Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Yeeaaahh - good for you!!! And DON'T be scared of cutting into it - ooohhh - I can feel your excitement.
Go for it - and have HUGE fun!!!! :dance:  :dance:  :dance:
huggies
Maria

Now that is REALLY good news, Michelle! Mind you, after the huge outcry, they couldn't do anything else.
The good thing to come out of this, one hopes, is to again bring the plight of threatened species right into the limelight..if only all the governments were REALLY concerned .......
huggies
Maria

Hi Jen - I hadn't heard that! I guess there must be any number of zoos who'd love to have the little chap -- at least with all the publicity, there shouldn't be any more talk of putting him to sleep.
Don't you feel slightly envious of the keeper who had the privilege of hand-rearing him - a real live cuddly toy...but thinking of kittens and puppies when their needle-sharp baby teeth come through.....
yikes - I bet he could give a powerful  (even if only playful) nip!
huggies
Maria

not at all silly........lots of hugs to everyone!
Maria :hug:

Hey Judi -
I bet you'll be gllad to get Narni home - she is one well-travelled bear, isn't she? I saw her last year at the Golden George competition, didn't I??? I got my KiXXi back from the British Bear Artist Awards in Feb.- poor little bear had been away since late november, and barely had time to blink before he set off for his new home in Australia.....come to think of it - they lead quite exciting lives!
huggies
Maria

Oh lord - Sonya and Shelli - you poor things...you really have been, and are, going through it!
Life is b..... hard sometimes....positive thoughts and big virtual hugs to you both.....
but on a lighter note Sonya - the thought of your little dog maybe deciding to give birth at the show....could be VERY interesting!!!!
big huggies
Maria

Me too - the last one, Jen - he is just so cute and appealing
huggies
Maria

Wendy - what is happening to the birds in the Esperance area ? Is it drought, or loss of habitat??? I know/knew the area well, but I guess things have changed...
And Bobbie - yes - terrible tales of polar bears actually drowning from exhaustion, because they have to swm so far to find their prey.... it is just SO sad
huggies
Maria

My thoughts exactly - with polar bears increasingly threatened in the wild, surely every one is precious?
I can't imagine that little Knut will be put down - just appalled that anyone could even suggest it
huggies
Maria

Hi all
I posted a link last week to some magical photos of Knut, the polar bear baby at Berlin Zoo....
well - would you believe some animal rights activists are campaigning to have him put down - as being hand-reared will humanise him, and give him behavioural problems, blah balh balh......he's a zoo animal, for goodness sakes!!!! If you want to check out the story, its on
www.spiegel.com......if you scroll down the initial page there is a section low down on the right, which gives you an English language version, with a link to Knut's story
Ye gods - after last year's furore over the killing of Bruno, the wild brown bear, you'd think the murder of another bear would be the LAST thing Germany wants!
huggies
Maria

And well deserved too!!!  Congratulations
huggies
Maria :clap:

Tami
my thoughts are with you and your family - and of course, your grandmother...I wish you all strength to get through what will be a very sad time
huggies
Maria

Tammy - well said!!! And it is SO good to hear from a collector, so thankyou, Debbie.....
without you and all the other collectors, we would all  just be dabbling in an expensive hobby!
big huggies
Maria

I'm right with you there, Samantha....our house is a TIP, which is stressing me more...
We've been going through (and still are) a really stressful patch - I find I am happiest doing mindless sewing - which means I have a whole stack of unfinished bears GLARING at me...and the mess...ho hum....
On the bright side, i picked up some new mohair at Wiesbaden which has me MOTIVATED for a change -
I'm trying something completely new (for me) ...so everything else has to wait!
huggies
Maria

Congratulations, Jane.....a huge confidence boost for you! I looked at the website and your bears are LOVELY......I'm sure this is the start of something BIG for you - they will be flying out of the shop...
huggies
Maria (also technologically challenged!!!)

Hi Krista
I read your tale earlier, and ended up in tears....mega-sympathy to you - sounds like a lot of us know what you are going through, and really feel for you...but I just want to add my admiration for what you do and have done - it can't be easy to take on an old and sick cat, knowing you won't have long with him. You are a lovely person!
huggies
Maria    

http://www.freenet.de/freenet/nachricht … ut/01.html

Check this little guy out - apparently he was born in Berlin zoo in December - his twin died, and mum abandoned him , so he had to be hand-reared.
Once you reach the page, you can click onto "Bildershow" - on the polar pic, and then there are several pics of baby Knut...and "weiter" will take you thru' the show...enjoy!
huggies
Maria

Eliza
I can't really comment on e-bay as I've never used it, but you'll be happy to know that Milo, who just arrived yesterday (as you knoow!) had a trip out yesterday evening to our local "barenfreund club" where he was MUCh admired - everyone agreed that he has that "special something"
big huggies
Maria

Oh Sophie - I'm so sorry to hear that Patrice isn't doing too well - lots of positive thoughts and good wishes heading his way - I do so hope the infection gets beaten
huggies
Maria

Karen
it seems that all the shows are suffering...maybe, just maybe the lovely sunny weather over the weekend affected attendances?!? Will be interesting to see how things go at Munster next month.
And considering that Wiesbaden is only a hour or so drive from here, I have to admit that I don't really know the place very well.....
huggies
Maria

Hi all...a brief report on the show -
I was hoping to spend all day there yesterday, but it turned out to be only three hours or so, which wasn't NEARLY enough!I think I came away with total sensory overload - so much to try and see, and so many friends to catch up with.
Mixed reports from various artisits - some did well, some not - I heard from one person that the visitor numbers for Saturday were only HALF of last years, which is pretty appalling.
The competition results are announced on Sat. night at a "gala" - and for those who don't go, they give out the rest on sunday afternoon.....I had great fun , as I had to pick up Jennie and Kassies certificates as well as mine - so first..."NO - I'm just Jennie's friend", a bit later..."no - I'm not Kassie either", and then finally - "It's me"!
The Public Prize came out very strangely - normally, you can guarantee that Karin de Lorenzo will win it (except for the time two years back when I surprised everyone, and mostly myself(!) by winning it!)
Anyway - nothing for Karin's gorgeous panda...... a real shock!
One very sad note -  on the Sat. evening - the husband of an artist (Elke Kienbaum)collected her award, and announced that she had died 2 weeks ago...she had particularly wanted him to do the show for her.....I didn't know her personally, but the loss of anyone from our bear world is always sad.
Anyway - I picked up a handful of Ted Worldwdsie entry forms -  if anyone wants one, I can post them, or scan them in for you
And PAULA - sorry - I asked around, but no luck with your mohair...it all went SO quickly, I'm surprised I even managed to buy a few things for myself!
Next month I'll be at the Teddybar Total in Munster - and with two days, I WILL get lots of photos- PROMISE!!!
huggies
Maria

Paula
I imagine that you can "do" international bank transfers? Obviously, actually living here in Germany, paying for Ted Worldwide and the Euro Teddy comp hasn't been a problem....but since there are LOTS of entries from places as far afield as Korea and Japan, it must be possible!
The Euro Teddy also has a category for traditional bears...there should be details (in German) on the www.baerreport.de site     
huggies
Maria...busily compiling a BIG shopping list for tomorrow! 

Hi all
  this came up on another thread....I'll be going to the show (Wiesbaden) this weekend, and I'll pick up some entry forms for the next Ted Worldwide competition - it is normally in English (as the entry form must be filled in, in ENGLISH)....I'll report back tomorrow night (!) and I'll scan in the form for those who want it......
huggies
Maria

Hi Patsy - really sorry to hear that it's polymyalgia (?spelling)....I hope the medication helps. Seems like an awful lot of us have back, arm, neck or whatever troubles and when the "cure" is to give up sewing, we learn to live with the pain - even so - it is NO fun.....
I do hope things start to improve for you, and I'm still sending positive thoughts
and big huggies
Maria

Hi Paula
if I find the mohair, I'll grab a quarter metre for you.....anything for a fellow Aquarian!!!
Will let you know
huggies
Maria