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Judi Oct 12, 2008

Hi everyone.  I wanted t share a few photos with you from the Kohler Wisconsin Bear show which took place yesterday, Oct 11th at The American Club.   It was a one day show in a gorgeous showroom.

I did not exhibit at this show but rather went to meet up with some fellow bear artists for the first time. 
I met Daphne Blau, Laura Matthews, Steven Clark, Amy Thorton, Jane and Jared Monroe.

The weather in Kolher was that of an amazingly warm Fall day for Wisconsin...the only thing brighter were the bear artist inside the showroom.

Accompanying me were my middle daughter Rachel and my newest bruin Koda.

Meeting artist friends face to face is enough to make me want to get more involved in shows....I am just going to have to start doing shows.

I am unable to move photos around this post ( it's a "Mac-thing") so I will tel you about the photos here:
First photo is Laura Matthews with her lovely display.  She had a wonderful tree with "Tag-a-long-bears"...and of course I just had to have one.  Her bear's faces are precious.

Second photo is Daphne Blau with her Backroad Bears.  Colorful and solid teddys they were.  And she had these great littel hand knitted, then felted, sheep and as we approached one leaped off the table and asked to be adopted.  So we did.  The lamb was made by Daphne's own dad.  Just as soft as can be.

I have to tell you that Rachel even brought along an autograph book because she wanted Mimzy's creator, Daphne's autograph.

Third photo is Left to Right:  Me,  Laura, Daphne (holding my Koda)  :)

Laura, it looks as if you are wearing a crown!!!

Fourth photo is Steven Clark and is adorable colorful critters...and he too had a cuddle with Koda.  See the yellow animal to Steven's right?  That is "Leo Fat Cat" and my Daughter Rachel feel instantly in love.  Sooooooo He too was adopted by us and spent the rest of the afternoon riding on Rachel's shoulder.

Bottom photo is Steven and myself. :hug:  A few more pictures in next post...........

Judi Oct 12, 2008

In the top photo are Jane and Jared Monroe and they had a huge display full of happy bears, bunnies, and even some kitties and dolls.  Just happy faces wherever you looked.    

Amy Thorton and her unique creations came to life in her display.  The faces and expressions were perfect for this time of year.  Big cheshire-cat grins and wonderful colors made her table impossible to walk by without stopping and smiling.

I thought I had taken more photos but I think I was just too distracted by all the sights surrounding me. But at least I got a few to share with you.

I planned on going to this show only to meet artists....not to actually buy anything.  Yeah right!!!

We ended up coming home with Daphne' sheep, Laura's Tag-a-long, Steven and Shane's "Leo Fat Cat" and  Steiff        I just don't know how anyone could leave a bear show empty handed.

It was fabulous to actually meet artist friends that I have "known" for so long only on-line.  And to see their work in person confirms that it is much MUCH nicer to see someone's bears and art in person...in the fur....rather than seeing a photo.

BRAVO to all the artists at the show!!! :clap:  :clap:  :clap:  :clap:  :clap:

Judi Oct 12, 2008

PS...if anyone else has more picture please add them.

Lynn Oct 12, 2008

Looks like you all had a great time!!!  I so wanted to come up to the show, but I have a nasty cold.  Maybe next year.

Lynn

Little Bear Guy Oct 12, 2008

Thanks for posting the pics Judi, Steve kept texting me and telling me to get sewing and tracing out more bears throughout the day as so many of our bears were adopted and we have the Schaumburg show in two weeks and he's only coming home with three bears YIKES.  Fantastic pics and I was so jealous when he texted me and said "I just got to pet a Judi Paul bear" lol.

because of air fare cost and such right now Steve is doing these two shows by himself.  But I get lots of text from him telling me what is going on at the show, sorry I missed you Judi but we will meet up somewhere along the line.

big hugs

Shane

doodlebears Celebration AmbassadorOct 12, 2008

Great pictures Judi, it looks like you had a great time, so good to see everyone and their fantastic creations.

Hugs, Jane.       

Laurie Oct 12, 2008

Great photos Judi
Looks like everyone had a great time.
Laurie :hug:

Carolyn Green Oct 13, 2008

Thank you for sharing your photos Judi.
So great to see all the Artists and their wonderful bears.

Hugs
Carolyn

katiecountrymouse1 Oct 13, 2008

Hi Judi,

Photos are Fantastic! :photo:  :clap:

Looks like everyone had a great time, especially your daughter with her hand full of bears.

Love kayx.  

sabina13 Oct 13, 2008

super lovely pics! i adore the teddies..i wish i can get all them! 

          

puca bears Oct 13, 2008

Great pics, Judi - thanks so much for sharing..................and you are right - NOTHING better than being there, and actually meeting the artists and their bears in the flesh/fur!
And SHANE - glad you posted - my first thought was "where's SHANE"?
huggies
Maria

matilda Oct 13, 2008

Looks like it was a great show. What wonderful bears and critters everyone made. Thanks for the pics Judi.

rufnut Oct 13, 2008

Thanks for sharing looks like you all had a wonderful time.  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:

Laura Lynn Banner SponsorOct 14, 2008

Judi what great pictures!!!  It was wonderful to meet you and Rachel in person!!!!  We had such a great time!

Tami Eveslage lent us her prototype Trick or Treat Bear that will be the workshop for the 2009 Chicagoland Teddy Bear Show.  We had him posed on my table with post cards for the show.  He got a lot of attention from the collectors - it was a great way to promote the show and get collectors excited about it even though it is 12 months away.  Thanks so much Tami!  He's on his way back to you today! :)

I finally have downloaded my photos.  I didn't get a lot, I didn't stray away from my table very often...  I'm not sure why they are so grainy though 

Cathy Knapp - Tenderheart Teddies

JoAnne O'Hanlon

Betty Franks

Betsy Reum

Daphne - Back Road Bears

The Monroes - One half of their display

The other half...

Donna Hinkelman - half of display

The other half...

Johni Jacobsen

Sharon Barron

Barbara Burke

Carol Tiefer-Searl

Pat Berkowitch

My table

Rachel - (Judi's wonderful daughter) with her choice from The Bear Guys

You can see larger pictures of these in my Flickr account if you are interested.... along with copies of Judi's pics

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lauralynn/ … 028461507/

Daphne flew into Chicago for the show and stayed with me.  We had a GREAT time! 
I picked her up on Thursday and we stopped by the Schaumburg Embassy Suites Hotel on the way home from the airport so Daphne could see it for herself in person.  It is beautiful!

On Friday we did not head straight for Kohler (about a 4 hour drive for us), as we had SHOPPING to do!!!   There's a little shop called the State Street Market Shops which is a storefront that houses 35 different vendor booths of items from scrapbooking, gifts, antiques, quilts, Vera Bradley and so much more.

We finally got on our way to Kohler a little after 3 - yes, rush hour!  But the shopping was well worth it!  We took a detour away from the toll roads and took the scenic route a good part of the way.  Of course, by the time we got in to set up it was around 7:30, but the showroom was available till 11 to set up.

After the show we went to dinner with Judi and Rachel and had a wonderful time!  Then it was back on the road.... we got home pretty late and were exhausted on Sunday.  We dragged ourselves out of bed however because we had more SHOPPING on our schedule!  First we went to the mall that was close to the house as we both had our Yankee Candle coupons and there's a Yankee store in the mall.

Then we drove to the quaint little town of Geneva, IL where they have lots of great gift shops and antique shops.  They also had the best yarn shop!!!  It made me want to learn to knit, but then I'd never get any bears done  :crackup:

Monday we got up to get ready to go to the airport - and fortunately Daphne's flight wasn't until the afternoon... so we had time for... guess what?  More SHOPPING!!    :crackup:   Daphne still had some room in her carry on luggage, so we made time for a trip to Hobby Lobby   They've got their Christmas stuff up which I love... because I'm able to get all kinds of accessories for bears that work any time of year - but you can only buy them at THIS time of year.

Now I'm back into hiding as I've got a house to get back into order (it's been neglected these past few weeks as I tried to get ready for the show - and my studio is a mess! 

SueAnn Help Advisor, Banner SponsorOct 14, 2008

More great photos . . . thanks so much, Laura!!  Oooooh - all that shopping you and Daphne did sounds waaaay fun!

Daphne Oct 14, 2008

Well, I'm exhausted!!! The show was fun.... spending the better part of 5 days touring the Chicago area with Laura and SHOPPING was even more fun!! It was SOOOOOO fun to finally meet Judi after all these years and her daughter is such a sweet young lady! She has a great eye for artist bears and was very helpful when it was time to pack up too!

Here are a few more photos... I tried not to dulpicate everyone else's:

Doesn't she make you giggle???

Jellybelly Bears Oct 14, 2008

So happy to see the photos and hear your reports, lovely hearing about you all meeting up, sounds like so much fun, esp the shopping   Aren't you a lucky girl Rachel, its a bit easier buying bears when they are for your daughter isn't it Judi hehe  Yep Daphne I love that last pic of the elephant too 

Jack&Lilia Oct 14, 2008

Thank you all for sharing the photos....it looked like so much fun...and some truly fab creations too 
Lynne  :hug:

Shelli Retired Help Advisor, Banner SponsorOct 15, 2008

Beautiful pictures, everyone, of incredibly beautiful bears. Wowza!

Little Bear Guy Oct 15, 2008

Ohhhhhh that elephant,  Steven told me how Johni brought it over to the table for him to see, he hymmmed and hawwwed about it and ALMOST bought it.  Now that I've seen it I"m gonna kick his butt for not bringing it home, Johni makes the cutest bears (ok we bought a bear and a mouse from her at TBAI) now I'm addicted to her work.

Thanks for posting the pics Daphne and Laura.

Big hugs

Shane

Daphne Oct 15, 2008

Shane - She might still have her..... I think she was still on Johni's table in the afternoon !

ScaliWagGrrs Oct 15, 2008

Wonderful photos! Thanks for sharing them. Looks like there were lots and lots of fabulous bears.
I wish there was a good Teddy bear show near me. They look like such fun!
Beth

fredbear Oct 15, 2008

Thanks all for sharing the day with us. Collectors must have had a hard time deciding on what to take home.

 
Lynette

Tammy Oct 15, 2008

What great photos !  Looks like a wonderful show with lots of terrific eye candy.  Oh, that elephant is simply adorable ! Thanks for sharing so we all could enjoy it too.