Happy New Year !

Wishing You A Very Merry Christmas

I received this cute video ecard today from a sweet friend and wanted to share it with all of you.

I hope you are all ready for the big day ! The gifts are all bought and wrapped in this den......yikes, I just remembered I better take the turkey out of the freezer as soon as I finish here !!!
Remember, Christmas it isn't about all the "stuff", it is about family, friends and celebrating that little baby boy born in a manger so long ago :)

Enjoy !

Noel - the missing bear :)

Some of you may be wondering what ever happened to the mink bear I was making. I did take photos on Sunday like I mentioned. I decided to do a private listing on my website exclusively for my mailing list members . They were the only ones who had the link to his info. I am happy to say that Noel is heading to Manitoba for Christmas where , "The weather outside is frightful " LOL. I hope he doesn't freeze in those insanely cold temps. I know his new mom will make take good care of him when he arrives though.


Here is the link so the rest of you can enjoy more photos now that he is officially adopted.

The bear is FINALLY done !

Yes, can you believe it LOL !!!! The head is attached and I even made a velvet and mink santa hat for him to wear. I plan to do photos tomorrow , then offer him for sale somewhere. Not sure where yet.

An eventful week

Well, I do apologize for taking longer than expected to get this mink bears head completed. I ended up spending Sunday morning at the emergency for another panic like attack. My blood pressure and heart rate were sky high so they did lots of blood tests and an EKG to make sure I wasn't having a heart attack. I had to start blood pressure medication and had a follow up appointment with my doctor today which ruled out thyroid problems. I HATE taking pills :( Who knows why this is happening as the symptoms are common for many different things. I'm am glad the doctor discovered the blood pressure issue though ! I 'll change my diet and exercise more to see if that will keep the blood pressure under control too.

I still need to have another test done to see if we can sort this out, but the wait may be 3 months I'm told. So, hopefully this medication will keep me on track until then . It seems to be making me tired so I have to have sneak a few naps here and there LOL.

I really do hope to get this bear done by the weekend if all goes as planned LOL. I hope you can wait :)

I've lost my head LOL

I've been working on this champagne and black mink bear the past week in between Christmas shopping and all the other activities. It looks kind of funny without a head, but I assure you it will have one soon. I still think they look like turkeys this way LOL. I hope to get the head completed and attached in the next few days. Then he/she will be looking for a new home.

I'm pretty sure this will be my last mink bear of 2009. I always get a little sentimental each year when I say that ! I 'd like to get a mohair bear made if time permits. But, I can't promise. It depends how the days unfold, and they seem to fill up quickly this time of year :)

A Teddy Preview

I completed a new mink panda today named Nougat, and will be offering him on my website tomorrow @ 5pm . This 6.25" cutie will be first come first served, but here is a little teaser until then :)

He reminds me of a yummy candy bar, like a Toblerone, with the cream colored nougat inside and chocolate outside. Who can resist that temptation LOL.

Jackson, a mink cub

Please meet Jackson , my newest 8 inch recycled mink cub looking for a new home. He is available via silent auction on my website until Friday, November 27th. You can learn more about adopting him HERE.

Working away quietly

You may think I skipped the country, but I'm still here :) I have been quietly working on 3 bears actually, while enjoying my new Casting Crowns CD. This music totally inspires me ! The bears are in various stages of completion, but I hope to have at least one ready by mid-week.

In the meantime, enjoy this little flower I found in my yard the other day. It's nice to see some blooms this late in November.

Something Fun - A blog award

I'm still taking it easy, but I spent the week just working on a bear which sold within minutes yesterday. I was very excited about that !

Today I received this lovely Over The Top Blog Award. Hmm, maybe that was because of my "over the top" previous post LOL. I usually don't have the time to participate in these award, but today I thought it would be fun to play . Now to whom should I pass it on ????


Rules :-
1. Use only 1 word answers.
2. Pass along to 6 of you favourite bloggers.
3. Tell them you've given them the award.
4. Have Fun !!

1. Where is your cell phone? Coat
2. Your hair? straight
3. Your mother? lonely
4. Your father? Passed
5. Your favorite food? Pizza
6. Your dream last night? forget
7. Your favorite drink? Pepsi
8. Your dream/goal? Happiness
9. What room are you in? Craft
10. Your hobby? Photography
11. Your fear? Mice
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Bearmaking
13. Where were you last night? Church
14. Something that you aren’t? Extrovert
15. Muffins? Banana
16. Wish list item? Peace
17. Where did you grow up? Canada
18. Last thing you did? Laundry
19. What are you wearing? Jeans
20. Your TV? Evil
21. Your pets? Purring
22. Friends? Away
23. Your life? Busy
24. Your mood? Calm
25. Missing someone? Dad
26. Vehicle? OLD
27. Something you’re not wearing? Mascara
28. Your favorite store? Craft
29. Your favorite color? Yellow
30. When was the last time you laughed? Today
31. Last time you cried? Tuesday
32. Your best friend? Winnipeg
33. One place that I go to over and over? Ocean
34. One person who emails me regularly? Harriet :)
35. Favorite place to eat? Chinese

Panic Attack

I experience something very frightening last night, my first and hopefully last panic attack ! It came out of nowhere. What a horrible feeling as the heat then cold rushed over me, my chest tightened, my heart was pounding, my throat felt tight, and I could hardly breath. I felt faint, dizzy and VERY scared. It lasted about 20 minutes . At first I thought maybe I was getting the flu, but any longer and I was ready to go to the emergency. After, I was exhausted and slept for awhile. I am so glad my husband was home as he was away most of the week on business.

Life has been very stressful lately, and I guess it just manifested as a full blown attack. Time to slow down , and spend more time letting go and letting God deal with it. He's much more capable than I am :) Time too to make an appointment with my doctor just to be sure there isn't something more going on !!!

I'll just take it easy this week and work on a bear . That is always relaxing :)

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas......

Huh, I guess my wish yesterday for rain instead of snow went unheard LOL. I woke up to the first snow of the season this morning with more expected throughout the day. It is pretty, but I still didn't get the leaves raked in time. Guess I'll have to trade in the rake for a shovel today.


Maybe I'll climb under a warm blanket with a cup of hot chocolate instead :) I'm just not ready for winter .

A new mink panda for adoption

Please meet 8" Bradley, my newest cub available on my website. He is being offered by silent auction which you can read all about here. I had a really hard time getting his colors to show properly in the photos today. I had to resort to my old camera as someone seems to be secretly hoarding the rechargeable batteries LOL.

I hope you like Bradley, I think he is a handsome little fella :)

2009 Golden Teddy Winners announced

After what seems like forever, the winners were finally announced at the awards banquet on October 31st in Maryland, USA. This competition started in January and it is so hard to be patient this long LOL. I was not able to be in attendance to cheer on my fellow artists, but I am so excited for the winners that I know. What an exciting honor for them to be chosen as the
favorites by the public :)

My little bear Tia wasn't fortunate enough to get picked this year. I still think she is very special, and just being nominated is a huge honor for me :) Thanks to anyone that did vote for her !

Here is a list of the winners so you can see if your favorite won.

Individual Artist - Bears: Undressed, 5 inches & under
Mimi- by Donna Griffin, Donna and the Bears

Individual Artist - Bears: Dressed / Accessorized, 5 inches & under
Maude- by Donna Griffin, Donna and the Bears

Individual Artist - Bears: Undressed, over 5 & under 14 inches ( My category )
Lil Pudge- by Vicky Lougher, Elegant Creations

Individual Artist - Bears: Dressed / Accessorized, over 5 & under 14 inches
Miss Lillie- by Kim Russell, Russell Bears

Individual Artist - Bears: Undressed, 14 inches & over
Daydreamer- by Karin De Lorenzo

Individual Artist - Bears: Dressed / Accessorized, 14 inches &over
Andre- by Lena Volkova, Teddy Kingdom

Individual Artist: Soft - Sculpture / Plush Animals
Rex (German Shepherd)- by Guenter Dufeu, Dufeu Bear

Individual Artist: Needle Felted / Sculpted Animals
Mommy, I'm Stuck Kitten- by Stephanie Tiongco, Creations by Stevi T.

Manufacturer - Bears: Undressed or Dressed 5 inches & Under
Biscuit-The Gingerbread Bear- by Steiff North America

Manufacturer - Bears: Undressed over 5 & under 14 inches
Zhen Zhen- by Gund Inc.

Manufacturer - Bears: Dressed / Accessorized, over 5 and under 14 inches
Nicolas-The Lucky Bear- by Steiff North America

Manufacturer - Bears: Undressed, 14 inches & over
Alexander-The Trademark Bear- by Steiff North America

Manufacturer - Bears: Dressed / Accessorized, 14 inches & over
Old Bavarian Bear- by Hermann-Spielwaren

Manufacturer - Bears: Soft Sculpture / Plush Animals
Esmerelda- by Hildegard Gunzel, PPM Hildegard Gunzel

Tableaux
Polar Pals- by Kelly Dean, Kelly Dean and Co.

Congratulations to .....

Shelby N. of Oregon , the winner of my birthday bear !!!

Thanks to everyone who participated in the contest !

And the winner is ............

to be decided later today LOL. I just printed all the names, and they are in a bag. I'm just waiting for my daughter to come home to pick the winner. I'll send a email to that lucky person and give them a couple of days to contact me.

Good luck , only a few hours to wait to see where little Tammy will be headed. I am soooo excited :)

WIN ME OCTOBER 30th

I am holding my 4th annual birthday bear giveaway on October 30th. The contest is open to anyone on my mailing list, so you have a couple of days left to enter. I am a bit late getting the bear made. However, Please meet my 5.25" Mink cub named Tammy. She even has a clay birthday candle I made just for the occasion. !!

Good luck to everyone :)

A new cub & a cabinet full

I have a new cub ready for adoption. 8.25" Davey is available on my website here. He is all ready for the cold weather with his little socks.

(SOLD to Russia Oct 23rd.)


I also received a wonderful photo from one of my collectors. Look at that great Hug of Beckoning Bears safely displayed in a glass cabinet. They share the shelf with some other artist bears too. It's so neat to see them all together !

What an exciting day !

Wow, this morning was just full of surprises ! I wasn't expecting it to be anything too exciting. My daughter stayed from school today with the flu so I figured I'd just try to do some paperwork.

But, when I checked on Mushu's Ebay auction I was so thrilled with the interest he seems to have attracted. After I listed him, I was really wondering if I had made a mistake . He really has won a special place in my heart. I love all of my bears, but once in awhile something magical happens and I just fall in love with a particular one. However, at the end of the auction I was confident that Mushu was going to a wonderful home with a Mom bursting with excitement , so I was very happy :)

Immediately after the auction ended the mailman arrived with a package just for me ! Oh, how I love to get mail.

Some days the mailman is the only person from the "outside world" that I actually get to talk too LOL. Isn't that sad ! I knew right away it must be my Swap bear that I mentioned a week or so ago. I ran upstairs to share the excitement with my daughter. She watched me open the package slowly.
As I tore through the paper and bubble wrap I could see Lily's little face staring up at me. I was sooooo excited. I know I should have read the card first but this was no time for manners LOL .
I carefully took my new bear out of the bag , gave her a BIG hug, and let out a few squeals of delight. Both my daughter and I think Lily is just adorable. She isn't the type of bear that I am usually draw too, but she tugged at my heartstrings from the moment I first saw her several weeks ago.I love her big head, little grin and overall shape. She just looks like an innocent, cute baby bear to me.

Lily was created by Cheryl Hutchinson of Bingle Bears . She asked if I'd like to do a swap of sorts , so I created Peabody especially for Cheryl. He hasn't arrived in New York yet, but hopefully soon. I hope Cheryl will be as happy with her bear as I am with Lily.

Mushu , a traditional colored mink panda

Here he is , ready to meet the world. Mushu is 8.25" standing and is made from black mink and ivory cross mink (with black hairs scattered throughout). I like how it gives him a bit of a freckled face appearance with the trimming. He is a heavy cub, and will be available on Ebay Friday , Oct. 16th- Mionday Oct.19th

Hope you like him , I sure do. He's one of my favorites.

A panda in the making

I am excited to be working on a new mink panda. It is made from black mink and ivory cross mink. The cross mink has black hairs scattered throughout.

He/she is staring out the window waiting to have the last seams closed, and the second ear attached. Hopefully it will be ready by Friday.

Looks like I better get busy cleaning the window next LOL.

Come on a tour, but beware of GIANT Pumpkins

Today was so beautiful that we decided to take a drive to the Valley , about 90 minutes outside the city. It is a really pretty area, and we stopped at a few of our favorite places. Come along and enjoy the little tour....

Our 1st stop was at the pumpkin farm where you can indeed find GIANT pumpkins. Several world record size pumpkins have come from this farm over the years. There was one here today that weighed 1002 pounds !!! They just look so out of place; like pumpkins on steroids LOL. Some of the larger pumpkins are actually carved out for the annual pumpkin boat races on the pond. Now that is quite a site to watch LOL. It is fun to roam around and enjoy the brilliant colors, feed the horse, and look at the freaky gourds too.

Stop #2 was the U-pick apple orchard.
We picked the yummy Red Delicious variety.

As well, we discovered a new green Japanese apple called Mutsu. It is crisp and has a terrific flavor. Kind of like a Granny Smith but not as tart.

The trees were loaded down to the ground.

Stop #3 was at a Lookoff over the Valley. It is a fantastic view overlooking some farms and part of the ocean/basin. I love the multitude of colors in the landscape here.

Then we headed home with our 20 pounds of apples, a Halloween pumpkin and a big appetite for leftover Turkey :)

Happy Thanksgiving Fellow Canadians !

There is so much to be thankful for, where does one begin.........

We just finished our yummy turkey dinner with all the trimmings awhile ago. My belly is stuffed , and I am ready for a nap now :) No this isn't our turkey, but wouldn't it be funny to serve one like this LOL

A week of special projects

I've been busy this week working on a few special things just for me, sort of :)


Project #1 ) I feel in love with a precious little bear awhile ago by a sweet bear artist. She asked if I would make her a bear at a reduced price in exchange for her creation that I love. Sounded like a fun idea to me so I created this cutie this week, whom she named Peabody :) He is on his way to New York , and I'm excitedly awaiting the arrival of Lily. I'll show her picture when she arrives.


Project #2) I've been wanting to make an Annie doll ever since I won mine from Shantell last Christmas. These cloth dolls have just captured my heart . Soooo, I drew up a pattern of my own and started on my doll this week. I just need to put her together and make some clothes, then I can show you the finished girl .

Project #3) Ever since I bought my featherweight I've been planning to buy a thread stand. I have a lot of spools of thread that are just too tall for the regular holder. After forgetting to pick one up many times I decided......hmmm... I bet I can make one of them. I found an online tutorial, found all the tools and supplies I need around the house, and voilà ...a thread stand.

It has been a productive and fun week.

Teddy Bear & Craft Magazines

I always enjoy browsing though the pages of Teddy Bear and Craft magazines. There is always so much eyes candy that really inspires me. I am disappointed though because locally I can't buy Teddy Bear magazines anymore. I do have some subscriptions, but it always takes a bit longer for copies to get to my mailbox.

I was excited to receive a link from Teddy Bear Review to their first online digital version. You can enjoy this complimentary copy also HERE. Just make sure you have a flash player installed. I think I'll be subscribing to this paperless, eco-friendly version !


The U.K. Magazine , Teddy Tear Club international, also offers a sample Digital version too. You can learn about that HERE.

I've also recently discovered a wonderful and unique magazine called "Where Women Create". This high quality magazine offers lots of gorgeous photos and you can enter the studios of many talented women. This isn't available online, but is worth looking for in your favorite bookstore. I even placed a small add in a recent edition.
So, what magazines do you enjoy ??? I'd love to hear from you.

Jonas is finally completed !

Yeah...it took awhile, but I finished the new head and Jonas is finished. I think he look so much better, and I hope you agree :) I really like this light fur color. I've never seen or used this shade before . It was a small collar and I have no more left after making 2 heads. So, he is definitely one of a kind from me.

Jonas is available on my website via silent auction. You can get all the details HERE.


I also took a group shot of some of the bears I have here. I don't often have more than one with me at a time. It is interesting to see the size comparison with them all together I think. They range from about 3.75" -13".

Another Memory Bear

....I know ...I said I probably wouldn't do any more of these LOL. I decide to do this one for my Dentist from his mom's coat. This muskrat fur is in beautiful condition considering it is from 1959. It was wonderful to work with , which made it more enjoyable to create this keepsake. I started yesterday, worked late last night and finished this 13" fella this morning. I'm pleased with it considering it has safety eyes, and nose that are installed before the head is stuffed. It's always a challenge getting them to look right. I hope he likes it :)


Now I need to get back to that headless mink bear. I just lost interest after the first head didn't work out. I need to get at it though , or I'll never get it done.

Hannah is now looking for a new home too. Yuo can learn all about her HERE.

Bears in Progress

I have been working this week, really I have ! I am still trying to finish one of the little mink bears I started awhile ago. Plus, I started on a mohair bear.


My work area looks like a mess, but is a sure sign that something is happening :) Heads and bodies are flung everywhere LOL. I hope to get at least one of these bears done soon. Likely the mohair bear will be first.

I've decided that the mink bear definately needs a new head. This one is hideous and will end up in the trash. It just didn't turn out well at all, and I'm sure you'd agreee ! That happens , but luckily ( I think ) I have enough of this fur to make a new head. It was a small collar in a color I've never used before. I call it taupe.

Back to work to see which bear gets finished first !

Violet in Belgium

I received these great photos of Violet enjoying her new home in Belgium. She arrived quickly to meet her new Dad.

I'm sure she will be happy as there are lots of other bears there too. It even looks like she has already made a new friend from Scotland ;)

It's so nice to know my bears are being well taken care of and enjoyed.

New Little Mink Cub- Chester

I have finally finished one of the bears I was working on last week. He looks bigger than a finger pupper now that he is all fluffy LOL. Chester has been listed on Ebay until Sept.19th , and needs a new home :)

A day of celebration

Someone special in my house has turned sweet 16 today ! Happy birthday J. I got the cake baked , decorated and the house all cleaned for company. It's been a busy day, no time for bears.

Tiny Teddies

I have a couple of new mink bears in the works this week. Every time I start on my little bears I think they look more like finger puppets. The pieces are small enough to fit nicely on my fingertips. It's funny how they look so much bigger once they are turned fur side out. All that fluffy hair is deceiving really.
It can be a real challenge trying to work with pieces this small in real fur. I hold my breath when turning the parts in hopes that they don't rip. I can't wait to see what these bears look like in a few days !

New Bears Available

I am so excited to show my first 2 bears created with my new Singer featherweight. That little cutie sews like a dream !

Please meet Violet and Wally who are looking for their forever homes. Violet is available direct from me , and Wally is on Ebay until Sept.10th. Check HERE for all the details.

Violet- 8.25" Hand-Dyed mohair bear ( Now Adopt to a Belgian Dad ! )

Wally- 8.5" Recycled Mink Bear

I'd love to hear what you think of these 2 :)

Bears on a Featherweight

I feel so motivated and excited today. The kids went back to school today and I dove head first into bearmaking. I got 2 bears cut out and ready to sew. The summer was wet, and then really hot/humid , and with the kids home I just can't seem to get bears done. I didn't realize how much I missed creating until this morning. I can't wait to see the personalities develop on these creations.

I am also excited because I stumbled upon a great find the other day . It was my lucky day , and I never find things like this. The seller found the machine left behind in an old house she bought a few years ago, and she just didn't want it. We met up and I felt almost giddy. I have dreamed of owning one for awhile, and the price was fair really so I treated myself. This 1947 beauty even has a scroll face plate that I think is so beautiful. It is so tiny , cute and portable :)

It seems perfect to create bears from vintage furs on 62 year old machine don't ya think !

Bill is mostly gone

...and he was very kind to us here. It rained a lot, but there really wasn't the high wind we expected. We decided to take a drive about 10 minutes from home to check out the shore. Seems like everyone else has the same idea LOL. Although , we stayed where it was safe. The ocean certainly was churning today. I'd hate to be out in the middle of the Atlantic in such a storm !

Here is a sampling of what we saw:



The water level was much higher than normal and it was high tide also. The water splashed over the road throwing lots of stones on the pavement.




It ended off with a rainbow just a few minutes ago . How cool is that .