Rosey Day

Teddy Bear & Friends merges with Teddy Bear Review!!

2012-01-29T20:38:00.000+11:00

WOW! Just wow ... can’t say this is what i was expecting to be reading over my first cuppa of the day :o/ but it's official! TBR's facebook page has updated with the news, including a link to the story on their website, but TB&F has made no comment/acknowledgement (yet) as far as I've seen.

Basically the story is that the two main (paper print) US bear magazines will now be combining to form the one magazine, publishing under the name of Teddy Bear & Friends (presumably) with a logo that combines the name and font of TB&F and the sweet little paw print from TBR ... please note that last bit is an guess on my part, based on the banner (above) that arrived on the email announcement from TBR.

I’ve lived with the news for a bit now, and I still can’t define how I feel about this ... With out question, anything that makes the bear industry stronger is a good thing *nods*. I suppose I’ll feel more comfortable when I know who will have the guiding hand on what gets published and the direction the new publication takes... no word on the TOBY's and/or Golden Teddy's for example. My fingers are firmly crossed for a return to the themed issues of the golden days (no surprises that Junes Mini Issue of TB&F is/was a MAJOR fave lol, closely followed by the friends issue) ... and I am very curious as to who the editor will be. If anyone does know, please leave the info in the comments :o)

One things for sure - my poor forgetful brain will be very happy it no longer has to remember which bear’s photo was sent to which magazine (because doubling up would never do, oh no no no *tsk tsk tsk* lol!) ...

Anyway, enough of my ramblings - here is the full text from the email that I received:

The two premiere publications serving teddy bear collectors,Teddy Bear & Friends and Teddy Bear Review,will merge into one title in 2012 published under the name Teddy Bear & Friends, published on a bimonthly schedule by Jones Publishing. The deal was announced Jan. 27 at the Debut of Dolls and DOTY Awards Banquet during IDEX trade show in Orlando, Fla. Jones Publishing also presented its Ambassador Award to Barrie and Danny Shapiro of The Toy Shoppe at the same event.

Teddy Bear & Friends (TB&F) and Teddy Bear Review's (TBR) sister publications, Doll Reader and DOLLS, will also merge this year. Jones Publishing will retain the title DOLLS and increase its frequency to monthly, including quarterly Dolls Presents: Haute Doll specials.

"By working collaboratively with our industry partners, we know that we can help make the industry stronger," said IDEX Vice President Susan Fitzgerald. "This new merger will allow us to reach more people and, in turn, grow the publications and their content. We believe this will also help to develop and expand IDEX, which remains the leading industry show."

Teddy Bear Review Publisher Carie Ferg agreed, saying "Uniting two great, long-standing teddy bear magazines into one dynamic title, as well as partnering with IDEX, presents us with a terrific opportunity to use the combined strengths of Jones Publishing and Madavor Media to grow the industry."

The April 2012 issue of TBR, which mails Feb. 1, will be sent to both TB&F and TBR subscribers. This issue features a sneak peek at bear artists' new designs for this year. Beginning with the June 2012 issue, the magazine will be released under the Teddy Bear & Friends banner. The new combined magazine will continue to publish fan-favorite columns and features from both TB&F and TBR, including Evelyn and Mort Wood's Antiques Almanac, Ken Yenke's Teddies Reviewed, and Dot Bird's Bear Hospital.

TBR subscribers will have the remaining issues of their subscription applied to TB&F; readers who subscribe to both magazines will have their TB&F subscription extended by the number of issues remaining on their TBRsubscription. An FAQ is posted on www.teddybearreview.com to answer questions about the merger, and Jones Publishing has issued an invitation to readers to send feedback, suggestions, and additional questions to the magazine's staff. Contact information and links are posted under the "About Us" link at the top left of the home page.

Jones Publishing and Teddy Bear & Friends have committed to have a strong presence at IDEX, which will continue to be owned and managed by Madavor Media. Look for some exciting events sponsored by Jones at the 2013 IDEX show, including the presentation of the 2013 Lifetime Achievement Award!

I am Australian!

2012-01-27T03:16:00.031+11:00

Happy Australia Day to all our sons and daughters spinning ‘round the world!! ... it’s possibly getting a little late to wish it to the locals (except for the night owls like myself that is lol) but that’s what happens when you forget to hit the publish button *cringes with embarrassment*

Roo is enjoying a brew on your behalf :oP

I don’t generally make a big song and dance about being an Aussie - the internet breaks down borders so well it really doesn’t feel necessary, but every now and then I do like to shout it out! I am an Aussie, and I’m damn proud of it *nods with conviction*.

So I’ll take this opportunity to share one of my favourite patriotic songs with you - I don’t mind admitting that whenever I hear this song there’s a swell of pride in my chest .. and when I heard the special version at the Black Saturday bushfire memorial - shell shocked by the images I’d been seeing day after day, with the smoke from the fires still hanging heavy over my home - I’m not sure which was bigger, the pride or the lump in my throat... I certainly made my fair share of tissues soggy that day lol! But I digress ... the people you see on this video - they are my people, and yeah, I’m proud to stand up and be counted amongst them!

I am Australian :o)

and p.s. Happy Birthday to my darling baby brother ... well maybe not so baby anymore, but he will *always* be 18 months younger lol! Hope you are tearing those hills apart dude!!

May the magic of the season be with you!

2011-12-25T02:11:00.000+11:00

From all of us here at Chateau Teddy! I hope the season - how ever you chose to celebrate it (or not lol) brings you peace and joy ... and maybe, just maybe, one of these cuties:

SQUUEEEEEEEEEEE!! Lindt Chocolate bears! Oh be still my beating heart ... and be quiet my rumbling tummy :oP Yum! Or maybe I should say Double YUM with a red ribbon wrapped round!

WIPW - Fun with floss

2011-12-14T11:45:00.001+11:00

I’ve been sewing for, mmmmm , I dunno - a very looong time. It’s possibly revealing TMI (in the age department for ones dignity) but some of my tapestry threads I’ve had for over 30 years. Love ‘em! I’ve never really thought of them as a “collection” as such, but I guess that is exactly what my floss stash has grown into lol!

Some serious reorganisation has been the order of the day for me :o) Our local craft store is clearing out it’s embroidery section *sobs wails and gnashing of teeth* but the silver lining to that cloud is all their thread is marked down to just 59c a skein ... BARGAIN!!! Seriously!! I walked past it the first time ( .... weeellllll OK I *did* grab a just few pretty ones) but only because I knew I would be returning very soon, floss boxes in hand, so I could be sure to get colours I didn’t already have lol.

Mum and I spent almost an hour looking through all the colours, attempting to fill the holes in my “collection” with out getting to close to any of the colours I already had - I tell you there are so many delicious colours to be had, I had a severe case of grabby hands in the face of all that beauty!!

But, I can now say that I have an really good spread across all the colour groups except one :o/ Who wants to take a stab at what i need? Anyone? Yup - you in the back, that’s right PURPLE! What is it with me and purple - I never seem to have the right purple and the craft store display had been sufficiently picked over that there were no reds or purples left *sulk* .... Looks like my ongoing mission to find the perfect purple nose threads shall continue lol .... just quietly I think I *need* 3746, so cross your fingers I can find it somewhere!

Wanna see some pretty close up? Sure you do :oP

While I’ve been playing in my floss box, I remembered that there is something else I wanted to show you - Check out these lovelies - the above two with names came from a girl on ArtFire and are hand dyed. Aren’t they awesome :o) I love it when I can use the amazing work of other artist to make mine look even better, it’s a Total WIN :o)

I have no idea what I’ll use them for yet, but they were too beautiful to go past, and a floss called ‘Fairyland’ from an artist who sells under the name ‘Rainbow Fingers’ *shakes head* nope, I was utterly powerless against the cute lol! Below are all the flosses I ~~greedily grabbed~~ chose with dignity :oP right after they arrived from Rainbow Fingers *sigh* So Lovely!!

I’m off to play with and admire my flosses again now ... see ya!

Bears That Care auction 2011

2011-11-16T04:28:00.000+11:00

My brother has an uncanny sense of time - any time, day or night, you can ask him what time it is and he will be able to guess pretty darn accurately .... me, I have NONE. Zilch. Zero. Sometimes I am lucky to even know what day of the week it is lol, so it will come as no surprise to hear that I got a mighty big shock when just a few days I ago I realised that the Bears That Care auction day was almost upon us. And now it is! At 6.30 this evening (AEST) bear artists, and bear appreciators alike, will begin to gather at The Conservatory in the RACV City Club in anticipation of a bear (and fun) filled evening :o)

This is what the official flyers for the event have to say:

The “Bears That Care” Charity Auction had its origins in the very late 90’s and was established to raise funds for research, education and awareness of women’s gynaecological cancers. After some years in ‘hibernation’, the ‘bears that care’ returned last year in support of the work of the Ovcare Research Team and following on from that success, the Bears That Care are back in 2011!

AND ... you’re invited! Please join our host for the evening, Ovcare Ambassador, Rebecca Maddern (Channel 7 News), for a fabulous night where you can become the proud owner of some highly sought after OOAK bears to add to your collection in support of a cause we cannot ignore!

and the fine print :oP gotta have the fine print .... which I have enlarged for you because it was almost unreadable otherwise lol:

The “Bears That Care” Charity Auction is a program of the National Centre for Health Innovation Limited (NCHI) in support of Ovcare - ovarian cancer research, education and awareness. The NCHI is a registered charity - ABN: 48 148 012 453. Donations of $2 or more are tax deductible.

For those in Melbourne and it’s surrounds, it is not to late to attend in person - just visit the website www.bearsthatcare.com.au and follow the link offering tickets for sale or contact Judi on judi@ovcare.com.au or (03)90113851 or 0407826771 :o)

Nor is it too late to bid if you can’t join us. A list of the 2011 bears can be found HERE and absentee votes can be placed HERE. The only fly in the ointment is that you only have until until Midday (Melbourne time) today to place your bids. Here is a quick time conversion I have done for you so you can see if you still have a chance to bid on one (or more) of the gorgeous teds on offer :o)

Have I piqued your interest? Maybe you would like to see the ted that I have donated for this years Auction? His name is Nibali - and is a mouse rather than a bear - with out further ado, here he is

There is also something special included with each bear this year - an official 2011 lapel button. Each of the donating artists have been sent one to wear, and you too can have one if you are the highest bidder on your chosen ted(s).

I have been wearing mine about the place with a particularly big grin on my face. What to know why? Well I’m going to tell you anyway lol ... Do you recognise the face of the ted you see there on it? Scroll up and check the ted at the top of this post :oD MmmmHmmmm that is the same bear ... and not only is it the same bear but it is/was my 2010 auction ted :o) He has been given the honour of being the official ‘cover bear’ of the 2011 auction ... I can’t even express in words how wonderful that makes me feel! My little darling a cover boy *explodes with happiness and pride at the thought*

Woodend Teddy Bear Show 2011

2011-10-30T11:19:00.001+11:00

SHOW TIME!!!

This suspicious looking group have been seen loitering in the area of the Woodend Teddy Bear Show. If you see them, please proceed with caution - mischievous schoolboys are an unpredictable species, particularly the 2 inch tall variety :oP

Potential sightings will continue until 4pm today, at which time it is believed that any members of this group still at large have plans to return to their cosy cupboard here at chateau teddy .... they are only wee after all, and how much excitement can a teddy bear ;o)

Happy Mail Day!!!

2011-10-28T14:42:00.001+11:00

I la-la-la-LOVE getting mail ... pretty much any kind of mail really, but even I will admit that some of it is more fun than others :oD

Today was definitely a fun mail kind of day - a few weeks back I finally pulled the trigger on a order of mini cards from moo.com ... coz, y’know I make mini’s so mini business cards is kinda perfect, yes?! The arrival date guestimate was November 4, but I crossed my fingers and trusted to luck, and voila, it has paid off. How CUTE are these wee babies!!

I’m soooo happy they have arrived in time for Sundays show ... even if i did cut it just a smidge fine lol :oP

side note: I ran out of steam to finish off my shrinkies last night, but I'll show them to you when i've got a bit more time :o)

WIPW - shrinky time!

2011-10-26T20:52:00.000+11:00

So, I’ve been tossing around the thought of some 'Work In Progress Wednesday' posts, but up to now things have worked against me ... a computer that keeps spontaneously shutting down, followed by a modem that goes on the blink the second the computer returns from the hospital will do that to a girl :oP But finally, here I am :o) Shrinky tags come up fairly regularly in bear forums, and elicit a fair bit of curiosity from collectors, so what better way to begin ‘Work In Progress Wednesday’ than with the process I followed to make mine this afternoon?!

I can vaguely recall thinking “hmmm time to make some more shrinky tags” when I was working on the teds for the Bears On Parade show ... but then, as is my way, I got distracted by something else and promptly forgot about them *eye roll*. Last night, I discovered that there is a distinct shortage of the smallest ones I use, and that more would be needed PRONTO or there would be bears heading out into the world with out the proper identifiers, and that would never do *shakes head solemnly*.

Lets get started, shall we :o) Last night I printed out a couple of sheets so they had plenty of time to dry. This afternoon, I settled myself in the dappled shade of Chateau Teddies garden table and got to it...

First comes cutting the sheets into strips so there is easy access for punching holes ...

then punch punch punch etc. etc. etc. Which one does until ones hand starts to feel like it is going to cramp, go numb, fall off or an interesting combination of all three :oP

... until *PHEW* all done :o)

Next comes the snippy snippety snip SNIPing bit..... don't forget some rockin' tunes to listen to as you are ..

working through the pile in the saucer, happily watching as the number in the tea cup swells until ...

TEA TIME!! One must keep ones strength up, and good hydration is So Important don’t ya know :oP

once rejuvenated it doesn’t take long to reach the finish line .... YIPPPEEEEEE!!

Which, of course, isn’t the end of the story, but the cookery bit can wait until tomorrow ... Work in Progress Thursday ... just doesn’t have the same ring does it lol. Lucky Thursdays here in Aus are actually still Wednesday in the USA lol :oD

You play with MEeeee-now?

SIDE NOTE: I don’t have any one particular brand of shrinky plastic that I favour, though I have found I prefer the way the opaque white stuff looks to the clear I made my earlier tags out of. Generally when I need to buy more I head over to ebay and search for ‘white bubblejet shrink plastic’ - it’s not failed me yet :o) Though I will admit that different brands shrink more horizontally or vertically, so if you are a bit less laissez-faire about how yours turn out, it is something to keep in mind :o)

Who wants a pre-show teddy sneek peek?

2011-10-18T00:23:00.000+11:00

Yes? No? Any takers? I have a couple of bears ready to make the trip to Woodend at the end of the month, and a very sweet little mouse who is marking time until he can have his 15 minutes of fame at the Bears That Care Charity Auction

which is next month (but we’ll have a chat about that on another day) and they have all expressed a desire for you to come and greet them :o)

Just one small snag if you would like to see my wee teds in the fur ... you need to be in Melbourne, and you need to be in the mood for chocolate cake and champers! Sounds like a tough call hey lol?! But in all seriousness, a group of my teds will be performing meet and greet duties at a very special birthday party, and you are all invited ...

See, a little known fact about me is that when I’m not hanging out at Chateau Teddy being a bear artist, I hang out at 313 Vets being a veterinary nurse ... it’s tough getting paid to cuddle gorgeous furry critters and chat to their lovely owners, but well, y’know, some ones got to do it ;oP And tomorrow will be a day for very special birthday cuddles with the lovely Gretel, though the teds have admitted to being a little nervous about the whole doggy thing, so I have agreed that they can stick to playing with people and singing Happy Birthday from a safe height lol!

Is it a bird? Is it a Parade... Yup, definitely a Parade! It's Bears on Parade

2011-07-16T06:00:00.062+10:00

... Can you hear something? *tilts head sideways for more effective listening*

... Sounds like *tilts head in the other direction*

Music! ... and Laughter ... and large amounts of furry style frivolity ...

Reallly!! Listen ... Something is afoot, I’m sure it is ...

YES!! LOOK!! Here comes the Parade <3

So, get your marching boots on and come join in the fun with the rest of us :o)

It can all be found at www.teddiesworldwide.com

We are all waiting for you ... but only until 4pm Sunday afternoon (New York time, that's 6am Monday morning for my fellow Aussies on AEST) so don’t put off joining the festivities for too long, or you may well find the parade has passed you by, and all that is left is sawdust and some glitter....

Bears on Parade Preview is GO!!!

2011-07-02T13:33:00.000+10:00

My My, time does fly when you are having fun, and I have definitely been having a blast working on my little critters for the Bears on Parade online show .... not that there have been any explosions or anything :oP but there has definitely been some BOOM BOOM BOOM noises from the little drummer boy I made especially for the preview :o)

I’ll introduce you to him shall I? His name is Pierre

He is but one of 75 teds from artists all around the globe, who are currently a part of the Bears on Parade online show preview :o) You can GO HERE now and check out the other 74 preview teds .... and you can do so until July 15th :o) THEN the real fun begins :o) The show opens at 4pm New York time (*cough* that’s 6am for me here in Melbourne *splutter*) and runs through until 4pm (also NYT) on the 17th. Click HERE to find out what the time will be in your neck of the woods.

But I digress :o) When you get to the PREVIEW PAGE there are a few changes from the last show :o) This time all the preview ted’s images are clickable so you can have an even bigger sneak peek :oP We like that!

ANNNNNND even more exciting, this show Daphne has introduced the “Collectors Choice Award”

Voting is open to everyone, and is very easy! You chose your favourite ted in the mini section, then vote for that artist/ted by clicking on their name, at which point a confirmation message will pop up, leaving you in no doubt you have been successful at putting your favourite in the running for the award :o) You then get to chose a second bear in the full size category ... but only one in each category mind. The winning ted/artist in each category will be announced at the start of the show, and a picture of the winning teds will also feature in a write up Teddy Bear Review are going to do about the show in the December issue :o) Cool huh!?!

So :o) Off you go now - go take a peek at all the critters, great and small, who make up the preview of the Bears on Parade online show ... www.teddiesworldwide.com

A change is as good as a holiday..

2011-05-11T01:25:00.001+10:00

Chateau Teddy is a rather sad place to be today :o( Over the weekend my Chief Quality Control Officer and regular sewing companion lost her 13 month battle with mammary cancer... Wasn’t she beautiful *lip wobble* she was diagnosed Easter 2010, and this was a snap I took of her frolicking in the garden (while I sewed, of course) during Easter 2011.

She produced some absolutely gorgeous wee kitties in her day, and one of my enduring memories of her will be her absolute certainty that any (and every lol) panda I made was one of her babies, and as such needed to be ~~stolen away~~ rescued... ahhh, I have so many happy memories of her sitting on my work table calmly watching as I chose ribbons, sewed noses, ~~flicked eyeballs all over the room~~ set in eyes *sigh* :o( And because of that, trying to work on bears makes me miss her even more right now, so I am taking a wee break and trying my hand at some non-teddy projects :o) They do say a change is as good as a holiday :oP and working on THIS matryoshka doll embroidery with super colourful thread is certainly making a lovely change ...

... aaaand you know me - or even if you don’t but have read a few of my posts, you will know that a spot of shopping always makes me feel better, so I gave in and grabbed this Oh-So-Adorable teddy fabric *squeeeeeeee* isn’t it beyond cute :o) Now I just have to decide how best to use it .... hmmmm .... *adjusts thinking cap*

Bears on Parade online show

2011-04-11T13:32:00.000+10:00

From 4pm July 15 to 4pm July 17th (New York Time)...

I’m still in the ‘what will I make’ phase, but I do know I'll be aiming to present 10 new teds :o) and as so many have requested them, at least 3 of them will be under the $100 mark too!!

Hmmmm ...... think I’ll use some of my hand dyed cashmeres <3

Dyeing up a storm....

2011-04-01T01:22:00.000+11:00

Summer never *really* arrived here in Melbourne this year, and the extra chill in the air (and on the ground) offers a not so subtle hint that Old Man Winter is starting to close the door on the chance that it ever will :o( *sniffs* I am so NOT a cold weather kinda girl... long balmy days into velvet nights, that’s me :o) *sighs whistfully*

... Maaaaybe I can blame the lack of warm on not having done any fabric dyeing this year, maybe I can’t :oP But what I can say, is that I was smart enough to realize that the lovely weekend Mother Nature just granted us was going to be one of my last chances to throw all the windows and doors wide open (gotta have good ventilation don’tcha know lol) and break out my dye pots *rubs hands gleefully together*

Behold the pile of fabulous Epic WIN I have as a result of my magical mixings:

If you have never played with creating your own custom colours, you are really missing out :o) The satisfaction is immense.... a drop of this, a dribble of that you have alchemical magic on your hands! Who would have thought that adding a few drops of blue and purple to a brown dye bath could add so much extra life to the end result?!?!

Each of the following pieces were done using the following method; Mix up a colour, dye a piece of fabric, add a drop of another colour, dye another piece, add a splash more water and a drop of another colour, dye another piece.... So much fun seeing what comes out of the dye bath, especially how the different fabrics take the dye - notice below how much warmer the tones of the overdyed ivory longpile are in comparison to the white medium pile cashmere...

The longile:

Medium pile cashmere in pinks and purples:

Medium pile cashmere in shades of brown:

I know I know, I hear you. You never know which colours you should add to get what, and you are scared you will ruin your fabric, but you know what? There IS a brilliant way you can work this stuff out with out the risk of ruining a single piece of precious fabric, annnnd leaving no evidence of your (potentially) less than perfect efforts lol! Seriously!

Baking!

Yes, you read right... get thee into the kitchen, whip up a double batch of royal icing - and a batch of cookies to use it on, of course lol. Divide the icing between a packet of disposable cups, and mix a cup for each food colour you have. Then, with Paddle Pop sticks, use a dab of this colour, and a scoop of that to experiment and mix up subtle/wacky/daring colour combinations in the remaining cups. Ace fun, and easy to clean up as the “wrong ‘uns” can go straight into the bin :o) Then of course you get to transfer the “good” colours to sandwich bags (knot one corner, snip the other) and pipe pretty designs onto your cookies... like so!

An educational and tasty experiment in colour lol! What could be better <3 *whispers* why dyeing your own fabrics of course lol... after all, that was the point of this post :oP

IT'S SHOW TIME!!

2011-03-13T01:38:00.000+11:00

But only until 9pm Sunday night (New York time), so no dawdling now :o)

You have already met Aurora here and now I am able to show you the other four darlings for sale on my show page :o) In no particular order they are

Pippa

Jimmy

Flitter

and Dapper

www.teddiesworldwide.com

GO!!!!

Blooming Bear Show

2011-03-04T00:42:00.000+11:00

*titters* Down here in Aus, “blooming” is a bit of a swear word... only a minor one, a swear word lite shall we say lol ... but still, every time I see the name of this show my mind reverts back to that of a 12 year old boy and *giggles*

.... but that is probably enough of confession time from me lol, you want to hear about the show and the teds... and oh my! The Teds, The TEDS!!! Just Gorgeous <3

Daphne has done a fabulous job putting it all together, and the Preview is now open HERE Each of us participating artists has one bear included on the preview page for your viewing pleasure... and I’ve already taken a look, so I can emphatically and categorically state that all the wonderful teds really do make checking it out a pleasure!

Here is a sneak peek at the first of mine, but to see more you will have to come to the show itself... but you already know you want to do that anyway, don’t you *winks*

Can’t wait to present my remaining 4 teds to you on the weekend of March the 12th!!

GORGEOUS!!

2011-02-25T01:15:00.000+11:00

I find myself doing a spot of late night etsy.com browsing, and I just couldn’t go past these beauties... they snuck themselves into my shopping cart and were magically transacted :oP I do love a bit of magic, don’t you? Not to mention a lovely big bundle of gorgeous silk ribbons <3

fine print: photo credit must go to Etsy trader silkribbons4you, as it is only mere minutes since I placed the order :o)

Crossroads Doll & Teddy Bear Show, San Deigo 2011

2011-01-15T22:44:00.000+11:00

This is a pile of miscellaneous bits of fabric ...

This is what happens to those said miscellaneous bits when - with a needle, thread and a few stitches - I work my magic and “Hey Presto”... A wee ted who answers to the call of Ted, Super Ted! is born!

This is Felicia Hymer, She answers to the call of The Bear Scout (welllll she also answers to Felicia, but lets not get bogged down in details lol).

Felicia offers the wonderful service of acting as a representative (or scout) for many artists. One of her services is to take teds around to shows in the US so that artists, like myself, who are unable to travel the distance, still have the opportunity for US collectors to greet our teds face to face!

Utilizing his super powers, Ted, Super Ted! has flown to the arms of Felicia, and this weekend both will be traveling to the Crossroads Doll & Teddy Show in San Deigo, California. Details can be found HERE

To whet your appetite of what you may see if you are able to pop in to say hello to Felicia and the bears, here are a couple of shots of The Bear Scout tables (taken at a show in 2010). What you see before you is 4 tables choc full or gorgeous teddies and friends... Definitely worth a trip if you are in the area!

The Kindness.... of Strangers and Friends!

2011-01-12T20:47:00.002+11:00

It’s no secret that I love getting parcels in the post *hums “brown paper packages tied up with string, these are a few of my favorite things”* and the arrival of this particular parcel totally made my day!

It’s not so much that it’s arrival was a big surprise - I have been happily anticipating it’s arrival for quite some time - or the fact that it contains fabric from my mini making idol Debbie Kesling... DEBBIE KESLING *swoons*... no, it was the way that this particular parcel arrived. Or should I say the fact that it arrived at all, that blew my socks off :o)

Check this out!! Our less-than-stellar mail service managed to confuse their numbers, and deliver the envelope to the wrong address :o/ But *dances* the wonderful Kelly of 320 - to whom the parcel was wrongly delivered - worked out the numbers, wrote me a sweet little note and slipped the parcel under my gate, ensuring that my fabulous Debbie Kesling fabric ... DEBBIE KESLING!.... made it safely into my hands :o) ... and while part of me thinks she just did what anyone else would do, I know she went above and beyond, as there is another parcel I recently had go missing :o) and to who ever the lucky person who scored my lovely face oil is, I hope you are enjoying it. Not!

But this particular parcel has a happy ending, and I am now the proud and ecstatic owner of 5 gorgeous pieces of Debbie Kesling’s... DEBBIE KESLING’S .... fabric :o) I already have plans for 2 of the colours, and I am happily plotting the things I can do with the other 3 *huge grin*.

Aren’t they perfect bear colours!! From DEBBIE KESLING!!! And a huge thank you {{{{hug}}}} must go to Melanie Clarke for sending me these fabulous pieces of fabric... I am still in shock that I now own fabric from the stash of the lady whose book acted as my bible while I took my first few tentative mini making steps :o) *happy dances* Ain’t life Grand!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

2011-01-01T00:01:00.004+11:00

Ahh the magic of automated posting lol :o)

As this goes live I will most likely be watching the fireworks whilst running around with a group of friends, waving sparklers and doing lots of hugging, kissing and “Happy New Year-ing” :o)

No matter your choice of activity for the first moments of 2011, I hope the new year treats you kindly... That 2011 deliver all the things you ask of it... That the not so great of 2010 all fades away as the clock ticks over and you begin 2011 with a fresh slate, full of potential and hope!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Want a chance to win a Rosey Day ted? Sure you do!

2010-12-24T02:10:00.000+11:00

This is Hardy. Say “hello there” Hardy :o)

Teddy Bear and Friends are giving one lucky reader the chance to win Hardy! All you need to do is fill in the following form - which you can find on page 41 of the Winter 2010 edition - and send it in to the address given on the form...

So, what are you waiting for :o)

Teddy Bear and Friends Winter 2010 issue: I’m in it!! YAH

2010-12-24T02:04:00.000+11:00

Some things just never get old.. no matter how much they are repeated they remain full of WIN! Hugs from friends, the smell of coffee brewing, the first camellia of the season... and seeing my little ted’s in print :o) :o)

...so you can imagine how thrilled I was when I saw the familiar A4 envelope slide under the gate and the realization of what it contained dawned on me lol!! I think I had that baby ripped open, and my nose buried in the magazine in about 5.76 seconds flat <3

A few more seconds more and I was reading the article in question, aptly named “Good things come in small packages” and written by the lovely Felicia Hymer (AKA The Bear Scout). My little ted’s can be found a few pages into the story on pages 40 and 41

Coincidentally the ted of mine pictured - Ellory - has his head buried in a good read too :oP

I am also waiting on a hard copy of the current Teddy Bear Review, that has an article with me in it too *so excited* but never fear that all this attention will give me a big head... as you can see, our Louise made it quite clear that her beauty routine was of far more import, and interest for that matter, than my excited babble about magazines. Nothing like a Siamese to bring a girl back down to earth hey ROFL!

Squeeeeeee

2010-12-15T03:47:00.000+11:00

Oh my, strap yourself in and get ready for cute overload... this little vid is going to send your cute-o-meter right off the scale <3

The protective properties of the packing peanut...

2010-12-06T23:45:00.000+11:00

Some days, laughter can be the best medicine ... and with the curve ball** that was recently thrown us here at Chateau Teddy, it was just what the doctor ordered :o) Friday morning I wander out to the kitchen all yawny and sleepy eyed to be greeted by a parcel waiting on the kitchen table. A big one! My bleary brain instantly went into overdrive trying to remember what on earth I had ordered that could possibly arrive in such a big parcel... only to screech to a surprised halt when I saw the sender and realized that the huge box contained my new (but small) shading pens! WOOT :o)

....and double bonus, there would be enough extra packing in this baby to send off at least 4 teds in soft cushiony comfort....why yes, I do do enough internet shopping that I hardly ever need to buy packing peanuts *hehe*, nothing wrong with that ;o) move along, nothing to see here *giggles*

...and there wasn’t much to see in the box either LOL! Hows this for a packing FAIL?!?

One poor, solitary little packing peanut rattling around in a box way too big for the pens it contains... poor thing took a right beating too :o( It’s not quite flat, but it’s definitely seen better days...

I don’t know - is it a random escapee that was never meant to be there.. does the seller have a spectacularly miserly packing peanut policy...? It's a mystery that will likely remain unanswered, but despite our friend the peanuts sorry lack of friends and diminutive size, it did a good job :o) My pens are in perfect condition... can’t wait to have a play with these babies!

Not to mention it gave me a good laugh too, which is always a bonus!

**the“12” extended version**
Cycling to work monday last, to avoid crashing into a right turning car that didn’t see him, Ric slammed on his brakes, flew over his handlebars, and hit the road hard enough to cause multiple breaks in his collar bone and hair line fractures in the radial head of his left elbow OUCH... He is recovering well from his surgery though, and we all realize just how incredibly lucky we are.. the cracks and gouges in his bike helmet *shudder* .. not good *shakes head* not good at all! SO Dicky has now racked up one more broken collar bone than Lance Armstrong, but 7 less than Cadel Evans - just quietly I prefer Lances’s stats ;o)

Teddies Worldwide show has STARTED!!

2010-11-21T01:01:00.004+11:00

WooHoo!! The big reveal has happened, and you can now access all the lovely offerings from the 75 participating artists... grab a coffee and your credit cards, it’s time to SHOP *hehe*

You can find the show, and all the lovely teds here:
http://www.backroadbears.com/teddiesworldwide.htm

.... so what are you waiting for lol?

Teddies Worldwide Holiday Show

2010-11-17T11:24:00.000+11:00

Sewing sewing sewing.. and a bit more sewing.. is the order of the day here at Chateau Teddy. It is a gorgeous sunny day here in Melbourne, so as soon as I hit publish on this post I’m going to grab the *censored* I’m working on and sew out in the sunshine :o)

So why can’t I tell you what I’m working on... well it is a bit of a secret until this weekend! I am one of 75 artists from around the world participating in the inaugural Teddies Worldwide Holiday Show, and you are only allowed a sneak preview of one bear for each artist... which makes what I’m doing today Top Secret *shhhhh*! don’t tell Daphne I even hinted at anything *winks*

So, yeah, one preview picture.... and mine is of Benson the duck. Who is doing his very best to look suave as he tries to woo you with his bunch of silk flowers lol. He’s a bit of a smooth one is my Benson *nods knowingly*

So have I piqued your curiosity? Want to see more? Excellent!! For there is much more to see :o) CLICK HERE and you can see a preview picture of one ted from each of the 75 participating artists.

You want to come now don’t you? Don’t you!! :o) I know you do - how could you miss it lol! So, on to the details.... The show opens on Saturday the 20th of November at 9.00am New York time, and then finishes on Sunday 21st at 4.00pm New York time....

I don’t know about you, but that whole time zone conversion thing does my head in, so here is a LINK FOR YOU TO CLICK so you can see exactly what time it will be in your neck of the woods when the show opens... It will be 1am Sunday morning here! Ah, the interwebz, thank heavens It never sleeps :o) :o) :o)

Bears That Care Charity Auction

2010-11-10T07:48:00.000+11:00

This Friday night (6.30 for a 7pm start) a group of very special people will be gathering in Melbourne City, at the RACV Club, 501 Bourke Street, Melbourne. They will be there to support “The Bears That Care” charity bear auction, which is an annual fundraising event, held in support of the Ovcare National Cancer Centre (an initiative of the Fight Cancer Foundation), and YOU are invited to join them. YEAH!! Lets all get together and give cancer the kick in the pants it deserves hey!! There will be bears from all over the world up for auction to try and meet that most worthy aim, and maybe you would like to do your bit by bidding on one/some of them?

I have a little guy in the auction - called Erkle *hehe*. I didn’t actually name him... Judi, the fundraising manager did, and she got the name from my habit of saying “erk”... yeah, I really need to expand my vocabulary don’t I LOL!?! You can see all the bears up for auction if you click HERE and then click on the “BearsThatCare 2010” link on the extreme right of the second row of links, but before you go say ‘Hi’ to all the other bears, please hang round here for a minute or two longer and meet my little guy :o)

A couple of full body shots:

Here is a close up of his sweet little face:

..and finally a chance to get up close and personal to his little birdy mate, though keep in mind that this little dude is barely one inch tall in real life :oP

I wanted to produce a really special little ted to honor all those I have lost (or know I will lose sooner rather than later) to cancer, and I think I have done them all justice...

....what’s that? Did I hear someone regretting the fact that they are unable to attend the auction? No worries!! :o) Judi has made arrangements for you to bid on what ever you wish from where ever you are :o)

To place a bid, all you need to do is email Judi HERE the following details before midday on Friday, November the 12th Eastern Daylight Saving Time.

Bidder Name:

Bidder Postal Address:

Pone Number:

Lot Number: **I couldn’t find this - I’ll ask Judi and update**

Bear Name:

Starting Bid: **remember you are bidding in Australian $**

Maximum Bid:

The Fine Print: On the night of the auction, where we have an email bidder, once their starting bid is reached, and if there is competition for that bear, the bids will increase by $10 and then $5 as appropriate until bidding ceases. Should the bidding on that particular bear stop within your range, then you will win that item at that price (plus the cost of postage).

HAPPY BIDDING!! Here is that link to all the other bears again :o)

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

2010-10-31T22:58:00.000+11:00

The perfect way to spend a Sunday?

2010-10-31T05:36:00.001+11:00

Hmmm, now what can i think of that would be The Perfect antidote to all the scaaaaary Halloween stuff that will abound this Sunday.....

I KNOW: Teddies LOL!! Lots of them!!

http://www.woodendteddybearshow.com/

As a special added bonus, my 'Bears That Care' OvCare Charity bear will be standing on my table introducing himself to all the passers by, and hoping that you might chose to bid on him come November the 12 (more details to follow)... it's all in a great cause!!

Hope are happy to brave the rain today, so we can see you - and you can see him - there!!

A Lovely Surprise: Jo’s Bernie

2010-10-16T22:55:00.001+11:00

Every now and then something lands in my inbox that absolutely makes my day. Last week it was a lovely message from a lady who had recently purchased a couple of my kits... and attached were some pictures of the gorgeous bunny she created using my Bernie kit.

I tell you, I opened that email and sat there grinning like the Cheshire Cat... nah, make that the Cheshire Cat who was given a saucer of cream by the Mad Hatter and then cuddled by Alice... Happy!! Yup, I was one happy girl :o) :o) :o)

I think Jo has done such an awesome job on her Bernie, that I wanted to share the cuteness with you too.... How about I shut up now, and share that picture of Jo’s bunny with you:

Isn’t he adorable!? Sadly I don’t know what she named him... I wish I had thought to ask! If you did name him Jo, please leave a comment telling us what it is :o)

How about I introduce you to the original Bernie as well... You can very easily see what a great job Jo did!

I’ll also give you the link to his page on my website, just in case Jo’s adorable little bunny has inspired you to have a go at making your own little Bernie :o) ... and maybe when you do, you will send me pictures too *big grin*

Woodend 2010 is coming...

2010-10-14T12:12:00.001+11:00

I’m not actually going to say just how many days left to the Woodend Teddy Bear Show for 2010... You are more than able to see for yourself on the flyer below... and coz, well *panic*...

Time is flying, and there is much sewing and stuffing happening here at Chateau Teddy, and there shall continue to be until I have completed a whole new group of tiny teds to introduce to you at my table on the 31st :o) Oh DOH... I went and said the date! I better get back to stuffing those tiny colourful limbs so the bears will be looking their best when first you meet!

Clickable link: www.woodendteddybearshow.com

Alone?

2010-10-12T20:18:00.001+11:00

Bear making tends to be a fairly solitary process... I know most of my creating is done when it is just me, but every now and then, I can’t shake the feeling that I am being watched... *tilts head and raises eyebrows*

Can't think why .... lololololololololololol :oP

Grey skies be GONE

2010-10-09T15:17:00.002+11:00

I know that there are many bear makers who embrace the cooler weather (possibly something to do with heat and mohair not being the best of combinations lol) but for me it is warm sunny days all the way :o)

This is what I saw when I looked up a few months ago:

I mean it is beautiful - I don’t deny that.... but the interminable grey... it just doesn’t make me feel cheerful :o( Quite the reverse, it does my head in. And the creeping chill of a Melbourne winter *sigh* it gets into my bones and makes me less than rosey in disposition *winks and giggles*

Oh but a change is coming! Today when I look skyward, this is what I see:

Now isn’t that better. Happy. Sunny. Infinate blue skies bursting with the promise of long, lazy summer days *happy sigh*... Oh Yes, that is more like it :o)

So what does a girl do to celebrate the long awaited appearance of Spring? Why, grab a pile of brightly coloured fabrics to turn into bears of course!

Doesn’t that blue fabric echo the sky perfectly! The pink is bang on for the magnolia flowers, and such a sunny yellow... it is like a pile of (albeit furry) sunny days :o) :o) :o)

So what is it that I will be working on when this post goes up? Nothing less than my brightly coloured army of summer toned happiness. Bliss!

2010 TOBY's Industry Choice winners

2010-01-21T13:04:00.003+11:00

Last Saturday, the Crossroads Doll and Teddy Show in San Diego saw the announcement of the 2010 TOBY Industry Choice nominees. Here are the talented, and lucky, nominees:

Miniature Artist Bear

• JoJo – Michelle Lamb, One & Only Bears

• Cuddle – Byunghwa Ahn, ansbear

• Bonds of Love – Erika Knirsch, Crunchy Bears

• Sleepy Bear Cub "Tiramisu" – Kumiko & Masaru Nakano, Ma'Sal Creations

• Giddy Up – Katherine Hallam, Katie Rae Bears

Small Artist Bear, Dressed

• Little Coconut, Forgotten Angel Series – Tami Lahey, Dolls N Dreams

• Calin – Denise Purrington, Out of the Forest Bears

• Pfeifer The Patriot – Ron & Kristy Northman, Captain Ron’s Bears

• Lilly – Robert Formon, Bear Hearts

• Celestina – Jenny Johnson, Three O’Clock Bears

Small Artist Bear, Undressed

• Grizwald – Denise Purrington, Out of the Forest Bears

• Cassey – Linda Joan Chiasson, Bear in Mind Collectibles

• Snezhana -- Ina Smirnova

• Moses – Annei Leung, Merry Bears by Annei Leung

• Flurry –Cindy Cherry, CC Bears Australia

Large Artist Bear, Dressed

• Katarina – Michelle Lamb, One & Only Bears

• Peter – Lori Simon, Furbearsake

• Little Red Riding Hood – Harumi Kajihara

• Miss Emmaline – Karen Brady Hammontree, Brady Bears Studio

• Diago – Kim Russell, Russel Bears

Large Artist Bear, Undressed

• Mira – Britta Helberg

• Teddy – Linda Joan Chiasson, Bear in Mind Collectibles

• Knutely – Karin De Lorenzo

• Neopolitan – Helen Gleeson, Bare Cub Designs

• Radcliff – Lori Simon, Furbearsake

Artist Set or Vignette

• Thomas' Big Present – Karen Lyons, K.J. Lyons Design

• My Best Friend Stinky –Petra Schöpe, Heartbear

• Cuddles - Aiko Kawamoto, Aiko Bear

• Guardians of the Flock - Carol Thompson, Thymeless Treasures

• We Are Family – Britta Helberg

Small Artist “Friends”

• Belle – Jutta Michels, Mic Bären und Hasen

• Gina – Silvia Gilles, Gilles Baeren

• The Squire – Shelly Allison, The Rabbit Maker

• Diego – Krista Griffiths, Pawz Creations

• Gosling – Cindy Malchoff, My Apple Tree

Large Artist “Friends”

• Ferdinand – Michelle Lamb, One & Only Bears

• The White Warrior – Gordon & Peggy Hayes, Unicorn

• The Stray – Karen Lyons, K.J. Lyons Design

• Racker – Karin De Lorenzo

• Charlie – Krista Griffiths, Pawz Creations

Artist Creation, Nontraditional Materials

• Phinneus – Kelly Graham, Ted E. Graham Originals

• Bottles & Bugs – Glenda Rolle

• The Last Dragon – Gordon & Peggy Hayes, Unicorn

• Sugar – Sue Peterson

• James – Carol Thompson, Thymeless Treasures

Small Manufactured Bear

• Beefeater – Hermann-Spielwaren GmbH

• Tea House Keeper– Gloria Chan

• Alexandra The Butterfly Bear – Steiff North America

• Elf Bear – Ganz

• Holly N. Ivy – The Bearington Collection

Large Manufactured Bear

• Wiesenwirt "O'zapft is" Oktoberfest – Hermann-Spielwaren GmbH

• Sonneberg Museums Bear 2009 – Hermann-Spielwaren GmbH

• Prince, The Trademark Bear – Steiff North America

• Giant Nicholas Northpole – The Bearington Collection

• Lots of Love Ladybug – The Bearington Collection

Manufactured “Friends”

• The First Dog, White House Series – Hermann-Spielwaren GmbH

• Gloria The Springtime Bunny – Steiff North America

• Fifi – The Bearington Collection

• Piggywinkle Toeshoes – The Bearington Collection

Best of luck to all :o)

It's Show Time!

2009-10-25T11:02:00.009+11:00

OH WOW.... how insanely fast does time fly by... I can't believe it is show day already :o)

So, wondering what to do with your Sunday? How about

heading to Woodend and saying hello to the teds? Behind my

table you will find my mum (whose name is really Joanna)

and Ric ... well mum definitely *hehe* I did notice Ric

slipping his mountain bike into the boot of the car, so you may have more luck finding him up in the hills :o) He will be the

one on the white Turner, wearing lots of trail dust and a big

grin :oD

What's that you said? Ahh, where are the bears?

Good question :o)

You would like a little peek huh? We-ellll OK, my arm doesn't

need much twisting *hehe* ....here is a selection (but not all) of my little critters you can find hanging out at the Woodend

Teddy Bear Show today :o)

and of course, you will need the details - hard to get where you need to go, when you don't actually know where that is lol ;o)

Hope you can make it over there!!

Woodend is just around the corner...

2009-10-19T13:12:00.003+11:00

It’s astounding....Time is fleeting.... lolololol who knows the next line? Hmmmm, indeed *hehe*!

Yup, so it is nearly show time. Again :o) Sunday, October 25th brings my last show for this year. This time we will be in beautiful Woodend, a gorgeous town in the Macedon Ranges of my home state, Victoria. I am, of course madly working on a new batch of lovelies to debut on the 25th. Mum and Ric - my indomitable show team - will be, as always, behind the table for me, and would love you to stop on by!

You can read up about The Woodend Teddy Bear Show on the web the “official” site woodendteddybearshow.com as well as HERE at the Macedon Ranges site, and HERE on the Visit Victoria site. Visit Victoria also has a really handy 'how to get there' feature, where you put in your post code and it gives you a map and list of directions.... mine says to “bear left” onto the Monash Freeway lololol - what can I say, small things amuse me :oP

My critters are in Teddy Bear & Friends magazine...

2009-09-06T23:54:00.002+10:00

A rather lovely parcel arrived for me a short while back.... and in amongst the goodies was the current issue of Teddy Bear and Friends magazine :o) This in itself is always cause for celebration - I love browsing my teddy mags - but this one is just a tiny bit more special (for me) than most!!

MmmHHmm :o) *nods* Yup, indeed it is!! Go grab your copies now and flip on over to page 40 :o) YAHHH!! Those are my little critters ...I was so excited to get my hands on this issue and see the pictures that were chosen and the words that were written. I’ve been around the bear world for quite a while now - and i’ve been in my fair share of magazines too - but I’m still like a kid in a candy shop when it comes to seeing my little guys featured between the pages of these magazines. Not to mention how flattering and awesome it feels to be included in the same publications as stories about, and pictures from, other bear artists I admire so much. Life can be So Cool sometimes! Enough babble from me, go check out my page :o) Thats page 40 by the way :oP

The bunny you see before you, by the way, is Godfrey, who spends his days hanging out with me and waiting for a new mum (or dad) to come along and adopt him... Maybe you like the look of him and would be interested in clicking HERE to go say “hi” to him over on the website?

2009 TOBY Pubic Choice winners announced...

2009-08-19T02:13:00.002+10:00

The TOBY Public Choice Award winners for 2009 have been announced, and the list goes a litttle like this:

Miniature Artist Bear, Dressed

Samantha Potter, “Grace”

Miniature Artist Bear, Undressed

Donna Griffin, “Pansy and Rosebud, the Panda Sisters”

Small Artist Bear, Dressed

Silvia Gilles, “Marcula”

Small Artist Bear, Undressed

Yoko Nakayama, “Milk”

Large Artist Bear, Dressed

Melissa Zemeski, “Captain Zinfangar”

Large Artist Bear, Undressed

Karin De Lorenzo, “Bubbele”

Artist Vignette

Karin De Lorenzo, “Be Friends? Yes we can!!!”

Artist “Friends”

Karen Lyons, “Cat and the Fiddle”

Artist Creation, Nontraditional Materials

Berta Hesen-Minten, “Elf”

Small Manufactured Bear, Dressed

The Bearington Collection, Ltd., “Ms. Abracadabra”

Small Manufactured Bear, Undressed

Gund Inc., “Zhen Zhen”

Large Manufactured Bear, Dressed

Hermann-Spielwaren GmbH, “Old Bavarian Bear”

Large Manufactured Bear, Undressed

Steiff North America, Inc., “Alexander, the Trademark Bear”

Manufactured “Friends”

Steiff North America, Inc., “Snoopy and Woodstock, the Best Friends”

Best in Show

Karin De Lorenzo, “Be Friends? Yes we can!!!”

Congratulations to all who were nominated, and an extra big round of applause to those listed above - the bears who have been chosen by the public as their favourites :o) The lucky TOBY winners were presented with their awards at the Teddy Bear Artist Invitational in Binghamton, NY last Saturday.

TB&F is on Twitter ...AND Facebook

2009-08-11T22:49:00.005+10:00

OK, so I know there isn’t a mass of bear makers out in the twittersphere right now - or if there are I’ve not found them yet lol...but I’m hoping the arrival of one of our favourite bear magazine will help to change that :o) YAH!!

Teddy Bear & Friends magazine have taken the plunge and opened up an account, and you can find them right HERE

I am thrilled that the magazine has chosen to open up the line of communication between themselves and their readers...it can only do us all the world of good to be able to twitter away about the things we love, and would like to see more of between the magazines pages, as well as the magazine reaching out to us for ideas and contributions that we can give to them :o) Anything like this that can revitalize our industry and bring more members into our community is a good thing in my book!

I also love that the list of people following Teddy Bear & Friends will be a wonderful place for anyone with a twitter account to start connecting with other teddy enthusiasts :o) At the time of writing they haven’t accumulated many followers - yet - though hopefully time will see that change and before long their account will be one big, happy hug of chattering bear artists and collectors. Now how cool would that be?!

***ADDED LATER***

Oh dear, I really do have a most dreadful memory lol! As Matilda Huggington Bear has so kindly pointed out (in the comments section) there is another social network that Teddy Bear & Friends magazine can be found on... Facebook :o)

Even better, not only can Teddy Bear and Friends fan page be found on Facebook HERE BUT the Teddy Bear Review magazine fan page can be found HERE Two of our favourite bear magazines in the one place...it just keeps getting better and better doesn’t it!

Deep, dark and mysterious...

2009-07-13T14:49:00.002+10:00

....Mmmm, and aren’t they gorgeous? They are a deeper, darker, shiny metallic in real life, and their gorgeousness dictates that they live at the very top of my favourite beads list! These beauties have been worn by, or used to accessorize, many a critter of mine :o) Sadly, or happily(?) because of this, what you see in the picture there is all I have left of them - barely enough to make it around a small teds neck.....a most unacceptable state of affairs I must say.....

.....But, we all know what that means, don’t we lol?! SHOPPING!! Oooooh shopping. Ahhhh Shopping *happy sigh*. Definitely one of lifes more enjoyable pursuits here at Chateau Teddy :o)

*makes pot of tea and spreads out colour chart*

now, do I reallly need that pack of transparent matte purple? MMhhmmmm, Yes I Do! Indeed I DO :oD

Twitterific

2009-06-23T00:02:00.005+10:00

I'm on twitter

Come follow me and join in the fun :oD

I've been tagged....

2009-06-12T17:02:00.005+10:00

The lovely Melly of Melbears Quality Collectibles has tagged my blog for the “One Lovely Blog” award :o) What fun!! Thanks Mel *mwah*

The deal is that once you are tagged, you have to answer the following questions (deleting one you dislike, and replacing it with a new one of your own)...then you have to tag 7 other blogs that you feel are deserving of the description...but first to the questions:

What is your current obsession?

beauty blogs

What is your horoscope and do you relate to it?

I am a Cancer, though I was born 2 weeks late so I should have been a Gemini....and I do combine an odd jumble of traits from the 2 signs. Hmmm, I wonder, how does when you should have been born interact with when you were actually born? Particularly pertinent in this age of scheduled caesarians I’d suggest...

What are you wearing today?

A knowing smile

What was the last thing you bought?

A pair of black/white Chuck Taylors...If I like ‘em I’m going to get a pink/purple pair too :oD

What is your favorite Holiday?

Christmas - I am unashamedly addicted to fairy lights, and what better time of year to go nuts with strings and strings of them lol!

A guilty pleasure?

life is too short to indulge in guilt, though on the rare occasion I do, it usually because I have buried my head in a book, pointedly ignoring all the other things demanding my attention ;o)

What is your must have item for Summer?

A lovely fresh pedicure...I feel naked with out nail polish!

If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would it be?

A street cafe in a fashionable part of Paris, where I could sit watching all the glamorous people strolling past and soak up the atmosphere

What is your favourite piece of clothing from your closet?

A fitted black shirt with tiny white spots, white piping and puffed cap sleeves - it is a really cute retro chic design

What is your dream job?

working in the Behavioral Sciences Unit of the FBI....quite a way from teddies hey lolololol

What do you consider a Fashion faux pas?

grottiness *shudder*...not washing is so NOT cool

When I was a child I wanted to be......

....taller

What are you going to do after this?

Hit publish and go get a hot cup of tea. Mmmm hot tea.....

What are your favourtie past-times and hobbies?

reading; music; watching old Hollywood (and the English equivalent) movies; cold war espionage - fictional ( James Bond etc) and factual (Cambridge spies etc); criminology; sewing; internet shopping; watching cycling - Yah! Only one month to the the Tour De France :o)

Have you got pets at home?

4 cats: 3 siamese females - seal point Louise (aka Weiner) and 2 of her daughters, blue point Cricket (aka ducky) and lilac point BB. 1 chocolate Burmese male called Jamie

What are you proud of?

Hand rearing my kitty Cricket from an extremely sick newborn, to the healthy little (7 yr old) monster she is today...wanna see a pic of my baby? K :o)

....and the 7 blogs i choose to tag with this award are

Baggaley Bears by Vicki

Caya’s Corner

Dolls N Dreams

Karen’s Bears and Other Things

Louise Peers

Puddle Maker

Sarahs’ Scribbles

Waking in a Winter Wonderland....

2009-06-11T00:12:00.007+10:00

Not exactly bear related, but - for a girl who lives at sea level, and has never seen snow in real life - definitely note worthy!!

This morning at 4am, I heard the skies open and mother nature begin to positively chuck it down. I knew there was hail: the noise combined with my sudden goose bumps (from the accompanying drop in temperature) were a dead giveaway lol, but I was (mostly) warm and comfortable so I decided to leave Mother Nature to get on with her business while I got on with mine...

...so imagine my surprise when the sun came up to reveal that Chateau Teddy had been blanketed in a layer of ice bubbles! The hail stones you see had survived a good 3 - 4 hours in the pre-dawn chill. How awesome must it have looked after that first downpour!?! Check out these pics - the ice was already starting to melt by the time, camera in hand, I braved the big chill, but there was still a pretty thick layer of the stuff :o) Click on the pic for a bigger image....

Can you believe the delicious irony - our poor wilty pink camellia, dehydrated from season after season with out decent rain fall, surrounded by ice lol....what a wacky woman our Ma Nature can be lololololol :o)

I do hope violets can survive being packed in ice....

BBrrrrrrr *shivers*

Free wall paper from pixelgirlpresents.com

2009-06-03T20:49:00.003+10:00

I tend to have a very low boredom threshold when it comes to the pictures I use as background on my laptop - I change a minimum of once a week, so I am always on the hunt for new wallpaper...

One of my favourite hunting grounds is the wonderful Pixelgirl Presents :o) Browsing there earlier I came across this little sweetie, and decided he was just Too Cute not to share!

Talk about cuteness overload :o) You can download the picture here

A whisper of things to come...

2009-06-02T23:53:00.009+10:00

Choosing fabric combinations for the critters dancing in my imagination is one of my favourite parts of bear making......I can pull out all my prettiest fabrics, make a nice pot of tea and settle to playing in my stash to my hearts content :o) Sometimes I even get some work done lol (o;

.....and this, my friends, is exactly what has been happening at Chateau Teddy for the last week or so. My front room found itself covered in bits of fabric - the table, the chairs, no flat surface escaped......Until finally the seemingly chaotic jumble of colours and textures transformed themselves into neat(ish) piles on the pink chaise, just as you see before you......

My fellow bear makers will have instantly recognized each of those seemingly random piles as a little teddy....complimentary pieces of fabric that hold so much promise and potential. Is that a Mouse you see? A Super Hero perhaps? Those of you who looked at the center pile and declared “JESTER” have just earned yourselves a Pink Elephant *wink wink* stamp :o)

*happy sigh* Can you see the critters springing to life from these fabric piles too?

A 'not about me' moment

2009-05-23T18:01:00.004+10:00

HeHe :oD What is the fun in having friends if you can’t do a bit of a favour for them every now and again?? When I heard that this little chap was up for an award, I just knew I would have to shine the spotlight on him over here :o)

So, with out further ado, I’d like to introduce you to Flamenco Fandango!

He is made by the lovely Wendy, whose work you can see more of here. He’s a bit of a cutey huh?!?!

He is up for an award in the “Artist Bear Friend” category of the Australian Bear Creations Awards 2009. Voting forms are in the latest issue (vol15 no1), and so far I think you have to buy a copy of Australian Bear Creations to be able to vote.....I did hear rumours about online voting, but I will have to look into that and get back to you :o) But for all you Australian residents, here is the perfect excuse to grab a copy of ABC and have a jolly good read....go on :o) you Know you want to *hehe*! Oh and please vote for Wendy too, won’t you :oD

*EDIT* I have contacted the magazine, and there WAS online voting, however it appears that someone with too much time, and not enough grey cells (pls note, my wording not the magazines) decided to launch a denial of service attack and bring the page down. Not very very polite really, was it?! Anyway, it is still possible to vote online if you download this and return your answers to this email address adcopy@woodlandspublishing.com.au

2009 Gold Teddy Award nominees

2009-05-01T14:00:00.004+10:00

WooHoo!! Teddy Bear Review's "Golden Teddy Award" nominations for 2009 have been released....and they go a little something like this:

Individual Artist–Bears
Undressed, 5 inches & under
• "Mimi" by Donna Griffin, Donna and the Bears
• "Mocha" by Peta Smart, Wazzabears
• "Polar" by Tracey Smith
• "Sleepy Chestnut Bear 'Marrone'" by Kumiko and Masaru Nakano, Ma’Sal Creations
• "Yin Yang" by Erika Knirsch, Crunchy Bears
• "Zachary" by Samantha Potter, Mary Myrtle Miniatures

Dressed/Accessorized, 5 inches & under
• "Grace" by Samantha Potter, Mary Myrtle Miniatures
• "Maude" by Donna Griffin, Donna and the Bears
• "Min" by Eun-Sook Ma, Minabear
• "Miss Majesty" by Ruth Bowman, Flutter-By Bears
• "Pirouette" by Karen Alderson
• "Polka Dot" by Michelle Lamb, One&Only Bears

Undressed, over 5 & under 14 inches
• "Cappuccino" by Heike Buchner, Sunshine-Teddys
• "Flocke" by Mary Lou Foley, Bayside Bears
• "Lil Pudge" by Vicky Lougher, Elegant Creations
• "Minerva" by Michelle Lamb, One&Only Bears
• "Sugar Bear" by Judi Paul, Luxembears
• "Tia" by Tammy Wamboldt, Beckoning Bears

Dressed/Accessorized, over 5 & under 14 inches
• "Baggins" by Laraine White, Rainebears
• "Bella" by Karen Alderson
• "Elf" by Berta Hesen-Minten, ThReAdTeDs
• "Helena" by Vicky Lougher, Elegant Creations
• "Miss Lillie" by Kim Russell, Russell Bears
• "Miyabi" by Terumi Yoshikawa, Rose Bear

Undressed, 14 inches & over
• "Bruno" by Britta Helberg
• "Daydreamer" by Karin De Lorenzo
• "Edward Bear" by Tami Eveslage, Tami Eveslage Original Teddy Bears
• "Jeffrey" by Charlene Draeger, CharBears
• "Joe" by Aiko Kawamoto, Aico Bear
• "Spirit Bear (Kermode)" by Sherry Shepardson, Sherr-Bear

Dressed/Accessorized, 14 inches & over
• "Andre" by Lena Volkova, Teddy Kingdom
• "Autunno" by Annalisa Taddei, The Tuscany Bear Maker
• "Captain Zinfangar" by Melissa Zemeski, Heirloom Treasures
• "Frank" by Aiko Kawamoto, Aico Bear
• "Hyun" by Park Yeun-Hee, H&Y Teddy
• "Nymph of Tree" by Eun-Sook Ma, Minabear

Individual Artist–Soft-Sculpture/Plush Animals
• "Aesop" by Michelle Lamb, One&Only Bears
• "Bakari" by Mary Lou Foley, Bayside Bears
• "Holly" by Masako Kitao
• "Hoppity" by Shelly Allison, The Rabbit Maker by Shelly Allison
• "Indy" by Judi Paul, Luxembears
• "Rex (German Shepherd)" by Guenter Dufeu, Dufeu Bear

Individual Artist–Needle-Felted/Sculpted Animals
• "Jamie & Landon" by Iveta Everte
• "Lil' Cubkin" by Janine Galante
• "Mommy I'm Stuck Kitten" by Stephanie Tiongco, Creations by Stevi T.
• "Olivia & Oliver: Luv Bug Romance" by Marge Wiese
• "Rembrandt" by Patricia Bierer, Bierer Off the Road Gifts
• "Roxanne" by Nichole Encinas, Blueberry Creations

Manufacturer–Bears
Undressed or Dressed, 5 inches & under
• "Biscuit-The Gingerbread Bear" by Steiff North America
• "Glaciera" from the story The Woodland Bear Saga by Jessica Van Antwerp
• "Midnight Magic" by Bearington Collection
• "Sadie Sue" by Goodreau Doll

Undressed, over 5 & under 14 inches
• "Baby Beauregard" by Bearington Collection
• "Violet-The Flower Bear" by Steiff North America
• "Yamato" by Terumi Yoshikawa, Rose Bear (collaborative bear with a Japanese old bag company)
• "Zhen Zhen" by Gund Inc.

Dressed/Accessorized, over 5 & under 14 inches
• "Here Comes Santa Claus (Musical)" by Hermann-Spielwaren
• "Nicolas-The Lucky Bear" by Steiff North America
• "Noelle, The Christmas Joy Bear" by Danbury Mint
• "Peppermint Swirl" by Bearington Collection
• "Scooter" by Goodreau Doll
• "Tayla" by Settler Bears

Undressed, 14 inches & over
• "Alexander-The Trademark Bear" by Steiff North America
• "Beauregard" by Bearington Collection
• "Cookie" by Bev White, Happy Tymes Collectibles
• "Gordy" by Gund Inc.
• "Pedrolino" by Hildegard Günzel, PPM Hildegard Günzel

Dressed/Accessorized, 14 inches & over
• "Gwendolyn Glitterwings" by Bearington Collectoin
• "Hagen" by Gund Inc.
• "Hartley-The Boyds Valentine’s Day Bear" by Danbury Mint (bear licensed through Boyds)
• "Hilary" by Settler Bears
• "Old Bavarian Bear" by Hermann-Spielwaren

Manufacturer–Soft-Sculpture/Plush Animals
• "Doxie" by Bearington Collection
• "Esmerelda" by Hildegard Günzel, PPM Hildegard Günzel
• "Fawny" by Gund Inc.
• "Truffles-Pig on Wheels" by Steiff North America

Tableaux
• "Cat and the Fiddle" by Karen Lyons, KJ Lyons Design
• "Gallopin' Grant and His Horse Jeff Davis" by Bev White, Happy Tymes Collectibles
• "Polar Pals" by Kelly Dean, Kelly Dean and Co.
• "Polar Santa" by Tami Eveslage, Tami Eveslage Original Teddy Bears
• "Santa's Little Helper" by Julie Shepherd
• "Would You Like to Be Our Mom" by Heike Buchner, Sunshine-Teddys

Congratulations, to everyone on the list :o) I can't wait to see pictures of the bears!!

Mushrooms anyone?

2009-04-30T00:53:00.004+10:00

I present to you photographic proof that i am completely and utterly barking mad :o/

You see, i get these “Brilliant Ideas”, and in the case of this 2cm mushroom - mmhmmm that IS less than 1 inch - before I actually paused to wonder if it was a good idea, I was off and running with it lol....and it wasn’t until i had drawn the pattern, sewn it up, and started to *try* and turn it right side out that I fully comprehended what a fiddly little bugger a micro sized mushroom was going to be. I am fiercely proud of it :o) but Oh, I do long for the day where my brain activates Before my fingers do lol....mine are still sore from making this little *erm herm* darling lol.....

Tick....tick.....tick....tick....

2009-04-25T22:36:00.005+10:00

The creative juices have been flowing here at Chateau Teddy - I have FINALLY worked out how I want to make the dragon i have been contemplating for...oooooh 5 years now lol! YAH *dances around in triumph* I am really excited at the thought of putting pencil to paper and starting to draft the pattern!! I even made the most of my time in the dental chair, the other day, to nut out how I would make the claws....who woulda thought that dreaming of dragons could be such a good defense against the monster that is the dentists drill lol!

I would *like* to think that this time next week will find me in a similar state to now - happy, warm and comfy on the sofa, secure in the knowledge that ALL my bear work for the day is done (maybe even with the added bonus of my football team, again, doing as well as they have this weekend lol).....the reality will more than likely be quite different, but still, it is an alluring thought :o)

So, why would I care about this time next week?? Good question! This time next week will be Saturday May 2nd.....the Melbourne Teddy Show, at which the fruits of my last few months labour will be found, is on Sunday May 3rd. EEEEP :o/ Will I be as calm and relaxed as I am now? Probably not lol! Will I be ready. Absolutely! The bears will be too :o) There will be a selection of new little critters putting in an appearance, and to make sure you can find them, here are the details you will need:

]

Please do stop by if you possibly can, and IF you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to drop me, or the lovely Brenda (organizer), a line on roseyday@netspace.net.au or preciousdolls@bigpond.com respectively :o) We really hope to see you there!!

p.s. for a bigger version of the pink show flyer please visit the show news page of my website here

My kingdom for a blurple...

2009-04-17T10:25:00.003+10:00

Here at Chateau Teddy, things are not going quite as smoothly as a girl would like....the bin has an excess of broken threads and there are eyeballs rolling all over the floor (that is onyx teddy ones btw, not mine lol). I am, how ever, ecstatic to report that I have nearly completed the much disliked task of sewing on ears for this batch of bears YAHHHHHHHHH!!!

Todays task is noses...now i understand that sewing noses is the least favourite moment for many a bear maker, though for some odd reason I’ve always loved this bit (o; But then I also love putting together flat pack furniture (Ikea-itis perhaps?) so maybe I just have a talent for finding fun in the unlikeliest of places lol?!?!

So anyway, I have it in my head that one of the little bears i am working on at the moment will emerge as a butterfly - one in shades of ivory, pink and purple......so i crack open my nose thread box and survey the scene. UhOh!! Can some one please tell me, is there a law demanding that no matter how many skeins of a particular colour one buys, down the track, that PERFECT shade - the one you see so clearly in your head - will not be among the ones before you??

Seriously lol, all I want is a mid tone blurple (that is bluey purple btw lol) to use for my little bugs nose.....C’MON *face palm*!!!! I have red based purples.....dusty purples.....pastel purples.....blues that aren’t quite purple.....I even have a variegated purple.....but a nice, simple little blurple for my wee bug? Nope. Nada. Zero. Zilch )o: Ho Hum, maybe yesterdays ears weren’t so bad after all *hehe* *wanders off grinding teeth and muttering to self*.....

Have a happy & SAFE Easter!!

2009-04-12T00:51:00.011+10:00

This was bought to my attention by a fellow bear maker.....and to carry on the fun, I choose to share it with you now (o:

CLICK HERE

turn up your speakers and get hip hip hopping to those crazy bunny beats...

Let the TOBY voting begin...

2009-04-12T00:24:00.015+10:00

It is a mere three weeks out from my first bear show of the year, so it is not unreasonable to expect much sewing, sculpting, snipping and stuffing to be going on here at Chateau Teddy. Yet here I sit, putting my honors degree in Advanced Procrastination Techniques to good use lol....which, in this instance, translates to my sitting here stuffing about on the computer *insert sheepish grin here*

Yet, my friends, there IS benefit in this! I have made the happy discovery that voting for the 2009 Public Choice Winners has begun.....

It used to be that living in this corner of the world meant a girl would miss out on voting in the TOBY’s, but ahh, the joys of the interwebs now mean that anyone with access to an internet connection can join in. Yippppeeeee I say!!!!! I’m not entirely sure how long online voting will be open for, but the 2009 TOBY Public Choice winners will be announced on the 15th of August at TBAI.

As I write I am halfway through voting.....and oh the amazing creations! My poor brain needed a break lol. This years Industry Choice Winners are superb!! I had the devil of a time trying to decide who to vote for in Category 7, the “Artists Friends”.....all I can say is that it is just as well it’s Easter, as I wouldn’t want to be making these choices with out the support of my friend the chocolate bunny :oD

Ready to have your say too? CLICK HERE to cast your votes.

New girl on the block

2009-04-08T20:17:00.012+10:00

*steps in*....
*looks around tentatively*.....
*sees YOU, smiles and waves*

Hey there (o: A visitor!!! Looks like I have officially joined the bear blogosphere.....I know there are plenty of fabulous teddy blogs out there, i read quite a few of them, but this one, well.....this one is mine. The down under, Aussie accented, mini bear version of the teddy making trade according to ME *hehe* :oD

As opposed to real life - where i can chatter the legs off a chair - my current plan is to pop my head up here when i have something i think is worth sharing....which may mean I am posting regularly OR may leave the blog covered in cobwebs for long stretches lol. Only time will tell :o) But please, do join me for the ride - it should be fun!

Rosey xox