Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Thanks for sharing those pictures!!!  They are adorable!!!!    

Hiya!!
Quite a few of you know that I have been trying to put plans into place to organise an artist-only bear event here in the UK.  Everything has been in place for months, I have simply been waiting for the venue to be able to confirm my booking.  It has taken months, but I have finally had it all confimred today so yippeee!!!  :dance:  I can finally get everything underway.  Unfortunately, their confirmation has coincided with me going back to my 'normal' job after the whole summer off!!!  However, I am ready and raring to go.
Lots of you who have contacted me about the event should begin hearing from me over the next week or two.  I have had so many people interested that it is going to take some time to get round to contacting everyone, so please do not worry if you don't hear immediately.
However, I just wanted to share this good news with you, as I have been so frustrated over the last couple of months, about not being able to move things on.
For those of you who don't recall previous conversations about this, please feel free to look at the website: www.teddybearartistevent.co.uk  The whole event is being organised to raise money for the British Heart Foundation.
Thanks for your patience guys - it should be full steam ahead from now on (except for having to go to work - doh!!).

Hugglets was a fab show - again!!!    I take my husband and Mum along to help, so I did get chance to have a wander - there were some stunning bears and critters out there.  It was also so nice to meet so many TTers.  I had an almost sell-out show - my best yet in the UK!!!  I couldn't sleep last night, despite being absolutely shattered, because my mind was just buzzing with all the bears that I had seen!!!!
Unfortunately I have had to come down to earth with a bump today as after a fabulous summer off work, I was back to my normal, boring interpreting job today.    Just got home, and now I am even more shattered, but still buzzing!!  This is why I love shows so much!!
I also came home with one of Jenny's gorgeous bunnies!!!  There were so many fabulous creations at the show, and I was tempted at a number of stalls, but Jenny's bunny stole my heart yesterday.    Haven't taken any pics yet, but if you saw it, I'm sure you would understand why it stole my heart!!!
My Mum also adopted a bear from Berta.  My Mum doesn't generally collect bears, but she couldn't resist one of Berta's little 'wobbly' bears.  I also chose one of Berta's little bears for christmas from my parents.
Looking forward to February Hugglets already!!!

OK - I'm ready!!!
These are the last three bears that I have finished for Hugglets.  I have 26 bears in total.  Must go and finish off preparations and packing everything up ready for tomorrow.  I'm getting excited now!!!!

Thank you for your comments ladies. 

Gail - I would love to be able to go to TBAI again, but I'm not sure if we could afford to go again so soon - we'll have to wait and see though!! 

Beautiful!!!
You've certainly achieved a feminine look with Tilly!!!  What a gorgeous colour!!!
See you on Sunday!

I am almost ready for Hugglets!!!  I just want to make one more bear before Sunday.  That'll teach me for having a holiday so close to Hugglets!!  I have never been this last-minute before.
I'm starting to look forward to it now - I have my stall all set up in my lounge at the moment - I love this part!!  Since I was six I have helped my Mum do a 'practice set-up' in the days leading up to a fair, so I still do it now I have my own stall - do other artists do this, or do you arrive at a fair and workout your stall then??

Anyway, here are a few of the bears I will be bringing with me on Sunday...

I saw your little sprites at TBAI - they are just beautiful.  They are so cute, with a lot of detail on a little bear.  Love them!!!

Oh she is so sweet!!!!  Look at that little face!!
I love cats - I am currently looking after my Mum's cat 'Molly' for a few days whilst she is away, and Molly likes to sit on my lap whilst I type too!!!  She is an indoor cat, and her personality is fabulous!!!  Enjoy your new kitty!!!

Doodlebears, Jane Martin, Hall 4 stand 121

Mary Myrtle Miniatures, Samantha Potter, Hall 3 stand 90A

See you all there!!  I still don't have enough bears finished though - that'll teach me to go on holiday so close to Hugglets!!!! Must get back to my sewing!!!

Congratulations Lisa!!!!    Thats wonderful.  Your bunnies are fab!!!
:clap:  :clap:  :clap:  :clap:  :clap:
(By the way, my little starry-eyed bunny has settled in well to his new home here in the UK! )

Beautiful bears Yvonne!!!  I've had a look at your website - I really love Caspian - he looks so sweet in that close-up photo.  I also like Raffles' paw details - looks like a new style for you?
See you there!

Awww Karen - good luck with everything!!!    What a change!!  You'll look back at this post in 6 months time when you are nicely settled in your new home, and wonder what you were so worried about!!  Until then, stay calm!!!!

P.s. It was lovely to meet you at the Expo, and my pixie bob kitten arrived back in the UK safely - I took her in my hand luggage with all the other bears I had adopted, and she got here with no problems.  I adore her!!!

Great pics Jared!!!  It was so nice to meet you and your Mum.  It was a shame there wasn't more time to chat before the awards ceremony got going.  I hope you had a really successful Expo!!

Ok, we have just changed hotels again, and I finally have internet, so I can let you know who won the GT Awards.  The ceremony was great fun to be at, especially as I was lucky enough to win an award.  It was lovely to sit next to Jared and his Mum, especially as Jared has already said, his Mum was presented with an ambassador award.

Anyway, here goes:

Individual Artist Bear - Undressed - 5 inches and under
Moonbeam by Samantha Potter for Mary Myrtle Miniatures

Individual Artist Bear - Dressed - 5 inches and under
Thadeus by Judy M. Scott for Cubby B & Friends

Individual Artist Bear - Undressed - over 5 and under 14 inches
Katie by Donna Griffin for Donna and the Bears

Individual Artist Bear - Dressed - over 5 and under 14 inches
Ocean by Hiromi Nagataki

Individual Artist Bear - Undressed - over 14 inches
Kahuna by Michelle Lamb for One & Only Bears

Individual Artist Bear - Dressed - over 14 inches
Detective Chief Inspector Teddy by Donna Griffin for Donna & the Bears

Individual Artist - Soft Sculpture Animal
Yorkie Puppy "Eclair au Chocolat" by Masaru Nakano & Kumiko Nakano for Ma'Sal Creations

Tableaux
My Mum's Private Shuttle Service by Hannelore Daab for Daab Design Bears

Congratulations to all the winners!!

I'm currently sat in our hotel room in Washington DC getting very excited about the Doll and Teddy Expo this weekend - I can't wait!!!!! :dance:
I have managed to sort out the pictures of my two Readers' Choice Finalists.  I haven't seen the magazine yet, as it will have been delivered to my home in the UK, so it is great to see all the other finalists.  Well done everyone - there are some fantastic bears and critters here!!!

Here is my miniature bear:

And my furry friend:

Wow!!!  I didn't know!!!!  I'm on holiday in the USA at the moment (having a really fab time!!! ), and have just arrived at a hotel with internet!!!  I am so so thrilled!!!!
Berta - yep, Abraham is ENORMOUS to me, although he is pretty small for many people!!!  I planned him in my mind for so long, and finally got around to making him, and so decided to enter him!!

Congratulations to everyone else who is nominated!!!  I look forward to seeing them all when I get home and see my magazine!!

Absolutely stunning work!!!      
What an amazing piece.  You are SO multi-talented!!!
:clap:  :clap:  :clap:

We still have no running water!!!   
I am so desperate for a shower!!! And some clean clothes!!!  We are going to visit some of my husband's relatives tomorrow so we are going to ask to borrow their washing machine and shower - which is a bit strange as we only see them about once a year - but we are desperate!

Congratulations!!!  Thats great news!!!   :clap:  :dance:  :clap:
What a cute little bear.  I look forward to seeing his pattern in a future issue.

Hubby and I finished the last book at 2pm this morning!!!  We have been reading it aloud together, so that we could discuss it and analyse it as we went along.  We loved it!!!  It had the right ending for a children's book.  There is so much depth to many of the concepts that JKR used - I want to read it again now.  I just got the audiobook, so I will start listening to that whilst I sew.
There were so many parts that were gut-wrenchingly sad - a few times, when it was my turn to read aloud, I had to pass it back to my hubby as it was just too sad.  JKR wasn't wrong when she said it was going to be a blood-bath!!

Awwwww....what a gorgeous bear!!     I love his nose!!

Yvonne - we are actually in a very good position compared to many in our area.  We are no longer surrounded by water and we can get out and about freely.  At the moment, our only problem is a lack of tap water.
My parents live in Tewkesbury, which many of you will have seen on the news as being very badly hit.  They are very lucky as they live just outside the flooded area, so again they can get out and about, just not into Tewkesbury.  They have been without tap water for two days now.
Thank you for your thoughts. :hug:

Thanks everyone - its great to know that we are iin your thoughts.

We are now without tap water which means no washing, no showers, no washing clothes, no washing dishes, no cooking with water and no flushing toilets!!!  Its at  a time like this that you realise how much we all take for granted.  We are lucky because we had a lot of warning before our water disappeared so we have managed to store plenty of water - we just need to use it sparingly.  I can't imagine how difficult it must be if you have a baby or small children, with no running water!!
There are many not far from us who are also without power!!
We have been told that the original guess of tap water being unavailable for 72 hours is very inaccurate, and an estimate of up to two weeks is more accurate!!!

Kathy - it would be great if we could send you some of this flood water for the fires , but unfortunately this strange world doesn't work like that!! *sigh*

I'm so glad you got it sorted!!    What a beautiful bear!!!