Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Hi

I am just putting the finishing touches to the next issue of Teddy Bear Times which will be on sale on 18th March.

So if anyone has anything that they would like included in Teddy Talk or in the new Diary/What's On for events after March 18th, please email me editor@teddybeartimes.com as soon as possible along with any related photos which should be large and high resolution.

Thanks
Dawn

Happy Anniversary Peter! Of course, having had your photo in Teddy Bear Times you are now officially a 'Celebearty'!

Hugs

Dawn
Hugs Unlimited

Hi

Not long now before Teddy Bear Times is published. Weather permitting it should be out this Thursday.

I mentioned before that I wanted to have a themed collection of bears each issue. The name that I had originally used is already in use (sorry Samantha  :redface: ). I have now settled on the name 'Teddy Bear Times Celebrates'.

I am looking for bears for the first one which will be 'New Beginnings' I need a good digital photo, as large as possible, plus your name, and a little bit about the bear and the inspiration behind it.  These do not have to be bears that you have made, I am also interested in hearing about bears that you may have bought that go with the theme, or even old bears that you have dressed up. Please send them to tbteditor@btinternet.com

The themes for the whole year are published in the next issue of Teddy Bear Times. I really look forward to seeing your contributions.

Best wishes

Dawn,
Editor, Teddy Bear Times

A huge thank you to everyone for all the wonderful cards. I really hope that all mine arrived safely we have had a lot of snow here over the last couple of weeks.

Hugs

Dawn

Hi

I know a lot of people are eager to know what the results are for the BBAAs.

I have set up a list under my blog, and you can find it here.

http://www.dawnhugsunlimited.blogspot.com/

Dear Maria

I have only just got in after returning from Hove, so have only just seen this. I am so sorry that you have been upset. I am also very glad that you did not withdraw your piece. It was a great piece to have in the competition and it was well deserving of the award it got.

In the BBAAs, the bare bear may not have any clothes, accessories or props of any kind. Or to put it another way, nothing may be displayed with the bear that could be seen to enhance it.  The sign with the bear was seen to be an integral part of the piece and therefore it was moved to the dressed category which is any bear with clothes, accessories or props.

Please don't feel awkward or embarressed about it. The only other way around it would have been to have displayed him without his sign in the bare bear category. We felt that would have been a real shame, as it would have taken away the inspiration from the design. The criteria for judging is not based on the intricacy of the clothing or accessories but on the appeal and originality of the design.  There have been many award winners in the past in the dressed category whose bears just have one or two accessories or props.

I hope this clears things up for you and you will now enjoy the award you have got.

Best wishes

Dawn

Hi

I am putting the final touches to Teddy Bear Times, and I would really like to have a letters page. If anyone fancies writing me a letter on any subject (as long as it is related to bears!) please mark the subject as 'letters' and email me: tbteditor@btinternet.com. The downside is that I need them by Friday this week!

However, I know that beary people are always up for a challenge, so I look forward to receiving your letters.

Many thanks

Dawn
Editor, Teddy Bear Times

Awww thank you everyone - Eric you are a complete charmer!

Just a quick reminder that if you want anything included in Teddy Talk, Hugglets Preview or the new letters page, please let me have them by the end of tomorrow, 1st December. The New Beginnings Celebration will be in the issue after, and I will need them for the middle of January.

Thanks again,

Dawn

Please send your items to: tbteditor@btinternet.com

What lovely pictures Peter - I'm really glad you like him. hugs, Dawn

Just to let you know that Susan from Bear Basics now has a page on her website with the shortlist and some photos. It may take a while to get the rest of the piccies up, but they will be there soon.

The website is www.bearbasics.co.uk A HUGE thank you to Susan for doing this.

Quick update - Susan from Bear Basics who is one of the judges has the list and has very kindly agreed to put it up on her website. If it is OK with everyone I will forward the photos to her.  The page should be up tomorrow.

A new feature that I am planning for Teddy Bear Times is going to be called 'Celebration of Artistry' (well maybe not, but that is the working title). It will be a gallery of bears with a theme running through them. The next issue will have the themes and deadlines for the next few issues, but I am quite keen to have this feature in the next magazine as well.

The theme for the next magazine will be 'New Beginnings'. This seems appropriate because it will be New Year, New Decade, and New Editor. This feature is not a competition, and I am really keen to see bears from anyone no matter how long you have been making. Whether full-time, part-time, collector, hobbyist - I want to see those bears.

I'm not sure yet how much space will be given to the feature - that depends on how many pictures I get.

The deadline for this issue is quite tight, but if you would like to make a New Beginnings Bear or other furry, and could let me have a clear high resolution photo by 15th December - preferably before! I would be delighted to hear from you. Please spread the word around to anyone else who may be interested.

I am posting on here as it is the forum with most traffic at the moment, but please feel free to forward this message to anywhere where there are bear people!

It would also be useful to know now if you intend to make a bear for the feature so I have some idea of how much space to keep for it.

Thank you - I am really looking forward to seeing what you can come up with.

Please send your photos and notes to: tbteditor @ btnternet . com  (without spaces)

Many thanks

Dawn

I am trying to put together a web page with all the nominated entries for the BBAAs. I do not have a list yet, but hope to have one in the next couple of days. In the meantime, it would really speed things up if anyone who has been shortlisted could email me one photo of each entry. I will let you know when the page is live, and will also try and get a list up on the Teddy Bear Times website.

Thanks

Dawn

Thanks everyone - I really am very excited. As I said before the next issue will be coming out in January. There will be a letters page, and also a themed gallery. I really do want to find out what the readers want.  I have set up a separate email address for Teddy Bear Times related emails and it is tbteditor @ btinternet . com I have left spaces to try to avoid the autospammers. Please feel free to write to me anytime.

I know that the British Bear Artist Awards are a concern to many of you. I promise that everyone who has been nominated will be featured in the next magazine along with the winners. At this moment, I do not have a copy of the shortlist. However, I will try to get one tomorrow and have asked Chris (my husband) to put together a quick webpage with the shortlisted bears.  I know that is not ideal, but I hope it will help a bit. I had three of my bears nominated, but I have decided to withdraw them. Although the competition is completely separate from the magazine, it just felt the right thing to do. I will however be carrying on as a Teddy Bear Artist, and will be in my usual spot at Hugglets.

I have created a fan page for Teddy Bear Times on Facebook - just search Teddy Bear Times and you will find it. I want to hear from lots of artists, but I am also looking to hear from collectors as well - so please spread the word and get them to join.

Thanks again for all your kind words, it really does mean a lot to me.     

Hi
I am delighted to say that I have been appointed as the new Editor of Teddy Bear Times. Kirste has taken the decision to leave because of increased work commitments elsewhere, and I would like to take this opportunity to wish her all the very best for the future.

The next issue of the magazine will be delayed until the beginning of January, but when it does come out it will include extensive coverage of the British Bear Artist Awards.

I am very keen for the magazine to stay fresh and exciting and have lots of ideas for new features.  I would also love to hear from anyone who has ideas about what they would like to see published.

Dawn James

Julie your bears are absolutely gorgeous - and the rabbit as well. xx I have also been nominated - I will try and get piccies up later. I'm really looking forward to meeting everyone at Hove. 

lol - yes I have the book, also a mug and mouse mat - sad? me? never. 

I got banned from watching Meerkat Manor because Chris kept coming home from work and finding me in tears! Then he relented and bought me the first two series on DVD. I love that programme but it does get very sad.

Mitzi TV filmed at Hugglets in September, and have posted a 10 minute video on Youtube! Oh dear there is  a really strange woman at just over the 6 minute mark!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HqTHOPVbk4

Hugs
Dawn, Hugs Unlimited

Hi

Anyone else having problems getting on Facebook today? I have not been able to get on for the last six or so hours.

Hugs

Dawn
x

Thanks everyone for your kind words. It as very very hard but worth it to see the rescued bears so happy.

I have been thinking about doing it again - probably in two years time. That should give me time to get super fit for it. 

Hi

So sorry that I have not posted on here for so long. I am now very happy to report that I DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I walked the 50 miles up some very steep hills to the WSPA Bear Sanctuary in Romania. Physically it was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. I was the fat one at the back and most days finished about an hour behind everyone else.

However going to the Bear Sanctuary and seeing how happy the rescued bears are made it all worthwhile.

A huge thank you to everyone who contributed by sponsoring me. Between all of us on the trek we raised £46,000 which is enough to keep the sanctuary going for a whole year. However there are still many more bears that need rescuing and for that reason I shall be continuing my fund-raising.

My page on Just Giving is still live and donations can be made at www.justgiving.com/dawnjames1

Hi
last night I listed Leo - a feeble little bear in an oversized jumper. All proceeds will go to the WSPA Bear Sanctuary in Romania that I am walking 50 miles to in september. This is probably the last one that I will list for the trek - I need to start earning a living again!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? … 0459610654

Thank you for looking.

Hugs

Dawn, Hugs Unlimited

Hi

Just to let you know that yesterday my fund-raising for the Bear Sanctuary in Romania topped £2000.00 - I have been overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity of people - often from very unexpected sources. A huge thank you to everyone that has donated.  Now all I have to do is walk 50 miles through the mountains!!!!

Hugs

Dawn, Hugs Unlimited.

Hi

Just to let you know that the Hare and Panda that I have on ebay at the moment finish in just over three hours time.

All proceeds from both sales will go towards my fund-raising target to raise money for the WSPA Bear Sanctuary in Romania.

They can be found here:

http://shop.ebay.co.uk/merchant/teddyad … Z1QQ_fromZ

Thanks for looking.

Hugs

Dawn
Hugs Unlimited.