Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Thanks everyone.  The fish are really fun to make!

Hugs,
Alison

Tell Sarah congrats!  Watch out, she'll be running longer races before you know it.  I was running regularly a few years back.  I had a few injuries and never got back into after they healed.  I need to get going again.  You do get hooked!

Hugs,
Alison

Orson is a chubby little polar bear that comes with dinner, a mohair fish.  He is available on my website.

Hugs,
Alison

Joanne,
YES!  We all loved the bike ride over the Golden Gate Bridge.  It was the highlight of our trip.   I have to say though, there is a learning curve to tandem bikes.  My husband and daughter were on one and my son and I on the other.  You have to be in sync or the bike goes a bit wonky and that makes it pretty difficult to get up hills!  If my husband and I shared a bike, I think I'd probably be calling him my ex right now.  I don't think bicycles built for 2 are the romantic image that most of us envision, more like divorce biking!  It was great that we paired up with the kids.  If you ever get the chance to bike the bridge, DO IT!  But just be warned that tandem bikes take about an hour to get used to before you can enjoy the ride so you might just stick with single bikes.  We all enjoyed thoroughly enjoyed the tandem bikes but my son did say I scared him a time or two dodging pedestrians walking the bridge.    I'll have to post a picture of us once my husband moves them from his laptop.

Hugs,
Alison

Hello,
Chubs was a bear that I brought along to the San Jose show.  I have just updated this listing to let everyone know that he is now available on eBay. 

Hugs,
Alison

Robin,
The little foal is so cute.  I'm sure Susan at the rescue is beyond thrilled.  I'm going to go peek in on the auctions. 

Hugs,
Alison

Joanne,
This bear is really amazing and my favorite to date.  Good luck with the auction.

Hugs,
Alison

Janice,
I didn't even notice breakfast!      I was so focused on the birds.  Well, at least we know they were well fed while in their foster mom's care. 

Hugs,
Alison

Some of you may remember that I posted about a baby kestrel that I took to a wildlife rescue a couple of months ago.  I got a call that she was ready to be released.  The kestrel was released in my front yard along with a male that was from Lake Havasu, Arizona.  They couldn't drive the male bird all the way back to Lake Havasu so they decided to release the 2 birds together.  It was really nice to see them circle a while then fly away.  Hopefully, we'll enjoy these birds in our neighborhood for years to come.  Here is a picture of the pair before they were released this morning and the original picture I posted so you can see how much she's grown.

Hugs,
Alison

Hi,
I'm back from the San Jose Teddy Bear Show.  I had a great time.  I got to talk to Gail for a little while and said a quick hi to Donna as her table was hopping with business! The whole family came along and we made a vacation of it going to San Francisco for a few days to do all the typical tourist stuff.  I'm glad to be home and the dogs are glad to have us home!  I didn't get ANY pictures at the show.  I hope that someone on Teddy Talk got at least a few.  The crowd was small but seemed to be buying. 

Hugs,
Alison

Thanks everyone.  I just packed the bears up in a suitcase.  Let's hope the airline doesn't loose my bag! 

Hugs,
Alison

Thanks Tammy!  I've been wanting to do this color combination for a while now.  I'm so glad I finally did.

I'm taking the whole family with me for the first time to a show.  We're making a vacation of it.  We'll spend a couple of day in San Francisco sightseeing.  None of us have ever been so it should be a lot of fun.  The kids are especially looking forward to Alcatraz.  We have a surprise for them.  We are renting tandem bikes and will ride across the Golden Gate Bridge.  I thought that would be a bit more memorable than seeing it from a boat in the bay.  They have no idea that we are doing this.  We always try to have at least one surprise on every vacation.  One year it was a night in a Tee Pee shaped hotel.

Hugs,
Alison

This is Jake.  He's made from blue mohair and white alpaca.  He'll be available at the San Jose show this Sunday, July 19th.  If you're going to be there, PLEASE, stop by my table and say hi.  I have a show preview on my website on the gallery page if you want to see more bears that will be making the trip to San Jose. 

Hugs,

Alison

As promised, here are some pictures of the little orphan.  All I have to say is I'M IN LOVE!     This little guy greeted us as we came through the gate.  He has one blue and one brown eye and is considered a medicine hat paint as he has a hat on his head.  He's so pathetic, yet beautiful.  I really think his momma held on until she knew her foal was in good hands where he would be taken care of.  He had his IV removed yesterday as it was infected.  He is eating and drinking on his own.  And Susan or someone from the rescue has slept with him every night since his arrival.  He is about one month old and Susan says the vet sees no need to bottle feed him.  He's very weak but I just know this little guy is going to make it.  Thank you to those of you who sent in donations for his care.  He's got a long road ahead of him but he is very special and has a lot of good people taking care of him. 

Joanne, I'm not sure where the feed lot is where he and his mother were rescued from.  I think it is out of state.  YES, this type of abuse is here in Arizona and everywhere.  Susan takes in unwanted animals at an astonishing rate.  When I first met her, she had just 1 mini donkey.  She now has 5!  Next to horses, these animals are my favorite.  They are adorable and lovable.  You should go and visit one day but I'll warn you, you'll end up with a manure rake in your hands.

I will go visit again when I return from the San Jose show next weekend.  I won't have time before then.  But, I will take my camera again and will hopefully show you all a fatter, happier foal.  I want to get a good picture of his eyes.   

Hugs,
Alison

Wendy,
I will try to keep everyone up to date on the little foal.  I will be headed up to the rescue after dinner.  You either have to go early or late because of the heat here.  I'll upload some pics when I get home. 

Hugs,
Alison

Thanks for adding the pics.  What a pathetic, yet sweet bear!  I bet it was someone's favorite and they loved it until it was worn out.  Then, mom probably got a great idea and covered it to give it a second life.  Sounds like a feasible story. 

Hugs,
Alison

Robin,
Thanks so much for wanting to help.  I sent you a private msg. with some information.  You can find the contact info on their website.  Email often gets neglected with so many horses to care for.

Big hugs!
Alison

Christina,
Just google "paw print fabric" then go to the shopping tab.  You will find tons of paw print fabrics in an array of colors including black and white. 

Hugs,
Alison

Hello,
I don't know if this breaks any posting rules for Teddy Talk but a non-profit that I volunteer for needs help. Most of you know that I LOVE horses and volunteer when I can at the Dreamchaser Recuse & Rehab.  They need our help!!!  They recently rescued horses from slaughter.  One rescued mare has died leaving her foal an orphan.  Please help them save this little guy.  Go to their website and read the story and please make a donation if you can.  http://www.dreamchaserpmu.org/ 
If you go to their donation page, they have a small link on the bottom where you can donate through paypal.  I don't usually make this type of request but when you see this little guys picture you will know why I am asking for your help.  Please share this with other animal lovers.  If they received $5 or $10 from each of us, it would make a huge difference for this orphan.  The kids and I are driving up today to see him and make a donation in person.  I will take some pics if I can and post them here. 

Thank you all for your time & bear hugs!

Alison
www.eTeddys.net

Christina,
Can you post a picture of the cat tree so we can see the fabric?  Here in the USA there is lots of fabric with paw prints.  You might want to try eBay. 

Hugs,
Alison

Just wanted to wish everyone a very Happy Independence Day here in the USA!  I hope you all get to have a little fun and watch some fireworks.  We'll be going to friends for a barbecue and games then go sit in their front yard and watch the fireworks.  They have a unobstructed view of one of the largest displays here in Phoenix.  My son grew his first watermelon this year.  He got up first thing this morning and picked it for the occasion.  I sure hope it's ripe!!!  Even Dolan, our lab is in the spirit for the day!

Hugs,
Alison

I love him.  The more work of yours I see, the bigger fan I am.  I just love your creations.

Hugs,
Alison

Your latest creations are all wonderful.  Your's is the best needle felting I have ever seen.  Your pieces are truly works of art.   

Hugs,
Alison

Eva,
Thank goodness we haven't hit 117 yet.  My air conditioning is broke!  We're running an evaporative cooler.  It's not working too well but we're muddling through.  We still can't decide if we're going to buy a new unit or have this one fixed.  It was much cooler at Haigler Creek where we camp but still very warm in the sun.  It was horrible to come home to 110 degrees.  I wish I could live on the creek in the summer.  Here's another picture I took.  It's not as cute as the racoons, but still an adorable fuzzy critter. 

Hugs,
Alison

Hello,
I know that cute animals is Tammy's gig, but just had to post a pic of these adorable baby racoons.  They were our neighbors on our camping trip this past weekend.  They lived just across the creek in a big hollow tree.  They were so fun to watch.  They didn't like me getting close but allowed me to do so.  My husband kept his eyes peeled for momma while I snapped away with the camera.  It was nice to get away for a few days.  It's so hot here in Phoenix!  I did take some bears to work on and enjoyed the cooler weather. 

Hugs,

Alison