Mini Bears

27 Nov09, Friday - Sakutaro, 6" tall, she has on a light blue pearl neckace, string with polyclay flower and a red heart pendant. Sakutaro is made from brown sparse faux fur and leather for her palm and foot pad. She is one who loves travelling around hanging on my girl's big black bag. Hope she has a good time looking at stuff, like my girl????

Mini Bears

23 Nov09, Monday - Whitley, 5 1/2" tall, made from white sparse faux fur. She has on coloured water pearls and red swarovski crystals for her necklace. Whitley is charming and lovely. She will accompany me around wherever I go : D

Hanger Bears (Leather)

It has been awhile since I posted my bear's work. I have been resting due to exam fever from my 2 girls. One - PSLE and the other - 'O' level.

When the PSLE was over, my younger girl wanted to do something for her bazaar and thus my embarkation of the Monster's Bears again. Meantime, I too, pick up my scissors and did the leather bears - see above pictures. This time round, I decorated them with beads for necklace with a more cuter and unique look. This will be my handmade christmas give-away thus saving me lots of moola.....

Monster's Bears

This latest batch of Monster's Bears are done by my youngest girl and me, for her Primary 6 school Bazaar. Aren't they cute? I used up some of my left over buttons found in the sewing box and scraps of felt, ribbons and cloth. Hope they can fetch some moola for the school??

Gone Golfing Papertole

Gone Golfing is from USA. Paper size 10" x 4". I uses 7 sheets to make it into 3D look. Frame set is more expensive though. The whole completed project cost breakdown at:
7 sheets - S$10.50
Frame - $320.00
Workmanship cost during class: $20 x 10 - $200
Total cost: $530.50
Wow, an expensive hobby for papertole due to the frame. Maybe next time should consider making a smaller one instead.

Bean and his knitted scarf

Bean - 7" tall made from synthetic fur with 100% polyester stuffing and plastic pellets in his tummy. He spotted a pair of glass eyes and is fully screwed/disked jointed for a movable head and limbs. His scraf is knitted to give him the extra unique look.

Honey Bear

Meet Honey - 9 1/2" tall made form synthetic fur. Fully screwed/disked jointed for a movable head and limbs. He has 100% polyester stuffing and plastic pellets in his tummy. He also has a pair of black glass eyes. Isn't he adorable?? Mmm...what's missing is a honey pot for him. Anyone has one to spare?? Maybe should ask Winnie the Pooh?? Born on 29Aug09, Saturday.

Pippy and the Butterfly

Pippy - 10 1/2" tall made from sparse mohair, 100% polyester stuffing with plastic pellets in his tummy. Brown glass eyes with half closed eye-lids. It looks has if he is trying to shoo the blue butterfly away. He has an open mouth with his pink tongue and I did some shading on his paw and pads. Doesn't he looked fun and cute?? He is also fully screwed/disked jointed for a movable head and limbs. Born on 29Aug09, Saturday.

Hugs of Bears

See those cute little Bears? They are from the Alicia's Class. We moved to Mint Museum due to renovation at Spotlight. Some of the bears are mine and some belongs to the students but they have yet to finish their bears in time, so they have to bring them home to finished it. We will be able to see the completed bears next month. Anyone still not interested to do hand-sewn a furry bear for yourself or your darling loved ones??

Sugar Almond Cookies

Ingredients:
60 gm (1/4 cup) butter
60 gm (1/3 cup) icing sugar
1 egg yolk
1/2 tsp vanilla essence
90 gm (2/3 cup) plain flour
1 tbsp finely chopped blanched almonds

To finish: icing sugar

Method:

1. in medium bowl - cream butter and sugar until fluffy.
2. add egg yolk and vanilla, mix in flour slowly.
3. mix in almonds into batter and blend thoroughly. form into a ball and chill for 1/2 to 1 hour.
4. Preheat oven to 180 deg. grease a baking sheet.
5. Roll pastry thinly between sheets of greaseproof paper. Cut dough using cookie cutter and place cookie on prepared baking sheet.
6. bake for 10 -1 5 mins or until light golden brown. Cool before storing in a container. Can keep up to 10 days.

Happy Cookie making with your kids. My daugher's favourite! :)

August Furry Bears

Born on 6th August09, Thursday = Siro, 8" long lying down sleeping most of the time. He looks so comfortable. He has polyester filling and pellets for his tummy. His head and limbs are fully jointed with 25 cm disk cotter pins joint. His fur is synthetic fur and he has brown glass eyes. I particularly enjoy making him because of his different position of his arms and legs. Very interesting bear. Will make a bigger one next time.

Born on 7th August09, Friday = Meet my 3 "A"s - Alberto, 11" tall made of dense fur with pvc leather for palm and foot pad. He is musculine, looks very familiar, right? Found out that its from Star Wars trilogy, the ewok, caravan of courage. He looks just like the ewoks! He is fully disk jointed with screws so that he can stand up straight and carry the bunnies. He has an open mouth too.

Also meet Adele (pink) 6" tall and Alonzo (blue) 5" tall bunnies, measurement including the ear. Love this cute little bunnies with a striking synthetic fur color. They are sewn at the joint area. No pins nor screws!

Born on 8th August09, saturday = Basso, 14" tall made from dense fur and has glass pellets in his legs and tummy. He is very soft and huggable as his fur is silky smooth. Basso's leg is fully sewn on to his body and thus do not need any joint. Basso means italian for "fat" as he looks like it. His head and arms are screwed on with disk joint.

Swarovski Crystal Necklace and Earrings

This necklace is made from swarovski pearl and crystal beads. The hook is done in-front so as to showcase the beautiful crafted hook and also for easy wearing. I did this for my girl confirmation this weekend. Will show some pictures next week.

Bracelet Watch

This is my latest bracelet watch made from swarovski pearl and crystal beads/divider and studs. I like costume bracelet watch. It lets me know the time as well as decorate my hand! hehehe.................. Sorry for the blur vision, will update it soon. If I can find some time????

Kumako - 6" tall, hanging on my daughter's school bag. He accompany my girl wherever she goes. He has a tilted head. Very cute for a black bear.

Byron Bear

Byron is 7" tall. He is made from a fur I found at ArtsFriend. Don't really like the fur as it kept falling off. He has jointed cotter pins for his limbs and neck. But, I do like his shape though!

IJ Kellock 45th Anniversary Collector's Bear!

Update on 1st August, 2009 - The 3 sets of auction bears were bought by anonymous bidder for a price of : $1650 - Duchess of Rosaria and Peach Bunny, $500 each for the other 2 sets of bears. Am glad they have found their new home......

This is my last set of bear for the Auction! Hurray! Finally finished it on 24 July 09, friday. Mrs Whitter is 18" tall with a scarf knotted into a rose and has a red ribbon with hearts printed on it pin on her right ear. Eco puppy is 7" by 9" tall when standing on her hind legs. She has on a swarovski pearl with a red heart pendant round her neck. Her 100% cotton cloth has words like " Think Green" or "Save Our Earth" printed on it. They are as adorable as our my other set of bears! don't you think! So, quick go to : http://www.chijkellock.moe.edu.sg/ and bid for them..........before the bidding closes end of this month!

2nd set of Auction Bear for CHIJ Kellock - Laila (night beauty), 18" tall finish 17th July 09, friday together with Clarisse (grace), 12" tall. They both have Japanese print 100% cotton cloth and polyester filling. Both also have a green set of crystal eyes. Laila has on a big brown felt bow on her head and a handmade swarovski pearl crystal round her neck. Clarisse has on 2 pink ribbons on her ears and a hand knitted scarf round her neck. To see their story, visit - http://www.chijkellock.moe.edu.sg/ and start bidding for them if you like......... if you find them adorable, please forward to your friends or bear-lovers so they can help too. Don't forget, this is for charity :)

1st set of Auction Bear - Duchess of Rosaria (18" tall), finish on 25 May 09 and Peach Bunny (12" tall), born on 26 June 09. Duchess of Rosaria has on a white mink coat while Peach bunny has on a Laura Ashley necklace. For full story, please visit - http://www.chijkellock.moe.edu.sg/ and if you find them cute, do put up a bidding for them. Keeping my finger cross.

Banana Cake

My successful simple Banana Cake done in just half an hour (not include timing for cooking lah!). Here's the recipe for you ladies who want a quick and easy recipe. Please make sure your bananas are fully, really, ripe - like you see black dots on the banana's skin???? This banana cake is moist and soft and smells nice too. Got the recipe from the internet. Sorry, not sure which website now.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup butter
• 2 eggs
• 3 small bananas (mashed in 6 ripe bananas, don't wanna waste them and lazy to make another cake)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)
• 50 mil of milk
• 1/2 cup caster sugar
• 1 1/2 cups self-raising flour

Method:

1. Heat up Oven. Grease 1 large or medium size non-stick pan and sprinkle some flour on it.
2. Cream butter, sugar and vanilla using electric whisk.
3. Add eggs separately, beating well.
4. Mash bananas and add to mixture.
5. Dissolve soda in milk. Sift flour and add flour and milk alternately into mixture using a spatula.
6. Bake in oven at 180 degC for 15 mins and decrease to 140 degC for the next 30 mins or until cooked. Used a satay stick to insert into the middle of the cake to check. If satay stick comes out wet, then leave a bit longer to cook. If satay stick comes out dry, then your cake is done.

Enjoy your cake making day!!!

Mint Museum@Seah Street

The white Polar bear lookalike is made by Alicia, my bear making teacher while the other one lovingly looking at the smaller bear, well, not sure who did that. Have to wait till August for their grand opening.

Some of the olden days bear displayed at the museum.

I have always wanted to see our very own bear museum in singapore and I finally did yesterday with my girl. We had a set lunch at the museum cafe, nothing to boast about. The food is just so and so and the marble cheese cake is a bit tad too hard.

When we finally paid like $15.00 for an adult and $7.50 for student, we sent in expecting to see a 5 floor toys museum. Every floor is deck with wall glass cabinet of toys from back to the past era, like tin cans, (grandpa, please don't throw away your tin-can, it is worth much more now) and astro boy, godzilla, betty boob, flash gordon, batman, ultra man, etc, etc.......

When I finally came down to the floor for collectibles, I found my bears. Abit disappointing as I was expecting the old frumpy bear or really torn, used bear that I have seen in the magazine. Or some really fanciful bears made by our very own local bear maker. But what I saw was just old bears. That's it. Just old bears.

Sorry, will not pay to enter the museum again even for their grand opening. I think they should sort out local bear maker to make fanciful bears for display or local toy maker as well. Am sure singapore as many of those talent or hold a competition on toy making to attract more people to view the display. Still like the Korean bear museum. Must go one day to have a look. Miss it the last time I was there.

Apple Soft Cake

Yesterday was a apple day. Have been thinking of apple cake eversince I tried one at Tanglin Mall last month and so I tried to find a recipe from the internet. Sourcing thru so many recipe just for one apple cake, finally I settle for a French Apple Sponge Cake recipe but I don't like the Calvados (apple liqueur) and so I tried the recipe without it. It turn out the way I like it, soft and moist. Love this cake and will make more next time. You tried it and let me know.

Ingredients:

• 170gm butter
• 4 eggs - I put 3 eggs as my eggs are large and didn't know they are double yoke. So ended up with 6 eggs instead
• 170gm icing sugar
• 60gm Apricots jam - pour in 1/2 the jar instead, love apricots jam
• 165gm flour
• 2 tsps baking powder
• 4 granny (green) apples - bought the fuji sara apples, green and red instead, taste sweeter

Method:

1. Peel apples and remove the hearts, cut them into small cubes. Put some 2 tablespoons or more brown sugar and 1 tablespoon vanilla extract on the apples pieces and mix well. Set aside.
2. Heat the oven. Grease the baking pan with butter and flour for the non-stick effect. Use this method if you are using a non-stick pan.
3. Whisk butter, icing sugar and jam in a big bowl until mixed. (may include 4 tablespoons of Calvados, apple liqueur, at this stage if you like it.)
4. Add eggs one at a time while whisking the batter.
5. Add flour and baking powder while still whisking the batter.
6. Once batter are mixed well, using spatula, add in the apples. Using spatula, mixed all ingredients together.
7. Pour into the greased pan and bake for 15 mins on high at 160 deg and reduce to 140 deg for the next 20 mins. Make sure the cake is on the lower rack of the oven. Check your cake every 15 mins to make sure it is not burnt. Depending on the oven again, do check your oven temperature before baking.
8. Once cake done, let it cool before removing from the pan.
9. Dust some icing sugar on top of the cake or you may serve them warm with vanilla ice-cream.

Happy Cake Making!!! :)

Bookmark

My new project, been bored for few days just making bears. So, when I finally sat down to make a necklace for my bear, I found some nice metal bookmarks which I have bought some time back and forgotten. So, here they are...........

Mini Bears

My first mini bear (no name yet!) - they are both 3" tall only. My girl want me to make a mini bear for her to hang on her pencil case. So I attempted it. With my long finger nails, well, find it difficult to hold the fabric while sewing it. Hope to make more next time.

Still haven't given it a name. Have to wait for my girl to decide.

Queen Ovidia Bear

Meet my Queen OVIDIA - 12 " tall made of curly Mohair. She looks kind of a aristocrat with her shining nose. She has on a crystal crown and a furry shawl. She is fully jointed with screws so that her limbs is movable. I had so much fun doing all the bears in the class. Now have to take a break till August. So much things to do but hasn't done it yet...........

Hugs of Bears

Hugs of Bears from my class at spotlight. This was taken on sunday, 21 June. We had a good time looking at all the bears. Our teacher even got lots of enquiries for her classes and we also got lots of stares from the on-lookers. Guess they are all envious of us making our own furry bears. Hehehe...........

Sultana Cheese Cake

Ingredients: (Pastry)

1 1/2 cups plain flour

2 tbsp icing sugar

1/2 cup custard powder (see above for box label)

1/2 tsp baking powder

125 gm butter, chopped

2-3 tbsp milk

Ingredients: (filling)

250 gm light cream cheese

250 gm cream cheese, softened

55 gm butter

1/4 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 tbsp finely grated lemon rind

2 tbsp of orange juice or lemon juice

3/4 cup sultanas

Method:

1. preheat oven to 180 deg. Brush a non-stick baking pan of 28 x 18 cm with melted butter and dust with plain flour. This is to prevent the cake from sticking to the pan.
2. Sift flour and baking powder into a bowl. Add butter, sugar and custard powder, rub with your fingertips until crumbly. Stir in enough milk to form a soft dough.
3. Roll two-thirds of the pastry between 2 sheets of baking paper to make a rectangle large enouge to line the base and sides of the pan. Trim the pastry edges and prick the pastry base randomly with a fork, then bake for 10 minutes. Allow to cool a little.
4. Filling - beat cream cheeses, butter and sugar until smooth.
5. Add in eggs, juice and rind - beat until combines. Stir in sultanas.
6. Pour tin the pan (into the baked pastry). Roll remaining pastry into a long rectangle, then cut into long strips. Lay strips in a lattice pattern over the cheesecake, gently press to the edge of the pastry shell and trim.
7. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until set but not coloured. Leave cake to cool before cutting. May sprinkle with icing sugar before cutting.