Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

I made my website with Yola and was pleased both with how it came out and with using it.  I thought of changing back to Blogger like you and Joanne, but basically I'm too lazy to change it now that I have my site the way I like it.  In the beginning with Yola, I used digital scrapbooking pages and bling to jazz up my pages, but after a while I took off the background pages because it just took too long to upload.

Cheryl

Congratulations on 100, Michele!

Thanks for letting us know, Becky!  I changed mine to "on". 

My business name comes from our silly dog, Bingley.  When he's rather due for a haircut he looks like a little bear, hence he was nicknamed our Bingle Bear.  It seemed natural to name my bear-making business (which gives me much joy) after our little guy who brings such joy to our family and seems to be the embodiment of joy and the love of life.   For me, it was an apt reminder of why I make bears.

Your estimates of 24-40 hours sounds about the speed I work, as well.  Hence, with homeschooling the girls and sometimes lower energy levels due to health issues, I'm really clicking along if I can make one bear in a week.  I'm really glad that you brought this up, because I've been thinking lately that I must be a really slow bear-maker because I just can't make that many bears in a week as I see you and some others do--I just couldn't see in what areas of bear-making I could improve my speed.  Now I understand that you just put in some massive hours in a day---you're my hero!    Well, as my health continues to improve, perhaps I'll be able to make more like 2 bears in a week or at least 3 bears in 2 weeks.  Hey, we gotta have our goals!

I know that I stepped out of TT after watching some of the flaming.  However, I was also having a flare-up of health problems and just didn't have the energy to sit at the computer very long.  I, like many of you, find Facebook overwhelming.  I just go there, wish people "happy birthday," and then move onto another site.  My energy is picking up and I must admit that I miss TT, so I think I will start checking it again every day.

Warmly,
Cheryl

Congratulations, Jane!!  They both look very happy and, oh, so beautiful!

Wonderful news!  Congratulations!!! :clap:  :clap:  :clap:

Ohhhh, I just love this little guy!!    Well done!!

A huge congratulations to everyone!! :clap:  :clap:  :clap:  :clap:  Here's my Evangeline in the Small Artist Bears, Dressed category.

Warmly,
Cheryl

Thank you SO much for posting this, Joanne!!  And congratulations to everyone!! :clap:  :clap:  :clap:

I must admit that I'm itching to see the list as well.  I'm in the same boat as you, Joanne, a sweet soul emailed me the night of the TOBYs to tell me that he heard my name and saw my bear.  But I entered a couple of categories, so I don't know which bear won!     I am thrilled that I won in one of those categories though.  Hearing about all the people who entered and are still waiting or who won, I can see that the competition was stiff.  I'm utterly amazed and thrilled that I was nominated!

Wonderful!!!   :clap:  :clap:  :clap: Congratulations, Tammy!! :clap:  :clap:  :clap:

I got your entry, Lisa!!       

Karen, I LOVE the steampunk kitty, Jules!  Fabulous!!     However, all of your work is amazingly fabulous!

Warmly,
Cheryl

Joanne of DesertMountainBears shows how she root extra mohair into a felted face on her blog using felting needles.  You can see it here:  http://desertmountainbear.blogspot.com/ … -face.html .  Joanne does such amazing work and is so generous with help and information.

Warmly,
Cheryl

LOL!!       I'm glad you're excited!

Thank you all for your sweet, sweet comments!    I'm glad that you like Benvolio, too.  I have all of your comments (although they won't show up so that your emails aren't visible to the world) and all of you have been entered into the giveaway!

Warmly,
Cheryl

I just wanted to let all my friends here know that I'm having a giveaway on my blog.  I'm giving away sweet little Benvolio with a mug I designed.  You can see more about it at: http://www.binglebears.com/2011/11/my-s … eaway.html .

Warmly,
Cheryl

How WONDERFUL!!!    

I'm so sad that Hope is gone from us.      But I had been preparing myself for her loss since the beginning of the summer.  The "untouchable" one wouldn't wear a collar, so I figured it was only a matter of time that she would be shot.  It just came much sooner than I thought--I was expecting it next year or the year after.  I'm not a fan of hunting, but I have been impressed by how respectful many of the hunters have been toward the radio-collared bears.  I really believe that this hunter would not have shot Hope if he had known it was her--but there truly was no way that he could have known.  The woods there are very thick and it's difficult to see very far. 

I know many have decided to stop following Lily's and the other bear's stories because of this, but it seems to me that now is the time to continue to band together and support the research team.  I'm sure that they are having an even harder time coping with this than any of us are.  I was crushed when we lost little Jason and I'm crushed now that we have lost Hope.  However, there are still so many bears that need our continued support so that, hopefully, in time, there will be a law against killing radio-collared bears.  That way we won't have to rely on the respectability and integrity of the hunter to spare them--unlike last year when we lost Sarah.

Hi Randy, you have some lovely shots in that bunch!  Your people photos are very good, but I'm not sure how much a gallery would want them.  In other words, I'm not sure how often people buy photos of someone they don't know.  I've always been quite partial to b&w and I really like a lot of your abstract-style photos.  But I must admit that having a photographer husband and an abstract artist mom makes me quite fussy.  I made some comments (I think) on the ones that popped.

Oh, I just checked and my comments don't seem to be showing up.  So let me tell you which ones I like:  "Carousel Horses," "Luke," "White Lily," "Pop Wright Fisherman," "Park Street Station 2," "Pipe Roll," "Ferris Wheel," and "Lilies 4."  I also liked "John."

Warmly,
Cheryl

Thanks so much for letting us know about this Donna.  I live in NY state and very gladly signed the petition.

Whooo hoooo!!! :clap:  :clap:  :clap:  :clap:  :clap:   What wonderful news!!  Congratulations, Kathy!!! :clap:  :clap:  :clap:

Thanks for the link!  Love the story.