Show and where's spring?

The Tropical Doll Club's doll and bear show is tomorrow in Lakeland, Fl. And I have been getting ready for it. But I took the time to actually look at my yard at some of the damage the freezes had done.


This won't be growing back. Bit there were signs the freeze actually helped some plants.


This is my husbands nectarine tree that usually blooms a teeny bit then falls off no fruit in sight. Now it's full of blooms so he may have a shot at fruit. And look at my meyer lemon tree, it does the same thing and it too is full of blooms.


Wish us luck on seeing real fruit this year and hope we all see spring soon!
I'll let you know how the show went.

Where have you Been?

How did March get here so quickly? I had an order to get out for a store and have been diligently working on it. Got it done Saturday and boxed it and forgot to get pictures of the pieces, duh!




So today I got to see Tim Burtons Alice inWonderland! In 3d! No I won't spoil it for you but it does make me want to be even more creative to bring people a sense of wonderment. There is joy in that.
In light of all that is going on being able to give someone the gift of making them smile is a wonder.

Tampa Show Review 2010

Well, I am back from the Tampa show. It was a one day show but some artist had dinner on Friday. Saturday was a beautiful day and collectors kept the room lively. There was the usual slow down for people getting lunch but people showed up to the very end of the show. One couple came to Florida just for the NASCAR and the bear show and then were going right back home to the snow!
Collectors enjoyed winning bear money they could use at artists tables as it helped them reduce the cost of the bear they wanted. The show was in a good location and there was room to move around in the showroom so you could look at bears easily.
So you want to know what you missed right?!.The bears on the left at top, are Black Forest Bears made of wood shown by atist and antique collector, Carolyn Jacobsen. Jacquelyn melerski of Gilmur Rudley Bears showed the great bear with the duck, and her website is www.gilmurrudley.com
The bears , they are knit or crochet, are by Marge Wiese of Princess Paws Designs & Creations and it was her first show. You can see more of her work at www.princess4paws.com .Cathy Knapp had the most wonderful little mice dressed beautifully and she even had them set in scenes. A very good display. The mouse in the overalls is Cathy's and you can contact her at www.tenderheartteddies.com .
Martha Burch did the woodland looking bear with the wonderful little birds that were barely an inch long! Check out her website Martha's Bears at www.marthasbears.com .

Wendy Collins of Collins Gift Shop brought some wonderful artists pieces, go to www.collinsgifts.com to see what she's up to.

And now it's time for me to get back to work on orders and get ready for the two shows in March. Oooooh is that March peeking around the corner?! Bad for me but great cause Tim Burton's Alice movie comes out on the 5th Yippee! See you at the movies.




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Busy, busy, busy

It's time to get ready for the Tampa bear show and I haven't even made a post in days! But I have been making all sorts of animals like the giraffe above.
That's in between car problems and yoga classes and the rest of life. Hope everyone had a good Valentines day. I just about forgot about it. Course my hubby didn't. Ah, next year.
Hope to post more pictures later of work in progress. Now back to work.

Disappearing Artisans

This weekend I went to a fabric and upholstery store, Freemans, that is in the final stages of closing due to the economy. It is a family owned business, one gentleman has helped designers and layman alike fir years. His knowledge in the craft of upholstery is invaluable. I have had occasion to benefit from it myself.
I'm always buying used pieces and bringing them back to life. One piece, a sofa bed, had two old very worn seat cushions that were useless. He helped me select the best foam that had proper thickness and would last for years. He cut it into one cushion form that I made an inner cover and outer cover for that worked out great.
He also helped in the selection of a foam for a five sided seat of an uncoventional chair, making allowances for the height difference from being compressed by time and use, and it fit wonderfully.
I am hopeful that things are going to get better eventually but what are we going to do about all the knowledge that is disappearing along with skill, attention to detail, and the heart for the job at hand ? I am sad at this loss.


From the bears and me:0)

IDEX Review 2010Continued

Let's try to finish this up again:0)
The UFDC gave dialogues on doll and toys in their booth.


Gina Cass presented her Raggedy Ann and Andy collectibles.



Barbara Close brought some of her German Candy Containers shown above and below.






These pieces had such wonderful detail work, these opened at the animals heads.
The Good Bears of the World also held their auction and a book signing that collectors throughly enjoyed.
Hope to see you there next year.

IDEX2010 Part 2

I have tried to make this post twice and everything has disappeared twice, that's photos and all so I give up for now. sorry.


From the bears and me:0)