My 2010 "Mom's Here" Christmas Blessing!

Since I received so many sweet comments about my 2011 "Mom's Here" post, I thought I would share last year's "Mom's Here" moment!   My Mom was welcomed in to Heaven on Christmas Eve, 2009, which makes this time of year a little bittersweet.   When it was time to start Christmas shopping last year, it took a bit of willpower to get into the mood but I set out to do my best.  When you live in the Phoenix area with over 4 million people,  you can imagine the amount of traffic and how likely it is to see the same vehicle several miles away, several hours later, well, this is what happened ...at the main road by our house, there was a car stopped in front of me at the light with a personalized license plate that read "Rejoice". I had never seen the car before and it made me smile. I went about my day, shopping and driving all over the place. Several hours later and quite a few miles from home, I came to a stop at a traffic light and who do you think was in front of me?! "Rejoice"! I laughed right out loud, looked up to Heaven and said "okay, I get it!"...I decided to spend the rest of the Holiday rejoicing! I have never seen that car again, either!  God's orchestration of our footsteps never ceases to amaze me.  I hope I will continue to be blessed this time of year with little surprises that remind me of Mom's presence and I pray God will Bless You  abundantly, as well!  Merry Christmas!   Hugs,  Janice

Mom's Here!

About a week ago I was making room for a new little bear that I added to my hug ... as I was moving things around, I picked up a wee bear that my Sister and Mom collaborated on to make for me in 2004.  The wee bear sat on top of a very sweet little Longaberger basket with a lid.  I have removed the bear to dust the lid over the years, and even moved the basket from place to place but have not looked INSIDE the basket since it was given to me!   Well, last week as I was moving the basket and I heard something jiggle inside, I opened it up and found this note:

My beautiful Mom left this earth on Christmas Eve 2009.  I miss her so very much and I so needed this!  I love you, Mom. Thank you for being here. 

New (Old) Booh Bear is here!

Well, I finally cut in to my new (old) ... over 100 year old mohair this past week and Clara is who came to be!   I made her long and lean so she could wear the vintage coat I found at a local doll shop.  Clara has found a forever home!   Hugs, Janice

Candy Bar Wrapper - Inexpensive, Quick Stocking Stuffer idea!

I had so much fun sharing my hat tutorial last week that I thought I would share another little ditty I make!  I've been making these candy bar wrappers for quite a few years, too, and thought you might be interested in using the idea for a quick, inexpensive gift!   Each photo describes how I made my candy bar wrapper but you can make substitutions - this is simply an idea I thought I would share!   Hugs, Janice

I just finished the two below - they are both made from an illustration of two birds, one printed out on glossy photo paper while the other is printed on cardstock.   Just an example of a couple other ideas for your candy bar wrappers!   They can be shared year round - just choose different postcards/photos!  Have fun!

Tutorial - Felt Hat for my Next Bear (Modeled by my Jun Planning Dal :O)

Many years ago, I taught a workshop on making molded wool felt hats for bears - it's been years since I've made one but with my new/old 100 year old mohair, I decided I would make a hat for the bear I am going to make.  This way,  she'll have something to wear once she comes to be!   It's done in the old world way (though I did try to use the microwave to dry it after forming it ... fail, can't use the microwave!!).  I've decided to share a tutorial of exactly how these hats are made - the explanation for each step is printed on the photo.  The top does not have to be round, you can use any number of things for shape - I'm trying a styrofoam ball tonight for a mini hat!  If you have any questions, please let me know - I'll be happy to help you make your own "molded felt hat"!   Hugs, Janice

I finished a little hat last night for my wee Lati Doll - although she's not impressed, I kind of like it!  The top was molded and formed on her tiny hat using a styrofoam ball.  I carved a small 1/16th of an inch groove around the entire ball at the spot I wanted the top of the hat to end and the brim to begin. This way the rubber band fit snugly over the felt and sat in the groove while it dried.

One Little Booh Looking for a new home!

After staying awake until 2:30 a.m. and getting back up at 6:30, I was able to finish my latest Gallery on time!  I should always give myself 2 extra days beyond when I think I'm going to finish so that those extra little details can be done without staying awake until the wee hours of the morning!   I guess that's part of a crafter's life, though!   I've been this way for years and I kind of enjoy it!   I'll be doing my first "in person" show in years in March next year and I haven't even begun to think about the bears I'll be doing for the show!  I'll probably wait until a week beforehand and stay up every night finishing up my bears!    There is just one little Booh left from the Gallery - Star can be found on my website:  http://www.BoohBears.com  click on the "Available" button to go to her page!  Thanks so much!  xoxo

My "Helper" ... what would I do without her?!

Seems my little Pixie has decided that I am not working fast enough on these Gallery bears so she has decided to point out which one I should work on next.  She's such a good helper, maybe I will have it all done by Sunday evening!    Stay tuned for the next Gallery Showing sometime between Sunday and Tuesday!   xoxo

Ooooh lala! I'm so excited I can hardly stand it!

Yesterday I received the most beautiful antique mohair in the mail.  It is over 100 years old and it's all I can do to NOT use it ... yet!   I'm working on a small sale Gallery of bears that is supposed to debut on Sunday (it's looking more like Tuesday now!)  and I keep telling myself I have to finish the Gallery bears before I allow myself to "play" with the antique mohair ... b-u-t, it is sooo tempting!   I must remove it from the sewing room so I am not distracted while I work on the Gallery bears!   xoxo  

These little Booh's are making their debut on my website!

Click this link to go to my website and see these little ones!

I had so much fun making these little girls!  The fabric for the bunny was given to me by a dear friend and I love it!  It is so soft and it is synthetic so it's cruelty free!  The wee mouse is an Eileen Seifert design that I revised.   On to the next little one!    xoxo

Finally Finished Two New Patterns for Sale!

What a fun day I had trying to get my website to accept uploads!  But, the good news is, it finally worked and I have 2 new patterns available.   One is Mary and she's great for beginners as there are no hand or foot pads and she doesn't have a head gusset!  Soooo easy peasy!!    The second one is Forestina, I designed her to stand on her own and she's so cute!     If you are new to bear making, there are easy to understand instructions included.  The patterns can also be purchased from my etsy shop.  Now, back to the drawing board!    xoxo
http://www.boohbears.com/page4.html

Sneak Peek for the Who is Who in Bearmaking Show next week!

Well, after a mishap of making 4 bears from a revised V. Galli pattern that I learned I wasn't allowed to sell, I scurried to make 2 new bears of my own patterns that I designed specifically for the show.  I will be selling the patterns from my website on the day of the show, as well.  Here is a sneak peek of the 2 Booh's who will be available next weekend (Nov. 5 & 6) at the  Who is Who in Bearmaking On-Line Holiday Bazaar

Booh Bears in the Russian Webzine "Pretty Toys"!

I was so happy to see the photos I sent to the Webzine "Pretty Toys" published in their Holiday Issue today!  Below Boohbeary's photo is a link and it's FREE!   If you are a teddy bear artist, they are calling for photos, articles, etc. for future issues!

"Pretty Toys" - Free Webzine

A Bag of Heaven from my friend in Maryland!

Oh my, what a lovely surprise I received today!  A special delivery all the way from Maryland from my friend, Cindy!   She knew how much I missed the Autumn leaves that Mom would send every Fall so she decided to step in for Mom and send me a special box filled with Autumn leaves from Maryland and Pennsylvania!  You are the best, Cindy!  Thank you so much for thinking of me and sending along a little piece of East Coast Joy!

Little Emily is Flying off to Russia!

Little Emily has found a new home in Russia!  She's the first Booh Bear to make her way Russia and I couldn't be happier!

So happy to have one of my patterns in Teddy Bear Review this month!

I just received a digital copy of Teddy Bear Review and I am speechless!  I feel so honored to have a pattern I designed featured in the magazine!   I wish Mom were here to share!  I know she would be so excited!  Her quilt patterns were published many times and it was so fun to share that excitement with her.  I feel her smiling from Heaven :O)   xoxo

Newest Booh Bear - a real labor of love!

Wow - this little one took me over 3 days on her face alone - I decided to use taxidermy eyes, needle felt eye surrounds and then re-root mohair around the eyes, as well.  Spending countless hours, I have once again vowed that it will be a while before I do this again!   I seem to forget how time consuming a project like this can be!   I love the way "Bebe Nellie" turned out, though!  Thanks Joanne Livingston (Desert Mountain Bears) for your amazing tutorials - I wouldn't have even tried to tackle these feats if it weren't for you!  

Little Breena, my Fairy Bear, won 2nd Place in the TBAAF Contest!

I was thrilled to learn that my fairy bear, Breena, won second place in the Fantasy Category of the Teddy Bear Artists and Friends Online Contest!   I know I shamelessly asked for those on my list to cast a vote and I am so grateful to those of you who voted for little Breena!  A BIG THANK YOU!!!  xoxo

Honored to be a part of Nicky Portsmouth's (Treacle Bears) new room!

Nicky redid her room and her newest little Booh Bear has a very special place there!   Thank you, Nicky, for sharing this photo!  xoxo

Bird of Paradise!

I was outside tonight taking pictures of the skyline and my Bird of Paradise looked so pretty,  I thought I would snap a shot of it, too!   Mom so loved flowers and her garden was always tended - she often sent me pictures of her tulips and roses and iris - what a joy it was each Spring to receive a special envelope full of flower photos from Mom!  This one is for you, Mom!

My Sister and I hung our Mom's 9/11 Quilt this past week

My Sister, Patty, and I hung our Mom's 9/11 Quilt at the Livonia, Michigan Public Library/Civic Center

My cousin, Carol, approached the administrator at the Livonia Public Library/Civic Center about displaying my Mom's 9/11 Quilt in honor of those whose lives were touched by the tragedy 10 years ago.  They welcomed the idea, so we flew back to Michigan last week to hang the Quilt.  It will be displayed for the entire month of September.  It is such an honor to be able to share Mom's quilt with the people of Michigan. It's hard to believe it has been 10 years.   God Bless our Beautiful America. xoxo

Naval Booh Bear Just in Time for a Visit With Dad!

I just finished a Naval Booh Bear in time to show pictures to my Dad, a Navy guy himself!   At the end of this post is a photo of my Dad "back in the day" and one of my bear just finished!  Once or twice a year my Sister, who lives in Florida, and I (living in Arizona across the country) converge on Dad to spend some time with him.  We make it a time to include Mom, too (though she's been physically gone for almost 2 years now).   Usually we include her by submitting a dozen or so of her handcrafted Quilts in a Quilt Show.  This time will be a little different.  We are going to be displaying her 9/11 Quilt called "The Day America Cried" in the City Hall/Public Library in the town her and my Dad lived.   Mom's amazing King Size Quilt is a beautiful work of art that captures both the tragedy of the day and then the love of fellow men and women stepping up to help where help was needed afterwards.  The Quilt will hang in remembrance of the 10 year Anniversary of the tragedy.  My family and I are honored to be allowed a special place in City Hall to hang Mom's work of art.  Thank you, Mom, for a legacy of love that lives on and thank you, Dad, for your service to this wonderful Country.   We are very proud of you both!

 I will take a better picture once the quilt is hanging - I'll be able to capture the whole thing, then!

It Feels Like You're Here, Mom!

Yesterday in the mail, I received the most professional looking Teddy Bear Magazine I have ever had the pleasure to open ... though I couldn't read a word of it -  it's in German!  The Magazine is "Teddys Kreativ" and Verena Greene-Christ wrote an article about my bears - she included so many pictures (even though I can't read the words, it was fun to see the pictures!)   I feel so honored and humbled and all I could do was think "Mom would be so proud".   My Mom was such an amazing artist and her works were published in numerous magazines.  Every time one of my bears was published, I would send Mom a copy of the Magazine - since that's not possible, I will share it with you!  Still,  I can almost hear Mom all excited and chattering about what a lovely magazine it is and how wonderful the article is!  It feels like you're here, Mom!

So much fun "playing" with new mohair and baby clothes!

I finished a little girl this evening using some of the mohair and an outfit that my "Angel" gifted me - what fun it was creating her!   Jodie is now available on eBay: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250875474373