Only 4 Months this time!

Does anyone even READ this blog? Do you bother ever checking in? Did you take me off your reader cause there's never anything new anyway? I wouldn't blame you if you did! Those of you who know me likely follow me on Facebook anyway!

If ya don't know me run! Now! LOL! I'm just kidding! :)

So it's September 1st. Another summer over and I'm not really sure what I did all summer! I spent the majority of it sewing and preparing for the Teddy Bear Artist Invitational in Binghamton, NY. We visited an alpaca farm while there. They are such interesting creatures. We got right in the pen with the mommas and their babies.

The show itself was a lot of fun. It's always great to see my collectors!!

Now I'm working on plans for the Chicagoland Show which I put on in October. Lots of great things will be happening and the artist line up is amazing and new names are being added daily! You can check out the exhibitor list on the website if you're interested.

I'm also working on putting together an online teddy bear show that will take place in November. Oh, and I'm headed to Maryland in November to do a bear show in Hunt Valley too. I'll also be spending a few days with my very good friend Chrissi and her son, my "nephew" Ben. :)

So, you know I'm alive, where I've been and where I'll be until a few more months pass and you hear from me again! LOL!

I hope you are well and have great plans for fall... or spring... depending upon where on earth you live! And if you're ever on Facebook look me up! You can find me under Back Road Bears or by my name!

Hugs!!

Pictures from The Teddy Bear Gathering

Two weeks ago artists and collectors from across the US and Canada joined together for the first annual New England Teddy Bear Gathering in Nashua, NH, USA. It was a wonderful day and you can now get a taste of the magic and fun we had by reading a review of the show and seeing the many, many photographs that were taken! Ready?

New England Teddy Bear Gathering
Review and Photos
Experience the Magic!

Um, I have a blog??

I can't believe it's been 6 months since I've posted here. I'm sorry my friends! I actually sort of knew that might happen. I'm active on Facebook, a couple of bear maker forums and have my website... writing for my blog too just seemed daunting and time consuming.

That's not to say I'm not out here... keeping busy.... still making bears and organizing shows! In fact, I wanted to tell you about a show coming up on April 17 & 18 with workshops and a pizza party on the 17th and a public show and sale on the 18th. It's sure to be a lot of fun and in tax free New Hampshire, just an hour from Boston! Stop by the show website for more details! www.TeddyBearGathering.com



I gave my website a much needed face lift earier this month. If you haven't been by in a while I invite you to stop in for a visit! www.BackRoadBears.com

And if you want to keep a little more up to date on the goings on in the Back Road Bears studio I invite you to check out my Facebook Fanpage!

Big Bear Hugs!!
Daphne

Pickity Place

My neighbor and friend, Mary took me out to lunch today. But this wasn't just any old lunch... it was a very special afternoon filled with sights and smells to please the senses and delicious flavors to awake the tastebuds! It was the perfect day for an early autumn adventure to Pickity Place in Mason, NH.



The sprawling gardens surrounding the antique cape with weathered shakes offered the remains of flowering perennials and herbs, giving one last show before going to bed for the winter months. Nestled on the edge of the gardens was the Drying Shed whose name says it all!







After touring the garden and gift shops... filled with lots of delicious spices, seasonings, mixes, teas and more... we sat down to a delicious gourmet, 5 course lunch in the house's dining room.



First course was a delicious garden vegetable dip with crackers followed by Summer's End Soup full of vegetables and herbs. A pinwheel with mixed greens garden salad came next with Sunflower Nut Bread. For the main course I had a vegetable crepe with a creamy herb sauce that was absolutely heavenly.





Dessert was strawberry rhubarb pie! (OK, I passed on that one but I did bring it home for hubby!) Everything was asbsolutely delicious and coming from me that says a lot as I'm not a vegetable lover and would typically eat a PB&J sandwich for lunch! I just may be a changed woman now!

It was a beautiful day with great company and fantastic food! I can't wait to bring mom there! I know she'll love it!



Thank you for a lovely day, Mary!!

I'm still here!

Actually, I'm here, there and every where! The end of summer means the beginning of "show season" when you are an artist. And it means the height of advertising, organizing and planning when you are a show promoter with one of the country's largest all-teddy-bear shows scheduled just weeks away.



So, how do I make lots of bears (and actually, my studio seems to be taken over by a herd of elephants at the moment... well, 4 anyway.... does that qualify as a "herd"?) and also do all the work that's involved to put on a top notch, not-to-be-missed teddy bear show of nearly 50 international artists complete with workshop, buffet and silent auction? Well, when I get that figured out I'll let you know! LOL!!



"THE SHOW"... The Chicagoland Teddy Bear Show is October 24th. I will then be exhibiting at the bear show in Hunt Valley, MD the following weekend. That's a lot of bears that have to be made! Then I'll be doing a 2 day craft show in Concord, NH on Nov. 20 & 21. It's a new show so I have no idea what to expect but I'm going in hopes of doing a lot of business which means a lot of inventory! I'm looking forward to this show though because I can make other items besides just my mohair bears... and I have a lot of fun and affordable ideas... now to find time to bring them to fruition!!!

Now you know why I haven't been around. I'll try to pop in to show you some of the critters I'm making for the shows!

If you are interested in finding out more about the Chicagoland show be sure to visit our website! It's Schaumburg, IL's newest and largest teddy bear show with an amazing line up of artists! The list is on the site! Reservations for the Harvest Buffet & Silent Auction to benefit Good Bears of the World will be accepted through Oct. 1..... you could even get a FREE SOUVENIR BEAR (one of the other things I've been working on before sending them to Laura to be finished) just for joining in the festivities!! Download the registration from the website!



Be sure to support the arts.... attend a local arts and crafts show or find a teddy bear show.... don't let the art of exercising one's imagination and creative talents be left forgotten in this technology based era we live in!

Hug to all!
Daphne