Grand News! TWO Toby Industry Choice Awards for 2008!

I am so thrilled and overwhelmed as I have learned that two of my pieces have won Toby Industry Choice Awards. These pieces are very special to me as they represent two new directions that my work has taken during the past year. The first is entitled"Hamish and Fergus Celebrate the Year of the Pig." It was my first offering which included a sculpted piece and was sold in the first Bear Artists Online Show last year. The other winner is "Wee Much, Acorn Gatherer" and is a wee 4 inches tall. I'm new to the mini world in making but have been intrigued with little things forever! I tried to get as much expression in that little face as I could. Rose and I searched for days for the perfect acorn cap for him to wear.

Sometimes when you go in a new direction, you think your vision might be yours alone. These awards are very precious and give me the nudge to keep going up new roads!

Georgie's Going to Scotland!

I am so thrilled that Georgie has been picked to travel to Scotland! His adoption marks the first bear I'm sending to live in that wonderful land. Some of my ancestors are from there and I'd love to deliver him in person. Oh well, maybe I can go and visit one day.

Little Cloud is going to Germany!

Little Cloud is really exited about his upcoming trip to Germany. He has been adopted and will be packing soon. I'm posting some photos for his new Dad to see!

New Bears!

I've just sent photos of these bears to my web guru so they should appear on the "available" page before long. They are three very different bears in size and color. The smallest, in my hand, is "Little Cloud." He's just under 5 inches tall. The next largest is "Aurora" who is a panda of distinctive coloring and she's about 6 3/4 inches tall. The big guy in red is "Georgie" and he's about 14 inches tall. I rarely make bears that large, but I had that beautiful chocolate fur and wanted to use every bit of it! Email me if you have questions about these guys. Their full description and adoption information should be on my web site soon! http://www.donnaandthebears.com/ Email: Donnaandthebears@AOL.com or through my web site.

New "Little Friends" coming along

Where have the last days gone? New little bears are eager to get into the world so I'd better get busy!! Wonderful Christmas gifts of books are giving me lots of inspiration - especially in the "little friends" category. Soon my web site will feature a new page of them and tales of fairies and woodsy creatures are dancing in my head! Here's a little guy I've had fun finding in the vintage rayon and just loved his photo shoot! Isn't he photogenic?? His name is Wee Much, the Acorn Gatherer. Oh I forgot to mention, he's 4 inches tall! and his acorn cap is a real one.

Balmy Weather!

I wish I had a new little bear to show, but I must comment on our gorgeous weather here in southern Virginia. The temperature reached nearly 80 degrees yesterday and Travis and I had a fine time raking up the late falling leaves. Of course, today it looks as though we didn't rake at all. Some of the trees try to hold on to their leaves until Spring and today, it felt just like Spring with those high temperatures. I'm hoping this weather will last a long time! Did I mention that I'm from Florida?!?

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

Cold weather has finally come to Southern Virginia - about time I guess! There are still lots of leaves on trees which are usually bare by now. I'm working on orders for Christmas and hope to have a little bear duo on Ebay before long!

Monique is thrilled!

I'm happy to report that little Monique has found a home and will be going possibly with Cody to her new Mom soon. These little ones won't even make it to my web site! I'll be back tomorrow with a little cutie named Aurora! The weather here is finally cold, but seems to find those warm bursts now and then. Rose loves morning "walkies" no matter what the weather. I'm so glad that she insists on an early morning walk as it takes me out into the most wonderful time of day. We still have a great deal of leaves on the deciduous trees - very odd for almost December!

Monique

Here's a little lady that's looking for a home! She's about 5 1/2 inches tall and is fully jointed. Monique's fur is a sparse, curly, mohair and her eyes are a sparkley black glass. She is wearing a hand knitted red mohair scarf and a white silk bow. I'll be putting her on my web site for adoption soon, but if you know of a good home for little elphants, please let me know! Her adoption fee is $175 plus $10 shipping and insurance worldwide.