Gabrielle Designs - Paddington Bear

Currently in The Ark in Temple Bar there is a V&A Teddy Bear Exhibition.  Along with Mr. Bean's and Bono's bear there is a Gabrielle Designed Paddington Bear.

Gabrielle Designs was a small English company that made Paddington bears from 1972 until the late 1990's.

I have a Paddington Bear from the 1980's.  He is a little bit tired and worn and has lost his hat and label that used to be attached to his coat. He is a hard stuffed Paddington.  Many of the later produced Paddington's are soft stuffed.

His boots have paw prints on the sole and PB printed in reverse!

This Paddington Bear was made in Britain.

How cute are his wellington boots?!

 

A teeny weeny hand sized Paddington

Printed on the red boots are "Made in Korea". "China" is printed on the blue pair of boots.

As a child I loved reading about the marmalade sandwich eating Paddington Bear  - he got up to such great adventures! 

Did you read Paddington Bear books??

House pictures!

It's been a long time since I posted pictures of the house.  Here are a few that I took this morning.  I hope you enjoy them and would love to hear your comments.

Artwork in the Master Bedroom - this was painted by Ciaran

                                   The Master Bedroom

                                                         
                                          Bathroom

This is the living room:

The glass stairs leading up to the studio.

The Lucellino Wing Lights in the Guest bedroom.

Here's the bed in the Guest Bedroom.

Here's the mantlepiece in the Guest Bedroom.  I have put my Paddington Bear's on the ground.  Check out the biggest bear - he's nearly 30 years old and he is one of the original design Paddington Bears - he is a much more solid bears then the newer ones.  I used to love reading Paddington Bear when I was younger, written by Michael Bond he will always be a favourite of mine.  Here is some trivia about Paddington Bear - Jeremy Clarkson's mother (of Top Gear fame) made and marketed the first Paddington Bear Teddy!!

The picture on the mantlepiece is of Picasso, it was painted by Ciaran's Dad.