Here are a couple of bears I’ve been working on this week. Debbie sent me all that great Comes Mart stuff and I wanted to send her a softie in return. I asked her bunny, kitty or bear and she chose bear and so I tweaked the bunny doll pattern to make a bear doll. Shorter ears, shorter legs, big nose… they turned out sufficiently bear-like I think. My Mom got in on the action and asked for one for her friend’s new granddaughter so there are two. Cordelia, on the left, is made of corduroy and is for Debbie and Cora, on the right, is brown flannel for baby Alicia.
Cordelia has a wool felt collar and cute pink vintage button (thanks Melissa!). I experimented with making the one-piece dress actually a two piece top and skirt. I’m excited with how it turned out. And she has a little pocket for whatnot.
Cordelia’s shoes. I’m pretty happy with them but what I really want to get is a teeny tiny hole punch so I can punch out little designs in felt. Maybe something like that is a scrapbooking gadget?
Cora’s sporting a little wool felt cameo pin that I tried to embroider a bear profile on. heh heh. Stephanie the answer to your question is because I’m a wacko. She had a big wide spot in the center of her collar to fill and the dress fabric seemed sort of victorian to me and a cameo popped into my head. It’s a pretty wonky cameo and surely this baby will chew it off in a new york minute but it was fun to make.
Cora’s little wool felt victorian button ups that actually button up.
Ok, Oscar’s up from his marathon nap. Off to the baby pool!
I’m thrilled with Cora! Can’t wait to see the lucky little girl’s face.
I love their little smiles and there little shoes.
Absolutely gorgeous !!
so incredible, i adore everything about them, your work is amazing…
wow! I bet you’ll make many of these – they’re beautiful! And the shoes keep getting better and better!
The cameo and button-up shoes are brilliant. Makes me want to take a break from the mid-century aesthetic and do some Victorian-themed stuff.
Beautiful work.
Why, oh why, is my sewing machine broken?
All the details are so perfect and cute!
You need this: http://www.fiskarscrafts.com/tools/punches/hand-punches/hand-punch-516-bear/default.aspx
That cameo is genious.
I have a punch for you! It’s a 1/16″ circle punch from Fiskars. Email me w/ your address and I’ll pop it in the mail!
I am trying to make a shirt with the fabric you used for Cordelia’s skirt! It looks so good with baby blue and as a skirt, though, that I’m about ready to see if I can rescue the fabric for a skirt. I am having trouble with overcasting a raw edge. grr. But your bears are super cute! Love the button eyes & blanket stitch details.
Super cute!
i love them both. all the details, the pink rimmed eyes!!!! the button up shoes, the collars, the two-piece dresses. you are so industrious it amazes me. when my friends say, oh robin, she’s always making SOMETHING, i think of you and bow my head….!
adorable, love the corduroy body and cute cute bodies.
those are the best bears I have ever seen. the outfits and shoes are leaving me speechless. you are an amazing artist
very cute! your work is always lovely. for tiny holes, an awl might work too — and you can use it for sewing and book/paper crafting. clover makes a couple that i hear are pretty good.
hillary–i love the bears. you are so so talented and you do meticulous work. wow. and it was so great to see your photos over the ages! i love it! i am two years older than you, but i could relate to every phase, the hairdo’s etc. so cool to see! Lisa
You’re cracking me up with the bear brooch! The details on your bears are so incredible. The shoes keep getting better and better. 😉
The bear cameo is the most darling thing in the world!
i’m all smiles.
so will the recipients.
very nice! I love the what-not pocket and the cameo is brillant. really, really, really good.
So cute!!! I love your work, your dolls are just fantastic…
Okay, these are the cutest bears ever! I am in awe of your work. Thanks for all the inspiration…
Wow! This is some of your best stuff yet, I think. I wasn’t so sure about the bunnies, but you’ve won me over with these bears!
hillary, these are *THE* bears! it’s easy to see your talent and your patience and dedication. congrats!
HI there! Do you trade your dollies with other people’s? Id like to get one of yours and if you like any of my dolls maybe we could trade?
love the shoes. im mad about little shoes hihi.
take care.
HI there! Do you trade your dollies with other people’s? Id like to get one of yours and if you like any of my dolls maybe we could trade?
love the shoes. im mad about little shoes hihi. awww… love the kitty.
take care.
Both are very cute – adorable really. Love their shoes and dresses, you are so good with details!
Whoooaaa….I’m speechless, and that never happens. Hillary, they are beautiful. I love mine; the face (you know how much I love the special Hillary smirk, it’s like they know something and they’re not telling), how you did the eyes, the nose, the COLOR is fabulous and I love the corduroy, those BUTTONS, the collar is so pretty, the top, the skirt – I LOVE that fabric – and now for a little weeping – those shoes. Oh my gosh – you are amazing. The lacy trim – they are just so edible. Wow, I knew you were busy so I was just waiting for you to get a break and look what you did! I had NO idea. Wow. I…well…I don’t know what to say (although I managed to make this my longest comment ever) Thank you so much. I love Cordelia, love the name. Oh and that whatnot pocket. Thank you……
Ummmm…did I happen to mention how much I love Cordelia? Just checking….You really are an amazing artist. Your attention to detail sets you apart. Thank you again.
here’s another link for punches:
http://www.impressrubberstamps.com/miva/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=Punches_mini&Category_Code=WN&Product_Count=1
Wow, they are both fantastic!!!
You should use a hole punch for rivets, I have one for my scrapbooking but I know they make some for fabric that work the same way. They come with multiple heads so you can do varying hole sizes and you just use a hammer with them. I think a regular hole punch wouldn’t work on fabric.
really dig the bears!!! : ) mav
Thank you for all…..lovely …..