Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Oh dear people getting all het up again!!!To be honest I really dont care much about that and happily accept we are all different.The point of outrage in this posting was that Tesco have built a following in this country by representing themselves as a company that care about animal welfare and the environment.They have been able to expand into asian contries because we in Britain have spent a fortune in their stores.It is now obvious they are not concerned with animal welfare or the environment.The selling of live animals in a supermarket is illegal here,taking animals from the wild to sell is also illegal,It has been proven that selling live amphibians causes the spread of horrible diseases through the human population and depletes natural wildlife.It is all explained in the website I added a link to.This isnt a link about being vegetarian it was really about the hypocracy of the western companies who abandon the moral codes they use here to make a buck abroad.Turtles and frogs are a luxury item and are sold througout the region and only add a tiny amount to Tescos takings so they really dont need to sell them.I feel complaceny is the worst thing we can do.I dont agree with a lot of the posts on here  am gladdened b the posts from those like minded and also the non veggies who care enough to fnd out what they are eating and where it came from.I dont think it is a case of opinion here but a case of things being morally wrong and I cant be one who just thinks thats the way of the world how sad and go back to whatever I am doing.If this post offended and people get worked up then surely we are adult enough to not get personal about it and accept we are all different.If a couple of people sign the petition on the website I added a link to and the rest of you fall out and disagree with me then too bad its the turtles and frogs that are being boiled alive not us.

It turns out Walmart ha as a simlar role in China.This link explains the effect on the environment as well as the cruelty aspect.
I will shut up now!!!!
http://www.tortoisetrust.org/activities/tesco.html

I hope that day will come when we all no longer eat animal products but till it does I think things as macabre as this must be stopped.It is getting so hard to be a veggie these days as they add weird stuff to things.I get weary reading all the small print.I tend to grow most of my own veg as they were putting scorpion genes in tomatos for a while????

That is a great attitude Brenda.Its such a sad story that I cant really think of anything of use to say.You are right to be proud of your family.They sound a lovely group of people.You are lucky to have each other .
Diane xx

Its gratifiying to see you all care so much.
With reference to Christines point.Ifind any boiling of a live creature vile especially since if you put a crab or lobster in a freezer it becmes commatose and can be boiled pain free.Still hideous to me but better.A turtle has the same nerve endings etc as a mammal and local custom or not desemboweling it pulling it from its shell and leaving it to take hours to die  or boiling it alive all done by a bittish company is not on.By that thinking any brittish company or citizen can ignore the moral codes and legalities of back home while abroad and live the same way.That would mean tescos boiling kittens and puppies alive in Vietnam ,would that be sad but fine since its local custom.
I am with the rest of you on this and dont see that as any kind of excuse and if we all turn a blind eye to this sort of thing it goes on.We cant change other countries practises as easily but we can stop supporting our own companies.I hope they get hurt by this.
Jennie  love you by the way!!!(in a totally appropriate way)
Diane xxx

There is an online petition by an animal charity if anyone feels strongly.Sorry to be on my soapbox.I just can stop raging ,cant even sew!!!
Hugs Diane xxx

Tescos is our most popular supermarket and make billions every year.They have come out top in several polls over here.I am hoping people will boycott them for this.It has been on our national news so fingers crossed people take notice.

I know this is a teddy bear site but I know most of you are animal lovers and I wanted to draw attention to Tescos new supermarkets in China.It has been on tv and I have attached a link.They are selling live stock such as turtles mutilated and boiled alive in store.I for one will never set foot in a tesco again and hope others may feel the same.
Thanks for taking the time to read this.
Diane xxx

http://www.careforthewild.org/news.asp? … &I_ID=473&

Vegetarian haggis is really nice.Its what I will be having on friday with mashed tumshee (I think you call them swede).
Its got all the taste of haggis minus the animal parts.
I have been veggie for almost forty years now and still find it weird the things people put in their mouths .

Glad you found it Brenda.Its been up on there for weeks.You would think it wouldstop people buying the magazine???There were so many posts about it at the time I thought you had seen it.
Must go look at the latest one.
Hugs Diane xxx

Brenda can you not just copy it form the virtual mag online.If you go on the website and press virtual there is a drop down menu of issues and you get the whole thing on.
Diane xx
I had to get my friend Louise to get me one as they are impossible to find up here.

It so nice to see them together.Our bears come from the same era for sure.Could you not make her a wee friend ??/they look nice together,a darker shade would go well.Oh dear I am losing my marbles here???
Diane xxx

He just sums up my all time favourite song By Roy orbison!!!I love him.The colours go so well ,he is quite surreal and comforting.Wish he would "tiptoe to my room every night,just to sprinkle startdust and to whisper,go to sleep everything is alright"""If you were here you would be experiencing my beautiful singing voice ha ha.
Diane xxx

Its great to hear such good news!!!Happy birthday Kellisa for today!!!!!Diane xx

I think we just have to hope that the ageing proccess on our bears enhances them the way it has done to the originals.I have trolls from the 1960's and the mohair hair has faded even when they have been kept in a cabinet.I think things made with natural fibres age gracefully and look better but I think synthetics probably just look done.Out of interest do the new fauxfurs fare better than the ones old toys were made with.They tend to flatten and bobble???They look so much more realistic and feel so soft that maybe they are made to last now.
Did you visit the egyptian section in the Louvre Judi?/Its my favourite part.I have spent many happy hours in there.
Creepy place to be locked in at night though!!!

I think climate may come into it a bit as in scotland we seldom get that great a variation in temperature really.I only ever use silk ribbon which seems to last well as I have a stash from decades ago,I like pure wool or silk for the knited stuff and use pure wool tartan when making plaids.I dont really make anything that would require glue and I suppose with no fancy bits my bears are made just as they were a hundred years ago.I suppose bright synthetic fairy types should be kept out of sunlight and in a dust free environment.If you have a thousand(cant really take that in !!!) I suppose thats a heck of a lot of cabinets??/Maybe this will affect the kind of bear you buy from now and and we will all give it more thought.

I hope it is some comfort that many people are wishing you all well.I cant imagine how hard this must be and hope things start to look up very soon.

as we say in scotland "what a stotter".One of the most beautiful bears I ever saw!!!!
Diane xxx

Thanks everyone.Its nice to speak to you all again.I am still working away like mad but will take christmas day off.Thanks for the kind words Yvonne.There were quite a few of us in that issue.Your bears look stunning.Will you be at hugglets in feb???I would like to see one of them in the fur as they say.

I have been caught lurking a couple of times and just wanted to say have a lovely festive season all of you!!!I have missed the chat and looking at the new creations.
Congrats to everyone in the latest tbci.
Have a wonderful christmas and happy new year!!!
Diane xxxx

The problem is with western australia.They are very strict and one of my poor bears was gamma radiated!!!Luckily he survived intact.They don't like Kapok or woodwool ,definatley not sand but inorganic materials like steel shotand plastic beads are fine.The fact they are an island makes them stricter about bugs coming in.Also no pot pourris in the package.
Good luck

You have a unique look which is rare these days.I just love them
Diane xxx

If she got regular excercise ,ample food water and love then she got all a dog needs and more than most get.You gave her the best life and who could ask for more.One day when you feel better whistle for her on your walk.I do this regularly and sometimes get a feeling my late Nettie is with me.
Take comfort in the fact you are able to bond and love your animals some people mss out on that.
Diane xxx

I love all three but especially the alpaca one.He is outstanding.I bet he sells first!!!
Diane xx

Like Ellen and Debbie I have known about this for a while now.I did not use the link as I get so much through the mail and find it hard to look at.I think I know the vile practise it is referring too.It has been practised in  many asian countries for ever.Paul Mcartney has been highlighting it on television and it is great to hear that people are starting to know about it.I am unsure if it is cultural or not.So many barbaric acts that happen in China are more recent.Bear farming is a relatively new idea .I remember the restaurants that sprung up during the yuppie era where diners could choose a live kitten kill it themselves and eat it.This cannot be cultural ???not when it is a banker or lawyer using this practise.I have chinese realtives that find my being a vegetarian and having pets odd but this comes up with all different races .A few years back I remember all the dogs being bought and sent to china for pelts and food,golden retreivers being a favourite.We find it more disturbing because it is happening to animals we have as pets and friends but I don't think they view them as any different to say cows and sheep.I have been trying so hard to understand this for a long long time.I can't help myself but I have not been able to eat chinese food or buy anything made there in years.I hate to feel racist in any way but the amount of material I get through the post from animal charities I support has made me this way.