HAUTE COUTURE of the Hollow ;Dressing a Mamsey Bear, part 2

  All the little seamstresses threaded their needles and  gathered their twist..

 The tailor shop was abuzz with activity all week long;

Measuring, cutting, sizing patterns and stitching up a storm!

When it comes to BEAR, one size does not fit all and Mamsey is a perfect example: small waist, very large hips and bottom, all befitting a mother grizzly.

She sat patiently for all her fittings, she is a very gracious lady.

 Paper towels make great patterns..

And little chippys make tiny stitches.

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The Milliners were busy making bonnets for a bear size head...

 Using the Mistress's old straw hats and scraps of fabric.

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Waistcoats are fitted and pinned....to perfection. Mamsey sits  for hours and hours

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Our seamstresses add special touches to cuffs and collars.

Last minute care is taken to sew hems just the right length..

one last stitch and a final knot, finished!

 And NOW, Fashions fit for a Woodland Bear!

Presenting

 Haute Couture of Hopalong Hollow

All well dressed bear have at least 2 pair of striped stockings to wear with their wooden clogs, the footwear of choice for bear-folk in the deep woods of the Hollow.

  Mamsey wears her straw bonnet with satin pink ribbon and coordinating floral pink cape adorned with crochet trim. She wears hats with such flair!

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This purple velvet waistcoat is the Color of the night sky and the perfect cut to show off a girlish waist. Add a forest foliage pattern on the green  waist-scarf and you have the essence of tre chic!

 All traveling bear need a stylish embroidered pocket to carry "the perfect needle" and other necessities and a handmade wicker basket to carry one's thread.

All in all, a most charming outfit for a stroll amid the daffodils, or a visit to the Hopalongs and Whiskerkins. A La Mode!

 Yes, this lovely ensemble can be worn for shopping, visiting or wandering in the woods.

 

 Our next outfit is just what a Bear needs for a lovely summer night beneath the stars whilst strumming her harp. In fact, the fabric is filled with summer stars.

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This attire is also appropriate for a day of poking about in the garden.

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A simple but classic little frock with tiny patterned hearts and flowers on  cotton fabrics of red and sunny yellow, worn with or without the apron.

   Add the ladylike apron with delicate stitching on the collar and bitty buttons on shoulder straps and 

 a casual  floppy mop cap...

  And a wool scarf to complete the casual charm for a gentlewoman Bear.

Just as captivating whilst baking a loaf of bread... indeed!

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 Last but not least in our "High Fashion in the Hollow", a lovely outfit for Market day.

Blue tweed wool is our fabric of choice for this dapper jacket.

  A stylish red and blue tartan for apron and bonnet

blend beautifully with a powder blue skirt with a floral theme.

What a  smart little coat, embellished with

 shiny black buttons. ( Just like Dimity Doormouse's little black eyes!)

 Gossamer grosgrain sky blue ribbon adorns our bonnet and looks FAB tied to the side in a fat bow.

 

  Take a turn Mamsey!

 Take a bow, Dimity Doormouse, Head Seamstress.

Thank you for attending our fashion walk, here in the woods of Hopalong Hollow!

 PS. The bear and her wardrobe patterns will be available in the future, so that YOUR bear can be in vogue, just like ours.  These are easy to sew outfits for anyone with basic sewing skills. I still have quite a few more frocks to sew AND I must make a Mopkin TEDDY Bear along with her wardrobe.
Special thanks to Penny White for creating my Dimity Doormouse in needle felting, she is well loved.

My Book Jacket.....

      I'd like to share with you how the cover art came about for  my new book. In an effort to encompass the main themes of this story within the book jacket, I designed the art to show the reader  the following: My 2 main characters, the time of year, and what Mamsey's special talent is. 

I've used Autumnal colors to represent the fall and the coming of winter,

with acorns (still green), rosehips  burnt sienna mushrooms and little squirrels.

 The carved wood is repeatedly used throughout the book, along with birch bark and much rusticity.

  

On the jacket, I have used "stitched" birch

bark along the spine of the book, as well as the little section used for author text.

  With the use of needle and thread, a basket of twist, a needle in Mamsey's "pocket" and  embroidery throughout, it is easy to see what particular talent Mamsey has, and it is a skill she uses throughout the story,

till the very end. It is, in fact, the very heart of the story... for this is the tale of a mother's love expressed through a million tiny stitches.

I think my needle working friends will adore this story, and relate to it's premise, completely.

You can see the mode of transport on the BACK of the jacket, surrounded by Mamsey Bear's embroidery.

The two main characters are seen here and on the front cover.
The book flap needed only to be painted once, even though it appears on both ends of the jacket as a mirror image. We were able to duplicate it on the computer for the opposite side.

 I'm really glad, it saved me a lot of time and work.
 This is the back of the jacket, unfortunately, a bar code will take up about 3 vertical inches along the left bottom corner and obliterate the image of the needle worked "oak leaf". I really dislike those ugly bar codes.

  When designing a jacket, you must add at least 1 1/2 inch of extra artwork along all the edges. This edge artwork will scarcely be seen but is necessary for folding around the inside "board" of a hardback book. I learned that the hard way when when I designed my first book cover.
 This is a large book at 12x12, so the full jacket is around 13x34 inches.

 Above, you see the entire jacket minus book flap on left side.

 And beneath, my Book Cover.

 I am actually pretty pleased with it. I think it is much better than my previous book covers.

 
It seems like a long, long time since I first drew this image....
 SO GUESS WHAT??!! I have approximately 4 square inches to paint and my book will be finished. All the artwork has been scanned and copyrighted and I am SO close to sending this on to layout and printing.  I know there are a few people who will be very happy to hear this!
Almost time to celebrate!