The birth of a little bear.....

A wish was fulfilled when I took a workshop in bear making this month with Wilma. We arrived early and started on our bears full of expectations. First we choose our fur and traced the pattern. Carefully the fur was cut being sure to keep as much of the bear fuzz as possible in tact as we cut. I was so excited to see the bear's head. 

We started sewing the pieces together on a real Singer featherweight. How fun to use this machine! 

Lunch breaks sustained us as we worked.

Our first day of the workshop was over so quickly and we were so excited to give our bear heads their first drive home. They already had so much personality.....

Two weeks later...my homework was done and my sweet little bear was ready to go back to the workshop to be finished off.

It was quite an operation. My little bear got his eyes followed by legs and arms attached. Then came the excitement of stuffing him. He was almost there. He only needs a nose and mouth and paw markings. 

At the end of the second day, little bear was officially born. He and his brother happily posed for photos.....

Enjoyed their first time in sunshine......

...and Usdi Yona (Cherokee for little bear) came home to keep me company. I smile each time I see him. He sits here on my desk talking to me as I blog. 

Thank you Annemieke for giving Wilma and I our first bear workshop. For sharing your expert knowledge of bear-making and for your hospitality!

Heidi and Yona

P.S. - Thank you all so much for the comments on my previous post on my birthday quilt.