Coincidence Maybe?

I don't want to bombard you with my posts so soon, but, 

I had to share something odd that happened to me today. 

First, I completed a new Elephant who remained without a name. 

Here are some of her images (she is also listed on bearpile click below or contact me for details). 

Mira's Bearpile Page 

I took these images in a room I often use for photography because of its lighting. 

This little space is also storage for bits and pieces including bear making items and old family books etc. 

It just so happened that whilst going through some of these old books from the 1800's and 1900's I came across one belonging to my Grandfathers Sister (not sure what relation that is to me, maybe Grand Aunt or something). 

 I flicked through the pages and back to the front cover which was all very interesting and then a slip of newspaper dropped out onto the floor. 

I opened it up and it was dated November 23, 1936.

It had been roughly ripped out of the Adelaide Advertiser for an article on my families home town, but, I became intrigued by an image of a gorgeous woman and the headline:

"Death of visiting Dancer, Member of Russian Ballet Company". 

Thinking nothing of it at the time I re-folded it and put the book back on the shelf and returned to what I was doing. 

A couple of hours later I sat down to read today's Sunday Mail Newspaper 

(Adelaide Advertiser on weekdays) and there was a familiar image of this gorgeous looking woman once again and a story about her. 

She was 'Mira Dimina' which was her stage name as a ballerina for the 

'Ballets Russes de Monte Carlo', her real name was Madeline Parker. 

She was born in America and had begun to make a name for herself first as an actress appearing alongside James Cagney and then as a dancer. 

However she passed away aged 24 years from Leukemia whilst touring with the dance company. 

She had not been aware of her illness. 

She is buried in Adelaide, South Australia

 

(image by Sasha/Getty Images)

I am intrigued by her story now, although there appears to be limited information about her.

There is a small biography here: 

http://dancelines.com.au/madeleine-parker/

Hence my little elephant is a tribute to 'Mira'.

Bunnies and Bears

Hi, I have been busy finishing bears for the online show coming up at the end of March and also for the Pennylane market which is on March 10 in Mt Barker, Sth Australia. 

Hope you are all keeping cool or warm wherever you are in the Northern or Southern Hemispheres :0)

Here is Moonbeam who is now for sale. 

Moonbeam
By Di from Woollybuttbears
7½ inches (19 centimeters)

She has been handmade from tea dyed rayon fabric. She has glass eyes with needlefelt alpaca wool eyelids. She has a needlfelt wool nose and thread mouth.

Moonbeam has disc and pin joints to arms, legs and head. Her arm and foot pads are a lovely cotton fabric.

She has been filled with crushed garnet and polyfill and wears a tea-dyed ribbon and key. She comes with a swing tag and sewn in tag.

I offer layaway/layby just contact me for details.
Postage within Australia is included in price, for other places please contact me.

AUS$90.00 

for other postage contact me. 

And meet Lisa, 

Lisa
By Di from Woollybuttbears

7½ inches (19 centimeters)

Little Lisa has been handmade from viscose fabric which has been hand-dyed in a coffee and spice mix. She has glass eyes with needlefelted eye whites under her eyes.

Her nose has been stitched using thread. She has disc and pin joints to all limbs and head. Her paw pads are French linen fabric. She has had a little light shading to her face and around her paw pads.

Lisa wears a yarn collar, handmade heart button and flower. She comes with her little shabby handmade lavender scented strawberry.

Lisa has a sewn in tag and comes with a signed swing tag also.

Postage within Oz is $9 and international post including insurance is approx $28 

(depending where you live).

Thanks for looking :0)

AUS$106.00 AUD

 And finally a new bunny who will be joining some other bunnies at the PennyLane Market in March.

Valentines Day free tutorial

I have been baking all day and want to give you all 

a little Valentine's Day treat. 

A cupcake recipe just for you because you're all so special. Awwww  :0)

This is my first attempt at a tutorial and I was searching everywhere for a way

to make a little cupcake for my bears. 

I was not successful in my search and decided to roll up my sleeves and try and make some myself. 

(please note these are not fit for human consumption ;0)

Ingredients used:  faux cashmere sheets, fabric or felt, yarn, 2 biggish metal washers, polyfilling, buttons etc for decoration.

The end product measures just over 2 inches tall and the same wide (approx).

I part filled a couple with spices like cloves and aniseed and they smell gorgeous! 

They are great as pin cushions also!

Please enjoy my little Woollybuttbears cupcakes: 

p.s. does anyone have any ideas for other decorations?

Bears and more

A couple of new bears using acrylic eyes. 

Nate is a little cross eyed and cranky and Viktoria well she speaks for herself as a Goth. 

I have been fiddling around with some photos of my home grown garden produce as well, check out the figs below and the teen weeny baby Zucchini (courgettes). Aren't they cute! 

Last of all, Happy Valentines on Feb 14th to you all!! 

Hugs from Di :0)