Anime Teddy Bears

Nutmeg the Bear

 I started making teddy bears in 2002 as a university student living in Adelaide. I attended my first teddy bear show in the town hall and was blown away by the bears I saw. Here were unique artist bears lovingly handcrafted by artist who were themselves bear lovers.


I spent the day there taking with talented artist who hared with me their crafts and the finer points of bear making....from what good mohair feels like to how to tell a well made bear. I left with a kit to make my own bear and a little flyer for the Adelaide Bear and Dolls Club. Both became a wonderful source of joy and friendship in my years living in Australia.

Poppy The Anime Bear

At the bear club I met these creative fun and funny folk who loved their bears and took bear making seriously. Many of them helped me in my quest to make my own bears. I will always be grateful for the kindness and generosity of the club members who shared and taught me skills.

Twig and Poco freshly made!

My first bear from that kit-Albert was completely hand sewn - with eyes that were off level.but I thought he was wonderful. I wanted to make more. I combed charity shops for old coats an anything that could make a good bear. Flea markets were also a good source for old boot buttons that could be used for eyes. I made friends with staff in the curtain department of big stores who would sell me off cuts and sample books to help me make bears. I made large ones and minatures. There was never enough money to buy good mohair fabric to make them - as a student at university...so I used what I had. I was delighted when friends of mine started to ask to buy my bears....I sold them to friends, staff of the university and even my university doctor.

Poco excaping into the trees!

Work life after university slowed down  by bear making as I put all my energy in my work. It was not such a happy time but I continued to put my energy into chasing the dollar and climbing the imaginary ladder to no where. I longed to use my time to create and do what I had a passion for.

Nutmeg waving Hello!

With the support of my partner Greg and inspiration from our beautiful farm - I have began to make bears again this time full time and with more creative expression. I now design my own bears and source my own fur fabric. I have fallen in love with the Anime style of bears with their large heads and off kilter eyes....Bear making is now part of our work here at Mystic Hills Ngaroma and I am proud that we have bears that are sought after and have gone to live all over the world...

You can see our bears at our website on
http://www.etsy.com/shop/MysticHillsNgaroma

Tootie the Travelling Chicken

Tootie in her traveling Pod

Tootie the Chicken is a little Silkie we bought as an egg. Truly - she arrived in an egg carton in the mail from across country as a wee fertilized egg.

From the start we knew wee Tootie was a little special...slightly batty and not quite able to see beyond her fluffy top hairdo."Cooked too long in the egg " as Greg used to refer to her. Tootie was always the one pecking at your boots when you went into the run......or the one who would suddenly get startled to find someone actually there....She would often be so delighted at finding her wee bit of food that she would run about the place "quacking". Yes - Tootie sounds like a duck -not quite a chicken. A tiny bundle of white fluff about the size of a small melon. It was very sad for us when we noticed that Tootie was not walking quite well...she began to hobble and fall over- unable to hold herself up. We cleaned her feet and rubbed vaseline on it daily. As the other chickens we starting to pick on her...we took her out of the run and into a little plastic tub that sat on the kitchen counter.

That was where Tootie would spend the rest of her time....we would take her out onto the lawn to sit. - picking her up as she fell over and was unable to move...Then one day Tootie was handled too roughly by our dog Pepper and we thought we would lose her....But tough little Tootie survived.I cannot tell you how many people told us we should "do away with her" or how cruel we were allowing this little fluffy ball to live in such a poor state. But both Greg and I noticed that besides being unable to walk- she was happy - clucking away and eating well.We thought she deserved a chance. Tootie would often spend the afternoons with me...sitting in her basket on my desk as I worked sewing little creatures for our online store Mystic Hills Ngaroma. - she would cluck/ quack away she we listened to the news.Evenings, Tootie would sit in her basket by the fire.

Over many months Tootie began to improve- able to stand up and then take a few shaky steps...then one day she laid an egg!! She was doing great..and continues to improve...Now she is able to walk a little - break into a run...lays eggs regularly and even came on a road trip/ camping trip with us.We did not want to leave her in the care of anyone who may not know her needs. Not many people may understand how proud we are of the spirit of this little chicken who defied the odds  - lived and is wonderfully happy.....Here are some pictures of Tootie on her road trip- the first of many we hope.

Tootie at  Stonehenge...a spot on the way to Harwood's Hole

Tootie having a supernatural experience at Stonehenge

Oh.....my oh my.....the energy this spot has!!

Greg and Tootie having a great time!

I Can FLY!!!

 

Tootie and Greg at Canaan Downs Scenic Reserve

Oh its cold on my toes!! Tootie by the snowy road on the way from Takaka to Nelson

We hope you have enjoyed the pictures and the story of our little brave chicken Tootie....more to come..Leave us a message and let us know what you think- we would love to hear from you.

Alpacas at Old McDonald's Farm. Motueka

We just spend a lovely weekend traveling the beautiful upper South Island of New Zealand and covering the lovely areas of Takaka .Motueka , Golden  Bay, Cobb Valley. and Nelson We have taken lots of pictures to share...over the coming days.

We camped at a lovely place called Old McDonald's Farm Holiday Park in the Marahau- The Abel Tasman Village,  Nelson. it was a lovely campsite with  self contained cabins, tent sites and backpackers accommodation.- it was a beautiful ,safe and peaceful spot to stop.They also offer guides for sea kayaking , swimming with the seals, a wine trail and a water taxi cruise. The area also seems to be a prime spot for caving and exploring caves.

The Holiday Park also has  a host of resident animals...from alpacas, chickens, ducks horses , cattle etc.It felt like home waking up to the familiar sounds of happy animals..We took pictures of these wonderful Alpacas. As a spinner...I would love to have one...but was so taken by their beautiful faces and large soulful eyes. I can see why my online friend Naomi is so taken with the ones she owns.

The one point we especially appreciated was the flexibility of the campiste in allowing us to bring our dog, Pepper  along- provided she was kept under control at all times I know this is not their general policy so I suggest anyone who wants to do likewise check with the campsite first. .I wish more campsites would offer this as animals are often part of the family and not necessarily a problem.


If you know of other campsites who are willing to allow pets - dogs etc under control in- please email us as I would like to build up a  list of pet friendly spots where campers with their pets are welcome.

Ol Mc Donald's Farm is rated one of the top 6 Holiday Parks of New Zealand and can be found at .their website

www.oldmacs.co.nz 

OR

at Old MacDonalds Farm
Harvets Road, RD2 Marahau
Motueka
New Zealand
Phone 64 - 3- 527 8288

Monsters we are a' making! Nigel the Corporate Zombie

Here is one of the monsters we made and listed.....stay tuned more to come ....

We all know a Nigel in our life.....the poor corporate zombie who works long and hard for some soul sucker and tries to get ahead.... worn out- battered and bruised...he goes on day after day hoping for some light at the end of the tunnel.....Still he manages to smile cos he always believes...." its gonna get better!"

Maybe you are a corporate zombie....or are a released freed one....- we hope our zombie Nigel makes you smile....

Nigel the corporate zombie is 22 cm tall or 9 1/2 " .. He is made from new and upcycled fabrics.. He is stuffed with clean batting and distressed with rough stitching and paint.He has a vintage button for his eye.


I am a New Zealand Doll . Bear and creature maker who lives on a high country sheep station in the rural New Zealand country. I live and work from my studio on the farm and share my world with my soulmate and best friend and our family of animals!

See him listed here!
http://www.etsy.com/listing/79319070/grungy-monster-doll-art-doll-nigel-the

Our Snowy Sunday Drive- part 2

Ace in the snow

Rose says...ok time to go now

Pip and Rose our dogs enjoying the white stuff

Beautiful Tussocks in the snow

Snowy Sunday Drive

We love living where we do and for us its not simply where we live and work but where we choose to spend alot of our time. This past Sunday we packed a few sandwiches and took at drive to the back of the farm to see and enjoy some of the lovely cold wintry weather that was blowing in..We thought many of you might enjoy seeing what we saw minus the freezing temperatures...Enjoy the photographs.

Getting a fire started at the little hut to make some tea for lunch.

If anyone can get a fire going - its Greg

Here's hoping - the billy is all ready

more pictures coming!