Oh my goodness!!!!!  I have just about recovered from yesterday's signing - which was exhausting, exhilarating, frenetic... and very, very successful!

I was joined by Vicki Allum (Humble Crumble Bears) and Anjo Noija from Holland for this special event and I think our different styles made for a really great mix and provided collectors with a super choice of bears. 

I was able to take a few pictures before the show started, but, by the time the doors opened at midday, there was very little chance of doing anything except stand back!  I think we were all amazed at the number of lovely people who had queued patiently in the rain, eager to see what we had created for them.  Some people knew exactly what they wanted and headed straight for that special bear (or bears), while others preferred to take stock of the whole display before making a decision.  And, because the show went live on the internet on the dot of twelve, Marsha was kept incredibly busy tackling the e-mail orders that came flooding in.

We all agreed that more people came to the signing than last year - and it was so nice to have time to chat to people and talk about bears all afternoon.  I really feel that special events like these are SO important for connecting artists and collectors and sharing our passion for teddy bears.  There really is nothing quite like being able to see and touch the bears and talk to the artists who made them.  I would like to extend a huge thank you to Marsha and Malcolm for making the signing happen, and to all the collectors who came to the shop and who logged on to their computers - you made this a wonderful day for everyone!!

Anyway, enough talking - here are some pictures from the signing:

                  Amixture of some of my minis (left), some of Anjo's and some of Vicki's bears.  Nearly all of these bears found new homes!
 
                               
 Mine and Vicki's bears

  More of Vicki's bears, with two of my 'smalls'

  Marsha checking the e-mail orders as they came in!

  One minute after the doors opened!!
 

Before the Big Day!!

I waved off the last of the bears this morning, before they are put on display for tomorrow's signing at Abracadabra.

Here are a couple of them:
This is Morton - another 5 inch bear made from gorgeous Sassy long pile!

    
                                                                                                                    Love that profile!!!
     
                     Rory, 4 inches
                                                                                                                                                       
                                           

                                                                                  Victor, 7 inches

I have been asked by several people to make more little bears for this event, so there will be six minis, some smalls, and a couple of bigger bears.

See you there tomorrow!

Yes folks,
It's that time of year again - and, for me, it's one of the high points of the summer!
For the past three years, Marsha Davison has organised this very special and exclusive signing event; entry is by invitation only and you can sign up for one here: ABRACADABRA

What is unique about this event is that an online 'virtual signing' is run concurrently with the actual signing in the shop.  So this means that, if you can't physically get to to the shop, you can still participate and adopt a bear or two - the only thing you can't do is to join us in a cup of coffee and biscuits!  When you sign up for your invitation, you will be issued with a password and instructions on how to log in on the day.  So get your invite and put the date in your diary: Saturday, June 21st 2008

We like to put out little teasers of some of the bears that will be available - you can see work from all three participating artists on the Abracadabra website, but here are a couple of special little guys I have just finished - two brand new designs in gorgeous smoky long pile fabric...   

So new they don't even have names yet!!       These sweet little chaps are five and four inches high, respectively.
                   
                      

More information about my new designs in the next blog update - meanwhile you can check out a few more of the Abracadabra bears on my Preview page

I am delighted to say that I have now set up a shop on Etsy.com!  I have called it 'English Eccentric', because I want to be able to showcase all of the quirky and interesting stuff I make - as well as the bears  Right now there is some jewellery and a couple of hand-stitched and bound books.  There are more pictures of Julius, too.

Later on I hope to put up some more jewellery pieces and some dolls - but that will have to wait until I can find a good secondhand electric kiln...

Anyway, to see what else I do, go to: www.EnglishEccentric.etsy.com 

Be warned - you will need plenty of time to look at all the good stuff on Etsy - there is some seriously great art and design work there.  So grab a cup of tea and settle down for a cosy hour of happy surfing!

There are only two weeks to go until the very first Teddy Bear Artist Event in Stratford, England!!

I have been working like mad and now have ten bears finished - which, for me, is a minor miracle, as I can usually only get about six made before a show.  Maybe my new studio is having a good effect on me as there are fewer distractions - like the computer and the temptation to make a cup of tea every half hour!

Anyway, here is a sneak preview of a few of the bears I shall be taking with me on June 8th:

                                                          Jingles: 17 inches

                                                          Millie: 7 inches

                                                          Julius: 18 inches

I am just about to send off my latest little group of bears.  They are off to Bath for the 'House of Bears' house-warming party.  Formerly 'Party Bears' they have now moved to bigger premises. 

If you plan on attending the show I hope you have a great time!  Here is a sneak preview of the bears I am sending to the event...

                                          
                                            Francois, 7 inches                            Araminta, 12 inches
                          
                                             
                                                  Claudine, 5 inches                       Chuckles, 5 inches 


                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                
                                                                                 
                                                                  

My mum turned 70 in February so I thought I really should make her something special to mark the event!

Since I have been practising my sculpting skills, I decided to make use of the college kiln where I spend every Thursday evening at ceramics class. 

I adore the work of Dutch doll artists, such as Ankie Daanan, who take their inspiration from old portraits by the Dutch Masters, so I thought I would try something in a similar style. 

                                     

I was very pleased with how Flora turned out - although, of course, I have a loooong way to go before I get to be anywhere near as good as my idols, hehe!  For those of you who are interested in the technical bits, I sculpted Flora's head and limbs in paper clay, which were then bisque fired.  Here elaborate hairstyle is made out of Apoxie Clay.  Her features were painted with artist acrylics, including her eyes, and she is constructed on a cloth body and wire armature. 

I found that I particularly enjoyed sculpting the feet, not sure why!  But I deliberately left her without shoes, so that I could show them off.

Gosh, it seems ages since I have written anything!  In my defence, I have beeen very, very busy... with a secret project that may or may not bear fruit in the next few months.  Can't say more at this stage, so you will just have to be patient

However, I can reveal my auction bear for the up-coming teddy bear event at Stratford-upon-Avon on June 8th.

His name is Marmaduke and he stands at 16 inches.  This is a hefty chap, since I filled him with crushed mineral sand (the filling is encased in little muslin bags, so there is no risk of leakage!).

This will be a silent auction, in aid of the British Heart Foundation - a very worthy cause, I am sure you'll agree!

                                                     

If you would like more information about the show, there is a link from my website here: Christine Pike

Following on from my Eureka Moment regarding the direct sculpting process, I have been quite prolific and am now working on my fourth bear in this style. Two have just arrived at Abracadabra Teddies in Saffron Walden and will be on Marsha's website later this week.

You can find them at: www.abracadabra-teddies.com

Here is a sneak preview of 'the boys':

     

   

Well, after creating Otto, I thought I would give myself a really hard time and try to make a similar bear - but only 4 1/2 inches high.

Tadah!!!  Meet Harvey - who will soon be off to Abracadabra Teddies in Saffron Walden, along with a few friends.
                           

These pictures show him slightly bigger than actual size.