TOBY Industry Award winners 2016

Miniature Dressed Bear

Sayumi Koizumi
Eleanor Andrews
Katherine Hallam
Lisa Madsen
Ann-Marie Dodd

Miniature Undressed Bear

Masai Yoshijima
Donna Griffin
Kim Russell
Yunping Ho
Natasha Sabotage

Small Dressed Bear

Melanie McCarthy
Shane Elliott
Dammar Seibel
Dawn Jellis-Jones
Anne-Marie Verron

Small Undressed Bear

Charlene Draeger
Helen Clennel-White
Rachel Summersby
Ekaterina Bushmakina
Keko Hayashida

Large Dressed Bear

Christie Kotz
Denise Purrington
Michelle Lamb
Lori Simon
Melanie McCarthy

Large Undressed Bear

Yvonne Andrew
Hike Buchner
Silke Hirschfelder
Laurent Bergmann
Annalise Taddei

Miniature Friend

Kamikaze and Masaru Nakano
Donna Griffin
Michelle Lamb
Kumiko and Masaru Nakano
Tatiana Skalozub

Small Friend

Jetta Michelson
Ozlem Waller
Cindy Cherry
Natali Ryazanova
Sikorsky Kawamoto

Large Friend

Malaya Sato
Shelly Allison
Francesca Borretti
Lisa Page
Heike Buchner

Bear or Friend, Nontraditional Materials

Stevi Tiongo
Angela McGinn
Linda Down
Ozlem Waller
Cindy-Lou Thompson

Set or Vignette

JoAnne O'Hanlon
Wanda Carson
Kumiko and Masaru Nakano
Katherine Hallam
Diana Watts

Congratulations to all the winners, these are only artists listed not manufacturers. The TOBY Public Choice award winners 2016 will be announced at the TBAI Show in August!


-from the bears and me

Happy Easter

For God so loved the world... And Jesus knowing the outcome still gave up his life and rose again. Who would do that? My savior, and I am always humbled by that.

Be blessed today, you have proof you are loved beyond measure.


-from the bears and me

My Son Tried To Get Me Killed!

Sorry not to have posted regularly past couple months but have had some health issues.not wearing the portable defibrillator any more which is good and looking to get other issues resolved soon. But I plan on dying a natural death. Which brings me to this post!
My plan was to get in the workroom and get some pieces put together. My sons plan was to have me follow him to have his car dropped off at the dealership and take him to work. Ok.
We start off. Get to first big intersection he takes off, leaves me looking around construction to jump in the lane before oncoming traffic, good start. Moving on , I'm thinking he needs to be in left lane cause he will need to turn. Nope to the right and straight ahead, nope oops he jumps into left turn lane leaving me little room to fall in behind and I narrowly get in behind him without pissing off the driver behind me. Ok going straight. He's up ahead van gets in between, ugh, stay or get in other lane, I stay. Oh good van gets in next lane, catching up, another car moves in ok it's gone phew, my son changes lanes!
Then I'm looking at the street signs and realize the street we just passed could have been reached by shorter direction...nope, stay calm. Then we reach the dealership and he zooms in across traffic and no I did not follow him!
When he gets in the car I ask, "why were you trying to kill me?" He goes,"what?"

Hope his plan is to get a friend to take him to pick up his car, just saying. I plan to go naturally!


-from the bears and me

HuntValley Review 2014

As collectors who attend this show know the corner of artists where I am dress up. Our theme this year was Christmas jingles. I was Bing Crosby and my song was I'm Dreaming Of A White Christmas. Penny French was Elvis with Blue Christmas and Cindy Malchoff was Jingle bells! But Donna Nielsen won the collectors choice award. Congratulations Donna!


This is my new candy container bear.


Beautiful piece by Penny French.


These little ones are by Cindy Malchoff.


A cutie by Donna Griffin.


Judy Eppilito had this lion that just had to have its picture taken.


Shane Elliot had this wonderful bear on his table.


Art Rogers always has a riotous piece on his table sure to make you smile.


One of many silver bear pieces that Dotty Ayers had for sale.


Meeting of artists before show.


Stevi T and me goofing off.




Hope you had a good time visiting the show, thank you to all who attended in person, we love seeing you. Until next time hugs and joy.

Spirits in Sanford Show Review 2014

The show this past weekend at the Jeanine Taylor Folk Art Gallery in Sanford , Florida was such great fun!


This is one of my new cats that went to a great new home.


Part of my set up with a new large French bulldog, also happily rehomed.


Robert Brawley of Halloween Fanatic's table.


View from behind my table.


View from my table again with artists, Pat Rick James Gill, Carly Smith and Robert Brawley having fun conversation.


Pat Gill of Every Witch Way Ln. And Cre8or's Touch's display.


Jorge De Rojas of HohoHalloween's table.


Fun character from Debbie George of Halloween Jingle Bells Boo.


Iva Wilcox's pumpkin witch.


This ode to autumn is by Lori Platt of The Pixie Knoll.


Side view of my table, I was in front window of gallery so light was bad for photos.





And to haunt you forever, me in my costume, creative indecision. The right head is 'I don't know', the left head is 'I don't like it , and I am ' in control , really, control, hehehe...'

Hope you enjoyed the short visit. Didn't get pictures if all the artist wonderful work so if you want to see everything you need to come next year!

Thanks Jeanine, Mary and all the wonderful crew!

2014 TOBY Peoples Choice Awards

Our winners are:
Michelle Lamb
nastascha Sabo
Suan Donaj
Hike Buchner
Katherine Hallam
Karin de Lorenzo
Stevi T
Jenny Johnson
Shelly Allison
Stevi T
Joanne Livingston

And arist of the year is Katherine Hallam
Congratulations all !!!


-from the bears and me

Happy Fourth and other news

Halloween Art Show Participating Artist for the Jeanine Taylor Folkart Spirits in Sanford Show October 3,4 of 2014. Happy Me!

hope it was a Happy Fourth enjoying the hard earned freedoms available to us.