Bears Embroidery Den

Happy New Year one and all

2012-01-12T21:14:00.000+10:30

I hope that all had a wonderful New Year (and also Christmas and any other holidays that are not mentioned), ours was very quiet, there were some issues but heck I am not starting the year with that lot lets just say life is back to quiet and peaceful at present.

I was working on my Boho bag though wots that I hear you all say??? well Boho is short for Bohemian bag and if you do the numbers on my age you will work out I was around when I could and did wear flowers in my hair LOL. The pattern comes from the one and only Pat Winter. Pat has a magazine that began last year - crazy quilting oriented but also has a magazine on making a Boho Bag. Very well written and easy to follow interested - head to the above link and ......... Anyway I have been stitching and pulling apart and stitching!!

Do you like how its coming along- I cheated a lot with this - yes I did do my spider-web roses - they are hidden in there. The Gypsy pic is also a gift from Pat- its in her book and also her magazine - Autumn 2011. Anyway I had a lot of the wee flowers but they are not all ones I picked up along the way _I also made stacks myself they are so easy and make up so quickly.

Anyway I will make the bag up and let you all see the finished item.. I already have plans for another one. Pat Winter you have much to answer for LOL you are so right when you say try and stop at just one. Oh and BTW no I am not getting anything for this plug but Pats magazine is orientated for CQ and comes out 4 times a year (personally I want it bi-monthly but hey I am pushy! If interested please go to the link and look at the info there.

love n hugs
Bear xoxoxoxoxo

Hewoo I dun promised Piccies didnt I???

2011-12-03T15:42:00.000+10:30

Well here I am again - hewoo to you all

I promised piccies last time I wrote and I do my darndest to do the right thing - sometimes it doesn't work but hey presto I dun did this time whoohoo!! I doubt many would remember about this particular item except Hideko and I- we have been in the process of exchanging a bag to each other for more time then either of us could remember. Anyway Hideko sent me her beautiful bag to me earlier this year, its ever so gorjus (when I find the camera I will take piccies of it to show its a beautiful piece of art from a lovely lady!

Anyway then things came in and got in the way- the Earthquake and Tsunami in Sendai and surrounds and I just didn't feel like embroidering bags at that time but did 2 blocks for the Quilts that were made up and sent to Hideko to raise funds to help out children after the terrible earthquake/Tsunami. Then in between I had so much trouble with my dear old hands- this arthritis happening in both of my thumbs and several fingers has slowed me down a lot but with the return of some warmer weather I have been able to do some more and the BAG IS FINISHED.

La Te Da Hideko I feel like jumping up and dancing (nope can't do that either of deary me how boring can life be ggg) But now for the truth the whole truth I had almost completed the bag earlier this year- when for some reason I took it outside in the sunlight and I HATED it- not only hated it but the fabric was downright filthy. THAT would not do I thought. So I came in grabbed a pair of scissors and cut up the bag there and then- I was so angry I could have washed it no doubt BUT I was really at the stage where it had been hanging around here and I just got to the stage where I hated it (if you look back on other blog entries I have written no doubt you will find piccies of THAT bag.

So now wot to do- I had cut up bag number 1, which was actually bag number 2 (I originally thought to do a smocked bag - but changed my mind when the bag I like only had 4 rows of smocking on it and that was back smocking only, so out came the fabrics and I put together a new front and new back and began to put together this bag. My spider web roses are made with hand dyed ribbons I purchased from Flights of Fancy Boutique - oh so pretty. The bag is several shades of purple and greens with a little black Jacquard patch to add a touch of spice. I only used Roses to embroider the bag and again stuck to purple (several shades) and the red ribbons. The only other adornment are the butterflies, which is why I call this " Butterfly's on Roses" of course I couldnt NOT put Swarovski crystals in and around and on the roses.

The other thing that slowed down the finishing of this bag was I couldn't find a purse clasp that I liked !! I chased purse clasps everywhere. Finally Lincraft in Elizabeth did get in some new purse clasps and I bought 2 of these, but then I thought them to ordinary and plain Jane so when Colin took me to the craft Show I picked up another couple of purse clasps there, they were either to big or too small - although I could have made them fit - I had left enough fabric to be able to alter the top of the purse to fit any clasp if it wasn't too big. I just didn't like them I guess- Col took me to Elizabeth again and I looked in the store there and also at Spotlight here in Munno Para, Just didn't have purse clasps or not the ones I wanted. So I rang a lady who sells them privately here in South Australia and when they came I thought yes I finally have just want I want, grabbed the purse put the frame up against it and LOATHE the frame. Would you believe I finally wound up using the very first purse clasp I bought at Lincraft in Elizabeth, the fancier frames overpowered or screamed at the bag they just didn't suit the bag at all- maybe because I had so many roses covering the bag itself that it just needed a plain clasp and so on Monday(our time here) Cols taking me down to the Post office and Hidekos' Purse (bag either or) and her Birthday present (yes that was months ago as well I may be slow BUT I DO get there in the end) will be on there way to her FINALLY!!

With Much Love and biggest Hugs to you Hideko-- I pray you like the bag and book dearest friend. To all others I hope you all enjoyed the telling of the story behind Hidekos bag

lottsa love and hugs Bear xoxoxoxoxoxoxo

I have joined the Crazy Quilt Journal Project 2012

2011-11-24T00:18:00.000+10:30

Hewoo all

I guess you are all getting sick of me being all talk and no piccies - sorry this will be the last one for a bit but wanted to let you all know about the http://cqjp2012.blogspot.com this is a way of geetting Crazy Quilting out there and to be seen by more people.

Basically each participant (yup I am IN) makes a 6x6 inch block each month (hey these can be bigger - once again go check the link gang) and embellish it then sent a piccie of it to the web addie and it will be put up on a web page. I am really looking forward to this as I have been getting trims and bits and bobs for over 12 months now to make myself sit down and either make a wall hanging or begin a quilt for us, this I hope is going to force me to do it and one block a month isnt too terrible taxing - well is it????

So if you are interested please hit the link above and read the ruels/ regulations and the where and why fors its all so much more made of plain sense on their blog then I am here........

love n hugs bear xoxoxoxoxoxo

To those who werent able to do TAST last year read on!

2011-11-21T19:54:00.000+10:30

Hewoo there all my dear friends

Sharon Bogon has just announced on her http:// www.pintangle.com that next year she will again do her wonderful Take A Stitch Tuesday, whats tht I hear you say ---dont know what it is all about - well do go to the web page and read on.

Briefly though - Sharon picks a Stitch for the Challenge and each indivual works the stitch for a week. You can put in as much effort as you want to- some will really take the stitch and work many different ways of including it or just make the one stitch and learn it really well. Each Challenge stitch is there on Tuesday and is worked on for a week- you can show it to all or not - your choice again ...... such a laid back Challenge - no making you feel guilty cos Sharon is not like that, this is a Challenge you can enjoy and whats more you will learn so much.

Sharon is an absolute doll and makes this challenge as guilt free as she can- this is a challenge for the indivdual to get the most out of the challenge that they can.

Please please go to Sharons web page- http://www.pintangle.com and read the instructions -Sharon explains it so MUCH better then I have here and also you will need to send her an email etc with your details - but again, please go to Sharons web page - it DOES explain all of this so much clearer then I have ............

love n hugs Bear xoxoxoxoxxoxoo

well its been such a while hasnt it??

2011-11-08T15:16:00.002+10:30

Hewoo All

                Well the winter flu season caught up with us here and bang it really hit the three of us fortunately our 2 kids were lucky and caught a mild version and were up and back in action with in a week. Dad also managed to get over the worst of it in a little over a week while Col and I went down and it took us 4 weeks to finally say well I am feeling better and even alive now. Wont go into the boring details - least said and all that - but it was a horrid thing and my bed and I became very good buddies while Col and his beloved recliner chair became better buddies then they normally are - heck he even came and had a sleep on the bed in the daytime several times- UNHEARD of but he did I was thinking the man is THAT sick hell better get the willls signed and sealed, but hey hes all better again PHEW !

               I figure you all deserve an update on my sewing- Nothing was attempted while I was ill so nothing has been completed -- boohoo - I know Hideko is probably sick of hearing this but hers is on the way again- I am actualluy about to set the sewing machine in to action and sew the seams of the bag n the lining -- now --- this very --afternoon - do u believe it- no I dont either but who knows if I do U will see the noise on here tomorrow or the next day. I have completely redone Hidekos bag - the other one just didnt set me alight - I just couldnt get the enthusiasm moving for it -----so I completely redid the bag no, no photos til its finished and on its way to Hideko I think everyone will pass out the day I say its in the post and going to her I know I will heavens its been a long long time........

                So until later I will say - adieu. Take care you all.-- I will be back and will try to be a bit better and be here a bit more often then I have been.

                                               love n hugs to all Bear xoxoxoxoxoxoxox

Well I have finished some more of my 6 and a !/2 inch Squares

2011-09-15T20:26:00.001+09:30

Hewoo one and all

I have had a few little blocks that I am doing in the Secret Meaning of Flowers a kind of Block of the month But I just go to the online catalogue and choose what I want and when and away I go.I am seriously thinking of now doing a wall hanging with these sweet little blocks. I think I did tell you that I am getting these little flower blocs from the pink bunny lady - www.valeriebothell.com Anyway I have the Iris Block waiting to be completed and have just orded daffodil - love daffodils actually I love all flowers and I have had my few daffies flowered here at Dads and they are now setting seed --they doubled in number from last year and did look so pretty - I should have taken a piccie but didnt -oh well!

Anyway I have scanned the blocks I have now completely finished apart from my initials and the year, so I am feeling rather happy with that so without further ado here they are-------

I have been thinking of doing the meanings on all the blocks as I have done on a couple of them ie joy -so am still pondering on that after all -- return of happiness-- is a lot to put on the Lily of the valley blocks isnt it, though Innocence wouldnt be a problem on the Daisy block and Message would be fine on the Pansie block - though that has its meaning on the tiny silkie, and so do a couple of others but thats for the future and I didnt rescan the rose block as its just below this entry. I hope you all like--- please feel free to let me know how you do like or not (LOL), I have a couple of other things on the burner at present but they will be for future blog entries and piccies---- so for tonight - nighty night and please have a safe day where ever you are.

love n hugs Bear xoxoxoxoxox

I am so sorry to have been missing in stitching!

2011-09-06T19:33:00.001+09:30

Hewoo all,

I am sorry its been such an age to tell the truth ,my hands arms shoulders etc have not coped with winter at all this year and I had trouble stitching and also typing - But enough of that its so boring to hear bear complaning such when in this world there are those starving and with diseases that are far more serious then mine. So lets say this its be a pain and leave it at that- when I felt a little better then I would do a wee bit of stitching until it hurt and then leave it for another day - so I have actually managed to complete another couple of the Language of Flowers a monthly 6 inch Cq block that can be you can also purchase as I did by going to the designers web site www.valeriebothell.com

Vals web site is gorgeous and no I am not being paid for these comments, I am in such awe of her CQ designs etc so go and have a look see there is another CQ block of the month on the site and other things of interest. Anyway I thought you may like to have a quick look at one that I say is finished but I noticed a small empty space- oh heavens I hate empty spaces I may have to do something with that - but for now here is Joy the pink rose being the flower for joy! I am sorry to say I hate to do an alteration on it Joy gggg I just cannot do anything without adding a wee thing that is different thats so weird of me isnt it?? Hope you like it - I will try and do some more on my blog tomorrow and catch you all up with what I have been doing in the past few weeks!

Love n hugs Belinda
(aka bear)
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxxoox

No pictures today BUT theres a Great Giveaway at......... look below...

2011-06-13T20:23:00.000+09:30

I is being a noighty bear cos havent got any piccies to show today! Today I decided to bite the bullet and have just finished doing a back and a front Cq blocks for something I am working on- I have really being thinking of doing this for some time- the piece I have been working is just not working and I cannot in all honesty send it to a dear friend if I dont like it and I really dont I have been over and through and I guess I just needed to say enough and just restart now I have I am feeling so much happier and tonight I willl get a good start on it I actually like the block heapsa more then the old one - its more me. Ok ladies and gents all will be revealed in time stay with me I think in the long run you will all agree with me and what I have done!

okay and now theres another reason to visit me tonight -a lass on CQI yahoo group is having a give away and my oh my its a really good one so heres the addie please do go and look and join in the fun and if someone who has gone from my blog wins I will be such a happy bear I truly will ---so please go try it and play
okay here it is:

www.cwkalina.blogspot.com

thats it from tonight
I will do some piccies in the next few days I does promise
love n hugs as always Bear xoxoxoxoxoxo

ok new all in one has decided it will play for Bear

2011-06-08T20:02:00.002+09:30

Hewoo

         I have had such a wonderful time the past few days--- NOT ---- nor has my number 1 pooter techie - ie no 1 son Kieron. anyway after 3 days of trying it finally decided to allow us to get it installed on the pooters (mine and the desktop), so now I can at long last show my little BOTM (block of the month).

        These are the Language of Flowers, as I said earlier you also can join in on www.valeriebothell.com which takes you to the Pink Bunny catalogue of wonders and delights. Theres also a larger BOTM there as well - but I am so happy doing this one- as I said in previous notes its a 6and a half inch block so nice n small and I dont have to get all worried on what and where and especially when I need a calm down effect from having problems with a certain purse clasp and getting it to play nice -I put the former away and do a little on my blocks

            The BOTM are so cute, the first is Daisy- innocence ----its actually all but finished but I messed up the small white ribbon with the word Innocence on it- I was putting some Fray Check on the edges of another block when I pick up the daisy block- dont ask how I did it but I obviously touched the ribbon and hey presto I have only the Inn left- I wonder if I can put the rest of the word onto it, will try it out on some scrap so heres that one

There are some changes to it one is the small daisy on the bottom left corner with the little pearls in the centre, Valerie was lucky enough to have a very special daisy with pearls in the middle- quite different to this but very

gorjus Anyway up the top theres a larger daisy with the ribbon over it- Valerie had a lovely piece of lace in that place but I just couldnt find the piece of lace I liked so I added this quite different daisy I think it works do you?

         For some reason my blog is playing up I have only got the previous 2 paragraphs showing and none of the bits n bobs up top that allow you to format or to add images etc so I am not going to be able to add the Pansy block at this stage so will you all coome back tomorrow and have a look, anyway I should complete it before I show you it shouldntI??? So I will, now we all know when Bear says tomorrow she prolly means a couple of days BUT I WILL Try to do it tomorrow I does promise But I also want to work on Hidekos purse also. My dearest Hideko who has the patience of a saint I have gotta finish her purse.

            Ok so I will come back tomorrow and show some more who knows I may even be a long way further with Hidekos purse I am really struggling with it- IT doesnt want to be nice and go together at all!! I had no problems at all with Rebeccas wedding purse so why is this playing up why oh why??? I so want Hidekos purse to be beautiful and its all going so wrong maybe I will get it to work tonight then I will feel better about it then wont I.................. so for now

                                                    Byee

love n hugs Bear xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Hewoo its cold out there

2011-06-06T20:09:00.000+09:30

Hi all

I will have something to show in a couple of days I am again working on Hidekos' bag and the purse Clasp, Its so cold here in Adelaide that I dont feel like going anywhere much -Col has an Ear Nose and Throat appointment at the hospital tomorrow I hope they agree to fix the poor mans nose for him he feels so terrible at present and has done for a long time- Hes been on the waiting list for an appointment, for at last 5 years - all those little ones getting tonsils or adenoids or grommets out and in before him gggg. Anyway tomorrow is the day.

My old printer - one of the all in one jobs hit the died and gone to hell button the other day Col and I went over to the shops and got a new one similar to the old one but its not the same I have been argueing with it since -- to get the silly thing hooked up even had Kieron down to see if he could get it hooked up - but nope its being a pain in the rear end.

Anyway I have been making little 6 n a half inch block of the month, for a wee while now. I am getting from "The Pink Bunny" Valerie Bottell's wonderful online shop ( www.valeriebothell.com ) - so far I have almost completed the Pansie block, I have finished the Daisies, and also well on the way to finiishing the Lilly of the Valley. I have ordered the Roses one next - its Pink roses. I am really enjoying doing this - I have never been in a block of the month and being that these are 6 n a half inches big its proving to be a challenge for me cos we all know how I love doing BIG!-- 20 inch is right up my alley so with these I have to think small gggg and would you believe there was a spiderweb rose on the Lilly of the Valley block and its in 4mm ribbon. I havent made a spiderweb rose THAT small EVER well not since I began to make them my own way and -- you ---- know---- what--- I LIKE it. I am ever so surprised that it actually came up so great and to think that I like it is amazing. I guess that will mean you all hate it gggggg BUT Kierons coming back down here in the am and we will have another go at getting the printer and the computers to talk nice and I will be scanning my little heart out. Tonight I am working on Hidekos bag Whoohoo I am feeling much better about the bag and its GOING to go together and thats THAT!!!

Anyway this is where I am up to - Thought I would let you all know I am about---- and I havent gone into blog sleep again---- I am being so good this year---- aint I but???

Loves to all and Big hugs to all
Bear xoxoxoxox

hewoo I have been playing around...................

2011-05-24T20:23:00.000+09:30

Hewoo one and all that wander past this place of quite repose.

My, oh my where did that all come from - I do carry on at times dont I??? said without the plum in my mouth!
I have been doing stuff - what stuff I hear you ask??- Well I began a second block for Sendai and I have finished that and I also added more to block 1 so see I have been a bizyy little bear..ok so first things first this is the first block redo- I added some things - filledd in some spaces etc and played and played until I knew I couldnt add one more thing -- well not quite true-I am going to add a small gold bead on top of and to the bottom of the gold heart in the centre but then that is it this will finally be on its way to Leslie of CQI tomorrow with all good will happening.

and well without any more mucking about heres block 2, I had not even really given any thought of doing the second block - sort of a maybe anad then the idea crept up and on to me and I thought well why the heck not so although you will notice similarities you wont find all the same things ie no Lily of the valley but more roses so many more roses that I have nicknamed this block -I promised you a rose garden, and then I added some daisies to bring in the white ribbon of the first blocks and lets face it a rose garden will often have showing their dainty faces to the sun a whole slew of daisies well they did before I let Col loose in our front rose garden he pulled out my daisies and put in Diosmas and they have overgrown and they too will be being pulled this year - I shouldnt let Col near my roses gardens should I?? But I do need him to do the hard yakka of digging and plantine and the often judicious job of pulling something out that actually needs to be yanked but I have to be right there or he goes berserk!!

How did I get onto that?? I hope that you my readers enjoy the eye candy - I hope they are good enough for our Leslie and that she has a quiet corner to shove them into on her beautiful quilts that will soon being made to send to Sendai, I have enjoyed doing this project - it takes me more time these days - arthritis in the hands isnt good but I got there now to complete Hidekos purse I hope the purse clasp fits in easily its all that is left to do now and I wanted to complete these blocks and now onto her purse, my sweet friend is patience personified she has waited so long now for this! I will take a piccies of that before I send it to her and thats a promise! Please do let me know your thoughts on these blocks and yes you can point out mistakes - I am still learning!...........................

Anyway thats it for this time,keep well and enjoy life

Til next time we meet

love n hugs bear xoxoxoxoxoxoxxo

Heavens where did April disappear off to??.......

2011-05-16T20:34:00.000+09:30

Hewoo all

well I know I can hear you all say shes gone and disappeared not to be heard of for months- wrong dear friends of this blog wrong- I have been doing much embroidery - I talked myself into doing a second block for Hearts to Sendai ----- and I have promised Lesley that I will also send over the other two blocks I made up she has kindly said she will find someone to do them or one or whatever. So thats great- my right hand is giving me"Curry" - translation from Ozzie slang - ny hand is hurting like mad!!! actually the REAL translation is far worse then that but I am not swearing on my blog no way! LOL,

I have also tried to get the purse clasp onto the handbag I am making for my darling friend Hideko - it just is not cooperating- I cant work it out- when I made Becs wedding purse the clasp went in like -so easy -- now this one is deter,ined its going to cause me heart failure BUT I have left it alone and am doing the block for Sendai and then I AM GOING to FORCE IT If thats what it NEEDS but the clasp is going to be on the bag and its also going to be off to Sendai (well the blocks are off to Lesley first for the making of the quilts, then to Sendai, whereas the handbag is a private swap between Hideko and I - I have my beautiful bag here tht Hideko masde for me looking at me- its so beautiful.

Anyway thats where I am at - almost completed block 2 and will scan it when its completed and put the scan up then so you can tell me if n you like it or not- I have tried to have them somewhat alike but there are differences as well. But thats to be soon dear friends of my blog soon!

love n hugs Bear xoxoxoxoxoxox

Sendai Block now is it finished???

2011-04-19T19:49:00.002+09:30

Hewoo one and all

well I am late - I would be late for my own funeral I am sure but for ever so many years I was early cos I had to be that these days I hope the world at large will forgive me being the occasional (read all the darn time) being late.

I showed the critic in the house Dear Old Dad --- forever more to be known as DOD, the block and he reckins its lovely and that I have such clever hands gggggg --well he does ! Surprises me but ---there ya go so I think its finished I have been staring at it for a couple of days- does anyone else do that-?? I ""finish" and then stare and see if I need to change something, I did change a couple of things last night and I learnt something valuable too- the gold material is a real Biatch. If you undo something it wants to undo the weft threads or is it the waft threads well it want to undo one ot of them and it goes from one end to the other - I will not be using that very much or maybe I should use it to get rid of it and then not buy anymore of that stuff every again its horrid stuff horrid horrid horrid!

Do U wanna see it -am not real pleased with it- I have taken things off this block more then off any other block I have ever made, its been terrible ever so terrible - doing then pulling LOL, it would either be the threads didnt do it for me or the pattern isnt what I wanted there or some such thing so without any more adoing here it is-- the Sendai block.

The (horrid) little  white flowers are a represntation of Lily of the valley - which brings "happiness back" so I am hoping it will bring happiness back to  Japan and her people sometime in the future ---not yet-- theres no way yet  that Japans peoples' can be over this yet. Of course the dim flowers to  the right of the heart in centre is my spider web roses- bit dull on  this block n I put Butterflies and also honey bees to help the people to recover all that quicker, and of course hearts everyhere to telll of our  hearts and love from those many hearts filtering out all over Japan --to help mend the Japanese people hearts and minds. Its going to take many years to get even halfway back to a normal soceity this is not something that anyone would be trying to recover from for years and years to come

So what do you think of it my dear friends please do tell me -as I said its actually proven to be the very hardest block to do, its caused me more headaches. Normally I just look at the bare block and a picture forms in my head and I just begin sewing and thats that -I may have to pull one line out max. but this block heavens I would pull out seam after seam after seam. Well at present I believe its finished - those silly white flowers on the left are the Lily of the Valley I did - to bring happiness back to Japan. Not real good but heck they are there.

ooh ooh oooh its almost Easter so to any who pass this way - Happy Easter -- may you celebrate it the way you do in safety and with family and friends, so to all a very, very Happy Easter to you. To those in Japan and Christchurch and anywhere else that is struggling due to Forces of Nature or War -- I hope that you have peace this blessed time of year and may it continue to be peaceful for all the world over.

Peace be with you!

much love and tons of hugs Bear xooxxooxox

2011-04-14T17:39:00.002+09:30

Starting April 18th! theres a "itty bitty giveaway" on Cindy Adkins whimsical Musings Blog

2011-04-14T17:35:00.005+09:30

http://cindyadkinswhimsicalmusings.blogspot.com

okay I have had to put the addie in by typing it- but theres a lovely little button with a piccie of Alices tea party on the above blog to announce that next week Cindy is having a week of giveaways, beginning the 18th April even if you dont go into the giveaways do pop over and check out this quite beautiful blog, it made me think of the beautiful 1920's with girls made up to have huge expressive eyes and those cloche hats that are tight fitting but add to the prettiness of the entire affect- cant help love that look! I hope that I have copied this addie in right if not well come and chase me downunder and let me know I am such a dill- I couldnt even work out how to take the button- -dummy bear dummy bear!!!

Go on you know you wanna go look at the pretties.and also pop back here tomorrow I am hoping to have my Sendai block all but completed - I have put the lily of the valley on not 100% happy but I have removed them 4 times and I am not getting it the way I want still so its staying the way it is - I will make a minor change but then thats that - then I only need to put on some beads and we are done done done! Whoohooo!

In case you arent watching the news the word coming out of Japan is not good - theres been 2 big earthquakes in the 7.1 and 7.4 range one was very close to the Nuclear plant this past week. Can anything else go wrong I am continuing to pray for all Japanese (and the Kiwi's as well), but very much for Hideko and Emiko. I am so frightened for them its a terrible situation isnt it??

love n hugs bear xoxoxoxoxo

one day and a whole lot more

2011-04-10T23:36:00.002+09:30

hewoo Blog -

where are all my friend these days - must be all way to bizy to be bothered to check if and see if I have Been a bad bear or a good bear - who would write in her blog every couple of days to keep you up to whats happening down here in the den.

Yesterday I had a vision- bit like Pauley Tuttel from American Choppers a Discovery Channel on Fox downunder - you dont watch it?? Man alive u cant be serious - its all bout Bike building at Orange County Choppers theres Paul Senoir, Paul Junior, Mikey and a couple of other siblings but they are not in the show- anyway last year the 2 Pauls had another blow up at each other and Senoir Terminated Pauley Juniors contract the upshot being that junior opened his own shop Paul Junior Designs (I hope thats it please forgive me Tuttles if its wrong dont wanna upset them one bit I dont) BUT Junior when beginning to envision a new Chopper (a type of Motorcycle for the unintiated inside the motor bike world) well Junior puts a whole heap of drawings or whatever he needs to look and start nutting out the design into a fully completed Chopper, and thats exactly what I do- put the block in front of me somewhere and just try and nut out what to put on it.
so myy friends this is what I have found in my brain and managed to get onto my block- yup I know Bludy spider Web roses- but hey I really like the way I have managed to get the roses made they actually look like the buds I have on my rose bushes now - their last blooming til Spring later on this year.
I hope you like them toooo

I have felt really intimitated by the most beautifuls blocks that the other ladies have shown on the web they do them ooh so gorjus how can I even manage to get remotely close to the others - I am so way behind their blocks- oh theres not a bad one amongst them. Poop there will be when mines done and no I am not looking forward to grabbing some nice comments from anyone I really am soooo intiinated by the others - heck they have made such gorjus blocks darn it.

One thing I am will place on my Sendai block is a bunch of Lily of the Valley - as the secret meaning of these particular flowers is a Return to Happiness. Nope I didnt think that one up -I found it on the Pink Bunny website where Miss Valerie Bothell is having a crazy quilt block of the month and this one just happens to be Lily of the Valley. I do think that Japan and her people really require a return to happiness very very much

. To find the magical web site of the lovely Miss Valerie go to www.valeriebothell.com lots of good things to see and buy there- actually thats where I was finally able to get my wonderful set Of Miss Carole Samples Dream a Seam templates - I had been chasing them for years and had almost given up when someone mentione they were available on this web site so I tootled over there only to find they were sold out. That same night Miss Carole emailed me telling me that she was going to make more templates and to keep an eye on the web site, Valerie Bothell also told me she would email me the minute they came in- but I didnt give her a chance I was on the site when they were put into the catalogue and finally I had my very own set of the Dream a Seam Templates (well I had to wait on the postie to bring them and I was an absolute pest for the next 10 days they took to arrive downunder - fortunately I know the postie - hes our friend and was relieving on our round at the time LOL). So to those who are trying to get a set of Dream a Seam Templates- keep on keeping on- dont give up until you succeed and actually have a set of your own- they are really worth it. Just ask all those who havae a set, dont forget Keep on trying!!!!

Love n hugs bear xoxoxoxoxoxox

More on Sendai Block!

2011-04-08T19:38:00.000+09:30

Hewoo all

Well I guess you have thought I was taking another long timeout BUT hey here I am behaving and going to try keeping my posts up on the blog this year. Well thats the idea I hope to keep on doing this!!!

I have decided to use the last block for my Sendai block and I have added the seams decoration well the beginning of them anyway - heavens I havent even climbed over Dads dining room table to climb into my Beads trolly yet but I have begun.(climbing over Dads dining room table is not easy! He has several layers high from whoa to go of paperwork and dont dare move anything he knows where everything is!) I also found a beautiful Tatted heart that someone gave me many years ago I only wish I had been a good bear and tagged the heart with a name of the maker so now I have used it and I dont know who to thank for it- it really is beautiful of course in my well loved colours of purple and mauve and white whoohoo! (If you are the maker please please tell me so I can pay well deserved praise to you!) I then decided I was going to keep my seam decorations to 3 types and use variations of them to make each seam look different to the next seam. Anyway I am in the early stage but I wanted you to know that I am doing something out here in bears space. Please feel free to comment I welcome it be it either liked or not.....................

wellllllllllll its a beginnning I am none to sure if I like it or not guess we will all find out next post what happens next!

love n hugs Bear xoxoxoxoxoxxoxo

Hearts and Hands For Sendai Part 2

2011-03-24T20:13:00.000+10:30

Hewoo again

well I did another square over the weekend and hey I am almost happy with this one can you believe it- I am almost happy with a square - whoohoo - I did introduced a new piece of fabric, the little flowers on the green background, I was thinking of doing one more block and when I have finished my block for the Sendai quilts section I might do another piece up for me or.... with the 4 other blocks I have made up along the way. Just to see if I can do anything remotely nice with them

(Everytime I write the word NICE- I have memories of my High School English Teacher telling me over and over not to use the word Nice in anything that we write - that the word Nice is the most overworked and worst descritpive word and should NEVER EVER Be used _EVER!) Sorry Miss I did it again! oh deary me- does anyone else remember these silly little things from past life as a kid??)

So without further ado here is Block no 4 above that is!

thats it I guess I dont know if these colours class as Jewel To me they d but Cols going to take me over to Spotlight for a bit of retail thearpy and I may pick up some other colours maybe thats what is causing my Jewel coloured block - it mighten be that I dont think these are good enough to be up there with the other clocks I have seen being submitted oh so gloriousv they are - well we shall see if I come home with some more fabrics well what can I say- we all need to feed the savaage beast called Cq monster and feed her some more fabric- then she might be happier and bring forth a block thatI shall be happy with - between Viv's (www.anlabyhouse.blogspot.com) "Mrs Perfect" and me the "Fabric Monster" I have a feeling us crazy quilters are well named.

night for now - love n hugs bear xoxoxoxoxox

I wanna scream!

2011-03-24T19:50:00.001+10:30

Hewoo all

    Generally I dont like bitchin! BUT LOL- Channel 7 and Sporting Car Club both here in Adelaide SA have told everyone that took photos in pit lane that these Photos cannot be posted anywhere - that Channel 7 and Sporting Car Club have the all rights and etc etc etc rubbish to all pictures and as such this very proud mother of a son who puts in a fair amount of VOLUNTEER time to help the Clipsal 500 run the smoothly car race of the year here in Adelaide South Australia and now this very proud Mum cant put up a photo of her kid cos they say no all photo rights belong to us BIG DEAL! Channel 7 and Sporting Car club my poor little blog has 32 followers who come occasionally to see what I have been up to and I would dearly love to show them how proud we (his Dad and Mum) are of this kid of ours and the fact he puts out for them every year and also through out the year at Mallala car circuit free gratis, no money is given or asked for he loves doing this and he even goes without pay from his normal working Job -as he is a Casual and so he doesnt get paid for the 4 days of the CLIPSAL 5oo

    This is mean spirited channel7 and Sporting car club - I am not going to get anything from putting up a photo of my kid in his uniform shirt (they do supply that free giving credit where its due)) Is it to much to ask to be able to show a photo of my kid in Pit Lane. Pooh to you big germie corporations unfortunately you guys will never know about this complaint even cos none of my followers belong to these grumpy corporations.

    Thanks you one and all who cross this way for letting me have a grump I really am so cross with the above now named not corporations.

love n hugs Bear xoxoxoxoxxo

Hearts and Hands For Sendai

2011-03-19T20:57:00.000+10:30

Hewoo all

the Crazy quilting International Group have begun a new project called "Hearts and Hands for Sendai" in which the participants - whether crazy or sane quilters will make a block and then send them to a central point to be sewn together into Quilts which will then displayed first and then auctioned and the money raised being donated to a charity of choice/s. This will be a way that many of us can actually contribute to the Japanese people in a constructive manner. I continue to pray that our friends Hideko and Emiko and their families and all of the Japanese people involved will be safe but each day brings more concerns for all Japanese with the reactor, the aftershocks and now also the cold weather, can anything else go wrong??

Anyway I have been attermpting to make a block for the fundraising quilts - man alive- I havent really done any crazy quilting for quite some time and its showing BIG time - so far I have made 3 blocks - I am telling you block 1 and 2 are terrible, Well to me they are not my normal type block and where they came from who knows BUT block 3 is gettting there and I am sure come block 4 I may even be happy with it- we will see - at present that one is still in my head.

Block 1

Block2

Block3

I do not like the way I have used the patterned fabrics in any of them and although Block3 shows crinkles believe me its not - must be an error in the scanning process.but again I have not managed to get a complete animal onto the block in the 2 pieces of patterned materials used grrrrrrrr. Am almost thinking I may just have a plain material only block - will think on that later -But I want to be able to use the best block ---to me this is one of the most impotant pieces of embellished Crazy quilting I have ever made, or will make. So I am being the little Virgo Perfectionist that I am - well every now and then I am a Virgo perfectionist!

Stay Tuned more to come on this subject,.......

love n hugs Bear xoxoxoxo

Earthquake

2011-03-11T21:16:00.000+10:30

hewoo there one and all

Its with a heavy heart that I write tonight - once more the earth has decided to send its bulk upwards and in an effort to explode it created another earthquake this one in Japan in the prefecture of Sendai, where my lovely Hideko resides with her family.

Noone has heard from Hideko tonight but then thats is to be understood although my heart is screeching out theres little can be done bar prayers for those of us who pray or any other method that anyone quietens their unhappy hearts with prayers to Budda, or the many other forms of religon we have across the globe.

So Hideko and the many thousands caught up in this terrible earthquake and also the Tsunami I am praying for you all, I am especially praying for Hideko and her family but there are so many others involved in this terrible happening today. I hope that those who have loved ones and friends in Japan soon hear from them to let them know they are okay, and I hope and pray that we will hear from our beautiful friend Hideko that she and her family are all safe.

To the many more that will face the might of a Tsunami in the next hours I hope and pray that you have all taken heed of the warnings are on higher ground and well out of the way of the Tsunamis frightful roar. To all be safe please and please I pray we all hear from those we love very soon.

love n hugs belinda (bear) xoxoxoxoxoxxoxoxo

well I did say I would do......

2011-03-03T20:44:00.000+10:30

Hewoo again

Well just a wee 2 days from my last entry and here I am not to say that I am very impressed with my needlework cos I am not But we all have to get back to doing some stitching and after such a long time off and with these shaky old hands playing up its not been a great experience but I promised and I really wanted to give Hayley something to remember me by, and now she may remember me for all the wrong reasons. Her Bubby is due next month and shes a wee tiny little girl - nay woman but so tiny so petite and so big with her wee boy baby. As with all Mums this last month is getting to her but she always has a smile on her face that lights up anywhere she is.

So I grabbed some singlets and a small growsuit for bubby's next summer, I figure that as with all new Mums you get heaps of baby clothes to fit now not so much for the next months after, so thats why I did this little buy. NOW I will tell you so noone has to try and work out wot I have stitched Haylee is Vietnamese in origin, and Australian by choice and this year is the Chinese year of the Rabbit - so these things I havae stitched are RABBITS okay?? the singlets have a bunny facing us with eyes and nose and the growsuit has bunnies looking away from us so theres a white fluffy tail on them (to be honest I wish I had used this pattern for all of them as it went together so much better then the single Bunnies and if I ever do this again I will definately use the looking away bunnies.So with out any more chat here they are - remember I like the growsuit heaps better then the others gggg and at least the singlets can be hidden under clothes phew!

The singlet with the dark blue bunny looks to me like a gremlem - anyone old enough to remember the movie Gremlins??- and I have taken apart the ears at least 5 times and each time the bear looks the same- I have given up on him I really like the growsuit the best as I say oh well Hayley will more then likely give me one of her beautiful smiles and I will wonder for time immorial whether she really likes them or is being kind. I am sorry that I used my scanner not great pics - the poor cameras card needs downloading its choc a block full. There you go another job for me to do.

Anyway please do let me know how you feel about these poor bunnies, wish I had more time I would take off all the single bunnies and redo them grrrrrr. Why did I decide to do them in the first place .......

Night for now will be starting doing blocks very soon! yippee if I can get these silly hands to stop haking long enough gggg

love Bear xoxoxoxox

Cats n kittens

2011-03-01T20:23:00.001+10:30

hewoo all
this is called Bears catching up on blog entries well this is over a year ago. Most know of the cat who adopted us and was a kinda wild but tamed beautifully, but of course as is the way of these things she was PREGNANT.----NO!! ---- I hear you all say ----- of course she was----it took us a few weeks to get her to trust us and then to get her to trust us to let her in and out of the house, then knowing the date had to be soon well she became a true house cat. As can be seen here she was HUGE I estimated bout 6 and sure enough she gave birth to 6 wee babies, it turned out she had 2 females and 4 boys

The above are the bubbies about a week later, she chose to have the bubbies under the headboard of our bed and it took us a week to convince her that the babies would be fine beside the bed in their box. the next move was to the Laundry that took another 2 weeks but finally all was well and they grew and grew, if you look to the above pic you will notice the all over grey kitten far right hand side of the box this became Smokey the one we kept (thinking she was a he ---even the Vet had to check 2 or 3 times ggg). Kieron kept the other wee girl - she was the trouble maker of the wee crowd. Kirk kept a little boy (actually he was the biggest of them all then) he was black mostly and has sandy stripes but is a longhair as well as smokey though different ---he has the most silky long fur really very beautiful -- he was the first born and the most gentle of them all a wee bit slower then the others at times but has caught up and is a delight - you see I have visiting rights to the "grandkids" VBG

This is the tribe following the big move to the laundry, they were about 3 weeks old here and becoming way more mobile and of course Kierons "Tiger Lil" was becoming the boss of the litter by this stage, she had already climbed out of the box and in another week began to work out how to climb over the cat blocking fence that was supposed to keep them in the laundry. anyway they all thrived and were beautiful kittens, I have to take a piccie of the girl now - my "Smokey" these days I call her bubbs more then smokey - well smokey is more a boys name isnt it?? but have a couple of photos of the Mum who is now known as Bea and is desexed (rapidly done after the kittens were weaned) and Bubbs --all of our kittens were desexed the 2 up our home with the sons are in home always Bubbs also is a strictly house cat and Bea well its harder to get her to stay in BUT she comes in every night and goes out after her Brekky, she still catches lots of mice to add to her diet and is a plump happy girl and her daughter our Bubby is FAT contented kitten. When Bea comes in at night and they have their dinner and then the house becomes a play zone and the noise these 2 make while playing has to be heard to understnad how noisy they are but they are both beautiful cats and life around here has mellowed a lot more since we became pet owners again. actually no thats incorrect we are owned by the 2 cats arent all so called pet owners???

These are when Bubbs was very young I know I have another pic of her older but need to download the photos onto the computer - will do that tomorrow so for now you can go ahhhhhhh and isnt she cute, they both are really cute - when tthey are asleep gggg.

If all goes well tomorrow I will show whatI have been working on this week I havae a young friend who is about 6 weeks off having her first baby so being that she is Vietamese born and this year is the Year of the Rabbit I have been doing Bears on some little singlets and a grow suit for her. Athough I am asking myself why seeing how its been so long since I held a needle in my hands did I choose to do Bullions stitches and in Edmars Rayon thread??? Crazy is what I am calling myself at present crazy!

til then
love Bear xoxoxoxoxo

did I not say ???

2011-02-28T20:13:00.002+10:30

Hewoo there,

These are from the Dolls Of Japan Display between Burnside and their sisters city in Japan. I apologise I seem to have misplaced the souveneir pamplet which has the sister city in Japans' name on it. When I find it I will put it up on my blog - These are some of the dolls.....

Now then having said many eons ago that I would show some of the gorjus dolls of Japan. This display was in the lovely leafy suburb of Burnside (for those not of Adelaide, Burnside is one of THE suburbs in town to live well it used to be anyway). So Colin, Dad and I went to the Burnside Library to see the display of the many beautiiful dolls. Hideko one of my favourite ladies is from Japan and knows how much I adore all things Japanese and these dolls were oh...... they were just beautiful..... In Japan they have a special day for little girls when they bring out the their most beautiful dolls and display them and the same for little boys and in the display were 2 dolls one a little girls and of course one little boys dolls I cannot express in words just how magnificent these particular dolls were they were SPECTACULAR and sadly my camera skill are way below par. I hope you will forgive me the terrible photography but I am sure you get the idea these dolls were all so beautiful, the guys thought I was going to be there forever and believe me I wanted to stay, I was amazed at how the wonderful the workmmanship was even the tiniest of the dolls there were amazing, the hours that would have gone into making the dolls my heart soared that day.

I am sorry that it has taken me so long to get these few pictures up on my blog if anyone would like to see more..... I have more pics..... you only have to ask...........

love n hugs Bear xoxoxoxox

plans afoot and all that stuff February

2011-02-27T16:09:00.002+10:30

Hewoo all

Well today I have been tuned in to the Tv watching the news to see if any more have been found in the terrible Earthquake that hit Christchurch NZ this week. I am feeling so sad for those suffering there to those who have family still missing if it makes any difference I am praying that they may be found alive. I had a young friend when I was a YOUNG girl actually we were in our very early 20's and I lost contact with her and I have been thinking even more then I normally do this week I think she came from the other Island and who knows she may still be living in Bondi today but if you are out there Sandra Kearnes ( I hope thats the correct spelling anad of course neither of us was married back then) I love ya and miss ya -I am always thinking of you, wish we hadnt lost contact all those years ago.

I still havent finished Hidekos bag but that will now go to the top of my agendas of things to finish. I still havent gotten the correct handles- I dont know wot I did but boy oh boy I stuffed that up- I went online - Ebay of course - And purchased several different types and sizes and isnt it always the way not a one of them fits the top of this bag grrrr, one thing though I DO know know the size I want so Hideko dont worry I wont be much longer finishing your bag I sure hope you like it when I do finish it.

Cols feeling much brighter and is gradually putting everyone out of the jobs they took on when he was so ill. I am grateful for all the help I received but its so nice to have the boss up and at it yet again, he managed to walk 27 holes today with his mates - they play golf every Wednesday and Saturday and talk about a pack of old cronies this lot take the cake, have made friends with several of them and they can be so funny but it gives Col a time away from me and me away from him. We definately do need some time outs occasionally VBG.

Now then plans afoot- I have signed up for a monthly club from the beautiful online shop call Flights of Fancy Boutique (Obviously to fly there you need to add the www and drop the spaces and Capitals and all that n throw in a .com at the end but hey you all KNEW that huh?? anyway the monthly club is called the Trim and Treasure Club I have taken a couple of piccies of some of the trims oooooooh they are so beautful and I havent seen trims and treasures such as they scource anywwhere so if you are like me and in need of some extras in the trims or treasure dept. you could join up yourself I promise you wont be dissapointed Go to the web Site and check out this months Trims and Treasure Club if you dont believe me www.flightsoffancyboutique.com theres way more in the web store then just the Trim and Treasure club of course beautiful ribbons and embellishments so go look!!! The below piccies are all from anyway these are from the February Baggie yup the lot of them, and theres even more in this months offering I am not being paid for this comment I am just a really happy satisfied customer. I have also found that Carole (the owner) is one of the lovely ladies in this world nothing is to much trouble for her- and believe me she must have at times wanted to tear her hair out when I got on the emails but always lovely- thanks for being so wonderful Carole.

"Now Bear" I hear you ask what will you do with these gorjas trims well I am going to make my very first Crazy Quilt with each months trims and embellishments I may find that I have too many in any one month and I am seriously considering if this does happen then I may do a second block or just keep them for other wall Hangings who knows what the future will bring in the line of light bulb happenings in my tired old brain, heavens I even had to correct the spelling on Brain how tired is it - VERY tired.

So thats what I intend doing and when I get fed up with that for the month maybe I will finish off my UFO's, this year I dont plan on doing much else am not going to be in any Round Robins or the like just want to complete some things wont that make a first.

Anyway thats it for this post - its only taken me 3 days to do it but then I had so many other things going on around here sometimes it doesnt pay to open your mouth I just wind up putting my big number 10 n a half foot into it

Will try and show some more pics next post have lots to show and they are mostly last years that for some reason or the tother just didnt get put up on my blog, do you get the feeling that when I was a young thing that I began full flight with a diary and by the second week of January it was hidden and forgot about - found that years later- and burnt it up on the fire one night wot a load of trifle I did write VBG Much like can be said of this poor old blog huh?? BUT I do get n occasional entry up way more then I did in that diary of many moons ago

byeee for now hope you enjoy the piccies

love n hugs Bear xoxoxoxoxox

Bit late to be saying Merry Xmas and all that jazz

2011-02-17T20:26:00.001+10:30

Hi all

         well here it is late as usual ---- good excuse this time-- though I never EVER want this to come again!!!!!

             My darling man 2 weeks before Xmas as most are aware had a heart attack, and was admitted to the local hopsital there and then- sweetheart he is he DROVE to the Hospital with me allthe way saying pull over I can DRIVE!! Only I havent driven much in the past 20 years - post car accident- yes we do have Ambulance Cover as well- but he didnt trust his retired nurses' diagnosis - teach him wont it! When I was finally allowed in the nurse was saying heres the woman who drove him in - I looked at Colin - he did look somewhat sheepish and said oooooh no I didnt he did! He was told by every staff member following that of the ways to come to a hopsital while having a heart attack- gggg

                Anyway a week later the decision was made as Col has a failing Kidney Transplant to move him to my old Hospiatal the Royal Adelaide - the best in Adelaide nay best in South Australia. so the decision to take Col to theatre was also fraught with danger for the kidney to suffer bady and thought were it would not survive surgery at all, so there were many visits from our renal Unit which is also based at the RAH now, and on the day of surgery the head Thoracic surgeon decided he would do Cols surgery. Cols also got a aortic Valve thats reuired replacement so that was also to be replaced while they did the CABG"- turned oout he needed 43 grafts. When he came out of surgery I could see the Urinary output was not good and over the next 2 weeks it was a fight to get it to function at all but at present its back to almost a "good" creatinine level.

         Anyway his Surgery took place 2 days before Christmas Day he stayed in Cardio Thoracic Intensive Care Unit (CTICU)overnight and on Xmas morning he was moved back to the Cardio Thoracic ward. On arrival at the hopital Xmas morning Cols face showed some relief - that we were there and anxiety that he was being taken straight back to CTICU. Looking at him I could see his legs were so enlarged with fluid - he couldnt even lift them off the bed- he had at that stage gained 12 kilos in fluid weight and they needed to take some fast action to get this kidney to begin working again- over the next 2 weeks it was up and down eventually we brought him home still on Lasix to help remove fluid retention that remained - he had recovereed excellently from the cardiac surgery and the only problem was the kidney but as I said earleir at present its playing good for now- the Drs in renal unit believe before the endd of the year or within 6 months depending on which Dr is doing the guesternmation as to which one we believe.

        So as you can imagine our Xmas was not brilliant although New years brought us better news still much worry, although at present he remains quite sore on the right side of his chest - the way the body is positioned during cardiac surgery leads to many suffering from this muscullr pain for some time following surgery and we are just hoping this eases off soon - the Dr have assured Colin that this is the cause of his pain.

       So thats it for me at this stage I have many things to put up - not so much of my creating as I have been on a non getting mind around the problems Cols body was throwing at him day after day there n then and my hands shake like the devil these days when I am having one of these anxiety attacks and boy this was a doozy but my mans here and improving so life is settling down slowly but surely and the ideas are coming back fast and furious so I wont be to long to doing some creating.

        More on that later - please forgive me for being such an awful blogger I hope in the coming weeks to make up for it though and to those of you that have joined me as a followers -wowee I have many new ones I cannot believe it thank you for following me and I hope you will not be sorry you did

        love n hugs Belinda Bear xoxoxoxoxoxoxox

oh deary me

2010-10-26T11:41:00.001+10:30

Hewoo all

I'm late, Im late for a very impoortant date. Sorry one and all- I was going to show last night - but last night I spent mostly on the bed- I have teeth problems and am about to become a toothless bear - oh hhhhhhhhh ahhhh how horrid to think I even said it but there ya go I will be toothless very soon and lost 3 biggies yesterday and wound up on the bed most of the day/night man it took it outta me!So will you all forgive me- here I am bright and early - well for me it is

I have scanned the two sides of my wee sewng tidy bag not sure if I will do anything on the other two sides or not yet --so with out further ado- there are slight differences between the 2 sides and its easy to pick I can so I am sure others of yas will as wll but I believe in small errors to show that a human did this embroidery not a machine if you know wot I mean!

The original project was called "Summer Fruit"" by Jan Kerton. Jan is a beautiful embroiderer and also smocker-- shes one of those women you admire from afar that nomatter wot she does its glorious. This project of hers had strawberries and blackberries, bees spiders (eek none of them on my stuff EVER" anyway should anyone want to have a look at the original project and perhaps make your own version of the project as I have done - you can find it in Country Bumpkins publication called "Embroidered Bags and Purses" isbn 0-9750920-2-2

The pictures are the wrong angle at present on these scans can u imagine the scans are triangle shaped (which they are) and the single red rose is up the top of the picture okay I am heading back to bed- yup I am being a real woosy baby but its hurting and I lost a fair amount of the red coloured stuff that runs in our arteries yesterday - U really wanted to hear all that didnt ya??? ggggg I am away catch up again soon have a great day wherever you arae in the world today/night

loves n hugs bear xoxoxoxoxox

here it is sunday night

2010-10-24T23:41:00.000+10:30

hewoo all

just a quick and easy blog tonight with a bit of a tease- if you remember a couple of blogs ago I showed a piece of work I was unhappy with??? well now I have 3 pieces that first is torn in shreds all that is left is the back faabric and some leaves and bits and pieces- told ya I didnt like it ggggg(bears giggling here why put lol or roflol when a nice gentle way of laffing is ggggg more lady like even if I aint no lady gg.

okay enuff bear no more - back to the tease its so late here and I am watching "Angels and Demons" again on Satellite TV and not in the mood to go turn on my scanner So tomorrow come back and in the day sometime - not telling when but sometime I will scan the 2 new pieces I have done and guess what if you look closely you will see they aint no identical pieces theres big differences but a blind man would be happy to see them ggg

so nighty night you living on the other side of the big pond have a fantastic Sunday, and to us on this side of the pond pleasant dreams and see ya tomorrow!
nighty night

bear xxoxoxox

ps the reasons I cant pin me down and tell ya when I will put up my pretties - well in the am I have a dental appointment in the am
and in the pm a podiatry appointment thiss getting old is for the birds not humans!

added neoworx

2010-10-17T18:02:00.000+10:30

Hewoo one and all

I added neoworx this past week and its been such an eyeopener for moi. I had thought my little blog had just a few friends popping in to see wot the bear had been up to on the few times I wrote to my poor bog. Thats just not true I began getting little emails from neoworx you have just had a visitor from ......... What an eyeopener it has been for this middle aged old lady, I have been wondering now who these unknown people are - do they just arrive here by acciddent or is it pot luck they put a pin in the wall and go hither to an Australian Blog.

"It doesnt work that way Bear" I hear you mutter at me, so tell me how does it work?? Somewhere on my blog it tells me how long I have been blogging - back in a mo, ggggg (giggling bears expression of laffter) okay I went all the way back and I have been kinda blogging since April 3rd 2006. Not long and certainly will never been known for the amount of blogging I do, but since then I have been in this little world of mine thinking only a few people ever come to my blog's door and have a peep at wot I say or do.

So that being said -- who are these people and why dont they stop and say something??? comments like -" heck I dont get your blog" or "hey this is terrific why dont you do more", or just "hey I stopped by and am just saying hewoo to ya". You are out there my little neoworx emailler is telling on ya, so please come on --- say something, tell me you stopped by --- I would love to hear from you all ----after all you live in such amazing places, my neoworx counter is telling me so!

love n hugs bear xoxoxoxoxxoxoxoxoxox

here it is October and wots more the second week of October

2010-10-14T00:26:00.000+10:30

hewoo all
whoohoo I have 18 followers now unreal considering how bad I am at blogging a post, you all have no idea how special I think you are for being here with me and being so patient waiting and waiting for me to blog something- Ok so this one is one that is going to end up in the pile of "heck thats lousey" and I am going to bury this piece somewhere really far down in that pile of " never to be finished items".

why I hear you ask- well the leaves for a start and then the way in which I have put the roses onto the fabric, the symmetary etc- I very rarely do a drawing of what I am thinking off doing - maybe thats what I should do- I have now yup only cos I dont like this piece LOL U are wondering what its going to be well ages ago there was a cute sewing bag pattern - it was made up with strawberries and blackberries embroidering and also some wee creatures, well I am not one to do heapsa of brazillian type or stumpwork embroidery, but I liked the pattern of the sewing bag its cute- I will flush out the name of the embroiderer and the mag I am nearly 100% sure it was in Country Bumpkins published Embroided bags etc- I will find it tomorrow and give the names etc.

Anyway I adore the pattern for the sewing bag and I had some lovely rich coloured ribbons- Hannah Ribbons - you know them as the bias cut ribbons lovely,oh so lovely to play with so I thought I would cut them down the middle - (these are wide ribbons) and play with some spider Web roses. Why I have become noted for the way I do my spider Web roses is amazing seeing as how I hate and am frightened of spiders?? I wont even have spiders webs on my CQ stuff (although sadly some ladies have put them on patches on patches made for past Round robins. )So I thought its been a while since I put anything on my poor little blog that I would give you a look of a failed piece lol too many leaves not symmetrical all over the place, all close colors of leaves LOLdont like them.

Thank you again followers and non followers for dropping by and having a look at this piece, I still have to sew the wee bag together having trouble finding a handle for it in the colour gold, either to big to small or black not gold and even worse silver dang it all! please feel free to give me your thoughts on this subject.

love n hugs bear xooxo

many eons ago

2010-09-29T19:42:00.002+09:30

hewoo all
well many eons ago I told of the opossum that were visiting me here at my Dads home, well at the same time the sons who remained at our home while we are helping Dad out here also had opossums visiting- for the apples that Mum kept buying for them to eat- all was revealed when younger son told of how he was cutting up the apples for the opossums supper and there I was thinking older son was eating us out of house and home on the apple front. Many in the USA thought they were ugly like theres but like so many of our creatures I think you will agree that these little lady and her paramour are beautiful. Enjoy the piccies I hope you agree- they are on the veranda out the back of the house, when they run around the roof they make a lot of noise but they are not living with us - just visiting for the apple feast Kirk gives them.

in the last piccie you can see her tail nice and relaxed and arent they lovely and plump, they wont come to the kids completely but they did come close to them and got the fruits and ate them not far from them, they are after all wild creatures, a lot of people dont like them but I love them and welcome their company, after all they were here before us humans were. I really hope you like the pictures of our friends.

I have more photos to put up - its been a weird year , I have found some of the photos I thought lost of Bea and her kittens when they were tiny, also more photos of a CQ picture I made for a friend Jacque who lives in Iowa, at present but may be moving back to Texas.I also have photos of the Doll of Japan Showing that was held earlier this year the dolls were exquiste and were much better then my weak efforts to take photos of them, so please come back and have a look I am attempting to become a GOOD Blogger and also now that my pain in my hands is easing I hope to have more UFOs finished and up to be shown

love n hugs may today be terrific one for you
Bear xoxooxoxoxoxoxxo

hewoo

2010-09-28T23:13:00.000+09:30

hi all wot an idiot am I??

you will see the next post down another hewoo and another scan - this is the work finished. Yup I have called it quits on the embroidery, and will hopefullybegin to construct this wee purse part of the tomorrow then I can set up the machine to do the machine sewing of this wee purse.

http://jeanbeernardv.blogspot.com (go peek at jeans bling at work)

love n hugs bear oxoxoxxoxoxoxo

hewoo

2010-09-28T22:59:00.000+09:30

hey I been embroidering

2010-09-27T20:03:00.001+09:30

Hi all I have a wee something to show----- its been such an age and I thank those who hang in there with me and follow my blog seeing as to how I am not very good at blogging.Anyway I have been doing a little purse- crazy quilt- I must admit I began this yonks ago the shape was in a magazine "Creative Embroidery and Cross Stitch" from there I went out on my own and played, although I saw a little ribbon trail which travelled around the block and have used that. (finally my muse has reappeared yippee!!!)

Anyway I think I have embroidered it to with in an inch of its life and will now add some little bits and bobs to it over the next couple of days. and will then make it up, this is going to go to a very dear friend who has been waiting at least 2 years for something from me so I am adding this little purse as an extra bit - I hope she will like it, I think its so me but will she like that- ie purples and reds heavens I have to get away from these colours and the next thing I make it will be well away from that colour combo - keep youir eyes open seeing as I have finally found my smocking pleater machine I can finally do a little smocking - it was in plain sight all the time- the machine that is-- when I finally saw where I had put it I nearly passed out I have sat in front of it every day I am on the pooter - yup its under the desk top --- oh deary me. Anyway I am not trying tp play 10 secrets here but dont want to give away just who this wee purse is for just yet ...........

Please let me know what you think of it please.........

love n hugs bear xoxoxoxoxox

when it rains it pours!!

2010-09-06T17:59:00.000+09:30

this is a chatty post- sometimes I will throw these in, just to keep us all on our toes- nahhhhhhhhhh~!
anyway if most dont know here in South Australia we have been suffering a drought and horrid water restrictions - garden and car wise. This past month or so well really our winter has brought with it much rain in droibs anad drabs. So on Thursday night when the forecasters said battens down loose items and prepare for wild winds and also torrential rain between 20-50 mms expected over the state.

So on Friday morning we woke to the sounds of thunder and rain oh eaps of thunder and much lightening and rain and more rain. and then even more rain and even more thunder and lightening and that was how it remained all day n night of Friday. Saturday morening we had had 44mms of rain the previous day(24 hrs from 9amFriday -9am Saturday). Thats about 2and a half inches of rain in our old imperial system. Again on Saturday we also woke to even more thunder and lightening though it finally eased off by the late afternoon but the rain continued, athough not as heavy as Fridays rainfall. Sunday we again had rain but in the afternoon its actually became showers and when we woke today Monday the Sun was shining. its been some storm and unfortunately it has gone on through to Victoria and they have had the rain in more then we had and have major flooding (we had flooding but not to the extent of Victorias flooding)

Unfortunately when there are storms like this then rooves are taken off by the wind and the winds were terrible only eased last night finally! many homes lost their rooves completelyt many huge trees were unrooted by the storms many home were without power and there are many that still have now power the Electricity company hopes to have the thousand or so homes still without power at present will have their supplies by tomorrow morning. Of cours trees toppled on houses and also cars much damage caused by the storms will take more time to be corrected. But all in all here in South Australia we have been very very lucky, the damage in Victoria is so much worse- many towns have been evacuated because of flooding,

Not only were South Australia and Victoria were struggling through these storms but over the big ditch on Saturday those living in Christchurch New Zealand were woken by a 7.1 Earthquake. We have watched th weekends News reports, so fortunate that none were killed and it appears that building rooads and the like were damaged. Though the Kiwis are a strong nation and the rebuilding wil begin soon but even todday there are still aftershocks happening- My prayers and thoughts are with all there in Christchurch and also in Victoria. and that the earth will settle down again soon I think everyone has had enough. oh and the best news our Water restrictions are going to be withdrawn- yup they are all of our water Reservoirs are full and the gorvernment has announced that we will have no restrictions as of December 1st 2010, granted that was announced before this weekends downpours but December come on fellas I for one am not going out to water the gardens or race out to wash a car. theres more rain being forecast in the next day or so oh heck!

love n hug Bear xoxoxoxoxoxo

oh PS I have a piccie or 2 of the purple scarf and beanie I knitted I will try and put it on later tonight but lease dont go hanging around for it you all know me by now! Loves yas all!

here I am at long last

2010-08-04T17:49:00.001+09:30

Hewoo one and all

one thing I can be relied on- is that one day I will turn up and begin to talk again via my poor woe begotten blog and it has been an age hasnt it? - Life and all its joys and mishaps, ill health and weather keep on getting in the way and I am sorry to be so lame but hey here I am finally - I will never get a prize for the most followers but I sure have the most reliable friends they stick around when its months in between my "wanderings of finger and mind".

I have a few things to add to my dear blog the first is an embroidered square that I made for a couple of lovely friends of mine who are also in a couple of the yahoo groups I am in as well. So please bear with me and we will catch up the past 6 months shall we?? I have been terribly slack in my embroidery this year - I am finding my hands are suffering terribly this winter and if its one thing most South Aussies are all in agreement with - its this horrid winter we are having- its cold cold cold! an its wet wet wet. Today is a humdinger we have a weather front that has been brought up from Antartica and its VERY COLD struggling to get to 12 degrees Celsius even and rain its been steady most of the day and then theres the winds straight off the ice so you can imagine how its all feeling. BUT enough of that I have a tale to tell and lets get this show on the road!

At the beginning of the year two dear friends on a couple of yahoo lists announce they were to marry at the Doll Retreat at Sherry Goshons home in September. Unfortuatly my broomstick is in the shop to be fix and you can imagine the costs that the Elves mecanics will charge once they have fixed it up not just fixing it mechaniclaly but also to take the extra weight I have gained- More of that later>

one of these friends Jeff asked who would like to contribute by stitching a square of fabric for a wedding Canopy, So I said yup I would at least part of me will be in attendence at the wedding wont it?? On the day I received the fabric I also found my Country Bumpkin produced "Inspirations" Issue 65 (2010) was on sale. So I collected that and off home we went. Once I sat down and took my time to begin to go through the magazine I was astounded to find an article on a type of embroidery called Kantha Embroidery.According to the articles author Margaret Light (of Australia) this type of embroidery has been around for many centuries although sadly not many pieces of the embroidery has survived the centuries. According to the history interest began to stir again in the 1980's and luckily for me there was a beautiful example that Ms Light had produced for the magazine. The Embroidery has been used over the centuries for weddings, births, etc celebrations of all types and I thought it perfect for this wedding square. If you look at the picture below you will notice it is a "Naive" type of stitching - although my square does not do the justice to this Kantha Embroidery that Ms Lights does. (the magazine showed "Rainbow of Dreams" which was a beautiful example of Kantha embroidery on a pillowcase and top sheet for a younng child. Although the elephants etc were also from the original examples of Kantha embroidery over time.


I so very much hope that Jeff and Bruce like their piece of Kantha embroidery that I have made for them and I sincerely apologise to you Margaret Light for the not so beautiful piece of Kantha embroidery I have sewn. yours was truly beautiful. Jeff and Bruce will after the wedding ceremony have the squares that their friends made them sewn into a quilt and therefore have memoriies of their wedding and their friends to look at for "Centuries" to come Good Luck and Best wishes I hope your wedding will be held on a brautiful day in September and that you carry the loving wishes of all your friends present and from afar.

love n hugs Belinda xo

Reference: Inspirations
                Issue 65. 2010
Article     "Rainbow of Dreams " pages46 - 57
Author       Margaret Light (Australia)
Publisher Country Bumpkin
                 Adelaide, South Australia.
                 Australia

the square I made for Jeff and Bruce's wedding canopy

2010-08-04T17:13:00.000+09:30

Xmas well its past by so happy New year to all

2009-12-28T14:32:00.000+10:30

Xmas ---well oh deary me ----it flew past me and I just didnt get to my poor blog its been such an up and down year what with ill health and then with that small operation on my right hand wedding finger - which could have resulted in me having a "dead" finger but for all of the worry etc didnt and now its healing perfectly so I am going to start stitching again in the new year - but for now I want to wish my loved ones and my friends who have stuck by my ups and downs and months in between blogging entries a very Happy New year to all. and my New Year resolution is to be a better blogger- well I will be because I will be doing lots of stitching and will be able to show some things as I go along- thats the plan anyway!

I have finally been able to purchase a set of Miss Carole Samples Templates and will be doing a A -Z of Crazy Quilting using Miss Caroles' Treasury book and her Templates will also figure in this teachings as well, to say I am looking forward to doing this is an understatement.To have finally gotten my own copy of Miss Caroles Templates- well whoo hoo yabba dabba do and anything else you would scream at the top of your lungs to celerbrate getting something I have chased for at least 3 years.

So for now I am going to enjoy setting up my blocks I intend to use for this and taking the next week nic e and easy and I will be all ready for when this begins !! Yippee! And I will be watching the post people for the mail carrying my Templates to me hopefully they will be flying on angels wings and be here before much time elapses hope!

So for now- thank you for hanging around waiting for me to write and entry and maybe put in a picture sorry none available- Kierons' got the good camera mmmmmmmm better get that back for a bit, I have tamed a very wild little kitten who is so pregnant shes about to have them any old day so I would love to get a picture of her before her kittens are born etc (once shes had her kittens when they are around 7 weeks of age she will be speyed and then she will be a lovely little girl shes so smoochy people dont believe she was wild til they try to pat her then she takes off- but Kirk's getting there she allowed him to stroke her Xmas Day so he was chuffed!

Anyway I hope your Xmas was lovely and Santa brought you all you desired or could afford gggg and that you have a Very Happy and safe New Year - if in one of the countries where its winter stay lovely and warm and if here well try to stay cooler and wherever you are stay safe please Happy New Year all

love n hugs Bear xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

hewoo this is a blatant plug for

2009-09-05T19:24:00.001+09:30

Hi one and all

if you happen along here one of my dear friends Sherry www.sherrygoshon.blogspot.com is having a competition for her 200th post. Wowee 200 !!!! Congratulations Sherry that's fantastic- and being this is her 200th post she is not giving away not just 1 but 2 prizes so please go look and leave her a comment to enter into her draw.
oh bear u is sooooooooooo blatant - if you go read the rules for entry you will see why - I Have NO pride do I?? I am going for as many entries as I can ggggggg
much love and hugest of hugs to all I hope everyone has a fabulous weekend!
love n hugs bear xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

well do you believe this a second post

2009-09-03T00:16:00.003+09:30

Hi all

well do you believe this a second post and in the same week as well - goodness I must be ill??? I never do that well not for a long while I dont I have just finished this purple block- do you get the feeling I like purple well you is wrong I LOVE PURPLE!

Anyway I know I always say -"I dont know bout this block" BORING Bear BUT hey this one has come from far left field hasnt it?? No spider web roses in fact no ribbon embroidery at all, and all those bought flower motifs on the right side and even the leaves are fake. I decided to play a bit with really heavily embroidering the seams etc - all are done in Silk threads- oh so dreamy to do seams in silk threads, some of them came from www.colourstreams.com.au and others came from the www.thethreadstudio.net , I have used the Colourstreams(Qld) silk threads before these ones are from their stranded silk threads beautious and so easy to use they glide on through the fabric so easily they are scrumptious and their colours well I do adore them - am going to get more soon yummy they are.

The ones I bought through the Thread Studio (WA) were from selections of Jacinta Leishman, Rae Cummings, Ken Done, and oh me oh my they are all such wondrous colour schemes and again glide through the seams "like a knife through butter. Yummy they all are. So I did heavy seams and really played with what ever came to my fickle brain and my hand grabbed. LOL the bottom right hand corner these little beauties came from an American /Australian Crazy quilt swap of swaps if I remember right Willa gave them to me and I have had them many many moons waiting for somewhere to place them they are made from sequins and are very cleaverly made I like them heapsa. The other flowers were all dyed by me the only other things on this block are dragonflies and butterflies, and a wee bee all charms that I have picked up over the years of trawling through our local Spotlight store.

So there you have it my last 6 inch block for a bit I am doing a swap with Hideko now- years and years ago we decided we would have a swap between us and I am making a very pretty evening bag out of black quilted fabric the middle insert is a Fuschia Duponi and of course there are lot of beautiful trims including a beaded trim the middle inset is smocked - only 4 rows I think- This pattern came from one of Country Bumpkins many smocked patterns but this little bit of smocking gives the effect of a small gathering of the insert Lol I am so looking forward to making this little baggie for Hideko. and After I finish that I am going to be making a 12 inch block for my dear friend Sherry G and I Am looking forward to that one as well- so much easier to work on a bigger block then on these little 6inch ones

Anyway thats it for tonight if anyone wants the actual email address for all the different names etc I have mentioned above please email me and I will give you the correct addie - I will make sure of the email addies tomorrow but for now even though Spring has Sprung downunder Bear is still in her sleepy mode and I am heading off to the den - nighty night all and thank you for taking the time out of your lives to come by and have a look at my embroidery etc

love n hugs to all Bear xoxoxoxox

Many moons have passed yet again

2009-08-31T18:52:00.003+09:30

Hewoo all-

many moons have passed yet again and I promised back a while to put up the sketch showing the way I do my foundation spikes for "my" version of "spider web roses". Having checked my comments today I noticed that poor darling Kerry is waiting with baited breath oh heavens Kerry are you still breathing my love?? Breathe Kerry Breathe, please keep on breathing ROFLOL!

Now as you can see I am the worlds worst drawer BUT I hope you can see how and what I do-- its such a slight change but it does make all the difference! Also dont be frightened to use wider ribbons then the normal 4mm, that you will read in most Patterns these days- try wide as in 12 mm or 15mm rayon they are glorious the Mokuba Rayon Ribbon has such a sheen and it all adds to the roses beauty I have even used 20mm ribbons it can be done theres no rules in CQ and it should also apply to the making of spider web roses just because we have made them this set way doesnt mean we cant do this or that and who knows you may write to me and say you have found an even better way of doing them Go for it - Are you breathing again Kerry I do hope so I would hate to think I lost you after you waited so long for me to show the sketch - you can see why now cant you?? ggg Best of luck let me know if you make them and if your happy with this way or another show me your pictures please I love to test things out and so should we all ---that's how our beautiful embroideries get better isn't it??

love n biggest hugs bear xoxoxoxoxoxoxox

PS Kerry you are breathing arent you?? gggg

I cant believe it

2009-08-16T18:57:00.005+09:30

Unreal the months and days certainly tick on by - the last time I was on my blog I had only begun to do the pink roses lady's block and here I am ages later and its all finito! I am not at all sure about this block but once it goes into the wall hanging I guess it will get lost in amongst the rest and I can pass on over it- I love some of the roses- well they were made with my favourite Hannah Bias cut silk ribbon, and being that they are spider web roses I do like them blah blah blah!!
Then theres the little bits of Grub roses and I like them but then theres that darn vase on the side with the "bought" flowers mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmnnnn yup not so keen on that at all, but I had to have something to balance up the spider web roses sections and I guess it does that but to me I think its kinda screaming at it!!!

Well who knows its completed and it will fit into a space one day and who knows it may even look better when its balanced up with the other squares I have made for the wall Hanging etc. I guess we cant make things that are 100% liked by the maker can we??

CAN WE??
love n hugs bear xoxoxoxoxoox

This is my Pink rose block

2009-07-08T19:01:00.008+09:30

Hewoo all

well look at this only a couple of days back I wrote an entry and here I am yet again- maybe I am finally finding myself again. Bout time I say.Anyway dear readers why am I here waffling - last night I began to work on the next block- I have called it Pink block for want of a better description - wheres the pink I hear you ask??_ wel if you look at the silky in the middle there it is pink roses.

So last night I was looking through ribbons etc looking for the thing to make this block sing for me and I came across a bit of Hannah Ribbon- beautiful Bias Hannah Silk. This is called Bridal blush or something like that- its a white ribbon and on both edges its has a pale pink strip running down both side edges. Truely so simple and yet such a wonderful ribbon to play around with.

Now as to the secrets of me and how I do spider web roses- some folk thought that they had my technique down by getting one of my roses hearts and looking at what I did but it wasnt all there I guess cos when I am seriously wanting to get a good effect I reach for My Hannah silk, and I didnt always use that in my heart blocks. Anyway I cut the ribbon now and when I say cut it-- I mean I hold it up in the air with one hand (which is shaking crazyily)and with the other hand equally shaking,l and a pair of scissors clasped tightly I cut down the middle of the wide ribbon - NOW believe me when I say this is no straight cut I mean its not a straight cut - the cut is all over the place sometimes thick and sometimes thin on this side and then the other side and sometimes its so crooked you would look at me and say you are mad! and yup I guess I am.

OK now dear readers the next part is the other secret of my version of a spider web rose- I begin as others have for years and create a "Y" on the fabric with doubled thread-- okay nothing new in that -- BUT then the other 2 arms that people take straight out making kinda equal sections -- thats where I dont do that I take both arms from the centre and to the outside of the "circle but with a small gap between the bottom of the Y on each side . This all sounds double dutch but its easy - it happened once (actually more then once) and I was to lazy to undo the "error" this time and just did the stitching around with the ribbon and my rose was born- it was purely an error on my part. Anyway one person commented and then more and more, and I stopped doing the Y's arms for the rose the correct way and now I do it all the time my way, so now thats correct way isn it??

I will do a picture of what I mean re the sections of the circle, but that will be tomorrow for now please just take a look at this picture above and I hope you see what I see I love working the spider web roses with Hannah ribbons to me they look the most realistic of all the roses I do- do you agree?? By the way this block isnt anywhere near completed and yup I will be removeing the pins and adding other stuff and nope I wont be leaving the stitching all over that pretty Judith and Kathryn vase. Noighty bear --after all this is truly a work in progress!

love n hugs bear xooxoxoxoxo

??? I am thinking about this one

2009-07-06T23:18:00.003+09:30

Hewoo one and all -

well if you look at the previous photo to todays you will find its somewhat different - I took bits and pieces off and replaced itt and am still not quite sure if I have finished it- I dont know why I am so Creatively blocked on this one- its almost s if I dont wanna finish it, or as if I wanna have another UFO- well truthfully I dont no siree I really wanna finish these blocks off and maybe make something from them.How strange I almost have a wall hanging finished ready for setting up and actually making something of it- woohoo unreal!

I hope whoever pops by will tell me honestly how THEY really feel about this block - please

love n hugs bearxoxoxoxxoxo

Okay maybe I can get a couple of opinions on ...

2009-06-30T17:58:00.002+09:30

Hello again

I have actually been stitching on a CQ block- I love purple and red together ie red hatters (who wear red hats and purple dressers ) and with this poor little block I went berserk and made it well a little bit red!

Its not quite finished but I am going to work on a different one tonight as its too close for comfort - U know how you are looking at and working on something and u hit a blank wall kinda that has happened I know I need to do some more beads and theres a couple of seam treatments that need a little bit more added.

love n hugs bear xoxoxoxox

PS I hope you like it??

I moved and got some sewing done finally

2009-06-22T19:25:00.004+09:30

Hi all

Well would you believe it I finally got to my sewing machine- I have had 3 pieces of ruled up 6 inch square calico(muslin for our American friends) for yonks and I thought rather then throw them out I should make them up

so I began- and it always happens- the first one inevitably winds up being pulled apart for some reason or other. But I am satisfied with them now. I used some silkies that my friend Sandy sent me ages ago of some gorjas women. I have gone right out on a limb with one square black and beigeand a silvery type colours and the little silkie has pink flowers around the womans bust n hair so I intend going crazy with these colours. Will see how it turns out.

I have also decided to make some CQ squares for a quilt or a throw or something have several "bought" silkies and how many can you frame so I decided tonight that they are going to be CQed.

But thats for the future for now this is it-and I am waiting on pins and needles as I ordered some Colourstreams silk threads over the weekend(I must learn not to order when looking at shops online its costing me a fortune -not! ggg)I hope they arrive soon so I can go beresk on one of the purple squares wait til you see wot I have planned for that block okay here goes I have to go find the pics I took of the naked blocks. I apologise in advance theres a lot of "flaring" on the pictures I think its the scanner objecting to the shiny material

love n hugs Bear xoxoxoxoxoxo

what have I been up to

2009-05-29T19:19:00.004+09:30

Hello all,

I have been a little quiet of late we all have the dreaded leurgy- its going around here , what can I say-we all have sore throats my voice goes all croaky and then loose it at times feel hot cold and achy and so do the other men in my life so no sympathy from them either.

In the meantime though I popped over to Spotlight the other day - they had on sale some Crinkle Velvet and I was curious as to would it be somewhat like Judith and Kathryns velvet pieces they sell. and is it?? well its not the quality of J&K's velvet, but its not bad - I picked up half metre pieces of 2 different red colours a beautiful blue which I would call a Peacock blue (its the best colour to my mind), a medium moss green(olive green kinda) and a limp pale brown(that I am thinking of playing with an overdye on this one ) and of course a Black bolt- of which they had 2 bolts and both had been the obvious best choices. Sadly no Purples spotted mmmmm maybe they just dont have any purple for sale -but I might - if the voice holds up toorrow - ring a couple of the other stores and see what colours they have in you just never know they might have different colours its happened before.

That wasnt my only purchase while standing there waiting my turn patiently (ah hem well kinda patiently) a lady in front of me was purchasing pieces of laces - and the girl serving asked her if she would like to purchase the remainder of the roll for X dollars, no she said - oh hoooo so quick as a flash I asked her if she would pass me two of these pieces over to me- I purchased approx 6 metres of black and silver for 5 dollars and the black and gold had to be at least 8 metres and I got that for 7 dollars - they were on sale for 2 dollars a metre and they are Lurex laces I was wrapt- I can use these for my CQ maybe in Baggies if I am ever involved in swaps again, or for my embellisher machine work. They are really lovely although unfortunately they dont show up well in the scans sorry about that. The first scan is the silver and black- and its so pretty! Then the second lace picture is the gold and black, I have used some already on the La Tour Tassel dolls outfit.

I have also been working on a CQ handbag - its an evening purse and the scan of this is horrid sorry- but I have used a lot of dupion silk and that really flares when scanned doesn it?? I have been a lot further down the line then I am now with this- I took all of the lace pieces I had on it off as I didnt like them and so theres only a few of the spider web roses made and some of the lines of embroiery on seams have been completed or partly completed but I thought I would let you see that I have been doing something not just sitting around looking at myself gg The saddest thing is I have a major feeling that this is going to wind up yet another WIP or UFO whichever you like best (WIP work in progress, and UFO - Unfinshed object) anyway with that I will post the pics and go and do some of stuff- I have been working on the little doll Tassel doll again as well but need to take a picture for that so I will later on but not tonight - I did mention her twice sorry!

love n hugs Bear xoxoxox

white white my nemesis white

2009-05-13T19:43:00.002+09:30

Hi all

well I have been stitching as the weather cools down here in South Australia and we have had some good falls of rain my mind turned to stitching more and snuggling up in front of the fire etc.

Recently Mary O sent me some rubber stamps I had asked for (Mary was downsizing her collection and I have need of several shall I say?? LOL) Anyway Mary also included in the box some lovely fabrics and a baggie containing a lovely print of a mother and child and the trims and flowers and beads, leaves everything in it was white (the print is very pale in colour as u can see).

I have always found WHITE to be a difficult to use- thats why I dye so many things, I know many will find this crazy but white and I mmmmmmmmmm not a good selection but I was determined to make some sort of block and use the baggie as it was sent. Marys fabrics included some beautiful purple fabrics one of which was this lovely jacquard I had already cut into the fasbaric for something else and somehow wound up with this weird size piece of fabric and rather then CQ it etc I decided to use it as is. Therfore this is the result- I am not sure whether I do or not like it time will tell I guess but with a Black border around the block it will slide into some project down the track wont it- or could I even have a White border??? Now thats carrying it toooooo far I believe a purple border mmm like that thought.

oih Aussie stitchers passing this way has anyone ventured into their local newsagency ??? Well if you do what about picking up this months Issue of Australian Country Craft and Decorating Volume 20 No8, (page 44) Inside is an different slice on a Crazy Quilt for us to enjoy.The project is called Vintage Purses and is by Karen Zoback. As the editors have begun to use Crazy Quilted (or Crazy Patchwork if you like that term better)Projects I feel maybe we should all suppport those that are doing so- Lets face it by supporting them and buying the mags with CQ projects we may get even more Projects by other artists into the magazines.

Love n hugs Bear xoxoxoxoxo

Went closer to home

2009-05-03T14:44:00.003+09:30

Back again -Col and I popped down to Elizabeth this Morning- guess wot all those boring scarves were SOLD out -well at $2 a pop why wouldnt they be sold out darn it!- But we also found that our local store sells shoes so in future I will be visiting the Elizabeth store when they are having their sales on some decent footwear. (Decided against heading over to Norwood although the weather is BEAUTIFUL and it would have been a lovely drive - men who can say wots happening to them any old moment in time LOL)

I thought maybe you would like to see a wee Postcard I made for Hoppa- It was a postcard swap for one of my groups and as per usual I was late late late- but I did make it and it did find its way to Nevada USA and into Hoppas' home.

love n hugs Bear xoxoxoxoxox

Before I go tonight

2009-05-02T20:40:00.003+09:30

I thought I would give you fair warning- I was asked what I have been doing this past couple of weeks- I have been doing some dying- motifs, flowers, ribbons chenille, laces, tassel, quite a bit and heaps more to go as a matter of fact - the first and second lots were predominetly purple- I cant help it I am so purple mad and I have an idea in mind and if I go ahead with it well I am going to need lots of the above to complete the project.

BUT even I get tired of seeing purple and nothing else so I did a couple of hours one day in playing with other colours and that was good fun even dilutions of the colours was used and I am going to play with some more ribbons but first I need to get some 32 mm bgias ribbons made- well I cut material on the bias and that is then used as my ribbons. Works a treat U know! and will then dye them in colours and also dd some purple and softer colours also in the 25mm (made the same way as 32mm) and also the 32 mm ribbons. They make the most gorjas variagated flowers mostly I use them for roses but can be caught out occasionally making other types of flowers.

Colins taking me out tomorow morning- We are heading over the other side of town into Norwood - they have a big Rivers store there and they sell great shoes that are reduced down ridiculousy, Theres also an ad running tonight - they have some as they put it boring woollen scarves for $2 each in 18 colours- now I can add some ribbon embroidery to these Boring bits and they will no longer be Boring will they?? So its off out tomorrow Pity Country Bumpkins gorjas store is closed on Sundays I could have popped in and done some serious trouble to my money tree. Darn it !! darn it!!

So maybe I will have even more to chat about tomorrow! For now I am calling it quits and heading into the lounge chair to embroider some more on my block, Dont know wot this block will be BUT for now its a Shape and its a Purple back ground- some material being used from the supply that my darling MOM MaryO sent me before Xmas last year gg. That was a lovely surprise- Mary was scalling down her upply of rubber stamps and as I dont have many I asked would she give me some- oh boy some I wont be shopping for stamps for a long long time BUT Mary also gave me some faulous material and CQsupplies also sorts of goodies and this wee block I am making is from this stash that Mary sent to me with the stamps - so wait to you see wot this block bag contained- although I may make some ribbon flowers as well- and they were in the box Mary ssent me - Loverly oh so Loverly!! Thanks again MOM

love n hugs bear xoxoxoxo

Did u think I wouldnt show one of the beautiful Bride and her Prince Charming

2009-05-02T19:14:00.007+09:30

Well have I taken the prize for blog entries here - I have caught up a wee bit today and feeling pleased with myself so did you think I wouldnt show you a Photo of My Bec and Her Prince Charming and guess who is in the background looking all grown up and just as beautiful as her Mum yup thats my Caitlin.

I think you would have to admit Bec looked beautiful, she has 3 sisters 2 of whom are older then her and one younger, and they were her bridesmaids Caitlin her flowergirl, Jake her gorjas ringbearer -looking very pleased with himself - have added that post as well.

All in all it looked a beautiful wedding and Bec says not one thing went wrong so although this was Becs first wedding (shes' never even attended a wedding of anyone) maybe theres a future employment aspect there for her. -A wedding planner LOL oh Bear where is your head tonight.

love n hugs bear xoxoxoxoxoxox

An U all thought it would be months before I came back

2009-05-01T19:48:00.007+09:30

oh how could you all think that - later the same day here I am I have even fiddled around with pictures to put up on my blog- StarGate was terrific- Col and I watch it every day Mon - Fri isnt that a sad sad life and if we wont be home we tape it so we can watch it later - such devotion hey??( I didnt complete this post the night I beagan it but I have pulled up my boot straps n came back in a day instead of weeks and months better bear better!)

Now where to begin with well lets begin with a wedding - Those closest know that Bec and Chris married in November last year, and I asked her if she would like a bridal wedding Purse?- After clearing up what and why I sent her a pic of the one I was considering making for her and with the happy yes back from my Bec ,I began to get it ready.- of course me being me I couldnt just leave it at the beads that the designer chose could I - Knowing Becs wedding gown was in white with gold and silver decoration made my choosing easier, BUT my local Spotlight store had pearls of cream and colours everything except WHITE! well some white but not the lot- anyway after much tooing and froing I have enough beads to make several more of these Purses n wouldnt have to purchase another thing other then the motifs. I decided in honor of the silver to get AB beads n this turned out to be a good choice for this purse except for the major problem of flare when taking photos even with the flash turned off - but then I am also not a photographers big toe sadly true Perhaps with practice I will get better and mopre polished taking Photos but for now please forgive my terrible efforts!

This is the beautiful Bridal Purse as was first published in Embroidery and Cross Stitch Vol? No? The Elegant Bridal Purse was designed by Liz Vickery whom I rang up to see if I could buy the lace motifs I needed. What a lovely lady didnt know me from Adam but was so obliging and so helpful . Liz has had many beaded purses published and also advertises others in the mags, I admire her fortitude although if you like beading and making purses then you cant go far wrong - theres nearly always a reason to make one of these delightful patterns up (should you want to make one of Liz' beautiful patterns why not approach her (-by email pvickery@ozemail.com.au) I can assure you you will not be dissappointed - Thanks very much Liz I loved making this pattern and Bec was very happy withher beaded purse also, and who knows maybe one day Caitlin will be carrying it down the aisle to her own Prince Charming, not now though cos boys arent in Caitlins vision.

I did make the pattern slightly different ie used AB bicone gems and wherever there were glass beads these were changed to Ab crystals - unfortunately though to get a clear picture has been nigh impossible as the flash - or non flash the Ab crystals flared, I also changed the hanging chain by actually using gold chain instead of crystals & beads & purls etc. I also made the chain detachable, wasnt sure if Bec wanted the chain or not so this way if she wanted to we could put an entirely different hanging chain on it (perhaps for Caitlin- quit it Nana!).

I hope that you enjoy seeing this magical purse it was made with much love and used on a day where love was the order of the day. Rebecca I pray your marriage is long and sweet

love n hugs Belinda xoxox

Ps I also made up the wedding "favors" (for the want of a more correct term although I cheated badly with the Horseshoe by buying the horseshoe and ading the motifs etc to it.)

I really dont hate my blog I really dont I love you all!

2009-05-01T15:19:00.003+09:30

well here it is downunder the 1st day of May its a typical Autumn afternoon and its raining again in downtown Adelaide- ooh its so loverly to be getting more rain - we have had such a lot but not being silly we need even more now the farmers have begun to sow their winter crop and are praying for follow up rain to get them on their way It would be lovely to be able to say we are finally out of the drought but noone in their right mind would say that yet we need more rain and seeing as this is the dryest state in the driest country in the driest continent who would be that mad?? Not I no way- but its lovely to be having this wonderful rain.

What have I been up to in the past 2 months- well its not all my fault- Colin my beloved has had his rotator cuff op done on his left arm and being that Colin still has a perfectly functioning AV Fistula the Ortho guys decided it was against their prinicples to do the arm arthroscoply and in doing so would prolly have wrecked that lovely functioning AV Fistula (its access for the Haemodyalis - at present though Colin has a wonderfully functioning donated Kidney of 19 years -although function is not as good as it once was n therefore the AV fistula may again be needed if for instance the donated kidney stops functioning and Col is again put onto Haemodyalisis log winded that lot hey??) so the Orthopods had to do Cols rotator Cuff the old fashioned way- that is a 6 inch cut on the outer aspect of the upper arm- so no movement could be done for 8 weeks - that seemed like forever! I was again the Driver in the family although our kids helped out when it was a journey further then Salisbury (10 min drive from home), I also had to cook and wash up and dry up n hang clothes- I found the going very difficult but Dad helped out with the hanging of washing etc I realised just how much Col does behind the scenes It was really quite difficult at times and I needed to rest up back and other body parts more often then normal so not a lot was getting done anywherer else isnt that sad?? But the sling has gone and Cols walking the wall- its one of the physios parts to getting the shoulder back functioning well! U should see him go- Hes an amazing chap and is almost up to the top of the wall walking- AMAZING!! of course the fact that Col cannot play golf until the shoulder is functioning right is a great incentive isn it? But he already back to cooking for us washing clothes Dad and I still hanging, and he is back to washing up n I drying up so we are almost back to square one! yippee!!

So thats part of where and what I have been doing while I have not been on my blog- I prolly have noone looking anymore and I dont blame them- but in part 2 of this entry they will be very VERY sorry if they arent looking in anymore - cos I have been doing some things while i have been on canteen and other duty's. Pretty things

Back soon Stargate is on so I am off to catch up with my favourite show back again later I promise

love n hugs bear xoxoxoxox

oh no its February ALREADY!!

2009-02-02T19:58:00.002+10:30

Well I have blown the one and only resolution this past New Years Eve- which was to be kinder to my blog and try and do at least a weekly summery of my week or month it seems.

South Australia is in the middle of a heat wave and although I live in a suburb of Adelaide we live in the plains and its temperatures are well believeing whoever between 3 and 5 degrees hotter in summer and likewise in winter. For those who dont understand it when I mention our temps have been up in the high 40 degrees in fact one day was 49.5 and you are thinking thats cold sorry wrong side of the world- we practice talking in Celsius when doing Temps for weather etc So 49.5 is in fact Horridly hot and in Farenheit is 120 and a wee bit. Hot and yes as the crow flie we live 30 kilos from Adeliade (it takes much longer these days with all the new housing going up out this way and where I could get into town in the 30 minutes now it takes more like the 45 -60 minutes. Oh the price of modernisation and seeing all those wheat paddocks that once had wheat growing or sheep grazing now its homes and more homes and less land available for the former. Theres a new settlement about to open up on some of the last farming areas on the Main North Road to Gawler. There is some but I wonder for how much more time before thats all built up as well> Pity everyone has worked out that this is a great state to live in and living North of the city is great.
well thats it for tonight- I WILL write more tomorrow I hope! I have lots to show and tell be good to each other and sleep well or enjoy your day at work or play
love n hugs bear xoxoxoxoxox

Any one would think I hated my blog but thats not the truth

2009-01-04T19:50:00.002+10:30

January 3rd 2009

well Happy New Year - only 3 days late but its never to late to wish all the very best of new years- I hope all will be healthy and wealthy and wiser before the end of this year.I can hope we all will have that cant I??

I have been busy and although tonight I wont be putting up pics I have made a few things while not blogging.

The most important was a wedding purse I made my granddaughters Mom- Bec married her sweetheart Chris on November1 2008. Bec was a beautiful Bride Chris a handsome groom and the kids were gorjas as flower girl and pageboy Jake looked so grown up in his Tux and Caitlin well she was just soooo pretty in her flowergirl outfit!! I aksed Bec if she would like me to make her this purse and after explaining what it was for and sending her a picture of the original made by Liz Vickery she was really happy for me to do it- so began the beading of my life. To me it was the very most important thing I have ever made. Anyway I have pictures of that and much more and will over the next few days try and catch up whats been a going on in the bears life thus far

so til then love n hugs always Bear xoxoxoxoxo

oooh ahhhhhhhh wwhere have I been

2008-09-29T19:38:00.003+09:30

Hello all

its been a long time since I last blogged and for those few who do follow me I am sorry- we have had winter and true to form I go very quite in winter. Although now Spring has hit downunder and finally I feel a lot better within myself.

Although quiet on here I have been busy in the background firstly making a block for the Crazy Quilting Internationals Breast Cancer blocks to be made into a quilt and then auctioned off and the proceeds go to BC. USA. This is a horrendous cancer affecting many of my friends and former clients when I was nursing etc. One day I pray the cure will be found and women will no longer be under this scourge of womens' lives.

I only made one block and my friend Leslie E made the foundation block for me and then I did my part by embroidering on it and then sent it back to Leslie( along with many others who are doing the same thing) then when Leslie has all the blocks back it will be completed as a CQ quilt.
I called my block "Faith Hope and Cure" and if you look really hard you will see these words were embroidered into the blocks in different areas.

A WIP previously known as a UFO takes shape

2008-06-08T16:49:00.004+09:30

Hewoo there all

well here it is a day later and bears being a good little blogger and trying to keep up with wot I have been playing wiv. Well this WIP has been such since way back in 2005 ummmmmm that's a wee while ago is it not?? Anyway one of my favourite magazines "Embroidery And Cross Stitch" Vol 11 No 8 was released and inside was a lovely item named Victorian Beaded Box which had been submitted to the mag for publication by Julia C who for many years has been on several yahoo lists with me, and who in my humble opinion is one of Australia's nay one of our worlds best and foremost embroiders. Julia has been published many times in this magazine and I have often wondered why they or for that matter never asked Julia to venture into a Book on her beautiful embroidery style, if you have the idea I love Julias' embroidery style you would be quite right.
Anyway this beautiful Victorian Beaded Box of Julias' was actually embroidered in a delightful pale purple and those of you who know me well will think ah ha the bears done hers likewise - wrong! Yup totally wrong and why I have no idea but I began to make mine and I had several dyed motifs in this weird colour and thought ah ha I can get rid of them on this item. I must admit I worried but on exploring beads and flower beads, and charms etc I found enough to make the box up in these colours.

So I began - the actual embroidering was never the problem with this item nope finished that fairly quick so wot did take the time - well the outside edges of this box are all completed with blanket stitch, Julia had continued her purple colouring with a matching light purple thread but mine was a totally different colour LOL so to begin it I first used a similar colour thread did several panels and I let it sit for a while somewhere I could see the panels day after day but not all the time, during this time I realised I hater the edge colour it screamed at me sho8uldnt have but did! So I then took all of that stitching apart - and let it sit again for a bit- these bits could be related to months more then days while I went on to make fully other projects or other WIP as well. So one day I was looking for something to play with and my hands pulled out this project yet again mmmmmmm wot to do- so I dragged out the box with all my Rajmahal threads in it and saw the pale gold colour yup I thought many charms are in this colour maybe that will do, so away with the needle and gold thread -this time I did the entire set of panels and the bottom base and the top lid but something was telling me I don't really like this so back onto the table for the looking at period to see if I did or didn't continue mmm months passed again as other things were completed or begun and thrown in to the WIP boxes. Now about this time it was decided on one of my yahoo list that a Gathering of us Crazy quilters would be held at the list Mommas home up bush SA, and it was then I dragged this thing out from the delths to look at again and it was then I confessed to Julia how I had been over time being making her lovely pattern up and so had some others and we decided yup we will finish them and bring them to the gathering. unfortunately things happened and while I was stitching the panels together etc. and was about to stitch the base to the panels that I found Col and I couldn't make the gathering after all. Well this had 2 effects on me- I decided that I HATED that gold colour it just didnt look right sooooooooo I again sat down and pulled all of this stitching apart now remember I was at the stage of so close to completing this that I was very tempted to put it back in the box of WIP but I didn't - I again pulled out boxes of rayon threads and found a green DMC rayon thread and finally finally I had the colour why hadn't I tried that before I wondered well I began again finishing 3 panels and then something else happened and away it went AGAIN!- heavens I thought will I ever finish this or will it go into the " not going to be done box". Somehow it managed to come up for air again just in the past 2 weeks- I was looking for something to finish as I had completed Jacques CQ Block and was at loose ends didn't know wot to do start something so one night to my Dads horror I dragged 3 boxes out and began to go through them pulling out this and that unfinished project when again my hands hit this one so its come up for air yet again and I have now finished all panels and the lids been finished as well and I am about to complete the base in the blanket stitch - wonder of all I LIKE the colour still so I reckin I might just maybe I may finish it this time - BUT with my hands so bad and winter here I have had to use a pair of needle nose pliers to pull the needle through the 2 pieces of cardboard and pellon and fabric and I have tried to join 2 panels and I am looking for a curved needle I know I have I really do not want to put this way unfinished again cos I think that would be the very end I wouldn't bring it up for air again! I have managed to break 3 needles so far this time- I look at it this way they were crook needles and pull out another one to carry on I MUST Finish it I really must finish it! If I keep repeating the mantra I might - I just might finish it this time! Its a wonder the panels etc. are still in one piece with all of the stitching and pulling apart etc. isn't it??

Anyway I will now put the pics up and call it a night - I have a couple hundred emails waiting to be read, and its cold and miserable its even begun to rain how bout that?? Its raining in dear old cold and drought ridden Adelaide - yeah keep on coming down rain pretty please.

love n hugs all
Bear xoxoxoxoxoxox

OOPSA its June wot happened to May??

2008-06-07T19:39:00.004+09:30

Dear all,

howzat I can talk proper! But not four long I wont!

Hewoo one and all

there that sounds more like me dont it??? So wots been happenings out there while I been lost and unaccounted for another hole month -cant even say I was hibernating --could say I was practising though its only now our official winter period- someone somewhere many eons ago decided that in Australia we would have offically the 1st of June being the first day of winter - (so then the 1st September is the beginning of Spring - ooooooh lovely, December 1 is the first of Summer and then the 1st of March is the first of Autumn) how this came about is not for me to say - after all I'sea a widdle bear person and not all that worried bout it and considering that my all time favourite season is Spring that I can class myself as a true bear - person gg.

Okay so why am I nattering on like an idiot old bear -- well 2 days ago for those not up wiv it that being the 5th of June my old man and I celebrated our 37th wedding anniversary now normally I wouldn't be blogging on about that BUT Maureen B asked me was I gunna blog and show my lovely pressie that my darling bought his hunny bear and so that's wot I am doing - its for those who may wanna know a Pierre Cardin watch bracelet and it has 7 hearts on the bracelet --one being the watch and the piccies awful cos its got 2 hearts covered wiv tiny Swarovski beads there's about 27 per heart so they are tiny but they do pack a punch out in the sun when it gets on them ggggg and I-- well gang I love it- its big bold and brassy like me gggg

So wot did I get himself - well I dun got him a pair of golf shoes and apparently all morning his buddies at the normal Cudlee Creek "Old Mans" Golf Club Saturday meeting --gave him heapsa for his new shoes, oh yeah and he also wore a new top - heck the way they do carry on ya would think he never gets nuffin new poor darling man!! I must admit though I chose the shirt and I take no blame for the shoes being that they are WHITE, BLACK AND TAN- yup Col is a lair and always has been and just cos he has qualified for his seniors card (U has to be 60 for that one gg) he is and always will be a lair BUT I love him for it --life surely never dull around Colly!! Hes already requesting a particular type of white and Tan shoe polish. Gotta keep these clean and shiny n GLARING at them I wonder if they realise hes got a special something in these shoes and when they do tweak hes winning even more -well then they might -- its special stuff and its to put the opposition off their game --- so Edwardo might change his mind about the ribbing he gave poor darling Col today - he thought he ought to turn it off today and give them half a chance to catch him up on the score board but its coming Edwardo its coming!!! After all Collie is leading All 3 of the competitions on offer at the club, and the physio told him yesterday Edwardo he might not even need the operation so look out dear man look out ggggg

The fact that we both remembered it is a miracle in itself - we have had a few years where it would suddenly occur to me that way back in June we had knocked up another year on the anniversary ratings . Now All I need is for something or someone to remind me that its coming in 3 years cos that will be our Ruby Anniversary and I wanna have a certain male to remember its a ruby year gggg.Anyone out there wanna take on that job its not hard --- you just have to do this -at least one month before a reminder should be sent to me to remember to remind Collie that's its the RUBY year gggg thanks a lot!

oh ahhhhh I love that man - - best decision I ever made! oh well til next time which wont be far off I got some piccies to show of a WIP, nope no longer will I refer to my UFO"s as that from hence forth (like that??) well now from hence forth this bear is gunna call all those UFO's as -- WIP - ie work in progress, never mind that this particular one is many many years old but more on that when I blog the pics okay so for now its night Maureen , and its night night Edwardo, and its night night to yas all -

love n hugs bear xoxoxoxoxox

Oh looksie- 2 entries in one day

2008-04-30T22:41:00.003+09:30

Hi friends and family

well I did as I said I would do and have taken a few pics of the CQ block I have been working on and this is why I have not been around much (also going through old issues of Cloth Paper Scissors and Quilting Art and a few others when I hit the muse full on and put her to sleep more often then I wanna admit to
anyway this is for a very special friend my lovely friend Jacque .

I have several pictures of different sections but I will put them up tomorrow, please forgive me not doing them all tonight but bears a tired little personbear and wants to go sit somewhere and read yet another old Cloth Paper Scissors.

Till then I will say nighty night to you all, hope you all having a lovely spring day over the big pond, its still raining here even as I type yummy rain keep on raining please

love n hugs bear xoxoxoxox

Hello Gang Its been a long long time huh??

2008-04-30T16:57:00.004+09:30

Doesnt time fly and totally get away from you- have had an interesting time in between blog entries- NOT gggg. Ahhh well some nice things did happen way back - sorry Cory for being so long in acknowledging this on my blog but better late then never.

I won a beautiful necklace - Cory had a special drawing on her blog for "One World - One Heart" on February2 2008. The prize being the most beautiful Imagination Necklace. I am including a piccie of the necklace on this entry and oh deary me wait for it a piccie of moi wearing it. Please do go and have a look at Cory's amazing blog its here .

Thanks very much Cory I worn it often over our late summer and it was always commented on -all thought as I do I am one very lucky lil bear.
So dearest ones I am not commenting on the body under the necklace, had the hair trim the morning and the next thing I know when we got home Colins got the camera and I hadnt even looked at where the hair was- as you can see it was everywhere and I need to DIET! Not yesterday but this very instant- I have started - yeah I have- I only had 3 sugars in my Capuccino not 4 or 5, see I have begun but I also realise I am going to have to seriously cut back on my intake of Farmers Union Ice Coffee and with a plug like that I should get free Ice Coffee from them forever!! oooh yummy how am I going to do that!! I gotta though its the one thing if I cut it down or out I loose weight by the truckload - that might be overestimation but I can loose weight just cutting it down - oh but how to do it- ooooh buts so beautiful and just talking about it is making me want one right now (ggg its in the Fridge - I used to by 600mls these days I buy 3 litres- it last days but it shows wot a committed FU Ice Coffee drinker I am dont it but??

Oh well I will put the pics up and then go take some more - I have been making a something for a very special person and I think its finished but theres something stopping me sending it I cant put my finger on it but I think it needs a wee bit more - I will attempt to blog it afterwards ok my loves - and remember laffin at bears pics is not allowed, I is fat n beary looking n I could get beary nasty - nnnno I couldnt but now you all know why I dont like piccies of me!!

Anyway look back soon I promise to take the pics of the embroidery I have been doing in my long long long silence, I think I like it but I could do with some opinions there's a couple of spaces I am not sure of - anyway thats for later- this has taken the wind outta me heavens putting up a pic of moi who'd athought it would ever happen!!

love to you all n big bear hugs for being patient wiv me xoxoxoxoxox

I like this one better!!

2008-02-16T17:09:00.002+10:30

This one is for my alter ego bear !!!

Your Peculiar Aristocratic Title is:

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is:
Her Most Serene Highness Lady Bear the Gnomic of Londinium-le-Thames
Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

I think this one is way more me dont ya think ggggg der bears lost it agin!
love n hugs bear xoxoxoxox

http://www.masquerademaskarts.com/memes/peculiartitle.php

2008-02-16T17:03:00.002+10:30

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is:
Milady the Right Reverend Belinda the Ceaseless of Goosnargh Leering
Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

well there you go noone thought I could ever be a Milady now did they?? Not sure I did either but hey why not try this out for some fun!
love n hugs bear xoxoxoxox

Good Golly Miss Molly its February already

2008-02-02T20:07:00.000+10:30

Hewoo one and all

yes I am here but .....well I cant use hibernating as an excuse cos downunder its been firey hot. and bears just completely collapsed from the heat- well bears have lot of hair- even though cos of the heat I had my long hair cut before Christmas- this was the second cut into the length and its almost there- one more cut and it will be there - I am getting used to having shorter hai and folks around here say its looking nice so I cant say no one like it- in fact a shop assistant here didnt even recognise me until I put in my bread order for the following day Wot a hoot hey?? the lovely young one told me its taken years off my face -oh Emma I love ya for that one compliment- best one yet!!

Anyway even though I was not keeping up with my blog I was doing something called sewing along the way.

I made 4 hearts to go with my pile swapped with ladies on the "Chain of Hearts group" and may even make more I still cant make up my mind wot I wanna do with them - grrrrr!! I used some ribbons I dyed myself the Torquiose I wanted to see how it looked up against other colours etc as I am doing a block for one of my darling friends on a list I adore.

Then I also made a square for my "Gathering Ladies" group! and I am really pleased with that block- I used a black and white lady a dear friend sent me and used coloured pastel chalks to add colour to her face and the flowers around her head.

And the final thing I made was a brooch -I have wanted to make this pattern up for ever so long
the pattern comes from an online shop called Vintage Vogue. Its a pattern that has been around for a wee while just as well cos it took me longer then a wee while to put my presents money down and buy it. Am so happy I did now its a lovely lovely brooch in real time its sparkles because of the crystals ( Vintage Vogue) oh but its twinkling at me even now as I write yummy!!

so as you can see I did some not a lot mind you but some stitching to blocks etc
Let me know wot you think of the items please
much love n hugs to my dear friends
Bear xoxoxoxoxoxxo

Goodness me its December already

2007-12-14T15:25:00.000+10:30

Front of chair
Back of chair
Right side of chair
left side of chair

Hewoo one and all

Well its almost Christmas and then all to soon it will be the New Years holiday and we will be into yet another year and as I age they seem to fly so fast.

So what have I been up to the past couple of months- well I was lucky enough to be given a scholarship into Jean Bernard's Fantasy Chair Class (www.jeanbernardart.com ) I had such fun doing the class and in learning so many new techniques and in the process made a passable fantasy chair, I am so surprised as when I was young and doing art at school I couldn't do anything like this - no way- in those days put me in front of a potters wheel and I was a happy person and then glazing it yup that to me was huge fun. But when it came to sculpting well I was a dead loss to the sculpting world. mind you there were several times when the wonderful Jean would have to remind me to "breathe Bear Breathe" and once I did its was like a light bulb would go on and the solution to the problem was there. Mind you there are many things I dislike about my chair BUT I also realise this is the first time I have ever attempted something like this and I can only improve right??

In making this fantasy chair we used products like Aves Apoxie Sculpt (www.aves.com ) and Paverpol (www.paverpol.com) and lots of new colours in paints that I had never even heard of and was so lucky to be given some test pots by Di (www.fabricaddictions.com.au) thank you so very much Di- they were Golden interference paints- woweee do they POP when used and Jean also had us using Decorart paints and also Decorart Sandstones (www.dedcorart.com ) and they were both great products again thanks to Di I tried the paints out and can see why she told me to try them they really are the most beautiful metallic colours I have ever used. I will have to buy some for future use LOL Will I play again oh yes I surely will the class is available through the lovely Lisa's web site (Lisa was also involved in the scholarship and I'd like to say thank you to Lisa also (www.lisasheaven.com )

All in all between the wonderful tutor and the wonderful and crazy classmates- ooh I have made some wonderfully crazy new mates there I believe this whole experience has been Fantastic and would I do it again - oh yeah - in a heartbeat-I gonna save my bikkies Jean I am really!! That wonderful tree woman sings to me she really is singing to me from the moment I saw her I KNEW!! Shes just sings gggg

I suppose you might like to see my chair would ya?? well I will attempt to put it on here as usual its hit and miss but its been a really fun couple of months !! (Yup the fun began when we got our supplies list ggggg Poor Jeannie baby I thought we would send her beresk gg) As usual its above the words- one day I WILL learn how to get it below or even in between that would be good ggggg but lets not push things to far and to fast remember bears getting older by the second hey??

Love n hugs bear xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

What your name means this time for me Bear

2007-11-18T19:13:00.001+10:30

What Bear Means

B is for Bold

E is for Exuberant

A is for Ambitious

R is for Rebellious

What Does Your Name Mean?

What my name means

2007-11-18T19:05:00.000+10:30

What Belinda Means

B is for Brainy

E is for Explosive

L is for Luxurious

I is for Ideal

N is for Naughty

D is for Darling

A is for Alluring

What Does Your Name Mean?

To all Prayers Answers eventually come

2007-11-07T17:51:00.000+10:30

Caitlin Skye your Nana loves you big time heres big hugs and kisses on all of your freckles XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOOXXOOXOXXOXOXOXOXOOXXOXOXOXOXOXOXOOX

and this good looking young man is Jake big hugs and kisses on your freckles too from me
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

Hello there one and all
well the heaviness that has filled my heart was lifted today - Bec wrote Colin and I a letter a really lovely letter and sent us photos of Caitlin our beautiful granddaughter and one of Jake ( Becs gorjas little son) hes a dapper lad and Caitlin is oh so pretty as she always was . My how they both have grown over the past 5 years, the last time I saw them Jake was but a baby just one week old and Caitlin was 4
I am so happy I wanted to scream from the rooftops I have heard from Bec and we know whats happening in their lives yippee and yes they are in WA. Isnt that amazing! whooppee
I love you Bec and Caitlin and Jake we will learn to love you as well young fella!!
Big hugs and kisses for them all XOXOXOXOXOXO

oopsa its November

2007-11-05T21:26:00.000+10:30

well Octobers been and gone- I did do something in October not a lot but did this outfit for a dear friend of mines granddaughter- I like the way this one sewed together more then I did on the one I made for Scarlett darn it!! LOL
Anyway its the very same pattern as I made for Scarlett G but different type of material
much nicer to handle then the other one oh deary me
Hope Maea like s it and that Alice does as well and of course Granny Joy my dear friend
love n hugs bear xoxoxoxo

Well before August does indeed slip away

2007-08-31T17:26:00.000+09:30

this is actually the right hand side of the "bag"I forgot to rotate the pic- sorry gang but am not very clebber with this sort of stuff heck I even took a piccie thats a start normally I shove anything onto the scanne and thats the end of it!!
This is the left side of the bag showing the little "Southern Belle" in her garden of delight. I was a very silly bear I didn't write down who gave me the lovely crocheted Southern Belle - if she's of your work please do let me know so I can give you the well deservedly fabulous naming rights to her. She's so wonderfully made she is just Beautiful. Thank you to who ever did make her and thought enough of me to give her to me.
This piccie shows the beautiful butterfly heading for the flower bed on the right side of the "bag"
so much more to do -I wish I didn't have such a big Bum- then the bag woulda been a lot smaller gggg NEXT time I will go and BUY a pair of jeans and do a small size bag gg ooh well we cant all be size 6's can we??The beautiful butterfly was given to me by the wonderful artist Maria Vialle - thank you Maria she's perfect for this garden bed, and is beautiful!!

Now as you can see that although I have been quite as a little bear can be but I haven't been dawdling over my bed all the time or hiding out in my den - oh no I have been sewing my wee claws to a bone.

I have had an old pair of jeans cut off ready to play -make me into a JEANS BAG NOW! for some time now- maybe some 2 years- well slow is the bears way of coming onto a project. I am having some fun with this project as well- I decided that the ordinariness of the jean fabric could do with some outlandish stitching and so have been going at it hammer and tongs for the past couple of weeks creating flowers hither and 'yond and making one side look like it has flowers overflowing off the bag edges- so much so that when I was hunting through some bits and pieces to add something to the other side I found a crochet little southern belle in my favourite colours and decided that she should be standing in a garden of flowers like on the other side. So this is pretty much where I am up to at present- what to do next well there's an awful lot of beading that is waiting to be done- I began that last night and in doing one flower discovered I had placed another flower on back to front- heck I can really stuff a thing up cant I??- So its on the right way now and the other bits that had to come off t correct the glaring mistake are all back on and the beading can continue tonight. Hope you like it- please please do tell me BUT don't forget this is definatly a UFO at present and does have much more to be done before I think of it as completed

love n hugs Bear xoxoxoxoxoxoxox

Has August also slipped away??

2007-08-31T16:58:00.001+09:30

hewoo one and all

well it seems that the month of August has also slipped away how could it??- But it has and did- here it is the last day of August (downunder) and its the last day of Winter here as well- tomorrow bring with it not only the 1st day of September but also SPRING - hellallelua!!

I have been doing things I have been nominated by 2 sweeties for the Nice Matters Award- I dont know how to get the pretty picture with the Nice Award on it here but we will make ot it is here- and my thanks to Norma of http://normasneedlez.blogspot.com and also Courtney of http://www.mommasgoodies.blogspot.com.

You are both sweeties and I have to give this award to 7 people I love - out of the many I do love so very much- thats a really hard task cos I can always have so many more then I can write on here darn it!
anyway

Sherry Goshon http://sherrygoshon.blogspot.com/

Linda Fleming . http://thewindowtomylife.blogs com/

Hideko Ishido http://hideko-windfromtheeast.blogspot.com/

Kai Nakoni http://creatingmyway.blogspot.com

Maureen Bond http://crazyqstitcher.wordpress.com/

Jacque Uetz http://www.jacqueuetz.blogspot.com/

and last but definately never least my lovely "other "Linda
Linda Barraclough http://chloesplace.blogspot.com

I have selected obly the seven but so many more are out there whose work I admire or whom I have known and emailed for so long now that they are part of my family, this hard when you are asked to ONLY name 7 I can think of so many more it seems mean to but ONLY name these 7 beautiful people. To those not named- I do love you as well!! U know that I do and will go on forever being part of my online and real family .............
thank you
one and all
love n hugs bear xoxoxoxoxoxoxox

Red Roses for a Blue Lady!!

2007-08-16T21:25:00.001+09:30

hewoo one and all
My dear Twin Sister (??) well we were born the same day, same month, same year, and almost to close for comfort time wise as well- and considering My Twinnie is on the other side of the big pond- our "Mums" were doing it hard as well. Anyway Kai has been having a very hard run of late and is now gotten herself a very nasty eye infection, so I thought I would make her up one of my blocks and in case you don't know her Kai likes Red, so her roses had to b e red didnt they Kai??

Anyway me and the pooter have been arguing for a day now cos it for some reason kept scanning this block in MB's instead of a small size so there in lay the problem and it refused to resize so I wound up exporting it out of one program and into another and then another to get the darn piccie to resize. GRRRRRRRRR well a bears allowed to growl every now and then otherwise I wouldn't be a self respecting little old bear now would I??? Anyway finally I have gotten the darn thing to resize and now hopefully Kai can get a look see- this is going to be her burthday pressie from moi- and last night I asked her did she want a surprise or did she wanna see it now?? Being so alike I KNEW Kai would wanna see it straight away- I find it hard not being allowed to not look at something which is suppose to be a surprise - hate it in fact. Ah well here it tis Kai- hopes you likes it, and sorry its taken me so long to get it up but I had nuffin but trouble with this one darling
with much love and biggest bear hugs
your Weela xoxoxoxoxo

While July went past

2007-08-05T17:00:00.000+09:30

Hewoo one and all

I did do some other things as well while the July month went missing for me, I completed the last of my gathering blocks and then I also made a block for myself -I have never made a block just for me so I figgered it was time -I am really wanting to make more now and maybe join them and for heavens sake make a CQ Quilt up out of them all- Heavens wot am I saying here?? Me quilting oh nope that's not my scene - well maybe it is I love making these CQ blocks up and they aren't like sane quilting where I HAVE to do this or that and I cant really change things cos as all keep saying with CQ there are NO rules - yup that's me lets face it I am not a lover of too many rules so I can see me doing a few more of these blocks- actually wanting to make some bigger blocks- the 6 and a half inch block doesn't give me a lot of space to play around and I really want to play around and I want to be able to do more seam treatments etc and by the time I do the roses etc there's not a lot of room for anything else to go on- so I can feel me trying out oooooohh lets see may be I will do some 12 inch square blocks. BUT even more worrying is I have been looking at sane quilting with an eye on maybe making at least one sane quilt oh did I say that?? Surely not bears' going quite insane lets not worry to much - that could be just the belt of spring weather we had last week getting into the blood and scaring up some of these silly feelings ggg CQ yup but sane quilting oh Bear You are a worry!!

The first in this set was made for Rowdy aka as Catherine of the Garden - Catherine gained the nickname of Rowdy from her "noise" factor when the girls attended the Gathering at Sandies' hacienda at Easter. Apparently Catherine is not the quiet demure little sweetie we all assumed she was. I am glad she's not the quiet and demure little sweetheart cos lets face it Bear can be as noisy as the next one and would be in good company with Rowdy. Anyway enough of that nonsense Catherine loves Purple and so I found this little patch I have had forever( another one of my Linda B's generosity to me when I was a beginner CQ'er ) and as the fairy also had little garden bits surrounding her I thought that Catherine might like this, the unfortunate thing is that I couldn't get a clear image of the fairy ---it is very sweet in person and Catherine has told me she liked it so I am happy bout that!

Then this one of Purple on the black background is the one I made for me. I have adored this combination of colours ever since I saw a Block that Julia C made for our Sandie- and Julia made her "Sandie Gathering Block" in these colours but Julia used much brighter purple ribbons then I have and it was so much prettier then this block. I am not so dissapointed that I wont use it but I did learn lots from making up this block and will dye some more ribbons and make sure they are of a brighter purple hues then these are. Sandie sent me the lovely black and white picture and I used some of my pencils to colour in the "pink" roses and green leaves in the girls hair - I am happy with that effect and would use that again.

This pink/ Burgundy block was one I made up for ??. I had these ribons etc left over from the other gathering blocks and I figgered it could be made up nicely and I think it came up a treat. and Hopefully the lass receiving it will think so. I love these little angels I have been using along the way - They came from a competition win and I really have had a lot of fun using them- I also used them along the way with some of my hearts. I don't think I have had one person say they didn't like the little angels. It goes to show we are all quite similar in our tastes sure we might like a few things differently but then there are some things that most enjoy ie angels and fairies and gardens etc. I really have enjoyed making the gathering blocks and when I next post I will put up all of the blocks that the Ladies of the gathering sent me

but

For now Bye all and be careful but enjoy the day for what it is a new day full of promise

lotsa love n big hugs Bear xoxoxoxoxxo

Wot happened to July???

2007-08-05T16:01:00.000+09:30

Photo1 is the front of Rhi's dress, the second pic is the back and the third pic shows a close up of the smocked area and the embroidered bullions roses.

This pic is the front of Scarletts dress, the second is the back of her dress and the 3 pic shows the back of her panties and the 4th the front of her panties.

Hewoo one and all

well wot did happen to July ???- mmmmmm I was ill with the current Flu bug doing the rounds of South Australia and laid low- and then Dad was admitted to hospital 3 weeks ago and is still there - he has a very nasty Staph Infection in his knee that he had a replacement knee operation on and its a very nasty and stubborn infection- he is on Intravenous antibiotics and will be even when he is up to coming home for at least 6 weeks so the Dr is saying at this stage. Anyway we will see I guess what the upshot of this will be later on- last week he went down for his second arthroscopy and washout and the orthopaedist is happier then he was after the first one and has said to DOD that its up to the Infection Control Dr now as to when he is happy to let DOD out of the Hospital- Its will be nice to get our lives back to a wee bit of normal living. Sad to say both Colin and I are starting to feel a bit worn out etc but hey he could b e home this week and then we may b e paying for that gggggg

In the meantime I haven't just been sitting here doing nothing - I have completed two little smocked outfits for a dear friends grandbabies. Rhi is now 4 years old and so I made her a sundress no sleeves but it does have a frill around the neckline and lots of backsmocking a wee bit of geometric smocking and then some of my favourite "grub" roses across the bottom of the smocked area. Its in a lovely summer weight poly/cotton and should be okay to wear even on the hottest of summer days - I am also hoping that both outfits fit gg. For the younger baby Scarlett who's about 12months old now - so I made her a dress and panties outfit- the smocking on this was just a geometric pattern - only a few rows on her dress and then there were some bullion daisies in various colours going across it- her panties were in the same material but had 3 rows of frill across the back of them and are (well I think they are) real cute gg Cos she is at the crawling/walking stage I made this up in a poly/cotton seersucker material so that should wash like a rag and shouldnt need to much ironing if any. I remember not wanting to iron much way back when the kids were younger and I am sure Em (the kids Mum) is no different.

well all I can hope for is that they fit the girls and that the girls and their Mum like them etc -I know their Gran does (- Hi ya darling.) I had such fun making them- yeah right bear!!! doesn't something always goes wrong for me - yup no different this time I had picked out this lovely material to make Scarlett's dress in and all went well until I removed the smocking threads and started to block the smocking- that's when bear realised she didn't have the smocking squared and to make matters worse- most times this wouldn't be a big problem) but this time the floral actually formed lines going across the material- oh and nocticeable - it sure was! wot to do wot to do- I was nearly in tears but I explained the problem to my darling man and he quietly asked wot do U want to do and I said begin again --go and get another piece of material and start over - the darling man piled me in the car and 10 minutes later the smiles had returned to my face. BUT sometimes things work out for the best (when all seems dark and gloomy ) I realised after doing the second dress up that I loved the material much more and also it wasn't as heavy (thick) as the first one and for a summer dress the second one would be much more to the liking of the wearer so maybe it was meant to be. Whatever alls well that ends well. Wot am I going to do with the first dress well I have tried to square it up etc and its in some shape and I will at some time in the dim future finish it off if only to show myself that I learnt a lesson that all floral's don't make good choices for smocking if they are not totally squared off in the beginning -seems to me I heard that before- maybe the lass who taught us to smock and showed us her example of what can go wrong gggg so I am not the only one to make this blunder I guess and I learnt a lot!! I hope I remember the lesson well and don't do THAT one again!

The patterns for both outfits came from the "Smocking and Embroidery" magazines published by Country Bumpkin right here in good old Adelaide, South Australia

lotsa love n hugs bear xoxoxoxoxox

this block is for Norma H

2007-06-26T22:58:00.000+09:30

Hewoo one and all

This block is for Norma H

Norma said she didn't have a theme but loved all flowers. As this year has been such an unhappy year for my dear friend I thought she needed a fairy to be taking care of her woes and to lift all the unhappiness from her mind even if only for a short while . I have had this print (and another one) for many years and when it came time to make Norma's block up I immediately knew that this one was for her.

So Norma I hope this fufills' your "no theme" and that you like it. I will try and get it into the post tomorrow afternoon it should then be with you within a week - that's always supposing our 2 countries postal and customs people allow it to pass through their hands quickly

Fly away little fairy from my heart to yours Norma this block brings my love to you

Lotsa love n huge bear hugs to you

Bear xooxoxoxoxox

Gathering block for Maria V

2007-06-21T22:54:00.000+09:30

Hewoo there all of you in cyberspace,

I have been a wee bit quiet - having a bad week but we all have them dont we so I thought maybe a piccie of another of my gathering blocks might cheer someone up. Hope you like this Maria V, this block is all bout love for roses and flutterbyes- well there heaps a of them both so I figgered it could only be that - love for.......

Maria in case you havent worked out loves Purple- yowee so do I Maria and this block did get me into a hole for a while but I hope you liked the way it eventually came out- from my heart to yours
love n hugs
Bear xoxoxoxo

Finally Viv

2007-06-14T19:57:00.000+09:30

Hewoo all and dear Viv

Well I had one more area annoying me and I had collected the bits and pieces together to sort out this problem area and would you believe one other lass (Hi Sandra from dolls) picked the one thing out that bothered me- so now I had confirmation that it was not just my wanky eyes but also someone could see wot I was seeing - Wot a load of waffle- I have sorted it and this is now the block that will begin winging its way to WA and into Viv's hands.
love to one and all thank you to everyone who commented on my blog or on my CQfriends or Dolls lists- ladies you're all worth having ya blood bottling you are fabulouse in your support for me and I feel so blessed to have so many kind and lovely friends
love n hugs bear xoxoxoxoxoxxo

Not happy Viv

2007-06-12T22:43:00.000+09:30

Hewoo there one and all

well I uploaded Vivs' "gathering block" late last night but I was so unhappy with it- to me the gold beads next to the piccie of the lady screamed at me when I looked at the block.- So I showed it to DOD(dear old Dad) and said honest opinion and I could see he was struggling to say something so I said wots the first thing your eyes were drawn to and guess wot- the bludy gold beads got him first as well. So off came the wee gold beads and the small amount of gold thread I had put on radiating out from those bludy gold beads and out came the beads again. Yup I had had them off once before and put them back on again Talk about wandering around not knowing if I like or not, so I tried several things and this is wot I finally decided was the finished block-

I left the old version up and put the new version is above this dribble. Which one do you prefer??

I hope Viv likes the new version - I prefer it so much to the old version that I am now happy to post it over to the one, the only, the West Australian ---Vivienne

much love to you Viv

love n hugs bear xoxoxoxoxox

Viv's gathering block finished

2007-06-11T23:30:00.000+09:30

Hewoo world and my dear friends

well yet another gathering block is finished- with the completion of this one, I now move onto my territory- the remaining blocks are purples of some sort. I have been such a good girl bear- by forcing myself to do the ones outta my comfort zone first I now have the blocks I can really love doing- well a girls gotta love doing some you know its not all beer and skittles doing the purples one but ooooooh my mind flows when working with a purple background simply flows I am going to do some machine sewing in the next few days and just work on the blocks at night mmmmmmmmmmm ! I have promised and promised to make these little outfits for friends babies and I have gotten involved with the blocks and not with the sewing up of the outfits so the time has come to do some serious sewing!! Do you get the impression that bear prefers to do hand stitching to machine work- yup you would be right with that! gggg I adore smocking and Silk Ribbon embroidery which to some degree the little outfits all have soooooooo....... why oh why does it take me forever to wind myself up into a sewing frenzie! which is what it becomes- and then Col yells at me cos I will be sore for days after and will suffer with swollen arms and hands -- he just doesn't understand though that when the bug finally bites its gotta be finished first before I give into his nagging gggg

Well my dearest Viv do you like your block- yours for some reason was the only block so far to have a piece of patterned material in it and that really threw the old bear for a bit- what to do what to do?? In the end I put some thread around the top leaves tried all sorts of ways to do the bottom leaves and flowers in the end I outline the flowers and then began filling in with different coloured beads I went overboard didntI?? 0h Viv I am so sorry if I did go overboard- does the beading areas look like a flower????? Hope so cos that is what they are girl.

And I have a bone to pick with you Vivienne- gggggg( the long full name crankie bear speech and spelling ) What oh wot is sludgy pink girl?? Please tell I needs to know wot a sludgy pink colour looks like- did I manage to get any of this colour you wrote in your spiel of whats to do / whats not to do!!

Sludgy pink mmmmmmmmmmmm oh Vivienne I was at a loss to do a sludgy pink for ya so that requirement may not be in this block and if it isnt could you enlighten the old bear by showing her a piece of material that looks sludgy kiddo!! Sorry Viv (thats the apology in advance ggg)
love n hugs (and soon to be loud snores - the boys tell me I snore- maybe I dont they do and its repulsive can hear them down the other end of the house with the TV going and they hate being picked on so they tell me I snore- I prolly does but dont like the pair of them ganging up and talking as a double duo of trouble-- that they really and truly are!!

Well Viv and my darling friends big loves and hugs and all that catch ya on the morning and I hope you all have a fabulous day over the big pond in both directions and all
loves and biggie hugs
Bear xoxoxoxoxoxoxox

another gathering block is finished

2007-06-04T23:42:00.000+09:30

Well 2 posts in one night as I live and breath this is amazing isnt it??

This is yet another "gathering" heart all finished and packed up ready to go to its new home
Some time ago I was talking to Sandie and she had just received a black background and purple features block from our dear friend Julia, and Sandie told me she was becoming more purple minded then she had been and I suggested I do her gathering block in purples instead of her normal pinks. I hope that she is still thinking this way as knowing she likes bees I also embroidered some bullion bees onto this block etc. Sandie I hope and pray you are still wanting another purple block cos girl this is yours from my heart to you
love n hugs bear xoxoxoxoxxo

Normas' tatted heart

2007-06-04T23:35:00.001+09:30

Helllo
many moons ago I told of a delightful tatted bear heart I received from Norma from Chain Of Hearts list. We make and swap hearts with other members on that list anyway I was absolutely delighted with this particular heart as Norma had gone to the trouble to tat me a bear and then I couldnt get the photo to load up.
Well months later I have finally gotten the heart rescanned and here it is for your looking delight- I think its a special heart from a very very special lady Thank you Norma darling
love n hugs bear xoxoxoxo

I have been tagged

2007-05-30T17:51:00.000+09:30

oh deary me.............

I have been tagged by 3 different people and to be honest I think everyone I would like to tag has been tagged and most more then once - so unless someone would like me to tag them I may just do my 7 random facts that no-one knows about me and call it quits- I hope all like that idea-as I said you wanna be tagged give me a "hoy" and I will do the honour for you!! Thank you for tagging the bear goes to Hideko who got me first, Sherry who tagged me next and Fran who was my last tagger but not the least by all means I does so loves you all BUT.................... read on......

7 unknown facts about bear
1/ I LOVE to sleep in especially in winter when its cold and raining my bed is my den and I snuggle down as far as I can and resist all of Colins yelling at me to get up as long as I can!!
2/. I adore Farmers Union brand of Ice Coffee - drinking it by the litre- as any good self respecting South Aussie does- ITS THE ice coffee drink and leaves all others in its wake- Thank you Farmers Union I will accept all the litres you can send me for this advertisement!!
3 /I love the smell of hot coffee- but hate the drink(although I do like cappuchino coffee its something to do with the froth and chocolate I think but as for the rest can leave it happily!
4/ Since buying my first computer and connecting to the www have discovered life again and have delighted in finding some of the most adorable people I regard as fabulous friends through this wonderful medium.
5/I spend way to much time on the www. and not enough doing my sewing, embroidery etc noighty bear!!
6/ I hate my height and would give anything to be small like my dear maternal grandmother was- she was a dainty 4ft 9 inch me- well I am 5ft12 in. (yes that is 6 foot and it was not fun when I was young!
7/ I prayed I wouldn't get tagged- its so hard to think of things that people wouldn't know about me. Thank you dear darling Hideko , Sherry and Fran for doing the tagging of poor old bear. I feel like I am an open book and most know me fairly well.

Added to those above this is an extra one and those of you who know me will know this one about me BUT most of all if there was a wish to be attached to these 7 things not known about me then this is the one wish I would have ---I WISH that I could see and hear and speak to and cuddle and kiss a certain little granddaughter of mine whose name is Caitlin Skye Sweeney, Caitlin you are 9 and a half now and its been nearly 5 years since we last cuddled and kissed BUT I want you to know there has never been one day or one minute or one hour in each day and night that I am awake or asleep that I have not wanted to hold you tight and tell you how beautiful you are and how much I love you. Maybe this is the one thing waiting for me to happen- that you will be back in my life before you or I are any older.

Caitlin Skye Sweeney - I love you!!

So there you go ladies I hope I have answered these Tags rightly and as I said earlier if you would like to be tagged- please feel free to let me know I will send you a tag real quick.
Thank you and Bless all my lovely friends ----I love you all

love n hugs bear xoxoxoxoxoxoxox

julia's gathering block

2007-05-30T16:57:00.000+09:30

here I am again
I finished my little inchie charms and sent them off to America even ontiome I was- how unusual for me??
I did forget to take a picture of them so have asked my swap momma to do that for me and I will scan the picture of my inchie's in when Sherry has sent me the picture- they turned out okay- thank goodness for the arrival of Cloth Paper Scissors as it had the edging I wanted to do and the explanation so simple and just wanted I wanted to make perfect- how many times does that happen- none to many around this place believe me.

Anyway of that topic and back onto my evenings work- each evening I am working on at least one of the gathering blocks at present have 3 on the go- I get so bored playing around with one ggg that's my excuse and I am sticking to it!! VBG!!

So this is one that I finished- where have I heard THAT line before- this gathering block is for the one the only lovely Julia from Western Australia- Julia is a published fabric artist and does the most amazing embroidery and I always get the jitters whenever I am doing something for her - will it come up okay her embroidery is so beautiful so exact so well so PERFECT and I am just a little bear playing at doing my own little versions of embroidery, I am so very unsure of this little piece of work- I asked Dad for his opinion - he says its beautiful- but then I thought oh heck that's Dads opinion heavens what is he going to say- girl that's horrid- he might be thinking to himself this girls here taking care of me I have to watch what I say ggggg, she might stick me with pins or stitch my mouth together with glue - anyway going on Dads very very biased opinion I offer Julias' block- I so hope you like it Julia I really do and if you don't please send it back and I will redo it I mean that word for word if you don't like it the return mail addie is on the envelope.
so till next time love n hugs all Bear xoxoxo

more on Gathering blocks

2007-05-18T14:32:00.000+09:30

Hello again-

Thank you to Sherry and Fran who have also tagged me- theirs is a different tagging to the one that darling Hideko tagged me with- hang in there all And I will get around to doing my 3 dears of the tagging world! I love you three BUT oh deary me LOL!!

At present I am fighting a viral infection that Dear Old Dad brought back from his trip to Tasmania he went for a Naval Reunion and also to catch up with his mates etc who live way downunder the Aussie mainland. Both Colin and I have caught this darn bug and its left us feeling very tired etc- anyway I will try and do all my tags next week- this weekend has been set aside to do my "Inchies" -" inchies" can be made of anything ie clay or composite materials or paper or fabric- or wotever- so long as they are about one inch square hence the name. I have an idea to incorporate my favourite playthings- material - but not to give the game away yet - more on this later.

I have made another 2 of my gathering blocks-these being for Margaret and Mary. Someone asked what we do with these- well the ones I am making will be sent to the ladies named who will also receive 12 others from the group of ladies involved in this swap- what we do with them- well some are making wall hangings - mine that I made for Maureen will one day go into her crazy Quilt yippee I tried my hardest to make her one that would do this, I can think of no other way of being remembered fondly by her family then to have my block somewhere in her quilt. Me -- well I am not sure yet- I have several blocks put aside and I really change my mind daily almost as to wot I will use them for- the latest is making a throw rug. I need to make many more though so I have plenty of time to change my mind before I set it into the final blanket quilt wall hanging wotever its going to be!!

Next week I will put up all of the "gathering" blocks I received from the girls who made them. I should explain that the Gathering" blocks- were a swap decided on by the ladies who were going to attend the "gathering at Sandies' and Chris" hacienda over the last Easter break. Several of us weren't able to go but those who did had a fabulous time. When we were talking about arrangements it was brought up that it would be a terrific idea to have something tangible from each of the gathering participants and so the idea of a 6 inch square block was formed- we all filled out a list of our likes and dislikes and colours and in the end there were 13 of us who were in this swap of blocks. With the upheaval in our lives around Xmas and through to Easter my block making was sidelined and this is why mine are all happening now! I hope that explains the Gathering blocks to you all!

Anyway the first of these two was made for darling Margaret, who like me was unable to come to the gathering and Margaret loves all things blue so I made her block all things blue- in the beginning I was even going to make the leaves blue but as time went by I changed that idea and made them green- (how boring Bear) but if you look closely you will find one flower and its leaves are blue, I had to leave that piece of nonsense on there!! I hope you like your blue blue block Margaret I had fun making this one!!

The second block is for Mary L, another who couldn't make it to the gathering either. When I looked at what Mary liked she had written cream and all colours but no brights- eek all dusty colours double eek!!! Way outta left field again and that comfort zone is nowhere to be seen again- anyway I added sage green don't know why but it looked okay I thought and then I played again a lot of the ribbons were home dyed and again they were all of a cream nature well kinda anyway as I wanted to add the gold dragonflies I needed to bring gold in somewhere else and so this is why the window frame has golden beads around it. Mary I hope you like this again this is one outta the box for me- I love all things bright and purple but I hope this is enough cream and not to bright for you. It will be in the post on Tuesday next week and then hopefully in your hands before to much time has past gggg.

I will have a tiny break from the blocks now and do my "Inchies" and a couple of other projects I have to finish off.

So I will catch up next week with my Tagging friends and I hope all have a fabulous weekend Love n hugs Bear xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Another Gathering block completed

2007-05-07T14:37:00.000+09:30

Its been a while since I said hello and since then I have been "tagged" by my dear friend Hideko, and I am in the process of doing a post in which I will be "tagging" 5 blogs I go to when I need inspiration etc. That post is in draft form- I am not very computer savvie and in saying that I also have to admit that I am also definately not Blog savvie and that's no understatement - I have been to trying to work out how to do links etc and my friend Sandie must be just about pulling her lovely long blonde hair out with my daily litany of questions- and of course the questions are almost double dutch by the time I send them to her- I hope others feel this way and its not just me out here in the netherworld of computer and blogs feeling so useless and incapable of sane thoughts when it comes to this!

So in despiration I thought I would do the one thing I do know how to do and thats display another finished "gathering Block" - this one is for Andrea who lives way down on the wee Island off the mainland of Australia- its also known as Tasmania- hi ya Andrea big waves across the big sea to you!! Andrea likes pink and burgundy colours and so this is why her block is in these colours I hope you like it Andrea I will be posting it tomorrow with my love to you!!

Gathering blocks

2007-04-21T22:15:00.000+09:30

Well its been such a long time since I did anything on my blog- unfortunately life has this habit of pushing its way in front of you and your best laid plans get messed up. Anyway I have begun my gathering blocks finally. I was supposed to attend The Gathering being held at Sandies' and Chris' home over the Easter long Weekend break but due to life-ie Dad and not being able to leave him at that stage - and other problems that came up I was unable to do so! In the planning stages it was decided that if we wanted to participate in making a CQ block for each of the attendees we could do so- So a lot of backwards and forwards - discussing all our likes and dislikes it was decided that this would go ahead- each of 12 people attending would do one CQ bblock for each of the other attendees- a smallish size of 6 inch square was decided upon and most of the ladies began to do their blocks straight away- except for Bear and a couple of others most had all 12 blocks completed and they were swapped at Sandies place that weekend- I have all but one of the blocks that were made for me and will over time upload them so all can see wot wonderful embroidery etc was done on these amazing blocks./

Anyway I have finished one and this one is for Maureen Bond - Maureen wanted her blocks to be in Creams etc so they could be added to her quilt she is making- well Maureen I hope you like this block- It certainly was a long way out of my comfort zone- one tone blocks are not my like but its come up a treat as you will see mostly its in creams and beige colours - the ribbons etc were dyed in tea the framing piece of Lace was dyed in a bath of Dilmah Rosehip and Hibiscus Infusion. - ie Tea- and the things done so came out this lovely pale shade of pinky beige its so pretty I may do some more in my dying days ahead. There is way more beading then I have ever done in my life and the spider web roses are made with 7mm ilk ribbon dyed by me in plain ordinary tea. Not my normal wider ribbons! all threads were either Rajmahal or various sizes of silk and rayon threads
Maureen I pray and hope you like this block.
much love n hugs to all especially my Maureen xoxoxoxoxoxox

now heres a tale of derbears big mouth getting her into trouble

2007-02-28T14:55:00.000+10:30

Hewoo all

well I am back on air- and am so happy to be so- I had all sorts of dramas mainly to do wiv technicians who didnt know their job and so bear brung home her pooter and backed up and reinstalled and well here I am- aint I a clebber bear??- well if I dont say so who will - I ask ya!!

Anyway onto my tale- Back last year my Chemist(drug store to my American friends- I dont know wot its called in Japan Hideko sorry!!) Anyway way back the chemists ladies did a wonderful display for Xmas- and the main part was these wonderful (to me anyway!!) Santa trucks. But - aint it always the way - that BUT!!- they were expensive being priced at $124.95 being that I live in and around an area not known for having big sums of money I figgered these lovely Santa trucks would not sell. and Lo and behold they didnt-so after Xmas the trucks were still there and with a new pricetag of $99.95 (thats Au dollars BTW), so I began a campaign of getting the girls onside and giving them a price tag of $50. bucks that I was prepared to pay for one of these wonderful Santa Trucks and each and every time I would go in there I would say I will take one home now for 50 bucks ggggg, anyway came early February this year the 2 trucks disappeared from the display windows- I was MOST upset until the girls told me that they hadnt sold and were being stored out the back.- I told Peter the owner and phamacist that I would -take one of your hands for- 50 bucks- he said absolutely nuffin ,mmmmmm - the next time I was talking anyone at the shop was to the manageress and told her of the conversation with my lovely Peter and how he hadnt said anything and the manageress lady said thats cos I am the one who works that side of it- give me a second and I will go see if we can possible do it for you- comes back and nope I am sorry it wont cover our costs etc- oh well thinks I - maybe next year!

Anyway yesterday I was yet again in the Chemists shop and the manageress is talking and I suddenly realised she was talking to me- and the Manageress lady is saying we have reduced the Santa trucks down to- wait for it- to $49.95 do U want one- gggggg well yes I says - (after all I was going to give them 5 cents more) - so now I am thinking to myself- I never ever thought that they would reduce them THAT far down - oooh deary me now I have to explain this to COLIN - who was waiting out in the car- But as the lovely shop assistant and I came out of the main doors I could see him looking at the shop assistants arms and wot she was carrying and I could then see the faintest of smiles- I knew I was ok!

I really never thought they would drop the price and it had become a real game and many the times Colin was with me while it was going on -the bartering - I mean gg so it wasnt as if he didnt know wot was happening. BUT gang wot do I do now- wot bill wont I be paying this week- me and my BIG MOUTH! that'll teach me- BUT I really DID want this Santa truck gggggggg I do get myself into some predicaments dont I?? anyway I will hopefully have pretty piccies here as well so you can see the wonderful Santa truck I spent months bartering to get at MY price and then got it!! whooppee! LOL

One of the things I have probs with is the printer/scanner thingie- anytime its taken off I have to play around so that is why I wasnt sure if it would cooperate and get the piccies onto the blog etc- or even into the pooter- I have to play again and will be doing so this arvo- as I have my very very bootifulls Paper dollies back home and for some silly reason the pooter and the scanner is not talking at present- mmmmmmmm I will give them not talking I will give them a kick in the --- Nope I will be nice wont I - after all I fixed the non talking pooter will I now let a non communicating scanner and pooter get away with that grbabge I should say NOT!!- its supposed to be simple after all its an all in one- copier, scanner fax and printer etc maybe I better be a good girl and re hook up the blasted fax line thingies!! Thats usually the reason for non talking to each other - oh deary me- we are slaves to the techno world of machines is we not! Anyway as soon as I get the scanner and the pooter talking to each othr I will upload my very very bootifulls paper dollies that I had arrive home from the USA this week Sherry G, Kai, MaryC, and Camille I really love them to pieces you all did such lovely lovely paper dollies! Now to make a journal to fit their beautiful girls into! -I didnt make a journal to accompany them but did include some pretty cardboards for the ladies to write their thoughts on- and then I will make the jou8rnal for all - it saved the overseas lady from paying to much in postage and we all know how expensive that can be!

BTW the Santa truck is 80.5 cms long by 42 cms wide by 48 cms tall. For those in feets and inches world thats 31.5inches long by 161/2 wide by 19inches tall, so its not exactly a tiny weedy thing is it?? I loves it!!

loves n hugs ya bear xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

bears off air

2007-02-20T12:08:00.000+10:30

hewoo one and all

its been a while since I said hewoo - and now I am only saying hewoo to say that I am off air- my pooter has gone kaplunk and I am using Kirks pooter to tell yas that I wont be around pooter land for about a week- heavens how will I survive without my pooter friends for a whole week- lets hope the repair man can work it out quick smart and cheaply!!
The latest is that I got a new modem and tried to get out yesterday on the new modem and nope no such luck- then the man from my server says your network card has fritzed itself so we race down and get a new one put it in and no joy yet again. So server man is guessing now and says maybe the modem and the motherboard are not chatting to each other - yup motherboard not talking means big moola- heck!!

So non talking modem and tower are in the repair shop and hopefully they can work out wots really going on and I can get back online without it costing me the arm and the leg I can feel its going to cost me

I loves yas all and will be missing you all

big bear hugs and big bear loves to my darling granddaughter - Caitlin Skye- who turns the big 9 years old today

and big hugs and loves to the ones who love me enuff to read this

Bear XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

other bears and an elephant as well gg

2007-01-01T15:17:00.000+10:30

The top picture is the Joan Watters Red Bear way back in time- I am sure I changed her pattern around a bit but not sure- I was at that stage fairly rigidly following a person pattern, and would be so upsset if it didnt look the same !!

The next picture is of the Purple bear- this was the first time I had ever embroidered on felt and its still made using wool embroidery threads - an interesting experiment mmmmmmmmm anyway it didnt put me off as I then did the pink elephant on ehite Felt as well.

Sorry bout the picture quality I was really bad with a camera then as well- not much better now am I?? But I think I am a wee bit better both at embroidery and also holding a camera still - plus with digital cameras you can see straight away if its a clean print or not so thats prolly why I have improved with the camera holding

Hope you enjoyed this little look back in time I cant belie4ve how bad I was back then -!!

some of bears earlier embroidery

2007-01-01T14:46:00.000+10:30

Here it is 2007---the new year has finally arrived and my resolutions this year - to keep up with my groups mail, to be more prompt in answering friends mail to me, to catch up on some of my UFO's, to at long last get the tute (on how I do my spider roses)up on my blog now that I have finally worked out wot I was doing wrong with my piccies being uploaded to Blogger,it should be so much easier. Oh and not to whine pitifully when his nibs sits down and puts on his favourite movies - the Carry On gang are on- and he watched the end of Carry on up the Kyber- grrrrrrrr another is on now - and also to add some of my earlier works to Blogger gggg.Nope not quitting smoking - have had that one for more years then I can remember and then I feel horrid when it doesnt happen so now if I quit -- then I quit but its not a resolution -----it will be a health choice wont it??/

Well they are resolutions noone said they ever kept them all did they??? Anyway I was going through my boxes of photos and came across some of the earlier stuff- its interesting to look back and see how far I have gone in improving my embroidering skills- a long way forward- almost embarressed by some of this stuff but hey we all have beginnings dont we- at one stage I was teaching doing Teddy bears and using wool embroidery- such as Joan Watters a famous Wool embroidery teacher from Australia. Some might recognise the earlier pieces have a definate Joan Watters look to them- well thats cos I used her pattern to beginwith (as in when I was learning how to make bears etc --- and before I branched out and devised my own bear for teaching purposes. I admire Joan Watters embroidery and still wish I was as good as she is- her embroidery is beautiful!!!

So this is one of my earlier bears made in pinks- theres also a bear made in my favourite colours of purple and another one in reds- that is straight from a copy of Embroidery and X Stitch pattern that Joan W had published- I think of all the bears the red one is my favourite- but oh boy I have come a long way since those days baby!!

the above bear is obviously the pink bear back and front.I am not very good with Blogger wiosh I could work out how to add the picture following the blurb I wrote not before- any hints I will be most grateful for ............. more to come ......

Happy New Year

2007-01-01T01:56:00.000+10:30

Hello one and all
I am here and its nearly 2 hrs into the New Year- welcome to 2007
I really hope that this year will be better for many of us who had such terrible years last year and for those who had good year I hope its even better for you as well
So Happy New Year to my friends and all my family and especially for Caitlin Skye my Missing grandaughter- Happy New Year Catey darling
love Bear XOXOXOXOXOXO
(and Nana and Mum to thiose gorjas kids of mine and especially to my darling man Colin Bruce and all of my dear friends)

My girl- and Santa of course

2006-12-30T21:09:00.000+10:30

Hello all

well its been a long while since I blogged but between Colins' health and Dads health and wow yup I was a bit under the weather as well this blog became a lost soul all on its own- I have been doing some of my pictures and putting them in frames- like I have had the frames for years- yup years but there ya go Bears a slacko at times ggggg but I have finished most now and as I came across this photo I thought you might like a look see of the little girl who stole my heart from the moment her Mum and Dad told me they were pregnant.
The outfit she is wearing is one I made - fully smocked top with loads of silk embroidery over the smocking and long pants with a ruffle around the hemline. It was for her trip to see the Store Santa- he is the one who passes on little girls requests for her Xmas day loot! My Caitlin loved her smocked outfits her Nana makes for her and has told me enough in the old books she and I pored over before her Mummy decided that she wouldnt allow Cailtin to visit her Daddy,Nana Grandad, Uncle Kieron and Great Grandparents. I am still making the ones that Caitlin decided she wanted but also some of the new ones that have been published in the magazine called "Smocking and Embroidery published by Country Bumpkin . Thats such a wonderful magazineand it comes out quarterly!

ooh and do you see Bears finally worked out wot she had been doing wrong all this time when I kept saying I couldnt get piccies to load up- well I couldnt and I noticed that theres been a lot of my piccies being saved in TIF format and I notice Blogger wont support TIF format- I dont care cos I can easily change the formats now I know what I was doing wrong yippee!!
well its almost New Years Eve here in Australia
So to one and all Happy New Years and I hope that it will be a better year for all of my dear dear friends!
love n hugs Bear xoxoxoxoxoxo

Normas beawdiful Bear heart

2006-10-03T18:03:00.000+09:30

this wonderful heart was sent to me by Norma on Chain Of Hearts!
Norma has tatted the bear herself isnt it absolutely bewdiful??- Thank you so very much Norma and for your wonderful letter and the extras you added in with this heart!
I pray we meet next year its not easy for you I realise what with your ill husband but if we dont meet I will always have this treasured heart by me to remind me of your generosity . Thank you friend
love n hugs bear xoxoxoxoxox

I am improving- I think!!

2006-09-01T18:56:00.000+09:30

Hewoo all

I guess I have been MIA for a while- this bug really had me by the throat and I was feeling miserable and I just couldnt get myself up and moving- anyway whether its been the past 2 days of beautiful delightful sunshine and warm weather or its (the bug) finally run its course I am feeling better- touch wood- yup the bear is superstitious and how!!

Anyway here we are the first day of September and its the first day of Spring- the season of reawakening dowunder!! and I feel the same- reawakening- well I am a bear after all and I do as all bears do - I hibernate in winter and big time!! So I have poked my nose out the door and saw the sun was up and beaming down and so I figger I would come out and play.

I have been working on the Tutorial- not on the pooter but at least I have made a start of the writing it all down. This is going to be an exercise in can the bear make something simple sound simple and be simple for one and all to follow and make their roses the way I make mine!!- ((well those that want to do them this way anyhow!!)) In the process of looking at what I do and dont do I have discovered that yup I do do a couple of things slightly differently when I do the spider web rose-(( hate THAT name- why call something this pretty something awful with THAT name- yup spiders and bear are not a good thing- oh well I will just have to grin and do it wont I??)) I hope to begin work on the pooter on Sunday- we are still housesitting- Dad will be back from his mini holiday spent visiting friends and old mates in Nowra NSW- he is one of the very first Air Craft Handlers in the Royal Australian Navy- and was sent to England to learn how to be a Air Craft handler from the Royal Navy - they (the Aussies) then returned to Australia and were posted to Australias' first Air Craft Carrier. Thats something to be very proud of and I am very proud of my dear old Dad believe me!! Back then - if not nopw also - it was a very dangerous job and how they survived the accidents that happened on the Carrier is beyond me but they did.

Dad and one of his mates (who was also sent to England ) started with an idea to celebrate this fact and as a result Dad has made a Shield celebrating all of the chaps who were on this course, they have their names listed on the shield and it also includes the English sailors who transferred to the RAN and came back with them! A friend of my Colins did all of the gold leafing of the names and also the pictures of the Air Craft Carrier and the 2 planes the Australian Navy flew way back then! The shield was presented to the Naval Museum at Nowra today by Dad and his friend Ambrose in front of many of their shipmates (who were on the same course) and some of the Naval Dignities etc. They then were to have a luncheon and after all of the Official duties were over the old fellows were adjourning to the Nowra RSL- for some many hours of remembering the old times. I hope they all are having a great time ..... I wish I was a fly on the wall no doubt many stories have "GROWN" over the years but..............

Anyway on Sunday-- Dad and Ambrose will be home- sometime mid afternoon I am expecting them back and with them home Col and I will be back home to our own little home. and my Pooter and the Tutorial!! I promise!!!

I do really!! Kathleen do U hear me??- I promise!!!

love n hugs bear xoxoxoxoxoxo

Wots Bear up ta??

2006-08-22T15:11:00.000+09:30

Well I have been laid up low with this silly "bug" Virus", cold" wotever one likes to call it!!

But I have been doing the previous heart in between and seeing in my own eye what I do that creates the different style of "Bears Spider-Web Rose". I think I have worked it out and its really such a small thing, well really its a couple of small things- BUT all will be revealed in the Tutorial- so no secrets will be given out here-(although a certain special friend has been told hasnt ya Mom Maureen??) I have been taking scans as I made the rose and I wondered how to approach it- would I begin at the beginning and bore to tears those who know how to make a spider-web rose or just where I do "my thingie" or......?? I have decided that I will begin at the beginning and hope that those of you who are reading this will "bear" with me as there may be some very new stitchers who havent read up on how to do a spider-web rose anywhere. There are many fantastic sites out there on how to make a spider web rose- so please do look for others and how they make the same rose. Lets face it- as with many things there is no right or wrong way to making them I have just over time evolved a couple of steps and they have made the difference in the appearance of my spider web roses.

I hope you will all enjoy reading and trying out making of Bears version of the spider web rose- and I hope you will all let me see how you go at making the rose yourself- I think that this will be the best part for me- seeing how everyone else makes the rose- I dont think anyone really does anyything EXACTLY the same- so we may find we have some more roses that will evolve in an altogethr different way- and wouldnt that be fabulous??

So please pop back in a couple of days time and I will hopefully have the Tutorial up and running pictures and all- Thank you one and all for asking me to do this- and I hope the wait will be worth it

much love n hugs Bear xoxoxoxoxxoxo

Another heart finished

2006-08-20T22:23:00.000+09:30

This is another wee heart for a lady on Chain Of Hearts list, I did something different with the beading of this one- if you enlarge the picture you will see on the right hand side the fabric is sparkly well I thought to balance out the sparkles I might use up some of my sequins and a small pink bead I rather like the effect, but I would love to have some opinions as to whether you like it also- I havent ever added sequins to any of my blocks or hearts so this is an entirely different tack for me- and I dont even know why or how I thought of using them it just seemed to be the right thing to do! The gold charms are my lovely butterflies- I went to Spotlight yesterday to get some more and they were all out of these BUT I found another type and I think they are even prettier- and I also found a baggie of gold bumble bees- ooh cant wait to use them on a block- maybeeven have both butterflies and bees on the same one- its what was happening in the back garden today- both butterflies and bees flitting around the fruit trees blossoms I spent ages watching nature taking place - its the first year I have seen so many butterflies out in our garden- Spring is COMING!!!
love n hugs bear xoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Heart for Colleen T

2006-08-16T00:03:00.000+09:30

Hewoo all
well I have been fairly quiet of late as I have had a silly old cold and it was more a nuisance but having headaches, sore throat, and ears is no fun at the best of times is it??- But when they eased up I sat down and took things quietly and did some stitching- this is the heart I made for Colleen - thats if she wants to swap hearts with me still- Colleen asked to be surprised her only stipulations were not to make it like the orange heart and for it to have spider roses andthat left the field wide open to me- Hope you like it Colleen

While I made this heart I carefully watched what I was doing in the making of the hearts in preparation for the Tutorial on how I make my spider web roses (for the Chain of Heart ladies). Several ladies asked me to show how I made them- Its really strange as I nortmally just select the ribbons and go to town almost in a sleep state is how I have been making the previous spider web roses. Anyway I think I have worked out a couple of things that I do that others dont do and I recognised something that I do that makes the Hannah Silk Spider Web roses different. Anyway no bear secrets yet- I am almost ready to begin making the Tutorial up. It going to be different I still dont measure anything up and I hope those who make them up can live with that the rest is easy as!! Will let you know on list when I have done the tutorial gang.

But for now I am going to upload this and then read the rest of my emails and head off to bed nighty night all

love n hugs bear xoxoxoxoxoxxo

re Bear doing a tutorial on "her" spider roses

2006-08-13T15:14:00.000+09:30

My dear friends on chain of hearts list have asked me to do a Tutorial on my spider roses, and I said yes - but over the weekend- well here it is late in the afternoon of Sunday and I am no where with it- I have a noighty head cold and am in the grip of it at present - anyway please come back in a couple of days and I hope to have gotten over the worst of the head cold and done the tutorial- promise dear friends
love n hugs bear xoxooxoxoxoxoxxo

New Heart for a special lady

2006-08-10T17:48:00.000+09:30

Hewoo all
well this heart is from series 2 and its a surprise heart - the lady doesnt know its coming and I hope I will get it too her before she realises it is for her-I am not saying anymore cos she may realise and that would give the surprise away wont it??
love n hugs bear xoxoxooxo

Heart for Rosemary Series 2

2006-08-07T19:44:00.000+09:30

Hewoo all
well its been a long week this past week- wot with Colins dreadful rash around his neck - that was leaking fluid and had the look of a very bad burn with blisters etc- the Renal Docs sent him straight downstairs to see the Dermatology Registrar. Col was ordered drugs and oitments - we started the oitment that night and when we got up next morning we couldnt believe it- the rash had dried completely - so onto the drugs and now a week later its as if he never had this awful rash- Poor Kathy (a friend of ours) came to our home to do some stitching with me and wasnt able to get to the kitchen without Col showing her his neck- so she can verify how bad it was. Now he has a red patch of skin but no blisters so the drug he was put onto is being brought down in small doses and hopefuly it( the blisters and leaking fluids and the pain) wont return. The consenus of opinion is that it could have been a drug reaction- the renal Docs have changed Colins anti rejection drugs(Cols a kidney Transplant patient- having been given his kidney 19 yrs ago)- unfortuatley the first drug for anti rejection of the transplant has been doing damage to the "new" kidney so this is why he had these drug changes- the new drug is doing great things and is a success re no more damage to his kidney and also bringing all his bloodwork into the normal range again - so we will be battling on and hope when this drug he was given for the rash wont need to be given for much longer! ie no more rash!

Anyway onto nicer things this heart is for Rosemary D our lovely List Mommy on COH- Rosemary loves poirple as I do and this has been a fun heart to make- I actually started another heart for someone else BUT I dont like the colour ribbon I have used for some of the roses and so I am going to dye some ribbon and see if I like that (dyed ribbon) better then wot I have used for now.Anyway as I said Rosemary likes poirple and I had such fun making this one- not that I dont like making any of the others but being a colour that I also love made it easer to do!! I hope you like it Rosemary I really do It might be into the mail tomorrow BUT definatell by Wednesday it will be-- depends on when I go down to the shops (a mere 5 mins away )- how bad is the bear- I hate going to the "big" shops- cos I spend way too much moola when I am down there!!

So thats about it for today its been a win win day - Cols all better for now and Rosemarys' heart is all finished and the bear feels alot more settled in wots going on in our lives - with the emphasis on Colin and his troubles

so love n hugs to all
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxxoxoxoxoxoox Bear xooxoxoxoxxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoo
Ps
Rosemary- the fabric at the bottom of your heart is a self lined fancy fabric that has scanned really dark colour- almost black on my pooter but its a deep purple self lined fabric! xoxox

Series 2 heart - For Julia C

2006-07-31T01:12:00.000+09:30

well darling Julia here tis your heart- I hope you like it- its all butterflies and roses
love ya and big hugs Bear xoxoxoxoxxo

Bears Embroidery Den

Happy New Year one and all

Hewoo I dun promised Piccies didnt I???

I have joined the Crazy Quilt Journal Project 2012

To those who werent able to do TAST last year read on!

well its been such a while hasnt it??

Well I have finished some more of my 6 and a !/2 inch Squares

I am so sorry to have been missing in stitching!

No pictures today BUT theres a Great Giveaway at......... look below...

ok new all in one has decided it will play for Bear

Hewoo its cold out there

hewoo I have been playing around...................

Heavens where did April disappear off to??.......

Sendai Block now is it finished???

Starting April 18th! theres a "itty bitty giveaway" on Cindy Adkins whimsical Musings Blog

one day and a whole lot more

More on Sendai Block!

Hearts and Hands For Sendai Part 2

I wanna scream!

Hearts and Hands For Sendai

Earthquake

well I did say I would do......

Cats n kittens

did I not say ???

plans afoot and all that stuff February

Bit late to be saying Merry Xmas and all that jazz

oh deary me

here it is sunday night

added neoworx

here it is October and wots more the second week of October

many eons ago

hewoo

hewoo

hey I been embroidering

when it rains it pours!!

here I am at long last

the square I made for Jeff and Bruce's wedding canopy

Xmas well its past by so happy New year to all

hewoo this is a blatant plug for

well do you believe this a second post

Many moons have passed yet again

I cant believe it

This is my Pink rose block

??? I am thinking about this one

Okay maybe I can get a couple of opinions on ...

I moved and got some sewing done finally

what have I been up to

white white my nemesis white

Went closer to home

Before I go tonight

Did u think I wouldnt show one of the beautiful Bride and her Prince Charming

An U all thought it would be months before I came back

I really dont hate my blog I really dont I love you all!

oh no its February ALREADY!!

Any one would think I hated my blog but thats not the truth

oooh ahhhhhhhh wwhere have I been

A WIP previously known as a UFO takes shape

OOPSA its June wot happened to May??

Oh looksie- 2 entries in one day

Hello Gang Its been a long long time huh??

I like this one better!!

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is: Her Most Serene Highness Lady Bear the Gnomic of Londinium-le-Thames Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

http://www.masquerademaskarts.com/memes/peculiartitle.php

Good Golly Miss Molly its February already

Goodness me its December already

What your name means this time for me Bear

What my name means

To all Prayers Answers eventually come

oopsa its November

Well before August does indeed slip away

Has August also slipped away??

Red Roses for a Blue Lady!!

While July went past

Wot happened to July???

this block is for Norma H

Gathering block for Maria V

Finally Viv

Not happy Viv

Viv's gathering block finished

another gathering block is finished

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is:
Her Most Serene Highness Lady Bear the Gnomic of Londinium-le-Thames
Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title