FRIEDRIK the polar bear

Although my career as a soft sculpture artisan has started with making teddy bears, my desire to experiment and try new ideas has inexorably driven me towards the creation of many other animal kinds. After more than a year with no bears to show, I have finally decided to go back to my origins for once. The result is FRIEDRIK the polar bear, a cute 11 inches guy who found a new home and is now enjoying a new life in the US.
Please, meet FRIEDRIK!

PADUC - preview bear for the BH4U show

I was offered a last minute spot on the Bear Hugs for You on-line show. This is great news as I was hoping to get in and try my luck there. I don't have much time to prepare for it unfortunately, as I will be doing the Teddy Bear Extravaganza show in late March too.
I have made a new bear though. The front page theme is 'A Bear to go Bare'. The preview picture must be a bear with no clothes, accessories or other distracting things.
This is the only picture I'm allowed to share for now.
PLEASE, MEET PADUC !

...and here is Paduc with his sunflowers wreath!

PADUC IS ADOPTED

FABIO panda

And this is the last of the critters I did for the BRIGHT STAR show. After so many different animals, I felt like doing a bear.
My children decided that this panda deserved a very special name. After naming a fox after my eldest son Pietro, now I have a panda with my youngest son's  name: FABIO.
I think it is appropriate as this panda has a very happy face, and my son is a happy fellow all right  ;-)
Fabio is adopted, thank you!

KENZO - brown bear cub

 I have done a colorful ruff and felt ball for little Kenzo. And I have taken more pictures of him...many, many pictures! It was really great fun, I think he looks good on pictures. With brown bears I am always a little worried because I feel it is a very difficult colour to photograph. I guess I'm slowly learning.

Kenzo has been adopted, thank you!

Brown bear cub - first pictures

 I have taken some pictures of my newly finished brown bear cub. I haven't sewn his felt ball and ruff yet, but it is a sunny day today, and as we are not enjoying that many lately, I wanted to make the best of it.

Brown bear cub - WIP

I have just finished the shading on my brown bear cub face. I have to say, I am mighty pleased with him! It has taken me the best part of two afternoons only to root the beige alpaca fur into the needle felted muzzle. Sometimes I think I must be crazy to do such a thing as this, but when I see the result I reconcile myself to the idea of the long hours....
Here is the face.

Isn't he precious? I just hope his mummy will also appreciate him as he is a commission!

LAPO the panda bear

I have finally found some time to finish my little panda bear. I think he looks both sweet and happy, I'm very happy with how he turned out!
I took plenty of pictures of him.

Lapo has been adopted, thank you!

DODO...and his felt fish!

I took more pictures of him with his felt fish. Isn't he cute? :-)

Dodo is adopted, thank you!