Thank You Bears

It's Christmas Eve and I have been saving something a little special to share with you today.  Earlier this year I had to have an operation, the operations was a sucess and I am fine now.  The hospital staff were wonderful and I cannot praise them enough, from the surgeons to the nursing staff and all of the ambulance drivers, porters and cleaners.  They were so kind, friendly and caring.  

I also needed to say a very special thank you to all of my family and friends who got me through those difficult days, I do not think I could have done it without their support.  

I know that the hospital staff receive lots biscuits and chocolates so I tried to think of a more personal way to say thank you.  I decided to make them 'Thank you Bears'.  The Thank you Bear was conceived and designed by Sarah from Knitables as a way of saying thank you to all of our amazing NHS staff and the pattern is a freebe from their website.  

There are rather a lot of them, so I am warning you that this is an extra long post with a lot of photographs.

Several of the bears posed on the stairs for a group photo before heading off to their new homes.

Each bear is made in doube knit yarn.

Their hats and masks are made separately, but their uniforms from part of their body.

I am not very good at sewing the eyes and noses but that quirkiness does add to their individual character.

Each bear is differnt in some way, it is not just the colour of their uniform, sometimes their body is different, others have differently coloured muzzles and ears.  All of which goes towards making each bear unique.

I stitched a little Handmade with Love button in one of their ears.

You may be thinking that their ears sit a little low on their heads.  This is so their ears are positioned correctly to fit the hat.

These bears may look a little familiar, I posted a pair of Thank you Bears I made about a year ago

Each bear stands around 12 inches tall.

The bears and I would like to wish each and everyone one of you a very happy Christmas and we thank you for following this blog and leaving comments.

Before we check on those naughty elves I have another Christmas card to share with you.  This card was sent to me by my good friend and fellow crafter Mrs Beez (some of us call her Lisette).  I am sure you will agree with me, it is gorgeous.

Shall we pay one last visit to our little elf friends - Daisy and Danny?  They go back to the North Pole tonight.

 

I apologise for the quality of this photo, the speach bubble reads 'Goodbye and we love you.  xxx'.

I am not sure whether you are able to read this photograph - the letter from Daisy and Danny reads::

We have to go back with Santa tonight but we'll see you next year.

We've left you a little present to bring you some cheer. 

Tonight just before 6pm sprinkle your reindeer food on the grass.

Don't forget Santa's treats, he likes his milk in a glass. 

Then at 6pm ring your bells, shake them fast and loud,

And think of Nanny sitting on a soft cloud. 

For every time a bell rings, 

An angel gets her wings. 

When you come back through the door,

There is a present you've never seen before.

We hope it helps you keep, 

Those special memories while you sleep.

And know you are so loved, 

Both on earth and from heaven above.

I hope you have enjoyed the elf adventures this year, their antics can be a little risqué at times but they are not intended to offend. Hopefully they will be back again next year with new ideas - to be honest I do not know how they dream them up.

I should like to wish you and your family and very happy Christmas and a healthy and joyous 2022.  And, in the words of the late, great Dave Allen, 'May your God go with you'.

Dionne