panda bits

Hi, i am very excited with a tiny recent making on the muzzle of a panda face.
It was based on my last visit of the Natural History Museum in UK. Initially, we were just looking fun with kids for it's popularity of exhibition on facts and skulls of dinosaurs. To my surprise, there are many aspects of specimen on endanger speices of animals. An excellent presentation in educational means and can't express much in words, worth to visit again...
Among those models and specimen, i chose this panda to post. Based on the caption they mentioned about this making, there were some fading on colors of them. That's what i love, i have a strong preference on earth tone, neutrals and fading colors. Apart from the usual way to conceive a definition of panda, this specimen shows a slender and sleek form. The fur falls next to the skin ... sorry don't know a better word to explain in English. I really want to capture this feature on my making!

Yes, i am still experimenting, a start with felting. I do try felting and rooting mohair before from the study from Forums. I go into further study from Joanne Livingston, she has a very detailed documentation on many aspects of making. This time, i try to put this into what i want under my intention.
They all start from an alpaca or alpaca/mohair based face. Felting wool on the base, and then rooting strands from either mohair or alpaca scrap.

The rooting of alpaca strands over the muzzle is really a time consuming act. I thought to pinch the top and the tail of the strand. Comes up with many possibilities. Once you try, you will enjoy it. Especially when i touch the muzzle after repetition on the rooting. It seems they are much softer than the fur on the face.
I did try rooting filaments over bear's eyes for creating eyelids, but this time, the result is out of my imagination. I haven't got the whole done, starting some heads for different colour of alpaca.

I will have more to do on panda, as based on the last show, one of the visitor sharing her interest on the 16 panda cubs, i still remember the happiness on the booming of baby panda news in China many years ago. It's not easy to give birth to a panda especially when i heard the news in US zoo reporting the loss of newborn panda last week. They are rare and precious.

Finally i attach a postcard image, is my friend's drawing of panda.
(if you wish to have one, please leave me a message)
please ask before download or want to keep this image.
thank you for your cooperation.

tutu train

Time flies, i am back now. I have precious memories this time.
First of all, the Bernard bear found a new home in London, thank you Dawn. S.
In the meantime, thanks for the support at the WSPA UK.

Another bonus is the value of knowledge from a visitor on that day, below is my main piece display on that day with a toy train bought near British Museum.
I chose this train model merely for the co-ordination with the male bear, called Benedette's outfit.
Actually, i didn't know much about the history of the code on the train. There are some abbreviation on both side of the train, coated with gold paint.
" S D J R " do you have any hints over them?
With the clear explanation of this visitor. I try to write them in short :
S- Somerset, D - Dorset, J- Joint and R- of course, Railway.
He explain how the geographical and historical reason on how it comes together and who makes this happens too.In the meantime, he recommends me to read more drawings for an artist called,
David Shepherds, i think it helps me to know more in a visual sense...
I can't imagine i was talking to a train driver at that time. Your valuable input means to me. It seems i have to extend my making with this props.

With special appreciation for those who come to my stand. I really wish to take a peek at each stand, the whole hearted efforts behind the stage and say hello to everyone. 

Ah, now i am day dreaming to go either East Somerset or West Somerset.

a 100 before Hugglets

It's my 100 blog post! I would like to give you my big bear hug for the followers, new and old ones.
Thank you for taking a peek at my page and leaving me comments and hear my bits of sharing.
Instead of the audience from our place, UK, US and Russia are my major source of audience.
Yes, i can't believe that Russian takes the most regular and high traffic source on my blog page.
Others include Europe, Australian and other Asian countries. 

Cпасибо! Is this the right word to say thank you in Russian language. Please correct me if it's not.
I like Russian design very much besides bear making industry, i adore "your" graphic design and theories behind. Maybe i will document some of my readings on their books in the later post.
But please forgive me for my poor English if i try to quote or  my reinterpretation would be quite boring :/


Apart from this, i receive great encouragement during my poor days from a Chinese lady.  Though she's not living in our city or even we haven't meet before. But i' m sure, i will visit her one day. 謝謝您
These 2 bears are gone, they lived in different Asian countries, i missed them, i have those pictures of them.
Here i print them out, reduce their size and becomes my bookmark.
When i come across one of the questionnaire, asking about the culture reference or influence from the place where i lived, my jaws dropped. To be honest, European art & design, culture and  their way of living captures all my attention. It's just a sparkling idea for me to put with the Chinese ink painting.

Handcraft objects VS machine made and mass produced, which one do you prefer?

By this coming Sunday 9th Sept, the Teddies 2012 showing in Kensington Town Hall. Hope you can come.