Making Memories

 

After a lovely holiday away in Devon with my family and our five dogs, I am now catching up with website updates, orders and life in general. I am also scratching my head over new US tariff legislation, which is rather a rude post-holiday come down and seems to have most countries in a somewhat grumpy trade spin.

From what I can gather, before the 29th August 2025, US collectors were protected by something called the 'de minimis' rule, which meant imported goods up to $800 were exempt from nasty import duties, so my teddy bears could travel happily to new lives in the Land of Milk and Honey. However, President Trump, in all his presidential wisdom, has now removed this friendly trade exemption, meaning import duties and a variety of charges, will now become due on receipt of any sweet natured teddy bears travelling to the US to share hugs. Mean eh?!

I will of course, be checking tariff codes carefully to see whether or not handcrafted teddy bears are definitely part of this shake-up ... and keeping fingers crossed that US collectors will bear with me while my creative brain attempts to fathom export details and shipping consequences. Needless to say, this is all a million miles from my cosy world of teddy bear-making!

In happier news, the scenery in deepest Devon was, as always, spectacular. We stayed on a lovely two hundred year old farmhouse, which everyone enjoyed hugely and the dogs had a blast on the beaches. My favourite day trip was spent on Dartmoor, an area of breathtaking natural beauty, where wild ponies, long horned cattle and sheep roam freely. The children climbed tors and adventured to their hearts' content and when they were ready for a rest, we visited a beautiful ancient village called Widecombe-in-the-moor, for a very welcome cream tea.

Time now to make my memory book and preserve our holiday memories ... and once I've figured out the implications of exporting to my US friends, to settle back into my workroom to find peace, by being me and simply creating teddy bears!