Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas.......

I'm snowed in!!! And its looks like this white stuff will stick around for Christmas

Me and Lex have decorated our first ever tree together! I was very well behaved and let Lex do most of it, I think he's done a great job, although these photos don't do it justice!

This little tree is nearly as old as me! My Dad made it for my first Christmas 31 years ago, at the time it was cutting edge because light up trees weren't about much, its looking rather vintage now and I still love it as much as I ever did, every time I walk into the kitchen it puts a big smile on my face!

A very special lady sent this to me as a present, its one of the most thoughtful and generous presents I've ever received, I am very lucky.

So now I'm off to watch A Nightmare Before Christmas and wrap my Christmas presents! It certainly is beginning to look a lot like Christmas in my house!

Merry Christmas

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas

WOW what a weekend!!!

Oh what a lovely busy, crazy weekend I've had!

Firstly Saturday was spent getting ready for my Christmas Blog Show, as I photographed bears/mice and sorted out my blog I was nervous, I always worry that I'll sell nothing, who knows why I worry because my lovely customers never let me down and I now have found homes for all 9 of my little ones. A BIG thank you to everyone who supports my work, you make my job so very special.

Van Gogh, for a bit more information
on this little guy click here

Secondly on Sunday me and Mum traveled down to the British Bear Fair in Brighton, it was so lovely to be the other side of the stall for once and we and fun strolling round and catching up with all our beary friends. The main reason we went to the fair was because it was the finals of the British Bear Awards, my little Van Gogh had been nominated in the miniature category and I was delighted when he was awarded 3rd place, the competition was immense and I was really shocked to here my name being called out! If you would like to see who won in each category there's a list here.

Now I must get myself sorted for Christmas, I have just one more little bear to make, lots of presents to get and planning to do, I'm having both sets of parents here on Christmas day and although I'm looking forward to spoiling them for once I am worried that I'll burn the Turkey!

Christmas Show 2010

Welcome to the show!

Anyone who knows me knows I'm crazy about Christmas and creating bears and mice for this show has been such a pleasure. I do hope you will enjoy the show.

If you are interested in adopting any of the below bears/mice then please contact me by email, or telephone to check availability.

shantockbears@tiscali.co.uk

(+44) 01442 260486

07762749104

I am able to take payment by Paypal, Credit/Debit card or cheque (Sterling only)

As always the show runs on a first come first served basis, I will endeavour to get back to people as quick as possible and will try and keep the blog updated when bears/mice sell. For the first 24 hours I have decided to limit sales to one per customer to give as many people as possible the chance to purchase a bear/mouse.

All of the bears/mice are made from upholstery velvet with either ultrasuede or felt paw pads, they have black glass eyes and are filled with steel shot and polyester.

Please remember to refresh your page regularly to see which bears/mice have sold.

Thanks so much for popping by!

Tinsel

4"

SOLD

(P&P UK £6, EUROPE £8, USA/ELSEWHERE £10)

Miss Candy Cane

5"

SOLD

(P&P UK £6, EUROPE £8, USA/ELSEWHERE £10)

Alvin and Rudi

4" (mouse) 6" (reindeer)

SOLD

(P&P UK £6, EUROPE £8, USA/ELSEWHERE £10)

Pinky Twinkle-Toes

5"

SOLD

(P&P UK £6, EUROPE £8, USA/ELSEWHERE £10)

Sledging Snowbabies

3"(mouse) and 4"(bear)

SOLD

(P&P UK £6, EUROPE £8, USA/ELSEWHERE £10)

Robin Red-Mouse

4"

SOLD

(P&P UK £6, EUROPE £8, USA/ELSEWHERE £10)

Pax

5"

SOLD

(P&P UK £6, EUROPE £8, USA/ELSEWHERE £10)

Mr Ginger Bread

5"

SOLD

(P&P UK £6, EUROPE £8, USA/ELSEWHERE £10)

Just a few days to go....

Here's Santa with a little preview of one of the pieces that will be available on Saturday night!

I am busy trying to finish the last few pieces off and panicking that I'll not be ready as usual!

I do hope you'll be able to join me on Saturday at 7pm (GMT)

Christmas Blog Show......

Christmouse Kisses

From last years Blog Show

Christmas Blog Show

Saturday 11th December

7pm GMT

For more information please drop me a line to join the mailing list

shantockbears@tiscali.co.uk

Yesterday!

We had a wonderful time this weekend at the Great Yorkshire Teddy Bear Event. The hotel was lovely, meeting up with other bear artists and their helpers/partners on the Saturday night for dinner was enjoyable, the show its self was wonderfully ran by Katherine and her Husband John, there was lots of visitors through the doors, lovely touches throughout the day like door prizes, Christmas music and lots of laughs. Katherine did an amazing job, the hard work put into making this a fab show really was plain to see and I for one will be heading back to the North for the next Great Yorkshire teddy Bear Event in 2011.

Here's a link to the Youtube video of the day:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLH3OC5cz7o&feature=youtube_gdata_player


I'm now feeling rather exhausted and rather pressured as I have a large shop order to complete and the blog show to organise!!!!!!! I need a few days to get my head together and make a plan of action! I'll be back when I'm sorted :-)

The Great Yorkshire Teddy Bear Event 2010!

For the past year my friend Katherine Hallam of Katie-Rae Bears has been working on organising a new artist only bear show in Sheffield. The Great Yorkshire Teddy Bear Event held this Sunday 21st November 2010, will showcase 50 exhibitors from all over the world and is set to be the highlight on the Christmas bear scene! The event will support the Sheffield Children's Hospital so as well as being a fun day out it will also be raising money for this worthwhile cause! I know Katherine has been working very hard on making this a premier bear show and I'm very much looking forward to the weekend!

For more information on the show please visit the website here.

So here's a sneaky peek at the bears I will be bringing along, its not as many as I'd hoped, the move has set me way behind, hey ho I must learn cannot do it all ;-)

Leighton 5"

Spinney 3"

Weatherby 4"

Franklin 4"

Ben 4"

Worthington 5"

Peeka boo!

Preview coming tommorrow

Back online! Yay!

I'm so happy to be back! I know its only been two weeks but I've REALLY missed my virtual life ;-) its going to take me ages to catch up on the blogging news, facebook gossip and forum madness.

So while I've been away I've been busy with special commissions and show bears for the upcoming Yorkshire bear artist show, I will preview the show bears/mice later this week in the meantime have a look at the bears that have recently been sent to new homes, all of which were special commissions.

Rainbow

Dream Catcher

Cake baking with Mummy

Moving is hard work!!!

Just popping by to say the move went well, it was very hard work but I'm nearly sorted and I'm very much looking forward to starting work in my new studio!

I've got no Internet access at the new house so have not had much time to catch up with my blogging duties, emails etc and oh have I missed it! Never mind give me a couple of weeks and it will all be back to normal!

Happy Halloween

"T'WAS HALLOWEEN NIGHT"

Written by Dolores Faye Thorn

T'was Halloween night and all through the house.

Creatures were stirring, bugs, cats, and a mouse.

The pumpkins were carved into faces with care.

In hopes that a candle would soon be placed there.

With ma in her apron fixing platters of sweets.

We'd settled our brains for a long night of treats.

When out on the lawn there arose such a roar.

I sprang to my feet and ran to the door.

And what to my wandering eyes should appear.

But a red deviled monster with a big yellow spear.

Like a bat from a cave I ran - still he came.

I thought I'd escaped but he called out my name.

Mr. Thorn - Mr. Thorn - please don't be afraid.

It's me, little Jimmy in this masquerade.

The moon on the lawn glowed a bright orange cast.

And I thought I saw witches on brooms flying past.

White sheet like things floated, they looked just like ghosts.

But the skeleton with bones clacking, it scared me the most.

Someone looked like a vampire his face a ghastly pale hue.

I finally realized it was Harry all covered with glue.

That kid like a spider so lively and quick.

I knew in a moment it was my neighbor's son Nick.

One sweet little princess, so lovely was she -

Whatever was she doing in this strange company?

When all of the goblins pulled mask from there head.

I knew that this night there was nothing to dread.

Then this strange purple monster greeted me and I said, "Who are you?"

He gave me no answer just hollered Boooooooooo….

And putting a finger aside one large eye.

He got in his space ship and flew to the sky.

I knew I had never seen anything like that before.

I watched him in wonder quickly shutting my door.

But I heard him exclaim ere he flew out of sight.

Happy Halloween to all - and have a real spooky night!

Priorities!

Who needs clothes when you have bears packed!!!!!

Party Time at the Bear Garden!

Next Sunday (31st October) The Bear Garden turns 18, to celebrate its coming of age, Andrew and the team will be having a party at The Refectory at Guildford Cathedral. For the past three years I have attended the party with Barbara of Barbara-Ann Bears but this year as I'll be moving I'm sad to say I'll be up to my neck in boxes instead of celebrating.

The party is always a great event and this year will be no exception, they have a whole host of special guest including Barbara and Charlie and William from Charlie Bears.

This year is the first year I have been supplying The Bear Garden and I have made ten special little mice that will be available for the first time at the party.

For more information on the party please visit The Bear Garden website.

Meanwhile here's a sneaky look at a few of the little ones that will be looking for new homes on Sunday!

Pfew...........another order complete!

I have just sent off 10 little ones to Hamleys!

Here's a tiny peek at a few of them.

The time has come.....

Big news!!!! I'm finally leaving my parents home at the grand old age of 31!!!! Me and Lex have found a lovely two up two down to rent in Dunstable, about 30 minutes from my parents. I must admit that I have mixed feelings about the whole thing. 80% excited, 10% scared and 10% sad that I'll be leaving my animals :-( and as the new house does not allow pets, we'll not be getting anything to keep me company as I had hoped. We get the keys on 29th October so the next few weeks will be lost in the nightmare of packing and moving! I'm dreading that bit, once we are in and settled it will be amazing, we've just got to get to that point. I'll try to keep you posted on my progress over the next few weeks....

Ginger's Giveaway!

I'm delighted that my good friend Ginger of The Piece Parade and Bear Bits Blog is having another giveaway! This time Jillana is ready and waiting to jet of to another home (and I really, really, really want it to be with me!) Pop over to Gingers blog so see details of the giveaway.

Isn't she lovely!

Introducing Pippin

On Saturday we added new addition to our family! Pippin (already shorten to Pip) is a lab cross retriever, he's 12 weeks old and is a beautiful bundle of trouble.

British Bear Artist Awards

I was chuffed to bits to find out at the weekend that Van Gogh has been nominated for a British Bear Artist Award! The judging for this show will be held at The British Bear Fair held in Brighton in December, for more information on the show please visit here.

Available bears, mice and a wonderful Hugglets show! (update all bears now sold)

Its official I am exhausted! Working like a mad woman for the last three weeks has finally caught up with me because today I feel like a zombie, I can barely keep my eyes open to write this, oh dear, oh dear. I always have trouble sleeping the night before a fair, part nerves, part excitement so that didn't help matters either, however after a day pottering and meeting a dear old friend for coffee I'll be fully charged to meet the rest of the years deadlines!

Hugglets was, as always wonderful. Both me and Mum sold well and I only came home with one mouse and two bears (see below) the day went by so quickly so I didn't have time to speak to all the people I would of liked, but I did get to see some of my favourite people, even if it was just for a few minutes. I brought a big pile of fabric home from ThreadTeds for the next load of projects I have got to complete before the end of the year! Special orders, shows, shops etc. Its all go until Christmas now!

Now here's the three little ones that didn't find a home yesterday, Giggles is my favourite out of the collection this time so if he doesn't find a home quick he might just have to stay with me ;-) If you would like to purchase any of the little ones please send me an email at:

shantockbears@tiscali.co.uk

I can take Paypal, UK Cheques, or Credit Cards. UK shipping will be £6, please email me for international shipping costs.

Noodles is 4" high, made from golden upholstery velvet, with matching felt pads and black glass eyes, he is a heavy bear filled with steel shot and polyester stuffing.

Noodles is now SOLD

Giggles is 4.5" high, he is made from red upholstery velvet, with matching Ultrasuede pads and black glass eyes, he is a heavy bear filled with steel shot and polyester stuffing.

Giggles is now SOLD

Harpo is 3" high, he is made from ginger upholstery velvet, beige felt pads and black glass eyes, he is filled with steel shot and polyester stuffing. Harpo is a new design of mouse for me, with longer legs and arms, he sits on a bale of hat with his straw hat!

Harpo is now SOLD