Sasha's Bears

A Bear family

15 December 2015

Just before leaving for my (pre-)Christmas break, I made an effort and finished my very last Teddy of 2015.

Unlike most of my bears, he has a double-barrel name: Henry Bartholomew.

This Teddy was made to order and has now joined his new family.

Henry Bartholomew will be the first Christmas present for a very important small person, also called Henry, from his loving parents.

See you all in 2016!

9 December

Today I would like you to meet Rusty and Snowy.

I have made them to order for a nice Irish lady who will give them as Christmas presents to her family, along with Roy and, very appropriately, Nicholas :) .

30 November

The last of November's Christmas fairs is over. The Market in the Barn in Ipsden went really well - I even had carol singers (and trumpeters!) perform right next to my stall.

Carol singers at the Barn in Ipsden

Among the Teddies that went there with me were three new ones that I made last week - sophisticated Quentin, simple Augustus and cat-loving Nathan. They liked it too :)

25 November

Either side of Daisy Eugenia Redd, I made two more Teddies last week: Julian the aristocratic bear and Roy, a miniature bear who is mad about fudge :)
Both will be going with me to the next Christmas fair.
It will be the Market in the Barn at Ipsden Farm Barn (The Street, Ipsden OX10 6AG), 10.30 to 3.30 on Sunday 29th November.
Please come along if you are in the area, I am sure you will enjoy it!.

21-22 November

Another Christmas fair is over - the two-day one in Checkendon. I am exhausted but happy.
It was a wonderful event, and I am very grateful to Jill and Sylvia for inviting me.
Even driving to Checkendon was like a fairy tale: the sun came out after the big overnight storm, and everything was filled with joy. I came across a doe, a fox, lots of squirrels and magpies, and some large birds of prey.
So my Teddies and I definitely caught the Christmas spirit on our way there, and it stayed with us for the two days.

Julian

20 November

Hey ho! I am very happy to introduce Daisy Eugenia Redd!
She is very special because she is the 100th original collectible Teddy Bear hand made by me.
There are two very good reason why Daisy Eugenia Redd has this rather unusual name.
For starters, she has red daisies on her soles.
As for her second name, she received it after my little sister, with whom she shares her birthday.
Whenever people see Daisy Eugenia, they always say that she has an infectious smile.
She is certainly a very happy bear.
Daisy Eugenia was made for the 2015 Christmas fairs and adopted by the very first person who saw her :)

Daisy Eugenia on my stall in Checkendon

18 November

The first of this year's Christmas fairs was a real pleasure. I love the atmosphere at the Herb Farm, the weather was fine, and there were lots and lots of nice people there.

My Funny Bunnies - one of which you can see on the photo - proved exceedingly popular.

The Teddies did not fare badly either, they met some new admirers :)

I now look forward to the next event, which is Thames Valley Air Ambulance Crafts for Christmas fair at Checkendon Village Hall on 21st and 22nd November, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on both days.

Do come if you can!

14 November

Three new Teddies are ready to go with me to the upcoming Christmas fairs.
They are Stanley (who is inquisitive and so tends to get into trouble), Oscar (who has many interests and is passionate about every one of them) and Ewan (who just loves hazelnuts).
Just reminding you that the first of the fairs is tomorrow, at the nicest garden centre I know - the Herb Farm in Sonning Common. I hope to see you there!

2 November

I am getting ready for the three Christmas markets in North Oxfordshire to which I am going in November.
The first is on Sunday the 15th (10.30 to 15.30) at the Herb Farm in Sonning Common. Everyone is welcome!
The first bear I have made for these fairs is Nicholas the toffee-loving naturalist.

31 October

On Saturday, I had a very successful fair at St Bartholomew School in Newbury.
I was pleased to meet a big fan of Sasha's Bears, who adopted three of my Teddies there and then!
As usual, it was very pleasant to see many people who like Teddy Bears and have stories about their own, which they are happy to share with me.
To be honest, it is hearing these stories that is the main reason why I like going to all the fairs - because when I make my Teddies, I always know that each one has his own personality and lots of stories in him.

Sasha's Bears stall at Newbury fair

It is also always great to see other craft makers enthusiastic about their crafts.
The holder of the stall next to mine was a man who makes things out of wood, very experienced and full of knowledge about different types of wood. We carried out some joint research, so now I know what kind of wood the cups in which my Teddies offer sweets to visitors are made of.
There are more fairs in the offing - watch this space for details!

17 October

I realize that it has been a long time since I said anything about my dry-felted Teddies.
I am still making them every now and again though, and you can see some new ones in the Gallery.

10 October 2015

Today I have another Teddy to present to you.

Sinclair is not a collectible Teddy; I made him just to try out a new pattern, and I am quite pleased with the result.

He is 8" tall and has blue English glass eyes. I made him from hard-wearing salt-and-pepper brown mohair.

Sinclair is a rather shy and sensitive bear.

At the end of this month he is going with me to another local vintage and craft fair, along with George, Margaret and some of the J Gang.

The fair will be on 31 October, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at St Bartholomew's School, Andover Road, Newbury RG14 6JP.

Do come along and say hello to Sinclair and everyone else!