Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Yes it is difficult, Catharine.....worst was when we lived in the Netherlands - I don't know why, but the Dutch are just SO good at languages - I felt permanently guilty!
As for doing shows here, while not being particularly good at the German language - well - I survived!!!
You have to keep in mind  that everyone shares the same enthusiasm - BEARS! Just have a look at exhibitor lists from say, Teddybar Total or Teddy bar Welt, and you'll see that exhibitors come from all over the world.
You'd still have time to register for Teddybar Total, in Munster...it's at the end of April...have a look at
www.teddybaertotal.de      BUT - if you DO decide to give it a go, you'd need to be quick, as hotel accommodation tends to run out! If you want any more info, mail me privately...
huggies
Maria (who will be in Munster - really looking forward to it!)

Hi again
basically, its along the lines of...
you make wonderful bears. It would be lovely if your bears and our readers could meet at a show, like  Teddybar Welt in Wiesbaden, or the Euro Teddy in Essen
Best wishes, and keep up the good work.....

I'm sure someone else could do a more accurate translation, but that's the gist of it! Germany is the latest in a long line of countries we've lived in , and I think my brain has run out of space for new languages...well - that's my excuse for not speaking it better!!!
huggies
Maria

Here you go, Catherine....you'll note the "friendly" encouragement from the BarReport team, to come and exhibit at one of their shows!!
huggies
Maria

Hey Catherine...
a penny just dropped....did you know that your letter to the BarReport has appeared in the current issue, along with a couple of pics of your bears? I KNEW they looked familiar.....
And yes - it's very spring-like here - all sorts of wildflowers appearing, and birds beginning to nest.....very odd - we are usually still wading round in snow!
huggies
Maria
p.s. - will scan in your piece if you want...

That's terrific news Sarah Jane - you must be so proud - and deservedly so! Tara is a real sweetie
huggies
Maria

You are all SO nice         (and why aren't I surprised ?!?) - I can't tell you how much I appreciate your  comments - and praise from so many artists whose work I SO admire is praise indeed!
big huggies
Maria

Krista
two cents worth from me - I would say it would be unfair to suddenly put a BIN for just the one person.......I asked my other half what he thought and he felt the same...
huggies
Maria

Kassie -   no problems - we'll go armed with camera, and get news posted as soon as....
huggies
Maria

This is one of the nicest things about bear making! A lot of my customers have become friends, and bear friends become customers....the best and funniest happening came last Autumn, when the daughter of a bear friend mailed me and commissioned a special bearas her Xmas present to mum....and not long after, mum mailed me and commissioned a bear for her daughter! I was so excited and honoured to be part of the big SECRET....and boy, did I wish I could have been a fly on the wall on Xmas morning!!
I always put a little gift in with a new bear - sweeties, bear key rings, Xmas ornaments - I think all bear people are big kids at heart and love little surprises in the mail!
But SHANE - I just LOVE the Bear Guy Bucks concept!!!!
huggies
Maria

That is such good news.....I really hope things improve from now on, and will continue to send positive thoughts your way....
ice to know miracles DO happen
big huggies
maria

Once again - many thanks for all your kind comments - they really mean a lot to me! and I'm so glad you like the Blings! They were made from a piece of hand-dyed mohair from Barbara-Ann - at the time, I thought it was a bit on the bright side (!) but decided it would be a challenge for me. The "accessories" were such fun - real kiddie play time stuff!
Incidentally, for those of you who are unfamiliar with the Golden George competition - you can check it out on  www.teddybaertotal.de      ....  and isn't it a NICE trophy!!!
big huggies
Maria

Me too, Kassie - sorry to hear that! I don't know if the postage you quoted included return post - but I will say that the Deutsche Post is VERY expensive. And I second what Ellen said - I could quote any number of stories of problems in getting beasrs back, so you are probably better NOT sending them!
Latest from Ted Worldwide is that non-exhibitors, bringing in their bears will have to purchase a show entry ticket......now last year, they had a side door to the hall for nominated bears, and doors to the main show areas were closed, so you couldn't sneak in even if you wanted to - so I really don't see what the problem is - they just want MORE money! I have written to camplain, but I would be most surprised if I got a reply....so I will arrive on Sat morning, all geared up for a big row!!! I'm taking my bear, and Jennie sandahl's Solomon in, but I think this will be my last time at Ted Worldwide!
I'm not attending th awards ceremony on Sat, but I have friends who will be there, so I'll find out results for you, and let you know how you got on
huggies
Maria

Thanks!!!
I WAS just going to bed, but had to stop and do the puzzle - good fun!
huggies
Maria

THANK YOU all!!!!...... for your kind comments and good wishes - I really appreciate them!    
The Golden Georges are pretty special here.....so I'm really excited!!!
big huggies
Maria

Oh Gaby
they are just the most MAGICAL babies!!!! Thanks so much for posting the pics
huggies
Maria

Hi Chrissi
meant to write last night.....
Babelfish is O.K. - BUT nowhere near perfect! Seems to have problems with grammar, word-order and idioms, and can be hilariously funny, so it's probably as well to have a dictionary to hand!
But, with a bit of imagination, you can usually get the gist of the translation

huggies
Maria

And here's the photo - the Sisters Bling - bears with accessories, and boy, did I have fun with them!!!
huggies
Maria

Thanks Jane....and just for you ...the list, which will require some concentration, since a lot of the names are from SE Asia!
Premium class...
Cat 1 Bare bear up to 40cm
Adelheid Grimm,  Erika Knirsch, Annerose Schneider, Petra Schope, Pamela Theng, Terumi Yoshikawa
Cat 2 - dressed bear, up to 40cm
Gudrun Didszilatis (two entries), Ulla Hardstrang
Cat. 3 Bears with accessories, up to 40cm
Liesbeth de Bruijn, Heike Buchner, Anna Dazumal, Maria Collin
Cat. 4 "Inspiration" up to 40cm
Andrea Demnitz, Sabine Eschbach, Kerstin Jeske, Adelheid Grimm
Cat 5, miniature , undressed, up to 12 cm
Byung Hwo Ahn, Jutta Michels, Ursula Schwarz, Natascha Sabo
Cat 6, minis, dressed - up to 12cm
Anna Dazumal, Harumi Kajihara, Ko Kyung Won
Cat 7 - realistic bears, up to 40cm
Heike buchner, Byung Hwa Ahn,  Erika Knirsch, Seo Yuo Gyung
Cat 8 - friends
Anna Dazumal, Jutta Michels, Petra Schope, Park Yuk Oae

Master Class
Group 1
Silvia gilles, Kirsten Koster, Eun-Sook Ma (two entries) Vera Racke for Hildegard Gunzel, Roswitha Weyand
Group 2
Marian Haarik-Getkate, Eun-Sook Ma (twice) Eleonore Unkel-Schaufelin, Britta Uhlendorff
Group 3
Ilona Hickey, Silvia Gilles, Vera Racke for hildegard gunzel, Maria Svatos
Tableau
Anna Dazumal, Elisabeth Lubbe, Eun-Sook  Ma (twice) , Park Soon  Hwa
And that's it! 
Interesting that some people have two nominations in the same category, and some of them must have spent a FORTUNE with all their entries!!! And the one name missing - Karin de Lorenzo - she must be taking a break from competitions, as she didn't feature in the TOBYs or Golden Teddy
huggies
Maria

Just got my copy of Teddybar und Seine freunde......and kaloo kalay, I have a Golden George nomination!!!!
I don't recognise anyone else from this group on there....but if anyone wants the whole list, I can type it in....
What an exciting visit from the postman - the magazine AND my TOBY award!!!
off to do a little happy dance...
huggies
Maria :dance:

Gaby
I agree with you about babel fish - you really need to know something of the language you are translating from - then you realise just how funny some of it can be!
I've got the price list scanned in, and can send it on to anyone who wants it...it runs to PAGES!!!
huggies
Maria

Hi
I posted this link a few weeks ago - all I can say is that the eyes are GOOD quality, and the company don't have a "minimum order". Prices are low, and the delivery is prompt...what more could you want?
huggies
Maria

Oh Jenny - poor you.....no wonder you feel depressed.......but I'm sure you've made the right decision, no matter how hard. Sounds like you just need to take some time out and look after yourself...and Hugglets will come around again
huggies
Maria

Wow, Patsy - what a stunning photo - I am SO envious!!! I just love kookaburras -t ho' the nearest I ever got to hand-feeding one was at a public BBQ spot - I dropped a sausage, and a Kookaburra was on it, almost before it hit the ground - and with a beak like that, it's not a bird you'd want to argue with!
And as for the magpies - stunning birds, but aggressive when they are nesting...I had heard stories of them attacking, but got the shock of my life when it happened to me...I was just strolling along, under some Norfolk Island Pines, when something BIG whooshed past my ear, with a very loud clack of it's beak...... I also remember one of my cats "bailed up" under a bush, by a menacing gang of maggies!
Do you ever get splendid wrens? They have got to be one of the prettiest birds ever - I only saw them in aviaries, in W.A.
huggies
Maria

Well done, Sophie! Anubis will be much better tomorrow, and in a few days won't remember anything of it......and you won't have any more disturbed nights, and best of all, there won't be more kittens looking for homes - there are FAR too many of them these days!
huggies
Maria

Wendy.......just make sure you get the two of the same sex - one of each and you'll be over -run!!!I'd love to keep rats, but with big dog and a couple of cats..and not nearly enough time to devote to patiently introducing cats, dogs and rats, and then monitoring them....you get the picture?!? I recently asked a friend how they manage with their golden retriever, and small daughter's pet rat..apparently the dog refuses to even acknowledge the rat's presence - so no worries!
And Tracy - I really FEEL or you - it is always SO hard to see a beloved pet sick...
huggies
Maria