Decisions, Decisions!!!

The Big Moving Day Is Quickly Approaching. At This Point, I'm Unsure If I Will Be Moving In With My Parents Into Their New House Or Moving Into A House I'm Hoping To Buy. I'm Just Starting To Realize The Massive Amounts of Ummmm "Stuff" I Have Acquired Over The Last Several Years. Teddy Bears Galore Everywhere I Look, Bear Making Materials That Are Just Calling To Be Used (Finally) And Just Knick Knacks And Stuff I Have Decided Would Be A Good Idea (In My Mind) To Hoard. Stuff That I Told Myself I Would Use When I Bought It, Yet Years Later Lay In Piles Across My Room Waiting To Be Boxed. Now, The House I Currently Have An Offer On, Is By No Means A Large House. Six Hundred Square Feet And A Collection Worthy Of It's Own Wing In A Teddy Bear Museum, Just Doesn't Add Up. Now I'm At The Point Where I Have To Decide. Do I Put Most Of My Stuff In Storage Or Would Now Be An Ideal Time To Sort Through And Decide What I Might Want To Part With. I Always Told Myself That I Could Never Sell Any Of My Collection. Each Piece Represents Years Of Dedicated Collecting. Oh What Ever Shall I Do? Decisions, Decisions!

Until Next Time,
Jeremy

I ♥ Vintage Finds!

It was gorgeous here in Southern Ontario today, so I decided it was the perfect time to take some of my vintage plush pals outside for an impromptu photo shoot. On the left is a simulated mohair & synthetic plush fox by Wendy Boston Co. that is based on the British television show Basil Brush. The character on the right is one that is well known by both young and old alike...Bambi! The Bambi is made of synthetic plush and has a wire armature throughout it's body and felt applique eyes, nose and spots. Bambi was manufactured in Los Angeles, California for Walt Disney Characters by California Stuffed Toy Co. Both Bambi & Basil Brush were found in local antique shops and each cost me about $15. A Deal I could hardly pass up, I think you'd agree?

Until Next Time...

Mohair Divas Social Network

I am pleased to announce that one of my online teddy bear pals, Kelly Dauterman of Blondheart Arts has announced a new online social networking site called Mohair Divas. The site allows members to create their own personal page, a discussion forum and a place to post pics of their newest creations! I personally believe that within a short time the community will be the best, busiest place online for fellow teddy bear artists/makers to meet and swap ideas and stories. Such a GREAT idea.

Visit The Community At : http://mohairdivas.ning.com/

Huge Kudos To You Kelly,

Jer

Bears For A Cause

For the second year in a row, Jenny Johnson of Three O'Clock Bears is organizing the Breast Cancer Care Pink Bear Draw. The tickets will be on sale from September to October and are £5.00 each. This year, there are five bears to be won from well-known artists Jenny Johnson, Yvonne Andrews, Victoria Allum, Samantha Potter and Melanie Jayne Culshaw. All five bears are just gorgeous and all the proceeds from the raffle will go towards Breast Cancer Care services. To help support a wondeful cause and for the chance to add one of the bears to your hug, more info on how to contact Jenny can be found at:

http://www.threeoclockbears.com/hope/

As many of us have known for years, teddy bears can provide hope and comfort. So make a difference, buy your tickets today...

Jeremy

Here's a Challenge!

As you may now know, I am a moderator of the Bears and Soft Toys category of the forum on www.toycollector.com . Each of the moderator's was asked by the site administrator to come up with a challenge for their respective forum. Steiffi (the other mod) and myself are each doing a challenge. Hers involves finding 50 images of stuffed toy hedgehogs in one thread and mine involves finding 50 images of miniature soft toys. They can be any animal, manufactured or artist made. If anyone would like to help me complete my challenge, it can be found at the following address:

http://www.toycollector.com/forum/bears-and-soft-toys/

Thanks In Advance,
Have Fun Hunting!

Jer

TBOV Toronto Show

The Toronto Teddy Bears On Vacation Summer Teddy Bear Show & Sale is on Sunday and I'd like to wish all of my teddy bear artist friends who are attending the show good luck! Here's some info for those of you who might want to attend.

SUNDAY, JULY 6, 2008

Teddy Bears on Vacation
TORONTO BOTANICAL GARDEN
777 Lawrence Ave. East at Leslie Street
10:00am-3:30pm

Are You A "Toy" Collector???

Have you ever rummaged through a flea market or antiques store looking for that perfect vintage Steiff bear to add to your collection? If you have, you might just be a toy collector. Now before I get my head torn off for calling teddy bears "toys" instead of soft sculpture, let me remind you that the teddies of times past were indeed created as children's play things and were basic compared to today's artistic teddy bear creations. As I have always been a fan of the teddy bear, I am pleased to announce that I am now a forum moderator at a fantastic new website called Toy Collector. The website is set up for collector's of all different types of toys from antiques to modern pieces, from die cast cars, dolls & teddy bears to sailboats, construction sets & toy soldiers. There is a forum to chat with other members, an area for members to post pics and videos of their collections, an events calendar & even a section for member blogs! I moderate the Teddy Bears/Soft Toys section of the forum, with fellow bear fanatic Steiffi and we both hope that you will pay us a visit. We can never have too many members! So without further adieu, I present to you, www.toycollector.com

Bear Hugs,
Jeremy