Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Thanks Shane............you realise that if you win you'll have to come here to collect the bear?????????
only joking......... :crackup:

big huggies
Maria

Me again, Linda!  Finally managed to access the bear.org pages, and saw your donation..................many thanks for your generosity! Tickets duly allocated..........
big huggies (and I'm sure the Black bears would join in too!?!)
Maria :hug:  :hug:  :hug:

Many thanks, Linda.......can you tell me how much? then I can allocate tickets. I'm having such a frustrating time - server went down yesterday, and I'm using Jeremy's teensy comp - typing with the tips of my fingernails! Different server, and I can't access some sites........aaarrggghhhhh ! The fates are conspiring against me.........

big huggies
Maria :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:

Can you feel the waves of JEALOUSY, Sophie????? I SO love Paris - one of the most elegant cities I know.
thanks for sharing
huggies
Maria

Hi Shane and Peter
having problems here - the b...... server is down, and I'm having  to use Jeremys teensy computer!
I plan to let this run till the end of the month, Shane -if that helps?
And thanks, Peter- I'll add you to the list!
OOOOh this is annoying - all my passwords are on MY computer - and this has a different language keyboard! Mine is German, and I am used to it (doesn't help with the language tho - I'm still useless at it!)
hopefully, it'll all be back on again tomorrow and Ill catch up
huggies
Maria :hug:  :hug:

BIG thanks, Katy.....you're on the list!
lots of huggies
Maria :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:

Thanks, Jane - you're first on the list! And we decided to start with a three-figure number, so they all have an equal chance of being picked.           
More huggies for you
Maria :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:

Thanks, Jane! I'm sort of nervous about this - never ever even tried ebay! But I would love the bear to raise a decent sum for the NABC
big huggies to you
Maria :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:

Hi all
I've decided to raffle my avatar bear to benefit the North American Bear Center - I've just posted about it on Lily the black Bear's face book page.
Here's the deal - tickets will be $5 each, and the easiest way to do this would be for you (if you want one or more) to donate direct to the NABC  - www.bear.org  It's very easy, they take paypal - AND it's a registered charity so you'd get the tax back, I believe.
The just email me and I'll allocate a ticket number.
Never done anything like this before - so I hope it works, and raises lots of money to benefit REAL bears.
big huggies
Maria

Oh WOW - well done, Cat - I'm SO pleased for you! And you thoroughly deserved to win :dance:  :dance:  :dance:  :dance:  :dance:
hope you are happy dancing today
big huggies
Maria :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:

Glad you are having such a good time :dance:  :dance:  :dance:  :dance:  :dance:
looking forward to some photos
big huggies
Maria :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:

Not planning to give up just yet, Marilyn........but it is depressing. One of those catch 22 situations........if the visitors give up, the exhibitors get discouraged.........and if they stop doing shows, there'd be nothing to attract visitors. Just keep hoping that things take a turn for the better  - or wishing I'd started making bears years ago - when things WERE good!  Such is life..............

huggies
Maria :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:

Ohhhhhh how terrible..........
sending lots of positive thoughts and  hugs your way..........and wishes for a speedy recovery for your son
:hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:
Maria

Poor little lad..........but it's good to know he is doing fine now, Tami. And he really is a gorgeous little boy
huggies
Maria :hug:  :hug:  :hug: (and  some for Thomas :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug: )

And when  you notice in amongst all the comp rules and regs that it actually said the nominees would be notified in FEBRUARY!?! Hhhhhhhhho hum................
huggies
Maria

It IS a worry for the teddy world - the decline of ANY show..........
I don't rely on an income from my bears - selling them is just a means to affording nice materials, and indulging myself in the fun of being creative.........but for those who DO need the income, it's even more of a worry. For me, one of the best parts of going to a show is the chance to catch up with friends and spend a happy time among like-minded people (and teddy people ARE the best!). But when friends say that they probably won't bother next year.......????????
As an indication of how bad the show was, on the Sunday, Sue and Jasper  Pearson had packed up and left within the second hour.......what does that say? Hey ho - all we can do is HOPE that things pick up.........
huggies
Maria

that's the $64 000 question, Peter!!
the Teddybär Total show has always called itself the world's biggest, but it shrinks year by year (as do many other shows).
A lot of us think they should move back to Munster - in the three years since they moved to Rheda, the attendance has been going down........but then - IS it the recession - or the fact that Rheda is a little more difficult to get to. I wish I knew the answer......and I'm sure the organisers  feel the same!
apparently on Saturday there was a huge demo against nuclear power stations, with thousands of people linking hands and blocking roads, and there were two multiple pile-ups on roads in the area......contributory factors? ? Or just a "clutching at straws" excuse?
If you had come, you would have seen some fabulous bears.......and sadly , a lot of them just went back home with their creators.
As for the two day aspect....it's pretty much the norm here. Saturday is usually the busy day, and Sunday is the day when visitors just come to look - and exhibitors can take time to wander round, buy materials and chat with friends!
Volcano.....seems that those who had planned to  fly earlier last week had all the problems - like Wendy, whose original flight was cancelled, and rebooking meant a big delay.......others, who were flying in the day before the show, had no problems.
It'll be interesting to see what ideas the organisers come up with..........it would be awful to see this show bite the dust.
huggies
Maria

Hi all........
sad to report, but the Teddybaer Total show was something of a wash out.........the exhibitor numbers were noticeably down on last year - and the visitors?  So few, that  it felt like the last half hour of the Sunday afternoon of a normal 2-day show..........positively DIRE. Very few happy faces amongst the artists, with lots saying they wouldn't bother next year...      On the up-side, we had lots of fun and laughs with friends..........but really - all the work, preparation and anticipation - for what?
It remains to be seen what the organisers think, when the dust has settled, but I can't think they will be very happy with the situation - all rather depressing!
huggies
Maria

Hi Sophie.....looks like we are "in the same boat"!  All the plans, the Spring Cleaning (!) - sigh..........and after all that work, there's that big cloud of dust ready to drop on us - aaarrrggghhhh!
One thing I told Wendy - we are only about 4 hours by train from Paris (one of my very favourite places) - so we still might manage to meet up..........maybe I could venture over there for a day or two!?
However - we still have to wait for the whole mess to be sorted out -and the logistics of getting all the flights going again will be a real nightmare for someone!
huggies
Maria :hug:  :hug:  :hug:

Yes - it's pretty DIRE all round..............not just people with thwarted travel plans (like poor Wendy!), but think of the producers in countries in Africa (and elsewhere) who rely on getting their fresh produce to the European markets QUICKLY..........there are going to be a lot of knock-on effects.
The weirdest thing is that we have clear blue skies, end to end - strange to think of this dust cloud hovering high up !
Times like this, you realise that mankind has no power over the forces of Nature..........
huggies
Maria

Teddybaer Total show next weekend.........Wendy (Matilda Huggington) and I have been planning for TWO years to share a booth at the show............and who would have imagined a volcano would scupper it all?????????
Wendy should have been arriving in Germany tomorrow night - but she is still in Perth with NO date for a flight.........the only good thing is that she sent some Puddles on ahead, so I will be able to display and SELL them next w/end...........if anyone comes to the show! I imagine  that all the exhibitors from far flung places like SE Asia will be stuck at home...........all we need now is a health warning for everyone to stay home because of the volcanic dust.........   Honestly -  Iceland is NOT doing their chances in the Eurovision contest any good!!
huggies
Maria

Done! - and a woohoo :dance:  :dance:  for the judges too!
huggies
Maria

Voted.........and he really is great! Nice creations in the comp too........
huggies
Maria

Aww - shucks.......thanks, Sue Ann!  but wait till you see the next ones.......Ted and Lucky. We had such fun with them......and even managed to incorporate one of Wendy Ching's puddles.......
It  is SO nice, as with the Abracadabra  Moon bear Rescue auctions, to be able to use teddyies to do something for REAL bears.
big huggies
Maria :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:

Hi everyone........sorry I'm being a bit quiet...... I'll be back to normal (whatever that is) after the Teddybaer Total, weekend after next........
but I just wanted to pass on some news.........
A new Zazzle shop has been set up to benefit the North American Bear Center research........people on Lily's facebook page have been creating bear -related stuff,     and there are now some lovely t-shirts, tote bags etc - www.zazzle.com/lilyshope   
all the profits go straight to the Wildlife Research Institute, which is the research branch of the NABC.
And yes :redface:  :redface: I've got a t-shirt there, with another on the way.......I'm really chuffed that my work  will be of benefit to the bears!
Incidentally, one of the good things about this venture is that you can order from Zazzle in your own country, if it is represented there, so you don't have to worry about huge postage costs and customs.
huggies
Maria :hug:  :hug:  :hug: