pcBangles

Kisses - a special bear for Children in Need

2011-11-17T15:26:00.000Z

Kisses
Kisses is donating 50% of the proceeds of her auction to this year's Children in Need appeal.

Kisses is 7 inches tall and made with a short blonde mohair.

She is one of a kind and traditionally five way jointed.

Her face is needle felted and hand painted.

Her paws a pale brown felt with pulled toes and a dimple on the bottom of each foot.

If you would like to give Kisses a home and enter a bid, you can find her auction here

1st November Workshop

2011-11-03T14:15:00.000Z

My rose scented bear found a good home : )

I am working on a new pcBangles design - a more floppy, "aged" look and have two bears almost ready to go into the wild. Both "lads". One is made in matted green mohair and the other in an unusual peach velvet. Finishing touches this afternoon and I should be abe to get photos tomorrow morning : )

I have a new bag to go online too shortly. A handy little tote with comfy wooden handles. It is made with a heraldic red and gold print, dark red satin lining and custom made flower to compliment the bag's fabric.

A new pattern is just about ready for my carrot rabbit - needs the instructions tidying up!

What's in my workshop

2011-10-29T18:39:00.000+01:00

I have a number of people who like to know who I'm making just now (probably more to the point, they want to know just what I do all day : )

So, I am including some information on who is to come, both here and on my site.

Last week of October:
I have just finished one of my little Angel Bears ready for christmas and she'll be going on sale next week.

A new Scented bear is waiting for a feed of stuffing before she too can find a home. She is a baby pink lass and will be infused with a beautiful rose scent.

I have almost finished a little "patchwork" bear. Started for fun but she is coming along beautifully and will be joining the others looking for homes too. She is a mix of three curly mohairs in pale toffee, peach and what I would describe as dusky strawberry ! She has a patch over one eye and odd ears.

I am putting the finishing touches to a felt rabbit pattern - always find the instructions hardest to do. He's a lovely little chap with a felt carrot to cuddle : )

Commissions are up to date (thankfully !!) And I can still take commissions until the end of November.

A new baby doll will be coming along early November and I hope to have a new character doll available shortly also.

Well, back to the drawing board !!

Latest pattern - Edam a mini mouse

2011-10-29T18:29:00.000+01:00

Edam is my pattern for sale latest. A little busy mouse standing just 4 inches tall and fully dressed in a smart gathered skirt and practical apron : )

Her pattern is available for sale from my website and through ebay. Full instructions are included and a printed pattern too (no need to waste your own inks!)

Here she is below

Being so small, she needs very little material and can be made in suede (as pictues), felt or mini plush.

Scented bears

2011-09-29T17:01:00.001+01:00

A new range of delightfully scented bears. Here are the first three - Mimosa has found himself a home already : ) You'll find them in my Den here

Arbee - scented with summer rose

Mimosa - with a lavender and mimosa fragrence

Rose-Lee has a lovely rose scented tum

Trotters - my piglet pattern

2011-09-29T16:56:00.001+01:00

Trotters is my second pattern for sale. He is a chubby felt piglet. He is suitable for children and us older collectors.

Trotters has a thread jointed head and arms - his legs are sewn in. He is totally made with felt and you can decorate him as you like (he really doesn't mind).

Here he is in pink (and blue)

He is available as a download or printed and posted pattern. Also ready made if you prefer.

Full details here

Patterns

2011-09-29T16:50:00.000+01:00

I've been experimenting with other creatures recently and now have my first patterns for sale.

I am very proud of these (even if I've only managed three so far!) I had no idea the work involved in getting them into print. Giving instructions too - have got the family to try some out because it is so easy to take parts of the process for granted. Anyway ... here is the first, Abigail (more will be coming)

This is Abigail, my first ever elephant. She is totally child friendly with embroidered features, a jointed neck and sewn in limb. Her pattern is for sale on my site with a choice of either download or printed.

I am also offering an option to have her ready made too.

You'll find details here

New Fantasy character dolls

2011-08-16T12:11:00.000+01:00

Here's the first in my new Fantasy Character Range. Gambol is a cloth sculpture, 24 inch dwarf .

He has a rugged needle sculpted and hand painted face with a tumbling beard.

Here he is "guarding" my garden path. Pass if you dare!

Gambol has fixed legs to enable him to stand and jointed head and arms. His fingers are wired so that he can keep his weapon ready.

More fantasy characters will be joining pcBangles shortly for sale and commissions can be taken too : )

You can see all my dolls, bears and fancies here

Custom made bears

2011-08-16T11:56:00.000+01:00

My bears have been selling really well lately. Which is great, but leaving my store looking rather empty!!

I am running a new range of custom made to order bears who will be able to sit permanently in my store and hopefully they'll be well received : )

Here are the first two. You can find them here

LIZBETH

ROSALIND

Coth Doll Sculpture

2011-05-06T21:40:00.002+01:00

This is Crystal, my very latest cloth sculpture doll. She is 12 inches tall and wired to stand on her own. Her hands and arms are moveable so that she can cuddle Smitty.

*Crystal has now been sold : )

Crystal was originally intented to be sold on her own, but little Smitty just looked so "right" that he is now her perfect partner : )

Smitty is the original made from a pattern for download and is made with hand dyed sparse mohair. He is thread jointed with a very wobbly head.
Crystal is dressed in a purple "tulip" or balloon style skirt and gold organza tights, with a "shabby chic" look.

Please do visit my site if you are interested in more details.

Comic Relief 2011

2011-03-16T11:39:00.001Z

Here's Little Thread - he is sitting on an ebay auction and is giving 25% of his sale to this year's Comic Relief. Auction link here

I've called him Thread because of the "darnings" upon his person in bright red, yellow and green : )

His just over 5 inches tall and made with a sparse silver mohair. He has a large but soft needle felted nose in bright red with an embroidered highlight.
He is one of a kind and looking forward to joining his very first hug :)

Character dolls

2011-02-06T16:31:00.000Z

Here's my "house elf". Made using a pattern designed by Allison Marano of Faewyck Studios.
He is a little short of 12 inches tall and stands on his own using wired armature.

Another new doll, using my own pattern is Miss below. I like to think she is the teacher we remember fondly from school days : )

Pickle - cheeky and daft!

2011-01-20T15:45:00.000Z

After making a lot of sweet girly bears, here's my latest lad!

He is made with a pale pink, brown spotted alpaca fur. A slight bit of needle sculpting to create his lop sided grin and yummy chocolate sued for paws and ears. Pickle also has a "thumb" on both hands : )

Two beautiful girly bears

2011-01-20T13:10:00.000Z

Puff and Jessie

Starting 2011 with some gorgeous girls! Jessie a mohair bear and one of my usual 6 - 7 inch bears, whilst Puff is made with luxury faux fur and stands 11 inches.

Hope you like : )

Christmas tree of a bear!

2010-12-02T16:37:00.000Z

Bevis, a very colourful bear.

Bevis is made with a deep blue string mohair over a bright red backing. With so much colour going on in this little bear I decided not to give him my usual suede paws but used his colouring backing.

With a sparkly ruffle around his neck, Bevis is ready to join the christmas fun !

Help in the Kitchen

2010-11-27T17:18:00.000Z

Meet Salt and Pepper, my new limited editions.

There will just be 3 of each bears - they make a lovely couple too : )

Basil - my new limited edition bear

2010-11-15T17:30:00.000Z

In sparse pale brown mohair, Basil stands 6 inches tall and is a cheery lad with his crooked grin. His comical look is helped by embroidered "eyebrows".

A limited edition of just 4 bears I am happy to say 3 have now found good homes.

Anyone in need of a new bear for their hug :)

Nibbling in the workroom!

2010-10-30T15:38:00.001+01:00

Its been a busy week, especially with some colourful mice joining the bears. Some alarming nibbling noises have been going on in my "workroom". pcBangles mice are not at all "mousey", in fact they are bright, colourful characters with individual personalities.

5 inches tall, each mouse has designed and made their very own clothes. Well, not so much designed as found : )

To ensure that they behave and do not raid their new homes larders (too soon), each mouse will be given their very own piece of cheese.

You can mee them (and perhaps find a home for one) on my website http://www.pcbangles.co.uk/.

Do come visit

More mini bears

2010-10-29T19:03:00.002+01:00

Oliver is a 3 inch bear made with pale alpaca and rose mohair furs. He has a large needle felted nose and wears a pink and purple scarf, specially made for him.

A new mini needle felted bear has joined the hug! Ten Pence is 1.5 inches tall and made in purple with white details. He can sit on a ten pence piece - great for sledging if we get some winter now : )

Halloween in the hug!

2010-10-19T19:01:00.000+01:00

Some of my smaller bears have decided mohair coats are just not enough for October and have been busy making costumes for Halloween.

Here are two, happily now sitting in their new homes and eagerly awaiting some nice treats on the night!

Mini bears and sore thumbs

2010-10-06T17:01:00.000+01:00

I've spent the last few days needle felting some tiny mini bears. I use needle felting a lot on my bigger bears but creating a little mini cub is something else!

Ears - they are soooo small, I shall have to find a way of keeping them pinned down - without stabbing myself!

They are really sweet and hopefully will make their presence known to the rest of the pcBangles hug. I like the idea of having a bear that can be smuggled in your handbag. I may make some with loops so they can be attached to a key ring or even mobile phone - now that's an idea!

Here are my first cubs - hope you like : )

A Little Love - a tiny 1.5 inches, but all heart

Tango - guess why I name him : )

Finally, Big Al. He is only just under 2 inches tall, but he looks "big", if you know what I mean

Colourful panda

2010-10-06T16:55:00.001+01:00

My new bear, well panda! Lin Lin is a colourful lass with deep black and pale green furs. She is my second panda and is looking for a home. You can see her on my site www.pcbangles.co.uk/den.html

A pair of ooak hedgehogs

2010-09-30T22:14:00.000+01:00

Sometimes its nice to have a change and with autumn 'round the corner I thought I'd try my hand at hedgehogs. This pair do not have prickly coats but beautifully soft fur. With the gold tips and spiky appearance Ihope they pass muster.

Hope my bears will not be too put out :)

You can meet the Mumbles and the rest of my hug on site at http://www.pcbangles.co.uk/

My first panda - Jin Jing

2010-09-21T14:02:00.001+01:00

My first panda is now sitting here ready to go online : )

I've tried a new neck joint style for her to give her a thicker neck, more panda-like. And, thankfully, it has worked!

Jin Jing means "crystal, bright and clear" in chinese and I think it suits her. It also has a nice panda-style about it, if you know what I mean : )

Anyway, here she is. She is on ebay and my website - and I have just completed a portrait sketch of her too.

Off to draw up a pattern for my new cubs .........

New Folksy shop open at last

2010-09-18T16:18:00.000+01:00

Whoopee! I've finally decided on a new site for my bracelets. : )

You have probably already heard of Folksy ..... so apologies. On first try it seems very user friendly and quick. I trialled a store on Etsy for a short time but found it too confusing having to work in dollars (I can only just manage pounds!).

Folksy is a UK site but also offers the choice of selling overseas. I can already see that I shall be spending more than I am making when you see the other gorgeous creations to be found there.

Here's a quick sample of my latest bracelets -
pop along to http://www.folksy.com/shops/pcbangles
to see my store in progress : )

Sorry Bears on to new homes

2010-07-14T19:16:00.000+01:00

This is Rue, my third Sorry bear who has happily found a good home in the States. She is off tomorrow.

I have one more of these little characters to make and then the Clan will be retired.

Really pleased with with the way these bears have been received.

Hope the next clan can be as popular !

2010-06-03T18:57:00.000+01:00

A new clan of bears! Enjoyed making Sorry so much that I am settling her down into her own clan.

Sorry bears will only be 6 in number and not a limited edition as each one will have their own features.

Sorry Suzee is first and really sweet. I hope they'll be well received - pics of Suzee above : )

Sketches and scribbles

2010-05-27T18:50:00.000+01:00

Sorry

This is a drawing of Sorry, a new bear I am thinking of making.

She is still in the design stage and I haven't yet started a pattern for her.

I would like to make her in a pale gray or smokey blue colour.

Yet to decide if she will be a small bear to sit in your hand, or a bigger huggable character.

Sketches and scribbles

2010-05-27T18:42:00.001+01:00

Arnold

This is a sketch of Arnold, a limited edition bear now retired - bless him.

I've started sketching some of my bears - they sit a lot longer than my human clan : )

I do often draw bears before making them. Sometimes it helps to bring some new ideas. Other times it seems impossible to recreate them in the fur .... doh!

2010-05-27T16:55:00.000+01:00

The latest edition to my hug. A little bear called Lettuce.

I've used a Sassy bear fabric, brilliant for tiny mites. She is 4 inches tall and gorgeously green, just had to be called Lettuce : )