First news I simply must tell you (and which you probably already know about LOL!!!) is my precious little panda Jasper won a 2013 TOBY Industry Award - I can't tell you how exciting that was for me and I've now received his beautiful sparkling crystal trophy the TOBY awards are renowned for! His mum lives on the other side of the world from me, and she's just as thrilled as I am with the award win!
So, now it's all about voting for the 2013 TOBY People's Choice awards (all of the Industry Choice winners are finalists) - and here's where you come in! To cast your vote just click here which will take you to the Teddy Bear & Friends site and then just follow the links. Voting closes 1st July 2013, so there's only now just over a week left to place your vote!
My bears and I have also been travelling the length of Australia - firstly in May to attend the Melbourne Teddy Bear Fair and more recently this past weekend to Brisbane's Winter Wonderland Doll & Bear Fair. I've met so many lovely new collectors and people who have shown interest in my bears, and also had wonderful chats with my bear artist friends from around the country (and from overseas!) - Australia is such a big country, we don't get to see each other in person very often and travelling can be quite costly!
I thought I'd share some of my photos from both shows with you - enjoy!
These were taken around Melbourne and at the Melbourne Teddy Bear Fair:
and here's some from the Winter Wonderland Doll & Bear Show in Brisbane:
![](http://<!--Start Bear Pile--> <P><A HREF="http://www.bearpile.com/" TARGET="_blank"> <IMG SRC="bearpile.gif" BORDER="0" ALT="Teddy Bears and Artist Bears"></A><P> <!--End Bear Pile-->)
