Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

such fun! My hubby and I met in High School. 11th grade I was going out with John......David was in a class with me and listened as I complained about John. 12th grade, I would get into class early and David & I would talk. Unknown to me at the time, he decided he could never go out with me because of my bad habit of biting my nails. BUT! go out we did.....He asked me to the play at the High School, I sounded unsure (had to check my calendar) but inside was shouting YES! He told his family that night he had a date for the play, they all looked at him and said "With a Girl???" He was always with his friends either bowling or other man-activities.

When we graduated High School, he went to a community college in New York, I went to a 4-year college in Tennessee......everyone thought it would end there, but it didn't! He came down to visit me and as I was showing him where he was going to stay, he takes out this box and says: "Now will you marry me you creep?" I laughed, cried, and said yes....that was in 1971, we got married in '74, and life continues. Still some surprises at times......

When David came to pick me up for that first date, my father was in another room while David sat on the couch waiting for me. They were talking, my father asking all the 'fatherly' questions. Dad asked if David was interested in Accounting (his brother was going to college for accounting) David said no, so my father pokes his head around the corner, and calls him a No Account......then goes back into the room he was working in! This past July while celebrating my parents 60th anniversary, my father said David is no longer a No Account!

This is a picture of our daughter, Tina, her hubby Francis, and David at a winery in Spokane, WA.
pandamac

Hi Daph.......Shows over holiday weekends....Major holidays like Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, I do not and will not do shows. My hubby has long weekends and we have a family tradition (with or without kids) to go camping. Other less holidays, Columbus Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. day, I would probably consider. People are out leaf-peeping for Columbus Day and might stop into a bear show.

Discounts on shows? Definately! I would take advantage of that idea........

I look forward to doing at least one of your shows next year, if you wat me there again......I had so much fun in Maine (hubby did also, though he probably won't admit he enjoyed working a Teddy Bear show!  :crackup: )

pandamac

Have you tried CRs crats? I believe they have safety eyes in different colors........
pandamac

Such violence on such a calm and peceful people. We have a large Amish community near us, and have done a lot of business with one family in particular. They are very peaceful, unhurried, family people. It is so horrible to even think of something like this happening.

Best wishes to your hubby Deb.....
pandamac

Poor little bear.....he looks so tramatized.....he really didn't mean to kill the fish, he just wanted to see them up close........poor fish, probably horrified when they saw the bear.....Bear just wanted to play with them all.......... oh all the trama they all went through! So sad 
pandamac

Glad to hear he is doing some good things.........and is having fun at the same time.....
pandamac

How is Andy? What is he doing? I know he is being good and is having fun (I told him he had to).........I was just wondering........
pandamac

I look out my work room window and see the driveway, street and across the street neighbors homes........not very inspiring, but if it was anything else, I would probably sit and day dream all day and not get any work done !
pandamac

Wow, so many other hobbies and talents! I enjoy cross-stitching, but don't have time to do it anymore. I play flute and am trying Native American Flute playing....don't have much time to practice either of those...    I make (mold) chocolate....for anyone who purchases a bear they get a chocolate teddy bear. I made quite a lot for my nephew's wedding about 10 years ago. I also make cakes. Dont' get many orders, but I am going to be making the cake for my brother-in-laws wedding in November......I will try to get pictures and post them. Other than that, bears is what I do all day long.....UNLESS......Is playing on the computer considered a hobby???????  :crackup:
pandamac

Thanks for brining this up...I thought several times about it, but didn't have the courage to post the question.

As for my progress: I quit smoking before New Year's and have not gone back....thought about it once or twice, then slapped myself for the thought. Kicked my hubby and others that visited us at camp outside to have their smokes....I stayed away! If I have one, I know I will have more.........

I have 9 long fingernails that keep getting in my way as I type.....I still nibble on the right thumb    but I have gotten compliments on the others!

As for weight loss, well, it was weight gain. I start a water aerobics class today, hopefully that will help in this area! I do need to start cooking healthier again, I did a year ago and lost some weight, but I guess I went back to the same old meals I used to make.

Congrats to all who have stuck with their resolutions and kept on them! It is not an easy task.
pandamac

I am so happy that Andy is with you.....it has been a long time since we've seen or heard from him..........Give him a big hug from me.

pandamac

Wonderful stories. I had lots of stuffed animals as a child, none were my favorite....I would pick out a different one (or was that 10) to sleep with everynight. I used to play with them, marrying them off, a duck to a monkey, that type of thing.....

My favorite bear story is the one I received when my son was born 29 years ago. I was in the hospital for almost 2 weeks before labor was induced (I had toxemia). After Aaron was born at 9:34 PM, David goes out to tell everyone that everything was fine, came back into my room carrying this HUGE (about 36 inches tall) Teddy Bear. I had 2 IVs in each arm, but put my arms around the bear and fell asleep. (They started inducing labor at 7:00 AM) Somewhere in the night, I think in the early morning hours, a lab tech came in to take blood....so he took the bear and put it on my feet at the end of the bed. As he stuck my arm, I moved my feet, and the bear moved.....the poor tech just about jumped out the window.

Well, the bear came home with us and spent the next 24 years in my son's room. I used that bear as a prop when my kids were growing up to take pictures so we could see how big they were getting compared to Big Bear. When my son moved out and left for Florida, he gave me the bear.....I hugged it and cried on it. And then I opened the back, washed him up and re-stuffed him. He now sits in the corner of my room with my other animals.......

My son now has a stuffed wolf that he bought for a girlfriend who passed away several years ago......and, he still uses his "doggie" pillow that my cousin made for him as a shower present. I have kept some of his old stuffed animals (and ones from my daughter) they are all in the attic, waiting........and waiting for grandchildren......

pandamac

My dog, Ti, started barking last night, so I went outside to see what was up. It was somewhere between 7 and 7:30. There was nothing, that I could see, that would cause him to carry on so. But, I looked to the east, and saw the largest, most colorful moon ever. It was just getting over the treetops so I could see a huge, bright, reddish-pink colored moon. I don't know if anyone else saw the same color, but I don't think I ever saw a moon that large and colorful before. When I got up this morning, it was just beginning to set, no longer pink, but still huge. Right now the sun is getting above the trees and is big and red and trying to blind me as I sit here typing........a nice warm feeling.

I hope everyone has a bear-y warm, happy day.

pandamac

Thsi is (Santa) Clara.....a bear I just finished for a swap to Australia. I named her after the Santa Clara tract in the Adirondack Park....she is (almost) as beautiful as the area, and her color reminds me of the colors of the leaves as autumn approaches......(and she is already to go backpacking....she got a little upset with me that we didn't have time to go before she left)

I use a chop stick as my stuffing tool. I like my bears soft, so I use just Poly-fiberfil.....sometimes I am a large wad stuffer, but I need to use small bits to get it into the legs and hands..........When I do my lifesize penguins, I stuff the bottom with the fiberfil, then put in a small bag of glass beads so they will stand up, then use large wads to stuff the rest.

When I have done make-your-own animals, it is so much fun to watch the kids. Lately, I have been trying to get the stuffing into the feet/paws for them, then let them stuff the rest. Most are

HUGE WAD STUFFERS

! some are very delicate and take just little bits, they are sooo much fun to watch. 
pandamc

I have never done a double-jointed neck, but after such a great explanation, I just may try one! Thanks for the tip.
pandamac

What I did was to highlight the whole email, copy and paste.....and it worked for me (this time at least!)

pandamac

My daughter sent this to me, thought I would share it with all of my pet-loving friends here.

A Dog's Diary

7am - Oh boy! A Walk! My favorite!
8am - Oh boy! Dog food! My favorite!
9am - Oh boy! The kids! My favorite!
Noon - Oh boy! The yard! My favorite!
2pm - Oh boy! A car ride! My favorite!
3pm - Oh boy! The kids! My favorite!
4pm - Oh boy! Playing ball! My favorite!
6pm - Oh boy! Welcome home Mom! My favorite!
7pm - Oh boy! Welcome home Dad! My favorite!
8pm - Oh boy! Dog food! My favorite!
9pm - Oh boy! Tummy rubs on the couch! My favorite!
11pm - Oh boy! Sleeping in my people's bed! My favorite!

A Cat's Diary

Day 183 of my captivity. My captors continued to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while I am forced to eat dry cereal. The only thing that keeps me going is the hope of escape, and the mild satisfaction I get from clawing the furniture. Tomorrow I  may eat another house plant.

Today my attempt to kill my captors by weaving around their feet while they were walking almost succeeded. Maybe I should try this at the top of the stairs.

In an attempt to disgust and repulse these vile oppressors, I once again induced myself to vomit on their favorite chair. I must try this on their bed.

Decapitated a mouse and brought them the headless body in an attempt to make them aware of what I am capable of, and to try to strike fear into their hearts. They only cooed and condescended about what a good little kitty cat I was. This is not working according to plan.

There was some sort of gathering of their accomplices. I was placed in solitary confinement throughout the event. However, I could hear the noise and smell the food. More important, I overheard that my confinement was due to my powers of inducing something called "allergies" Must learn what this is and how to use it to my advantage.

I am convinced the other captives and flunkies and maybe snitches. The dog is routinely released and seems more than happy to return. He is obviously a half-wit.

The bird, on the other hand, has got to be an informant. He speaks with them regularly, and I am certain he reports my every move. Due to his current placement in the metal room, his safety is assured. But I can wait.

It's only a matter of time.

Wonderful pictures....love the Stellar Jays, we have the cardinals which have been visiting our yard alot recently!

Poison Ivy and Poison Oak......Yup, been around them, have not had any reactions to them.......when I was younger, I would get back at my brothers when they would pick on me. I would sit in the poison ivy patch and they would end up itching!    I, on the other hand would have no problem      Mom knew, but could not prove, that I was the one who caused my brothers to get the itchy scratchy oozy stuff!

pandamac

All sounds true to me too......even for us in Northern NY State, we are more like Canadians!
pandamac

Don't watch MONK, but I did see the ads for it.....horrified! I think we should protest the ripping apart of a poor innocent Teddy Bear 
pandamac

All sounds true to me! 

Hey Sandi.....Daphne pointed you out to me across the room, sorry we didn't get to meet. ......perhaps at next year's show.    It was a wonderful show, so many interesting people to talk to.
pandamac

I echo Deb's post. It was a wonderful show, so much fun meeting and talking with other Teddy Bear Nuts!    My Hubby even had a good time.    What a great help he was talking with people and helping children stuff their own critters while I was busy writng up a sales ticket or sewing the bear back, etc. AND......we had a wonderful vacation while we were there! 

I am looking forward to next year's show......with a longer vacation time, with the motorcycle, bears, dog, hubby all in a new trailer so we can fit everything!

Daphne did a fantastic job, and I will be at next year's show, or any other show she decide to organize!  :dance: (can't wait to see your pics. Daphne......I had my camera, but did not take 1 picture!)

:hug: pandamac

I make baby-safe animals......no joints, embroidered eyes. Bears, lambs, bunnies all baby-safe
pandamac