Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Hi Jane,

As a "collector" I feel quite strongly about this issue.

I regularly check e-bay for OOAK Artist Bears and the first thing I check when I see a bear I like, is if international shipment is possible.
Unfortunately I very often come across teddies that are only sent in the UK.   Then I don't bother to check out the details of the bear, nor who made it.

I know that international postage can be quite expensive (I have paid my faire share of postage over the years  ), but surely it is up to your
potential buyer to consider if he/she is willing to pay the extra cost.  When I consider adopting a teddy on e-bay, I always ask the seller beforehand to give
me an estimate of the postage (as Allison already mentioned).  Until now I have never had any bad experiences with this method.

As you will perhaps remember, I paid GBP 24 for the adoption of your lovely GEORGE.  I personally would have hated it if you had refused to send him to me, because you considered that the postage was too high.  In the UK you have the luxury of having many talented artists and many teddy fairs; here on the continent the number of artists and fairs is much more limited, so most of the teddies in my hug are in fact British :  BARLING BEARS, ALL BEAR, LJ BEARS, KATIECOUNTRYMOUSE, GUARDIAN ANGEL BEARS, JULIE SHEPHERD, BUMPKIN BEARS (half British/half Belgian), ...  (sorry if I left some of you out  :redface: ).

So please, have a thought for your international collectors. 

Hugs,

Peter

Hi Kay,

I'm quite sure your customer will love him to bits  , just like I love my "Moet".

You do have to feel him in your hands to get his real sense of "cuddlyness".

He certainly looks great as well  :clap: .

Hugs,

Peter

PS. My little katiecountrybears (Monty, Woody, Toast & Moet) send you all their love   

Congratulations Jane; he is really magnificent    :clap:  :clap:  :clap:

Hugs,

Peter

Congratulations Jane; he is really magnificent    :clap:  :clap:  :clap:

Hugs,

Peter

Paddy has found a new home !!

He will soon start his journey to Belgium, where he will join his little brother "Tiddler".  :hug:

We're all looking forward to meeting him !   

Thank you Paula for another lovely bear.

Hugs,

Peter & Tiddler

Hi Leslea,

I really like Anthony as well: he has such a sweet face with a hint of wisdom (or is it mischief). 
The nose looks really fine to me.

I'd love to see some more of your bears.  :clap:  :dance:

Hugs,

Peter

I couldn't resist posting a short reply to this lovely clip.

It was made in Central Station in Antwerp, where I pass every morning and evening going to work.
Central Station is a magnificent building and well worth a visit (without the dancing and singing).

This clip was made for a television programma called "in search of Maria" : it's a sort of talent show and the winner gets to play the lead in a new musical
production of "the sound of music".
One of the 'obstacles' the contestants had to overcome was to sing and dance live in Central Station, but I think things got a little out of hand and a lot more people joined in.  I'm sorry I missed it though (must have been hard at work  ).

Who said the Belgian people were boring ??? 

Hugs,

Peter

Hi everyone,

I have just finished reading a wonderful book called "Travels with my Teddy Bear" written by Debra Schiman.

Has anyone read this book ?

It is an account of the travels that Debra has made with her trusted companion teddy bear/rucksack "Bearsac".

Debra was diagnosed with "Asperger Syndrome" when she was 38; Asperger Syndrome is a less severe form of autism.  People suffering from Asperger's
can function pretty well in "normal life", but sometimes they get overwhelmed when there is a lot of noise, a specific smell or large crowds.  Debra then puts in her earplugs and digs her face into Bearsac, so she can smell his familiar teddy fur.

Debra and Bearsac have travelled all over the world, even to Japan, Moscow and Mongolia, often using the local public transport system; I really admire their courage and, though there are often disappointments, the book gives you a real good feeling.

At times the book is also very funny : especially when Bearsac tries to connect with other people, animals or teddies the situations become hilarious. 
One word of caution though : there is a very sad part at the end of Chapter two (it had me shedding a few tears)  . 
Bearsac also has his own website, where he keeps more photos of his travels and a blog (www.bearsac.com). 

If anyone of you has read this book, I would like to hear your comments on it.  If there are any other books that feature teddy bears (like John Lamb's detective stories), I would love to hear from you.

Hugs,

Peter and his Teds   

Thank you, Jane, for the lovely card and poem.

Here are my Easter greetings for all TTalkers :

:

A big Easter Hug from Peter & his Teds  :hug:

Hi Brenda,

You are not having local elections in the near future are you?   

Yesterday I discovered (on the news !) that local politicians are using Facebook to get extra votes.  In June we are having local elections and politicians are using Facebook to make "friends" with the voters.
Apparently, the more friends you have, the more popular you are as a politician and the more votes you will get !

The politicians who weren't on Facebook frankly admitted that they were forced to use this medium, because everyone else is doing it.

I find it a little nauseating  ; but thank heavens I am not a politician.  :dance:

Hugs,

Peter

I think you are absolutely right, Paula. 

A "large" bear for me starts at a size of approx. 20 inches, and certainly not below 18 inches.

Maybe they just don't have enough entries for a "large" category. 
It seems to me that there aren't that many artists -like yourself- that like to create really big bears, which is a shame, because they are soooo huggable.  :hug:

Love and hugs,

Peter

Hello Kay,

Can't wait till TOAST gets here in Belgium  ! 

I'm so glad he likes chocolate with his toast  :dance: ; I'm a huge chocolate addict and there's always enough chocolate in the house  .

TOAST will not be disappointed !!!

Hugs,

Peter

Hi everyone in Teddyland,

I couldn't resist posting these two photos of the newest members of my family  :

TIDDLER by Paula Carter & HUNNI (with the red bow) by Julie Shepherd.

[size=0][/size] They make a lovely couple, don't they ? 

*****

Lots of love and hugs,   

Peter

Hi everyone in teddy land,

I'm more than happy to announce that TIDDLER has joined my family of teddies in Belgium.

He is my first teddy by Paula, but he's such an adorable bear, that I have no doubt that he
will have a brother or sister joining him in the future.   

Thank you Paula for your excellent work !!  :clap:

Hugs,

Peter

Hi all you teddy bear lovers and artists out there,

I wanted to share with you the teddy that I recently adopted from Jane Lynne Martin (Doodlebears).  He has such a sweet kind face; everytime I look at him or pick him up for a cuddle he brings a smile to my face.     I think it's something we all could use, when you can't turn on the TV or open a newspaper without being bombarded with doom and gloom.

Thank heavens for teddies  and thank you Jane for creating this lovely teddy   :clap:  :clap:  :clap:

The other bears you see in the next picture are called Monty & Moet (on the left), by Kay Holroyd (KatieCountryBears) and Valentino (on the right), by Australian artist Raewyn Todd (Woodbury Park Bears).

A big hug to you all  :hug:

Peter

Hi Paula,

I really love this teddy    and especially the gentler neutral tones appeal to me more than the brighter coloured ones (I'm a bit old fashioned).

I hope to hear from you soon whether he's still up for adoption.  If so -which I hope- he will be joining my modest -but ever growing- hug of teddies
and you will certainly see him again on TT, when he's settled in his new home.

Keep up the good work !  :clap:  :clap:

Hugs,

Peter

Dear Jane,

Unfortunately I couldn't attend the Winter Bearfest, but your wonderful photos made me realise what I have missed    and I will certainly do everything I can to attend the September show and then I hope to meet you in person.  :clap:  :clap:  :clap:   Three cheers for you !! 

Peter