Sign of the times...

If, like me, you are feeling the pinch of the economic climate you will be pleased to know that I have decided to offer layaway terms on all bears bought on-line from now on. This will include eBay auctions that reach the sum indicated on the eBay page as and when I do auctions.
I have not always been keen to offer layaway because offering it does tend to mean that I have bears hanging around for 2 or 3 months and I do like to send them off quickly to their new homes to make way for others!
I can't however offer layaway terms on 'first option' bears and bears made especially on request.
Hope it helps!!

Rascal...a sweet new bear available

I have just added this sweet new bear to my ' available' page....all his details can be found there!
RASCAL HAS NOW BEEN ADOPTED!! Thanks

A new bear tomorrow!!

I have a lovely new bear who will be available tomorrow afternoon!!!

Don't miss out!!

I have been so busy and have been meaning to post this for ages! Here are the details of the Sheffield fair along with details of a competition to win VIP tickets including a night at the hotel that the fair will be held!! Visit the link to find out more. Be quick though it ends tomorrow!!
http://www.thegreatyorkshireteddybearevent.co.uk

I am interested to know....

...what people think.


I am so enjoying these new puppies that I am making and I have had a huge amount of positive  feedback...mainly from other bear makers ..but some from collectors too. When the auction was running there were 85 watchers...almost 500 page views yet only 2 bids. I am not too worried about eBay as it is very often merely an  exercise to get my work 'out there' .
Given the amount of feedback and yet the lack of bids I am assuming that it is ebay that people don't like rather than the puppies? I am interested to know what you think.
Is it that most people collect bears not dogs? Maybe it's that people don't like the dogs period.
I am interested to know and would love to hear back from people with your views....

Mabel..a sweet little puppy on eBay!

This is my newest project. I have been working on creating this puppy head shape for some time now ...and simple as it looks, often the simplest things take the most thinking about!!
I am delighted with how this sweet little scamp turned out.
Mabel is on ebay for 3 days starting at 8.30pm UK time , Thursday 11th Oct , she finishes on Sunday.
Do pop along and have a look at her auction. all the details are there along with some nice photos of her!

Just showing off really....

I was just blown away by this picture of my littlest grand-daughter Anna....I took it this morning while she was here...
She's such a pretty girl..and so sweet and placid, unlike my daughter, her mummy, who cried at every opportunity!!
I remember it well!!

Misha..my little puppy..

I am loving making this new design. this is MISHA. She is a sweet little puppy. She already has a new mum but I thought I would show her off anyway. I will be putting a puppy design on eBay on Wednesday or Thursday..so watch this space!

A good time was had by all...

I have been so busy lately that my dedication to duty has be somewhat lacking and the blog has become a bit static...the reason for this is that last weekend I did my very first artist signing at Silly Bears Aberdeen!!

What a fabulous time we had. I was joined by Gregory Gyllenship  of Gregory Bears and Shelly Allison, The Rabbit Maker along with the refreshingly ( and annoyingly ;o/) young and trendy Andrew John all togged out in kilt and Vivienne Westwood making me in my Country Casuals outfit look and feel like an aged aunt!!

I had never been to Julieann Bruce's wonderful shop before and was anticipating it with both excitement and nervousness. I was totally overwhelmed by it...it was like stepping into a wonderful nursery from bygone times. Bears peeped from every shelf and drawer, the window display is so tastefully done with a little iron bed upon which a carefully arranged pile of bears are perched, their pleading faces begging you to take them home.

Julieann has set a new standard with her shop, and has taken our industry into the realms of high end antique shops, art galleries and fashion houses with it's style and impeccable taste. This is just how bears should be viewed, in a showcase which highlights the artistry of the maker.

I think it's a bold move in a world where teddy bears can be viewed as twee, but here artist bears sit comfortably side by side with vintage Steiffs. The shop shows the bears to be more than toys...it is clear to the potential buyer that these artistic pieces have been selected by someone who knows about bears and collectors can feel that they are buying a piece of art, nostalgia, history or style with each bear they purchase.

So it's a thumbs up from me for Silly Bears! OOh and addd to that some wonderful canapes and Hibiscus Cocktails and you can say that a very good time was had by all!
Here is a selection of the bears that I sent to Silly Bears for the signing: