Meet Rufaro, full of Springtime happiness

Well as promised here is my latest Bumpkin Bear - Rufaro -

He is a happy bear that loves Spring with it's clear blue skies and soft sunshine, you can see this in his colours. He is brought to life with faboulous heritage style English mohairs which I hand dyed in soft blue and gentle old beige gold which gives a really sweet 'patchwork' look.

He loves to sit underneath the blossom trees smiling as the little petals gently fall in the breeze. Springtime brings such a renewed hope and joy of new beginnings with it that I named this sweet bear Rufaro which means Happiness and Elation.

Click here to visit him and all his photos on my website, just click on his photo in the bear gallery.

Have a lovely day,Beary Hugs,Catherine and Rufaro

Softies Easter Parade!

Do pop along to Lisa's Softies Easter Parade, you can vote for your favourites in the different sections - My little ted and Chick set (Sprite and Chirpie) are in the Hot Chicks part of the parade - do pop along for all sorts of Eastery wonders :)

click here to visit the Parade

Easter friends!

With Spring arriving I felt inspired to create a little miniature set of easter friends so here's Sprite and Chirpie!

Sprite bear measures a tiny 3.5" and Chirpie is only 1.5"! Chirpie chick is needlefelted.

Sprite loves to go on adventures into the wild, otherwise known as the garden! Chirpie and Sprite are such close friends, that where one goes the other is never far behind! With Spring arriving you can often catch a glimpse of them riding along underneath the daffodils!

They are available from my website - take a peek - www.bumpkinbears.com
I'll be back to write more in the week, it was my birthday on Thursday so I'll add some photos soon. Hugs, Catherine

Introducing Benson P. Hamilton

I just heard today that one of my latest commissions arrived at his new home in the states so I can now share this special panda with you. I'd like you to meet Benson P. Hamilton, He was created as a brother to Sim-Sam, who you can see in the photoshoot! Sim-Sam is looking for a special new Mummy Click here to see him.


Benson is a loving soul with a strength of character which helped him when meeting his new Mum's cats for the first time! His name Benson shows his English roots, with P standing for Panda and Hamilton meaning Beautiful mountain, which has a rather nice chinese feel to it. Benson is 17" and brought to life with wonderful heirloom style mohair and with sweet needlefelted toes.

If you would like to commission that special bear for yourself or a loved one then just drop me an email. I'm always happy to chat :-)

Doing the happy dance ..

Well I have to send out a big thank you to Tracy of Pink Purl for the most beautiful bracelet. She had also sent some chocolate but because I can't eat that right now with food intolerances she ever so sweetly made some matching earrings! How kind is that! Anyway I got them last week on the day of my Dutch exam (trying to learn it, now at levell 3), I was rather nervous but wearing my new bracelet must have brought me lots of luck! I got my results and certificate yesterday - good job I was sat down when I got my results, I got 89% and an A!!! A's are not usually sent in my direction so I was really happy if not a little shocked! So THANKS brain and thanks Tracy ;-) Click here to check out her blog.



I woke up today to a misty scene out the front of the house and took a quick photo before my cup of tea! Busy day so had better get on, Happy Beary Days, Catherine x

Meet Huckleberry

Hi everyone, my fiance is recovering well after his accident, just a fair bit of pain from the broken ribs. I've just finished this lovely new bear called Huckleberry. I have been working hard on a new older bear shaped design and I just adore his heirloom style mohair - really tricky colour to photograph though, he is a lovely greyish brown colour, very unusual. He has a lifetime of adventures that he loves to talk about, so you and your family could have many happy evenings all snuggled up together listening to his tales!

He is available for adoption from my website - www.bumpkinbears.com.

We had a buzzard in our garden this week, so I'll share a photo or two next week!
In the meantime enjoy your Sunday. Happy Beary Hugs, Catherine and Huckleberry xx

Extreme Makeover -Teddy Edition!

When I was visiting a friend in England she showed me this poor little Ted that her new Puppy, Willow, had found and thought would make a great toy!! Little Ted was destined for the bin being filthy and torn to pieces. Well of course I couldn't let that happen and my friend knew that I would be able to help so the rescue mission began! I brought him back with me to Belgium, gave him a nice long hand wash and he came out a different colour without all that mud all over him! I then set about bite hole by bite hole repairing him, restuffing him him with nice fresh filling and finally giving him a new nose and putting a smile back on his face! With a grand new bow he feels like his old self and is ready to face the world again, this time on a shelf where Puppy can't reach him!

Happy New Year!

well I'm a bit late, but I want to wish you all a very Happy New Year! It's been all go here, back in my studio working on a commission bear and a panda. Leo, my bear that was nominated back in December in the British Bear Artist Awards has now returned to my arms. He is now available for adoption and is so excited to find a special new home all of his own.(UPDATE - LEO IS NOW ADOPTED)

Go to- www.bumpkinbears.com - to see all his photos and my other bears.

I'm in a bit of a rush today, but I'll be back during the week to show you a little teddy restoration story! Catherine x

Merry Christmas!

well it is Christmas eve eve! We have had the most beautiful frosts here the last few days, so I'll add a photo or two that I took in my garden and our village. I'll also add a photo of a christmas stocking I made for my new niece out of cute fleece and festive teddy fabric. I wish you and your families a truly Merry Christmas. I'd also like to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you for all your support and encouragement of my Bumpkin Bears over the last year, it really means a lot. Catherine x