Happy New Year 2010

Wishing all a new year of hope,


Prosperity, joy and fullfillment. May you find joy in the small things, fullfillment from what you already have,prosperity in times of need and joy every day in some way.

May you be blessed in ways you never imagined. A new year, another beginning!
Hugs and joy from the bears and me.

New Animal

So here is your first picture clue to my new animal for my le cirque series. It will be available in the new year.


From the bears and me:0)
Have fun guessing.

Back to Work

Only three days left in this year,how did that happen?! Anyway, I've only got a couple weeks to get ready for the first shows of the year and this year is special. I will be celebrating 25 years in business as a bear artist, what to do what to do. How to celebrate? I am doing a special bear to celebrate my love of books along with the occasion, it is called Alice Pop-Up. It will be a three dimensional pop-up book of some scenes of Alice in Wonderland that a bear will be reading. How many you ask, well there will be one at each show I am at, so at least ten, and maybe up to twenty-five. Haven't decided yet. I so love doing one-of-a-kinds. But I want to do something special for my collectors.
And there are plans for a give away so get ready followers, information to come soon! 1985 - 2010, wow, this should be fun.

And this week, I'll start posting teasers of what's new coming from my workroom. Be back soon.

Merry Christmas 2009

From the bears and me we wish you joy, peace and love.
May you remember you are cherished. Say hi to those you love and to those who need love.
Merry Christmas To All

Sad Note

Our cat, Suess, passed away yesterday . Though I am sad, she was just struggling to be here and I am glad she doesn't have to anymore.
She kept me company through three surgeries two years ago. She would talk on the phone with my daughter and would run to the door when my son's car hit the drive. And she could tell the difference between his car, my husbands and mine!
She was a good and steady companion and friend to our family. We love her and will miss her.



SUESS

Together

Happy Anniversary to Me! Well to my husband and me, 35 years, wow. I'm really not old you know but that does sound like a lot. You understand it isn't always roses, but at this point we don't sweat the small stuff, we like each other and we still love each other. We don't play games with each others emotions, though anyone will tell you we are silly. So if you ask how we lasted this long... when it got bad I prayed.
You love, you try, you forgive. together you just live and hopefully together you love. Here's to you and yours,Cheers.

Wishes

Happy Hannukah to those celebrating that miracle of oil lasting those many years ago. We may have different religions but especially at this time of year it is my wish that we find the time to be a little more kind than we have to be, a little more tolerant than we thought we could be, and a liitle more loving than we knew we had the heart and mind to be.
My wish is we will be this generous throughout the coming year.
That's my door with my wreath. I hope it makes you smile.

Thanks for Attending

To all the tea party attendees thank you for stopping at my party. It was so nice of you to come by. I went to all the parties too! Welcome to all my new followers, and to all of you who follow this blog you make my day!
Now don't forget Kelly is hosting A Hartfelt Christmas this Saturday so get ready!


From the bears and me:0)

Christmas Tea Party for the Toys

A Christmas Story... You Are Invited






You're Invited! You're invited! If you want to come you have to follow the path.








Is that a note for me? Did that snowman put that invitation in there?


Where is he going? Do I want to go too? It said follow the path.



I'll follow the path and the snowman. They're going in the se direction.





Glad he's wearing a red scarf, I could lose him in this snow. Snowmen don't have a scent for a polar bear to smell. They smell just like the snow on the ground. Wait a minute, where did he go?!


What's that up ahead? Wow a snowman tea party! Cookies and tea and my friend Penguin!


Snow tea,my very favorite!


Merry Christmas Everyone and enjoy your holidays!

Reminder

Tomorrow is The Christmas Tea Party for The Toys being hosted by Ginger over at bearbits. I am excited because this will also be my 100th post for my blog! What fun, you will get a flip book if you copy the pictures but please remember this is my artwork and is only to be used for your personal viewing not to be reproduced for sale. And let's hope it works as a flip book:0) otherwise enjoy the story!

Newspaper Article

Amy KD Tobik, a writer with th Seminole Chronicle, was kind enough to do an article on the bears and me. Ed Ruping did the photos. Thank you both.






Picture from the article.
Well on to other things. Now what was I doing to get ready for the tea party...pictures?Hmmmmm.

Check in tomorrow. Hehe

Getting Ready

There's a party this weekend! And I spent last night deep in preparation. Doing what you ask,well to answer would give it away. Let's just say I was up a long time and I was very busy...
there were some, oh better not say. But they made some..uh , no. Okay, guess you'll just have to stay tuned. It's the Christmas Tea Party for the Toys on Saturday hosted by Ginger over at Bearbits. Just check my sidebar and hit the logo or her tag and you'll get there.
Maybe I'll drop some hints tomorrow:)

Renningers Extravaganza Nov. 2009

Went to the extravaganza weekend before Thanksgiving but with the holiday and being under the weather I hadn't posted.
Met bear artist, Jane Woodard and bear collector and writer, Beth Phillips for lunch. They had already been exploring just like me! It was a great day, there were some old bears out there but the prices were pretty up there too. Not much luck on old toys either. One vendor had a sampleman's piano bench but I couldn't see paying $125 for it when another vendor had a regular child size one selling at just $36. So you just have to be aware and look around. So what did I find? Ahh!



Vintage bottle brush trees








Buttons, buttons, buttons! To sew on and to pin on!


Doll clothing that will show up on character bears soon.


A 1934 Popeye card game, cause as a kid Popeye was my favorite cartoon.








And just a sampling of the old prints I was lucky enough to pick up. If you get the chance - Go! Your lucky find is waiting for you, and maybe we'll meet for lunch!

Happy Thanksgiving

Hubby made mac and cheese, sweet potatoes and the cranberries , while I made the turkey, dressing and greens. Team effort! No matter what you're having or who you are with I hope there is love in your heart, food in your tummy and compassion in your soul. Because what we have this moment is fleeting, so be thankful , be joyous and know today I remember and am thankful for you.


-- Posted while out and about

Clutter

I didn't start out to have a cluttered life. That's because I really didn't own anything and I wasn't a knick knack person, just the basic things. Then circumstances changed and I began to hold on to things until I recently realized it didn't hold the people I was missing any closer.
So my mission to declutter my spaces began again and again. This weekend it was forced upon me in the form of an opportunity and I managed to do
a presentable job of three areas in two days. Life again forcing me to be the person I really want to be. So have a peek at my workroom :)



The two bears are the first I ever made.


This bookshelf holds antique children's books.



This corner is where shelving and desk are, the area is covered with ribbons ,books, papers, and art supplies so I usually sit on the couch and work.
Just a peek at my work space.

I received this award from Nancy of Dog Patch Critters.. Thank you Nancy! Here are the rules to accepting this award.
Rules :-
1. Use only 1 word answers.
2. Pass along to 6 of you favorite bloggers.
3. Tell them you've given them the award.
4. Have Fun !!

1. Where is your cell phone? charging
2. Your hair? curly
3. Your mother? gone
4. Your father? gone
5. Your favorite food? caramel
6. Your dream last night? weird
7. Your favorite drink? lemonade
8. Your dream/goal? quality
9. What room are you in?livingroom
10. Your hobby? reading
11. Your fear? none
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? here
13. Where were you last night? asleep
14. Something that you aren’t? clutterfree
15. Muffins? blueberry
16. Wish list item? clutterfree
17. Where did you grow up? Cincinnati
18. Last thing you did? cooked
19. What are you wearing? pj's
20. Your TV? workroom
21. Your pets? cat
22. Friends? forever
23. Your life? blessed
24. Your mood? joyful
25. Missing someone? family
26. Vehicle? running
27. Something you’re not wearing? hat
28. Your favorite store? antique
29. Your favorite color? green
30. When was the last time you laughed? tonight
31. Last time you cried? tonight
32. Your best friend? Hubby
33. One place that I go to over and over? bed
34. One person who emails me regularly? Charisse
35. Favorite place to eat? Home

My six picks of favorite bloggers are:
Ginger of Bearbits
Kelly of A Stuffed Life
Wendy of Whendi's Bears
Pat of Murphy Bears
And I will add the other two later

Plants take over

This is a pepper plant started from a seed that my neighbor threw into the garden tub. It has gone through frost, rains and unrelenting sun and refuses to die! I can't use this many hot peppers! My husband loves hot spicy foods and one of these in your food is enough. And I don't really like hot food( ok I'm a wuss).
I should be as hardy as this plant!


-- Posted while out and about

Catch Up

Thanks to Nancy of Dog Patch Critters who let me know that cats do not tolerate onion well and when feeding my cat baby food to make sure this is not one of the ingredients. I stick to the stage one chicken, or turkey and the pate chicken cat food. She seems to be tolerating it well.

I also didn't get to wish our veteran's well yesterday and would like to do so now. Thank you to all who serve, have served and have given us our liberty, I salute you.

Next year marks my25th year making bears, having started in 1985. So I am trying to decide what my Anniversary piece will be and how many pieces to make. How to celebrate? A give away maybe? I see planning and plotting in my future!

So, it's back to the drawing board. Renninger's Extravaganza is next week in Mt. Dora, Fl., should be able to find some goodies to help create a nice character. Hmmm, see you later.

Teddy Bears, Dolls, Toys

The Sunshine Bear Den of Good Bears of the World had a collectibles show this weekend with artist bears, antique bears, toys and dolls.
Now at a show like that you know I have to look for treasures! And I found four books, that's Cubby Gets Bath the lion is holding. The lion found a home this weekend. Then there is the cute little doll dress, the animal print fabric and the Kiddies Book of Birds.
I met new people and saw old friends down in Lake Worth, Fl. and enjoyed doing the show. Attendance was a little low but people did buy, just like me.
A good note for my last show for the year. And a special thanks to Jane Woodard of Heir Bears for helping my hubby and I celebrate his birthday while we were there.

Back to creating next year's pieces.


-- Posted while out and about

It's a Christmas Tea Party

Ginger over at Bearbits is having a Christmas Tea Party for Toys on December 5, 2009. You may have noticed a logo for it on the side of my blog, just click on it to get all the details. You can either participate or just show up for the party and go from blog to blog to enjoy all the fun(blog has to be on Ginger's list as participating).

It's going to be a grand time. And Kelly over at Yesterday's Glitter will also be having a party on December 12th, A Hartfelt Christmas Blog Party, and you can click on her blog from the side of mine if you want to join. These ladies are great fun so you might want to mark your calendar now! These events are not to be missed.

Hunt Valley Review 2009

Saturday night was the Golden Teddy Awards Dessert Reception. Donna Griffin won two awards one for Mimi, undressed, 5inches and under; and one for Maude /accessorized,5inches and under.
We called and surprised her with the news.
StephanieTiongo was there to accept her win for Mommy I'm Stuck Kitten. Kelly Dean won for tableaux for Polar Pals, Guenter Dufeu won for Rex, Karen De Lorenzo won forDaydreamer and Vicky Lougher won for Lil Pudge. This years Teddy Society's Ambassador winner was Cindy Malchoff, rcognized for her work as an artist, promoter and the person who kept the continuity of the TBAI show, and promoter of the teddy bear industry as a whole.
That's her in the top photo and as a snowgirl for the show!
Above is Bev White's Nativity scene.

There I am in costume.
The bear Guys are in penguin form in last photo.

The show was a lot of fun as you can see and we got new info. Joe Jones,Dolls and Teddy Review, announced the new Expo show will be held October 1,2,3 of 2010 in Winton Salem, NC.

There is lots planned, check their website.

added note: sorry for the late post, internet was down asgain.
and on a good note my kitty is eating, thanks to a collector friend, Andrea, who is also a vet who told me to feed her baby food. It's working, she is eating after a week of not eating. My vet didn't tell me that, very disappointing.


Off to another show tommorrow, so back to work.

Hunt Valley Show2009

The Christmas/Holiday Show is being held at the Embassy Suites on International Circle in Hunt Valley on Sunday,November 1 from 10am until 4pm. Now Halloween will be over but there will still be some folks in costumes making the day even more festive.

I've gotten some work done and will have several animal pins, a new item, available to premiere at the show! There will be some Le Cirque pieces along with the normal array of bears and other odd animals.

Be sure to stop by and say hi if you can and see what a bunch of bear artists are up to this time of year, maybe your Christmas gift or that special present to give is waiting for you.We sure are, see you Sunday.

Have a safe Halloween.

Cats

I am still working on my pieces for the Hunt Valley Show being held in Maryland on November 1st. But it's been a little hard as my cat, my furry friend of thirteen years in the space of hours became very ill on Monday. In our years the vet says she is 68 years old. I am waiting on blood tests and in the meantime she can barely walk and can't lift her body into the litter box but somehow managed to get up onto the dining chair! I love that cat! Anyway here's two of the cat jewelry pins. I made a black one and a calico. It gave me some peace to make them.


-- Posted while out and about

CF VegFest 2010 Review

That would be me on the left scurrying to the Central Florida veg Fest this Saturday, along with my husband(whose feet you don't see).We obviously weren't hurrying because an elderly couple overtook and passed us as we were going to slow for them! How embarrassing!
The next photo is of Loch Haven where it was held and it was a beautiful day.
There were plenty of vendors and sponsors and the usual you would expect like PETA, Animal Activists.vegetarian restaurants etc. Along with music, speakers and demonstrations. And if you are not vegetarian or vegan, like me, you may wonder why go. I didn't feel like I was beat over the head to change my mind and because children were there too , I didn't see a lot of the horror pictures that just turn me off to the cause. I like education better. The opportunity to try thinggs out and figure out what's best for me on my own.



So my husband and I tried the vegan cheese which was very good, but I can't have because it has soy protein. People with thyroid problems should avoid soy protein as it interferes with the meds you take. But this Sheese was very good.
We also tried organic maqui superberry an antioxidant that you take a teaspoon of everyday.

There was a farm co-op that had way too many people around it to get to the table. Good for them bad for me.

Personal chefs gave a cooking demonstration on how to make Mushroom Ceviche. Did you know that if you leave anything in lemon or lime juice the acidity will break it down, essentially cooking it! Picking up tidbits all the time.
The restaurants had wonderful food, Pizza Fusion had pizza of course and the biggest brownies, while Dandelion tea had a green ginger tea that was wonderful( I'll be visiting soon!).

Had fun and would go again next year.

Still working

--this is one of my new jewelry pieces, a cat head with bow tie and a locket. You can add pictures or your own word for the day inside the locket. It will be available at the Hunt Valley show. Now back to work on that owl. Oops:) was I keeping that secret?!

Connected Again

Happy, happy me, my internet is backup and working! Not that you missed much, I am getting ready for my next show at Hunt Valley, it's the Christmas,Holiday Show being held November1st.

More on that later. It's already Thursday so hope you have a good weekend planned. In between my work I will be squeezing in a visit to the Vegfest being held here in Lock Haven Park in Orlando. Hopefully there will be goodies to send to my vegan daughter and a few things for me to try too. Working on staying healthy and keeping some health issues at bay. And in that same strain am enjoying my yoga classes though one instructor is kicking my butt. I go to a really great place, Red Sun Yoga, where they make the effort to know who you are, address you by name and make you feel welcome.



Photo from The Flip Flop Show book

Well, it's back to work for me. Have a good one and I'll be back with workroom news.

People are partying

A Fanciful Twist is hosting a Halloween Blog party today. I started reading posts last night, so far Yesterdays Glitter and Bear Bits posts are my favorite. Go check them out, join the party!

And it's a great day for one, Florida has weather in the seventies today. Happy, happy, happy!

Gallery Opening Reception

"No Strings Attached" presented by IBEX Puppetry had its gallery opening Thursday evening as part of the 5th annual Orlando Puppet Festival. Would you care to tag along?

These are some of the works that were presented and I was lucky enough to be one of the artist included.

Helaine Schneider did the two tree works,"Tree Cremation Urn" and "Feet Planted, Eyes to the Sky".


The party scene above is by Marsian and is titled "Growing Up Linda". The party girl is in red.

On the left is David Stephens "Robber" and "Rabbits".










Both of these pieces are in Heather Henson private collection. "Goat" by Scott Radke and "Johnny Crows Garden" by Darlene Allen(okay that's me:)





That's "Marley and Scrooge" on the left, and
"Bro' Rabbit Friends and Foes", the other two pieces I exhibited.

There was a wonderful turnout and of course much more to see but I did not get pictures of it all.

Had the opportunity to overhear two gentlemen discussing my work
just enough to know they were talking about it, but not to clearly hear. As any artist knows we work in a vacuum and so when we get out of our workrooms we feed on that energy from our collectors to keep us inspired and creating. Needless to say as I told my husband "i'm dying here". "What do you want?"
"To know what they are saying!"
And when I wouldn't ask, HE did! He told them, this is my wife the artist and she is shy...

And they came over and explained they like the work and how it featured human characteristics in animal form. ie similar to the new film Mr. Fox that will be coming out. They got it! So cool. Thanks dear, I am still so embaressed. Yes I am shy, just don't tell anybody okay?