Headbands and Collars

I’ve been awful. It’s been a few weeks since my last post, after I had a big word with myself about how important it was to keep it updated! But sometimes things get in the way so, again, I’ll keep on trying to find time to blog.

Now, with my new blog I decided that I wanted to bring new things to my shop. Things that I like and that I would wear. Eventually I will branch out with other items, but I am a strong believer that I should make products that I can relate to.

So at the moment I am creating a range of wearable accessories, beginning with headbands and collars: simple items that can completely change a wardrobe. Lets begin with the collars…

I started off with this jazzy number – something to brighten up your day and impossible to be sad whilst you’re wearing it!

 

Then I decided to go for another cheerful fabric but with a more subtle and natural colour

These retro fabrics show how versatile a collar can be!

Next I would like to explore using lace and maybe try to crochet some collars, but so far I am pleased with the results. If you would like to buy any of my collars please Click Here.

Next up are the headbands. I had a hoard of fat quarters in gorgeous fabrics that I didn’t dare cut into, but I braved it and this snazzy headband was a result:

I then decided to use this cheeky material – how could I resist?!

If you would like to buy any of my headbands Click Here. 

Anyone who knows me understands how bad I am about cutting into new fabric – I have boxes and boxes of material with so much potential to be created into some gorgeous garments. I get too worried that I’ll use it up and make something that only a mother could love! But I’m slowly getting better and one of these days my loft will be clear of those boxes! And hey – I even made some turbans!

I hope you enjoy these products, they’re all for sale as well as so much more! To see all of the products at Bear Paw Crafts pleas visit my Etsy store: www.bearpawcraft.etsy.com

Bear x

Woodland cushions!

So I have to admit, I’m a bit of a hippy. I love the thought of being in a wooded area surrounded by animals! Snow White’s life sounded idyllic.. bar the fact she was on someone’s hit list!

So when I was asked to make some cushions for a children’s nursery the theme was a no brainer – woodland animals! Who doesn’t love a cute little badger?! (ahem, ignore the fairly recent news items before steam starts to escape my ears…) My only problem was that I had to choose just 4 characters. Queue lots of list making: pro’s and cons, “are wolves scary to children?”, “If I sew a squirrel will the children actually recognise what it is?!”

And onto the making..

I think if I were to do this again I would try to make the animals a bit more uniform.. and change the foxes’ eyes. I don’t feel like I have quite found my ‘style’ yet. It was fun all the same, and quite cute to have them all lined up ready for posting 🙂

Bear x

Halloween Costumes

I thought I would start by showing a few examples of what I have created in the past. For Halloween last year my friend decided to host a Pokemon themed party. He is a hardcore fan and I knew I had to be on top form with my costume. My boyfriend and I decided hand-made costumes were the way to go as I hate the tacky polyester shop bought costumes, and how expensive they are when I know I could probably make something just as good for half the price.

After much deliberation and frustrating google searches we finally decided to go as Jigglypuff and Squirtle (the cute ones!)

My cats always think it’s a great idea to try and help me at the most inopportune moments! I managed to find some great baby blue fleece and pink faux fur from the local market stall, and after many minutes of fighting to retrieve my material from furry paws I began to cut out my pattern pieces. I didn’t take step-by-step photos for my costume, as Jigglypuff is just a big ball with a face. I also kept forgetting to take photos during the “Squirtle process” but I managed a few!

 

This costume was actually surprisingly easy to make – the most time consuming part was cutting out the pattern pieces!

 

After sewing the “onesie” torso I added a layer of yellow to create the shell.

 

…and then added a zip. I also sewed in a hood, gloves and cuffs, and created a padded shell that attached as a backpack. The final products:

 

 

Excuse the messy rooms/ bad photos – (and drunken looks!) the costumes became very last minute, I am known to be quite bad for time keeping! The hat was also a bad choice on my part as the fluff was (funnily enough) extremely painful when it shed into my eyes!

Hope this inspires you for next Halloween 🙂

Bear