The Careworn Celtic Collection

'McTavish', 'Morag' and little 'Logan' are wrapped up warmly in preparation for their impending journey to Abderdeen in bonny Scotland, where they will make their official debut at http://www.sillybears.co.uk/ from September 1st.  Before they wend their way north of the border though, I couldn't resist showing them off a little here first!

'The Careworn Celtic Collection'

Perfect places

Now and again it doesn't hurt to stop the world and reminisce for a moment or two, does it?  Perfect times, in perfect places, here are a few of mine ...

Polperro, Cornwall

I have spent many wonderful holidays in this enchanting fishing village

Pagham, Sussex

Memories of a special holiday with Stuart and his grandson

Old Pollensa Town, Majorca

Our wonderful holiday in the Spanish sunshine

Mote Park Lake, Maidstone

More than thirty years of walks, beautiful in all seasons

Clovelly, Devon

Wonderful memories of this unique fishing village

Myrtos Beach, Kefalonia

Our fabulous Greek holiday this year

Boscastle, Cornwall

Happy family times - usually in the rain! 

Visits to my favourite pottery

Teston Bridge, Maidstone

Quintessentially English, a lovely stroll

The River Medway, Maidstone

An integral part of my family life in Maidstone across three decades

Watersmeet, Devon

Beautiful scenery, walking with Stuart in Devon

Knowle Park, Sevenoaks

A stunning Autumn walk

Port Isaac, Cornwall

Visiting Doc Martin, laughing in the rain!

Polperro to Talland Bay cliff walk

So many walks, over so many years ... always breathtaking

War Memorial, Talland Bay, Cornwall

The most perfect spot for a memorial

Talland Bay, Cornwall

Rock pooling with my kids, cliff walking with Stuart

River Avon, Stratford Upon Avon

Watching the world sail by on a perfect summer's evening 

Mousehole, Cornwall

Happy holidays in pretty South West Cornwall

Heddon Valley, Devon

A stunning cliff walk with Stuart on a clear day and yes, we could see forever ...

All things advertising

It occurred to me this morning, if I want to have promotional postcards available for the Teddies 2010 show on September 12th I'd jolly well better organise myself and design some!  So, with a cup of coffee to hand and specs perched on my nose, I've twiddled and tweaked in Photoshop and this is what I've come up with ...

My new promotional postcard for 'Teddies 2010' show

Ad copy for the 2011 'Teddy Bear Annual'

While we're on the subject of advertising and promotion, I recently designed the above ad for the 2011 edition of the 'Teddy Bear Annual' which is now on sale. I used a very similar advertisement for 'The UK Teddy Bear Guide 2010' too, but had that one printed in black and white as colour ads can be pretty costly and we teddy bear artists have to keep a careful eye on our advertising budgets!

If you would like to purchase a copy of the 'Teddy Bear Annual' please visit:

http://www.collectors-club-of-great-britain.co.uk/magazines/default.asp?magazine=5

And 'The UK Teddy Bear Guide 2010' can be purchased from:

http://www.hugglets.co.uk/guideindex.php

Happy bear reading!

Biscuits and good fortune!

This collection of bears has been fun to make!  They will be heading to 'One More Bear', a lovely teddy bear shop in Stoke on Trent, tomorrow.  I think I must have been obsessing about biscuits when I named the first three bears ... names like 'McVitie', 'Strawberry Shortcake' and 'Hobnob' give the game away eh?!  I sure do love a biscuit!

20" 'McVitie', 14" 'Strawberry Shortcake' and 12" 'Hobnob' have been created exclusively for 'One More Bear'.

Tracy, the shop owner, also put in a request for a classic panda bear, so I created the handsome 20" 'Fausto' to travel with the biscuit bears ... he's quite majestic don't you think?!  His name means 'Lucky', so let's hope he brings good fortune to Tracy by finding his special someone quickly!

Fausto will also be available exclusively from 'One More Bear' in Stoke on Trent.

I'm continuuing with my shop exclusive theme for a little while longer as I have another shop waiting for an order too and once those bears have been brought to life, I will need to start work straightaway on the 'Teddies 2010' show bears ... I have a feeling the next few weeks are going to be busy, busy, busy!

Nesbit is a 2010 URSA AWARDS FINALIST!

I am delighted to be able to tell you dear ol' Nesbit has been voted a finalist in the 2010 URSA Awards.  Thank you so much for taking the time to vote for him, your vote really did count! 

Nesbit is a 2010 URSA AWARDS FINALIST!

Now the time has come for the final round of voting.  This competition is judged solely by public vote, so your vote is very important. If you would like to choose the one special bear you think deserves to hold the title of  '2010 URSA MAJOR', please click the link below to cast your final vote!

2010 URSA AWARDS FINAL VOTE!

Good luck Nesbit!

Does the breeze blow a kiss?

I posted this poem when I first started writing my blog.  It still makes me smile, so I thought I'd share it with you here today ... I hope you enjoy the read and yes, in case you are wondering, it was written by my occasionally whimsical self!

DOES THE BREEZE BLOW A KISS?

Will the world stop turning

If the sun stops yearning

To shine

Each and every day?

And does the breeze blow a kiss

When the sky’s all a-mist

To cheer up

Its miserable ways?

Do the stars ever croon

When they gaze at the moon

As they float

On their Milky Way?

And does thunder ever wonder

If it's really made a blunder

When it rumbles

Through a Summer's day?

Can the wind really tickle

The leaves of a thistle,

Pick berries from the mistletoe?

And when all is said and done

Can a moonbeam truly hum?

These are the things

I'd like to know.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Autumn on my mind

Autumnal Dolly Doodling ...

So here we are at the start of the school summer holidays and already I have Autumn on my mind!  It's not so surprising though, when Stuart and I walked through the woods yesterday we noticed brambles carpetting the ground already, so I'm guessing it won't be many more weeks until those prickly creepers are laden with juicy blackberries and we can return with Stuart's grandson to gather a bucketful and stain him purple in the process!

I'm still up to my eyeballs in teddy bear creations, so there haven't been any dolly doings in my workroom for far too long, but that hasn't stopped me from planning my next project - after all, Autumn is such a great time for Prim Dolly Doodling.   I am determined to find time to make an autumnal dolly or two this year and as you can see, have started to harvest a few seasonal bits 'n pieces in readinness ... progress pics to follow shortly, with a little luck!