IDEX 2011

The three day show started kind of slow but by the end several artist had sold out!


This is one of my pieces, Pokey Elephant that sold and I took orders on.


Wild Bear was a big seller. He's wild cause he doesn't even wear a ribbon round his neck.


As promised this Cindy McGuire of China Cupboard Bears with one of her cute pigs. She also had a wonderful donkey everyone was admiring.


This is one of Nancy Latham's new Wabbits. Known more for her dolls, she is back making bears and wabbits too.


This is Leo by Irene Heckel who also did a needle felting class.


This sloth was by Annette Rauch. The ties on it are just great! It can even hang from a branch.
Other bear artists at the show were Janet Wilson, Bev White and Sue McKay. Felicia Hymer of Bear Scouts, Good bear of the World and World of Miniature Bears were also showing great bears. Hope you enjoyed seeing some of the pieces shown.

Set-Up for IDEX

Well got down to the Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel to set up for the show. Felicia Hymer of bear scout was setting up. Cindy McGuire had already set up and left. Her pieces look great! Nancy Latham of Wistful Children did some bear pieces and wabbits this year. Annette Rauch had her table ready but won't put the pieces out till tomorrow, first wholesale day. Collectors can attend Saturday and Sunday.
So no pictures today but you'll get those later. If you are in Orlando stop by the show and see what's new this year from your favorite bear or doll artists.

I better go work on hang tags!



From the bears and me:0)

San Diego

So part of doing the Crossroads show was getting to hang out with friends. Friday before the show we went on a ten mile bike ride at Mission Bay on down to the ocean and back.


That's me as we stopped to look at the water.
After the show we went to Santa Barbara and visited Solvang.


Of course that meant checking out the antique shops and the food, Danish pastries, oh my!
We spent time at the Susan Quinlan Doll & Teddy Bear Museum. They'll be having a new artist & collector convention May12-14 this year in Philadelphia. More info coming.



My artist pals and me overlooking the ocean. Donna, Cindy, me and Sharon.
The weather was wonderful, the company great and the show fun. And tomorrow just a week later I'll be setting up for IDEX. Ah more on that tomorrow. I've got to get back to work!

Crossroads Show 2011

Two floors of artists and vendors had collectors running back and forth for two days with lots to see. There were antiques from doll and bear artists. Dotty Ayers and John Paul Port had bear related antiques to drool over.
Gordana Littles Doll Studio (760-749-3257) sold a theatre by artist Connie Tognoli.


Wonderful piece to see.
The TOBY Industry Choice Award Winners were announced. Laura Sanchez who did a piece with Steve Schutt was there to receive her award.


Some other winners, and this is not a complete list as I don't write that fast, are Paula Carter, Cheryl Hutchinson, Denise Purrington , Michelle Lamb, Charlene Drager, Kim Russell, Ron & Kristy Northman, Karin DeLorenzo, Krista Griffiths, Cindy Cherry, Shelly Allison, Jutta Michels, Karen Lyons, and Jane Monroe.
Missing from this list are the miniature and small artist bear winners and I do apologize. Also artists Kelly Graham, Cinda Peterson, Gloria Chan and Patricia Bierer were winners.


John Paul Port accepted the Inspiration Award 2011 on behalf of his mother, this years winner, Beverly Port. Congratulations to all the winners.

Heading out to Califonia

It's that time of year and the shows start up again.The first for me this year is theCrossroads show put on by Dorothy Drake inSan Diego. Normally I would have more work done, but being sick for half of November and all of December kept me out of the workroom. As you can see by last post I have been making monkeys:)
They are so fun!

To all my great followers thank you for sticking with me, I hope to be back on track with my posts very soon.

The Toby nominations will be announced at the show! I know some of you have been bogged down by weather and are looking to hear fun bear news so stay tuned to see what's going on at the show.

Now I have to finish packing, oh boy!

On the Work Table

After being unable to work I finally had a breakthrough. Here is one of my new pieces for this year.
This is before detailing


And this is after detailing


This little monkey is a new edition to my Le Cirque series. Hope you like him, he fits right in the palm of your hand. He's mohair with wool felt inserts and sewn and hand painted detailing.
This is the first new Le Cirque piece in a year so I'm excited!