Teddy Bear Times

Time to get involved

Hi everyone!

Although you haven't received issue 195 yet (it's on its way!) here in the TBT offices we're well head planning the next few issues...

Most exciting, I'm collating Christmassy ideas for the next issue (196) the last one before Christmas!

You may have noticed me asking for suggestions of things you want to see in issue 196 on Facebook. Well now that you have given me your feedback, I can get to work on it.

Here are a few things I'm looking for so you can get involved with the magazine!

• Do your teddy bears have their own Christmas trees and decorations? We want to hear all about how you decorate for your bears, and PHOTOS PLEASE!
• Do you get your teddies presents for Christmas?? What kind of presents do you get them? Send us your photos and they could appear in the next issue!
• Do you make special Christmas themed bears? Or do you dress your hug for the holidays? Let us know and send us your photos!

We love hearing from our readers, and we want to share your beary traditions with everyone! So get in touch.

Email me at faye@ashdown.co.uk - I can't wait to see them!

Hope you're all doing well

Enjoy issue 195

Faye x 

Bears and fairs

Hello Teddy Bear Times followers,

How are we all doing today? The office is busy, and it is only two weeks until issue 195 goes to print! Time goes so quickly! This issue is jam packed, the winner of the Winnie-the-Pooh book competition is announced and watch out for our new competition!

If you've been checking the Facebook page regularly, you will have noticed me reminding you all that the British Bear Fair is back in the hands of Ashdown (publishers of Teddy Bear Times) and I can promise you it's going to be a brilliant show! Places are filling up very quickly, but to secure your place at the event contact: elizabeth@ashdown.co.uk. If you just want to come along and buy some bears or see the winners of the BBAAs, we're going to be running a special Facebook offer for reduced entry tickets next week- so watch out for that!

                               

Talking of the British Bear Artist Awards, have you entered your bear yet? There are lots of different categories to choose from, so work out which your bear fits into and apply!

The categories are:

Miniature - Up to 6 Inches

1. Miniature -Dressed Character
2. Miniature - Undressed
3. Miniature - Group

Medium - 6 - 18 inches

4. Vintage Style
5. Classic Style
6. Modern Style
7. Dressed Character Bear

Large - Over 18 1/2 inches

8. Any Style - Any Size
9. Realistic Bears - i.e bear on all fours
10. Furry Friends - i.e rabbits, cats, dogs, meercats etc
11. International Artist - Single bear any size dressed or undressed

Remember, entries have to be received by the 9th of September (yes, summer is very nearly over! But that does mean it's getting closer to Christmas, and issue 196 - our Christmassy special!) so get them in soon.

Click this link for exhibitor applications, BBAA entries, and more general information on the whole event: British Bear Fair Website

Enjoy the weekend!

Faye x

 

Latest issue

Teddy Bear Times issue 194 is being delivered to postboxes up and down the country as we speak, it is available in stores, and the iMag is up online! We've already been getting comments/feedback on the Facebook page, so if you have anything to say, or anything you'd like to see in the next issue do get in touch. You can leave messages on the Facebook page, or email us at faye@ashdown.co.uk, I look forward to hearing from you!

If you've already read the piece on Winnie-the-Pooh and his 90th birthday, you'll know all about the great book by Shirley Harrison titled 'The Real Life and Times of Winnie-the-Pooh,' and our competition so you can win a copy! (if you haven't seen it yet turn to page 51)

The competition has now been posted on Facebook so in case you've missed it, all you need to do is post us your favourite/fondest/funniest memory of Pooh and the one we like best will win! So what are you waiting for? 

If you're stuck for ideas, read the welcome piece on the front page of the mag and read my favourite memory.

I loved the Bears on Holiday album we featured in this issue, and your bears were brilliant. We still have more bears to show you, and we loved it so much we're going to print part two in the next issue. So if you missed out this issue, get your photos in now for next time. You can upload your pictures to the Facebook page, or email them to faye@ashdown.co.uk

As always we love hearing from our readers so do send us your letters/comments.

I really hope you enjoy reading this issue as much as we have putting it together...Until issue 195! 

Faye x

One for the weekend

Has Friday come around again already? Where does the week go! We've been beary beary busy here at Teddy Bear Times making the finishes touches to issue 194, and it will be off to the printers early next week.

We've got some brilliant bear artists profiled in this issue, an album devoted completely to your bears on holiday, plenty of great features, AND (my personal favourite) a great competition! Keep your eyes peeled in the magazine/Facebook to find out more.

As promised last week, it's Friday again which means the weekend is almost officially here (for us it's at 5.30 when the Teddy Bear Times office closes!). So, what are you doing this weekend?

Well.. I have a couple of beary things you COULD be doing!

If you're a bear lover with kids, why not take them down to Sheffield city centre, to the Sheffield Food Festival where they are running their very own Teddy Bear's Picnic. It's the perfect family event, and it's completely free. It's running from 2.30-4.30 and is being held in the Peace Gardens. There will be other activities including story telling, and the chance to decorate your own cupcake. 

If that's a bit too far north for you, there's also a lovely event being run in Ellingham, Hampshire over the entire weekend. The Great Ellingham Teddy Bear Festival has a teddy bear's picnic taking place on Saturday with a teddy slide, craft stalls, an art exhibition and much more. All proceeds go to local groups and the East Anglia children's hospice. The fun even continues on through Sunday. Both days run from 11-5.

For more information visit www.greatellingham.org.uk

If anyone else knows of any events they want to share, feel free to comment below.

As always we love hearing from you so if you visit these events, have anything teddy related to share with the mag, or just want a general chat, email me at faye@ashdown.co.uk!

Have a lovely weekend, let's hope the rain stays away!

It's Finally Friday!

What a temperamental day we've had down here in Arundel, Sussex (talking about the weather of course!) One minute it's warm enough to sit without a jacket or a jumper, and the next you're sat wishing you had all your woolies with you!

For now the skies have calmed, there isn't much wind, and the sun is occasionally poking out from behind the old barn opposite, to say hello. Let's hope it stays this way!

It's Friday afternoon, and this means the weekend is ever so nearly here! As a new treat for Friday afternoons, we're going to bring you a bear related event every weekend, so you don't miss out on any fairs you didn't know about, or any events that are slightly different but may still interest you as a reader of Teddy Bear Times.

This weekend let me introduce you to Congleton! Yes, the small town in Chesire, just south of Manchester. If you've never been to Congleton, or even Manchester, I'd recommend a trip there before September. Currently on display around the town is a trail of 50 giant bears, all painted and named by the children of Congleton, and dotted around the local area for everyone to enjoy.

The town has a history of bears, and the eighteen long event is designed to remember the heritage of the town. Visit www.mybeartown.co.uk to find out more about the Bear Mania: 

Remember to visit the Facebook page to meet other Bear Times readers, and contact me with all your letters at faye@ashdown.co.uk

Have a lovely weekend!

 

Looking forward to.. issue 194!

We hope you enjoyed Issue 193, learning all about the fabulous bears stocked at One More Bear, in Stoke on Trent, finding out about lots of bear making classes around the country, getting answers to all your bear clinic queries, and of course reading all our wonderful artist profiles. Oh and has anyone started reading either of the books Chris Elliot reviewed for us last issue? I managed to find them both reasonably priced on Amazon this morning, or I'd recommend a trip to the local library to see if they have them in stock!

We're well under way on issue 194 now, and it's already shaping up to be full of lovely beary treats! As we all know (and if you don't, where have you been!?) this year's Hugglets is fast approaching! We have a Hugglets special in this issue, along with, of course, some more great bear artists being featured, some beautiful pictures of our readers' bears, we're featuring some brand new Teddy Bear Times writers, and lots of other lovely bits.

Anyone who follows us on Facebook will know that we're always open for readers to get in touch. Send your letters to the editor, or comments/feedback on the magazine to faye@ashdown.co.uk and who knows, your letter might even appear in the magazine.

Anyway, it's back to work here in the Teddy Bear Times office, but I'll be sure to update you again soon.

Enjoy the rest of the week!

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