Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

I felt bad for the team even though I am not English but I am British after all.I can't get over all the hatred posted on the Internet between Scotland and England!!!Andy Murray is a bit of a silly boy with his football comments but he is a teenager and it is all being taken so seriously.The English fans are cheering on his oponents and there was an audable hurray in my Mums street when England got beaten.
I know we did suffer very badly under English law a long  long time ago but when will the scottish let go  and when will the English stop slagging our sportsmen.Our entire population is almost the same as London's so how can we be expected to produce as many champions???The whole thing is so childish.I dobt there will ever be a united Kingdom really!!!!
Diane xxx

Its funny you should call yours modern Paula, somehow I think of them as proper teddies!!!I know they are not vintage styled but they seem to be the essence of what a teddy was first for,cuddling and taking to bed.It must be their chunky fluffy furryness!!!!.I doubt they will ever be out of favour.
Diane xxx
I see a few have talked about never keeping their own bears.I have decided to take a couple of days off one day soon and make a stick bear big enough to wear an old baby outfit that I wore!!!It was knitted by my mum in pure wool so has yellowed and aged and is just perfect for a bear.I was only five pounds when I was born so it will not have to be that big.Maybe one day I will make one big enough for my daughters baby clothes that I knitted.She was double me!!!!

For me it has to be vintage bears.I like baldy threadbare ones with wonky faces.I can admire artist bears and see why people collect them but something with a bit of history does it for me.I suppose I do like the originals of the bears I try to make.One day I would love a vintage steiff bear but that may never happen.
Diane xxx

I have a similar neighbour.If they don't finish their meals they just dump it in the garden for the "birds".The poor rats move in and eat it and a few weeks later they get the exterminators in!!!How thick are they???I have asked them not too as they are just luring vermin in and then giving them a hideous end.I also explained how bread etc can kill baby birds but it falls on deaf ears.My cat now eats most of it bless him???
These people seem to think of themselves as animal lovers too!!!

I don't think I would have to give this much thought.I would go tell him I have seen him shoot birds and much as I like him and his wife I cannot stand by and watch this.He must stop it or I will be forced to take it further with the authories.I don't think nice guy and shoots songbirds an really be in the same package but then I am a veggie and animal lover.Even though he is an animal I would be tempted to shoot him!!!
Maybe I just worked out why I am single hu!!!???
Diane xxx

I think your bears and her dolls go well together.I had a look on her website and even though I have had a strong dislike of dolls my entire life I liked them.She seems to evoke a bygone era really well.I used to work opposite the museum of childhood in edinburgh and spent my lunch in there looking at the old dolls and bears and there were dolls very similar.I will look forward t seeing your collabaoration.Well done.
Diane xx
p.s I live a hundred yards from  a sparrow cottage and sparrow castle ,here in co'path.They date back to the fourteenth century.

He is so realistic well done!!!
Diane

I know this seems a weird topic but I mentioned giving peas to my sick goldfish on another post and forgot which one.I am sure someone mentioned their fish dying.
If your fish start going upside down or floating it is normally swim bladder problems caused by constipation.If you defrost some peas and crush them up the fish love them and it cleans their system right out.One of mine was upside down last week and now he is right as rain.I wish someone had told me this years ago.I saw it on animal planet.A chinese woman was cramming peas into a huge goldfish's mouth.Quite bizzarre.Anyhow to any fish keepers with floaters ,try it it works.
Hugs Diane xxx
p.s if they lie on the bottom it is also constipation but you can fix that with peas or sinking food instead of floating.The floating causes them to take in too much air which gives the wee lambs gas.

That must be so exciting and scary all that the same time.Two babies at once.I always wanted to be a twin .My granny was and I thought I should have been.cONGRATUlATIONS!!!

He is lovely ,but then what dog isn't I suppose..I hope he gets his botty sorted and gets a good home.If I was near I think I would be tempted !!
Diane xxx

Judi,
Sorry you are blue
heres what to do
sit in a chair
and hug a favourite bear!!!

I hope you win piggy Peggy Judi.I like the thought of her staying with you.We have bonded a bit which is unusual for me.
Like all things in life your blue days will pass.
Hugs Diane xxx

I don't have many collectors in the U.K but always sold out at Ali Pali.It was more fun than Hugglets in my opinion.
I would give it a go.
I am thinking of going back this year.I have said no thanks to Hugglets too many times to get an invite there ever again!!!
A wee local show can be fun and you make friends there .I think they are fine if you don't have too high expectations.
Diane xxx

I think success is avoiding regrets at every opportunity!!!
Diane xx

I will take some pics for you Brenda.You know you are more than welcome to visit!!!
Diane xxx

When I was wee it was explained to me that Golly started out as jolly and wog was westernised oriental gentleman.My english teacher backed this up so it may be true.It really isn't that rude really is it???No worse that scot or mick etc.I also love posh being port out starboard home.The upper classes not wanting a tan!!!
I notice this thread deviated a bit.I am part italian and irish as well as scottish.I seemingly look scottish and was chosen to be in the scotsman holding the new pound coin.The other girls at work were not pleased.The photographer said I was a real celt.I took it as a compliment.
Back to gollies.Mine was put out when they became poliically incorrect.Poor golly but then racism of any kind is just plain nasty.I am glad they are acceptable now. I love them and want one badly.I made one once but it looked like an extra from Night of the living dead.
Diane xxx

Our good news is my daughter and I spent Saturday morning rescuing some marooned tadpoles.The river had dried right out and they were in a tiny pool about a foot square.There were about two thousand it it.We scooped them with spoons and carried them up to the river.Sadly we didn't get them all as our backs were getting so sore.yesterday we went to check on them and they were all still swimming about their new pond.I will check them every couple of days to watch their progress.
Also one of my fish got swim baldder disease and was upside down.I saw on animal planet that frozen peas help.After one meal he is the right way up again.Oh happiness!!!
Diane xxx

I forgot to say you would love it here .The foxgloves spread like weeds.I have to pull them out of the veggie patch.I do love them too.
Dianexxx

If you put netting over Brenda make sure it si not fine and check it regularly.My neighbour found a dead bab hedgehog in her strawberry patch.His wee foot had got tangled.She was so upset and let the birds have them after that.I have to watch my oldest dog as he eats them plus all the rasberries too!!!I have even seen him stretching up for a cherry.I take him bramble picking in September and he eaats them off the wild bushed.He goes up in his back legs and pulls them off.He has taught the yougest dog the same trick.
Good luck
Diane xx

You will be better in one of a kind category on. com which doesn't exist on co.uk.You could get lost in the vast artist category otherwise.If most of your customers are in the U.K then it doesn't matter but I like my listing to be in the one of a kind and in dollars as most of mine cross the pond.
Good luck Diane xx

Tofu makes me very happy!!I love it marinated in ginger and soy sauce.I always make a huge plate of brown rice tofu and pepprs if I am down.
I also love pickled chillies .Once you have burned your face off troubles melt away.
Diane xxx

This picture reminded me of an incident many years ago.I was walking to work in Edinburgh.I worked on the Royal mile and noticed the street was freakishly quiet.Next thing the queen came past in her carriage.They all looked at me and smiled,I smiled and waived back and had a good laugh.How I managed to get through the barricades and security I have no idea.Another day I was walking down the Royal Mile.The sun was in my eyes and I passed a young man.Having worked there for years I knew most people in the area. and  He smiled at me and for a second I thought" I knowyou "and I just touched his arm and said Hiya how's it going??Next minute a body guard was bundling me off the pavement ha ha .It was Prince Edward .I seem to have a knack of being where I should not be.!!!
I also saw President Clinton in Dublin.My plane was cirling waiting to land .When we did there was still a red carpet.My friend and I pressumed it was the Queen.
We checked into our hotel and were strolling down a back street and who should we see but the man himself.His car was driving about 5 miles an hour alongside the pavement.I looked in and smiled at a familiar face.He laughed and waived at me.I have to admit  i was a bit fluttery!!!I liked his politics.This was all before the Monica incident.Sorry I got sidetracked a bit there.
Diane xxx

I know what you mean Paula.I have been on my tod for 13 years now and though financially its hard I have a great relationship with my daughter and we are very close.Having to do everything yourself makes you appreciate life a lot more.I get no maintenance unfortunatley so the little furbies pay for everything.You seem to be doing a great job both as a bear maker and a mum.Good for you!!!
Diane xx

I have had that done too Paula and felt sad for my bear as well as a bit ****ed off at the customer.Aside from the money it is all the hours of work seen purely as cash that hurts.I am not one of those insane types that thinks the bears are alive but I do get fond of them.I am sad for you but then the bear may get a more appreciative owner now.
Diane xxx

Its funny you should mention me in the shoe area Shelli.Shoes are my thing.I cannot wear cheapo's.I don't buy leather but I buy canvas converse (cheap copies not for me) .My latest pair are pink florals ,I have multi coloured velvet doc martins only ever sold in Ireland (I have had people offer me money in the street for them) and hand embroidered black velvet floral kitten heels.I love beautiful shoes and get excited when I find non cow ones.Mostly I am in wellingtons for outdoors or my rather expensive silent night blue velvet slippers.
I don't like cheap food either.Stores own cereal and crisps etc are foul.I think you get what you pay for.I buy organic veg if I don't have it in the garden,environmentally friendly cleaning stuff wich is way dearer and the soft recycled loo roll.
I do rather well for a non wealthy type when I think about it.
Coats too.I only buy one every ten years or so and like a really good one.I prefer an old worn expensive coat that a brand new cheap one.
What a snob I sound!!!
Diane xxx

I think he was worth all the work and tantrums.He is beautiful and looks alive.
Diane