jannebears.com Blog

I thought it might be interesting to tell you how I create one of my little critters. This pair were sold on E-bay and are named Geoffrey and Chawcer.

I start out with an idea, then I sketch my ideas in my sketch design book. Then I draw the patterns on copy paper, and refine them, making the leg longer or shorter, less or more hump on the back, shorten or make the nose longer, etc.

Then I assemble all the materials, sometimes I stay on target with my sketch, sometimes it changes as I work with the materials. As you can see from the sketch, the name for my teddy changed from Chaucer to Chawcer. For him I bought an old red wool blanket at a flea market, then washed and felted it. I used the edge of the blanket so that I could have the black stripe be incorporated into his body, and the black wool stripe was used for his ears and paw pads. I hand sew most of my critters twice, so the seams are very sturdy. I sewed pink felt patches on his cheeks and felt patches on his tummy with vintage buttons. I also sewed a green felt patch on his arm and a felt patch on his leg. I made his collar out of different colors of felt.

His companion Geoffrey is made from felt with hand painted black spots. His mane and tail are made from black felt. I painted the wheels red and mounted Geoffrey on them.

After I finish making my critters, I photograph them for posterity. I keep a scrapbook of all my creations and a note of who bought them.

I love designing and making my little critters. They start out as just an idea, then pieces of material, then become personalities. It is an amazing transformation for me, the designer.

It is Mother’s Day and I visited my daughter and grandchildren. I want to wish all the Mom’s a very HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!

This is my beautiful daughter and grandson.

May 6, 2009
Hello, and welcome to my blog. My grandson Jacob is pictured above. I would like to introduce my family, so I figured I would post a few pictures of them each month. We live in an old house with two dogs, two cats and two birds. I will be introducing them along the way also.

I was a wedding photographer for many years. I still love my photography and carry a camera with me everywhere. I find that even the most ordinary objects have beauty. I will be posting my photographs here in the hopes that someone might enjoy looking at them.

I am a fiber artist, and like to dabble in designing and making teddy bears and dolls. I like to knit, crochet and sew, so I make most of their costumes as well. I have sold on E-bay under the Id jannebears for many years, and I am planning to sell on my website in the near future.

I use recycled fabrics for some of my designs, such as the recycled denim bunny above. I have used old coats and their linings, old blankets, and faux leather.

The teddy bear above was made from an old blanket I bought at a flea market. The ones below was made from faux leather.

Sometimes my children decide that they would like to keep one of my designs and they become a part of our family, such as the one below.

I keep a journal of all the teddy bears and other critters I have made and sold over the years, and it is an interesting look back at all the stages I have gone through. I also dabble a little in drawing, some of which I will post later.

I have a studio where I do most of my work, and am in the process of setting up my darkroom once again. Please feel free to spend as much time as you like here and I would love to hear from you. If you would like to visit my website at jannebears.com, I would be honored.