Sarah's Bruins

First Ellie 'Elliott' available!

2012-02-03T07:51:00.001-08:00

At long last I can show you Elliott! The very first elephant from me!

It took a lot of fiddling around to try and get good photos of him and to be honest, I'm not overly pleased with these either, but I thought I would let him make a sneak preview, before he appears on my website.

I'm really pleased with how he turned out.

His brief details are:

12 inches tall (to the top of the pom poms on his hat, which is removeable)
Schulte German viscose (greyer than it appears in the photo)
Handpainted eyes in a warm brown
Seriously cute blue elephant fabric for his hat and ruff (removeable), all the way from Thailand!

£120.00 + p&p.

If you would like him to softly pad his way to your home before he appears on my website, get in touch at sarah@sarahsbruins.co.uk

Hope you like him!

Hugs, Sarah x

Second time lucky

2012-01-24T06:59:00.001-08:00

Hopefully these lovely bears will find a home second time around.

They are on ebay until the 26th Jan and are available to all countries.

They seem to have more 'watchers' this time around, so fingers crossed for them!

All there details are on their individual ebay listings HERE.

If anyone knows who made the lovely little needlefelted bear at the bottom of the photo I would love to know. He came to me with no details and I would like to credit the artist. Thank you!

Reluctant sale

2012-01-10T07:09:00.001-08:00

I have three lovely bears from my own collection available on ebay HERE

It's a reluctant sale and I would love them to go to a home where they can be displayed and loved.

The first two bears are Lediteds by the talented Leny van der Eijk. I just love the first bears paper hat and his dungarees! The girl bear wears a fabulous dress. I am not sure if this is a vintage doll dress, but to my eye it looks to be. Unfortunately these two bears come with no hang tags.

The third bear is a A.S. Baeren bear 'Lewis', a sweetheart in baby blue alpaca from talented artist Anika Stalzenberger. Lewis comes with his hang tag as shown in the photo. I would like to point out that in the photo Lewis is perched on a fire grate, which is non working and painted!

I've started all these lovelies at the low price of £40.00.

I shall be having a rummage through my mohair and may possibly be putting some on ebay, if I can bear to part with it!

I will keep you updated!

Hugs, Sarah x

Seasons Greetings

2011-12-26T04:31:00.001-08:00

A little late in the day but...........Seasons Greetings from me!

I've been a bit absent from blogger as I tend to get a bit absorbed by Christmas. I've never been very good at juggling things and tend to be able to focus only on one thing at a time!

I thought the delightful victorian picture of the birds above was rather apt, as we have blue tits and long tailed tits in our garden. Along with territorial blackbirds, a lone robin, ring necked doves and waddling wood pigeons.

I shall be giving a lot of thought to my bear making and soft sculpture in the new year and giving my website another make over and developing some new designs. The elephant I've been making is completed and sits patiently on my desk waiting for his collar! I'm rather pleased with the way he has turned out.

Well, enjoy your festive breaks everyone and the biggest of thanks to those of you that have given a home to my bears or rabbits and thanks also to those of you who pop by and read my rabblings.

Hearty holiday hugs,

Sarah x

Fudge listed on ebay!

2011-11-28T10:51:00.000-08:00

The lovely Fudge is now on ebay and hoping for a home for Christmas.

Here is his listing link

I hope you can pop by and visit him. He has a sweet wistful expression and I love his vintage look I've given him. He's starting much lower than his original website price. So if you've always toyed with the idea of giving him a home, maybe now could be the right time ;)

I'm busy here in my corner of the world! I've just finished another article for a collector's teddy bear magazine. This time New Zealand Teds magazine! It was a pleasure to do and I look forward to receiving my copy!

Busy in the garden getting everything ready for winter. I've been giving the chickens house a lick of fence paint, so its nice and tidy and extra protected from the apparently harse winter we are going to get here in the UK. The chickens will be getting some fatty treats to keep them warm and cosy!

I'm still working on my very first elephant! Where does the time go?

Anyway, I hope all of you that read this are well and happy.

Bye for now!

Hugs, Sarah xxx

Honey now on ebay!

2011-10-31T07:19:00.000-07:00

Honey is now sold. Thank you Susan!

The lovely Honey is now on ebay! He's such a sweet little bear with big character.

I'm starting him at £50, so lower than his original website price.

Some of his brief details are;

6 inches seated, 8 inches tall
fabulous dense faux fur
lovely green eyes

For more details visit his listing HERE

Hope you have all had a lovely weekend!

Hugs, Sarah x

Winter's ebay listing ends today!

2011-10-23T04:47:00.001-07:00

Winter's ebay listing ends today, Sunday 23rd October, 6pm BST. To visit his listing click HERE

I've started him at £80.00 and his usual price is £120.00, which he will revert back to if he goes unsold. He's a very pretty bear and far more twinkly than his photos show!

Hope you are all having a lovely weekend.

Hugs, Sarah x

Winter on ebay!

2011-10-17T08:46:00.000-07:00

I've popped Winter on ebay HERE

He's starting at £80.00 much lower than his website price. Hope you can visit him!

I'm still busy working away. Spent this morning planting fruit trees! Well my Robert was digging the holes and I was tying them to their stakes and protecting them from the chickens! We have a Braeburn apple a Conference pear a Victoria plum and a Morello cherry. I don't hold out much hope for the cherries, as I think one of our resident squirrels will be quite partial to them, but you never know, he might have a savoury palate, rather than a sweet one.

The weathers getting very chilly here in the UK, more the weather it should be this time of year. I did find the baking heat in October slightly disconcerting!

Anyway, keep warm and happy!

Hugs, Sarah x
www.sarahsbruins.co.uk

Acorn on ebay!

2011-10-06T07:32:00.000-07:00

I'm a little late in posting this! BUT, better late than never.

Acorn pictured above is now on ebay, until next Sunday the 9th. His listing is HERE.

Many thanks if you decide to pop along and visit his listing. He's a bear full of character! Such a pretty mohair too.

I have my thinking cap on for the TOBYS. A rather prestigious worldwide teddy bear and soft sculpture competition. You see the need for the thinking cap? I've an idea for an entry and it's not a bear OR a rabbit. Come to think of it, I may need a lightbulb for that lightbulb moment, along with the thinking cap.

Here in the UK we have been having a heatwave. Yes, in October. Tempretures are now swiftly dropping and we are due for snow.

'Constant change is here to stay' - Anonymous

Acorn has sold. Thank you!

Hugs, Sarah x

In print!

2011-10-01T06:01:00.000-07:00

It's been a long while since I have appeared in the Teddy Bear Times magazine. So you can imagine my delight when Faye of Teddy Bear Times asked me if I would like to write a piece in hand colouring eyes! She had seen a piece I had written for an online magazine.

I was eagerly awaiting the magazine coming out and a little nervous at the same time! I flicked quickly through the pages in our local stationers and there it was. I rather liked the way it happened to co-ordinate with the front cover! It was almost like I had developed a sixth sense when I sent in that photo of one of the eyes I had completed!

I must admit, it is strange to see your bears looking back at you from a magazine, when you are used to seeing them looking back at you through a computer screen or sat there in front of you in person!

Anyway, a big 'thank you' to Faye!

Peter Plum featured in the bottom left of the photos and Ashley, featured bottom far right, are still available from my website HERE .

I hope my blog post finds you all well and happy.

Hugs, Sarah x

Lovely time had at Hugglets 'Teddies 2011'

2011-09-13T11:46:00.000-07:00

We had a lovely day at Teddies 2011 on Sunday.

We arrived with plenty of time to set up the table and after a lot of fretting about how it looked, I decided it was just fine and set off the bears well. The bears and rabbits got some lovely comments and had some photos taken of them, including a photographer taking photos for the Hugglets Festival web page! There wasn't time for me to hide under the table, so I had to grin and 'bear' it!

As it was our first time doing a Hugglets show there's always the feeling of going into the unknown territory, but my fears went unfounded as everything was wonderfully organized and I thoroughly enjoyed the yummy complimentory ginger biscuits and a voucher for a tea or coffee!

Click to make bigger!

Carwyn found a loved home with a mother and daughter from Wales and it was lovely to chat in person to other artists I've conversed with online.

I had a rummage through the mohair remnant on sale and picked up some steel shot (using all my upper body strength). It's heavy stuff and saves on postage buying some from bear fairs ;)

We brought bears and rabbits home, but it's nice to have some 'new faces' on the website. It's now all updated, with as usual the Paypal buttons for ease of purchase.

I sure they would love for you to pop along and say 'Hi' to them here!

Hugs, Sarah x

Hugglets Teddies 2011 preview!

2011-09-09T10:12:00.000-07:00

Ashley

Carwyn

Spud

Peter Plum

Cookie - Mini bear

Here are five of twelve bears and rabbits that will be coming to Teddies 2011 this coming Sunday 11th September! I will also be bringing another bear that I am still at this moment working on and any bears and rabbits that are still looking for homes on my website.

I've had some very late nights (or is that early mornings ?!) getting prepared for the show. Anyway, here's the new boys.

We would love to see you there!

For more details about the event CLICK HERE.

Hugs, Sarah x

Hugglets 'Teddies 2011' on track

2011-08-30T06:28:00.000-07:00

I'm busy sewing away in preparation for the fair on Sunday September 11th. Hopefully I should have nine bears and three rabbits available!

Below is 'Peter Plum' who will be one of the bears available.

I will also have some of my more traditional bears available, but Peter Plum is one of the quirky characters I also like to create.

We will be Hall 4, stand number 146. Not too far from the snack bar!

For more details Click here

Hope you can make it. We would love to see you there!

Hugs, Sarah x

For Mum x

2011-07-30T03:03:00.000-07:00

This should have been played as we left the church after Mum's funeral. Due to technical problems it couldn't be played, so I'm playing it here for her.

Mum loved Eva Cassidy, so I hope she would of liked my choice.

Sarah x

Almost forgotten

2011-06-08T07:02:00.000-07:00

I'm still busy sewing in the afternoon for Hugglets 'Teddies 2011' in London in September. One bunny done and a bear almost finished. While digging through my materials and equipment, I came across this little chap (above). He was eyeless,earless and mouthless and his limbs were not attached to his body, though he had been carefully stored in a tupperware box!

He is now on his way to being finished, bless him. How could I have forgotten him!

More news soon, be it 'beary' or otherwise.

Hugs, Sarah x

Raindrops on Roses

2011-05-31T06:45:00.000-07:00

Thought I would share this photo of one of the roses in our garden, after some much needed rainfall.

You can click on the photo to make it bigger.

Hope you all are having a lovely week.

Hugs, Sarah x

At the weekend......

2011-05-24T06:39:00.000-07:00

I was doing a bit of this

managed to squeeze in using this

and today I'm using these!

Hope you all had a lovely weekend!

Hugs, Sarah x

New look website now live!

2011-05-07T04:51:00.000-07:00

After being away for what seems like an eternity, I am now delighted to say I've finished my new look website!

Another new change to my site is that you can now purchase by using the Paypal buttons below each bears page. There's also some lower prices to some of the bears!

Goodness knows how many times I've changed it. I'd still like to tweak it here and there, but that can wait for another day as I've bears to sew for 'Teddies 2011' in Kensington Town Hall in September.

I've re-done my blog, to give it a nod towards my website, but also it's own individual look.

Anyway, hope you like the new looks. Any glitches, please let me know ;)

www.sarahsbruins.co.uk

Hugs, Sarah x

Cupboard Renovation Photos!

2011-03-23T09:16:00.000-07:00

These photos relate to my previous post! I decided not to upload them until my sister had seen our new cloakroom over the weekend. Just in case she popped by my blog!

All done. The bedroom is next. A little breather first and a chance to get back to working on my website re-do! No rest for the wicked..........

Hugs, Sarah x

Still here.......

2011-03-18T08:49:00.000-07:00

I am, honestly!

Have at long last finished decorating our cloakroom. It wasn't just a quick lick of paint either. My other half created a false wall to hide pipes and installed tongue and groove and installed coving and finished the woodwork around the window to match our other original windows in our 1928 house. I lined the walls and painted them and gave the tongue and groove three coats of paint and the door two and repainted the ceiling. Oh and I re-tiled the floor. We had hoped to keep the original tiles but they were so badly stained and pitted we sadly couldn't, so we went with something similar to the originals. Oh and of course we installed the toilet and hand basin. It had just been a cupboard with the previous owners.

It's been one of those decorating projects where you really can't seem to see the end of the tunnel, how ever hard you squint into the distance.

Will be back with 'Before' and 'After' pics soon.

Hearty hooray hugs, Sarah x

Tiddly Widdly

2011-02-26T05:56:00.000-08:00

Just had to share this. Discovered this egg amongst our other girls eggs, when doing the usual daily egg collecting. 'Yes, pretty enough egg' I hear you proclaim, 'but why the importance?'. Well this egg is photographed sat in a teaspoon! It's either what's called a *ahem* 'wind' egg, or it's our Izzy's first attempt (she should lay dark brown eggs) or it's Tippi's, who hasn't laid since the dinosaurs roamed the earth.

It was yolkless, which doesn't solve the mystery. I've kept the shell. Can't manage to part with it just yet.

I'm still tweaking my website and will be glad when it's done and uploaded.

Hope you are all having a lovely weekend.

Hugs, Sarah x

We'll be at Teddies 2011!

2011-02-11T08:41:00.000-08:00

We (Sarah's Bruins) will be at Hugglets Teddies Festival 2011 on Sunday 11th September at Kensington Town Hall, London.

After 11 years of bearmaking I have got a stall and am thrilled! It will be wonderful to be at such a prestigious event and for collectors to see my bears (and rabbits!) 'in person'.

Lots of sewing for me over the coming months I think!

For more details visit the Hugglets website HERE

Have a lovely weekend everyone!

Hugs, Sarah x

Charlie's listing ending today, Sunday 6th!

2011-02-06T06:12:00.000-08:00

Charlie's listing is due to end today! Still time to bid if you would like to give this little man a loving bear friendly home!

HERE is the link to his listing.

Hope everyone is having a lovely weekend. Rather windy here in the UK!

Hugs, Sarah x

Charlie and his chicken on ebay.com

2011-01-31T07:44:00.001-08:00

Charlie and his chicken are having another go on ebay, bless them.

This will be his last time there, as I don't want to break his little beary heart if he doesn't find a forever home.

I've got him starting at a much lower price than he appears on my website.

He's a lovely little chap who sits at 5 inches. His little chicken toy will come with him, they would be lost without each other.

Do I hear violins?

Pop along and say 'Hi' HERE. Only if you want to of course!

Hugs, Sarah x

Acorn's auction ending soon on ebay

2011-01-22T04:43:00.000-08:00

Just stopping by to say that Acorn's listing on ebay.co.uk will end tomorrow (Sunday) at 7pm. His starting bid is £39.99 with FREE postage and packaging! *Whispering* He's £100.00 on my website, so a sweetie for a much lower price. I'd love to see this little man find a lovely home.

Click HERE to go to his listing.

Have a lovely weekend everyone!

Hugs, Sarah x

Acorn on Ebay and huge piggy news!

2011-01-16T08:42:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year Everyone!

Above is Acorn who will go 'live' on ebay.co.uk at 7pm tonight. He is on for seven days at a much lower price than on my website. If you would like to take a peek, click HERE. Free postage too!

Also......remember the HUGE guinea pig I made and now resides with Anita and Ian, well Anita did a lovely post on her blog introducing Winnie. Thats now her name! My very first guinea pig was named Winnie, which was a lovely coincidence.

Anyway, if you would like to read the post, click HERE.

I'm in the process of redesigning my website and am going to go with a different look. I'm still also planning on making other critters other than bears and rabbits. I think creating Winnie has pushed me forward with that!

Hope your start to 2011 has been a good one.

More news soon!

Hugs, Sarah x

Huge Guinea Pig Finished!

2010-12-21T12:38:00.000-08:00

Here's the story in pictures!

He was collected last week. The room felt very empty without him! He is a surprise Christmas present for the gentlemans wife. They have a great love of guinea pigs (I have too, I have two!). What an incredibly lovely thoughtful gift.

I hope if you are looking in Ian, you have found somewhere to hide him until the 25th!

There was certainly some trial and tribulation in his creation, but I grew rather attached towards the end. Ian's delight when meeting him made the hard work worthwhile.

If I don't post here before Christmas, may I wish you all

Merry Christmas & A Very, Very Happy New Year!

Merry on ebay

2010-12-12T14:34:00.001-08:00

I have this Sunday evening listed little Merry on ebay.co.uk. He has a starting price of £19.99 with no reserve and free delivery! A fantastic little bear at an incredibly low start price. Could Merry be wishing you a Merry Christmas?

Pop along and visit his listing HERE. His auction will end on the 17 December.

My huge guinea pig commission is now finished! I will post pictures of the progress photos here soon.

Hugs, Sarah x

HUGE commission!

2010-10-28T06:17:00.001-07:00

I've got a HUGE commission I'm just about to start work on!

The picture above of one of our sadly no longer with us furry family member (Fred) is a clue!

YES! A guinea pig. Four feet in size to be exact!

Let the challenge begin!

Hugs, Sarah x

Growing up

2010-10-19T03:53:00.001-07:00

Remember this little one? Here she is at 3 weeks.

Here she is at 13 weeks!

She's still the sweetest thing ever and still 'peep peep's' like a little chick! She likes rides on your shoulder too, with a bit of a preen of your hair while she's up there. I'm kind of sure she's a she! We still call her 'chick'. I think it's tempting fate too much to name her yet!

Hugs, Sarah x

Fudge still available

2010-10-13T07:49:00.000-07:00

Fudge the bunny (post below) sadly went unsold. If you were interested in adopting him, all is not lost. I have happy to let him be adopted for his £75 ebay price, also with the free postage and packaging. Just drop me an email at sarahsbruins@aol.com.

Chilly here today. Here I sit with a jumper and cardigan on. It's not a good look, but it's only me and the cats here, so never mind!

Robert and me have been grafting away outdoors extending the chickens covered run. I was out yesterday evening, while Robert was working late, until it was almost dark. Tiring work, but hopefully the chickens will appreciate it!

I've been itching lately to go back to my first love! Drawing, painting and sketching! I've also got a wonderful book on making ribbon flowers, which I've been meaning to have a go at. I might join Etsy!

Anyway, time is ticking away! More news soon.

Hugs, Sarah x

Fudge now on ebay

2010-10-02T09:09:00.000-07:00

Lovely Fudge is now on ebay.com with Buy It Now for $120 which is approximately £75. FREE shipping, or to us here in the UK, postage and packaging! So to give Fudge a loving home at a much lower price than he originally was CLICK HERE. to view his listing.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend and lets hope it doesn't rain, which it seems to be doing here eternally in the UK!

Hugs, Sarah x

Fudge

2010-09-30T07:54:00.000-07:00

The lovely Fudge, pictured above, will be appearing on ebay.com with a low 'Buy it Now' price, hopefully Saturday or Sunday. He's a soulful bunny looking for a loving home and a good supply of carrots!

Watch this space.

Hugs, Sarah x

'Best in Show'

2010-08-28T04:21:00.000-07:00

I have Charlie and his Chicken, Winter and Fudge in an art exhibition in my local Museum! All three are still available from the exhibition or me. Their photos are below with further details about the exhibition and 'Best in Show'.

Charlie & his ChickenWinter

Fudge

The exhibition by Atelier East is on until 18 Setpember.

A 'Best in Show is being held, where you can vote for your favourite piece of art, my Winter, Charlie and his Chicken and Fudge included!

To cast your vote click HERE You will find Winter etc right at the bottom just before you get to the box to cast your vote.

I'd be over the moon if you decide to vote and if you do, thank you, it's very much appreciated!

Hugs, Sarah x

Chick pics!

2010-08-05T09:41:00.000-07:00

Here, as promised is the cute little bundle! She will be 3 weeks old next Sunday! Look how much those wings have developed!

I'm saying 'She', as that is what we are hoping for! You would never think something so small could make so much noise! Hardly ever stops cheeping!

It would be really hard to part with something we've had from an egg! If 'She' turns out to be a cockerel, we all know how cockerels love to cock-a-doodle-doo! Me, I wouldn't mind at all, but not too sure what the neighbours would think!

She is an lavender Araucana. Lays lovely blue eggs! Kitty her adoptive Mum, lays blue eggs too, but she is a hybrid, not a pure breed. It's all very technical, so I won't bore you with it!

Fingers crossed, everyone for a hen!

Thank you so very much everyone for your comments regarding my health. I'm ok and slowly feeling better.

Above are the beautiful flowers my sister brought me down and my Get Well cards. Really does warm the cockles of my heart.

Hugs, Sarah x

Pleased to be home!

2010-07-27T10:09:00.000-07:00

My partner Robert had to make a 999 call for me Friday. Scary times! BUT the silver lining is that an operation I was needing to have was brought forward maybe 6 weeks or more. I must say that all the nurses and doctors were lovely and the wards were cleaned every day - vacuumed, mopped, tables cleaned.

As Dorothy said 'theres no place like home'! I woke up this morning in my own bed thinking it had all been a dream! Then I worried that I was dreaming I was back home! I lay in bed in semi darkness studying the room to make sure I wasn't waking up at any moment!

Anyway, without going into all the gory details that the operation entailed, I'm doing ok. Still slightly woozy and on painkillers and TRYING not to overdo it. Although there isn't a lot I can do at the moment!

I will post news of our adorable little chick at some point!

Hugs, Sarah x

When its too hot...........

2010-07-12T09:11:00.001-07:00

Just relaaaaaaaax!

Feathered Friends!

2010-07-01T08:39:00.000-07:00

Lot's of birdy goings on lately. Here is Dotty on our ladder. I popped her up there and stood watching her, trying to make out what she was thinking. I've decided it was either, 'How did I get up HERE', or 'Wow, look at the view!'. The other hens had a try, but it was Dotty who stayed for a fair while.

Kitty our blue egg layer has gone broody! She's a hybrid and it's very rare for them to go broody. She's decided that she doesn't care about the rules and wants to hatch some eggs NOW. She had a go trying to hatch out our other hens eggs and considering we don't have a cockeral, she'd have been sat on them until the cows came home with no result whatsoever. A friend of a friend had some guinea fowl eggs they wanted to hatch, so that's what she's sat on now. She's fiercely protective of those eggs. I have the wounds to prove it.

Look what my Other Half discovered while cutting our hedge! Blackbird eggs! The parents were none too clever and made the nest perched right on top of the hedge. Obviously they wanted their new babies to have a nice view when they popped out.

So, that's my news!

For those of you in the UK enjoying the hot weather, remember the sunscreen. Burnt to a crisp is not a good look.

Hugs, Sarah x

Hidey Hole!

2010-06-03T07:52:00.000-07:00

Tippi, one of our hens went briefly missing. I looked everywhere. Or so I thought. She appeared climbing over all the plants to the side of the greenhouse. I thought I would inspect what she had been up to. Nine eggs is what I found! All of them hers! She had certainly made herself a nice comfy place to lay. Obviously a choice of four nice comfy nestboxes for nine days or so wasn't to her high standards!

They were all still good enough to eat, after checking with the water buoyancy test, but we still saved them for ourselves! Very nice too!

Here's the lady herself when she was a bit younger. She has her full comb and wattles now!

Chickens = A constant source of amusement!

Hugs, Sarah x

Honey on ebay!

2010-05-23T11:07:00.000-07:00

Honey pictured above is now available on ebay.com. He has a 7 day listing which will end next Sunday at 7pm (UK time).

He's a lovely little chap made from a yummy dense plush.

Pop along to his listing HERE

It's been glorious weather here in the UK. Hope it's lovely with you all too!

Hugs, Sarah x

Another Chance!

2010-05-16T10:15:00.001-07:00

Cadbury is back on ebay.com! He has a lower start price of $80.00 (approx £55). This will be his last showing on ebay, then if he remains unsold he will snuggle up back with the bears and bunnies on my website at his original price.

Click here to view his listing.

Bye for now! I hope you are having sunny weather too!

Hugs, Sarah x

Cadbury on ebay

2010-05-03T03:32:00.000-07:00

Cadbury the bunny is now on ebay.com. He's always had lovely compliments and enquiries, but nobody has gone through to give him a home, bless him.

If you feel you can give this sweet bunny a home or just want to say 'Hi' to him visit his listing by clicking HERE He has a low start and no reserve and free shipping!

Thank you!

Hugs, Sarah x

Blooming Lovely

2010-04-25T09:50:00.001-07:00

Isn't it lovely when you buy new bulbs and have the wonderful anticipation of what they will turn out like. We bought these bulbs from a stand at a farmers market/craft fair last year. We only saw the photo on the stand, so couldn't exactly remember what they would look like!

They are so beautiful! I like my tulips in delicate shades and these are the most delicious pink. I wish I'd bought more!

Polo sold on ebay and will be heading off to the United States soon.

We had eight eggs from our eight chickens today! Doesn't happen often that they all lay in the one day, so it's always a treat when they do.

Had a lovely long weekend with my Mum and sister, who were staying with us and a visit from my brother and a visit from my Mum's friends, who haven't seen her for a long while, since she moved to live with my sister in Yorkshire. A hectic weekend, but lovely all the same.

Hope you are all having lovely weather as we are here!

Hugs, Sarah x

Polo on ebay!

2010-04-17T12:11:00.001-07:00

Polo is now on ebay.com with a very low starting price of $60! With no reserve! Pop along and say 'Hi' to him!

Click here to view his auction.

Hope you are all having a lovely weekend. It's been very warm here in the UK!

Hugs, Sarah x

New Sarah's Bruins website up and running!

2010-04-11T09:42:00.000-07:00

Yay! My new website is now viewable! You wouldn't believe how many variations there have been of it. I designed the homepage, then again, then again............ I think I must have done about ten or more different styles.

It will be so nice to be doing something different, other than website design! I'm planning on designing an elephant! The first Sarah's Bruins elephant in fact.

Pop along and visit my new site. Click on the image below the About Me on the right column and it will take you there.

Have a lovely week everyone!

Hugs, Sarah x

A New Bear at Last!

2010-03-27T07:57:00.000-07:00

Please meet.......

Charlie and his toy chicken

Charlie (and chicken!) will be available from my website sometime soon. If you are interested in adopting him or would like more details before then, just drop me an email, sarahsbruins@aol.com.

Hope you are having a lovely sunny weekend!

Hugs, Sarah x

Sneaky Peek!

2010-03-16T06:28:00.001-07:00

These are the little tootsies, that are just about completed. It's been a long while since I've made a mini bear. His head is to the right of his feet, but I'm not showing that until he's all finished!

We've had sunshine again today, which is a real treat!

Hugs, Sarah x

Snippets of Saturday

2010-03-06T10:13:00.000-08:00

Is that food you have in your hand?

Line up, line up, left, right, left right.......

Now what was I doing?

Freshly made scones

Signs of Spring!

Yet more signs of Spring!

It's been beautifully sunny here today, in my little corner of the world. I'm full of a head cold and not feeling my best, so banned myself from housework and took a few snaps and made some scones. To top it all, my lovely other half brought home some freshly made doughnuts. The sort you have to stand and wait for and are packed with oil (they're deep fried)but yummy none the less!

Hope you've had sunshine too!

Hugs, Sarah x

Looking Back

2010-02-20T06:24:00.000-08:00

So many times I take photos and forget to post them here! You can see from the sunshine in these that it is most definitely not this time of year! These were taken at one of our favourite local places to visit 'Elgoods Brewery Gardens'. The first one is of a little bridge that goes over a little waterfall that feeds into the small lake to the right of it.

This is one of my favourite trees there. It's absolutely beautiful. Can you tell I love trees?!

This is the weeping willow hanging over the bridge and also trailing into the water. The tree was much denser, but we had really high winds and it vastly reduced it.

Not sure what kind of tree this is. Possibly some kind of fir.

This white lily was almost directly in front of us, bobbing in the sunshine as we sat on the bench overlooking the lake.

Here's my Robert! Underneath the laburnum trailing the arch.

It's hard to believe we will have heat and sunshine like this again! I remember sitting on the bench with my scalp slowing cooking. Roberts hair isn't as lush as it used to be so I think he was slowly cooking at a higher temperature. He'll love me for saying that.

I'm still working on my website. I'm at the point now when I will be very glad when it is done. So of course, what have I been doing rather than work on it? Visiting blogs of course!

Enjoy the rest of the weekend.

Hugs, Sarah x

Little Birthday Cake!

2010-02-01T07:29:00.000-08:00

I made this little birthday cake yesterday for my partners niece. You really need to look at your hand and then at the photo again because otherwise its hard to get the scale! I hope it tastes ok! It was made using three of my chooks eggs. It's not often I make a cake because my eggs are so popular they tend to be put aside for people to buy!

I'm still busy redesigning my website with a whole new look. It's takes so long for me to decide how I want it to look! Then of course theres making sure everything uploads and works ok.

Anyway, back to the grindstone!

Hugs, Sarah x

Treat Yourself!

2010-01-10T09:32:00.000-08:00

I'm now offering all the bears (and rabbits!) you see above with FREE postage and packaging, to ANYWHERE in the world! I've yet to update my website, so ignore the postage costs there! Pop along to my website http://www.sarahsbruins.co.uk/ to see them in more detail. You can also click on the image above to see it much bigger.

I hope 2010 is treating you all kindly.

Hugs, Sarah x

A Sugar Dusted Happy New Year!

2010-01-04T11:22:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year everyone! May you be healthy and happy hearted.

Well we certainly had a white Christmas! Robert took this photo almost at the end of our garden while I was still slumbering in bed. Robert is the one who lets the chickens out in the morning! To the right of the fence is the chickens area of our garden. They are NOT impressed with the snow! No grass to peck at :(

My decorations will come down maybe tomorrow. I feel heavy hearted about it, as I so miss the twinkly cosiness of it all at Christmas. Rooms always look so bare.

I buy new decorations each year to add our tree, it's a slight addiction I think! I left the red off this year as we finished decorating the room Christmas Eve (!) and I felt just the gold would suit the room better.

These were my new additions to our tree. They are meant for light fittings and are made of cut glass.

They create rainbows on the walls when the sun catches them. Truly beautiful. I shall have to wait a whole year to see then again. Sigh.

On the bear front I'm planning to make some minis! Something I can sit and do in the evenings. I've a couple of ideas bouncing around in my head at the moment. For a while now I've been wanting to re-do my website. I shall have to put my thinking cap on for that one.

Anyway, once again, HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Too cute!

2009-11-30T04:53:00.000-08:00

I'm having a problem wih uploading images, due to computer internet problems! But.....I think this video could be better than what I was trying to post anyway!

Hugs, Sarah x

Still here............

2009-11-19T09:19:00.000-08:00

Where oh where does the time go?

My big Sis slapped me on the hand for not having updated my blog for over a month. Not literally, she's nice like that.

My head has been filled lately with fireplaces, sofas, the chickens, the architrave.......the list goes on. I still don't have space in my head for bearmaking. I'm sure there will be a little nook or cranny in there at some point in the future. Where that point is in the future is debateable.

I have on offer with FREE delivery four copies of The UK Teddy Bear Guide 2010 priced at £5.95 each. A great resource for all those with a love of teddy bears, whether it be artist bears, antique bears, restoring etc. Photos, contact details and info of bear artists, dates and info for bear fairs etc. It includes inside, two FREE tickets to two teddy bear events, The Winter Bearfest - February 2010 and Teddies 2010 - September 2010. Both events are held in London, UK.

For more information, or to buy a copy, just drop me an email!

I'll be back soon with photos from our day out at Sacrewell Farm Park.

Kitty's 2nd Egg!

2009-10-10T05:10:00.001-07:00

What a difference a few days make. Obviously in the few days Kitty didn't lay an egg she was deciding what colour her second one would be. It's a ladies perogative to change her mind isn't it? :)

First Blue Egg from Kitty!

2009-10-05T09:48:00.000-07:00

I'm so pleased! Kitty one of our three new chickens laid her first egg today! A beautiful blue one!She got so distressed about where to lay it and in the end laid it in the hedge! Didn't help much that three of our first lot of five hens where stood outside the hedge looking in. Then to make matters worse she was chased off her 'nest' by one of the other hens (Dolly) and she got stuck in the hedge trying to get out! I managed to distract them all, so that she could lay in peace.

Here's her beautiful egg,with Monty, who wanted 'in' on the photo!

Parrot Sitting and New Chickens!

2009-09-09T09:50:00.000-07:00

Here's Mable! She's 21 weeks of age now. She laid an egg two days on the trot when we first got her, then we've had nothing for a week! It's as if she was proving a point that she had started to lay and then thought she'd take a break! She's a no nonsense chicken and wouldn't be put in her place by the lower ranking chickens and stuck up for herself. She's settled in incredibly well with our other chickens.

This is Kitty! Her gorgeous neck colouring isn't showing up too well in the photo, but it's almost like glittering gold. She's also 21 weeks but is yet to lay. I await her eggs with much anticipation as she'll lay blue ones! She's a real sweetheart and does get picked on by our original chickens a bit.

This is Tippi! She's just a youngster at 16 weeks. You can see in the photo her comb and wattles are hardly there yet. Boy does she love her food! She tugs at your skin when you have a handful of corn. Ouchy! Also a sweetheart though and makes low honking noises when she's scared which can be quite often!

This is Tenner, who we looked after for the weekend just gone. She's 50! Here she is tucking into a dog chew! She really took to me and would come up to the bars for a fuss! She would shake when my partner Robert spoke to her. I felt highly honoured to be trusted so much.

I might be making a mini bear soon. I'm determined to get around to it! With my workroom being practically empty and bearmaking materials still boxed up I thought a mini bear would be better to make as there's less materials to have about!

It's my birthday on the 17th which I am looking forward to! I've made a little list of pressie ideas for my Robert!

Hugs, Sarah x

Darling Ducks and Absence

2009-08-27T06:41:00.000-07:00

Feels like I've been 'gone' forever!

Well.................what with work on the house and looking after the animals and working, I've become very neglectant with my blog and also bearmaking. The bearmaking has ceased due to the fact that the room for my bearmaking isn't finished yet. By the time I've got home from my other job in the afternoon and got all the house chores done, seen to the animals, put on the washing machine etc, etc, there doesn't seem to be time for much else! Hopefully that will change.

We had a lovely weekend a couple of weeks ago at my sisters. I haven't visited for about a year and it was my other halfs first long journey driving (2 hours 15 mins). I thought the journey would seem to last forever, but the time soon went. I was really chuffed we managed to make it there and back without getting lost! It was lovely to see my elderly Mum who now lives with my sister. There were lots of tears when we left, mostly from me! It was so nice to be in my sisters lovely home, all beautifully decorated and tidy. Unlike ours, which still has boxes here and there and the mess left from rewiring the house!

While there my other half Robert took some snaps of my nieces call ducks. So cute! The second two photos are the 'babies' just a few months old! I was expecting them to be fluffy ducklings. Boy, do poultry grow quick! Their names are Parsley and Pepsi the babies, and left to right at the top, Phoebe, Philly and Puddles (Mallard drake!). Puddles was found wandering alone down the road as a duckling and my niece brought him home and of course he had to have some 'friends' didn't he!

Chicken news! We are getting three more hens Sunday! So we will then have eight! Will post pictures when they are settled in their new home!

Anyway, I sit here waiting for the electricians to arrive to correct a mistake they made. Grrr. Twice they have meant to arrive and didn't, hopefully its third time lucky. Grrrrrrrrrrrrr.

Hugs, Sarah x

Last Round!

2009-08-04T07:54:00.000-07:00

Well I find out on the 10th August if I have made it through to the last round of the Bears and Buds Competition. If Bubba appears on the site, I have either won, 1st, 2nd or 3rd place. There's another round of voting to decide which I these I may have won! The last round of voting starts on the 10th August and carries on until the 10th September.

Thanks to anyone who voted! I really do appreciate it. Feel free to vote again for Bubba in the last round!

We are still busy with our house. Will be nice to have a workspace again, so I can get back to bearmaking! The chickens are keeping me busy though!

Hugs, Sarah x

URSA Voting Begins!

2009-07-05T06:46:00.000-07:00

The online magazine 'Bears and Buds' Ursa awards voting has started! Bubba made it through to the first stage of voting! I'm so pleased! He is listed in category 12 'Animal Kingdom'. If you feel he deserves to win, I would be over the moon if you could pop along and visit this link http://cyberdendesigns.com/URSA2009/Category12.htm to cast your vote. A million thank you's!

Hugs, Sarah x

Mrs Percy

2009-06-13T03:40:00.001-07:00

Couldn't resist snatching a few moments to photograph Mrs. Percy, my new poppy! Isn't she pretty?! I thought she was going to be pink, but I'll forgive her that.

So busy at the moment. I'm doing some graphic design work at the moment, producing some large display panels for an exhibition at my local museum. I'm having some very long, tiring days. I washed my hair in the shower a few days ago and had to have a long think as to whether, I'd washed my body! I will be pleased when normal service resumes and I can get all my plants planted out and some DIY done on the house. If all goes to plan today, I can chill out tomorrow!

Before I whizz off, a heartfelt thanks to those that left a comment on my post about the loss of our Ellie. I briefly forgot she was no longer with us yesterday and the realisation she wasn't stung a bit. I'm so grateful for our other five cats, that I can still have fluffy cuddles.

Hugs, Sarah x

Still here

2009-06-04T10:24:00.001-07:00

I can't believe I've been absent from blogging for over a month, or I can believe it. The jury's out on that one. My blogging came to a halt when our much loved Ellie died (pictured above) at the age of 12. I think my blogging stopped because I felt I needed to mention it, but it hurt too much to even begin to write a post about it. My wounds are healing but it still makes me so sad when I think of her. Ellie was the one we thought we would have for many more years. She was a wonderful cat and never any trouble. She would now and again give you an impromptu face wash when you picked her up. She would chase sticks, leaves etc, round and round in the garden as you wiggled them, until she made herself giddy. She lays next to Lily in the garden and shares Lily's garden light. I'm sure Lily wouldn't mind one bit.

Long absent hugs, Sarah x

Rewired

2009-04-25T03:28:00.001-07:00

Well, I came through the house rewiring just about sane. There's that much dust about, I'm expecting to find some in my navel some time soon.

When every room needs a good clean top to bottom, it's hard to make a start. Pass the jump leads over here please.

The silver linning to the rewiring means we can at least make a start at decorating. Though my mind is on the garden, mostly due to the glorious weather we are having. Did someone press a button to start summer? Though knowing the British weather we could have a hard frost next week and be told to protect our tender perenials. Anyhoo must stay positive. Summer is here (in Spring).

For a far more prettier photo that a room in chaos, here is our Monty.

Right, I'm off for a bite to eat, then some housework. Hmph.

Hugs, Sarah x

Happy Easter!

2009-04-11T03:29:00.001-07:00

A little late in the day, but Happy Easter!

The highlight of my Easter so far has been buying grow bags and a lovely twisted hazel bush. I really have to reign myself in or I would almost buy everything. Oh and I bought some stock seeds. I adore their scent! Having seen one plant costing nearly £5, I thought I would buy a packet of seeds for £2.20! Oh and yesterday I bought some beetroot seeds and poppy seeds. Our new greenhouse is up and ready, but only has radish seeds planted in there so far!

We have decided that although I love seeing the chickens outside the conservatory or eyeing us up as we wash up the dishes etc, that I would like plants and not stumps of plants, which is what we would be getting if they continue having the whole garden to themselves. I had five lovely big clumps of bluebelles, them turned round to see Dotty chatting to me with a long bluebelle leaf hanging out of her beak. They had all devoured the lot!

They will have about a third of the garden, which, with our garden being 200 feet by 35 feet, isn't too bad a space for them. Thought I still feel wicked about fencing them in. I hope to plant up plants that I know they will leave alone, so it doesn't look a barren space. They will also have two apple trees in there, when we can decide which variety to buy! I'd also like some logs to pile up so they can clamber about on them. Anyway, I hope when the fencing is done, they will be happy. I shall so miss them 'helping' me do the gardening.

Anyway, before I chicken chat any longer, enjoy the rest of the Easter break everyone!

Hugs, Sarah x

William

2009-03-23T08:51:00.000-07:00

Update: William has now been adopted. Thank you Lori!

Here is William, my latest bear! He is made from a powder soft faux fur in a kind of mink colour. I'm really pleased with how he's turned out. He will be my last bear for a little while as I shall be working on a re-design of my website. Plus, it's hard bear making with things in boxes and my workroom to be totally re-decorated soon! Floorboards to strip, artex skimmed over on the ceiling, etc, etc!

William will be available soon. I may be placing him on ebay.com. If I do, I will post the link to his auction. If you want any details, feel free to email me at sarahsbruins@aol.com.

Bye for now. Hope you are having sunshine where you are too!

Hugs, Sarah x

I've Cracked It!

2009-03-11T13:36:00.001-07:00

I have at last found out how to get sharp pictures of 'the girls'! I have to put my camera on 'Sports' mode. Turns out our chickens are athletes. They certainly look like athletes when they are digging big craters in the gravel.

Don't get me started on the vast amount of poop they produce. Thankfully our garden is large enough to take it. No picnics on the lawn for us though.

Above is Dotty. Not the brightest of chickens, but a real sweetie. Hasn't her comb come on well?

Here are L-R, Sybil, whose comb out trumps Dotty's comb hands down (see first photo), Lettuce, the phantom feather pincher. All the other girls have slighlty bare botty's on the left. Seems Lettuce is a left handed chicken. Then the beautifully feathered Gracie. I think they should bring out her colour in a paint range. Gracie Grey, has a certain ring to it, don't you think?

Now off to torture my fingers sewing my latest bears nose. Ahhhh, I suffer for my art ;)

Hugs, Sarah x

Scrub, scrub

2009-03-08T09:40:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I spent most of the day scrubbing away at the original quarry tiles in our 1920's house. This room is going to be our downstairs toilet, but in the house's youth was the larder, where food was kept cool. You can see in the photo where the little hatch was to open a vent and where the two big concrete brackets where that would be holding up a thick marble slab. On the floor there were two dark, practically black marks on it, which have driven me to distraction. Having spent £50 on 'specialist' floor cleaner products, it turns out that bleach, fine sandpaper and Cif do a better job!

Feeling absolutely shattered, I then realised that in days gone by, there would have been maids doing this probably on a weekly basis. I think I had it easy. It wasn't until 3 o'clock that I remembered that the television had been on and considering I couldn't see it from where I was and could only just make out what was going on, I decided I'd better turn it off. Well the walk into the living room would have had people questioning my sobriety. Seems scrubbing away at floors affects your ability to walk in a straight line.

Suffice to say, the stains are now gone. Robert came home and said I had a strong aroma of bleach about me. I suppose there could have been worse things to be smelling of.

Hugs, Sarah x

Sunshine and Sore Throats

2009-02-23T02:14:00.000-08:00

We've had a lovely few days of sunshine here. Really uplifting for the soul.

I'm full of a head cold as I type. Icky. My head feels like it's in a vice, feels hot and my eyes feel like marbles. You get the idea. It took me a while to text my sister the other day, I think my brain has turned into candyfloss.

Although feeling out of sorts Saturday, I dragged on my coat and popped outside to take a photo of our snowdrops and crocus basking in the sunshine. The snowdrops are at the bottom of our silver birch tree and the crocus are at the bottom of our ornamental cherry tree. They have evaded the chickens scratting around in the earth. That's the downside to chicken keeping. They devoured the primroses, so much so that you can't even see they were there. We are planning to buy a greenhouse to bring on seedlings. I did enjoy sprinkling poppy seeds around I must admit. They would never see the light of day though with the chickens raking through the soil!

Well I'm now off to see what my befuddled brain can handle............

Hugs, Sarah x

Nuremburg

2009-02-16T12:27:00.000-08:00

My big sister went to Nuremburg in Germany for a long weekend this weekend just gone. One of my nieces has been living and working there for a while so my brother-in-law and sister went to see her. She's there with her boyfriend and then in a weeks time they will be going to stay in his homeland of Australia for two months. Young, in love and travelling. Ahhhhhh.

Mum, who now lives with my sister, had three days with us as she needs looking after and I think she enjoyed her stay. I'm posting some of the lovely photos my sister took on her mini break.

This is a church doorway, which MUST be clicked on to see all the wonderful stone carving! It's amazing. I'd have needed a chair to sit on to take my time taking it all in.

This is the very adorable hotel they stayed in. I must also say that they went to a place that has a 'cocktail happy hour'! They got all the cocktails in in one go to make good use of the hour! Yummy!
I'm glad they had such a lovely time and also glad that I got to see the photos. A very good second best to seeing everything first hand.

Lastly thanks to all who commented on my 'Snow Queens' post. My girlies seem popular! They say 'Hi' to you all or maybe it's 'Bock, bock, cluck, bock, cluck'.

Hugs, Sarah x

Snow Queens

2009-02-02T07:35:00.000-08:00

The chickens braced themselves and went out in the snow for the first time today. Instead of heading for the lawn at full speed as they usually do, they stopped short of the lawn and stayed on the patio at the far end of the garden. They then decided they'd follow me up the PATH and stay well away from the white stuff.

Lettuce (2nd picture) braved the snow tentatively and for some reason known only to her, did a bit of moonwalking. I guess she thought she could walk away from it. Dotty (one of the brown hens) thought 'well if its ok for her, its ok for me' and very slowly lifted one foot and placed it in the snow. Then, because Lettuce's moonwalking had un-earthed some green grass, they all stood around pecking the small patch they could see. Sybil thought the white stuff completely perplexing and looked around for something else to do.

In the end they thought they would concentrate on the biggest expanse of green they could see and set about devouring the privet hedge.

Today, the highlight of the chickens day has been snow. Tomorrow? Maybe more snow.......and a bit more hedge.

Hugs, Sarah x

Hoppity Hop

2009-01-23T07:32:00.000-08:00

I am making another rabbit! Over at Teddy Talk Bubba a previous rabbit has proved popular and I've been itching to make another bunny for a while. I'm terribly distracted though and rather tired. Must stop watching the chickens busying themselves around the garden and get out the sewing machine.

I am sooooooo looking forward to when my workroom/study etc is all done. I'm tired (again!) of looking at boxes and everything in disarray. I need to be able to pack things away and get organized. I like to be organized and tidy. It's hard to be tidy when there's no way of being able to put things away. Well the heating will be done on the 2nd Feb, then there's the ceiling to redo and paint, the floor to strip, the wallpaper to come off and new put on and walls painted, the new boiler to be boxed in........Why did I decide to list it? Sigh. It will be done Sarah, it will be done.....

Uncovering the Past

2009-01-13T08:36:00.000-08:00

Look what I found yesterday. We are getting close to making a start on our house soon. This was described as a 'cloakroom' in the house details, but when we had a viewing, it was much as we guessed it would be, toiletless! Our house was built in 1928 and has some wonderful windows remaining and an oak handrail up the stairs, plus some lovely skirting and all the original doors and doorknobs. Anyway, the 'cloakroom' would have been used for keeping things cool and would have had a big thick marble slab sat in there. I thought I would do some investigating as we are going to have a toilet put in there at the beginning of February. After some heaving up of the carpet AND vinyl, I found the original quarry tiles. I'm going to order something called Pro Clean to give them a lovely deep clean. I was planning on having a nice grey slate floor in there and follow it through to the kitchen and conservatory, but Robert thinks we'd be mad to cover it up. I agree, but it looks like I'll be deciding decor around the floor! Never mind!

Hugs, Sarah x

New Year, New Bear

2009-01-06T07:50:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year! Where did Christmas go and can I have it back please? Did it actually happen?

As usual I am missing Christmas. I have a little momento of the front of the Radio Times stuck on my noticeboard with Wallace and Gromit staring back at me! I'm hoping a little of Nick Park's creative genius will rub off on me!

At long last I have managed to post a photo of my new bear, aptly called 'Winter' (brrrrrr). He's available for adoption and I'm hoping to add him to my website after leaving Blogland and going to Dreamweaver land. White bears are notoriously hard to photograph as are black bears. I would love to be all set up with a mini photo studio, but alas, I have to wait for good light levels outside.

This year we will be busy updating our house. We haven't been here a year yet, which is my excuse for still having the smallest bedroom stacked high with boxes! We are having our back boiler removed and our very unsightly electric fire (circa 1980 ish) removed also. It's utilitarian to say the least and we haven't even got a hearth! We will work our way through the house steadily and I can't wait to have my workroom set out and organised. It doesn't tend to do the creative mind much good when you don't know where things are and you can't fully unpack because everything will be leaving the room for heating engineers to get to radiators and install a boiler! Ah and the artex on the ceiling removed. Hoorah!

Well I must now head out and make sure all the chickens have tucked themselves up in bed. Wellies and warm coat and hat, here I come.............

Hugs, Sarah x

2008-12-24T08:13:00.000-08:00

Have a very Merry Christmas!

Love from me Sarah, my partner Robert, the cats - Alfie, Harvey, Ellie, Monty, Poppy and Sadie, the hens - Dotty, Dolly, Sybil, Gracie and Lettuce and last but not least, Guinea pigs, Lola and Hattie.

xxx

This and That

2008-12-20T10:50:00.000-08:00

Christmas day will soon be upon us! Wheeeeee! Now I just have a few more presents to wrap I'm looking forward to it. Christmas always gives me a feeling of hope and new beginnings. Plus everything is twinkly and pretty!

We had a bit of stress with the chicknes the last few days. I was watching them tuck into their afternoon treats when I noticed a fairly big bloody patch on Sybil (our white hen). I actually took a sharp audible intake of breath when I saw it. I thought people only did that in films! To cut a long story short, Lettuce had plucked out several of Sybils feathers. Ouchie. I just wanted to scoop her up and bring her into the house. Obviously that wasn't practical, so I set her up her own space inside the shed right next to their coop, to let her heal (chickens can get to like the taste of blood!). The next day I checked on her to find a scene that looked like a massacre. It looked like her area had been burgled and there were spots of blood here and there! She had gone crazy in the night not being able to be with the other girls, trashed the place and injured her comb, which was bleeding. So I cleaned her up and put her back in with the others. I'd hung a cabbage in the run to distract Lettuce and they all loved it! What was the first thing Sybil did, when her legs hit the run floor? She shot off into the nest box and laid an egg. She'd hated her 'sick room' so much she'd refused to lay her egg there.

Beary news! I have actually finished a bear! Just have some beading to add to his collar and he's all done. Will post pictures when I get time and the right lighting.

Festive hugs, Sarah x

First Eggs!

2008-12-08T04:41:00.001-08:00

Two of our chooks laid their first egg today!

Above is Dotty's, which strangely has come out dotty! Sybil sadly squished hers. Considering Sybil is a rather scatty hen, I shouldn't have expected any other.

I was rather in awe of Dotty's egg. Also rather proud (?). Hopefully there will be another two tomorrow and Sybil will be a bit more careful!

Hugs, Sarah x

Chilly Chooks

2008-12-06T02:21:00.001-08:00

This is a rather belated 'Snow Post'! Those of you in the UK will know that the snow has been and gone! It has been rather icy this week though. Eeek! I think I practically broke all the bones in Robert's hand on our walk into work. Although I wear flat boots, I might as well have had a sheet of glass for soles. If I'd tried running, I'd have gone nowhere and would have just been spinning legs on the spot.

I' d have liked to have seen what the chickens thought to the snow, when their eyes first alighted on it. As I am nowhere near being a morning person, it's usually (ok, it's always) Robert who lets them out into their run.

Do you see the feet marks going around the run? Thats our resident racing pigeon. I think he thinks he's a chicken now. They'll be clucking and he'll be cooing. Bless him. Really must ring the man who lives nearby, as it's most likely one of his.

Anyway, must go. Housework to do (yawn). Plus.........there's a bear in creation!!!

Yes, I heard the thud as you hit the floor........

Hugs, Sarah x

Cluck, cluck

2008-11-13T08:38:00.000-08:00

We are now the proud owner of chickens! Five to be exact. All various hybrids. Love them very much. They all have different personalities.

Dolly and Dotty (the brown hens) are Light Sussex and Rhode Island Red crosses. Dotty is very curious about everything and likes to climb on my lap. Dolly likes to come and see what I'm doing when I'm cleaning out their coop.

Sybil (white hen) is a Leghorn cross and will lay white eggs (eventually!). She's very scatty, but incredibly comical! She loves pecking at my clothes and tugging at my jeans and takes the liberty of wiping her beak on me when she feels it needs it.

Gracie (grey hen) is a Maran cross and will lay eggs with a plum blush. She's a big hen with lovely hazel eyes. If a bird flies over she practically spins on the spot with panic! She's usually the first to go to bed.

Lettuce is the last, but not least of the hens. She loves a cuddle! She's the youngest of them all but is the boss! She loves to study my face and nibble my hair. I'm wary of too much curiosity, as last week she pecked out one of my contact lenses!! For a moment I thought she'd damaged my eye and turned my head to look at her and there she sat on my lap with my contact lense sticking out of her beak! Suffice to say, I grabbed it back as quickly as possible. Keeping hens is certainly not uneventful.

Well, fingers crossed for eggs. I sometimes forget they will at some point be laying them. The camera will be out when the first one appears!

Moving on

2008-10-23T06:01:00.001-07:00

Firstly, thank you so very much, to all of you that left a comment on my previous post. It's so very much appreciated. My tears are all dried. I have a photo of her on the mantlepiece so I feel she's still with us.

Anyway, he's a photo I took a few weeks ago of a rather lovely mushroom (actually one of many!) that sprung up in the garden. We were able to absolutely identify it and found it was edible. Well.....you know how button mushrooms shrink? Well this deflated. Smelt very mushroomy but had a slippery texture. I think I will pass, if anymore spring up.

My life lately is out to work in the morning, back home, cup of tea and out into the garden preparing for some new arrivals. Watch this space! When this preparation is over I'll be concentrating on making the back bedroom/study more a workspace than dumping ground. I really need to get back to making some bears.

Before I head out to the garden wrapped up warm, I'm going to re-design my blog head banner. I see so much lovely eye candy in blogland, I feel mine needs to 'pop' a bit more.

Toodle pip for now.

Hugs, Sarah x

Farewell my lovely

2008-10-02T05:44:00.001-07:00

We woke to an incredibly sad day Sunday. Lily, one of our most precious of cats had died in the night at the age of seventeen.

She was boney and deaf due to old age, but still had the most willing of purrs. You only had to smile at her to set her off.

Outwardly I may seem fine, but I still have that lump of sadness within me. I'm still teary, but keep looking back at what a wonderful cat she was.

Lily had come to us a sickly and feral kitten. A week after we had got her my Dad died suddenly. She helped me through it. My focus went on her. The vet was doubtful she would make it. She was riddled with cat flu and ear mites. I remember studying her nose one day and discovering it was actually pink not black. It was covered in solid dirt.

When she was younger she would cuddle up in bed with you, head on the pillow beside you purring. She would sleep in the bed just like us humans, head and front paws on the pillow with the rest of her down under the covers. She even got to know the word 'bedtime' and would dash upstairs ahead of anyone who was retiring for the night. She also knew the word 'birdies' and would fly to the window to watch the birds devouring what had been put out for them.

I'm biased I know, but she was so very special.

There's a light on her grave the comes on when it gets dark. I like to look out and know she's there sleeping.

Farewell Lily my lovely, I'll always miss you.

Sarah x

Church Farm

2008-08-24T10:09:00.000-07:00

A little belated, but some photos of our trip to one of my favourite places to go for a day out, Church Farm in Stow Bardolph, Norfolk. Enjoy!

The urge to snuggle up with them was overwhelming!

All the pigs at Church Farm smile!

"Hey, teach ME the art of escaping!"

Photo trickery! - The donkey on the left is 32

Buff Orpington - He was being followed around by one of his wives, but were hard to photo together

Brahmas - the cockerel was about 3 feet tall!

Trevor the Cockerel - He shared his home with Brian and their ten wives!

I love Church Farm. I could happily live there. One of the barns would do and the food is delish!

Hugs, Sarah x

Pigeon Newsflash!

2008-08-22T08:11:00.001-07:00

An update on the pigeon saga. Well, they are all gone, all nine (!) of them. But it's all good news! We thought they all belonged to the man in London, so didn't want to tell him they were here, for fear that he would collect them and 'neck' them. We found a note through the letterbox a long while after, with a name and telephone number (?). Unsure as to who it was we didn't ring it. To cut a long story short, seven of the pigeons belonged to a lovely man five minutes away from us, who had bought them from our houses previous owner. He rang the man in London, who said either 'neck' them or if he wanted them he could transfer them over to him. Well, the man local to us, is a big softy like us and wouldn't dream of necking them, so he's having them! All worked out well in the end. Hoorah!

Hugs, Sarah x

Ebay Forest!

2008-08-11T15:06:00.001-07:00

Just a quick post to say, yay, I did get Forest on ebay ok Sunday! Though for some reason the ivy background I downloaded when I designed his layout isn't showing, though it did in the preview. Very frustrating! Grrrrrr.

Anyhoo.......visit his listing by clicking here.

Had a lovely day out today at a rare breeds farm, but I'll save the photos for another day, as it's just about time for my beauty sleep!

Hugs, Sarah x

Pickle Post

2008-08-05T07:53:00.001-07:00

Well previously I had a Pigeon Post, so I had to have a Pickle Post didn't I?!

Above on the right, is Pickle, who will be travelling to his new home this week. On the left is Forest, who will hopefully be going on ebay.com this coming Sunday. I hope to get Forest's listing page designed this week. It's been a while since I did a layout or listed on ebay, so hopefully I can get into the swing of things again. If not, it'll be the following Sunday ;) Hopefully.

Our conservatory has turned out to be a great place to photograph bears! Must be all the light. Outside in good fine weather, the light is great, but when it's raining or overcast it's not so great!

It's nice to be posting something beary! I still haven't got organized to start sewing again. I think I will have to get set up in the dining room temporarily until the study is redecorated. It will be so nice to be getting things out of boxes! Joy! Sewing materials and such, right at hand! Sigh.

Anyway, I'd better make a start at the layout for Forest.

Hugs, Sarah x

Pigeon Post

2008-07-24T07:58:00.000-07:00

Aha, you left the pigeon loft door open. The joy of human forgetfulness!

Well we now have four (sometimes five) resident racing pigeons. Probably down to the fact that I'm a big softy when it comes to animals and partly to the fact that they've decided that our new home is still their home. Of course, I had to name them didn't I? Above is Specky (left) and Addie. These two have fallen head over heels and adore each other, which means I will have to keep an eye out for eggs so that the four don't turn into many more.

I once looked out and saw eight, sitting in row on the pigeon loft. Thankfully the 'extras' didn't stay. I woke up the following morning wondering if I'd dreamt it.

I must admit, I have grown quite attached. They wait on the house roof in the morning, until they see me heading down the garden, fly above me, land on the patio and if I'm not arriving quick enough, walk to greet me, turn round and walk back to the patio with me. They then have their breakfast, pecking away at the pigeon food in my hands. I'm not daft, I know that I am the object that feeds them, but it's the building of trust that's tugged at my heart strings.

Did I mention the others? There's Amtrak, who was collected by courier and flew back here in a couple of days, Bully (who no longer does) and Pink Ring (Amtraks on/off girlfriend).

Call me a big old softy, you know you want to......................

Hugs, Sarah x

Award!

2008-07-22T10:58:00.001-07:00

I got an award from the lovely Babs at Simplycats . How lovely! Its rounded off my day beautifully.

The award is the Arte y Pico and is awarded to people whose blogs inspire others with their creativity and their talents, also for contributing to the blogging world. When you are given this award it is considered a special honor. I'm terribly chuffed!

Thanks Babs!

The rules for passing this honor on:

1) Pick 5 blogs that you would like to award this honor to.

2) Each award has to have the name of the author and also a link to his or her blog to be visited by everyone.

3) Each award winner has to show the award and put the name and link to the blog that has given her or him the award itself.

4) Award-winner and the one who has given the prize have to show the link of "Arte y Pico" blog, so everyone will know the origin of this award.

I've decided to pass this award on to the people whose blogs I visit most regularly.

Contents of a Fried Brain - Sindie is always positive and cheerful, whatever life throws at her. An inspiration.

A White Cat - Babs has already awarded this blog, but I couldn't resist! Beautiful cats and brilliant photos!

Rachael Rabbit - Lovely crafts and cute knitted animals!

Wild Thyme Originals - Gorgeous bears and humourous insights!

Bearing All - More gorgeous bears and fellow British bearmaker!

So there we are!

Thanks again Babs, I'm still chuffed!

Hugs, Sarah x

Racing Pigeons

2008-07-08T08:37:00.001-07:00

Be aware when buying a house that belonged to a keen racing pigeons enthusiast, that when the said pigeons are sold on, you might get the odd one or ten come 'home'. This is whats been happening to us. We are now up to nine, though one is a 'repeat' visitor. Two have gone back after being 'shooed' away, four were collected by the new owner, one went to a local pigeon association as it didn't belong to the new owner all the others were sold to, one went by carrier (in an 'approved' box the poor pigeon couldn't even turn around in) and two are now pottering around in the garden as I type.

The repeat visitor has opened my eyes to the harsh reality of pigeon racing. Apparently if the said pigeon can't be broken in, basically his neck will be rung, as, as the new onwer said to Robert, " It'll be of no use to him". He suggested as a deterent, putting them both in carrier bags and shaking them or letting our cats have a go at them. I read someones blog yesterday, who had found a stray racing pigeon and luckily found a 'forever' home with a lovely couple. As she said, sadly some enthusiasts just see them as tools in a sport.

I'm praying that all my striding up the garden and flapping an umbrella at them will do the trick and they'll go home. It's wearing me out, but the thought of the repeat visitor being collected Friday to possibly meet it's death, I don't think I could handle.

Wish me luck with my umbrella flapping..............I think I need it.

Hugs, Sarah x

A Tiring House Move

2008-06-18T08:20:00.000-07:00

Sooooooo tired

Weeeeeell I'm back! Miss me? ; )

We moved to our new home on the 23rd May and I'm still rather shattered from it. Plus I started a little part time job in the morning which gets me out of the house and brings a few more pennies in. It's a 20 minute walk there and then 20 back and probably a few miles walking in my job, so eveything aches and my feet are stiff in the morning. My feet actually make snapping and cracking noises first thing in the morning. Did I mention I'm still 'only' 37? I think I shall be like the Bionic Woman when I am a little old lady. New hips, kneecaps etc.

This house caught us by surprise. We were adamant we were going to live in a village and we've ended up on the edge of the town we originally lived in. BUT, if we walk 100 yards up the road we are in a village. The clincher for us was the tree lined avenue and the 203 feet by 35 feet garden we have! Plus all the houses original 1928 features. We have a lime tree outside our house at the front and if I opened our bedroom window I could hold it's leaves! We have two mountain ash trees in the garden, a silver birch, a cherry and a laburnum. The silver birch is taller than the house and the others aren't far off. I adore them all, despite the leaves we will have in the autumn!

We have squirrels too, that visit regularly. Sometimes three at a time, in a group, foraging for the peanuts they're hidden in our lawn!

The cats settled in pretty quickly. Hopefully when we have the rest of Mum's cats (3) they will too. Although there will be the introductions to ours to deal with too! We will certainly have to re-do the conservatory in the future, with 7 cats there'd be no room for 'people' furniture!

I'm itching to get bearmaking again on full throttle. It's a case of finding everything first!

Toodle pip for now! It's nice to be back.

Hello Hattie

2008-05-09T06:38:00.000-07:00

I liberated little 10 week old Hattie from cramped and stark conditions in a pet shop over a week ago now. She is the new friend to Lottie after the sad loss of our Tilly (see previous post). Lottie is quite taken with her. I put her back in the hutch with her after trying to get her used to being handled and Lottie dashed up to her and started gently nibbling her ear.

I was watching Hattie having the time of her life, dashing in and out of the tubes and arches in their run at high speed (with a little jump in the air for good measure!) yesterday evening and felt my heart sink thinking of the guinea pigs I left behind in the pet shop. I hope they all (about 6) find a good home soon.

Fran is off to the USA! Hello Lori, if you are reading this!

We complete on our 'new' house on the 23rd of this month! After nearly 7 months renting the Vicarage it is time to start packing. Where did the 7 months go?

I Miss You

2008-04-30T02:34:00.000-07:00

Sadly, Tilly, the guinea pig I mentioned in my previous post, died on Sunday. She wouldn't eat earlier, so I kind of expected it, but it still knocks you sideways.

Lotty we still have, but she's all we have. Although she seems happy, it breaks my heart to see her all alone in the big cage we'd only bought a few months ago. Plus, we have two big runs we made not long ago. I've been looking online at guinea pig and animal rescues, but some are too far away and they all mostly seem to be boys. We've had boy piggies before and loved them, but it would mean waiting until he was 'seen to' to put him in with Lotty. I'd prefer to get an older rescue guinea (or two) as we were planning, after 15 years of having guineas to no longer have any, but with Tilly leaving us sooner than expected (she was 3 1/2) it's left me scratching my head.

If anyone knows of anyone in the Cambridgeshire or Norfolk area that has an older piggy (or two) needing a home, drop me an email or include it in your comment.

Lotty is in the video with Tilly when she was just a few weeks old. Turn up your speakers to hear Tilly 'chatting' away.

I miss you Tilly.

xxx

New Bear!

2008-04-25T07:57:00.000-07:00

I have at last got around to finishing this little chap! What with house buying and trying to empty Mum's house, it's been hard trying to concentrate of late. Plus, two, slightly three, of the cats have colds. Alfie is picking up after feeling very sorry for himself. Lily is as cheerful as ever, but not fending hers off so well with her being 15. Harvey has been quiet today, but so far no sneezes. It's not nice being sneezed on by cats. They don't have our good manners to cover their noses. Also, one of our two guinea pigs is off colour. Piggies go downhill so quickly. Something else to add to the worry pile!

Anyway, hope you like the new little man. He's yet to be named!

Have a good weekend when it arrives. We are off to a friend's 94th birthday meal Sunday! Yum!

Pickle and Nose Warming

2008-04-16T06:51:00.000-07:00

Pickle (previous post photo on right), is now on ebay.com, say 'Hi' to him here . Ebay can be a hard nut to crack, so wish me luck!

The above photo is of Harvey and Alfie showing nose warming techniques. Cats lose a lot of their heat through their nose, like we do our heads I suppose. Here they are showing a couple of the many ways of insulation!

Buddies

2008-04-11T02:33:00.000-07:00

It never ceases to amaze me how I can have bears sat waiting for homes and never think to photograph them together. A lightbulb came on in my head yesterday and I toddled outside to take the above photo. Is it just me, or does Pickle (right) look a bit apprehensive of the camera?

Things are going smoothly with our purchase of our next home. I've not been able to buy anything 'housey' for about two years, what with the sale of our last home and renting where we are now. I've been excitedly looking at sofas, kitchens etc and worn myself out so much, that I can't think anymore! I won't say anymore in case I jinx things!

I'm now off to do some display labels for one of the local museums. Exciting? (not).

New Website!

2008-04-04T10:28:00.000-07:00

Ta da!

I have this evening uploaded my new website - or new website design I should say.

Sarah's Bruins

What do you think? I feel its so much better than the dark brown I had and much softer visually. Although I liked the dark brown, I didn't feel it fitted in well with my bears. There's so many styles of website I like and so many colours, etc, that I'll always feel, should I have done it this way and that. But I'm happy with it and I can always change certain pages as the mood takes me. My two new bears are on there, Pickle and Forest. I love the way these boys turned out! So very different in character, yet the same design.

Thinks are looking up on the house hunting front. We've viewed one twice and may be putting in an offer! It's scary but exciting. I'd forgotten how nerve wrecking it can be!

Have a lovely weekend everyone! Lets hope the sun keeps shinning!

x

Website Weary

2008-03-26T12:25:00.000-07:00

I'm having some rather long days (ok they 'feel' long) redesigning my site. I'm keen to move on and start ordering some mohair and sewing again. I always have to get one thing out of the way and be happy with it before moving on. I'm not one for juggling lots of tasks, though of course life can have other ideas!

I shall plough ahead, then I can drool over the lovely sample pack sent to me from BearBasics. It's beautifully put together and even arrived in its own ring binder! I'm keen to order some longer pile mohairs, as it's great to see how a bear thats been created from a short pile looks with a longer pile.

No beary photo to post so I'll show you the view from our living room, when it snowed for Easter!

Alfie Ear Update

2008-03-21T06:12:00.000-07:00

Just for you Babs!

Alf's ear is now as good as it is going to get. We now affectionately call him 'Curly', due to the new shape of his ear!

In the consulting room on his last check up at the vets, he had a go at getting on everyones shoulders. He had a sit on Robert's and mine, but the lady vet politely declined due to the fact she wasn't as padded up as Robert and me!

We popped into my Mum's house on the way back to feed her cats and thought we would have a go at introducing Alfie to them. They were all incredibly good. Alfie would hiss now and again if one got too close, but I was quite taken aback at how well it went. Hopefully when we have Mum's four cats live with our three, it will go relatively smoothly!

New Website on Way!

I've not blogged too much lately as I'm in the process of re-designing my website. Just a few more pages to do, then I can upload it. I'm so indecisive, it's a good job I do my own!

I will return to blog again another day. x

What else?

2008-03-06T03:03:00.000-08:00

As well as being a teddy bear artist, I also paint murals for our local museum.

This one is of a woad mill. I love the blue against the white wall, reminds me of delft tiles. When the exhibition is over it will be painted out in white emulsion :0( At least I have photos to look back at!

Custard and Alfie news

2008-03-04T02:38:00.000-08:00

Custard is on his way to the USA. I worry so much about them travelling all that way! The relief when I know they've got there! Daft isn't it?

I'm still working on a bear that I've made from crushed vintage velvet in green. My Robert said it reminds him of a smoking jacket. I see his point. He's all done apart from having his ears sewn on, so at the moment he sits there listening to silence. He's a long time in creation as I've been sourcing the right materials for a garland around his neck. He's forest inspired, so I've got ivy leaves and I'm waiting for some great acorns to be delivered which I have just purchased from ebay. Rather than sit and twiddle my fingers I'll make a start on another bear.

Alfie news!

Alfie had his second check up on his ear at the vets yesterday evening. The drain wasn't really working well enough, so it was took out (this is where I let Robert hold him and I stood behind him until it was done!). We now have to keep the two holes open with bathing, so it continues to drain. Anyone feeling lightheaded yet? I shall have to give it a go on my own as its a long while until Robert gets home each day. I don't mind the bathing bit, its the holding him at the same time! Anyway, I'm off to give it a go. Wish me luck.

Ear, ear

2008-02-21T14:36:00.000-08:00

Our Alfie goes into the vets tomorrow to have his Aural Haematoma deflated. In laymans terms he is going to have a large blood clot drained (icky). Pardon me if you are eating. Apparently, a blood vessel ruptures. Pardon me again if you are eating.

He's thoroughly fed up now. His ear is heavy and is sticking out at a right angle, rather than upright. It kind of looks like I've been using a bicycle pump on it. In the first photo, he just looks perplexed, but his left ear, as you look at it, should look like the one on the right. It's much lower down now than the photo shows. He even hates me breathing near it. I shall do a lot of staring out of windows tomorrow (Friday), waiting for his return when his daddy (oops, sorry, Robert) brings him home.

Lots of extra love and treats I see on the cards..............

As yet un-named

2008-02-07T06:13:00.000-08:00

Unbelieveably, though my head is like mush, I've managed to create this little chap 'As yet un-named'. Does the mood of the artist reflect in their bears? He has turned out to be such a sad little man. You just want to hug him all up and tell him it'll all be ok!

I'm slightly re-designing his pattern for the next bear, which is going to be created from the most wonderfully soft, 'don't want to put it down' plush. The pile goes this way and that, which will need some careful planning as to where I place the head pattern.

Mum news!

My Mum goes into her residential home today (gulp). There's just so much to sort out, its almost hard to breathe at times. Hopefully her stay there will only be temporary, as my sister is getting a quote for a garge conversion with a view to having her live with her. I so admire her and my brother-in-law for that. I would of course miss Mum very much, but would feel she is in safe hands and around family. Is my Mum going to turn into a 'Yorkshire lass' at 79? Hmmmm, we'll see.

Right.......I'm now off to try and focus on the next bear and stroke the lovely plush. Sigh.