Different inspirations

It is strange the things that inspire the making of different bears.This little panda (well actually quite large in my bear making terms, she is just over 4" tall) began as a spark of inspiration, when I was sorting out my ever growing stash of fabrics.

A bear maker can never have enough fabric! You must always be on the look out for interesting material and trimmings and little twiddly bits, that might one day come in handy.I think that I have magpie tendencies as I see some little sparkley thing or pretty ribbon or really soft fabric, and I think "oooh thats really nice, I am not sure what I will use it for but I am sure it will come in handy for something soon!"

Anyway, back to my panda. Her name is Plumpanda, because she is a panda in a plum colour, but also as she is on the cuddly side of slim! so may be her name should really be Plumpandapanda! I have a box which contains my vintage long pile fabric collection and I was looking through it when I came across a fairly small piece of a gorgeous buttery cream fabric. This was on top of a deep rich plumy purple colour which I have had for so long that I cannot remember where it came from.Well it shouted "make a panda" to me. I belong to a number of teddy related internet groups and a Panda Challenge had been set on one and I think this is why my brain was in panda mode.

I am very pleased with Plumpandapanda, as I think she will now be called, she even has a matching purple nose!