Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

:dance:  i am so excited sapphire the puppy black gsd is ours tomorrow morning so we are now busy doggy proofing the home a little......lol   cant wait my son is so happy too,,i will post some pics of her maybe tomorrow evening once she is settled a little,NOT MUCH TIME FOR BEARS NOW but a puppy loads of time take care will post tomorrow melissax

thanks girls for all you great advice... i have bought loads of things today and now need last thing a collar i want a pink diamonte set one with a lovely pink ;lead my hubby looked at me as if i was barking mad lol..... i said well she is a little girl my princess lol....so we will have to comprimise maybe purple i will keep you all updated thanks melissa x

thankyou all for your supporting commesnt still awaiting to hear its like waiting for xmas cant wait to go get her,,,,,,, hugs melissax i have bought lots of books,, had german sheperds before so sort off now what to expect but a puppy never yikes.........i must be barking but i couldnt resist and needs a home so she can have mine lol

thanks,,,yes she is defo a puppy 15 weeks, and she will be a big dog dad is massive......just hope she dont rip the house apart  lol or my BEARS.....

sorry i have not been on for a while been so busy with this little princess . please meet sapphire 15 weeks old. she is a black pure bred long haired german sheperd. all mine permitting home checks are ok which i am sure they will be ..i will let you know how we go and when we are due to pick her up....take care melissaxx

hi ... 1st off dont give up you have such a huge talent , i have struggled with my bears right from the start and still to this day some go some dont ebay is quiet and so is every other site at the moment, it sure does not mean your work is not good enough because it is its brilliant, and with the market the way it is at the moment people have had to slow down so paula is right concentrate on making new designs and website etc and you will then find the market good again fingers crossed i do understand how you feel i have been there so many times and you feel that this is the end of the road..... no it isnt you will find that you make something that  gets you back up again i always do i have been left with loads of bears and think shall i just sell them at silly prices NO you will only be lowering your standard and price of your work.... stick with it you will find light at the end of the tunnel. best wishes melissax

thanks daphne and melanie j... i will defo take all your comments on board and i am now working with a fantastic bear artist whom we will work together to get this event ironed out in more detail, the prolem is i am trying to set a date conveniant to all but this is impossible. so we are working on a better date that does not get to close to all the other major events thus hoping that many artsits will then join on board to help me create a fantastic event for us all it would be lovely for another show to be a success  and will be going ahead next year  as planned but with a better date hopefully i will be in touch soon melissa xthanks for all your kind help

thanks julie and everyone for you lovely comments and i saw your french fancies julie they are irrestistable well done and cant wait to read yours next month melissa xxxxx

MAYBE MAY LOL JEE NEVER REALISED SO MUCH ON  new enquiries will be made monday thanks so much for your help i will look through all books again i have british artists that are very keen to exhibit and need to fit a date to suit all i may not be able to please everyone wish i could it would then be sooo easy  hopefully next date i will get it right :doh:

Just finished reading the preview i did for the latest tbci and i am pleased with the 1st ever preview i have done. and blu the collie just gets everywhere, i had no idea what bears would be in, as sent many and was so surprised to see that the collie i made my sister named blu was in there, he has had so much coverage in the space of a month..... with much delight to my sister. I hope you all enjoy or enjoyed the read, and cant wait for the next one now. thanks melissa x And i really do thank everyone that has inspired me and continue to do so it means a lot xx

thanks all for your help maybe i will sort something for april towards the end thanks so much i will get onto it melissa thanks for being so helpful

just booked it i hope i have not clashed with anything else the 1st fair will be sunday the 15th march 2009 week before mothers day if i have clashed can someone please let me know asap thankyou 10am-4pm i will have website up and running by the weekend and all booking  forms are available now the pavillion is 1000sq feet with pillars inside and newly painted cream walls there will be a few 12ft tables available 4 of these are booked already so if you do require a 12ft table please conact me asap as they are going already I have some great artists on board and the themes for visitors choice bears will be as follows
just in case you want to make a start now lol...
8 to 16 inches   fairy fantasy bear
8-16 inches       flower bear
8-16 inches    woodland fury friend any furry friend not a bear
minitiure bears  up to 6 inches in any of the above catergories above .
also we are planning best bear in show on the day to be judged and awarded by someone with great knowledge and experience with bears..............hope to see many of you there for those that  have already enquired i will send the booking forms out to you in the next day or 2 thanks everyone melissaxxxxxxx
any questions please ask i will help where i can to answer to them
and sorry i tried to get xmas booked but they are totall full with weddings march should be nice with mothers day the following weekend and then st patricks after

been offered 2 nov dates sat 15th and sat 29th what do you think as booked up all other sat and sund in dec so these 2 would be the only 2 dates available this year  then i am looking for end of march next year or april mid i also now hove is on mid nov but these will be week before or week after so if any one is interested in attending i will need advice on dates i cant accomadate everyone with dates as i would never get one booked but just need advice to which one most would prefer thanks melissa

hi all i am still sorting out dates for the bear show fair event to be held at wickstead park in northants set in 147 acres of grounds the venue will be the pavillion if you look on there website you will see the pics of the pavillion and stats of measurments of the hall..... ok i have thought and chatted and chatted all day and come up with a few dates so any input before i book
i dont want to clash with any of the major bear fairs that are on at the same time
1st date around 1st sunday of february 2009
or mid march

then again in mid late november

i am now working on booking forms and will be speaking with bear magazines and collector sites for advertising also working on a web site that will be purely advertising this fair and whom is attending

i have decided that there will be 50/70 stands some 6ft and some  not many 12ft so spaces will be limited to those whom require 12fts prices yet to be sorted on stands
all tables are square
i will be getting a large outdoor banner so wickstead can display this on there main gates all summer and throughout and will be on wickstead parks website when i have made the booking
i will also be supplying wickstead with leaflets in there thousands to give to all entrants to the park and posters for hem to display in the park
radio and local paper adverts nearer the event and internet advertising
any questions please ask i will endeavour to find out .
this bear show will be purely for bear artists and maybe 2-3 artist and mohair supply stands
i will email some of you soon if you havent already requested interest to date
food will be catered by wickstead park in the bistro and they will open up the bar for small snacks and drinks inside the ballroom pavillion
the charity i have decided will be macmillan cancer charity
i want to aid a raffle  and  all proceeds will be donated to them
also prizes for bears yet to be announced any questions requests i will do my best as this is not my fair its all of yours as well regards melissa xx

new info for you
i can provisionally book the park in march in the pavillion in wickstead park which is there large ballroom they can accomadate 50 tables some 6ft some 12ft holding 500 visitors all exhibitors can park for free and is a well run and organized car park with good access to unload and load.  the park itself will be closed but host events all year round from car shows to baby sale shows to antique everything..visitos would have to pay around 2.00 to park there car in the main car park near the pavillion which i thought was reasonable as can park all day for this fee. they will open up a bar area serving snacks and drinks and then open up the bistro next door for more of a sit down meal .  they can supply electriciy to stalls needing it and have good signal for card payment machines for those whom need it . i will be getting intouch with some artists today and hope this can be arranged asap for march next year on a sunday. they have said they will have a huge banner on fence outside park advertising this event also on there main website and if i drop of leaflets to park asap they can promote  from now until date which i think is great i would also ensure there is advertising in magazines. local papers here and radio and possibily anglian news and make some feature of this event thanks melissa xx oh and wicky bear will be there as well,,HE IS WICKSTEADS BEAR

Hi karon
thanks for your input yes i am thinking of making into an event rather than just a show already have a workshop sorted and someone whom is really good at bear noses that may offer a day of helping others do that ever so tricky nose ..would be a case of bring your bear along and get the nose done perfectly i thought would be a great idea. there would also be a raffle with the proceeeds going to mcmillan cancer charity close to my heart they care for and help so many people.... also a best bear event as well i will be speaking with cristine at bears at the bottom of the garden to advertise and promote this as well just to let you all know i am in talks with managers at wickstead today they have 147 acres of grounds so perfect place just need to organize it into fine detail and get the bookings i will be looking at march or april 2009 and again in oct nov 2009 i am hoping for about 50/70 tables if i can get artists on board for a great day it will be fabulous i will update all very soon when i have agreed something with some artists and the event managers thansk again for all the support and kind welcoming input  melissa xx what do people think of the idea of teddy awards in the uk with proceeds again going to charity and winners will be announced at the fair.......... let me know  there would be a range of catering facilities, from basic to sit down bistro plenty of tea and coffee,  plenty of parking and huge grounds and other activities in the park itself i will also be speaking with them re electricity points to stands and availability of taking visa card payment for artists wishing to do so on the day as i have heard that some shows this cant be done very well due to low signals so i will look into this today thanks again melissa x

jenny thankyou so much for your kind input. i wanted to get advice from artists re this event.... i wanted to try and hold it some where  there is plenty of room and space to roam eat and browse and other things to do bar the fair itelf any other tips would be gladly appreciated i will however be looking into places today and the course of the next couple of months before commiting to a venue i thought of wickstead park as a location due to its advertising, eating facilities, and parking. and ease to get to as well with plenty of places to stay what i am thinking of doing is looking at costs for venues i know this will be the most costly part for me to start due to not just being held in a community centre as a lot of them near me dont have the parking facilities which hits a problem straight away also the catering at least with wickstead you have choices of eating places in the park itself the venues are bright and air conditioned and very spacious i have emailed samantha for input as well i will post some more places and pics when i get them to see what artists think as i feels its important that artist have a say in the place as well as me thanks jenny melissa xx

thanks sue i would make sure that it wouldnt clash with any other show off out today for some viewings cant wait to see whats available i will let you know melissa x

thanks melanie mj......... i really want to get something organized as no fairs  this way and i really think it could be great i will have to look into this a lot more before i defo give go ahead but i am pretty certain it will take place i want it to be big thats why the venue needs to be big and wickstead park fits the bill at the moment i will let you know how it goes i am still making enquiires in stately homes as well so need to get looking and booking just hope some artists will attend if i get as far as making a booking for venue thanks mj i will look out for tips x

Hi
i am going to venture into organizing a large bear fair next year with a regular twice a year event i have already made enquiries about this and started the ball rolling for this to happen i need to know before i make this concrete if i have any interest from artist wishing to attend i am hoping all being well to hold this at wickstead park which is a massive location  not only do they have many venues there for this sort of thing they also have resturants, large grounds and gardens and rides and amusments for children or adults great pubs and hotels near by this will be in northamptonshire near kettering the venues are light air conditioned and offer suberb eating facilities with many cafes and resturants and also loads of car parking spaces i think it would be ideal for a bear show as they regulary host antique fairs  , so if you agree please let me know before i proceed any further i would also offer 6ft tables and 12 ft tables the venues are huge so loads of space i wont know for sure the exact space until i have viewed and spoken in more depth another possibility is althorpe house where princess diana is laid to rest, so any ideas please let me know if you would be on board regards melissa x

Thanks to everyone whom helped raise the amount needed to get little courtney to disney  heres the pics as promised. she had a lovely time and courtneys family cant thank everyone enough....  thankyou all again melissa xxxx

A MASSIVE CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU ALL and what a sweet heart ENJOY.......Your other older daughters look so proud of her  take care  melissa xx

wow thankyou so much for all your lovely comments and glad you like both blu,s i am trying my hand at a afghan hound bear now hope it goes ok melissa take care everyone melissa xxxx

Hi everyone just had a phone call from my sister whom i made a collie for back a while ago, whilst i was in cornwall for a  bear fair there was a competition in the west britain local paper for you to send in your snaps of your best bear  , and i am pleased to say blu my collie won 50.00gbp voucher ... the editors said they loved to see the mini version of my sisters collie blu  thanks melissa xx picture of  the one we sent to paper.....

JUST FOR SUE A CLOSE UP OF MINE LOL....     thanks laurie  for your comments..... christine i am so pleased your children adore scruffy and was a plesure to meet you stay in touch MELISSA X