Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Sophie
my sympathies/empathies(!) ...but just one tiing before you run off to the vet tomorrow...phone and check first - I'm not sure whther they will  operate WHILE the cat in on heat - guidelines for "best practices" seem to vary from country to country - whatever happens - good luck! And rest assured - your cat will be much happier without all the stress of hormonal upheavals . O.K. - it is natural for cats to have babies - but how many "wild " cats who breed at every chance live to a ripe old age?
Oh - and your cat really is beautiful!!!
huggies
Maria

Sophie
I really would recommend sterilisation for your cat - and I bet, in a couple more days you'll agree!!! First time we went thru' something similar was with a kitten we found abandoned - we kept her....and at only THREE months or so, she came into heat - the vet wouldn't believe us at first! She drove us, the dogs and other cat insane - I swear she was running round the house trying out sound effects - yodelling into cupboards, and trying out echos...worst at around 2am!
The other time was with our norwegian forest cat - we decided it would be nice to have a litter from her,
and the first sign that she had come into heat was the black cat who took up residence in a flower bed, just under the window where she would sit and serenade him  - poor boy.....I think he would sneak off home quickly for a bit to eat - and then he'd be back - not knowing that we had a nice norwegian boy lined up to meet "his" girlfriend!!!
Anyway - I wish you luck....or would you prefer ear-plugs!
huggies
Maria

I second, third - whatever- all that!!! Congratulations to all the nominees!!!
huggies
Maria

Hi everyone "down under"
as a dual national - I spent several years working in Oz, and have an Aussie passport as well as my British one - just wanted to wish you all a very Happy Australia Day! :dance:
big huggies
Maria

Denise
that is SO awful - bush fires must be one of the most terrifying of all "natural disasters" (and worse, when they are deliberately started) The poor koalas, being so slow-moving are particularly vulnerable.
I lived in Perth for 8 years, when  was a geologist(!) so I've seen some pretty horrible fire aftermath pictures...
Oh, and Happy Australia Day for tomorrow to all you Aussies! Since I was born on Australia Day, I used to love having a holiday "just for me"!
huggies
Maria

I gave up trying to post individual congratulations last night - just kept losing TT altogether . must have been SO many of us online!
Anyway - huge thanks for all the congrats and kind comments - much appreciated, and congratulations to everyone - some stunning work.....and for those of you who didn't get nominated this time...
I'm sure most of us have stories of the entries which didn't make the grade (I certainly have) - you just never can tell how the competitions will go! I've had a bear miss out in one and then win the next - it all depends on the judges, so it's just KEEP ON TRYING!
And a special thanks to Mikki for her superb felties - the TOBYs are the only competition i know of which accepts collaborations, and I'm just so thrilled ours made it!
big huggies to all
Maria

Way to go -  :dance:  congratulations - is it a champagne breakfast for you???
huggies
Maria

O.k., folks - this is "If you go down to the woods".
AND - HUMUNGOUS congratiulations to everyone
just wish we could all actually get together and celebrate
huggies
Maria

Just sitting here feeling a little glum at not hearing anything - then an e-mail from Mindy...
mine is a tableau, and a joint effort between myself and Mikki...
off to do a little happy dance
huggies
Maria :dance:

My problem is tht I have seven bears all wistfully hoping that they will get finished! I seem to have been going thru' a phase of just wanting to curl up somewhere warm and comfortable and do "mindless "sewing - so I've been playing round with new ideas, but basically, just cutting out the bears and sewing all the bits together...but a new idea hit me today and i can't wait to try it out - AFTER the seven get finished!
huggies
Maria

Hi Daphne
well...I have to admit to this one - the bits of bears that don't work end up as cat and dog toys here!
Our cats have a few mohiair and alpaca "mice" - bear bodies that I wasn't happy with, and one of our dog's favourite toys is a bear body with a tennis ball stuffed inside. i DID learn something quite reassuring recently while playing tug of war with the dog. and a bear body with head attached....N.B. we have a very big 54 kilo dog, who is VERY strong....the head is STILL attached!!!
As for making anything else with the bear fabrics - if only I had the time!!!! (and that's NOT becouse I am snowed under with orders - I'm just one of the world's slowest bear-makers!)
huggies
Maria

Nice one!! Now I'm off to bed with a big smile on my face - thankyou!!!
huggies
Maria :crackup:

Hi clare
just a quickie, as I HAVE to go to bed!! Go for it, follow where the whimsy leads, experiment and  enjoy the process - somehow (the bear magic bit) your style WILL evolve...and then you'll end up trying something new, and whatever you DO it will come out as one of "YOUR" bears!!! I really think that something happens between you and the materials...and who knows - maybe a "bear spirit"???
Whatever - the main thing is to have FUN..
enough - goodnight, before I drop!
huggies
Maria

Oh, that's such great news , Tracy - now you can unwind some - i hope Darren is fully recovered soon....
have a GREAT weekend, all of you!
huggies
Maria

Try again - I wrote a mail and it semed to get lost - just hope I don't end up with several appearing!
Anyway - thanks everyone - so far I have only seen part of the magazine - a friend in england scanned in the relevant pages for me.
I am just so thrilled to have KiXXi on the cover, and pleased as punch with Kirste's comments on my bears - what more could any bear artist ask for - a judge who not only appreciates where you are coming from, but also LIKES your bears! I am still kicking myself for not being able to attend the show....
Gemma - the pic of you and Wendy in the same jacket really has me falling about laughing - it must have been SO funny!!!
So - congratulations to evryone concerned - can't wait to get my copy and see everything!
huggies
Maria :dance:

Pretty scary it was too!!! Here in Germany we had wind gusts up to 170kph - official "hurricane"
We got a scare when we were walking our dog, early yesterday, when a tree crashed down right in front of us. It was a WILD day - people warned to stay home, kids sent home from school, passengers stuck on trains ALL night (!). Quite a few fatalities too, mostly from falling trees - BAD! Our only damage was having our satellite dish ripped from the wall - no T.V.!!!
It's still really wild this morning, but the winds are expected to drop today. That was one BIG storm ,and something we are not so used to here.I think the emergency services will be hard at work for a while.
I hope everyone else is O.K.
huggies
Maria

Tracy - I don't "do" prayers, but am sending lots of positive thoughts your way - I really hope it all goes well, and as has already been said - if they were REALLY concerned about Darren, they would have kept him in. Even so, it must be a horrendous worry for you all
Fingers and everything crossed....
big huggies
Maria

Aahem - crap??? From someone who has a Ted Worldwide Award nomination???
Jennie - your bears are lovely.....don't feel down - we all go thru' times like this.
You mentioned a Swedish bear show....perhaps you should sign up for the next one - it will give you something to aim for, and an opportunity to get together with other bear artisits - and have FUN!
And yes - send pics to magazines....
don't worry - you'll get there
huggies
Maria!!!

Hi Marion
sure - no problems...except, being a bit of a numbskull when it comes to computers...not sure how to paste the list into a mail for you, which goes thru' TT - if you get my meaning..... when "himself" gets home in a couple of hours, I'll l let him do it!
huggies
Maria

Hi Sandra
something else to consider.... a few years back, here in Germany, one of the Bear magazines got together with the two major bear supplies shops and came up with "Barenfreund clubs". The Mag and shops advertised the idea and it really took off......there are any number of local craft groups here - knitters, quilters, and so on...and lots of hobbyist bear makers, so the clubs were an easy progression.
Everyone pays a small annual sub, and gets a quarterly publication, with free patterns, chat, news etc, and Schulte comes up with  a new "club" mohair, which members get a bit cheaper before the fabric goes on public sale - then there are reduced entry fees for shows, and a discount on supplies.
The main thing is that word gets around - for every person bitten by the bear bug, there will be a circle of family and friends who just might also get interested. Clubs might put on a local show.......you get the idea...!
O.K. - it might not all be about bears - our local club members are all into hand-knitted socks at the moment (AAARRRGGHHH...something I'm saving for very advanced old age!)
BUT - our club has appeared in the local papers a few times, which has introduced new members to the circle, and got us a few local exhibitions - all good!
huggies
Maria

As I currently live in Germany, I suscribe to two of the four German bear magazines - BarReport and Teddybar und Seine Freunde - and quite often pick up one of the others!
I also suscribe to Teddy Bear Scene, and I agree, Paula - it is GOOD, mainly thru' the efforts of Kathy Martin - and she is such a nice lady!
And don't forget, all of you who are interested in the TBCI - it actually has "i-magazines" on its website, so you can read it on-line ( www.teddybeartimes.com)
huggies
Maria

Hi Jennie
I have been buying bear eyes through a friend here in Germany, and they really are cheap and GOOD quality.....anyway, the company now has a website    www.glasaugen-porzel.de
so I just bought some direct. They don't give prices on their website - you have to ask for a price list (but I can scan it in and send it to you). Have a look - they seem to quote exorbitant prices for posting outside Germany, but I could always get some for you and post them on....
let me know
huggies
Maria

Forgot to say - I love them all - wish I could win the lottery!!!
But Tracy's "Mandi" has totally stolen my heart - that little face.....
huggies
Maria
and I LOVe you whacky cat, Amy!

Two favourites - HMMMMM.....a compromise - group of three???
I made these "the Sisters Bling" for a competition entry, category "bear(s) with accessories" and decided to take it literally...and had enormous fun with the "accessories"!
huggies
Maria

Hi Chloe
I mailed earlier but it seems to have got lost......just wanted to say...WAY TO GO!!!!Well done, you...and it is well deserved!
big huggies
Maria