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.