tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75872449610318743022024-03-13T19:51:27.746+11:00Bears In The BushMeanderings of my daily life, my bears, my inspiration and my travels. Workshops, shows and exhibitions.bensonbearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14788649076746415358noreply@blogger.comBlogger141125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7587244961031874302.post-28965488355627186672015-11-11T17:48:00.000+11:002015-11-11T17:48:20.917+11:00Almost Pudding TimeHello again, the year draws to its close and it's time for another Christmas Treasures online show! The voting has started and my bear "Puddin" is getting a lot of votes. I hope you will go visit him and if you think he deserves it perhaps you might give him your vote. You'll find him <a href="http://www.teddiesworldwide.com/">here</a>.<br />
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bensonbearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14788649076746415358noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7587244961031874302.post-70444531751952839142015-09-01T12:45:00.001+10:002015-09-01T12:47:55.124+10:00SpringWell now, hi there! With Spring in the air perhaps it's time for the proverbial new leaf!<br />
I can't believe it's well over a year since I last wrote anything here! No excuses, just a lack of motivation and a lot of distraction. I have been busy with my bears, and also with planning new building works. We have been living in a glorified building site for decades, it's time to start finishing this never ending story!<br />
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To start with, we have commissioned my nephew to install the kitchen, it's going to be a joy to have a place for everything and everything in its place at last. And a staircase! After nigh on three decades of climbing a ladder to get upstairs, at last we will have a staircase! I must say it's going to be weird <i>and wonderful, </i>and perhaps the seats of all my jeans will last longer. (Why's that? I have never been able to walk down the ladder like everyone else in the family, I always bump my way down on my back side, so it will be lovely to be able to make a more elegant descent last)<br />
So, apart from the usual gardening and household chores, my bears have been occupying my time. I have traveled a lot to teach, I have developed new designs and techniques all of which are eagerly welcomed by people from all over!<br />
In a little over a week I'm heading off again. I'll be in London to trade at Hugglets on Sunday week, I haven't been for a couple of years and it will be good to catch up with some friends I haven't seen for a while. I will be teaching workshops in Germany the following weekend, which will be a big challenge with numerous projects involved (some of which I haven't done in a while)<br />
I have also discovered the joys of mosaic! Smashing tiles and gluing them down is quite Zen like and <br />
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I can go hours and hours and lose myself entirely. Whole days elapse with not much else getting done, while my kitchen splash backs grow. I can't wait to see them installed, but I must be patient and wait for the cupboards and new bench tops.<br />
So you see I have been busy, but I haven't felt like writing so this poor old blog has been sorely neglected. I will try to do better, (I can't wait to show you my new kitchen!)<br />
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<br />bensonbearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14788649076746415358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7587244961031874302.post-67243409381536413472014-03-06T14:09:00.000+11:002014-03-06T14:09:31.752+11:00"Pandamonium" in the BushAgain I am very guilty of neglect here on my blog. I don't know where the time goes, but the weeks and months slip by and I barely notice their passing.<br />
At this time of year things are very busy in the garden, we have expanded our vegetable patch this season which means a lot of hours and days are spent weeding and watering. I can't remember our last significant rain, so the hose is in constant use to keep everything growing.<br />
Next week I'm off to Victoria to <a href="http://www.bearessence.com.au/">Bear Essence</a> again to teach the lovely girls there how to make this Giant Panda<br />
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This is a WIP photo, he has since been finished and sent on his way to Bear Essence. This bear is a very big armful of cuddliness and I'm sure the girls in Tooradin are going to enjoy creating their own.<br />
Coming up is the latest <a href="http://www.teddiesworldwide.com/">Teddies Worldwide</a> online show, so I am busy creating bears for that also. In a couple of days the voting will start for the preview, so make sure you head over to make your choices!<br />
We have had quite a hot and dry Summer after a slow start, but the days are already drawing in now that Autumn is upon us. Chris and I have been gathering our winter supply of firewood, it has been drying on a sunny slope and soon we'll stack it so we can protect it from the wet weather which surely must be just around the corner. <br />
As things slow down in the garden I will try to be a more attentive blogger, my friends.<br />
Till next time......<br />
bensonbearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14788649076746415358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7587244961031874302.post-88911049286826159032013-11-13T16:56:00.001+11:002013-11-13T16:56:35.459+11:00Christmas TreasuresI have been busy getting my bears made for the <a href="http://www.teddiesworldwide.com/">Teddies Worldwide</a> Christmas Treasures online show and I have just finished getting my sales page all ready for the start of the show at the weekend. There is still time for you to head over to the site and cast your votes in the preview, if you haven't done so already.<br />
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This is Buloh, he's my preview bear. I'm not allowed to show you any of my other bears, you'll have to wait until the show opens to see what else I have on offer (if you head over to the <a href="http://www.teddiesworldwide.com/">site</a> you'll find the start time)<br />
It's a busy time of year, with the garden needing urgent attention and with Christmas looming very large. I have one final trip to Victoria this week for workshops at <a href="http://www.bearessence.com.au/">Bear Essence</a> in Tooradin and then I can be at home for a while and try to make some sort of order in the garden and also finalise a few Christmas commissions.<br />
We have had a very strange start to Spring, in fact some days it still feels like Winter hasn't quite left us. I have had to be very imaginative with our asparagus harvest this year, we've been eating it nearly every day and still I was able to get some into the freezer (hopefully it will be okay, I haven't tried freezing it before) All too soon the harvest will be finished though.<br />
I have also been making good use of my birthday bicycle, taking it out for an hour or two most days with the dog running along with me. It didn't take long for my fitness level to increase, and after changing the saddle for a nicely padded one, my bum isn't sore any more either!<br />
I hope you'll all make some time over the weekend to visit the show, there will be some lovely bears exhibited. I had better go and pack my bags for tomorrow's flight to Melbourne.<br />
Thanks for stopping by, I'll try to have some more interesting news for you soon.<br />
Take care!bensonbearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14788649076746415358noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7587244961031874302.post-67188264914408288982013-09-04T14:50:00.004+10:002013-09-04T15:03:57.582+10:00Jussi, Checking In, LifeThe past few months have been very strange in Benson Bearland. I had snow in March, yes I was over on the other side of the world, but still... And then in April my brother-in-law passed away suddenly and unexpectedly in his sleep. This was a great shock to our family and affected me more deeply than I realised at the time (after all, Bob had been a part of my life for more years than my own father!) It seemed my bear making spirit had left for a while, it was a struggle to get going and no new ideas were forth coming. A couple of months after Bob's death my aunty also passed away after a brief battle with cancer, rather a lot for our family to bear. It didn't help that Tasmania was experiencing some of the wettest weather I can remember! Here we had water seeping and gushing in places where I have never seen it before, and lack of sunshine and dreary days made my mood quite low.<br />
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Still, I was committed to a couple of trips, one to Tooradin in May for some classes and then off to the <a href="http://teddytree.com.au/">Teddy Tree</a> in Western Australia for more classes and a show in August. This is what I needed. To get in amongst some beary creative friends, my mojo is back, and I am feeling inspired once more. I have been making some sweet sweet bears.<br />
I designed Jussi for my next workshops in Tooradin (<a href="http://www.bearessence.com.au/">bearessesnce.com.au)</a> he is loosely based on the "John West" bear. I happened to be stuck over night in a hotel at Melbourne airport after my delayed flight out of WA missed my connection into Launceston. I had a photo of "John" on my computer and did a few rough sketches on the writing pad provided by the hotel, working out his head details and the jointing. When I got home I set about creating the pattern and then the bear. I am really rather pleased with him, he's only little (about 7.5") but he has bags of charm and is oh so poseable! In addition to the usual joint at the shoulder, this bear has three extra joints in each arm! This makes him a lot of fun to play with, he can do all sorts of stuff! In all Yussi has 13 joints in him, wire armature in his back legs and I added leather claws to complete him. So, this is what the girls in Tooradin will be doing with me in a couple of weeks, if you're in Victoria perhaps you'd like to join in? Give Kim a bell if you're interested.....<br />
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With Spring in the air and the first blossoms out, warmer days of gentle breezes and sunshine, my mood has lifted. I have been getting out in the garden and attending to some much needed weeding and digging and for the last two days added an hours bike ride to my day as well (I was a lucky recipient of a wonderful new cycle for my birthday!) I now know how unfit I am! (and I also have a sore backside!) To be rectified with regular rides with the dog running along beside me.</div>
bensonbearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14788649076746415358noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7587244961031874302.post-37019311540720832292013-06-17T11:12:00.002+10:002013-06-17T11:12:39.291+10:00I Will Be BackI'm flat out at the moment, I'll be back.<br />
Head down and tail up, I am<br />
I'll tell you all about it later <br />
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bensonbearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14788649076746415358noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7587244961031874302.post-71785144055166389552013-04-08T11:59:00.000+10:002013-04-08T12:09:20.676+10:00It's Happened Again!Oh my! It's happening again.....<br />
The year is disappearing AND I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT'S GOING!!!<br />
So.... it's high time I brought you up to speed with what has been happening in <em>Bensonbearland</em>.<br />
After Christmas and New Year I got straight back into full bear-making mode, getting ready for Hugglets in London and Teddybear Welt in Wiesbaden. <br />
It was quite a shock to the system to arrive in London in February when I had been enjoying our lovely Tasmanian summer. Of course I caught a cold from the man sitting behind me on the flight between Melbourne and Kuala Lumpur, (it seemed he was about to cough his lungs out!) and by the time Hugglets rolled around I was feeling entirely miserable. Even so, with a dose of cold and flu meds I enjoyed the day and managed to snaffle myself a Gregory Gylenship bear! Such a lovely classic fellow who gets to sit on my bed! I also bought a metre of beautiful mohair which is waiting to become......<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is Timothy, by Gregory Gylenship</td></tr>
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After visiting with family for a week or so, I then flew to Bremen for three days of workshops. The weather was still very cold and early on Friday evening it had started to snow, by morning the world outside was white! Of course all my German friends thought I was entirely mad for getting so excited about a bit if snow (they were all thoroughly sick and tired of it and yearning for Spring to arrive). However, I decided it was a good opportunity to get some photos of this polar bear and his antarctic friend and took them out into Claudia's garden for some fun in the snow.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fun in the snow near Bremen</td></tr>
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The workshops all went very well and at the end of the weekend we had some sweet mice, pigs, polar bears and penguins! I must be doing something right, as they keep asking me to come back (next year, when the weather is warmer)<br />
After all the busyness of the workshop days it was lovely to wind down with a few days of sewing, keeping quiet company with Claudia and her cats as we prepared for the show in Wiesbaden on the following weekend.<br />
Now, this show is really something! It is HUGE with so much to look at and tempt one! I found me another bear this one from Fabian Song. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgojLfHWnq-Ni8wmVndo3kc9DvvnHzWmZzdj6qUff9Lmz2HjbTcGkn3b5c0SJTHYMUMomVCSptUNXemdixoDY8uc_dHGpyL9euLcYhyphenhyphen_bY_8NQ5f5J2xbEH695UgD2yBfaXSW0jDETSxlW_/s1600/P1010999.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgojLfHWnq-Ni8wmVndo3kc9DvvnHzWmZzdj6qUff9Lmz2HjbTcGkn3b5c0SJTHYMUMomVCSptUNXemdixoDY8uc_dHGpyL9euLcYhyphenhyphen_bY_8NQ5f5J2xbEH695UgD2yBfaXSW0jDETSxlW_/s400/P1010999.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Acus by Fabisn Song</td></tr>
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I found lots of other cool stuff too. Some lovely old ribbon, and best of all.... some bunches of fabulous old keys, and I'm talking really old! I also bought another metre of fur, this one a lovely creamy alpaca. I was so excited about this one that as soon as I was over THE WORST CASE OF JET LAG EVER, I made this big fellow. This is the biggest bear I've ever made (he took almost the entire metre of fur). I gave him one of those bunches of keys to wear, I hung them on a piece of the ribbon I'd bought in Wiesbaden. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The biggest bear I've ever made! (Almost born)</td></tr>
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He came with me to our little Doll and Bear show here in Launceston at the weekend and created quite a stir! He found a new home so now I really want to make another bear like him, I honestly thought he would be with me for a while.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtmRZMK3Tck9CHbl0aP1CWsz9hyphenhyphengS3irgwUJn3jYh4_fIpeN9oMy3Ea_SlDHe81GC_BQgj-XIxnwIon-0cDF0pajLAwRE2RfFyf3YPpuQmK3VCDrQsYlE-twKyXMWL2i6xtLodttCIgRSv/s1600/425968_10151379206136966_1322580319_n%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtmRZMK3Tck9CHbl0aP1CWsz9hyphenhyphengS3irgwUJn3jYh4_fIpeN9oMy3Ea_SlDHe81GC_BQgj-XIxnwIon-0cDF0pajLAwRE2RfFyf3YPpuQmK3VCDrQsYlE-twKyXMWL2i6xtLodttCIgRSv/s320/425968_10151379206136966_1322580319_n%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Creating a stir in Launcesten</td></tr>
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I think that's about all I have to write about, there wasn't really much in the way of sightseeing this trip, most of it was spent indoors with brief ventures outside.<br />
Shortly I'm off to South Australia for another doll and bear show in Hahndorf followed by a three day workshop.<br />
Our days are drawing in as we head into late Autumn and Winter, we are still picking plenty from our poly-tunnel and our apples are ripe and beautiful (picked fresh from the tree with the morning's dew on them) I like Autumn, but there is always a little tinge of sadness about it too. Our Autumn days are usually gentle, the skies milky with moisture, so welcome after the harsh, sun-drenched, crispy dry days of Summer (and we can relax again with the fire season at an end....). In this weather bear-making becomes more pleasurable, so that's what I will get on with now, I need to replenish my stock for up-coming shows.<br />
<br />bensonbearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14788649076746415358noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7587244961031874302.post-2538388438829207882013-01-09T14:21:00.000+11:002013-01-09T14:21:42.832+11:00A New Year Begins<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A somewhat belated Happy New Year to everyone, I hope it brings all you hope for!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJiuqN_TnuEyFXin4mtfqNuxrm8dolZp2raH-NbJeMZUTFvdBRp0qqVzU2424T4GDwcX9F52FcFSI8aYLLJreulRppe9kSHEwsNn42Uy5lpF-Mp2wb25pmhwcdxpAeB_Vx_EycJEclJJA_/s1600/P1010924+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJiuqN_TnuEyFXin4mtfqNuxrm8dolZp2raH-NbJeMZUTFvdBRp0qqVzU2424T4GDwcX9F52FcFSI8aYLLJreulRppe9kSHEwsNn42Uy5lpF-Mp2wb25pmhwcdxpAeB_Vx_EycJEclJJA_/s400/P1010924+-+Copy.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the bear I made for Tobias for Christmas</td></tr>
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After a very busy, crowded, but happy time over the festive season, life has at last returned to relative normality. Chris is back at work, all our visitors are on their way and all my bear-making stuff has returned to it's rightful place (around my chair in the lounge) and I have begun work again. I did work on bears right up to the last moment before Christmas descended......I had some late orders and then one very special bear to complete!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCiBC7VU3UTtYYW2PenCmESnxHHrdk36jAuiEwCM4PwFZRQOANHqXV2JgevmyTK50YXQ_r42YFzTtA0qLuu5NO9kRpJdeLK49e4abWneY7MEYC7em3ynnHRWmWmGT3P52db3RdpFgsM2r_/s1600/P1010898+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCiBC7VU3UTtYYW2PenCmESnxHHrdk36jAuiEwCM4PwFZRQOANHqXV2JgevmyTK50YXQ_r42YFzTtA0qLuu5NO9kRpJdeLK49e4abWneY7MEYC7em3ynnHRWmWmGT3P52db3RdpFgsM2r_/s400/P1010898+-+Copy.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the bear Tobias thought was his when he saw it. I thought brown would be a better colour for a four year old boy!</td></tr>
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We were blessed with a nice long visit from our grandson, we had him for three weeks! I have to admit though, that by the time we handed him over to his mother I was exhausted and in need of rest. I had forgotten just how full on a four year old is! He's in the middle of the "why"s too, and that in itself is exhausting. But as always we miss him terribly now that he has gone, he is such a delightful child.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsJNq0d6_PDWJt2iQgbCHzHagxX88RmJkp3KHJkSslW66vR9oGRm7CCqYqUgMHkw_Qzz5Y1apBrVgEBc2sRWFdLuz9M9OlJfli4mrkenEuzmpxARga9CQerMg4SQJT69Ioi5gzQSiJoefD/s1600/P1010907+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsJNq0d6_PDWJt2iQgbCHzHagxX88RmJkp3KHJkSslW66vR9oGRm7CCqYqUgMHkw_Qzz5Y1apBrVgEBc2sRWFdLuz9M9OlJfli4mrkenEuzmpxARga9CQerMg4SQJT69Ioi5gzQSiJoefD/s400/P1010907+-+Copy.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A family Christmas lunch under b the grapevines.</td></tr>
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We shared a lovely Christmas day with family and friends. Tobias was in his element with many people around for his entertainment. <br />
After several hours in the kitchen and the wonderful assistance given by my daughter, lunch was served on the patio under the grapevines. Much eating, drinking and merry-making later, and we moved our festivities to our neighbour's continuing late into the night where Tobias had a ball! On a subsequent berry picking visit a few days later, he asked "Where are all the people?"<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A rather poignant photo of our two boys</td></tr>
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All too soon we had to say goodbye to Sam. I thought Tobias may become difficult after his daddy had left, but he accepted Sam's absence and enjoyed more fun times with Nanny and Poppy. Some beach adventures and a waterfall walk, along with Lego creations, a big lump of red playdough and the dog, all to keep him busy and happy!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And visiting Oma, recovering very well after spinal surgery shortly before Christmas!</td></tr>
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We also visited my mother (Tobias' Oma). It was so good to see her looking so well and pain free after her spinal surgery. After so many months thinking this was all life offered, and then have this miracle just in time to enjoy Christmas! Not so long ago she would not have been able to have Tobias on her lap. Now, hopefully Mum will have many more years to <em>enjoy</em> life again.<br />
Well folk, that's about all. Tasmania has had a very fraught beginning to the year with devastating bushfires around the state. Yesterday there was a worrying outbreak not so very far from here, but happily the wind and tempereature dropped over night and the threat has eased. I will, however, keep an eye on the skies and keep checking the TFS website for updates and of course pray that we get some much needed rain soon (tonight would be good!).<br />
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bensonbearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14788649076746415358noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7587244961031874302.post-31929927693757567512012-11-03T16:41:00.001+11:002012-11-03T16:44:34.006+11:00While I was SleepingThe preview for Christmas Treasures has opened, this happened during the night and I didn't have time in the morning to check things out before I had to head off to the airport for my flight up to NSW. I've just had a peek and there are some great bears in there! We all had to work to a Christmas Carol theme, I chose Jingle Bells, and made a polar with a couple of cute penguins riding him. There <em>are</em> a lot of bells involved but you can't really see them in the photo, you'll just have to take my word for it. Unfortunately I can't show you the photo either, because I'm on a borrowed computer and of course all the photos are on my laptop at home. But if you click on the button right there in my side-bar you'll be whisked away to the right place and there you will be able to cast your vote for your favourite mini and your favourite full sized bear. (HINT HINT HINT!!!!) Hopefully I will be able to keep you up to date while I'm away, this is quite a long trip! I thought I might be heading into some heat up here in NSW, but the weather here is much like what I left behind in Tassie! An early start in the morning for the drive down to Mittagong and the Doll and Bear Fair, if you live down that way perhaps you'd like to look in!<br />
Bye for now, I'll be drawing the giveaway soon, I'll probably wait until I get back home to do that, so you still have over a week to enter! Good Luck :)bensonbearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14788649076746415358noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7587244961031874302.post-41505841397623674222012-11-01T12:17:00.000+11:002012-11-01T12:20:14.327+11:00Just Time To BreatheLife has been extremely busy! I'm flat out getting my pieces ready for the <a href="http://www.teddiesworldwide.com/">Christmas Treasures</a> online show, I'd like to have them all finished and the related computer work all done before I head off to NSW for the Mittagong Doll And Bear Fair this weekend. I think it's going to be a push to get through it all though! (since anything even remotely technical seems to befuddle my brain) <br />
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After Mittagong I will be teaching a group of keen bear-makers at <a href="http://www.teddysbits.com.au/">Teddy's Bits</a> how to make a mouse! A fun workshop with some different techniques.<br />
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I then mosey on home via Tooradin, where I will be teaching again at <a href="http://www.bearessence.com.au/">Bear Essence</a>. Here we'll be working on either Sierra or a large polar bear like the one I taught in Kingston earlier in the year. Kim has had some alpaca hand dyed especially for the polars. You might think that white is white, but there are degrees of whiteness and polar bears really are a few degrees off "white white" (You only have to look a paint sample chart to know there are a lot of whites) <br />
NOW, A BIG SHOUT OUT TO BEAR-MAKERS IN VICTORIA, Kim tells me she still has room around the table for a few, so if you're interested in learning how to make either of these bears then give Kim a call! Visit the <a href="http://www.bearessence.com.au/">website</a> to find more info.<br />
Today is rainy, it's been pretty constant throughout the night and all morning. It has been a while since we've had such consistent rain, everything outside looks so fresh and green, the new growth on the fruit trees looks beautiful. We have just a few last apple blossoms clinging on, they will be gone in a matter of days, but we have the promise of some gorgeous old fashioned and highly scented roses to come. I'll look forward to them when I return from my trip.bensonbearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14788649076746415358noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7587244961031874302.post-86019856961423886772012-10-04T11:21:00.001+10:002012-10-04T11:21:39.950+10:00Busy Busy BusyThe next two months are going to be very busy in the studio....<br />
I have the <a href="http://www.woodendteddybearshow.com.au/">Woodend Teddy Bear Show</a> approaching fast on the 28th of this month, with the <a href="http://www.teddysbits.com.au/">Mittagong Doll and Bear Fair</a> hot on it's heels the following Sunday! I have a lot of sewing to be getting on with! Add into the mix the <a href="http://www.teddiesworldwide.com/">Christmas Treasures </a>online show (Nov 16-18) and it will be head down and tail up for some time yet! I will also be teaching a workshop at <a href="http://www.teddysbits.com.au/">Teddy's Bits</a> following the Mittagong show, then heading home via Tooradin for more workshops at <a href="http://www.bearessence.com.au/">Bear Essence</a>! I must be very wicked, as there seems to be no rest for me at the moment. <br />
Meanwhile the garden is burgeoning.......with WEEDS that is. Consequently, my weekends will be spent trying to get things in order outside, before we can get our summer vegies on the go. We have blossoms on the fruit trees, though for some reason every pear has opted for a year off this year, (hopefully next year will be a different story).<br />
A shout out to Victorian collectors! If you haven't ventured out to the Woodend Teddy Bear Show before, you should! It's a lovely day with a wonderful country feel, not too far out of Melbourne but far enough!(With scrumptious catering too!)<br />
And those of you in NSW, why not head on down to Mittagong for a lovely day out in the Southern Highlands? Valma and the team put in a lot of effort to make this Doll and Bear Fair a great day.<br />
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Okay, it's back to work for me now. Hopefully I'll be able to come up for air from time to time :o)bensonbearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14788649076746415358noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7587244961031874302.post-57216515135285124932012-10-01T16:23:00.001+10:002012-10-01T16:25:12.489+10:00To Make Up For........Hello everyone! To make up for being a baaaaad baaaaad blogger I'm going to have a giveaway! Yes I know I promised one months ago, but well....... life got in the way! (Not to mention an overseas trip and terrible pain in my hands.)<br />
And since Christmas is just around the corner, (almost) I'll be making and giving away two of these Christmas ornaments! So leave your comments here if you'd like to be one of the two lucky winners.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVo5bAfS9CXw9c_OctCjVWjtd2NDakcBv0-X-OZId5l0n4Y-YFhtgE5D0vI3HE1eP8_CLc719H0C-CwC-rRjJh0qluKIync0iTPOI35BSYcXCXV13CI1mXjidtV25NaM_KlVN_pHIiKWjS/s1600/IMG_3119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVo5bAfS9CXw9c_OctCjVWjtd2NDakcBv0-X-OZId5l0n4Y-YFhtgE5D0vI3HE1eP8_CLc719H0C-CwC-rRjJh0qluKIync0iTPOI35BSYcXCXV13CI1mXjidtV25NaM_KlVN_pHIiKWjS/s320/IMG_3119.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
If you want to spread the word and get an extra chance in the draw, write about me, my bears and this giveaway with a link here, and I'll add your name twice to the draw. I will also be accepting comments on facebook, to be fair to those who don't have a blog.<br />
That's it, I have to go walk the dog now. Cheerio for now and good luck!<br />
I'll be drawing the winners in a month.....:o)bensonbearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14788649076746415358noreply@blogger.com82tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7587244961031874302.post-19337833334707031902012-09-06T15:37:00.001+10:002012-09-06T15:42:11.085+10:00Having Fun In The West<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkOAuU7DeB6xRVb6ZqBFD9229evj_ydW5rE2n6oei3i5E-TzAvr71keIw-vNeZA1xSX6cmMjBZGGRxIYcTYjvrk5lP0BeCI2-Kh0ssO0wEskKRWr7xg-YnPxVIAlk3IrFVL7asKXtwuGOG/s1600/285479_424890957556796_303731131_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkOAuU7DeB6xRVb6ZqBFD9229evj_ydW5rE2n6oei3i5E-TzAvr71keIw-vNeZA1xSX6cmMjBZGGRxIYcTYjvrk5lP0BeCI2-Kh0ssO0wEskKRWr7xg-YnPxVIAlk3IrFVL7asKXtwuGOG/s400/285479_424890957556796_303731131_n.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Say Ahhhhhh</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqZ3nEnq7M3zy4kiuLx2lk0lB_MD-xZwNtDz_eUxke5NgHupUCo8R8MoMLsPWPI6MmFEK2fmOSaAus6tGdu6P33FaA4RqkPUyna-7msOGiF-d-ERnVWJU0DEvxqh13JmC0vpmVn9WreHNu/s1600/296675_424890874223471_1719081297_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqZ3nEnq7M3zy4kiuLx2lk0lB_MD-xZwNtDz_eUxke5NgHupUCo8R8MoMLsPWPI6MmFEK2fmOSaAus6tGdu6P33FaA4RqkPUyna-7msOGiF-d-ERnVWJU0DEvxqh13JmC0vpmVn9WreHNu/s400/296675_424890874223471_1719081297_n.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hang on .......is that cheese in there?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0eQimgV8fzYhFvRELmy0OL_6MwOzO_JLVM1wQC9KNidK127HifBNo9Kq300NiJGy5k4tfL3fgeW2boGW3VICk6HRPL9CVm6ML6su_rSnMJxL4_drrAdcGjCwIQLgCX6ieqbyQ2wjE_O_7/s1600/304337_424887710890454_1916666991_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0eQimgV8fzYhFvRELmy0OL_6MwOzO_JLVM1wQC9KNidK127HifBNo9Kq300NiJGy5k4tfL3fgeW2boGW3VICk6HRPL9CVm6ML6su_rSnMJxL4_drrAdcGjCwIQLgCX6ieqbyQ2wjE_O_7/s400/304337_424887710890454_1916666991_n.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Put me down!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ibhPXh7gAbem8NrZiLolaG5b35RoYaJ7g4zq_6o1_xSqtteqAJodi2DBWSAkzOApZ0K8S5JNqRA2Yzr9RaCAZXTVnVjPUId86FBfZ0Qc_dG37pbI3mwuYTD07oOuNCN-a-zEVKR4hsMh/s1600/376710_424891174223441_2079402748_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ibhPXh7gAbem8NrZiLolaG5b35RoYaJ7g4zq_6o1_xSqtteqAJodi2DBWSAkzOApZ0K8S5JNqRA2Yzr9RaCAZXTVnVjPUId86FBfZ0Qc_dG37pbI3mwuYTD07oOuNCN-a-zEVKR4hsMh/s400/376710_424891174223441_2079402748_n.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Uh Oh now what?</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Where did that mouse go?</td></tr>
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The girls over at <a href="http://www.teddytree.com.au/">The Teddy Tree</a> have been having some fun with Mr Jingles and Sierra.......bensonbearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14788649076746415358noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7587244961031874302.post-34327542536087856372012-08-31T09:36:00.001+10:002012-08-31T09:36:11.798+10:00And On Their Way!Yesterday I finished this little mouse to accompany Sierra on his journey over to Western Australia. I snapped a quick pic of the two snuggled together on my lap before I packaged them up for their flight.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVwIG9mTOahd8s27VwZSpE-YHPVwaIfdg8qmBpjLseZJulFxEhTaezcjCZA-YKYhCIDoVG8l41SSRHwU1mnC9Z1PUmhuhc1TIWCFLsJUNDA0Gb5nXQW1X6eJoUYBELHf-kVrR3qsTtKuVR/s1600/P1010848.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVwIG9mTOahd8s27VwZSpE-YHPVwaIfdg8qmBpjLseZJulFxEhTaezcjCZA-YKYhCIDoVG8l41SSRHwU1mnC9Z1PUmhuhc1TIWCFLsJUNDA0Gb5nXQW1X6eJoUYBELHf-kVrR3qsTtKuVR/s400/P1010848.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not the best photo, but it is a snapshot</td></tr>
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These are the two workshops coming up in a couple of weeks at <a href="http://www.teddytree.com.au/">The Teddy Tree</a>. Sierra 14/15/16th September and Mr Jingles 22/23rd with possibly another during the week in between, if we have too many to fit into these dates.<br />
Such a lovely sunshiney day today! I would like to spend it here at home but I must go shopping (groceries, so nothing too exciting I'm afraid). Maybe if I'm really quick, I'll catch the tail end of the day here.....bensonbearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14788649076746415358noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7587244961031874302.post-92085833641470799792012-08-30T09:35:00.000+10:002012-08-30T09:41:53.469+10:00I Can Feel It.......I am sitting here in the bay window of the lounge bathed in sunlight! We have had several days of windy, wet weather but this morning promises me a glorious day, I can definitely feel Spring in the air, the birds are telling me so, as are the frogs in the pond at night. Besides our first daff opened yesterday and soon we'll be able to cut some asparagus (can't wait for that!) <br />
I have been very busy lately. I had a quick trip over to Victoria for some workshops at <a href="http://www.bearessence.com.au/">Bear Essence.</a> These were mixed classes, but most people made Chi Chi the panda. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH5e8cvCXX_iQJQf8TOYoS9EJ2QbUNPdw6QP6VpGsDgvg4hAfsOkDfCmQtpC_30ti5ctSVpgNoxDoQOXuXdTOnBG7A1DdCJj7Jt3ZbwfL9M6hYonJWGc736_yHXSZEFpTbHkIiZhzcPehC/s1600/P1010836+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH5e8cvCXX_iQJQf8TOYoS9EJ2QbUNPdw6QP6VpGsDgvg4hAfsOkDfCmQtpC_30ti5ctSVpgNoxDoQOXuXdTOnBG7A1DdCJj7Jt3ZbwfL9M6hYonJWGc736_yHXSZEFpTbHkIiZhzcPehC/s400/P1010836+-+Copy.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love the panda rear view.</td></tr>
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Chi Chi is a new design. I'm trying to get a more realistic panda shape and I think I'm getting there. The trip was good, though Melbourne turned on some pretty wild weather while I was there and flying home was an experience! We had a very circuitous take off in Melbourne as the pilot steered the aircraft around the storms that were happening at the time and then I had an amazing view of storms in the clouds as we descended into Launceston.<br />
Since I have been home I have been working on the sample bear for my upcoming workshops at the <a href="http://www.teddytree.com.au/">Teddy Tree</a> in Perth, Western Australia. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi80iVy051Qa0a51Qy34QvxPU8razdoFkgaL8g-iE11sGAWzGLys5s3Hd4CdTBbZpzrVlj6ZcH-18jaqh2IXq44lOvA4zFD-jTErgVLwRgNaV0dNHoM3WNe3IUlwE_KsqmEkjHHEYTdN1HB/s1600/P1010843.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi80iVy051Qa0a51Qy34QvxPU8razdoFkgaL8g-iE11sGAWzGLys5s3Hd4CdTBbZpzrVlj6ZcH-18jaqh2IXq44lOvA4zFD-jTErgVLwRgNaV0dNHoM3WNe3IUlwE_KsqmEkjHHEYTdN1HB/s320/P1010843.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
This is a varient of Sierra, esspecially for the girls in WA. I snapped a couple of WIP photos as he was coming along. Most of my work is done in my lap with my tools and materials in various containers surrounding my comfy chair. It's probably not the most efficient way to make a bear but it suits me, and I know I drive Chris crazy with all my stuff (especially when there is no room to perch his cuppa on the coffee table!)<br />
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The bear is pretty well finished now and I have almost completed a sample of Mr Jingles (the other workshop) ready to post off this afternoon. I need to get them off as the trip's only a couple of weeks away!<br />
So I'll leave you with this and get on with it, if I'm to have any chance at all of catching this evening's post.bensonbearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14788649076746415358noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7587244961031874302.post-52151151833552509252012-07-16T11:27:00.000+10:002012-09-03T15:13:46.305+10:00WorkshopsHere are a few photos of my recent workshops in Bremen, Germany.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I had Iris as an interpreter when my explainations foundered in technicalities</td></tr>
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On Friday we made Christams ornaments. This was quite a nice one day project, the mohair balls were made before the workshop so that we had all day to concentrate on making the miniature polar bear to go on top. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglGLxe_fjyYl5nj9-Amnai6dzCqctBZlVumu6UnC12ku1BZGOVjzkfAS0fo6i2r7RPf_Q4fCovVRoaZescG_niMEhtgJV_CVQvtum0cOn9uFKil7ylOiZtzwr3NS-lTGB8JDKcbntqqXSx/s1600/539563_324674027618746_670773868_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglGLxe_fjyYl5nj9-Amnai6dzCqctBZlVumu6UnC12ku1BZGOVjzkfAS0fo6i2r7RPf_Q4fCovVRoaZescG_niMEhtgJV_CVQvtum0cOn9uFKil7ylOiZtzwr3NS-lTGB8JDKcbntqqXSx/s400/539563_324674027618746_670773868_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's a better shot (thanks Heike!)</td></tr>
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I was a little anxious to teach this tiny bear, as I haven't taught anything this small before and miniatures demand a different set of skills. (Sorry about the quality of the image, I cropped it from the larger photo below, but you get the idea....)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK1N2P5NOwX1H4ey_gLzzPmU8jR7B7pOQ3Iva2OSYueVFmsBMbWpNEkZqQxQ8gxGhVd3ssOH9ATtuOMONB433McY0huhnD-RcE8MAY1oosOUGCvCb4oNn1lSkj_eyYBd8N_tgieDiZbglE/s1600/Germant+2012+15+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK1N2P5NOwX1H4ey_gLzzPmU8jR7B7pOQ3Iva2OSYueVFmsBMbWpNEkZqQxQ8gxGhVd3ssOH9ATtuOMONB433McY0huhnD-RcE8MAY1oosOUGCvCb4oNn1lSkj_eyYBd8N_tgieDiZbglE/s400/Germant+2012+15+-+Copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A couple of the ornaments, snuggled with some "Sierras"</td></tr>
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At the end of the day I was extremely pleased with the results each of the ladies achieved on this challenging little bear, one day I might even make one of these for myself. Every year I think I'll get one done for our tree.........hasn't happened yet!<br />
On Saturday and Sunday we made "Sierra", again a bear with lots of different techniques to learn. I love seeing group shots of bears made in workshops, they all have their own characters and as you can see, choosing a different fur changes the bear's character completely! <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sample head I took along for the "Sierra" workshop</td></tr>
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These workshops were held in the home of Holger and Claudia Schlue, near Bremen. While we all enjoyed our bear making, Holger put his skills at work in the kitchen and cooked up some wonderful luncheons. Claudia makes lovely little bears which you can find <a href="http://www.minkitzbaeren.de/">here</a><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ralphie on Wooly Mamouth ivory!</td></tr>
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And now I must show you this special pendant made by Iris Heerdes of <a href="http://www.bear-spirit-scrimshaw.de/">Spirit Bear Scrimshaw</a>. Iris used a photo of Ralph from my blog to create this scrimshaw portrait of him, she really has captured him very well. The piece measures 2cm x 4.5cm, I am amazed at the detail Iris has managed to get into such a small piece. She works through a microscope in order to get the detail needed and uses Wooly Mamouth ivory! Now isn't that something? This ivory is being unearthed in the Tundra and sent all over the world for use where, in the past, elephant ivory was used.<br />
That's about it, I started sewing again but I think I have to ease myself into it again, my hands have had a two month break and I can feel that if I push it I will end up in strife with them again. Today we have had some glimpses of the sun, I'm impatient for Spring.bensonbearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14788649076746415358noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7587244961031874302.post-61406106105103596542012-07-11T12:30:00.003+10:002012-07-11T12:48:28.293+10:00Yes I'm Here!Yes I <em>am</em> here. Though it may not seem like it, if you have been following this blog lately.........not much activity at all! But in my defence I have this to report.<br />
I am just back from six weeks abroad, I think my body has almost readjusted to the Southern hemisphere again. Jetlag is a strange phenomenon. I have found myself waking at three or four in the morning wanting to eat, my body thinking it's lunchtime and then at times during the day I get overwhemingly tired and I have to force myself not to succumb (otherwise it will take all the longer to retune myself to Tassie time) I think I am almost there, (or here) last night I managed to stay asleep longer, so I am feeling a little more alert today.<br />
It was quite a shock to arrive back in winter after some gorgeous days in Italy (I have a tan!) though, as luck would have it, we spent much of our break enjoying Britain's wettest June on record! But to look at it positively, all that rain has kept the countryside beautifully green, and we had some lovely walks in it. But after all those wonderful, long, midsummer days with their twilights lasting long into the evening, I'm finding it a little difficult fitting everything into our short winter days.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">English country garden, family barbeque, the summer that was.</td></tr>
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The house was very cold, damp and bleak when we arrived home, a fair indication of that, was the solidified bottle of olive oil on the kitchen bench! And of course, while we were away the mice (rats) played! One of the joys of country life.........ugh! Wallabies and rabbits have also demolished anything that was still growing in the garden, so before Spring we have some serious fencing repairs to make. We also had some huge wind gusts in our absence that have lifted the poly off our tunnel.......so yet more repairs.<br />
I'm actually itching to get back into my bears again too. Other than a couple of workshops in Germany, during which I made three littlies I have done <em>NOTHING!</em> But that was a good thing because I can happily report that my trigger thumb has gone! Basically all it needed was rest, and that is certainly what it got.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgllXtBWetvN_6uggb5EQGTUrwvhUhLADq3iwoqT3hyX7kjFnK3Yl9T7H1sbSJnFPdoVCPDF-cm59D32Qhb_VMVQ5iDNALX4RhSnqEKk1q93oD5uqR5_aQXmt02rhV3vMnLIgpPtaZN_m12/s1600/IMG_4034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgllXtBWetvN_6uggb5EQGTUrwvhUhLADq3iwoqT3hyX7kjFnK3Yl9T7H1sbSJnFPdoVCPDF-cm59D32Qhb_VMVQ5iDNALX4RhSnqEKk1q93oD5uqR5_aQXmt02rhV3vMnLIgpPtaZN_m12/s400/IMG_4034.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our daughter with her Grandmother toasting with tea.</td></tr>
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The trip was a good mix of relaxing and full days of sightseeing. Our first few days in England were fabulous with wonderful warm weather (hot even). We caught up with our daughter in London, then moseyed on down to Somerset for a family barbeque and then on down to Sidmouth in Devon for a few days (with mother-in-law) We did a couple of walks down there, one in which we became completely bushed after being turned around almost 180 degrees in a wood! I don't know how that happened, we had an ordinance survey map to help us and still we ended up somewhere we weren't supposed to be.....hmmmmmmm. Still, in that part of England you are never very far away from "somewhere" and we soon found our way and could have a good (if puzzled) chuckle at ourselves.<br />
We then headed back to London and caught a concert (Mazzy Star), it was also the Queeen's Jubilee weekend so there were a lot of happenings (despite a distinct turn for the worse in terms of weather). Then it was off to Amsterdam for a couple of days, with the weather being much the same there as in London!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-idyiBhX47kGPnS5borIugx6_AQKcz2V-NjTdk0sdIQgVT3hIDOOKgAy5gghpfb3CXPMA47imGdZEy6knM6ya-o2rtln_R2zaw-7YbZ6t9ofQV3EpKi83vhyZGYvtAdaesiZVmJqycyfD/s1600/IMG_3922.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-idyiBhX47kGPnS5borIugx6_AQKcz2V-NjTdk0sdIQgVT3hIDOOKgAy5gghpfb3CXPMA47imGdZEy6knM6ya-o2rtln_R2zaw-7YbZ6t9ofQV3EpKi83vhyZGYvtAdaesiZVmJqycyfD/s400/IMG_3922.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amsterdam in a snapshot</td></tr>
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We then flew on to Rome. Ah! Bella Roma, what a city! So much to see, certainly too much to see in four days! I loved that you could be wondering around looking for somewhere to eat, maybe, and around a corner you just about bump into some ancient bit of a building or a column or something equally amazing. There's old stuff everywhere! But of course all the well known "old stuff" is really crowded, walking through the vatican museums was like being herded cattle.....literally! There's no stopping to view something more closely, just an inexorable progress through numerous galleries to the prize, the Sistine Chapel. And while Michelangelo's ceiling is a wonderous thing to behold, I found the whole experience to be a tad underwhelming, as by the time we had reached the chapel I was entirely fed up with feeling like part of a herd.<br />
Our best experience in Rome was the day we caught the train out to Ostia Antica. Where? Well, if you're ever in Rome and you want to see lots of really cool "old stuff" WITHOUT THE CROWDS, then head out to Ostia Antica. A short train ride out of Rome. An ancient site that was once a port but which was abandonned after the river changed it's course, and which was subsequently buried. This is somewhere where you can really get in amongst the ruins, there are some lovely fresco remnants and mosaics to see, and I think there is still much to be uncovered.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAarG4oc_vnkjb85PcJRppJGX_07pSH0FoHWaBSlKf2PyxDGis5GVtd_CW6J8-B0GU7loGFSLYgQ_we6lr-fFqr-MpGL7z14MKghB5A0BSvDmhBtPC2SAYW0Z9dgcWajJUNDT_8BZQqfjl/s1600/IMG_3943.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAarG4oc_vnkjb85PcJRppJGX_07pSH0FoHWaBSlKf2PyxDGis5GVtd_CW6J8-B0GU7loGFSLYgQ_we6lr-fFqr-MpGL7z14MKghB5A0BSvDmhBtPC2SAYW0Z9dgcWajJUNDT_8BZQqfjl/s400/IMG_3943.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ostia Antica, where are the crowds?</td></tr>
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After Rome we headed north into Tuscany and four nights in Florence. Another beautiful city, with lots more "old stuff" to see. We climbed the Duomo, from which there is a great view of the city. If I'd had my wits about me I would have counted the steps, but then I probably would have lost count with all the puffing and panting, and the standing aside to let others pass back down......not a good place if you're in the least bit claustrophobic (but google tells me there are 463 steps) We also saw Michelangelo's <u>David</u> in all his glory, another amazing work from this astonishing artist.<br />
From Florence we took a couple of day trips out into the Tuscan countryside to San Gimignano and Sienna, two beautiful towns. But what I really want to do, is get out into the Tuscan countryside and walk! So that is on my wish list, rent a villa somewhere lovely and get out into the real Tuscany.<br />
So, apart from some more wet days spent in England and a brief visit to Germany for my workshops, that's my trip!<br />
I'll write some more tomorrow, about my workshops and I also have something really special to show you. For now I have cleaning to do, I want to start some sewing and I have such a lot still, to catch up on.bensonbearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14788649076746415358noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7587244961031874302.post-3780879473583270392012-04-17T14:50:00.001+10:002012-04-17T15:02:01.177+10:00KINGSTONLast Thursday I travelled down to Hobart for my polar bear workshop in Kingston. The weather was glorious and Autumnal, the days were warm with gentle breezes. There was a group of eight ladies for this three day workshop and they all seemed to enjoy the break from everyday life to indulge in a little bear therapy. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fancy footwork</td></tr>
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On day one we made feet. This is a really lovely day in which the trapunto is done for the bear's footpads, ready to be sewn into the legs. By the time all four footpads are sewn everyone was a dab hand at getting around those curves on the sewing machine.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-NO18w_XyHnHDeXkPjR26Zn5aP4VklL5AmYkNfPr49JGpG6zoZXVGwFLs1fii6n0xeRlRecBSyr19QTIKnmzvZiv6UuH6AUeD8Sw9S99Y_DdBfw2LjbPKaO2WvHlj38O8VuaguNbqdT2q/s1600/562103_10150667233136966_648421965_9354679_234622477_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-NO18w_XyHnHDeXkPjR26Zn5aP4VklL5AmYkNfPr49JGpG6zoZXVGwFLs1fii6n0xeRlRecBSyr19QTIKnmzvZiv6UuH6AUeD8Sw9S99Y_DdBfw2LjbPKaO2WvHlj38O8VuaguNbqdT2q/s400/562103_10150667233136966_648421965_9354679_234622477_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sherroy's blue-eyed baby</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shellie at work on her head</td></tr>
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On day two we started the heads. There is a lot of work involved in this bear's head and by the end of the day I think some of the girls were wondering if they'd get far enough along with their bears to finish them. On Sunday most of the heads were finidhed and four of the bears were almost completed and the others weren't all that far behind<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHfKKCkhTXzbrVmlYR_n9wx8At5U9TSRO7laZocJRzoP2x5LWWmBxDJ4eCzGU9YhHLlt-TBUJ70xXXAwbE7RfVpiRsoWPbQgYr96wfyzBSHFtOssq3Eeuiu6M46GhhNNo9nbTxA24tPOAS/s1600/523988_10150667236181966_648421965_9354685_1120186682_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHfKKCkhTXzbrVmlYR_n9wx8At5U9TSRO7laZocJRzoP2x5LWWmBxDJ4eCzGU9YhHLlt-TBUJ70xXXAwbE7RfVpiRsoWPbQgYr96wfyzBSHFtOssq3Eeuiu6M46GhhNNo9nbTxA24tPOAS/s400/523988_10150667236181966_648421965_9354685_1120186682_n.jpg" width="305" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sally loves Rolley</td></tr>
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Sharon made her first ever bear at this workshop and she did amazingly well, I think we may have a new convert there.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje9wUUIjpzyfdpBvkulqpwpLz9prURJNT0uutC5o5-7AIkdDSwb_7LGrx2XDs8TqmrzA-gXxQYxscs7GfQaQJGyDakgORNjHyisOKOUvsAqcM-sW0fL9hpPvUSAsB4llUl9UPzY834rnSO/s1600/563352_10150667231686966_648421965_9354678_1368903922_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje9wUUIjpzyfdpBvkulqpwpLz9prURJNT0uutC5o5-7AIkdDSwb_7LGrx2XDs8TqmrzA-gXxQYxscs7GfQaQJGyDakgORNjHyisOKOUvsAqcM-sW0fL9hpPvUSAsB4llUl9UPzY834rnSO/s400/563352_10150667231686966_648421965_9354678_1368903922_n.jpg" width="316" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sharon's first bear almost done.</td></tr>
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It was a wonderful weekend, but I have to tell you I was exhausted by the time I had driven home again and my hands were giving me grief! But they seem to have settled down again to their usual level of achiness, so I'm back into it again with orders to fill and the <a href="http://teddybearfairs.com.au/">Melbourne Teddy Bear Fair</a> next month. I also have two workshops coming up at <a href="http://bearessence.com.au/">Bear Essence</a> after the show (Mr Jingles)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFW8TcC0SrNoLN3sx1Rjubfn49zs_wCPdkyLS3kSXh-k_roTFSkbMwHQHN6sDpAh4PBCs0r0J3BD-f3E2VUiKp0NZqPnPrjGTExHQcTZY9EO1yGjA_uKYPQC1BTDar8P8UPlJ2ju5lYwfa/s1600/577828_10150667243381966_648421965_9354699_982098540_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFW8TcC0SrNoLN3sx1Rjubfn49zs_wCPdkyLS3kSXh-k_roTFSkbMwHQHN6sDpAh4PBCs0r0J3BD-f3E2VUiKp0NZqPnPrjGTExHQcTZY9EO1yGjA_uKYPQC1BTDar8P8UPlJ2ju5lYwfa/s400/577828_10150667243381966_648421965_9354699_982098540_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A celebration!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>bensonbearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14788649076746415358noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7587244961031874302.post-23306636994108740922012-03-20T15:57:00.000+11:002012-03-20T15:57:14.091+11:00Therapy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwrZoGmRv0rdodM7mhwxDJNwhqfm_ZKjLRuuMVZWJkMYpmixWbUaOYo7n0NUUZCRadTaZn9WIe_9FygYiXUkGvTlJgf4CSuctF5h8aHnIOuUalGq7RXV8ilN_kONzSNw-dQXSZEydapBBb/s1600/P1010743.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwrZoGmRv0rdodM7mhwxDJNwhqfm_ZKjLRuuMVZWJkMYpmixWbUaOYo7n0NUUZCRadTaZn9WIe_9FygYiXUkGvTlJgf4CSuctF5h8aHnIOuUalGq7RXV8ilN_kONzSNw-dQXSZEydapBBb/s320/P1010743.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
It's a bit like banging your head against a brick wall.....nice when you stop! So it is with the ice, holding onto this cooler brick for fifteen minutes at a time is hard going. It sends an ache into my hand and up my arm, I can feel the cold going into the sore joint at the base of my thumb and sure does feel good when I get my hand back into my 'handeze' glove for warmth. That said, I do think this regime might actually <em>work</em>! I think I have more movement without pain today. I managed to keep the glove on all night too, usually I get annoyed with it and end up taking it off at some point during the night. I'll be sure to let you know how it's going.....bensonbearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14788649076746415358noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7587244961031874302.post-86990590573062286312012-03-19T14:09:00.003+11:002012-03-19T14:18:17.046+11:00Footsteps A Little Closer To HomeHaving been soundly reprimanded by my big sister for not being a good blogger, I really am going to try harder from now on. I don't know what happens, the days slip by and before I know it..... another month has passed me by. <br />
I have been quite busy. Making bears, gardening, cooking and with a little reading in the mix, an all together satisfying way to pass my days. <br />
After doing a little research I have concluded that the problem with my hands is "trigger finger" (or thumb in my case)-tendonitis basically. So I'm trying a little ice and heat treatment to see if this will help. Ideally I should give my hands a complete rest, but this isn't really an option with another workshop next month plus a show and workshops the following month in addition to filling orders! I'm hoping the problem isn't too far advanced and that this course will help relieve the pain, rather than having to resort to cortizone injections or worse still, surgery! (Fingers crossed......not really...too painful!)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAOXWYGbLSGp3YlJ9fxb7atAZd3yH_XGSFyAQe7hiZxcLfnS7JPApv2QIqP820y5Xpm0Z99bzI_JhOsrq2g1RQ95GMH5u_jafLCGYRh0G2Gw6bZLPViUERRHwM6ZkPjckGMK3cAAOx27lA/s1600/395186_10150491553391966_648421965_8783749_842680109_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAOXWYGbLSGp3YlJ9fxb7atAZd3yH_XGSFyAQe7hiZxcLfnS7JPApv2QIqP820y5Xpm0Z99bzI_JhOsrq2g1RQ95GMH5u_jafLCGYRh0G2Gw6bZLPViUERRHwM6ZkPjckGMK3cAAOx27lA/s400/395186_10150491553391966_648421965_8783749_842680109_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This big boy came with me to Tarraleah and inspired a workshop.</td></tr>
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So, onto next month's worshop. This one is in Kingston just South of Hobart, such a nice change to have one closer to home! This is with the lovely bunch of ladies who joined me in Tarraleah earlier in the year. I took some bears along with me, and the group were all taken with this big boy, so I offered to treat them to a special three day workshop. The first day will be trapunto leather paws, the second day we'll work on the head and on the third day we will finish the head and get everything together. It should be a great few days, I'll be able to spend some time with my big brother in the evenings and have some lovely beary friends to pass the days with. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEBqEEJslh1_e3sPa-dElORcvTrhlNIxkYT7VG04UE-WS-HT1A4JR9Rn-IdmnuaHqErBfjSwp1VXqbKyJPtNnx2M3mgwPO0v7byOBNY7pJw6zCMklexsCDSxhM3Q2yUUNjiubg0-LV_XMI/s1600/P1010722.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEBqEEJslh1_e3sPa-dElORcvTrhlNIxkYT7VG04UE-WS-HT1A4JR9Rn-IdmnuaHqErBfjSwp1VXqbKyJPtNnx2M3mgwPO0v7byOBNY7pJw6zCMklexsCDSxhM3Q2yUUNjiubg0-LV_XMI/s400/P1010722.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And we'll be making feet something like these.</td></tr>
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I also need to find some time to do something with the apple crop before the birds get them all, some I'll juice and freeze. I have a wonderful apple chutney recipe from my sister-in-law, Irene, I'll definitely be making some of that and maybe stew and freeze some too. So I have plenty to keep my days busy. Oh, oh, oh, and I seem to remember a little something about a giveaway.......soon, soon, I promise!bensonbearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14788649076746415358noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7587244961031874302.post-66743125796575757372012-02-20T16:04:00.001+11:002012-02-20T16:09:48.710+11:00AbundanceRight now we are gathering so much from the garden that many of our meals are almost entirely homegrown. I have just munched my way through this salad and apart from a little marinated feta cheese sprinkled over the top the entire bowl was picked fresh from the garden moments before I ate it. <br />
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As I enjoyed the fresh vital flavours of the salad greens, herbs, tomato, cucumber and capsicum, I realised how lucky we are to be able to grow so much of what we eat. The addition of our new poly-tunnel this season really has contributed a great deal to our garden's bounty (and it's not even finished!) <br />
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The cucumbers have gone rampant and we were in danger of disappearing under a mountain of them so I resolved to pickle some of them over the weekend. I dug out my trusty old book of preserve recipes, given to me by a friend many years ago. I found just what I was looking for, a recipe for bread and butter cucumber pickle. Much slicing and dicing later, and a little cooking, I had these gorgeous looking jars ready for use later in the year when the garden won't be so productive.<br />
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Today I've also been out picking blackberries. I have been keeping an eye on the roadside brambles while out and about, waiting for them to ripen. We had a little rain in the past few days and this seems to have really brought them on, so today I stopped on my way home from an errand and picked myself a bucket of these glossy, black jewels. I'll put them into the freezer so that they are there for us in Winter when a nice blackberry and apple pie might be just the thing to chase the winter blues away. Or even better adding them to a raspberriy crumble, where their inclusion acts as a foil to the intense flavour of the raspberries, creating an all together devine combination of fruit under an almondy crumble mix. <br />
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As for the studio, right now I'm working on a polar bear cub. He's just a pile of bits at the moment, but in the next day or two he will come to life as I work on him. I'm having to take things a little easy at present, my hands are playing up again. I have to mix things up a bit so I don't run the risk of further straining them.bensonbearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14788649076746415358noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7587244961031874302.post-57314282002612279252012-02-16T09:56:00.000+11:002012-09-12T13:13:48.116+10:00What Have You Been Up To Mrs. B?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Well now, what <em>have </em>I been up to?</div>
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I have just spent a busy ten days in Victoria, teaching two wonderful groups of ladies how to make Sierra. At the end of it all we had 18 "Sierras" in various stages of completion. I have to say that these workshops, which lasted three days each, were jammed full of techniques and I think all of the girls who participated were exhausted, but extremely happy at the end of the third day.<br />
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On day one we made feet! This was an optional extra workshop to create trapunto leather foot pads which were then sewn into the legs ready for the following two days. I was really pleased with how well this day went, and we had some beautiful feet at the end of it. Such a simple technique for absolutely stunning results!<br />
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On one of my free days, I designed and made "Mr Jingles" after requests for something small for my next workshop at <a href="http://www.bearessence.com.au/">Bear Essence</a> (in May). These workshops are already filling fast! After some consultation with the girls in one of the workshops and the addition of his accessories this little fellow was named after the mouse in "The Green Mile"<br />
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Well that's about it, apart from a mountain of housework and weeding in the garden and of course more bears, that's what I've been up to. I also need to find some pickle recipes for our abundance of cucumbers, the plants are at peak production right now and don't look like they're going to be giving up any time soon, so it would be nice to put some up for use later in the year. And I promise, my giveaway will be coming real soon!bensonbearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14788649076746415358noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7587244961031874302.post-48022567309222004352012-01-17T10:03:00.001+11:002012-01-17T10:06:37.052+11:00Being A Tree<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCq_5DU1SvbmwRZ2gFvLXCXcrfYJ_Z2FGf47UiQJwqVye_Az3uSSFDi9OwOtzRdB65-zw8tBXfCIbdqcaVOZVv8ZAO79-q6UDwtKjo298C21xtHfH_oqXM8_FK64fcq_EoBPl-21YHCu5t/s1600/P1010697.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCq_5DU1SvbmwRZ2gFvLXCXcrfYJ_Z2FGf47UiQJwqVye_Az3uSSFDi9OwOtzRdB65-zw8tBXfCIbdqcaVOZVv8ZAO79-q6UDwtKjo298C21xtHfH_oqXM8_FK64fcq_EoBPl-21YHCu5t/s400/P1010697.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There are three here!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> The other day I was pottering around in the garden when I noticed some unusual looking branches in one of our White Peppermints. I wandered over for a closer look and found these three fellows roosting for the day. I think they are this year's young and still learning, obviously. If you want to be a tree, choose one that looks like you! The White Peppermint is not endemic to this forest, Chris sowed the seeds of these trees many years ago when we first came to live here. He's chuffed that these Tawny Frogmouths have chosen them for their occasional daytime roost, but they do kind of stick out! If they had chosen any number of other trees around here I would never have noticed them! They really do look like part of the tree when they choose one that matches their plumage. Contrary to common belief these are not owls, they are related to Nightjars. They don't have the strong talons of owls and feed off insects and the occasional frog, not rodents and apparently they sit and wait for the insects to bump into them rather than actively hunting!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgksEYAKBo478nljs4Gb7ReuYfhTX89_PWlzD089PbINdj4-wYYZFupaeJLNNsD1H7_7JZ8pagDw-_QnUpIfgWMJ93-nF5MCCgNq-3WGogbHNdPzxuvI-Mr-GLpRbMI7NRnTljGAB2PVI8T/s1600/P1010697+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgksEYAKBo478nljs4Gb7ReuYfhTX89_PWlzD089PbINdj4-wYYZFupaeJLNNsD1H7_7JZ8pagDw-_QnUpIfgWMJ93-nF5MCCgNq-3WGogbHNdPzxuvI-Mr-GLpRbMI7NRnTljGAB2PVI8T/s320/P1010697+-+Copy.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>This weekend I'm off for a drive up into the highlands of Tasmania, to<a href="http://www.tarraleah.com/"> Tarraleah</a> for a teddy bear making workshop. This is the first gig of the year, it all starts from now.......I'll soon be off to Tooradin again for some more workshops at <a href="http://www.bearessence.com.au/">Bear Essence</a> and then up to Sydney for the <a href="http://www.teddybearfairs.com.au/">Sydney Teddy Bear Fair</a> and a workshop at <a href="http://www.teddysbits.com.au/">Teddy's Bits</a>.<br />
I don't know about you, but these things have crept up on me. All of a sudden, the holiday is over and things start to get busy again. So I had better get on and do some more sewing today, I have such a lot to get through and it seems not enough time to do it! So until next time......"happy trails to you"......<br />
Ooooh and I know I mentioned a New Year Giveaway.........well, make that a Valentine's Giveaway, look out for it real soon!bensonbearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14788649076746415358noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7587244961031874302.post-77249538042650458122012-01-05T11:19:00.000+11:002012-01-05T11:19:45.489+11:00The Best Investment!2 cups of flour. a cup of salt, 2 tablespoons of cream of tartar, some oil, some water and a few drops of food colouring, stirred all together for a few minutes on the stove and you have made one of the best things a three year old could wish for! Good for the imagination, and creativity.....not so good for the matchbox cars that get driven through it though! The joys of play dough! (I will have to have a major clean-up after he goes, we have blue spots from one end of the house to the other! All in the name of little boy fun, so well worth it)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rZBq3_LxzQQ/TwTsQKhduFI/AAAAAAAAAaQ/MjhXvi-0i4c/s1600/P1010688.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rZBq3_LxzQQ/TwTsQKhduFI/AAAAAAAAAaQ/MjhXvi-0i4c/s400/P1010688.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>Still having fun with my grandson, and in between a little bear-making is also getting done.bensonbearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14788649076746415358noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7587244961031874302.post-86779991615518683172011-12-15T10:48:00.003+11:002011-12-15T13:06:18.456+11:00Season's GreetingsJust ten more days until Christmas! <em>WHAT??????</em><br />
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On Christmas day we will be sharing a lovely meal with family, much of which will home grown, picked fresh from our gardens. Tonight my son and grandson arrive from Melbourne, which is just as well as we have an over-abundance of strawberries. And Tobias <em>LOVES </em>strawberries, so he can help in the eating of them! I love having a food garden, I hate buying inferior vegetables and fruit and paying too much for things that have been sprayed, with who knows what! This year we have added a new poly tunnel to our growing area, and in it we have some very lusty plants which will give us tomatoes, capsicums, aubergines, chillis, cucumbers and hopefully some cantaloupes! My, that sounds like an awful lot of food! (It <em>is</em> a big poly tunnel!) In a few days I will send the boys out to find us a nice Christmas tree to put up, I don't like the artificial ones. I like the piny smell in the house from a fresh tree. (It's ok, we only take them from where they shouldn't be growing, they're weeds really). On Face Book I've been seeing everyone posting photos of their decorations, the whole house decked out in Christmas cheer......it will be all I can do to get this place clean! Let alone decorated. (Maybe I'll blow the cobwebs off my wreath and hang that today) I really should put some effort in this year, since we have Tobias staying with us and at three and a half he's old enough now feel the excitement of the festive season. (For me that's what Christmas is all about really, the children).<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD0eUh5z3itwy1pT9TDf9ocYO8IeyGL0kX7CMUx97xSjffgD2yWeKbOU3lH-h1gowIYwAOVnGyHk14yN6ijAgwI-Au9r0NNvhMbU-psAPhezXs08ai2R_Ky6S6KtUksbL2LAbdkiPY9VQg/s1600/IMG_3871.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD0eUh5z3itwy1pT9TDf9ocYO8IeyGL0kX7CMUx97xSjffgD2yWeKbOU3lH-h1gowIYwAOVnGyHk14yN6ijAgwI-Au9r0NNvhMbU-psAPhezXs08ai2R_Ky6S6KtUksbL2LAbdkiPY9VQg/s400/IMG_3871.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>Anyway, in case I don't get a chance between now and Christmas, I want to wish everyone everywhere, peace and joy, not only for Christmas, but for 2012. May the coming year be filled with all things wonderful! However you wish to celebrate......MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL!<br />
Aaaaaand look out for a New Year's Benson Bears giveaway, coming soon! Just to say thanks for your support and for visiting, and especially for reading....... :o)bensonbearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14788649076746415358noreply@blogger.com9