Happy Thanksgiving!

We are well into the Beaker visit. He arrived and was a little aprehensive at first but that lasted only a very few minutes. In reviewing the photos I've taken up to now, I mostly see blurs. Beaker and his cousin Rocky are one constant motion. I did manage a few when Beaker was peering out through the bannister of my stairs.
I am so thankful for Kim to be able to visit and for all our little family to be together this Thanksgiving. Kim and Beaker will soon return to Pittsburgh and Jason will be moving to Maryland on Monday. This is a very busy time!
Blessings to everyone. I am so thankful for family and friends - those with two legs and four!

Rocky and Max

My little scruffy panda wasn't done in time for the group photo which is shown on my header so I thought he deserved a little attention. Rocky loves to help me on my work table so here he is with Max
Many thanks to Daphne Blau for her wonderful show this past weekend on http://www.teddiesworldwide.com/. She reports over 7000 folks visited during the show. There's going to be a Spring online show, so visit for information!
My three scruffy creatures are headed to new homes. I'm always a little nervous to offer something completely different, but I do love these scruffy guys!

A "Beaker" Photo

Well, isn't my grand kitty, Beaker, adorable?? Sound asleep after reading The Hockey News.

Showtime Today!!

The Online Show will begin at 9:00 a.m EST (New York Time) this morning!
I hope you will visit!!!
http://www.teddiesworldwide.com/
When you go to this website, just click on the artist whose show page you wish to visit. There will be a banner on the page for you to click to return to the main page of the show. Each artist is conducting his or her own sales so check on the individual pages for adoption directions.
Have tons of fun!!
I feel so fortunate that all three of my pieces in the online show have been adopted! Thanks everyone!

Scruffy, Floppy, and Fun!

"Old Friends" - Thomas and Barnaby

The online show at http://www.teddiesworldwide.com/ is almost here! Please check out the web site for show times in your local plus a fabulous preview page. My new header shows two of my pieces for the show. They are brand new for me and my first adventure into the scruffy bear world. I took the two pictured here to a lunch date with a couple of friends and approved the new design. I shall have one other piece in the online show so I hope you'll drop by the show this weekend. These two were also in my current ad for Teddy Bear Review. They are 9 inches tall, made from scruffy, sparse mohair which I've tea dyed and ruffed up a bit. Now here's the way it will work: You must go to the site listed above and then click on the artist whose work you want to see. Everyone participating will have show banners on the top and bottom of the page and you can click on the banners at any time to take you back to the main show page - then you can choose another artist to visit! There are 75 artists, so you should have a fun time clicking around!! Each person will have adoption procedures for you to follow. How much fun is that!!! Be sure to go now to see the previews. Wow are there some fabulous bears!!!!!!!!!

There and Back Again

The Hunt Valley Show was spectacular as ususal! The table settings were very creative and the bears and other creatures were grand. I'm thrilled to pass along that my little ones were all adopted by the end of the first hour of the show. I'd like to share some photos with you of happy collectors, happy artists, and happy bears!

One of my favorites at the show by Daphne Blau. Daphne is promoting the online show at Teddies Worldwide next Saturday. Do join us at http://www.teddiesworldwide.com/

Jared Monore of Jare Hares and Bears. Wisit him and his delightful creations at http://www.jarehares.com/

Found amongst her wonderful bears, birds, etc. is Cindy Malchoff of My Apple Tree....AND one of my roommates for the weekend. Cindy is the TBAI Chairman and does a fabulous job of organizing that show each year. You can contact her at http://www.tbai.org/  Her website is http://www.myappletree.com/

Wanda Carson  of Carson Creations and Sue Van Natten of Bearlooms. Two sweet, sweet ladies I am proud to call my friends.
You can reach them here:
Wanda:http://www.carsoncreations.net/
Sue:  bearlooms@frontiernet.net



Brilliant artists Virginia Jasmer and Tami Eveslage. I've been fortunate enough to see and enjoy Virginia's work for many years and Tami and I shared a very special evening a few years ago when we were each honored with a TOBY public's choice award. We happened to be sitting at the same table and thought the evening was indeed maghttp://www.insidemystudio.blogspot.com/ical. You can find Virginia at

 http://www.jazzbears.com/ and Tami at http://www.insidemystudio.blogspot.com/

The Bear Scout, Felicia Hymer, gathers some of the best bears ever. I've been so fortunate to know Felicia for a few years and love being able to see her at shows from time to time. You can get in touch with Felicia at: http://thebearscout.com/

Artist Daphne Blau and collector and Veterinarian (and good friend) Andrea Shinn. Daphne's web site is http://www.backroadbears.com/



Susan McKay of Bears of the Abbey. Susan, her husband Mark and Alex and Janet Wilson were the promoters for the show and all wore snow men and ladies costumes! Susan's web site is:
http://www.bearsoftheabbey.com/



So sweet bears by Wanda Carson.

Sue Van Natten of Bearlooms. Her bears are delightful.  I hope you will see them in person. One of her bears won the Best in Show at the TOBY awards not long ago.



Darlene Allen, my good friend (and roommate for the show) creates the magnificent Raspberry Bears. Please visit her Blog at http://www.raspberrybears.com/ I first met Darlene at TBAI and so look forward to visiting at the shows. She's lucky enough to live in my home state of Florida. I think of that when I'm freezing in the winter. Her wonderful smile makes me feel warmer immediately!!



Dear Friend and Collector Jamie enjoying her new little "ely."

The costumes were amazing. Here's Margaret Jackson and her husband . Margaret's web site is: http://www.pinneybears.com/

and of course there has to be!

Lucky me! I was just across the isle from award winning Maggie Spackman! I had some time to chat with her and see her fabulous "Minikins." Please visit her website at:
http://www.maggiesminikins.com/
I hope I will see Maggie again soon! What a delight she is and her artistry with her miniature marvels is unequaled.
I took other photos but am not sure if I asked the permission of those in the photos to put them on my Blog. I'm pretty sure all the above said "OK!"
My special thanks to the McKays and the Wilsons for putting on a fabulous show and allowing me to be a part of it. I'm already looking forward to next year! For information on next year's show or other shows produced by Teddy Bears on Vacation just visit here:
http://www.teddybearsonvacation.com/Index.html





Tree Houses for Hunt Valley

The "tree houses" for my little woodland friends are just about done. They were closely inspected by the kitties when I brought them home from the art center. The first photos show them as they look after being fired twice in the kiln. I used three different values for the trees themselves and Rocky inspected my pallet. With his extra digit, I expect him to put that paw right in the paint any time! The final touch was putting the spots on the mushrooms. I am lighting them with tiny battery operated tea lights so that they don't have to be near an electrical outlet. The only thing missing in the final photos are the branches of holly that I'll put in the top. I don't want to cut those until I am just ready to leave for the show. I'll take some photos of the table with the little friends playing among the houses, building snow bears and bunnies and riding on a sleigh.

Beaker kitty update!

My little Grand Kitty is growing by leaps and bounds! Kim reports he's full of energy and likes the normal kitty things - especially bugs - which you can see in some of these photos. I can't wait to see him when they come to visit at Thanksgiving!