Sale in my etsy shop

I decided to offer a 10% off coupon code !!! It will expire on New Year's Eve....a way to end 2015!
The code is:   POSTCHRISTMASSALE201  (not enough room for 2015 !!  lol)

Here is the link to my etsy shop

The grandchildren and my daughter- the teacher passed on their version of the plague on Christmas... so I have been stuck hacking and coughing and playing with the computer and Kindle Fire.
Hope you all had a great Holiday season ( no matter which you celebrate).

Closer and closer

We are getting closer and closer to Christmas.... sometimes time flies and sometimes it just plain drags! The tree is up and decorated... A friend made me many many crocheted and stiffened snowflakes for Christmas and they look wonderful on the tree.  I try to find one or two new ornaments every year .. not always new, sometimes vintage. But these snowflakes are this year's new ones!!!

A few weeks ago my husband, son and I went on the KC Clay Guild's annual studios hop. We try to visit different ones each year. One of the ones we visited was the Machiko Erhard Ceramics Studio . She was having a raffle so of course I add my name to the slips  and , low and behold, I won !!

My piece came in the mail this morning. it is a small pitcher or creamer... heavy off-white glaze with the design cut into the glaze and then color added.  I love it!!  Machiko grew up on a farm and a lot of her other designs reflect that with farm animals etc.

The 7 am USPS postal delivery also included a box from my sister-in-law down in South Carolina!!  She had made a rocking chair for my bears out of  clothespins!! My husband says the bears had a tussle to see who would sit in it first!!

For once my daughter's school system ( she teaches) went on Winter break before the grandchildren's school system ... so we are headed out to a "just the two of us lunch"....We are all so busy that that doesn't happen often enough!

Coming to an end....

I finished my bears for the  Bear Blitz  next Sunday and Monday.... and I think that I am done for 2015!!! Way back when I used to make about 300 bears a year.... but this year I made 130.  Not that I am unhappy with the smaller number,  we are "retired" and doing other things!!

I have seen some UTube videos that intrigue me... I'll be giving needle felting more of a go!!  There are more "home made" Christmas presents and cookies and candy to make!! 

My son and I have been experimenting with new recipes. Sunday's dinner will be roast leg of lamb with roasted Brussels sprouts with honey and balsamic vinegar ... maybe roasted baked potatoes too. 
There is a sheep farm less than 10 miles away.... Hi Ho Sheep ... that's where I ordered the lamb and it was delivered right to my door!!  Nicely frozen... boned and in one of those stretchy mesh bags.  It is thawing in the fridge right now!!!

Bear Blitz

This is Brumley.... my lead bear for the Bear Blitz online show coming up December 13th.....  click on the right sidebar image. It opens at 11 am Eastern on Sunday and is just two days long.

Brumley is not very big... but there bigger ones on my page.... and smaller ones! A variety of sizes and colors ( yes! colors).

We had an enjoyable Thanksgiving with loads of good food... and leftovers for everyone. The cold weather and rain didn't arrive until after Thanksgiving but it kept us at home for the weekend. Good thing we aren't the type to stand on line waiting for stores to open!! More like cyber shoppers and  "giving Tuesday" participants.
Have you noticed all the cookie recipes being emailed ....makes me  think about beginning to make all the Christmas cookies we love to eat!! We all have our favorites but I am looking for something new to add!!

thanks!!

Thanks to all who went and took a look at the Teddies Worldwide online show!!!  I just finished packing up those who are going to new homes!!

It looks like I might have a little time off from working on bears and friends.... but , oh no! There is another show in about three weeks!  And Christmas presents to make and buy. Guess I will still be busy!

Another online show....

Well.... there was just enough time to mail packages from the Bright Star online show before the Teddies Worldwide online show began....! it has been a crazy week!!
The show opened at 4pm (Eastern) today and will run till 4pm Sunday ( Eastern).
I have quite a few new bears plus what the promoter calls gifts...
Here is the link
teddiesworldwide

This is Kris.... my preview bear. he's off to a new home!!

This is Lorenzo the cat... he would LOVE a new home!!


Of course Thanksgiving is just a heartbeat away... tomorrow my son, husband and I go shopping for all the food!! He is hosting things in his house  but I get to take the turkey home to thaw!
Hope you all have a great " turkey day"!!

Bright Star's Holiday Stars online show

Bright Star's online show is going on this weekend..... it started Friday and will be going on till Monday. Lots of bears are gone but there are many others just waiting to go to new homes..
Here are a few of mine:

If you would like to go  to the show... here is the link

 

Things going well..

My son is doing well..hooray!
I have been working while keeping an eye on things. We found a booklet of my mother-in-law's recipes on one of my son's bookshelves. We all remebered her date nut cookies so I made us all a batch!  Memories... they weren't as good as hers but pretty close.
I finished one of my really small bears and managed to keep everything but the fiberfill from Tigger ( the orange striped cat). ....but he didn't swallow any!! Now working on a bigger one. My husband and son are on the Xbox playing the new game!!

busy busy busy...

It seems like everything is just around the corner and time is running out!  We spent this morning waiting for our son to be sent home from out patient surgery on his knee. The whole morning was hurry up and wait...we waiting for  them to prep him... then waited with him for the surgeon... back to the waiting room for us... then off to consult with the surgeon after the surgery... back to the waiting room while our son "recovered"... then waited with him for post-op instructions... back to the waiting room till he could be released.. then off to the car to wait at the hospital's door till they could wheelchair him to the door and help him into the car!!!Oh well... thngs look good and he's home!

Plus Christmas and the three online shows are just around the corner....I have almost finished enough new bears for all the three shows and have a dent in my list of home made presents for my family and friends!!
Hooray...

I decided to pull my Mother-in-law's sewing machine out.... it is a black Singer 301A. I had given it a tune up before I put it away ( there is a wonderful local man who knows these old machines inside and out!) . My M-I-L insisted that I needed to learn to sew ( back in 1965) or at least sew better than what my home-ec class had taught me in junior  high. Learn I did and on this machine which still sews like a dream ! This machine is helping me turn out Christmas presents!!

Turning Blue

Yesterday a half-million Kansas City area people celebrated the Royal's World Series win!! The area from where the parade started  ( Power and Light district) to where it ended ( Union Station) was a sea of blue wearing people.... traffic was gridlocked for hours... people were yealling ( good stuff).... signs were waving!!
Being somewhat chicken-like I watched it on TV....
So many of the Royal's games this year were so amazing.... the team played its heart out.... the fans were so involved!!
We've been fans since we moved to this area in 1983.... "let's go Royals"!!!

Next online show

I have been working on my bears and friends for the next Bright Star Promotions online show which is coming up the weekend of  November 13th!!!  I will add a link closer to the show!!
My  DH and I have struggled our way through the weebly website editor!  And received an A+ for our sales page.... never thought we'd make it!!

Frosty is the show's lead bear.....

We were going to the Des Moines Doll and Bear Show this same weekend ... but my son is having surgery just before and we will be helping him..... We didn't feel comfortable being 4 hours away for the whole day!!

Teddies Worldwide will be hosting its "Christmas Treasures" online show the weekend after... November 20 -22.  I have been working on things for this show too!!

MacKenzie Mouse came home from the Kansas City Teddy Bear Jubilee with this table direction.... and immediately zipped off to a new home in the UK!
His new family sent me a poem to celebrate his arrival in the UK....

MacKenzie Mouse.
It's again now Halloween
In the darkest nights
Pumpkins with scary faces can be seen
Glowing in the bright moonlight
Squeaks made in the darkness
Echo through the night
But the orange shadow you can see
It's not a pumpkin,but a mouse
That goes by the name of MacKenzie.

thank you

Many thanks to those of you who took a look at my bears and friends on the "Fall Stars" show!!! One mouse is on her way to the UK and the others are headed east and west here in the US!

Peachy and Thad are still looking for new homes. I am posting them on BearPile in the next few days....

Bright Star's online show

As toy can see... another online bear show is coming up!!!   Here is the  LINK  ....

 On September 11th you will be able to see my new creations by looking for

Hailey!  Or looking for Bettina Groh  Glass Dragon Bears.  After Halloween , just take off her hat and put away her pumpkin!

Maxwell Mouse

Maxwell is the largest mouse I've ever made or  would want to see in my house!!

He is almost 10 inches tall to the top of his head... not his ears, but his head!!  He is wearing glasses, a vintage clip on bow tie and an altered vintage collar.....   He took off for the UK almost as soon as he was finished and has settled into his new home!!

Summer Sizzler is over...

Thanks to those who looked at all the bears and friends... and even more thanks to those who purchased some of them!!!  I've happily boxed up those of mine that sold and took them to the Post Office!!

I am already thinking about the next shows!!

Summer Sizzler online show

Bright Star Promotions is having another online bear show on August 2 -3  ... a quickie show and another chance to look at and buy bears and bear friends.

Mellie is my preview bear and her colors really sizzle!  She is made in hand dyed blue greens and hot peachy pink mohair with a hot pink perle cotton nose!!

She reminds me of watermelon... sort of!!!

Here is the link so you can see ALL of the preview bears       Summer Sizzler Show     

I am working hard on bears and friends for the show ..... and my portion of the souvenir bears for the Kansas City  Bill Boyd Memorial Jubilee in September.


Forgot to mention that my granddaughter is now a teenager ... huge milestone!!!  Love you Lili!!

trip to the Maker's Fair

Bob and I went into Kansas City ... to Union Station actually... to take a look at this year's Maker's Fair. I think this is Kansas City's fifth show. Last year we went on a very hot Saturday and it was a mad house. This year the weather was so much nicer and since it was the last day/ Sunday , it was much less frenetic. Lots of new things... more non-profits : Kauffman Center, organic foods, lego giveaways ( boxes of donated legos are put into nice boxes with assembly instructions and given to children in the local CASA court system). The woodworkers guild made wooden toy parts for children to put together. Lots of companies demonstrating 3-d printers.  Booths of handcrafted items.  etc etc etc.... Interesting.... New this year too was a group of restored or souped up vintage cars on the drive outside of the station.

This was a nice change from bear making.... the "Summer Sizzler" show is August 2-3. I need some new things!!

We have plans for swimming with our daughter and the grandchildren on Wednesday. It certainly has been hot enough.  Hopefully  rain will "not fall"  from 4 to 6 pm!! LOL

Post Teddies Worldwide Show

This past weekend was the Teddies Worldwide online bear show starting Friday and ending yesterday. Today there is one poor little bear that didn't find a new home,

Here are all the boxes ...all labeled and waiting to be dropped off at the Post Office.

              Now it's time to get going on  Bright Star's "Summer sizzler" show August 2 - 3!!


Thanks everyone for taking a look at the TWW show!  And for buying!!

Preview voting is open

Teddies Worldwide 's  "Teddies on Vacation" has opened it preview and you can now look and vote on your favorites!!


Here is the link

Fourth is my preview bear

I dyed the blue and red sections!

Teddies Worldwide. show coming up

My sister-in-law drove from South Carolina for a visit with us!! We had a good visit.... our kids and grandkids came over for several visits with her and we went on a road trip to Hamilton, MO. ...the home of the Missouri Star Quilt Company. It has only been in business for maybe 5 years but has grown by leaps and bounds. Most of Hamilton is now quilt stores or rented from the quilt company . The Small Business Association helped them finance the new 42,00 sq ft shipping building. The old library is full of quilting machines where they quilt for customers.  Hamilton is also the birthplace of JC Penney and I think the home of his first store.  So there must be something in the water!
Now that my sister in law has left and the weather has gotten cold and wet ,I am working on teddy bears and friends for the upcoming " Teddies on Vacation"  show. I haven't decided which will be my preview bear...lol !  When I do, I will post a picture  and the link.

show closes this afternoon ...oops evening

The "Spring Stars" show closes this evening - Monday May 11th - at 7pm Eastern.  Lots of bears have been adopted but there are lots left!
I am headed out to the Post office to send  bears and friends off  to their new homes!!
                         
                            HERE IS THE LINK        go and see!!

I've edited this posting... I goofed. The show closes at 7pm Eastern!!

closer and closer

The Bright Star promotions online "Springs Stars" show is getting closer and closer... yipee!!

Henry is my lead bear... look for him to find my "store".  The show opens Friday May 8th at 11 am Eastern time...   So far I have 9 new bears and bear friends!
Here is the link

Spring Stars Show

working away

The Des Moines Show was a good which means I have to work harder for the Bright Star Promotions "Spring Stars show" coming up in 20 days....
I will post the link closer to the show.... but here is my lead bear

Bob, my DH, is the one who named him Henry.  I used hand dyed mohair to make him!
.

Des Moines Doll and Bear Show

Bob and I are getting up at the crack of dawn to drive to Des Moines tomorrow morning.  The trip takes a little over three hours . Our plan is to be there around 8 and get set up for the 9 o'clock opening!!  The show is held twice a year at the Fairgrounds ... 30th and University!! 
Hope lots of people go!!!

Happy Easter to all....

upcoming "Spring Stars" online show

I've added a gadget on the sidebar to the right for the upcoming Bright Star promotions online show.... I will add a link  before the show opens...

Here is my lead bear

My DH named him "Henry"....lol

Teddy Extravaganza

the opening of the Teddies Worldwide "Teddy Bear Extravaganza" is getting closer and closer. It will open Friday March 20th at 4pm Eastern time.
Here is the link    www.TeddiesWorldwide.com.   Sheriff BillyBob is my preview bear.....

warmer weather!! hooray!!!

The weatherman... weatherperson... weatherwoman....  which ever says that will will be getting warmer this weekend. Tomorrow will be in the 50's and by Monday we will hit 70!!  I am really looking forward to warmer weather!!

I posted this little bear on BearPile this morning...

I named him Surprise since no one expects to "crack open" an Easter egg and find a tiny bear.  The egg was needle felted from wool roving and has blanket stitching along the opening and a few polymer resin "jelly beans".
Surprise is headed off to Colorado !

Preparing for the Teddies Worldwide Show

I have been making loads of bears and gifts for the upcoming Teddies Worldwide Show

This show features nothing but bears and bear gifts... no bunnies, no mice etc.  The preview bears will be on display March 6th  ( I can't believe that's later this week!) ....


Sunday March 22nd  we will be at the Omaha  Doll, Toy and Bear Show  ... 9 to 3pm    at the Fireman's hall 6005 Grover Street, Omaha

49th anniversary

On the morning of the 12th I found that Facebook had set up a posting for our 49th wedding anniversary.... so I shared it.  I can't believe how many people saw it and liked it or commented!  It made me feel like they were all celebrating with us.  Here are the pictures Facebook used...
 

Facebook found  them in our album from our trip to Ireland last September!  Bob and I are already thinking about "how to celebrate our 50th" next year!!

no ! You don't have to feed him!

How about a goldfish that doesn't require feeding or bowl cleaning???

Marshall Mouse

Marshall will be sailing away ( hopefully) in his wooden shoe boat... The shoe has "made in Holland" stamped on the bottom. Marshall is 6 3/4 inches tall... the shoe/boat is 10 inches from toe to heel.

I have listed Marshall on BearPile..

Valentine's Day is just around the corner...

Valentine's Day will be here before you know it! And while stores like Hobby Lobby have had their Valentine stuff on display forever I have resisted.  When I finished Abbi I knew she had to be a  Valentine Bear! She was made from soft dense curly kid mohair ... only a little over 6 inches tall. A handful...

She comes with a metal "Be MINE" heart and a wooden block covered with heart and love paper!  I have posted her on BearPile.

Most of my new stuff is hidden until the Bright Star online show coming up opens.... I will post a link when it opens!
The promoter has provided a link so you can see the lead bears from all those participating in the show... here it is:

    Bright Star online show

Charley the Churchmouse

Charley the Church Mouse will be off to the UK tomorrow.  Charley lives in the Hereford Cathedral where he scavenges for things dropped under the pews... LOL.   His favorite things are a King George penny, some boot buttons, a few military buttons and a spool of thread for darning stockings. That must have been in a tiny hidey hole since it have been a lo-o-ong  time since anyone darned stockings!!

BTW....that's his home behind him!

His new owner just sent me this..

Charlie the Churchmouse
Lives under the pews
His favourite hobby
To collect what he can use
In his collection some thread for his socks
A King George penny
Is his table top
Some military buttons on his jacket
When he walks round the Cathedral
He makes such a racket
His favourite of all
Is hung on the wall
It's a picture of his Cathedral home
Open to all.
          Jane🐭

COLD

Well...it is super cold here in Missouri right now. Lots of schools are closed...someare not. My teacher daughter gets to stay home...her kids do not. My granddaughter is 12...an inbetween hormonal age. She did not want to wear a coat - it is 7 degrees out! She just wanted to wear her hoodie!  After a huge meltdown, guess who won! Mom !
The cold does keep one inside and working on bears!