I am so not in the mood to work today,

and it will only get worse after the new year.

We are going on a dive vacation next year to Yap and Palau. I have plenty a list of stuff that needs to be done before we go.

1: Purchase an underwater camera
2: Lose weight
3: Pick up two travel dive bags. Our old one broke and when it was full it was way over todays weight limits.
4: Sew and sell tons of teddy bears and seahorses to pay for some of this.

I supposed I should get to it.

Finished plush bears

Thank you Pegi Sue for sending me a picture of the bears.

I had accidently deleted my photos of them.

Christmas Morning 2008

Merry Christmas!

I took a walk on the causeway near our home. I always see wonderful wild life when walking here. This morning was no exception.

One hawk passed in front of me into the bushes. Pelicans shadowed the early morning fishermen, and Osprey took it easy riding the breezes.

Palm trees, mangrove and sea oats line this trail on a small sliver of land that is Dunedin Causeway. At the west end of the causeway is Honeymoon Island, and for a few dollars you can ferry over to Caladesi Island. Check out this link to the Island: http://www.floridastateparks.org/CaladesiIsland/

It's time for me to get cleaned up and have lunch my husband. He is working today at the hospital.

Dying Plush Fur

This is my first time using a dye on any "fur" fabric. I have done coffee and tea stains on cotton fabrics before for an old look on some soft sculpture dolls.

The fabric I'm dying today is a man made plush fur on a woven backing. I will be making a small bear from this, and I can't wait for it to dry! :-)

Mixing dye into fabric - Hanging to dry after the rinse - This little bear body is made from the same fabric before dying.

12/25/08

I had a DUHH moment and deleted the photos of the final product. :-(

PegiSue, Here's a peak at the insides of your pink bear. :-)

Dove ornaments

I finished making a few doves for my sister.

Ashlee loves the ribbons. Silly cat.

Fabrics

Sunday afternoon at the fabric store is a so much fun for me. I always want a little bit of this fabric and that fabric. I never have any plans for what I purchase, but they are always used for something. I purchased only one five pack of "fat quarters" of quilting fabric this time when I wanted much more. One of the things that keep my spending in check is the long line of people waiting at the cutting table. It can take forever on a weekend afternoon to get thru those lines.

I love this kitty fabric!

More Holiday Crafts.

In various stages, here are some of my little doves. Cut from white or sparkley white felt, I take two sides, sew the pieces together except for a small opening between the wings on top, lightly stuff with polyfill, put a loop of ribbon in the opening and sew it closed. Then take embroidery thread and stitch a design on the body of the dove. Done! a nice ornament to send to special friends.

Another Teddy

Here's a little teddy that's just the right size for hanging as an ornament. This one I made a while back from two different colors of mohair and is "wobble jointed".

The next one I make will be made from scraps of a mink stole left over from another project. If it turns out cute there is enough left over for a second one. Maybe I'll do one wobble jointed and one jointed the normal way. Either way it will be fun.

Mink bears and mohair bears are$50 each.

Plush or other fabrics are $30 each.

Crafts for the holidays!

Time to switch sewing gears for the holidays. I want to play with some felt - make some little things that I've seen on the internet and in craft books for my fellow coworkers. Just fun stuff.

How about some pencil toppers for your friends? I'm using a dark green wool felt, buttons, tiny jingle bells, pearls, beads, ribbons and whatever I think is cute for my pencil toppers. May even make some of these into pins for friends.

Pauline says good bye from her shipping box.

She is going north to colder weather. Can't say where till after Christmas.

More pictures of the Panda

Need a name for my Panda Bear

I need your opinion. Does this Panda look like a female or male to you? And what should I name it?

This Panda is 10" tall, fully jointed, polyfill and steel shot in feet, and has blue glass eyes.

SOLD

e-mail me at tl_raz@yahoo.com if you are interested

More Panda Progress Pictures

He looks funny in bits and pieces. The front and rear paws are ready to be stuffed. Once I stuff his head I can finish up with the nose, ears, mouth, eyes and a trim job around the mouth and nose.

How about blue eyes instead of black?

Friday

Good Friday Morning!
I'm at work and have finished up my first project of the morning and need to take a break before taking on my next task.

I am tired today from staying up so late watching my home team, Tampa Bay Rays, lose to the Red Sox last night. Good thing I can sleep in a little tomorrow morning.

My plan for this weekend is to complete the Panda Bear I've been working on in my spare time, clean house, wash my truck, get some prints framed, and have some fun out side - maybe take some pictures.

Panda Toes

One paw done, one on the way. This is going to take longer than I had previously thought.

Ashlee monitored Sunday's sewing session.

Both eye patches are stitched to the side pieces, and the sides were sewn together from the nose down under the chin to the neck. Finally, the center piece was hand sewn in at the top of the nose and machine stitched from the eye patches and down the back of the head.

The body was next. I attached the black top sections to the white bottoms, but have yet to sew those two sections (left and right sections) together for a full body.

Tomorrow evening I'll be working on ears and toes.

Current Project - Panda

This is my current teddy bear project. All parts have been cut out, and one eye patch has been hand stitched the side of Panda's head.

It will probably take me to the end of the month to complete.

This bear should be about 10" tall, fully jointed, glass eyes, and ultra suede paws. He kind of matches my cat, Ashlee - black and white. :-)

Our Ashlee Kitty

Meet little Ashlee, our kitty friend.

"You look'n at me?"

Ashlee has the best little temperment of any cat I've ever owned. She's my little shadow, and can be found wherever I am.

Bahamas on one of the Nekton boats.

Notice that I stay behind Terry while filming. Of course that wouldn't stop a shark from coming from behind me. :-)

No, Terry was not conducting the symphony. He carries a chop stick while diving to point out small (and sometimes big) creatures.

Cuddlefish Encounter - PNG

I could not believe my luck when we ran into this fellow. It was quite a treat to watch this cuddlefish watch us. He hovered about while changing his color from light to dark to show us who was boss. :-)

This doesn't look like it's working. I'll have to look into fixing it.

Strawberry Shortcake

Strawberry Shortcake is Choc-O-Lot's little sister. SS was made with pink mohair and is another "seated" bear. In this pictures she is kind of standing with her little friend with no name. No name is almost 3" tall and is made from upholstery fabric.

Strawberry Shortcake is now living in California.

Bears of my past.

Meet Choc-O-Lot an 8" seated teddy I made a couple of years ago.

I donated him to an auction and he is living happily ever after in Vermont.