Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Oh how wonderful - Manchester with it's museums, galleries, tourist attractions, my wonderful son, its colourful history!  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:

LOL - thank you Karon, but I'm afraid I can't take any of the credit. It will be organised by Ashdown in Arundel, I have never been to the venue but it looks lovely on their website. There is a lot of good reasonable accommodation nearby, and the catchment area is amazing.

I will pass on your suggestions of workshops and demonstrations.

Dawn   

Hi Karon

Yes please, or if you are going to Stratford, maybe you could give it to me there.

Thank you very much.   

Hi Karon,

Thank you, that is really kind of you - we will be fund-raising until we go in September, so anytime would be brilliant.

Dawn       

Hi Susana

I would say that all transport is excellent - it's only 15 miles from London, fairly close to Heathrow airport, and not too far from Gatwick airport either.   

Strangely, I exhibited at Doncaster Racecourse some years ago.

LOL - This one is a bit different, there is a huge conference complex at Sandown. Ashdown already run Bead Fairs there and apparently it is really luxurious.

http://www.sandown.co.uk/pages/sandown- … ion-video/

What excites me, is that it is only about ten miles from Heathrow Airport so there is lots of possibility for overseas artists and visitors.

Hi

Just to let you know that this fair has been taken over by Teddy Bear Times. The fair and awards will take place at Sandown Racecourse, Surrey on 12th November 2011.

More details soon.

Dawn

Hi Bry

I love the house hippos - have you thought of going through Jane's photos on here to see what stand they were on? Hugs, Dawn

Thanks Clare, I really appreciate your encouragement. We now have lighter evenings in the UK so we are hoping to get out walking each evening. Sometimes it is harder to get motivated.

These two little bears who are just 9 inches each, were made to be sold separately. However, wherever I set them down, they seem to get together, so I thought I would put them as a pair. They look very happy together and I think they would make a wonderful wedding or anniversary present. Maybe I am going a little bit soft in my old age!   :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup: http://www.bearpile.com/detail.cgi?id=1386&item=43716

Hi

Anyone who is my Facebook friend will know that in September, along with my husband,  will be trekking 50 miles to raise money for WSPA. In particular, to raise funds for the bear sanctuary in Romania where 56 bears live. These bears have been rescued from really miserable lives, and now enjoy the freedom to live out their lives in peace. Some of the bears have no claws, others are blind. The cruelty that these poor bears have been subjected to never fails to make me cry with sadness, anger and frustration.

I am now looking for help with the fund-raising. We are currently building a website that will go live on 10th April. On this website will be a large number of fabulous teddy bears that have been donated to us. Some of them will be priced, others that we think may be popular will be the subject of a silent auction.  There are old bears, artist bears, and manufactured bears. There are some really interesting ones, such as early Janet Clark and Paula Carter bears.

Our fund-raising target is £5000 I know that is a lot of money, but  if 5000 people gave us one pound each we would reach our target.  My dear son is running the London Marathon in April to raise funds for the bears.  Please help us help the bears.

Our time is becoming more and more limited as the trek is over mountains and most evenings and weekends will have to be spent walking over the hills in training. It is a very tough trek and will take a lot of preparaton.

For more information on how you can help, please see the following websites:

www.dawnandchrisbeartrek.co.uk  Will be live 10th April with lots of gorgeous bears to buy or bid on.
www.justgiving.com/dawnandchris  Fund Raising Page where safe online donations may be made
www.justgiving.com/adam-james-muir  My son's London Marathon fund raising page.

Thanks to friends, family and teddy bear and real bear lovers we have already raised  £1200 - if you are one of those that has helped so far, thank you very much. We really appreciate every donation.

I do know that times are not easy, but every little helps. The photograph was taken at the Bear Sanctuary in 2009 after I had completed the trek. It was one of the hardest things I have ever done, but seeing the bears safe and happy made all the pain worthwhile. So much so that I'm going to do it all again!

Thank you,

Dawn

Thanks everyone - sometimes it is good to get outside of our comfort zone. 

Aww thank you.   

I have been having a massive clearout of the mohair in my workroom. Much of it has been put on Ebay. Over the years I have settled into a style of bears that I feel comfortable with. However, I came across a piece of tipped mohair, and for some reason instead of putting it on the 'sale' pile, I decided to make a bear with it. Very different to what I normally make, and I would love to hear what you think of him. Freddie is now available on Bearpile: http://www.bearpile.com/detail.cgi?id=1386&item=43609

Hi

Meet Guillaume, at just 9 inches he is one of the smallest bers I have made. He has a wobble head and has been sympathetically aged.

Guillaume is now available on Bearpile: http://www.bearpile.com/detail.cgi?id=1386&item=43407

Surely the night before the show is for sewing on ears, writing tags, and finishing off that 'just one more bear' that you think you can squeeze in. Then, at 4 a.m. you have to make the decision
: 2 hour power nap V three cups of strong coffee! Or is that just me? The last show I did I very carefully packed 4 arms, 4 legs, 2 heads, 4 ears and everything needed to finish the bears in the hotel, except................2 bodies!!!!!! 

:crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:

Hi Meet Joey. He is a sweet traditional bear by Hugs Unlimited. He has a centre seam and is quite an old-fashioned bear. He has been carefull weighted is very cuddly. He is one of three bears that came home from Hugglets with me, and is now appearing on Bearpile.
http://www.bearpile.com/detail.cgi?id=1386&item=43171

To be fair, the bears only got hit by the cars AFTER they attacked the seagulls with lampposts! So maybe it is Karma!!!!!

Fascinating stuff - that road is only about 5 miles from where I grew up - I have walked along it many times and have never seen anything like that!  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:

In the last issue of Teddy Bear Times the case was put for collecting larger bears by our own lovely Peter. In the interests of fairness, I would now like to put the case for miniature bears. Are there any miniature collectors on here(or should I collectors of miniature bears!  :crackup:  :crackup: ) who would like to write to me with the reasons why they think that tiny teds are the best.
If so, please write to tbteditor@btinternet.com

Many thanks

Dawn
Teddy Bear Times

Hi Karon

It was lovely to see you again. I can't believe how quickly the day went for me. My apologies to everyone that I didn't get to see. You are right, Jo Rothery is lovely I have known her since she lived in Scotland many years ago.

xx

As well as the guide, Teddy Bear Times has a What's On feature every issue. 

Nancy was a lady of the night - this one is just a lady!     

This 14 inch Lady is all set for Hugglets - I don't do glam so my bears have to do it for me! LOL

Aww he is gorgeous, I have a friend who has a very similar dog.  :clap:  :clap:  :clap:  :clap:

Here is another two big bears - 23 inch and 19 inch all dressed up and ready for Hugglets. I think one of them maybe expecting some snow on Sunday.  :crackup:  :crackup: