Bouncing and a tea party!

Today I've had the "post birthday" and "post holiday" blues really bad, last week was so lovely. I really don't think I've had such a nice birthday as I did this year and I really wasn't looking forward to turning 29, one year away from 30, I'd been having the real, "where am I", "what have I achieved" kinda worries but so far being 29 has been great, everyday last week I had something to do, Birthday drinks, dinner with a friend, lunch with a mate, the pub quiz on Thursday and on Friday night I went to a Hawaiian bouncy castle party which was great (did'nt go to bed until 4:30am) and then Saturday my lovely friends had arranged a tea party for me, total surprise and it was lovely, most of my special friends made it and we ate a fab lunch made by two of my best friends Kelly and Kim, they did a brilliant job getting everybody there and the cake was delightful! After that we went to the local park to play rounders, we did get a few strange looks a group of mostly 30-somethings running about like kids but it was funny, not the part where I fell over but that's another story!..... So now I have to get back to work, I have a mountain of commissions to do and a new job to start, I think I need another holiday!

Kim and Me at the bouncy castle party

Kim, Me and Kelly with my Birthday lunch!

Rounders!

New Job

I received my new contract for the NVQ assessors job today! I must be mad taking on a 3rd job, but needs must and its a good development move for me!

Happy Birthday me!

Yesterday was my 29th birthday and I had such a wonderful day, the sun was shining so I spent most of the day sewing in the garden (even though I promised myself a few days off I just couldn't do nothing!) anyway I then met my two oldest friends and their little girls for dinner and then a few more friends dropped by for drinks after work. I had some fantastic pressies and have more celebrations to come at the weekend too, but that's a surprise so I have no idea whats gonna happen! It really was the loveliest of days!

Kim, Leon & Me

Kim, Kelly & Me!

Phil, Kelly, Kim,Leon, Steve, Garth, Kim, Me & Stu

URSA Awards 2008

"Winter Pickings"


Voting has started for the 2008 URSA awards, this is the first time I've entered and I'm really hoping to get a rosette!!! Anyone that knows me will know I'm desperate to win a rosette! Anyway if you'd like to vote for my little one here's the link, my bear is towards the bottom of the web page.



http://cyberden.dot5hosting.com//URSA2008/1-CategoryURSA08.htm



There are some truely amazing pieces of artwork this year, I wish everybody the very best of luck!x

The New Forest Bear Festival

"Dibbler"

One of the new mice I will be bringing to the show!

Me and Mum are off to Hampshire tommorow, firstly to visit my lovely Aunt in Lymington and secondly to exhibit at The New Forest Show in Beaulieu on Sunday 29th, its set to be a wonderful day full of artist bears, demonstrations, balloon races, crafts and much, much more please visit Julie or Amanda's websites for more information and I hope to see you there.

My preview page http://www.shantockbears.com/New%20Forest%20Show.shtml

Julies website http://www.bearitinmind.com/

Amanda's website http://www.hairyhugs.co.uk/

Such a lovely but busy few weeks!

I can't stop smiling! Yesterday I got my online copy of July's Teddy Bear Club International with my bear on the front cover! Remember that "big" bear I made a while back well that's what he was made for and I'm delighted. Its been a dream of mine to have a bear on the front cover of a magazine since I first started making bears and thanks to the lovely Kirste at TBCI my dreams have come true! There's also a 4 page article on me and the bears on page 14, I really couldn't want for more. If you would like a copy pop into WHSmiths or visit http://www.teddybeartimes.com/ where you can buy a copy when it is available.

I've feel like I've got nothing done this week, I had to work as usual Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and because I've been so tierd have done no bear making in the evenings (I usually work for a few hours every night!) I think its good to have a few days off then come back all fired up with new ideas! I also had a job interview yesterday, if I get the job I'll be working for Amersham and Wycombe college in the Health and Social Care department as a NVQ assessor. I qualified last year and have been waiting for the perfect hours to come available somewhere so I don't have to leave my other job, fingers crossed that I'll hear something early next week!

Right today I'm going to get myself sorted, there's muddle everywhere and I can't make bears in this mess ;-)

Teddy Bear Artist Event

Wow what a wonderful day it was yesterday, a day filled with great bears, talented artists, lovely collectors and the most amazing organisation. Samantha did a fantastic job hosting this show, as did her family and friends helping out with all the extra touches. Samantha was very brave to organise this show and all her hard work certainly paid off. I enjoyed myself immensely and can't wait until next year. A big thanks to everybody who purchased one of my bears or my mouse, which seemed to prove very popular!!!!! (I will be making more) I was delighted to win runner up in the exhibitors challenge for my winter entry "Winter Pickings" I was completely gobsmacked as the standard of bears was brilliant, I have a big smile on my face now.

A massive THANK YOU to everybody who voted.