Cookie now available on eBay

Cookie's eBay Auction

All his details can be found on his auction listing by

clicking on the link above

Going Quackers, Beary Breaks and Hentastic Additions

Well only 6 months since my last post then............!

Firstly 'Hi' to my nephew Richard, who thought I had dropped off the planet and taken my blog with me.

So......we are now owned by three Runner ducks, seen above and below. We've had them since they were 10 weeks old. Left is Tiggy (chocolate magpie) then Daisy (white) and then Beatrix (fawn). They are certainly entertaining and rather hyper. Rather more hyper than I had expected, but to be fair to them they are still only 6 months old and yet to lay. They are usually running around the garden, bolt upright (as is the Runner duck stance) and rootling through the grass. They rootled through one of our hens feathers the other day while she was dust bathing. She was quite befuddled as to what was occurring!

I'm made the hard decision to take a long break from bearmaking. Although I would get great feedback and lovely comments (Facebook and such) sales just were not happening anymore. As much as I would love to churn out bear after bear, I obviously need to sell them. I may come back to it in the future, with perhaps a brand new look! I still have bears available on my website at www.sarahsbruins.co.uk. If you would like to take a peek. The silver lining is that I've returned to my first love of drawing! (see cockerel above). It was strange to be picking up a pencil and applying it to that bright white empty page. I've been picking up fabric and scissors for 12 years before now! It's lovely to be drawing again and my confidence has had a boost by a local picture framers saying he would take some of my work to sell in his shop! Just need to find the time to knuckle down a bit more!

Above are our new hen additions! Top is Delilah, below her is Florence and then there's Bibi. They are only 18 weeks old and still 'springy' and 'bouncy' and inquisitive about everything! Our other 7 hens are still putting them in their place, but this will calm down in time.

We had a sad loss of two hens a little while back. Lettuce (cream coloured hen) developed Egg Yolk Peritonitis, of which there is really no cure, so she was put to sleep. We were heartbroken to lose suddenly our little Chick, who one of our hens hatched from an egg. The only one to hatch from 12 eggs. She was 2 years old and full of life until she suddenly became ill one evening and by the morning we had lost her. It's a tough time when we lose our furry and feathered family members.

Well, to end on a brighter note.......in my next post, will tell you about Miriam Margoyles coming to the Museum! She arranged to come and see the original manuscript of Great Expectations, which was given to the Museum many years ago by a friend of Charles Dickens. I sadly missed meeting her. I was there when she arrived, but then had to shoot off to the dentist! Such is my luck.........

Anyway... 'speak soon'.

Sarah xxx

New to needle felting!

There's nothing as exhilarating as trying something new!

This little man has been sat in a bag, alone, unjointed and dejected. His muzzle didn't turn out as planned and in a fit of pique I gave up on him. After seeing wonderfully skilled Teddy Bear Artists who create needle felted muzzles, I thought I would resurrect him and give needle felting a go.

I must say I am rather enjoying stabbing away - much to my Robert's amusement! Those needles are lethal though and I've already gained superficial 'stabs', although nothing deep, I can well imagine how a proper jab would feel!

Like a fool, I ordered two colours with specific bears in mind, forgetting they would need noses (needle felted), so that was corrected yesterday by ordering some browns and greys and trying to not get carried away with the plethora of colours on offer.

I've yet to decide if 'Winter' on my website will have a makeover. After all, once started there is no going back!

I will post my progress here with my needle felting foray.

Well, 'that all folks'! For now anyway.

Hugs, Sarah x

Winter still in search of a home

Winter sadly didn't find a home on ebay.

He is now back on my website reduced from £120.00 to £100.00.

If you would like to give Winter a home before Spring arrives, drop me an email at sarah@sarahsbruins.co.uk

Sunshine here today! Doesn't it make a difference!

Hugs, Sarah x

Winter now on ebay.com

Winter is now on ebay.com HERE

I really do hope he finds a home. He is far more white and twinkly in reality! He has FREE postage and packaging too and is much lower priced than he was originally on my website.

The penny has finally dropped as to why you don't see many white bears.....they are a devil to photograph! Black bears too, which is a shame as both are such wonderful colours for bears. I really must get to grips with photographing the bears. Once my workroom is finished (at some point!) I would like to have an area that is always ready and set up to go for taking photos of new bears as they are created. Many a teddy bear artist has to contend with getting the lighting right or waiting for a bright day outside! Setting up of lights and backdrops, adjusting camera settings, posing the bears........cats walking into the frame. It's all very time consuming!

Anyway, I digress. Hope you will pop along and visit Winter's auction. He's on ebay until the 4th March.

Thanks for stopping by and I really do love your comments!

Hugs, Sarah x

I'm loving etsy!

For some time now I've wanted to put the bears and animals on etsy. I've always loved the look of it and thought it to be such a great vehicle for us artists to showcase our work.

Well, I rolled up my sleeves and forged ahead and almost all the bears and animals are on there! Winter and Forest are yet to go on there, as I want to take better photos. Their photos have never done them justice. I spent many hours on Forest's collar with the beading and machine stitching and it just doesn't show up well enough. Cookie the mini bear is on there, BUT, he may appear on ebay. I'm still thinking about that one!

The photos on etsy are lovely and big! I must remember that when I get around to re-doing my website. I seem to give my website a makeover once a year these days!

Anyway, have a lovely weekend everyone. I hope the sun shines again like it did today!

Hugs, Sarah x

First Ellie 'Elliott' available!

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

Reluctant sale

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

Fudge listed on ebay!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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

Almost forgotten

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

At the weekend......

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

We'll be at Teddies 2011!

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!

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

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

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!

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