Going back to my roots...where it all started

After a visit home, I took some photos of my original "studio". Growing up I always had kittens, art supplies, fabric and paintbrushes around me! Just like now I always had some project going on. In High School I took nearly every art class-I think the only one I didn't take was the watercolor class because I couldn't fit it in my schedule.

But every summer, I would spend most of my time either outside in the woods or down in the 2 room cabin that was on my parent's property. Here I could create and do anything I wanted! One time when my dad had a storage room in there, I even painted the wall with a big pink flamingo on it! I wish I would of taken a picture of it...it was pretty good, at least I thought so.

I just wanted to share some photos of my original "studio" where it all began...

Another great find this weekend...

As I had shared with you all in an earlier blog, I come quite the family of crafty women. This weekend I attended my great aunt Rose's funeral and she was one of us crafty ones. I always remember she had some latest project, or was always baking and making candies for someone! Unfortunately I wasn't able to share my bears with her other than through my last letter. But I know she was proud and happy for me

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But on a good note, while I was home, we were talking about an owl that my Grandma Gibbs had made for me when I was a little girl. I haven't been able to find the pattern she used and when I tried to make my own, it just wasn't the same. I went through my parent's attic and guess who was in the bottom of the box! Mr. Owl!!

So after checking him out and he's in perfect shape still, I've decided that after catching up on a few orders, I will start creating a few critters from the patterns that my grandma's used! Stay tuned to see how it turns out. :)

Maddie is back from the County Fair!

Miss Maddie has come back from the County Fair with great news! She won a blue ribbon! She had a great time riding the rides and listening to the concert last night with her new friends in the 4-H building.

She came home this morning with her winnings, and is concidering how to use it. She's thinking of finding something at the yard sales next week that would be great to share with her friends...that or a trip to her favorite frozen yogurt place.

Her friend Pinkie was so excited and gave her high fives for a job well done :)

Then they decided to pose with their ribbons...Bailey's Bruins (and bunnies and monkeys) are blue ribbon winners for sure!

Everyone was glad that she had a good time but made it home safely with her ribbon. I hope they aren't up too late tonight celebrating!

For the Bride!

Our friends Steve and Suann will be getting married this fall! Congrats to them!

I wasn't sure what to get them, I was going to start with some pillowcases that I stamped and embroidered-everyone can use pillowcases! But unfortunately the stamp didn't work so well on the second pillow!

So..what to do...ah of course, a bear in their wedding colors!

Luckily I had those colors, and some butterfly fabric-and Jonesy was born! Then I created her card using a butterfly cut out from the Slice and ta da! Gifting was done and of course with something handmade!

I remember when I was a bride as much as I loved all my gifts, it was the handmade items from my great aunt and the church ladies that meant the most(ok and my antique cake plate Mom gave me!)

She loved him and he even got passed around the bridal shower last night :)

Off to the Fair!

So after some tips from her friend Pinkie and getting her ribbon just right, Maddie was ready for her trip to the County Fair!

She waved bye to all of her friends here at Bailey's Bruins ready to come back on Sunday and show them her blue ribbon!

She got in the back seat and buckled herself in, and waited out the day while I was at work by listing to the ipod...

Then it was time for the fair! We arrived at the fairgrounds and she was pretty excited! We walked up through the gates and to the 4-H building. She signed in and got her tag, ready to meet the judges!

I will be back on Sunday to pick her up and we'll post pictures of her winnings!!

Maddie is getting ready for the County Fair!

The other day I posted that I would be taking another bear to the county fair. This year's chosen bear is little Miss Maddie. She is a brown curly furred bear. She's getting all fancy with her ribbons and such so that she can come home and show everyone her blue ribbon!

Her dear friend Pinkie stopped by to give her some pointers. If you were following us on Facebook last summer you'll remember Pinkie. She was the little bear that won the blue ribbon last year! I overheard her telling Maddie to stand up straight and to make sure that she has a smile on her face when the judges come around.

Punky Panda gave her hugs and encouragement. I think he'll miss her this week while she's gone.

The Monkeys joined in the group hug with their long arms. I suspect they will be throwing a party for Maddie next Sunday when she comes home with her blue ribbon!

Stay tuned for more as Maddie makes a trip to the St. Francois County Fair!

Blue Ribbon Bears for the County Fair

Next week is the St. Francois County Fair and I will be getting a bear ready to go and win a blue ribbon! Stay tuned for the bear's adventures to the County Fair this week!

Monkey Mania!

Monkeys are taking over at Bailey's Bruins this summer!

After a family member wanted a monkey for her little girl's birthday, I decided to see if I could make one by altering my pattern for bears just a little...and what do you know it worked!

The first monkey was a nice little guy named Banana. I took him to work one day and he was purchased by one of the drug reps for his little boy! I had barely gotten any pictures of him!

So this past weekend I created another...welcome Sherbert to the group!!

It's getting to be a circus around here...:)

Christmas In July Sale!

I would like to invite everyone over to my shop for a little Christmas in July Sale!

For those that like to plan ahead, now would be a good time to purchase your favorite ted...I'm offering FREE SHIPPING to anyone in the domestic US that types in CHRISTMASJULY for the coupon code. Sorry to the international fans, but it's more expensive to ship abroad...

So come on over and give one of Bailey's Bruins originals a home today!

Reduce Reuse Recycle...

A few generations ago, our nation went through a time when they used and reused everything! They kept down on their waste by not using or consuming as much.

Times were hard, yes but out of that people learned to reuse what they had. My grandma's (yes the great women known as my grandma's again) recycled and reused feed sacks into clothing and later on into quilts for their family. They did this because they needed to, not because it was the "in thing" to live green. But they have lasted so many years that they have become my treasured heirlooms. I learned to reuse paper from my parents to use to doodle on and write down things. I still do this at the office or here at home. We reuse the newspapers in the garden or to help start the fire for our grilling! Yum... I like this way of reusing best :) Even with my bears I reuse or recycle parts. I love to use vintage furs or interesting clothes to create these little critters. The old mink coats that you now find in your attic or antique stores are a fashion no no...but they are a yes to bear making! If you have the family mink and would like to have it recreated into a Bailey's Bruin original, let me know. I would love to make a lovable bear for you!

So Bailey's Bruins does support recycling, reusing and reducing in every way we can.The next time you order your bear, it may be recreated from a vintage fur, someone's old shirt or even packaged in packing material from the office.

Getting the word out...

Wow it never stops amazing me how many people have started to notice my bears and love them! This was always my dream when I first started making bears all those years ago(what I think almost 14-15 years ago?!). Hey maybe I'll work on getting some photos posted on here for the original originals-I still have most of them hanging around the house somewhere.

Anyway, I've been contacted by a few people about being featured in their blogs. I'm grateful for their support and will be returning the favor on here after I get a few details worked out (so stay tuned for that too). I have been contacted by a few friends/family members to be sending my bears and bunnies off to far away places-one is even traveling as far as China! And the bears have been working hard getting featured in treasuries on Etsy. What is a treasury you ask? It's just a collection of fun things that the "curator" puts together in one listing. :) Check out some of my listings to see them. And then today when I came home, I found that a fellow Etsy member had put my bears up on an "ad" or styleboard!

Not bad...a year after starting my bear making business, I've been busy with making and selling them to family members and meeting new people online. Who knew all those years ago I just needed an internet site like Etsy and Facebook. I'm so excited. I will also be attending a few craft shows. The big one will be in my hometown of Cuba during October. :) If you're there, come look me up!