Another Year

Well, it's new years eve and another year is winding down. I finally have my voice back after being sick since mid November. But that's another story.
Looking back over the year I have to say thank you to all my family, friends and collectors that have enriched my life. You have made me laugh, given me encouragement, and increased my joy.
I am glad to have an artistry that allows me to be creative and to express myself. At the moment it's been blocked, probably from being sick. But I look forward to the new things I will be making. And sharing with you.
So I'm saying goodbye to an old year that saw me grow and not just older. I'm preparing to say hello to new beginnings, new opportunities and new experiences with welcome arms.
Are you ready to embrace a new year and new dreams?
The bears and I will see you in the new year.


From the bears and me:0)

Great Joy

The angel said,"do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.

Merry Christmas

Our church had it's Christmas play on Wednesday night. The men's choir sang and the women cheered them on. The kids said their parts, a little mistake here and there. And the teens showed off their musical chops all to ready to be older.
But the heartwarming thing was the young man that played Joseph who seemed so nervous until his grandfather showed up. Then he was full of confidence. Because he was backed up by love.
I'm wishing you love in the same spirit that it has been given to us and with it know you can do anything! That's my joy! Let it be yours. And Merry Christmas.


From the bears and me:0)

It' Ready!

My first meyer lemons are finally ripe and ready to use. Only had two but I think it's great for my first ones off my tree.








Ah cut and ready to juice, don't they look great ?!








Look at the richness of color of that juice. Nothing like homegrown. Sorry you can't taste it though, as good as it looks!

Happy Thanksgiving 2010

I'm in the midst of cooking the turkey, greens, and the garbanzo beans for a pumpkin hummus( the rest of dinner will be made later), and thinking of all the people I'm grateful for.
I'm grateful for family, friends, all of you and all the people who make me realize how blessed I am.

I hope your day leaves you with a full stomach, a full heart and a place to lay your head.

Happy Thanksgiving All!


From the bears and me:0)

Daughter surprise

My daughter got me into making bulldogs by ordering one for a coworker. Now she wants to order more and I mentioned I might make some as part of my jewelry line. It wasn't even designed yet and she wanted them. So here they are. Surprise!

Orlando Puppet Festival 2010

The Orlando Puppet Festival has kicked off it's season (November 18-December 10) with it's exhibit at the Gallery at Avalon Island.
This year the theme is Crime and Puppetment with puppet artists from California , New York, South Carolina as well as Florida participating.





All from one huge piece based on Gory.








Hope you enjoyed looking around.

Hunt valley continued

This is Donna Griffins of Donna and the Bears display. She made the little houses and they lit up.


Here's a close up of her sweet little bear.


And here's part of my table with holiday bears.
Hope you get to attend next year!

Hunt Valley Show Review 2010

The show opened to an enthusiastic crowd and the atmosphere in the room was one of fun. Collectors were happily buying their favorites


My angel bear.


A large rabbit from artist Cindy McQuire of China Cupboard Bears that sold quickly! And you missed her wonderful circus elephant. It found a new home too.


Meg Jackson and hubby dressed in costume looking great.

The artists really did decorate their space and gave the the room a holiday air. More in a minute.

Another Peek

There are angels in our midst.


From the bears and me:0)

Veterans Day 2010

God bless all who have served,those that still serve and those that were injured or died in service to their country.

To be free is a precious thing, to have rights that we can exercise at will a costly thing. I thank all who fought and continue to fight so hard for them.

I thank my husband who served for 23 years in the Navy who every day of his service showed pride and honor in being a sailor.

I humbly thank all of you, my family, my friends, and my neighbors for your service.


From the bears and me:0)

More to See

So can you guess who I am now? Yes this is a Santa Bear that will be at the Hunt Valley Christmas and Holiday Show this Saturday.

I will also have new jewelry pieces. They can be worn or hung as ornaments.


The giraffe necklace is six inches in length.


Bear necklaces are three and a half inches in length. The chains are usually twenty-two inches.
There will be a variety available.

Well I have to get back to work on my angel! Hope to see you in Maryland at the show!

Peek a Boo

So I've been busy in the workroom and here's a teaser. This bear will be at the Hunt Valley Show this coming Saturday. There will be more pictures tomorrow.

I have finished my physical therapy and am doing well. Gotten most of my orders done and have some new pieces to start so stick around and thanks for your patience with me:)

Who Knew?

Went to physical therapy again today. Found out why I cannot do dancers pose in yoga and a couple other things and because it could affect all you other bear artists who sit all the time, I thought I would share. Seems my thighs are really really really tight because i sit so long once i start working. This shortens the muscles and tightens them which is not a good thing. So every hour stand and lift your leg from the knee toward your behind, then switch and do the same with the other leg.
This could say you a lot of pain and unnecessary injury. Live and learn. Therapy continues tomorrow and I am getting better. Not bad first week.
The more I try to take care of myself the less I seem to get done. But we know that won't stop me. He He. Oh and by the way, somehow my left leg was shorter than my right by an inch! I cracked up laughing when they told me. Laughed even harder when she said they would have to pull it to lengthen it. And that is just what they did! I love my life., goofy as it gets.

37th Annual Winter Park Autumn Art Festival

Went to the art festival this morning with my hubby. Yes, still walking slow, but walking. It was worth it. The autumn show is all Florida artists.


We went early so it wasn't too crowded and the weather was wonderful.


Gabriel Puyana of J.G. Puyana Designs had some fascinating work. He calls it utopian glass architecture. He can be reached at 407 671-4433.


Patrick Pierson's work is full of joy and mystery. You can see more of his work at his gallery, Fyshwerks Studio Gallery.

Did I get anything? You bet! I got a print of this...


It's by Larry Humphrey. His email is LHUMPH@ATLANTIC.NET
It was taken in Chios, Greece. Wish you could have seen his other photography. Just beautiful.

Find a art festival and find your next great piece of art!

0w That Hurt!

A week ago I had the misfortune to injure my right hip, while I think something was dislocated and slipped back into place on Monday, my doctor says it's my back. She ran me through a battery of tests and when I had finished my ultrasounds, she talked to me and said 'if your pain gets worse or you turn blue, go to the emergency room or come see me!'. Turn Blue?!


let's see , um excuse me why are you here? Well see, normally I'm not this blue color! Anyway, I am feeling better. Went to yoga, couldn't do everything but did what I could. And after barely being able to walk, lay down or sit, that was fine for me.

And now next week I get to start physical therapy. Joy:)

Pictures of new pieces shortly.

It's love bug season

Those connected little bugs came in the house with me.


No close up needed. Just let me say that they are everywhere. At the stop light you can hardly see out the window. Getting in and out of the car you need netting.
Their only purpose is to make more of themselves if you know what I mean. They are attached to the color white big time. Guess what color my car is.
The weather gets better and we get love bugs. Ugh , where did I put my beekeepers hat?!

Teddy Bears of Witney

The new 2011 catalog for the English bear shop, Teddy Bears of Witney, is out! Oh, why is that important, you mean besides the wonderful bears in it? I'm fortunate enough to have two of my pieces in it.





Gramble the bear and Edmund the elephant. LE of 10 each.


Contact the shop and get a catalog or a new bear!

So how was Chantilly 2010?

Saturday artists were arriving at the hotel and some of went shopping as others shopped as they drove.
We went to the reception ( see post below) hosted by Teddy Bears And Friends and had a good time.
Set up for the show came early and was that rain? Ah it turned out okay and for a first show look at all those people!


This is Apple Betty one of my new bears who attended the show.


Artist Penny French had an early Santa at the show. Her santas don't last on the table very long.


Michelle Lamb had this wonderful lion at her table.

There was a great variety in the artists, the collectors shopped then ate then shopped again.

I will be back next year, maybe I'll see you there? If you are an artist get your application in early. If you are a collector save your money cause who knows what wonderful things you'll be seeing next year!

TOBY Winners

Saturday night was the 2010 TOBY Publics Choice Awards Reception and some of the winners were in Chantilly.


Michelle Lamb won for Jojo, miniature artist bear.


Ron and Kristy Northman won for Pfeifer The Patriot, small artist bear, dressed.


Karen Lyons won for Thomas' Big Present, artist set or vignette and for The Stray, large artist "friends ", which also won Best in show!

Other winners were
Linda Joan Chiasson, Cassey-small artist bear undressed
Lori Simon, Peter-large artist bear dressed
Karin De Lorenzo,Knutely-large bear undressed
Silvia Gilles,Gina-small artist friends
Kelly Graham,phinneus-artist creation nontraditional materials

Cogratulations artists job well done!

Where Have I Been?!

Can't believe how long it's been since my last post! I'm catching a plane in a few hours and still haven't packed all the bears. I got home from the TBAI show and got to work on new things for the Chantilly show that will be held on Sunday at the Dulles Expo in Virginia. And All i have been doing is trying to make bears. Haven't even cleaned up the excelsior from the last batch of bears.

My yard is a wreck, things need pruning and have got to do laundry! But hubby's pineapples are doing so well he's handing them out to neighbors and co-workers alike. They're all happy. I celebrated another birthday and labor day came and went. It's time to stop and smell the roses, hmmm or is that the laundry? That woman you'll see sprawled out on her couch come Monday that will be me.. in the meantime I better go get packed. Enjoy your weekend and I'll let you know how the show goes.``

Views From Lake Placid

After the TBAI show I got to visit Lake Placid. Here are some views.


Makes you want to get out on the water.


One of the stores we visited.


Another great river view. It was beautiful up there people were hiking, swimming and riding their bikes. And it was a great day. Visit if you get the chance.

TBAI all went home

The TBAI show was great fun. There were even artists from Canada, England and Hong Kong.


Elanor Andrews of Shantock Bears from England charmed collectors and artists alike.


Me in costume at my table.


Loading the bus at Ross Park Zoo after a wonderful meal and fun with the animals and friends.
Come be part of the excitement next year!

TBAI Excitement

The show started last night with outrageous hats, high spirits and lots of laughter. The stage was set literally with a mad tea party in progress.


This is one of the Queen's Guard that I did.


There they are in the background. The White Rabbit is by artist Penny French our stage designer. And the Queen if Hearts is by TBAI chairman and artist, Cindy Malchoff.

Today included a wonderful talk from doll artist Nancy Wiley.


Here is Katherine Hallam,artist from England enjoying Nancy at right answering questions.




And here is my March Hare jewelry pin. Hope you like it. Time to get ready for the Gallery show.

Heading to Binghamton

Well I've been in New York for two days and head to Binghamton for the TBAI show that starts tomorrow.
My costume is ready, oh you didn't know? The theme is children's classics and the shows going to be a Alice in Wonderland Mad Tea Party. I'm going to be the Duchess Hehe. Want to see a jewelry piece made for the show?


The Cheshire Cat and there is also Alice and the Mad hatter.

Here's some of the many bicyclists that have been seen riding through the streets caught in unexpected rain shower


Ok so they hard to see, hehe. Got to go, will keep you posted on the show.

The Road Home

Greeted by sunny weather and blue skies we started back home Half an hour into the trip my husband crested a hill and saw the police car and the speedometer at the same time!
Did he see him? Yes! One ticket later we were on our way again, much slower pace. Hubby is still getting used to fact this car goes faster than you think you are going. He watched speed more than the road.



Rest of trip was uneventful. Watched (him) and the wonderful clouds that looked like dragons playing in the sky, flying ducks and a stray alligator.
Always good to be home and sleep in your own bed, right LA:)

And I hope you are snug in your own beds too! The bears and I are getting back to preparing for the TBAI show.

Shopping and eating

We've been to the malls the outlet malls and laces I have no idea where we were But we saw this cool old Impala in a parking garage.


At kilwins I got fudge and drooled at these....


I love a good candy apple! And couldn't miss the King of Pops.


I got the raspberry lime, it was so good, want a lick?


Ended the day at Artuzzi's Italian kitchen.


This salmon sandwich had red onions, red peppers, lettuce and tomato a lemon dill caper aioli with roasted salmon of course all on toasted ciabatta. Yummy!
Did you eat today?