Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

     
Well in a few more days the 12 days after Christmas will have gone and so it will be time to pack the christmas tree away.
I would like to thank and wish all those bear people who have been part of the Teddy Talk Christmas Ornament Swap in years past, a huge shout out for a very HAPPY 2014. I just love all  my precious ornaments  . I appreciate each one's skill and design. They come from all corners of the world and make my Christmas tree very special. Thank you every one who is on my tree with your evergreen good wishes. I was so sad that it was not continued this year as I did have a wee critter ready.
Again A HAPPY NEW YEAR to you all
Hugs and blessings
Sandra (aka Helen)

Julia,
Mother and her family emigrated from Norwich to Melbourne Australia in1914 at the beginning of the war. Mother was the youngest so her knowledge was secondhand from her siblings. Talking to her sister, they lived on the northern side of the city. In the Cathedral in Tasmania there is a brick from the Norwich Cathedral which Mother loved to touch each time we visited Tasmania as she was christened in the Norwich Cathedral. I must look on Google and have a nosey as you have stirred my interest again. Yes indeed the world is very small. I was born in Oz and trained as a teacher there but married a New Zealander as so I have been here for over 4 decades. They nickname me a KWAUSSIE....half and Australian and half a Kiwi. Thank you for sharing
Hugs
Helen

Susanna, We would love to have you touring New Zealand as it is so diverse and only a small journey from the top of the North Is to the south. There is a big difference in temperatures too. So glad you enjoyed the calendar. Please put your favourite photo for 2011 in the bear's wee pocket before you hang it on the tree.
Do have a lovely Christmas Hugs Helen

Geraldine, Doesn't he look lovely on the tree? Your wrapping was so lovely too. Forgot in the excitement to tell you
Thank you so much Linda for inserting him for me on the 2011 Christmas tree and Karon too for organizing and making it possible
Hugs
Helen

What a fabulous day it has become in spite of rain, rain and more rain. I ventured out to the letter box and there was a box from England. Now inside is a truely old style santa that makes your heart melt.Thank you sooooooo much Geraldine, he is just so different from any other ornament I have received and the first from England. My Mother came from Norwich so I  often fly the Union Jack from our flagpole. May you have a very blessed Christmas and thank you for sending it so soon so that I can enjoy him on my tree for so much longer. I only put up the Christmas tree last night so I must have known something.
Hugs to you
Sandra aka Helen
PS My favourite colour is maroon

Woohoo!!!!!
I would just love to swap again. I have not missed a year and just adore all the ornaments on the tree from so many places in the world. I have already made mine in the hopes that there would be a swap in 2011 so it could be good if my partner was someone far overseas as it would have plenty of time to get there.
Thanks for making this offer possible , Karon. It brings sooooo much joy and my class of children at school adore it
Hugs
Helen (aka Sandra) I have sent you a PM thanks again

I am anxiously awaiting news too about the pup and how you are together and what is the name and..............
All the best Pat
Hugs
Helen

I do wish we could get those lovely big bells and the little wee ones on his ties in New Zealand. Thank goodness for the internet.
Happy New Year to you
Hugs
Helen

PS Sorry my fingers went faster than my brain and the top sentence was hard to decipher so I have written it again. Sorry.....

Well now the postman has just arrived and squashed in my box was a parcel all the way from New Jersey.
No wonder it took so long to get to the suuny weather as he must have been snowed in for ages.
Well worth the wait. He is such a happy chappie after his brush
I do wish we could get those lovely big belss and the litle wee ones on hos ties here. Thank goodness for the internet.
I did enjoy the lovely gingerbread card too.
Thank you so much Madeleine for all your love and effort.
I will email the photo cos I do not have any success trying to put it here over the years.
You'll see him on the tree soon.
Happy New Year to you
Hugs
Helen

I'll be rushing out to the post today as everyone else seems to have their ornament. I just wonder from where it is coming?
How many other recipients have not received their ornament?
Hugs
Helen

This is going to be such a wonderful time with your new pup
It will be hard not to spoil as she is such a cutie
I am so happy for you as I know how alone I'd be without Sam.
Look forward to more pictures
Hugs
Helen

I am wondering just how far away from New Zealand my ornament is coming. Nothing in the mail today but I am hoping for tomorrow. In the meantime a VERY VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR to you all
HUGS AND BLESSINGS
HELEN
ps.........FEEL LIKE A BIG KID WISHING EACH DAY FOR THE POST TO BRING ME A PARCEL................!!

Alison, that really tickled me. The silver fern is such a recognisable motif. I wish you had of spoken to her...if she was a kiwi she certainly wouldn't have thought you a nutter but would have loved to be recognised so next time...be brave and the tell us from where she came...so keep looking.
So pleased that you do like "JOY" and may she sparkle for your Christmas.  She was made with so much love and joy. I love the christmas ornament swap!I am so eager to know from where my ornament is travelling....any suggestions!!!!!!!!!!!
Hugs
Helen

Thank you so much Lyn. It is great seeing my ornament there as it travelled such a loooooong way.
A very MERRY CHRISTMAS to you for all the work to come. Yes it will look grand when it is all full.
Hugs
Helen

How lovely that you all remember me and have sent me all those hugs.
Oh yes it is the hugs that I do miss so much and to all you new folk thanks for caring to send me good wishes
I am really trying so hard and just loved making the ornament this year as it was good therapy
I am so pleased that it has already arrived to a bear maker that I have admired from afar
Hugs
Helen

I have mine posted 2 days ago. It has such a long way to go to............. but by air mail it could be there to someone that I have admired her work for a while so I was so pleased to send it to her with a touch of Kiwi.
Can't wait for the opening of the parcel now.
Is Tami Warbold ' volunteering' to make the beautiful Christmas tree this year?
Good luck to you all as you create your surprises.
Mine is very special, as my husband passed away 4 weeks ago and making and designing this little critter has kept my sanity and focus. Happy Christmas to you all. I love reading your threads.
Hugs
Helen
PS I have never been early but always with the best of intentions

So it is nearly time...can't wait Thanks Theresa
hugs Helen

I would just love to join the swap again this year
Hugs
Helen

Thank you ladies. I will email my ex student and she can try these two avenues. Muchly appreciated
Hugs Helen

A really good  ex student of mine has gone to Bristol in England and to stop being home sick she has emailed me to find if I know where to buy teddy supplies in Bristol area as she wants to make a bear again
Is there any English bear maker that can give me directions for her. Funny how the students think you know everything......... I know I get certain supplies from all over the world but I have no knowledge of Bristol
I would really appreciate any help
Hugs
Helen

This is just the cleverest owl and mousie pair that I have ever seen.....too cute
Well done

Especially for you Pat.
I do like students to think outside the square so you will have a giggle. This is just a small selection.
* Hazardous Material Permits have to be obtained from the Dept of Environmental Protection in Trenton in NJ
* Eastern time....add 7 hours and call it yesterday
* Long Beach is the longest peninsula I've ever seen. I used a tape measure on the map and I reckon it is 46km long. Lots of islands too protect its East Coast.
*Delaware River is really, really, really long
*Looked at all the Governors since 1776 and only one was female. Go Christine Witman.
* Highest place is High Point 550m above sea level...gee thats not very high...we have huge mountains.
*In 1664 colony of NJ was established by Duke of York.........wonder what he looked like?
*Their census started on the 1st May this year so they can tell how many people they have
*Their nickname is the Garden City so they have plenty of gardens and trees and oxygen to breathe.
* The Govenor Chris Christie says it is the most populated state...WOW
And here endeth your history/geography lesson
By everyone adding one point which is not a lot of homework then collectively we learn such a lot from each other..of course we do get duplications...and this is no problem.
I just love this collective learning.
Thanks for asking

Now when I first went on the net
my husband was not sure about using my name
so I used my second name
I have bought so many bears etc that people know me now as both names and times have changed
I hope this answers your query
Hugs
Helen
PS the class love your Humpty Dumpty

A HUGE thank you to everyone who has sent me a postcard.
We are using them all so well and travelling the world with the class who are so interested from where the next card has come. We have made a unit of learning using our 'magic carpet' and when we land each student has to research and find one more fact  about your town or country....it has been such a fun way of learning using the cards as a motivational tool.
I really appreciate your efforts as I received more than just my five.
Hugs
Helen aka Sandra

Oh dear I am another that cannot bring up the page however hard I try
What can I do please
Hugs
Helen

This is a great Idea. I have PM 'd you with details. Thank you
Hugs
Helen