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There has been so much creativity on TT throughout 2006, I was wondering if the bear makers among us would like to share which of their 2006 designs have been personal favourites. Let's pick two bears each from our 2006 bears to share here! Don't forget to say why the bears you've picked were your favourites from all the bears you designed in 2006. 
To get us started, my two favourites were 'Sunny Jim' and 'Sparkle'. 'Sunny Jim' because I loved the colour and the gorgeous silky Schulte mohair and especially because he was an important bear for me to design, as he was my donation for the 'Dare to Care 2006' auction here in the UK. 'Sparkle' because he was designed especially for my six year old niece at Christmas and I was really pleased with how the materials worked together to bring out the character in this bear.
DoodlebearsBeautiful, Paula, but I only see one bear. He's very yummy though!
Hugs Jane. 
DoodlebearsWhoops! Now there's two. The second one is just as yummy....I still prefer the yellow boy though!
Hugs Jane.
Bears by Jodi
Check out my e bay today !!
They make me smile too Jodi ... great pic!!
Bears by Jodi
WienPaula, they both a gorgeous 
, I still dunno which one I´d choose, IF I had the chance to.
Jodi,you´re right, your sweet bears make one smile....cuuuute!
I made a mermaid this year, which I love, because she´s different :
Dr.Kornfeld is one of my favorites, because I made the pattern to fit the wee piece of mohair which I had received from a very nice lady in Germany; he watched for my mom when she was hospitalised last summer:
Gaby
Pumpkin & Pickle BearsHmm, well ALL of my bears I've made were from 2006 as I only discovered bear making this time last year!
2 of my favourites are.....
'A Teddy Makes Life Bearable' as I won a British Bear Artist Award with him in December - he will stay with me.
'Zak' because he sat on the side for over a month as I didn't like the way he was turning out. I then picked him back up and started needlefelting his muzzle and was REALLY pleased with the way he turned out. I offered him on here and another bear making forum before he was destined for eBay and I had 3 emails from people wanting to adopt him so he didn't have to go on eBay afterall (but there were 2 very disoppointed people who missed out!).
BEAR ME SHOOTKA
Wow, Paula your great (in all meanings) bears are gorgeous! I agree that yellow melts your heart.
Jody, your silly cute bears always make me smile! The clown is so funny and cute!
Gaby, a Mermaid! wow! what a creative idea!
Gemma, I love the green one.
I too have a couple of my favorite. It's Tzarevna Anna and new design of 2006 bear Misha.
Swan Valley BearsOh, such great bears ! ! ! I love them all. OK, my first favorite is Lisette, but my second favorite isn't a bear at all, but the needlefelted snowman I made, does he count?.
Dolls N DreamsHi, this is fun!
My 2 favorite creations of 2006 was Mortimer Mouse, I loved the fur and handmade his litle pocket watch.
And "SweetPea" one of my favorite Fairy Doogles this year, I handmade some ribbon roses for her boots and hat.
Great thread- I love all those bears!! Gemma - I can't beleive you have only been making bears for such a short time - you bears look really professional - so neat and beautifully made. I'm really impressed!!
My favourite bears that I have made this year are the following:
I like them as I feel they are both quite distinctive. I particularly like the colours of the panda, and I don't usually add many accessories to my bears, so it was fun to make the cape, hat, sledge and presents for my little christmas bear.
I did so little this year with bears of any kind.... but this is little Percy a needle felt that I think is pretty cute. He has a piercing and and earring...he thinks he is so "with it"... lol
Creative Design Studio (RKR4CDS)
This is my favorite Family group. They are in the Heartland Museum in Clarion Iowa until next spring.
Into the Unknown exemplifies a period in our history, when the Pioneering Spirit was at its peak.
The Father figure is urging the family forward.
The Mother is reluctant to follow. knowing the deprivations and hardships ahead but not outwardly refusing.
One Cub is shyly sitting behind her and the younger Cub is squirming and struggling to get on with the Big Adventure!
I used my favorite handmade, hand-inserted metal claws.
Father is 4.5" long.
Mother sits 3.5" tall.
Cubs are 1.5" tall and 1.75" long
Sizes approximate - from (stressed) memory!
The museum set-up is with the Father appearing to step through a pane of glass (Into the Unknown): I sliced his body diagonally through from his right shoulder to his left back hip. He was bonded back (together) on each side of the glass so he appears to have stepped through the (theatrical) 4th Wall. The others sit behind the glass pane.
When they're returned to me, I'll remove his body from the glass , re-needle him together and sell them without the 24" sq museum scene they are in.
What a great thread, Paula; thanks for starting it! You've all made some absolutely gorgeous pieces this year; I'm so awestruck by the talent here.
My own favorite bears of 2006 are SPRITE, because I just like the twinkly-eyed sprite-ness of this cub, and that incredibly silly hat...
... and one you haven't seen much of yet, MR. SANDMAN, who is my one and only contest entry bear for the year. He was a huge step in a different direction for me; a mixed-media fantasy piece incorporating metal snips and yarn and ribbon and fabric and beads and pipecleaners and felt, among other things. For those of you who are passionate about such things, I invented a new eye technique to use with him that involves NO GLUE (as I mentioned in another thread.) My favorite part of making him, after the face (which is ALWAYS my favorite part), was the little moon he holds (it's painted canvas) and the tiny pile of "sand" he carries. I made that from Liquid Beads.
This is so much fun - I like seeing what everyone's personal favourites are....and Patty that snowman is adorable and most definitely counts!
I think Polly is my absolute favourite from 2006. I love to make Pandas and I made her from my most challenging pattern - not in terms of difficulty but for some reason this pattern never seems to work out how I expect it to ...and also because I love her sash. It was a spur of the moment idea when I was trying to avoid the same old embellishments that every mini bear maker seems to adopt. It's a piece of vintage ribbon from my grandma's workbox and feels invested in a little more meaning and tradition than a random piece of ribbon from my stash.
Oooh I had a hard time choosing for my second bear...but I think I would have to choose Spike. This guy is only just over 2" tall and was a challenge from a customer who read an article about my bears in Teddy Bear Scene. When I submitted the article, I'd just made my first bear under 4 after a break of about 3 years during which I didn't think I was good enough to make minis. This lovely lady emailed me and asked me to make her a mohair bear under 3" - I freaked a little (well a lot!) and the decided to take up the challenge and Spike was the result. I am thrilled that in photos I can't tell that he is a 2" bear as that is my ultimate goal - to make a mini that looks like a big bear. Phew! Sorry for the essay :redface: :redface:
what a great bunch of great eye candy! I love seeing all these bears together
Sunny Jim has such a compassionate face Paula - I think he is the perfect bear for that charity and that fur looks like molten sunshine.
Samantha I wish I could scoop your panda off the screen - I think he's perfection itself - I love pandas - especially coloured ones and the colours and shading on your bear are stunning.
bears by beesley TMOh WOW! I can certaily understand why the beautiful creations are your favorite! Awesome guys! I think my favorite of our creations in 2006 is MERCEDES. I love her colors and she is sassy!
Hugs Louise
Oh wow! What superb pieces! It's so interesting to see which pieces the artists themselves are most pleased with. I love this thread already!!! Keep 'em coming ...
Flying Fur StudiosWow, this is soo much fun! Funny because these bears I've been seeing have been MY personal favs of you guys as well.
My 2,
This one is the one I have for sale now........
and this one as he was the 1st one I've been super happy with and I think I've found my 'style'
and because it took me soo long, I have 3 favorites I guess..............
my felted dragon.
Bine-TeddiesOoooh such eye candy! Wonderful bears. I just checked my photos and was surprised i actually made that many bears. it didn't feel like it. 
I guess my favorites are these two. Fabian, my swap bear for Sophie, who took several weeks to complete with appliqued ultrasuede toes and scissor sculpted muzzle. Taishi, one of my crocheted minis in Japanese style. I'm glad he didn't sell and still sits in my cabinet.
BrisbaneWow there are some fantastic bears here!!!
I must admit that I had trouble choosing just two favourites but in the end I chose Boris, because he gave me so much trouble but I really like the way he turned out, 
and Ooglie who I started out not liking very much but he grew on me really fast...now I just love him!!
TinyBearWhat a great thread.
And a lot of great bears from you all
My favorites are:
Francine - because she is my first bear with a dress and,
Petunia - my first bear with neddle-sculptered face, and because I love the color.
Sunnie BearsI have to say that this was VERY hard to pin down just 2. 1st would have to be Tequila, who was my URSA Prime winning bear
and second is one that was special to ME. I love the "black bear figurines" and Roger was my interpretation of them.
Sonya
Matilda Huggington-beare
MY goodness this has been massively difficult. There are about 8 that stand out for me that I'm very very proud of. Which makes narrowing it down to two almost impossible.
So I have chosen the two that not only am I very proud but they are two which mark a change in direction for me as far as design, skill and creativity are concerned. There are elements in these two that will be coming up in my new designs in 2007. So that is how I narrowed down my choice. ...pheeww... was it difficult...
BARNABY the Marsupial Xmas mouse & BOOBOO the 9way jointed panda
