In the Spirit of Things!

Despite that disgruntled look on his face, my dear little Peek a Boo, kindly serves as model as I crochet a little hat. He's the only little guy I have on hand as all the show bears have traveled to their new homes. He did point out that he wasn't a girl and frills just weren't his thing, but got in the Spirit of Things when I promised cookies after.

Yesterday was called Small Business Saturday, so in the Spirit of Things, Travis and I spent the morning in beautiful downtown Smithfield doing our part to help our favorite shops prosper! Here's the window of my favorite store in the world, Wharf Hill Antiques. I bought some Christmas decorations and can't wait to display them!

In the Spirit of Things, Kim's Beau sinks his teeth into her candy cane! My favorite photography quote - besides all those wonderful things that Ansel Adams said - is "the best camera is the one that's with you." I thoroughly love all the moments Kim and Jason are able to share with me as they use their iPhone cameras to snap these delicious memories!

And finally this moment of brotherly love! Jason captured his Max and Sam sharing the very best part of the holiday season - a time to remember and be with those we love in the Spirit of Things!

Look what I found! My little helper! and Happy Tofurkey Day!

Isn't this great? While shopping at my favorite store - Wharf Hill Antiques in beautiful downtown Smithfield, I found a group of giant mushrooms that are also containers. You can see the join on the stem in the photo. My little Marc Andre, flower elf, volunteered to give you an idea about the size of the mushroom. Marc Andre is less than 3 inches tall. The shop carries things other than antiques and I suspect this isn't old. The others in the group were all unusual and I might just have to go back for more.

Rocky felt left out in the last posting of snuggly kitties. He's often like a little puppy following me around and paying close attention to everything I do. Monday night, he assisted with my laundry detail - "holding" the hangers while I ironed and making sure the laundry basket was empty when I was done with the folding and putting away chores. He is so helpful.


And finally, I wish everyone a Happy Tofurkey Day tomorrow! I am thankful for the soybeans who have provided my feast!

Long Winter's Nap Time!

Now that the weather is getting chilly, the Griffin clan kitties are getting quite snuggly! We find we have lap cats quite frequently!!

Mr. Frodo

Samwise

Beaker


Bundle up, if you don't have a fur coat attached!!

The Show Has Begun!

The bears in the banner at the top of the page are the bears I will have on offer on my show page. To visit any of the artists, first go to www.teddiesworldwide.com and then click on the preview bear of the artist you wish to visit.

As of 4:37 p.m. Panda Claus, Rudolph, and Cindy Lou have been adopted. There seems to be some problem with making them so, but hopefully that will be fixed soon!

All of the bears have been adopted! Thanks so much to everyone!

More Show Photos!

Lovely Janet Wilson! Winner of every award there is, this lady is also head of the Wilson team that joins with Mark and Susan McKay as promoter of the Hunt Valley Show. We were all so sad at the passing of her wonderful husband, Alex, this past year. I'm sure Alex was looking over us all making sure we lived up to his view of this grand show. We miss you Alex!
What I love about this photo is that my son, Jason, bought the little bear on the right later in the day - or if not that one, maybe his cousin! Jason is an excellent collector after many years of being around the bear world.
Janet's Handmade Treasures are such a treat!

By the time I get to Barbara Burke's table, it's pretty empty! I'm so glad she did have this adorable kitty to hold for you to see. You know how I feel about the kitties! Barbara, award winning artist, lives in Ipswich, Massachuetts and I just love visiting with her here and at TBAI. Should you wish to contact her about this kitty or another Wuv "n" Cuddles creation, write to: BBwuvncuddles@gmail.com.

Diana Lee Palumbo has marvelous bears of all sizes! Her Timeless Expressions incorporate the gorgeous laces and other treasures you see represented in the bear here in front of Diana Lee. I met Diana at TBAI the first year I attended. She was world famous having had her bears on magazine covers and being a multi - award winner. Can you imagine how I felt when she selected one of my little pandas which would be a birthday gift? I was floating on air! I always enjoy seeing Diana Lee and her husband at the shows!

Penny French is one of the funniest people you'll ever meet! Notice her feathered hat? You should see the rest of her outfit! I think she's doing Swan Lake - tutu and all - between the bear making. Penny's wonderful bears have been featured on magazine covers and she's won the Public Choice first place award at TBAI more than once (not sure of the number there)! Well, just look at them! The bears are as adorable as Penny!! She brings a smile to my face when I'm lucky enough to be around her. I hope you'll get to meet her at a show one of these days.

And finally, the grand prize winner for making us all merry! Marilyn Wagner and crew brought us Rudolph and his story! Marilyn is the one with the blinking nose. I hope you'll take time to visit her at www.quiltsncritters.com There's a little dancing teddy on the opening page of her site echoing the fun she brought to the show and the happiness she brings with her grand bears!!

I hope you've enjoyed this little look around the showroom. Do make a point to attend the Hunt Valley Christmas show if you can!

Don't forget the show this afternoon! I'll post my bears on offer after the 4 p.m. opening. Up to an hour before the show, you can visit and vote for your favorite preview bears! www.teddiesworldwide.com

More Hunt Valley Fun!!

Here are more views from around the showroom at the Hunt Valley Teddy Bear show which took place last Saturday, November 12, 2011, at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Hunt Valley, Maryland.

Here are Alan Hsu and Joe of Teddy Bear Barn. Their display and great outfits added to the festive day!
If you'd like one of those adorable polar bears, visit www.teddybear-barn.com  The opening page for the site is worth the click! Give it a try!

Diana Watts makes the most magnificent real fur bears, bunnies, elephants, lions - you name it! She and her husband always look grand in the costumes they choose for the show. I hope you get a chance to meet her at a show! You can email her at Dibears@aol.com.

Now isn't this the cutest thing?? I'm not talking about the darling bear, but the wonderful couple in the back!
Tami Eveslage and her husband pack up some of the cutest bears in the world to bring to this show and this year was no exception. The little sleeping polar bear is Tami's preview bear for the online show which begins Friday, November 18th at 4:00 p.m. New York time. You'd better have your finger on the button if you want that little polar bear because I'm sure he'll be adopted first thing. Do have a look at Tami's website and you can ooooh and ahhhhh at all her marvelous creations! www.TamiEveslage.com

Here's Cindy! Not only does she made wonderful bears, she's an expert at creating wonderful birdies - just about anything from ducks to hummingbirds. Cindy Malchoff is the brains behind the TBAI yearly show in Binghamton, New York, which raises money for the endangered species program for the Zoo at Ross Park there in Binghamton. I hope you will visit Cindy's website and be amazed at her artistry! www.myappletree.com

I do have another batch of photos, but the Internet is running sooooo slow and I have a hungry husband!
Don't forget the online show tomorrow!! Visit the preview page and vote today!!! www.teddiesworldwide.com

Hunt Valley - the Show!!!

Here's my table before the bears! My dear son, Jason, helped make all this possible. He did a lot of work carrying my ceramic trees, leaves, and the greenery before we every unpacked the little bears!!

And then we added the bears! All the greenery is real and the little ones just settled into their magical woodland!

My neighbor at the show was Nancy McCurdy of Moser Lee Bears. Don't you love her hat? You should
have seen her socks! You can contact her at moserleebears@hotmail.com. Nancy ended the day buying half my display - plants and all. I'm delighted to sell my tree houses but only at shows. I can't imagine boxing them up for shipping.

Ginger and Jay Brame - one of the nicest couples you'll ever meet! The Brames are from North Carolina and add so much to each show they attend. I hope you can see Ginger's adorable little bears in this shot. She writes probably the best Blog on the Internet, too! Check out Ginger's talent at www.pieceparade.com

This pretty lady, Felicia Hymer, is known as the Bear Scout. Behind her you can see the work of some of the artists she represents. I can't imagine how she does it, but she looks after and promotes the work of artists around the world. If you'd like to get in touch with her just go to:www.thebearscout.com

My dear friend, Darleen Allen! Her work is some of the most imaginative around! You can visit her musings and get to know her through her Blog.http://raspbearybears.com/ Now, you see Darleen's hat (which she made herself, I'm told) ....Did she choose that spot so she could sit in front of the painting.......that matches the hat? I wonder.

And finally for today - for I've decided to break this report into more than one entry (I take a LOT of photos)
I wanted you to see an upclose detail of my table. This is the mama bunny and the baby in one of my leaves.

This piece was adopted by a dear collector friend who'll be walking her own little one in a carriage this next year! Yay!  Congratulations Jamie!!

Please come back and see more photos from the Hunt Valley show! It's one of the best there is and this year the aisles were simply packed. I think everyone had a very good time. Many thanks to the Wilsons and the McKays for another brilliant show. Check out their website at www.teddybearsonvacation.com

Fabulous Show and.... It's beginning to look a lot like - or taste like....

I'm still "on the road" but am thrilled to report that all my bears and bunnies found their Mom's and Dad's quickly at the Hunt Valley Christmas teddy bear show yesterday.
It was a great show and the isles were packed with happy teddy bear people. I so enjoyed visiting with friends at the show!
Kim sent this sweet photo of Beau getting his first lick of a candy cane - a family favorite this time of year!
I'll be home tomorrow and will download photos from the show! Check back soon!
Thanks to all the new Mom's and Dad's!

A few more Peeks!

                                                                           A few more little furry friends who are packing their bags for the trip to the Hunt Valley show!
We'll all be staying with Jason who has promised to help me at the show on Saturday!

I'll be getting lots of photos of bears and their people so be sure to check back next week!

Have a wonderful mid-November weekend and I hope to see you at the show!

P. S. Don't forget, the Online show is next weekend. There won't be any previews of those bears, but I know you're looking forward to seeing all the bears when the show opens. You can still see the preview page and vote - 4 times per household - for your favorites! www.teddiesworldwide.com

Hunt Valley, Here We Come!

As promised, here's a peek at some of the little friends that will be going to the Hunt Valley Show this next Saturday!
Of course you've seen Santa and Ashley (in Santa's sack), so here are a few more!
All the bears and bunnies are between 3 and 4 inches tall. Two have tiny friends.
If they don't find their Moms or Dads at the show, I shall offer them for adoption here next week.

Stop back tomorrow for some more peeks!!!

Preview for Online Show is Open!!

Here's my Panda Claus ! He and other wonderful bears are now eager for you to visit on the preview page for the upcoming Teddies Worldwide online show.You will be able to vote for your favorites!! Just click on : www.teddiesworldwide.com and you'll see them all.