Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Hello everyone-My bear Miss Francesca von Gerber (namesake of Mitzy Gaynor) was a runner-up in the Miss Octobearfest contest.She was presented with her tiara by the human and very beautiful Miss Octoberfest 2007 .There were 12 entries and lots of fun. We also received a gorgeous Autumn flower bouquet and a cheque!!! I also met Pearl Hamilton one of our TT girls whose bears are exquisite. We made a trade and I am really pleased with my "Pearl's Bear".I am trying to send a photo of Francesca.I hope it works.Mer Bear has tried to help me with this but I continue to fail to understand-this is a more positive way to say "I am really dumb!!! Sincerely Jane D...PS Jeremy-where were you???

Hi Edie-Here in Ontario the medical remedy is an antihistamine.Sorry for the medical approach but it truly works.It will dry up the fluid just as it does nasal cavities etc as if you had a cold.It can become serious if not properly treated.I don't know about the hydrogen peroxide and I don't want to sound "superior " here or anything but my husband has had a lifetime of this.He sees an ear specalist and he says never to add fluid into the ear canal.A pharmacist would be good to ask what he recommends in case you are on other meds.You need to dry up the fluid.It is not good to fly when you have these ear troubles.Hope you feel better soon. Sincerely Jane D.

Congratulations Sandi.Tremayne looks as if he is living up to his elegant name,  sitting there on the FRONT cover! Wow! I can hardly wait for my issue here in Canada. Sincerely Jane D.

Thanks girls-The only thing is -would customers/collectors not think that your bear was broken or poorly constructed?Sincerely Jane D.

Hello everyone-Its a beautiful day here in Ontario.I love to look at everyone's websites and I just saw a beautiful old bear which the artist describes as having "loose joints" to give her an old look.I dress my bears in antique clothing etc. but what could I do to have "loose" joints.I go crazy with my ratchet tightening joints-obviously this is not what she means.Does anyone understand this and how can I acieve this look? Thank you in advance. Sincerely Jane D.

Lisa-I will tell Santa that you are such a good girl-sending Nips to that lady in Canada who was going through withdrawal! You deserve at least 2 of those lights!!   Sincerely Jane D.

Hi Jeremy-I am going as a vendor.This will be my 3rd year.I love this show.The atmosphere is great and always lots of people through.Chris and Karen are wonderful hosts.I have a bear entered in the Miss Octobearfest Contest. The contestants will all be at the mall next weekend in Waterloo and on discojoints website soon. Mer Bear is supposed to be coming as a visitor and I believe the Bear Guys were hoping to drop in.Stop by and say "hello". Sincerely Jane D.

Jane- I can hardly wait for hubby to get up so I can show him the pic of you and your mohair stash.It might let me "off the hook".He thinks I'm the only person in the world who can't resist buying mohair-even when they have lots!! I showed him all the studio and workplace pictures too -especially the ones which showed piles of mohair. I didn't want to be mean but it's lovely to have "partners in crime"!!! Sincerely Jane D.

When I woke up today and checked my emails I found that Jane from Doodlebears had made me a new avatar. I actually was able to follow her directions :clap: and here it is. It's one of my own bears! Thank you Jane for thinking of me! You are very kind.Sincerely Jane D.

Absolutely beautiful! My lifetime dream is to visit England and will add this spot to my mental agenda.I spent so much time as a child with my paternal grandmother who was born in Hazelmere.She told me stories of her childhood and she went back for many visits in later years.It seems that there is always some reason that I can't travel-family(first it was the children, now it's the sick parents) work schedules, money etc-so I love it when everyone sends in their pictures.Thanks for sharing Jenny! :hug: Sincerely Jane D.

Good morning everyone-I am really happy to have my bears on the "Artist's Gallery" section of Julie's website(www.bears-strike-a-paw.com) She did a beautiful job of organizing the pictures and framing them for definition.As I mentioned many times I am hopeless on the computer and this is a perfect solution for me.The cost is very reasonable too! If you have a chance to peek at the bears sometime I would love to hear what you think.And Lisa if you are reading this, I have at this moment a wonderful coffee Nip in my mouth and it's only 9:00 am. Sincerely Jane D.

I have a subscription so don't need to take part but thank you anyway.Just wanted to say that my magazine is always so late too! two weeks ago they were given out at the door to customers at the TBOV show in Toronto.It was the Sept-Oct. issue. I didn't take one because I was sure it would be in the mail by now-NOT!Yet I have received notices about renewing my subscription. Sincerely Jane D.

Hi Paula-Recently I sold a bear to someone in the US and I also bought a bear from someone in the US and both times International Money Orders were used.We were quite happy and there is no delay or waiting for the cheque to clear the banks involved.Your lady can get hers at her bank and she can pay by credit card to the bank or use her ownw bank account funds.The person buying gets a receipt in case the original is lost and the correct currency is factored in when you buy it.In my case US and Canadian.You can then mail it regular or express post.Hope this helps.

Clare may I very politely ask-"What is prim Christmas?" Sincerely Jane D.

Hello everyone-I could do a swap-sounds like fun- if the closing date were a little later.I have a show in Kitchener-Waterloo on the Canadian Thanksgiving week-end and am busy for now.Sincerely Jane D. I am going to meet merBear there as she is going to visit. :dance:

Make sure Andrea that you let us know how you made out.I'm sure you have done a superb job with your course! :dance:  :dance: Waiting is extremely difficult though and I sympathize with you!Sincerely Jane D.

Congratulations Sophie I was a teacher for 32 years and I have survived. Since I can still dance I will do the happy dance with you today! Think of all the bear supplies you can buy to reward yourself! Sincerely Jane D.

Oh I'm so jealous! I want some doll clothes too!!! My mom gave all my dolls and books to my younger relatives and I think it gave me a personality disorder of some sort. Good luck with the cleaning.So many older things were quite hardy and well sewn.The aged look adds character to the bears!! I love that look!

Lisa- I echo the sentiments of the other girls. The colorings blend beautifully and are easy on the eyes.A super job!

Everyone-I want you to know that this is high praise indeed coming from the Bear Guys and Andrea.They are super people and an honour indeed to be at the same show with them!Shane and Steven are international stars and Andrea is an upcoming, on the rise star who will be participating by invitation in an Artist Harvest Tour in her area of the county of Simcoe which includes a population of at least 200,000 people.Congrats Andrea.   I too shade the eye area,as Shane has said, before putting in the eye.

Hi Girls-I love to read and discuss things from people so far away.It makes the world seem so cosy! I have always used copic markers to shade the eyes and above the muzzle.I was at a bear show in Toronto yesterday and so many people said my bears had beautiful eyes. I use the large tip and color the area as like using a crayon-a little swish over the fur and also above the nose in a triangle but always "swish" the color in a feathery stroke. I never trim the hair until after I've shaded.I use "walnut" and "light walnut" most of the time and "dark bark" if I want it darker.Then soften the edges with the colorless blender.I also use colored glass eyes-olive, smoked topaz and amethyst which really give a lovely soft look.I would love to show pictures but do not know how to make them the correct size for the forum :redface: If you email me I could send them yo you as an attachment! I do know how to do that :clap:  Hope this helps.Sincerely Jane D.

I still wear the same perfume that I wore when I started teaching 38 years ago.It was $19.95 then and is now over $100.Needless to say I wear it much less often now and certainly more sparingly-Shalimar by Guerlain.After 9 months of chemo and radiation (7years ago) strong smells still make me nauseous so I've never been tempted to experiment.!!! Sincerely Jane D.

Jenny-I have one word for you-CHIROPRACTOR-I suffered unbearably for 9 months-took painkillers etc till my stomach ached and finally decided to visit the chiropractor which I had decided (no offense anyone!) was a "quack". I had many visits to my GP as well but only got more medication. One visit to the chiropractor and the pain was gone then 2 more visits and I am still pain free 3 months later.I have just finished 12 bears (16") so lots of stuffing etc. and no pain.As well I have knit for 6 new babies.Still pain free.They are not "quacks" they are "magicians"I LOVE chiropractors! Good luck Jenny.I truly feel for your pain!

Great job Julie-Now you can make a calendar of all your own creations-or will you be giving up photography? That is amazing work! :clap: Sincerely Jane D.

Hello everyone- I simply love Intercal's 325S/CM and I was wondering if anyone had some that they are not using and would like to swap with mohair that I have and I have lots believe me!!! If so, please pm me and tell me what you like and maybe have a swap.It's not that I mind buying new mohair :crackup:  but what will I do with all the others and as well this would appease hubby. Sincerely Jane D.