brochure.
These I sent out to various specialist teddy bear shops and struggled to keep up with their demands (I was working at the newsagent too).

Check out the wonderful bouquets made from socks  
www.folksy.com/shops/FloralGifts4U

The internet was not as strong as it is now, but I managed to design myself a website using Microsoft Publisher.
Everything was going so well, my business was growing year on year. 
Then we moved, because of family committments and promotion to a larger shop in Norfolk. 
My feet never touched the ground, the new shop had lots of problems, my parents and daughter were  ill, Sammy, my gorgeous Cocker Spaniel died and the bear making stopped.


A knitted bear from
www.folksy.com/shops/Mwmyn

 Now, ten years later I have started making bears again, I find it more difficult as I now have a bit of arthritis in my fingers, but it is still enjoyable to give life to these little characters.  The bear business is very hard now, the boom of the 1990's has gone, the recession is taking it's toll and we fight for every sale.  Many of the shops I supplied are no longer there, but I try to find new ones that will stock my bears.  I know they sell from shop shelves, that has been proved in the past, but shop owners are wary of taking new stock in this current climate, so I keep sending my brochures out to them and hoping. 



I now have my own online shops in Etsy and Folksy and enjoy the whole idea of online selling.

www.folksy.com/shops/PudBearsandFriends and www.etsy.com/shop/PollyKay11

Here are a few of my bears available at these online shops -
                                                                                   

Sidney goes to the Seaside - Part 3

Here is the final part of my little story about Cavalier Sidney's trip to the seaside....
Sidney had  paddled in the sea and now he was exploring the sand.

Beautiful seascape painting from www.folksy.com/shops/Wellydoggallery

(9)

There were many strange things on the sand. He watched as a crab crawled towards the sea, bending down to sniff at it. “Watch out Sidney it might nip your nose.”
He found some wriggly stuff, that smelled really funny, and picked it up and shook it. The seaweed smacked against his ears as he shook his head and he dropped it back onto the sand.


Seaside notebook from www.folksy.com/shops/dabdash



Then he thought that it might be a good idea to dig in the sand. The boys and girls on the beach were having so much fun with their buckets and spades.

This pretty cushion's colours made me think of the seaside
feom www.folksy.com/shops/clootielugs

Sidney put his head down and nudged the sand with his nose. It moved easily so he dug with his paws. Faster and faster he dug, sand flying up behind him and the hole getting bigger. “This is fun” he thought, “I wish I had got a bone to bury in the sand.” He looked up from his digging and saw that they were getting ready to go somewhere else.

“I would like a cup of tea and a cake. Let’s go to the pier” said Dad. They walked back up to the pathway and past the coloured beach huts until they reached the pier.
Sidney glanced down the long, long wooden bridge that went nowhere, only to the sea. He wondered what it was there for and why all the people were walking on it.

                                                        
                                            
                                                                           The pier looked just like a long bridge

They walked along the pier and Sidney could see the water between the wooden boards. He could see all the children playing on the beach from high up on the pier and looked up to see the blue kite flying high in the sky.
　

(10)



Seagulls were cicling  - see this painting
at www.folksy.com/shops/BoyinPark

 Dad got his cup of tea and they sat on a bench near the end of the pier so that they could look out over the sea.
Seagulls were circling around the end of the pier keeping their beady eyes on the fishermen, who were sitting  in wooden chairs waiting to catch a fish.
Sidney sat and looked over the edge of the end of the pier. The sea lapped against the wooden poles that held the pier up. There was a boat far in the distance that seemed like a toy. It looked so small because it was such a long way away.
He knew now why people walked on the pier. It was a beautiful place to be on a sunny day.
　
　




                

 Paper quilled lighthouse 
                                   from www.folksy.com/shops/quillmag               
                Take a look at their pretty gift boxes too

  (11)

All too soon it was time to go and they walked back to the car. They went past the beach huts again, past the coloured houses and the lighthouse with it’s red and white stripes. Past the nice smelling restaurant and the shops, until they came to the car park near the big grass field.
“Do you want to play ball before we go home, Sidney?“ asked Dad. “Oh wow! Yes please” barked Sidney, running round and round in circles with excitement. They went onto the big grass field and had a great game of fetch the ball, until they were all out of breath with so much running.
“It’s time to go home now, get in the car Sidney.”
Sidney climbed onto his furry cushion. He was a very happy little dog and so tired. Soon he was fast asleep and snoring loudly. Mum turned and looked at him, smiling.
“Bless him, what a good boy he is.” she said to Dad. “Yes” replied Dad, “the very best.”



ZZZzzzzzz

                                             THE END

Big Bears - yes or no?

In the 1990's I made all sizes of bears, from 5" to 16" and they all sold well.
Since restarting the bear making I have had no sales from any bears over 12", with most of the sales being under 8". 

Is this the new trend for bear collectors?  Have they (the collectors) got so many bears in their hug that they only have room for a small one?  I was once told that even with a large amount of bears a small one could sit on a knee or a shoulder of another bear and fit in a hug that way.

Consequently I have stopped making the larger bears and I am concentrating on the 8" and under. 

I still have six 16" bears in my Folksy shop -

 www.folksy.com/shops/PudBearsandFriends

 

    

              

I love my big bears, they are great for cuddling, just the right size, and I usually fill them quite softly to give them a certain amount of flexibility.   Their names are, from left to right - Flakey, Bertie, Babs, Levi, Goldie and Casper.
I always describe my bears as 'Classic Cute' as they look quite traditional in some mohairs and just downright cute in others.  You may be surprised to learn that all of the above bears are made from the same pattern with no adjustments made, just the difference in mohair and facial expressions gives the variety of looks.   
www.folksy.com/shops/PudBearsandFriends  

Polly xxx
                                                                                                                



Sidney Goes to the Seaside part two......



I want these - from www.folksy.com/shops/MaryElliottJewellery


Here is the second part of my little story for children, plus some lovely handmade items from Folksy shops.  Sidney and his Mum and Dad had just arrived at the restaurant......

(5)

He thought that restaurants are very nice places, they smell nice and give you food and drink.

When they had eaten they continued walking through the town until there were no more shops.
He could smell that fishy smell again and the road felt funny under his paws.  He thought it felt as if he was walking on sugar.  When they got to the end of the street there was a huge field in front of them, but it didn’t have any grass….. ?
Sidney sat down and stared.  “Where’s all the trees and the houses?” he wondered, “and I can see a long, long way, right up to the sky!” 


'Where's the trees Dad?'

They walked down some stone steps before reaching a pathway above the strange field. Come on Sidney, no need to be frightened.  You are at the seaside and this is the beach.”

(6)

So, this was the seaside that the children talked about.  They always sounded very excited when they spoke about going to the beach so it must be a fun place to visit.
He looked around and saw that there were many people on the beach.  There were Mums and Dads lying on towels and Grandads and Grandmas sitting in brightly coloured deckchairs. 
The children were playing with buckets and spades, digging holes and building sand castles.  One little girl had a blue kite and was running along the sand pulling it behind her.  Sidney watched as it went higher and higher into the sky.  “That looks fun” he thought. 
“I wonder if Dad has brought me a kite to play with?”

'I want a kite'

(7)

They walked a little way along the pathway, past some large kennels.  At least that is what they looked like to Sidney, but they must have been people kennels as there were Mums and Dads in them making cups of tea and reading their newspapers.


Hee Hee, look at those funny kennels


Noticing Sidney’s puzzled expression, Mum explained  “They are called beach huts Sidney.  Tiny houses that people sit in and eat their tea when they come to the seaside.”  Sidney thought that the beach huts looked very pretty, painted in different colours, just like the houses they had passed on the way to the beach.


This beautiful sea crystal brooch is from
www.folksy.com/shops/BedeckedBeads

 “This is the place Sidney.  Dogs can go on the beach just here.”  They all walked down a slope and Sidney felt the sand on his paws for the first time. 
It felt so funny that he lifted his paw and shook it. 

(8)

“Do you want to paddle Sidney?”  He thought he might like to paddle, whatever that was, so he pulled away on his long lead and ran along the beach until he reached the water.
He stopped in surprise as the water moved towards him.  “Help, it’s coming after me, quick let’s go.” he yelped, backing away.  He barked at the waves and they moved away.


Help, it's coming after me!

“Hmm“, he thought,  “that told the water what I thought of it and it’s gone now.”   He moved towards the sea again, proud of himself for chasing it away, but he jumped back quickly when the waves rushed forwards again.
“You silly dog, Sidney.  You can’t tell the sea what to do.  Come on let’s run and splash in the water.”  Sidney thought that this was a fun idea and they ran along the sea’s edge making big splashing noises as they went.  “This is fun, I like the seaside” he decided.
To be continued..........



personalised mirror from www.folksy.com/shops/HelenMcCartney



Beach bag in many different colours and designs
from www.folksy.com/shops/ChainGang



Check out the cards at www.folksy.com/shops/cardmakingprincess



Sidney goes to the Seaside part 1
A Short Story for Children (or adults)

Here, as promised, is the first part of my little story written for children.
It is about Sidney, my Cavalier and his first trip to the seaside.
I wrote it about 3 years ago now, as an entry to a story competition.  I did get a nice complimentary letter back from the organisers.  I think that they were just trying to encourage me to join up for their postal course in story writing, with promises of future publishing opportunities.  It seemed a bit 'iffy' to me, so I declined (couldn't afford their fees anyway). 
Anyway, this story has been sitting in my computer all this time, with no-one to read it, so I thought that I would publish it myself on my blog.  It is illustrated with actual photos of Sidney, visiting the sea at Southwold, Suffolk as a young dog.
I hope you enjoy it.

SIDNEY GOES TO THE SEASIDE

by

Polly Kay

(1)

Sidney was a young puppy when he went to live at his new forever home. He was to have lots of adventures as he grew up.
One day , when he was still very young he went for a ride in the little yellow car. He loved riding in the little yellow car and sat proudly on the back seat in his safety harness. It was very comfortable as he had his favourite furry cushion to sit on. When he sat on the cushion he could see out of the window and watch as all the traffic and trees went by with a whooshing sound.  “I wonder where we are going” he thought. “Maybe we will go where there are trees, and fields with rabbit holes that I can stick my nose into.
Perhaps we will go to the town and I can get a lot of fuss and the people shopping will stop to stroke me. They will talk to me and tell me what a good boy I am. I wonder if they will give me a dog biscuit for being a good boy?”

He was so excited and wagged his tail at the thought of the fun that he was going to have.   

(2)

It was not long before the car slowed down and stopped in a small car park surrounded by trees. “Out you jump Sidney” said Mum, undoing the cage and fastening the lead onto his harness. “I wonder where we are?” thought Sidney, as he lapped up the water that Dad had put in a dish for him.

He looked around. There were many cars parked nearby and a large area of grass behind them. He pulled on his lead to go that way as he loved to run on grass. It felt so nice and cool on his paws, especially on a hot day like today.
“Not now Sidney” said Mum. “We are going this way first.”
Sidney soon forgot his disappointment as they walked by the houses and he found lovely new smells and lots of other things on the pavement and in the hedges. His nose told him that other dogs had walked that way, and even a cat! He could smell crisps , chips, burgers and all sorts of nice food.
There was also a strange fishy smell that he kept getting the scent of. He couldn’t work out what it was and kept lifting his nose into the air and sniffing. “It’s getting stronger” he thought, “I wonder what it could be?”
They went down a small street with little houses either side. They were very pretty houses, each painted blue, pink, green or yellow.

The little houses were very pretty



(3)



There was a very tall house that Sidney stopped to look up at. It was very strange, he had never seen one like it before. None of the houses in his street were painted in red and white stripes, and they definitely where not that funny round shape.

“Come on Sidney, haven’t you seen a lighthouse before?”

“So, that’s what it is, a lighthouse. I wonder who lives in a lighthouse? They must be very tall to fit into such a high house.” Sidney had a good long think about it and then carried on walking.

They went round a corner and then they were in the town. “Oh good, lots of people to stroke me and tell me how cute I am.” Sure enough the first lady that they saw stopped to say hello.

Sidney sat down as he had been taught and waited for the fuss that he knew was coming his way.

Sidney tries to ask for a treat

(4)

“You are a good dog” said the lady and patted him on the head. He put his head on one side and looked at her with his big brown eyes. Surely that would be worth a treat, or maybe a small dog biscuit.

Poor Sidney, it didn’t work and they continued walking down the street, stopping every now and then to look in a shop window. He was getting very hungry now as it had been a long time since breakfast.

Mum and Dad must have been hungry too as they stopped outside a large building and spoke about eating some dinner. Dad went inside, then came out and said “Yes, it is ok Sidney can come inside too.”

Sidney wondered what he would find inside the large building called a restaurant. It looked quite scary to a little pup, but he went in as he knew that Mum and Dad would not let anyone hurt him.

It smelled really nice inside, sort of cosy with lovely food smells. It reminded him of Sunday dinner at home. They sat at a table with Sidney being very good and laying down under a chair. A bowl was produced from the bag that Dad had been carrying and Mum filled it with some little dog biscuits. Dad spoke to a man behind the counter and he fetched a bowl of water for Sidney and two cups of tea.
Sidney wondered if they had got their dinner in the bag too, but just then a lady appeared with two plates of food, one for Mum and one for Dad.





To be continued..........



Pretty earrings that remind me of the sea
from www.folksy.com/shops/Canuknitit




This pendant is called 'Mermaids Rock Pool'

from www.folksy.com/shops/LeopardPrintBee





     

 

Purse flying the kite from
 www.folksy.com/shops/Pinkstarsandfairycakes