Two weeks ago (yes, I know, I should have written this up sooner!) I went to my first demonstration day as a member of Anglian Potters.

rst of all, let me say a big 'Thank You' to everyone who joined in my latest web update - Spring Celebration.  I am delighted to report that all but one of the bears have found new homes. and the little LBS-challenged chap (Last Bear Syndrome) will be going with me to Stratford in June.  It is odd how this so frequently happens - I think human beings are often reluctant to buy the last one of anything because they have a psychological fear that there must be something wrong with it - unless it's an Hermes handbag, that is, haha!  Fortunately, bears are slow to take offence and are content to wait patiently for 'their' person to come along...

             

I had been mulling over an idea for some time, and then a collector's birthday request gave me the perfect opportunity to try it out:

My annual Mini Mania web show has been running all week and almost all of the bears have found new homes.

            


                    

I have no idea why this gorgeous panda is still looking for his special someone, but maybe he will find the right person before the show ends on Sunday, November 23rd, at 8.00 pm UK time.  If not, I will just have to keep him for myself!  He will not be offered anywhere else this year, and I will not be putting any more bears up for sale this side of the Hugglets show next February.
So... this is your last chance to adopt a bear before Christmas!) 
Seriously, if you want to take a peek at the bears, go to: Mini Mania

Yes, I know it is still only October - but, when you work with shops, you have to start thinking about these things earlier than most mortals and I have already begun on my Christmas orders.

My first official Christmas bear is 'Ursa Major' - 20 inches of pure winter fun and delight.  He is off to Bath shortly, to grace the window display at House of Bears...

Oh my goodness!!!!!  I have just about recovered from yesterday's signing - which was exhausting, exhilarating, frenetic... and very, very successful!

I was joined by Vicki Allum (Humble Crumble Bears) and Anjo Noija from Holland for this special event and I think our different styles made for a really great mix and provided collectors with a super choice of bears. 

I was able to take a few pictures before the show started, but, by the time the doors opened at midday, there was very little chance of doing anything except stand back!  I think we were all amazed at the number of lovely people who had queued patiently in the rain, eager to see what we had created for them.  Some people knew exactly what they wanted and headed straight for that special bear (or bears), while others preferred to take stock of the whole display before making a decision.  And, because the show went live on the internet on the dot of twelve, Marsha was kept incredibly busy tackling the e-mail orders that came flooding in.

We all agreed that more people came to the signing than last year - and it was so nice to have time to chat to people and talk about bears all afternoon.  I really feel that special events like these are SO important for connecting artists and collectors and sharing our passion for teddy bears.  There really is nothing quite like being able to see and touch the bears and talk to the artists who made them.  I would like to extend a huge thank you to Marsha and Malcolm for making the signing happen, and to all the collectors who came to the shop and who logged on to their computers - you made this a wonderful day for everyone!!

Anyway, enough talking - here are some pictures from the signing:

                  Amixture of some of my minis (left), some of Anjo's and some of Vicki's bears.  Nearly all of these bears found new homes!
 
                               
 Mine and Vicki's bears

  More of Vicki's bears, with two of my 'smalls'

  Marsha checking the e-mail orders as they came in!

  One minute after the doors opened!!
 

Before the Big Day!!

I waved off the last of the bears this morning, before they are put on display for tomorrow's signing at Abracadabra.

Here are a couple of them:
This is Morton - another 5 inch bear made from gorgeous Sassy long pile!

    
                                                                                                                    Love that profile!!!
     
                     Rory, 4 inches
                                                                                                                                                       
                                           

                                                                                  Victor, 7 inches

I have been asked by several people to make more little bears for this event, so there will be six minis, some smalls, and a couple of bigger bears.

See you there tomorrow!

Yes folks,
It's that time of year again - and, for me, it's one of the high points of the summer!
For the past three years, Marsha Davison has organised this very special and exclusive signing event; entry is by invitation only and you can sign up for one here: ABRACADABRA

What is unique about this event is that an online 'virtual signing' is run concurrently with the actual signing in the shop.  So this means that, if you can't physically get to to the shop, you can still participate and adopt a bear or two - the only thing you can't do is to join us in a cup of coffee and biscuits!  When you sign up for your invitation, you will be issued with a password and instructions on how to log in on the day.  So get your invite and put the date in your diary: Saturday, June 21st 2008

We like to put out little teasers of some of the bears that will be available - you can see work from all three participating artists on the Abracadabra website, but here are a couple of special little guys I have just finished - two brand new designs in gorgeous smoky long pile fabric...   

So new they don't even have names yet!!       These sweet little chaps are five and four inches high, respectively.
                   
                      

More information about my new designs in the next blog update - meanwhile you can check out a few more of the Abracadabra bears on my Preview page

I am delighted to say that I have now set up a shop on Etsy.com!  I have called it 'English Eccentric', because I want to be able to showcase all of the quirky and interesting stuff I make - as well as the bears  Right now there is some jewellery and a couple of hand-stitched and bound books.  There are more pictures of Julius, too.

Later on I hope to put up some more jewellery pieces and some dolls - but that will have to wait until I can find a good secondhand electric kiln...

Anyway, to see what else I do, go to: www.EnglishEccentric.etsy.com 

Be warned - you will need plenty of time to look at all the good stuff on Etsy - there is some seriously great art and design work there.  So grab a cup of tea and settle down for a cosy hour of happy surfing!