Happy Fall

The Fall season is now upon us...time to catch up.


I was kept busy this summer...This year  the Teddy Bear Artists Invitational (TBAI) theme was looking back at themes that came before. My gallery piece is still for sale. (I chose "Tribute to Broadway")

 Elphaba and Glinda from "Wicked," for $250 (they are sold as a pair) and will be available for sale at my upcoming shows.

I got another opportunity to take a class at the John C. Campbell Folk School with Leslie Molen. We made a Tasha Tudor inspired doll designed by Leslie. Here is my interpretation and the entire class. blog.

 

Thank you Leslie for all your inspiration. You can check out her beautiful work on her

Here are some examples of my recent print work...
Scott Publications, Just Steampunk Vol. 5, "Edison,"

"Robin Hood" (Picture) for the Storybook Characters in Soft Doll and Animal.

And, Stampington and Company's fantastic current issue of Art Doll Quarterly (out starting today) (Picture) "Nick's List" (the picture below is the one I took, the one in the magazine turned out perfect).

The picture on the right is the Consignment  I took to the Frizellburg Antique Store. The store will be having their annual Christmas in Frizellburg event starting Friday November 14 to November 16, there you can get a head start on your Christmas shopping.


Here is my Show Schedule up to the end of the year

• DC Big Flea NOV 8-9, 2014 at the Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly, VA
• Hunt Valley Bear Show and Sale, Sunday November 9, 10am-3pm, Embassy Suites Hotel, 213 International Circle, Hunt Valley MD
• City of Fairfax Holiday Craft Show Saturday November 15, 10am-5pm and Sunday November 16, 10am-3pm
• McLean Holiday Craft Show December 5-7 at the McLean Community Center 1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean VA

I hope I will see you all at the shows.  Thanks for your support this year!

Winter Updates

Here is a belated Happy New Year!


It looks like spring is just around the corner (albeit a snow covered one).
I have 2 shows coming up!

1. D.C. Big Flea @ the Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly, VA March 1-2, http://www.damorepromotions.com/Chantilly/chantilly.htm
2. Teddies Spring Show, Holiday Inn and Conference Center. I-83 Padonia Road Exit Timonium MD Saturday March 29, 2014

Come and See us!

Happy Thanksgiving

I would just like to wish everyone a safe and Happy Thanksgiving!!

(Just wanted to share this amazing picture taken from this past Sunday. It was so cold in D.C., this fountain by the Smithsonion castle was still going even frozen)

We had such good day in D.C. despite the cold. We'll have to go again in the spring.

Just a note...

Note to those who came to see me at the Fairfax High School Craft Show this past weekend. Thanks for coming and making purchases. I enjoyed meeting and talking to everyone and I hope I'll see you and more at the McLean Show December 5, 6, and 7.

I also got confirmation from the DC Big Flea, and I will also see you there January 4-5

Thanks again.

Fall Update

I've been really busy and I haven't updated my activities for a while...

I got to got to the John C. Campbell Folk School in western North Carolina for a week. I decided to try something new for me and a little outside my comfort zone. I learned to work with materials I don't usually touch...fleece...foam...GLUE!!! I took a hand and rod puppet (like a "Muppet") class from an extremely talented puppeteer, David Stephens. It was hard work and I learned quite a bit. The rabbit I made named "Moxie" was easier to complete.
(David Stepens-Below hard at work)                                                  (Moxie waiting for some personality)

 (Here is my little "Miso" bear helping me put together my puppets)

The 2nd one was a little harder to complete. I played around with a few ideas for characters. It wasn't until I said out loud  "I just took this class to make a generic puppet" that I got my inspiration. I decided to make a generic puppet. I gave him a nose designed from a nose design for a leather nose for a teddy bear turned up-side-down. Then I used 2 plastic egg halves for his eyes. I glued in his tongue and topped his head with a bandanna. His name is "GEN-ERIC!!"

(Gen-Eric's Brain)

 

(Gen-Eric's arms)

(Gen-Eric waiting for ssome personality)

(Moxie the purple rabbit, and Gen-Eric the generic puppet)

(Me and David and the class of Puppets)

Check out David Stephens' websites "David Stephens Banjolicious" and "All Hands Productions"

Now I'm busy getting ready for the rest of my shows...pandas...snowman bears...tiny companions...lucky charms...marionette... etc.

--November 10,

The Hunt Valley Christmas Holiday Teddy Bear Show and Sale Sunday, 10:00am-3:30pm.

Embassy Suites Baltimore North Hotel 213 International Circle, Hunt Valley, Maryland

--November 16 and 17, Fairfax Holiday Craft Show  Saturday 10am to 5pm, Sunday 10am to 3pm, at Fairfax High School, 3501 Rebel Run, Fairfax, VA 22030. 

--December 6-8, McLean Holiday Crafts Show, McLean Community Center.
1234 Ingleside Ave. McLean, VA 22101
Friday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Sunday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m

Come Check us out!!

Fall Schedule

Still getting back into My routine after the Folk School. I post later about that after I collect my thoughts.
Here is my schedule for the upcoming Fall and Winter:

• November 3-4 2013, DC Big Flea @ Dulles Expo Center, Chantilly, VA. Open Saturday 9AM-6PM, Sunday 11AM-5PM
• Sunday November 10, 2013, Hunt Valley Christmas Holiday Teddy Bear Show and Sale. Embassy Suites Hotel, 213 International Circle, Hunt Valley, MD 21030. Open 10AM-3:30PM
• November 16-17 2013, Holiday Craft Show, Fairfax High School, 3501 Rebel Run, Fairfax VA 22030. Saturday 10AM-5PM, Sunday 10-3. Space #61
• December 6-8 2013. McLean Holiday Craft Show. 1234 Ingleside Ave, McLean VA 22101. Friday 11AM-7PM, Saturday 10AM-6PM, Sunday 11AM-4PM. Booth #06 (Lobby)

Updates After TBAI

I recently got back from the Teddy Bear Artists Invitational (TBAI). The theme this year was "Just Imagine" and my gallery piece as a bear marionette.  I made 2 initially because I was a little concerned that I couldn't make it cute enough and I never know whether my pieces will be male or female until I put the faces on them. This time I made one of each...the brown one was a handsome male and the "blond" one was obviously too pretty!!! So, next I set out to "assembling" them. I knew from the class that I took with Leslie Molen about the armature that goes inside, but a bear would be different. When I assembled the upper and lower arms and legs to each other I used a small "patch" on each side which was jointed on with small cotter pins with a space in between, and the neck had a wobble cotter pin joint (this was done to the brown bear). Joining the head to the body on the blond one was the same. Years ago I made Native American bear marionette as a visual aide for Camp Firefly (a Girl Scout Camp at Camp Crowell in Oakton, VA). His joints were all wobbly including the elbows and knees.

For the blond bear marionette I used the same technique as with the "Firefly" bear except I put a small "patch " on the back of the elbow joint and a "patch on the front to form the knee. This seemed to stabilize the joints and I was able to put the string through here. I was very pleased with both applications.

Next came the "styling." I wanted to show off the joints on the brown one and clothes seemed to inhibit his movement, so I dressed him in a stiffened collar with a bow tie, stiffened cuffs with button cuff links, and stiffened spats over patent leather shoes. I dressed up the blond one in a onesie blouse/bloomer combo similar to the piece I made in Leslie Molen's class. In this case I wanted to cover the body with a "costume," but still keep the flexibility. So I added a big skirt, handmade brooch, lace fingerless gloves and a key fob accessory. (I am considering adding a mop cap or head band). She looks like a "Victorian housekeeper" so I named her "Mrs. Hughes" after the character from the PBS series Downton Abbey. (She is still available for sale)

I'm pleased to say the brown one was bought by Susan Quinlan (she also bought my Mary Poppins 3 TBAI challenge/gallery pieces ago). WOW!! I am thoroughly elated!

                                                                                 (Edit Update)

Now I'm off to the John C. Campbell Folk School this week to take a class; I'll blog about it later when I get back. I'll be back just in time for the D.C. Big Flea this weekend Sept. 14-15, 2013. I'll be working to finish more pieces for this show!! See you there!!

D.C. Big Flea

Come see us at the D.C. Big Flea, at the Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly, VA. We're located in Aisle I Booth 489.

Back From the Folk School

What a wonderful week at the John C. Campbell Folk School in North Carolina. Mostly Sunny and warm. Good and Plentiful food. Good times had by all!! Old and new friends, sage advice, and new skills (techniques). I want to take another class this year and a class for sure next year.

"Best Ever" was our class theme and this was the "best ever" class, "best ever" students (Joanna, Rita, me), and course...the best ever teacher Leslie Molen. I will highly recommend any of her classes anytime. In the past I've made a Santos Cage Doll and a marionette with Leslie--so this was my third class. We made a Chinese inspired needle sculpted doll-- Ling Li-Hua or Chun Woo. The basic doll is the same--it was the costuming that's different. I made a "hybrid" of sorts with the costuming--I made Ling Li's coat, shirt and pants and I made Chun Woo's hat and shoes--it all came out very cute. The new things I learned were needle sculpting the face, adding hand painted small wooden bead mounted on a toothpick into a socket, adding an overlay that covered the stitches and the eyeballs and then cutting away over the eyes to make the eye lids. Now I'm trying to figure out how I can use what I've learned with my bears!!

My plan is to sign up for a "Muppet" style puppet class in September.

 

 

-Me and Leslie

Next up for me and the bears will be the completion of my gallery piece for TBAI. Also my next show will be the DC Big Flea at the Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly, VA July 20-21 2013. Check us out!!!

Some New Things and Updates

I'm really excited about my upcoming trip to the John C. Campbell Folk School on May 19-25. This time I'm taking a class with Leslie Molen...the 3rd time (Santos Cage Doll the first time, and Marionette the second time). She's a wonderful teacher, and I always have a good time!! And I always learn something new and I come home inspired creatively!! I can't wait!!! Mark is coming with me this time...he'll be painting. When we get back his mother will be visiting. It's always nice to see her. I'll also have to finish my gallery piece for TBAI. More about that later. So much to do, so little time.........

Here are some of my newest creations  that debuted at the D.C. Big Flea Antiques and Collectibles Show. They are still for sale: If you are interested in purchasing any of my bears or bunnies send me an Email for more info, or give me a call at (703) 263-0622:

"Bunting"                                                                                          "Dashwood"

"Jane Russell" 

                  "Ozma"

"Prim Tiny-Companions (T.C.)"

        "Rory"

 

                                                           *He can sit in these different poses*

"Russell"

"Suede & Berry"

 

"Suede Russell"

"Nougat and Tatoo" 



New Info

Hello blog viewers. Just a couple updates.

I will be selling at the D.C. Big Flea at the Dulles Expo Center again this weekend (May 4- 5). I hope you come and see me and all the wonderful bears, rabbit,s and other odds and ends. Check out their website for more info: http://www.damorepromotions.com/

I also had another picture, posted in Art Doll Quarterly!!!! A beautiful bride doll made of polymer clay. (There is also an article about one of my favorite doll maker, Leslie Molen, with whom I will be taking another class with at the John C. Campbell Folk School in a few weeks). I also submitted a picture to Soft Doll and Animal Magazine again that you can see also!

So I'll be keeping busy finishing up all of my new projects. So see at the Flea!

Upcoming Shows

March 2-3 I'll be at the D.C. Big Flea Market in Chantilly, VA.  Saturday 9-6, and Sunday 11-5.
For more info go here: http://www.damorepromotions.com/

I'll be sending a consignment of bunnies to the Frizellburg Antique Store for the Spring. March 22, 23, and 24 is the kick off weekend for the season.
 For Directions: http://www.frizellburgantiques.com/Home.html

April 6, is the Teddies Spring Show at the Holiday Inn & Conference Center in Timonium, Maryland( I-83 Padonia Road Exit) from 9-3.  I'll be there with lots of other talented artists. For more info call (919) 460-1082 or email robinsnestgifts@hotmail.com.

I recently had one of my creations published in Art Doll Quarterly!  My year is off to a good start.  Hope to see you at one the shows.

Seasons Greetings

Seasons Greetings to family, friends, and bear lovers. I hope and pray for all to have a wonderful holiday season. I'd like to thank all of you who have given homes to my bears and animals. I'm very excited about 2013. My first show will be the DC Big Flea the first weekend of January... I'm in the same spot in Aisle I. I'll also be in Timonium Maryland @ the Teddy Spring Show at the Holiday Inn on April 6, 9-3. Also I'll be taking bunnies to the Frizellburg Antique Store (TBA).
I'll also be working on the gallery piece for TBAI. Check that website at the end of March. I'll also be going back to the John C. Campbell Folk School (NC) in May to make another doll with Leslie Molen. ( There will be a March and May DC Big Fleas in the mix). There are also photo contributions to publications, like Soft Doll and Animal and Art doll Quarterly. So visit me at the shows, lots of new stuff planned and events to look forward to.

Bear Hugs,
Marty

Happy Fall

Welcome to Fall!

Lots of changes happen this time of year--weather, trees,t.v. shows, work schedules, etc. For me it's the time to buckle down and get serious. I'm scheduling everything from classes, shows, movies, and shopping, to get everything done. As usual  I've probably planned to make more than I can complete. However this is how I usually work. Anyway I'm buckling down!!!...

Another change is that I said "See you later!" to a friend and bear maker Milvi G. She was supposed to leave/move to Denver. I hope she had an uneventful trip (except for viewing lovely scenery). I', hoping to go visit her in the future...maybe coincide a trip with taking a class with Leslie Molen who is one of my favorite doll artist/teacher (I've taken 2 classes with her at the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown N.C. My plan is to to take a class with her in May 2013?). It's a nice thought that Milvi can take classes in Denver. Anyway I hope M.G. is settling into her new home.

Now for some new changes...My Fall Schedule:

• 13-14 October-- Fyodor Mouse Class (See previous post)
• 3-4 November DC Big Flea
• 10 November-- Hunt Valley X-mas Holiday Teddy Bear Show and Sale
• 17-18 November-- 26th Annual Holiday Craft Show @ Fairfax High School
• 30 November-2 December-- McLean Holiday Craft Show

Mouse Class

Come and join us…

What: A class to make “Fyodor” Mouse—10 inch mohair mouse accessorized with collar, tie and key, taught by bear artist Marty Bumala from Chantilly, VA. “I was inspired by the illustrations by Sir John Tenniel from Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.”

Where: At the Rocking Horse Gallery

803 Caroline St. (Old Town)

Fredericksburg, VA

When: 13-14 October 2012. Come at 10AM (we’ll start soon there after).

Cost: $190; includes lunch, pre-sewn kit and instructions

            Kit includes

¨   1 pre-sewn “Fyodor” Mouse

¨   5 joints

¨   1 pair glass eyes

¨   Perle cotton and upholstery thread

¨   Stuffing

¨   Beads for weighting

¨   1 set unfinished collar (with button and snap), tie, and key charm

Bring

¨   Pliers to turn cotter pins

¨   Nut drivers size ¼ and 3/8 inch for turning lock nuts and bolts

¨   Stuffing tools (chop stick, cotter key, forceps, or whatever you have

¨   Scissors with sharp point like Fisker’s grey spring handle

¨   Cotton darners or large eyed embroidery needles 3 and/or 5 inch

¨   A smile and  positive attitude

¨   Not required but would be fun, a tea pot at least 8 inch tall to pose him with (“If you are familiar with Lewis Carroll’s book, the Mad Hatter and the March Hare put him in a teapot”).

*The teacher’s tools and needles will be available for use*

Call Faye Lee @ 540-371-1894 for details and to reserve your space

Folk School Paper-Clay Class

Look at what I did at the John C. Campbell Folk School. Sculpting heads in paper clay with Kathryn Walmsbey. She's a wonderful teacher!

 

The Show is Over

The online bear show is over. Thank you to everyone who came by to take a look. All the Bears and bunnies I have posted are still available to purchaase. You can also come and see them in person this Saturday and Sunday at the D.C. Big Flea Market, and at the Teddy Bear Artist Invitational (TBAI) in Bighamton in August.

Bear Hugs 4U Bear Show- "Christmas in July"

http://www.bearhugs4u.com/

It's time for the show!

To purchase my bears place call to (703) 431-2089

I accept Visa®, MasterCard®, and American Express® credit cards, and check or money order.
Shipping and Handling includes shipping, insurance and any appropriate sales tax. Take a look around!

All bears and rabbits from previous posts are also for sale unless stated

 

"Golden Bear Purse"

This purse is one of a kind!  He is made of mohair and is fully jointed. He has a 7 inch zipper pocket. Purse strap is metal 20 inch chain (Not a shoulder strap). He is stuffed with Poly-fil ® and has glass eyes. Her pads are trimmed mohair. He is 18 inches tall.

$265 (includes shipping and handling)

"Stella"

(green/gold) "Stella" is wearing a hand-made dress and Mary-Jane shoes. She is made of mohair, and only her arms and legs are jointed. She is stuffed with Poly-fil ® and has glass eyes. She is 7.5 inches tall.

$78 (includes shipping and handling)

"Starlet"

(plaid)"Starlet" is wearing a hand-made dress and Mary-Jane shoes. She is made of mohair, and only her arms and legs are jointed. She is stuffed with Poly-fil ® and has glass eyes. She is 7.5 inches tall.

$78 (includes shipping and handling)

"Snow Shoe Sue"

She is dressed in hand-made dress, snowshoes, and crocheted poncho. She is made of mohair and is fully jointed. She is stuffed with Poly-fil ® and has glass eyes. She is 12 inches tall.

(includes shipping and handling)

"Redwood"

"Redwood" is wearing a handmade collar and bow tie. He is made of rust colored mohair and is fully jointed. He is stuffed with Poly-fil ® and has glass eyes. He is 16 inches tall.

$175 (includes shipping and handling)

"Russell" (Sold)

"Russell" wears a hand-made collar and bow tie. He likes to sit on a corner or an edge. He is made of mohair and has jointed arms and legs only, and wired ears. He is stuffed with Poly-fil ®, weighted with shot, and has glass eyes. He is 12 inches tall.

$108 (includes shipping and handling)

"Malcolm" (Sold)

He is made of mohair and is fully jointed. He is stuffed with Poly-fil ® and has glass eyes. He is 8 inches tall.

$85 (includes shipping and handling)

"Pearl" (Sold)

Pearl is made of mohair, is fully jointed, is stuffed with Poly-fil ®, and has glass eyes. 10 inches tall.

$100 (includes shipping and handling

"Jackson Brown" (Sold)

He is made of mohair and is fully jointed with bent legs. He is stuffed with Poly-fil ® and has glass eyes. He 18.5 inches tall.

$210 (includes shipping and handling)

"Gloria" (Sold)

"Gloria" is made of textured upholstery suede. She is wearing a handmade outfit and saddle shoes. She is made of mohair, and is fully jointed. She is stuffed with Poly-fil ® and has glass eyes. She is 8 inches tall.

$78 (includes shipping and handling)

Bears and Bunnies from previous posts are also still available to purchase unless they say "sold."