It was wet!!!!!

Lex, Chelle and Sean on Putsborough Beach

Lex and Me just before we started The Legendary Grand Tour 2008!

I'm completely exhausted from the weekend, so much for a relaxing time!!! The weather wasn't kind to us so I'm suffering from total lack of sleep, the tent leaked so had wet shoes, wet clothes and had to sleep in a wet tent too! Other than that it was a wicked weekend, the camp site was great, the owners were so lovely! The area was beautiful in between the showers! We ate yummy food and I had the best ice cream in Croyde!

Sean, Chelle, Me and Lex at the end of the run

So many mini's

The best mini of all "MAX"

The mini run was amazing, never experienced anything quite like it, in many ways it was like a bear fair, lots of enthusiast all talking passionately about what they love and the sun did shine for us all day so an added bonus.

Chelle and Me, trying to look glam after 3 days of wet camping and no sleep!!!!

I've now returned home to a Hamleys order!!!! Yay except I have no idea when I'm going to complete it! So I am taking today to get myself organised, make a plan and get going, only 17 days until Hugglets, so much to do so little time! Arrrrrrgggggghhhhhhhhhhhh

Yay! Camping!

Woolacombe Bay

I'm off camping in Devon this weekend and it will be my first weekend off since the first week of July! Even though I think I deserve (and need) a break I'm still feeling gulity about the work I should be getting done, how sad am I? Its only 3 weekends untill Hugglets and I'm so not ready, I always want to make far more than I'm capable of doing, I'll just have to work flat out when I get back, but right now I must pack!

Mice, Miffy & baby showers!

In the past week as well as working on Hugglets mice! (four finished so far) I've also been working on a few commissions too, one for a new shop and the other for a gift for my friend Naomi.

Naomi and I have worked together for a few years, I was her supervisor when she first started work at the day centre and has become a brilliant carer, we are only a few months apart in age therefore have lots in common, anyway Naomi is expecting her first child in October and has only a few weeks left before her maternity leave starts. On Saturday Naomi's sister in law Claire hosted a baby shower and it was lots of fun, I took a small present for the baby (booties and vests as you can never have enough) and I made a bear for Naomi, I think Mum's always get forgotten a bit so wanted Naomi to have something for her, I suspect that the baby will get one too at some point! (shhh that's a secret though) I did'nt name the bear as I thought Naomi would like to do that herself and she's just informed me that she's chosen "Miffy" as that's what her and her partner Ben have been calling her bump.

"Miffy"

The Best Mohair Supplier

Over the years I've met many people within the bear world some wonderful and some not so much! Some of these people you just end up passing the time of day with at a fair and some become dear friends, I have to say this about Barbara and Andy of "Barbara-Ann Bears" and now also "Norbeary Fabrics" after chatting with them yesterday I was informed I didn't have a link to their fabric company website, slap on wrist for me, so today I'm giving a big shout out to Barbara and Andy and saying go take a look at their mohair. Barbara is a font of knowledge for any bear maker and has given me so freely valuable advise on everything from mohair to tax returns! They both have been making bears for over 15 years now so know their stuff but are always keen to learn new things and we regularly swap tips, ideas and a bit of gossip! Andy also designed my website, so I'd say I owe them both quite a bit. Anyway go check out all they have to offer here:

http://www.norbearyfabrics.co.uk/

http://www.barbara-annbears.com/

Business cards

I've just ordered some professional business cards and postcards, it took me ages to upload and design them how I wanted and now I'm just waiting excitedly for them to arrive. I used a close up photo of a commission I've just finished for a lovely customer of mine, I think he's such a sweetie!
This week I've been working on more mice for Hugglets, I've had so many requests for mice so I'm hoping to make lots for people to choose from, this weekend I should get a tan coloured one and a white one finished, then I'll start on more grey ones I think!

I'm a busy bee

There's simply just not enough hours in the day for all I want to do, the last few weeks have been mad busy and I feel like a hamster in one of those wheels unable to get off! Anyway here's a sneaky peek at what I've just finished this evening, its for an upcoming magazine piece, can you guess the theme!?

On another note my new job is going very well. I have so much to learn but have lots of support from the work based training team and I think I'm really going to enjoy this new challenge, if I could just have a extra few hours in each day life would be perfect!

So much to do, so little time!

I start my new job on Thursday and I'm just wondering why I decided to take on another job, where am I going to find the time I keep asking myself, well I'm just gonna have too. I really want this new job and can't leave the old one until I've finished my management NVQ (yep I'm studying too!) I've also never been so busy with the bears, I've got a mountain of commission's to do, Hugglets in 8 weeks Arrrggghhhhh! Less sleep I think is the only way I'll do it, right must dash and get back to work on the bears.