Happy Thanksgiving

Wishing you all a safe and Happy Thanksgiving Holiday!

We are looking forward to spending the holiday with my sister in the

Central Valley, along with nieces, grandnieces, great-grand nieces

and nephews, our daughter and dear friends.

Long Overdue Reunion Update

Thanks to everyone who wrote me a note of interest about my reunion. I suffered a little post-reunion depression when I got home and realized how much I miss my hometown friends. It was like the years hadn't passed at all.

Judi, me, Patty, Toni

It was an outside event at a ranch belonging to a school friend, though not in our class. Even though it was miserably hot that evening, everyone said it was the most fun they've had and a reunion, and I thought so, too.

Friday evening after we arrived at the hotel, Judi and I opened a bottle of wine and invited some classmates staying in the hotel to our room for just catching up. She thought my hair style was doing nothing for me and she brought out the scissors and I told her to have at it. I didn't see what she was doing until she finished but I loved it...thought it made me look younger.

Unfortunately, I went off and left my camera in the room so I've had to depend on others sharing their photos.

And just for fun, the four of us at the last reunion I attended, 1994, the 30-year.
Darlene, Toni, Linda, me

And, to show you what I looked like before Judi cut my hair...what do you think?

And I'm already looking forward to the next one in 2014.

Big Weekend Ahead

Marlys - Kindergarten

I am so excited! I am attending my 45th-year high school reunion; the 30-year was the last one I was able to attend and I can't wait to see everyone. Facebook has brought me together with old school friends and I have so enjoyed connecting with everyone again after so long.

Judi - 4th Grade

Judi and I go all the way back to kindergarten. We live on opposite ends of the state so we decided it would be more fun to leave the guys home and be each other's date for the reunion. We're bringing yearbooks, school journals and more. I'm bringing the wine and she's bringing the glasses and we plan to have a terrific time.

It's a small world...

Evening is when I look through some of my favorite blogs. Invariably, something always catches my attention and leads me to another blog, and so on and so forth. Last night, while visiting Barely Sane...Blog of a Bear Nut, Sandi's tutorial for making felt gingerbread people caught my attention. Visit Sandi's tutorial to see how to turn this cut-out into a cute little Gingerbread Man.

A comment left by Dawn of Cottage State of Mind caught my eye. She promised

photos of the treasures in her attic. Who can resist a chance to take a peek into another person's treasures? Certainly, not me. If you love collecting things "just because," then take a look at Dawn's post, Playing in the Attic.

But that's not the best part. Reading Dawn's profile, I found she grew up in the Central San Joaquin Valley of California. So did I! Well, it's a big Valley, so finding someone who grew up there isn't such a big deal. But this is: the internet connects me with Sandi in Australia, and Sandi connects me with someone from my own back yard. I love the friendships I've found through blogs and bears and the creative spirit. Amazing!

Bloom Where You're Planted

Here she is, my Spring is Sprung Challenge bear...and I'm two days under the deadline! She is made from 1.8" dense Shulte mohair and she's 15" tall. Stop by and take a look at all the Challenge entries.

Empty Nest...again

Bright and early this morning I gave my 26-year-old baby boy and hug and a kiss and sent him on his way to the University of Maryland. Everyone was up early today, by 3:30 am, so Allyn could get him to the airport in time to make his 6 am flight. He'll be at UMD for the next five years working toward a Ph.D. in Sociology.

I got a call from him just minutes before 1 pm letting me know his flight landed safely, he was heading to baggage, and he would be taking a long nap once he reached his hotel. His apartment will be available tomorrow, but when his furniture will arrive is anybody's guess.

He had an hour lay-over in Denver and said his flight out was delayed, but they arrived on schedule. Now, Joseph has a history of not quite telling the whole story...Morocco comes to mind, but that's a story for another day. Shortly after I talked with him, Allyn called to say he'd talked with him as well. Joseph sent a text message to Allyn telling him about a security breach in Denver as they were boarding. That's why the plane was delayed. They were shuffled here and there until the breach was addressed.

Okay, so it's probably a good thing I didn't know about it as it was happening, but it makes me wonder about other things he "isn't telling so Mom won't worry." This is the first day of my next five-year-worry plan.

I think I'll go find some cute baby pictures...

I'm Back!

At least I hope I'm back. It's been a busy summer and, yet, I can't say that I've really accomplished a whole lot. Spent time with the kids together and separately; visited Ashley and her new home; saw friends and my sister in Fresno; and now we're getting ready to send Joseph off to school...for the third time.

I wish I had the organization and discipline of my good friend, Sandi Smith. Don't know how she does it but she manages to keep up with, not only her website, Bearly Sane, but also with two blogs: Blog of a Bear Nut and Fantasy and Fancy, the TBACA site, organizing and creating the wonderful venues of several online shows each year...and she still manages to find time make bears. My mid-year resolution is to be more like Sandi in productivity and discipline. Unfortunately, I cannot duplicate her creativity and imagination.

Fantasy & Fancy

Just want to tell you about a new blog by my friend Sandi Smith, Fantasy & Fancy. She hasn't yet told us what she has planned for this blog, but I know it will be something wonderful. Her first post, The Child Within, reminds us of the dreams and imagination of our childhood...something many of us tend to forget as we get older and busier. I will nurture my child within. Thanks, Sandi.

Visit Sandi's other blog...Bearly Sane -- Blog of a Bear Nut.

Swap Bears

This is Emma from a new line called Puppy Grrls. She's even cuter in person than in the photo.

Nancy Dontigney is the artist behind Puppy Grrls and Dog Patch Critters. She has a wonderful imagination and all of her pieces have a happy and whimsical look about them. I've wanted one of Nancy's critters for some time and I recently asked if she'd consider a swap with me.

She just happened to be working on a new line that she thought I would like, but she wanted it to be a surprise and wouldn't tell me anything about it. Emma arrived last week and I was overjoyed with her especially since we are currently owned by two wheaten Scottish Terriers and previously had our own little Emma Girl. She seemed to be created just for me.

Patrick was Nancy's choice of my bears and he now lives happily in sunny Florida with Nancy and all the Dog Patch Critters.

Thanks, Nancy, for being open to a swap. I love my little Puppy Grrl.

New Bears

Joseph and I are leaving town this afternoon but I wanted to post three new bears before I leave. The bears were part of the Black and White Ball. Though my bears didn't find homes, the show was a huge success and exceeded everyone's expectations. If you have any questions, please send me an email or leave a comment and I'll respond when I return on Monday.

Top Left to right: Harlow - Zi Shan

Below - Oakley

Black & White Ball

Undressed and Ribbon-Bow Bears

will be available today.

6 June - Undressed and Ribbon-Bow Bears

Dates and times are for Australia.

For those in the US and Canada

this date is June 5.

West Coast - 3:00 pm

Central - 5:00 pm

East Coast - 6:00 pm

Please check the time for your area.

Black and White Ball

It may be May 31 in the U.S. but it's already tomorrow in Australia. The Black and White Ball will begin today:

West Coast begins at 3 pm

Central begins at 5 pm

East Coast begins at 6 pm

If you need to find the time for your part of the world, just click here. Hope you'll be there.

Black and White Ball

The Black and White Ball is just around the corner. If you'd like to sneak a peek at the bears and critters that will be available during the Ball, just click on the link. Sandi tells us she is overwhelmed by the creativity of all entrants. While you're there, take a look at the other photo albums.

Sandi is putting the finishing touch on the Venue. She is amazingly organized and so on top of everything. Here's just a bit about what she has planned for the week:

June 1 - Introduction and unveiling of TACDA entrants

June 2 - Dressed Bears arrive

June 3 - Vintage Bears arrive

June 4 - Nominees are officially announced

Minis arrive

June 5 - All Critters arrive

June 6 - Remaining Bears arrive

June 7 - Finale and Award Presentation

I hope you'll be there.

Sneak Peek for Black and White Ball

Sandi has been hard at work on the upcoming Black and White Ball. More than 100 artist bears will be shown during the show. Here's a wee peek at my bears.

The show runs from June 1 through June 7. Sandi has something a little different planned for each day.

I'm excited to share...

I am the Featured Artist for the month of May at Teddy Bears and Critters Australasia. If you are so inclined and have a few minutes, I hope you'll stop by and take a look.

I want to thank Sandi Smith, of Bearly Sane and administrator of Teddy Bears and Critters Australasia, for the opportunity to be profiled on her site. Sandi has been a long-distance mentor for me, offering support and encouragement throughout the year or so that I've known her. Most especially, she's believed in my work. Thanks, Sandi.

Black and White Ball

If you're wondering why I haven't posted for a while, the answer is getting ready for the Black and White Ball which begins June 1. Visit the link to find out more about the Ball and see the participating artists.

I was able to get my bears completed, photographed and to Sandi just under the wire. We have had a series of colds and sore throats here. Allyn had pneumonia and has only been up to speed for about a month. All those colds and doctor visits cut into my work time, not to mention that I just didn't want to do anything but sleep when it was my turn.

The Ball has some interesting new ideas, so I hope you'll take a look and mark your calendar with the date.

Pollyanna's first puppy show

Just a few photos of Pollyanna's first puppy show the last week of March.

Pollyanna was shown by Robert Inman.

Happy Easter

More about Pollyanna

Sorry, I can't resist posting more photos of Pollyanna. Last time we took Maisie and Rocco up to their breeder for grooming, Lisa asked if we'd like to take Pollyanna for the day. She's so sweet and loving and we had a terrific day. It took her no time at all to be comfortable with us and the house.




When I posted her photo on Teddy Talk I got a note from Nancy D. of Dog Patch Critters saying Pollyanna reminded her of Charmin, last year's Westminster Best in Show. I emailed Lisa to find out and learned this little girl has a very famous daddy.





Evidently, he's won a number of Bests in Show including Westminster, Crufts, the Eukanuba, and he's the No. 1 terrier in the world. Charmin's formal name is CH EFBE'S HIDALGO AT GOODSPICE. Charmin's owner/handler is Margery Good of Pennsylvania.


Since Lisa's offered to share her with us, you'll no doubt be seeing more of her photos on occasion.

Future New Puppy!

When we visited our breeder and couple of weeks ago we had the most wonderful surprise. Lisa's son, Robert, grooms Maisie and Rocco for us and he greeted us at the door with, "I have something to show you." Boy, did he ever. After taking our pups out to the grooming area, he brought out this little, fluffy white fur ball. They'd just gotten her the day before and I think I was as excited as Robert was.

The little fur ball turned out to be a three-month old Sealyham named Pollyanna. She was so cute and so sweet and I was able to hold her for sometime. She was so calm and just let me love on her. I've always loved Sealyhams but they aren't very common in the US and with the trouble we've had finding Scotties over the years, I never thought I'd even see a Sealy in person. Of course, Allyn was shaking his head but I know he thought she was cute, too.

Robert will raise her for showing and he will finish her championship before breeding her so I told Allyn he had a couple of years to get used to the idea of another puppy in the house. Since we saw her just the day after she arrived at Lisa's home, I have my name first on the list for a puppy. They will evaluate any pups who might meet show standards, but I think I made it clear to Lisa and Robert that I want one.

The photos Lisa sent me, taken February 16th, are after we saw her and after Robert had a chance to groom her. Look at that little attitude. She knows she's going to be a show pup. Isn't she just adorable?

Be My Valentine is almost here

Don't forget the online Be My Valentine show this weekend.

The show runs a full 24 hours so everyone should have a chance to log on at their convenience. am Artists from around the world will be participating and starting times will vary. You'll find a list of starting times at the show's website.

On the west coast of the United States the show begins on February 13 at 2 pm and runs until 2 pm on February 14. I think I'll need a couple of naps during the show.

A forum will be available during the show and everyone may participate. All you have to do is register; it's painless and it's free. You'll be able to make comments and "chat" with the artists.

Sneak Peek

The Be My Valentine online show is just around the corner so I thought I'd post a little sneak peek at my bears. I hope you'll visit the show.

My First Blog Award

I recently received my 1st blog award from Shari of S. Reetz Bears ! I'm so pleased to know that people do occasionally read my blog. Thanks so much, Shari.

This award is for:

"The authors say that blogs that receive this award are exceedingly charming.This blog invests a proximity in space, time and relationships.These kind of bloggers aim to find and be friends; they are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandisement. Our hope is that when the awards of these ribbons are cut, even more friendships will be propagated.Please give your attention to these writers! Deliver this award to 8 bloggers who will choose 8 more, and include this cleverly written text into the body of this award."

I am happy to pass this award to the following bloggers:

Yesterday's Glitter
Boot Button Bears
Dog Patch Critters
Catherwoods
Three O'Clock Bears
Bear Paws by Roxanne
Inside My Studio
Laurie Lou Bears

All of these wonderful blogs can be found on my bear artists blogs links.

100 Best Bear Artist Blogs

Have you noticed this new graphic on the right side of my blog?

Paula Carter of All Bear has just opened a new site that will list the top 100 bear artist blogs. The rankings are set by the number of people who visit each blog. There are currently about 50 member blogs. Please visit the site and visit the various blogs. You'll likely find some that are new to you.

Of course, I wouldn't mind if you visited my blog frequently and move me up in the ranking.

We have a new puppy!

Maisie (1 year) and Rocco (5 months)

This is the first opportunity I've had to post about our new puppy and I've been so anxious to tell everyone about him. We had absolutely no intention of getting a new puppy, but Lisa of Afterglow Scottish Terriers practically forced me to take him. I tried to explain that this wasn't a good time financially (his name is Joseph) but Lisa said she knew he would have a good home with us and ask us to make her an offer. She was very, very generous to us so, of course, we went up to her home in Desert Hot Springs, about 30 minutes from us, to see the three puppies she had left. It was such a hard choice but we picked the smallest little boy and he is just so very sweet and loving. We picked him up on Saturday after Christmas.

Maisie is a beautiful, sweet little girl, but she is a bit high strung and a bit aloof. Rocco (Scotch on the Rocks) is just so sweet and very affectionate and he really keeps Maisie on the run. They play very well together. He learned to sit in record time and I have hope that he may learn other commands. I believe Maisie knows what they are; she just refuses to obey them.

Maisie and Rocco are half-siblings; they have the same father but different mothers. They look very much alike but Rocco has his mother's temperament and Maisie has her mother's temperament.

These photos were taken last Sunday after their grooming. Lisa's son, Robert, is a junior handler and also a groomer and he did a great job.

Busy month

I can finally breathe a little easier and move a little slower. I was rushing to meet the deadline for the Be My Valentine show on February 14. Sandi needed everything in by January 19, Australia time, and I was able to get in under the wire which was 1 pm January 18, my time.

Sandi is busy now working an setting up artist booth. And don't forget that Bobo will have his very own booth with all proceeds going to Free the Bears Fund.

I'll be posting a sneak peek at my bears before the show, so please check back.

Yikes, I've been tagged

I was just tagged by Laura Lynn of Teddies by Laura Lynn which means I have to list 6 random things about myself. That might be difficult since I really don't have a very interesting story...but let's see:

1. I have incredibly short toes about which my family constantly teases me...but you don't get to see a photo.

2. I'm an avid reader and have about 800 books in the house.

3. I am not a very good cook and don't like to cook.

4. I am crazy about Scotties Terriers.

5. Allyn and I grew up in the same very small town, lived about 3 blocks apart, went to the same schools at the same time (but I'm a year ahead of him) but didn't meet

until 5 months before we married.

6. My two older sisters were teenagers when I was born and they named me.

Sorry, I'm just not very interesting, but I wanted to play.

If you are on the list below, you've been tagged to name 6 random things about yourself.

Penney at Seamore Collectibles
Ellen Borggreve
Laura at Dances with Teddy Bears
Christine at Boot Button Bears
Louise Peers Miniatures
Brenda at Duffy Antiques

I hope you all decide to play.

THE RULES (for this game of tag):

1. LINK TO THE PERSON WHO TAGGED YOU
2. POST THE RULES ON YOUR BLOG
3. WRITE SIX RANDOM THINGS ABOUT YOURSELF
4. TAG SIX PEOPLE AT THE END OF YOUR POST AND LINK TO THEM
5. LET EACH PERSON KNOW THEY ARE TAGGED AND LEAVE A COMMENT ON THEIR BLOG
6.LET THE TAGGER KNOW WHEN YOUR ENTRY IS UP
7. DON’T BREAK THE CHAIN (not actually a rule)