Whirlwind of Bear Shows ... an update!

Gosh! I can't believe it's been so long since this blog was updated! So much has happened in my world since the Sydney Teddy Bear Fair, I'm not sure exactly where to start, so here goes!

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:

Sydney Teddy Bear Fair 2013

Hi everyone!

Well, I've just got back home from a 3 hour drive from Sydney to attend this year's Sydney Teddy Bear Fair - what a day! Many good bear artist friends to catch up with throughout the day, plus a few lovely bear artists I hadn't met before today.

Although there weren't hordes of people waiting to stream through the doors when they opened at 10am, it was a lovely crowd of serious collectors who attended the show. Quite a few of my bears found new home - the first one was adopted pretty much as soon as the doors opened, which was a lovely surprise!!!

There weren't many quiet periods throughout the day, and the day was over before we all knew it! I managed to get around to some of the tables to take these happy snaps - I'm sure you know most of these artists!

Here's my table.


Fiona Selwyn - Selwyn Bears

Lisa Dopking - Megelles


Merilyn Pursell - Bearwildered Bears

Lorraine Almond - Almond Bears


Susan Leigh - Bearleigh Bears

Karen Alderson

Valma - Teddy's Bits (with some gorgeous hand-dyed mohair - just look at those colours!)

Coral Gabriel - Gabriel Bears


I hope you enjoyed a little peek into the Sydney show today: looking forward to the next one already!!!!

Welcome in the Year of the Snake!

Just in time to welcome in the Year of the Snake and celebrate Chinese New Year, is my first bear for 2013!

A custom order for a lovely collector in Cambodia - this imperial Chinese princess is named Jia Li (pronounced Jah Lee) meaning 'good' and 'beautiful' in Chinese.

Because her costume is very intricate, I have deliberately kept the bear herself quite simple, except for her very detailed hand-painted eyes. Her fur lined hooded cape is made from crushed red velvet, lined with red and gold Chinese brocade, and her headpiece is hand-crafted by me in an intricate design of silk flowers, crystal and gold filigree.

I've got to say that after discovering and teaching myself how to needle felt last year, I'm absolutely loving it! This bear's face, eyelids and paw pads have all been needle felted in the softest white merino wool, then shaded with oil paints in varying depths of colour.