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MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM BEAR HOUSE AND ULLA!

What was the noise Little Brother Bear heard yesterday?  Non other than Santa Bear arriving in style!  His green shoe sleigh is pulled by two white goats, decked in antique paisley finery.  Santa Bear wears a felted wool jacket and holds a huge bag of toys, enough for all the little bears who are now asleep in bed!

Wishing you a most Merry of Christmas' and Many Blessings for the rest of the year!!!

Just for fun, here is a photo of my Inspiration (top left corner), Santa Bear before being costumed, and the antique chocolate mold I used for my paperclay sleigh...

Little Christmas Eve At The BEAR HOUSE!

In Denmark December 23rd is known as 'Lil Jule Aften' or 'Little Christmas Eve'.  It is the day when last minute preperations take place and then everyone goes and wishes Merry Christmas to their neighbors and friends.  Bear House is enjoying these traditions as well!  Here Ms. Bear Cook is busily getting all the trimmings together for the Bears Christmas Eve feast!  One of the resident Baby Bears can be seen in the corner begging for sweets...

Papa Bear is writing his letter to Santa, while nibbling on cookies.  Do you think he is wishing for fish and honey???

GrandMother Bear is admiring the tree, and Grandfather Bear is enjoying playing with yet another resident Baby Bear.  He made this Baby Bears stroller years ago!

Upstairs, Mama Bear is taking a well deserved rest in her bedroom, reading a favorite novel, while little sister plays with her dolls.

Oh my!  Just listen to the  rukus coming from next door!  Little sister runs to investigate...

Seems the rest of the Baby bears, have abandoned bath time and taken to jumping on the bed!  Lil Jule Aften is always full of activity and adventure!

But look, Brother Bear hears something outside - what could it be???  

To be continued...

Bremen Town Musicians Mask...

Here is my latest mask, of the Bremen Town Muscians.  You look through the donkey eyes and wear the rest on top of your head!

I also made this Rabbit mask holding a moon - very oriental in feel...

Winter Solstice at BEAR HOUSE and Other Adventures!

Oh my!  Look who has arrived at BEAR HOUSE today!  Non other than Krampus himself!!!  A few days early, he is here to warn and punish any Bears who may have forgotten their manners...

Krampus was my surprize 'Ornament Exchange Gift' at our annual Castle Christmas Party.  Karima, Queen of the Castle created him with all the love and attention she showers onto the Castle on a daily basis!  Here I am receiving my gift, just look at that grin!  Fortunately for me, my number was high - so no one could steal him away!

Our annual Christmas party is one we all look forward to the whole year.  The highlight is our 'Ornament Exchange' complete with stealing allowed.  The one rule is that each ornament must be handmade! This year I made a miniature winter parade scene, of a Raindeer with Rabbit and Squirrel Passangers - rushing to greet everyone at the party!  Raindeer wears an antique paisley blanket on his back, and Rabbit and Squirrel have 'flower hats' on.

John McRae Won mine early on, and it was stolen twice before it finally found its way home to John again...

And so the adventures continue...

Bear House Christmas...

Years ago my Mother made a 'BEAR HOUSE' that was displayed only on Christmas - a Tudor confection that she crafted from a kit.   As children grew the tradition become lost and forgotton in storage.  I was thrilled when my Mother gifted me the house a few weeks ago, and have been busy updating it for this years holidays.  Below is the house as it arrived, without snow or trees.  Look at all those individual wooden roof tiles!  It also has a backyard, with a white picket fence.  

The first thing I did was take a big piece of white batting and layed it over the top of  the house and then I ripped and tore all the edges to make it appear as if it had just snowed.  Next I found a couple of miniature - but larger than dollhouse size christmas trees for the yard.  These I sprayed with spary-glue and then sprinkled faux-snow on them for that realistic winter dusting.  The out-house (created by my Mother) also received a dusting of snow.  If you look closely you'll see a bird-feeder and 'snow-bear' statue in the yard as well.  Things are getting cozy at 'BEAR HOUSE'...  

More to come...

 

Enchanted Christmas in Yountville!

Today I had the special treat of seeing my friend Dolph Gotelli's 'An Enchanted Christmas' exhibit now being shown at the Napa Valley Museum in Yountville.  If you are anywhere near Napa this is a not to miss exhibit of amazing wonder and delight! (It runs through January 23rd, so there is still plenty of time!) Dolph has created 30 vignettes of his favorite christmas collectables.  Everything from 'Santa on a Midnight walk' above, to Grizelda's Christmas Tree - first image below.

My Mother and I spent nearly two hours looking at all the scenes, each one magical and nostalgic.  I especially fell in love with 'Dinner At Willow Hollow' seen first below - depicting a christmas feast attended by a variety of woodland animals.  Dolphs attention to details is supreme and his ability to make our hearts go back in time flawless.  A couple more of my favorites are also seen below.  More information on Dolph can be found HERE.  And photos of all the scenes are HERE!

ENJOY!