Tag Archives: Bears

This week in the Studio

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I had a piece of beautiful faux fur, similar to the fur I used for Walter, but in a beautiful cream and tan color. I had just enough to make a large bear like Walter, but I changed it up a bit. I wanted to make a ‘girl’ bear. At least that was my intention, I’m never sure what I will end up with, sometimes my best laid plans take on a life of their own and the bear ends up being totally different than what I thought it would.This fur reminded me of the coloring of a Kermode bear, also known as a “Spirit” or “Ghost” bear.
Here is the head after some clipping around the muzzle. I had to decide how I was going to make this look more feminine. I knew I would be adding needle felting to the face to give it more shape and character.

I always love to show you the before, in the previous picture, and then the finished face. It only seems like magic. In reality, it took me a couple of days to get the look I wanted. Lots of layers of needle felting here and there, I changed the glass eyes out, added a lower jaw so her mouth is just slightly open and then had a bit of fun with the shading of her face. I initially used just browns but when I added the touch of pink, she just came alive with personality. I’m very pleased with the result. Her name is Kady, the Kermode Bear. You can click on the photo to see it larger.

I’ll be putting her on Ebay tonight or tomorrow.

In the studio

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The bear I’m working on will be a big bear. The material I’m using is recycled from an elegant designer faux fur jacket. I think it may be faux silver fox. It is so soft and silky and the coloring is just lovely. I’m finishing up the face today and as usual, I didn’t really have a plan for what I wanted it to look like. I find it  works much better to make decisions as I go about whether to needle felt or needle sculpt the face or how much to clip the fur. Each step sort of informs me  on what the next step should be. So, it’s sometimes a nice surprise for me to see how it ends up. It was an all day process, but I’m pleased with the result. In the pictures below, you can see what a difference a day of intense face work can do! You can click on the photos to enlarge them.This bear should be ready by tomorrow, I hope.

Just starting to work on the face

Almost finished face

I also worked on a new paw and foot design for this bear. I’m very pleased with the look of it and I think I’ll be using it more. I’m deciding  if he needs some accessories to hold in his big, bendable arms. The photo at left shows him almost finished. He needs  the paw pads worked on and to be sewed up the back. He also needs to spend a few minutes with a brush to get that pretty fur all smooth again. Stay tuned for the final photos!

 

 

 

Another discovery on a rainy day…

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I found another  forgotten bin of supplies from years ago. There was a small stash of leftover mohair, enough to make 4 or 5 small bears. As I looked through it, I tried to remember the original bears I had made from each piece. Among the  jumble, underneath it all, I found a box that contained the pieces of an unfinished bear, partially stuffed. It was very different from what I usually design, with long skinny limbs. I remembered what it was. Quite a while back, I began a series of bears that I designed to replicate fine art. I think it may have been backin 2006.These pieces were meant to be  one in that series.
I found a photo of one of the other pieces in my ART series. It  was of the well known sculpture “Little Dancer” by Degas. I may add more to that series, but for now I have a different idea for the pieces I found in the box. I’ll be working on it over the next couple of weeks. 

Meanwhile, I’m making another traditional teddy bear from a piece of gold curly mohair that I also found in the box. I have it all sewn together and now I have to pick out all that curly fur that got caught in the seams so it won’t be sticking out when it’s right side out. It’s a chore, but not entirely unpleasant as I’m sitting quietly with the dog at my feet, listening to old James Taylor songs, while outside my window, the trees sway in the wind and rain and fade into the darkening, gray sky.

How lucky am I?

Meet Stuart

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Another Classic design teddy bear, Stuart is a little different than the previous bear. I made a new pattern, based on the other but adjusted some of the shapes and added a few tweaks in size and shape of the snout.  The material he is made from has so much character. It’s an alpaca and mohair blend in two colors of gray on a cream backgound.
I did a lot of shading on his face. It adds a lot of depth and character and as a painter, I feel drawn to do it on most of my bears. The first photo, taken by natural light, shows the truer colors. I still believe that even though I make a lot of modern bears with fancy details, there is something about classic teddies that is always so appealing.
Sorry, I forgot to take ‘in progress’ photos.

Meet Stuart

He’s on Ebay now until Sunday January 29

Stuart has been sold on Ebay using “Buy It Now”
 Meet Little Stuart. He is a Classic design, one of a kind Artist Bear. This photo shows the true color of his pretty fur. It’s an alpaca/mohair blend two soft gray colors on a cream colored backing. It is short and semi-sparse and lends lot of character to Stuart’s personality.
  Stuart  is 16″ tall standing and 13″ sitting. He is fully jointed with hardboard disks and stainless steel hardware. His paw pads are heavy weight felt. I’ve added extra lighting to this and the following photos to show details. Please refer to the first photo for truer colors.
 Stuart has  glass eyes that are soft gray. His nose is needle felted in gray/brown wool and coated with a clear sealant to make it hard to the touch and prevent fraying. I’ve shaded his face in several soft colors to add depth and character. His paw pads are also shaded to soften the edges and give dimension.
 Stuart is wearing a hand knit scarf. He is stuffed with polyfil, not too firmly, so he can give ( and receive) cozy hugs.
 

Maybe Stuart is daydreaming about the new home he will go to soon. 


This classically designed bear would be a wonderful first collectible bear for a new collector*

I’ll include a signed certificate of authenticity that he is a one of a kind artist bear designed by me, Mary Lou Foley of Bayside Bears. If the buyer wishes, I can also sign the foot pad.

*This bear is a collectible not intended for children under 3 years old

Arctic Pals

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The Reveal…

Here is the latest finished project!  

If you saw my previous “In the Studio” post, you saw how this bear looked a couple of days ago. I added teeth and claws to the bear and shaded his face and tongue (  polar bears have black skin and tongues) and I had decided to needle felt him a little friend. This little Emperor Penguin chick is the result!

(First, let me say that I do know that polar bears and penguins live  on opposite Arctic poles…but let’s assume these little guys met in the Arctic nursery at your local Zoo.)

I think the little penguin took more hours than the bear! I felt like I was “painting” with wool to get the shadings the way I wanted….which was why I probably took so long. Being a painter, I was thoroughly enjoying myself.
I’ll be putting this set up on Ebay tomorrow…unless one of you want to adopt them directly from me first. Just email me, mloufoley@gmail.com.