Join me on Facebook…
Flickr Photos
Visitors to this site
Just visiting
You can also find me at….
Much of a muchness
Things that make you go 'hmm'…
The bear necessities
Posted by on October 28, 2008
There is rather a sweet blog called ‘Dear Teddy‘ which I have seen mentioned in various places around the old interweb (Daddy Papersurfer, 70steen and Olga, the Traveling Bra – I would have thought another kind of teddy was more her style!).
“It’s a blog, by for and about all those old stuffed animals and other beloved childhood toys which have a story to tell.”
Well, a few years ago, I was given a rather strange bear as a Christmas present. I hesitate to introduce him to the other bears over at ‘Dear Teddy’ as I’m not sure of the reception he would get from Grumpy Ted, Snowy Bear and Busy Bear. He is a rather groovy if dare I say, freakish bear designed by Phillipe Starke the famous French designer. Here is a photograph of him….
I’m not entirely sure that any story this little bear has to tell would be suitable for kiddie’s ears. Quite how the puppy, the lamb and the bunny ended up where they did is a story for Hallowe’en I’m sure and would probably be a cautionary tale for us all.
And talking of Hallowe’en, (bear with me- tenuous link following) Kim over at Laketrees is running another of her wonderful competitions to win a portrait painted by her. The prize will be a portrait of a subject of your choosing, painted in oils/acrylics on a 90cm x 100cm canvas. All you have to do is post about the competition on your blog with a link back to Kim, subscribe to her feed by email and then comes the hard part – choose your subject (you? your son/daughter? partner? pet?) and in less than 250 words say why you have chosen your subject and why you should win! The competition closes on October 31st (Hallowe’en – now you get the link) at 12pm (not sure what time zone that is so get your entry in early to make sure you beat it – Kim lives in Australia!)
Kim also runs the ‘Top Artists Directory’ blog which is a fantastic resource to introduce you to the many talented artist who have blogs. I am in there but I actually feel a bit of a fraud, I’m not sure I’m really an artist as such – and I have been so slack at making books recently (too many holidays, I hear you cry!) but I will get back into it soon.
Milo continues to be a total time waster, the only time I get anything done is when he is like this
He is just so playful and cute, I find it hard to ignore him. He is off for his second jab tonight so he will be allowed out to play properly then and can mingle with other dogs. I shall take him over to see my friend who has two Cocker Spaniel puppies ( who are quite a bit older than Milo) and we shall see how he gets on with them. He should be OK as he came from a house with lots of other dogs. In fact, I’m amazed at how well he has adjusted to just being with me.
I gave him a bath a few days ago. What a sad little creature! There is not much dog under all that fur and he stood there, shivering with fear and looking very bedraggled, skinny and sorry for himself. Once dry and brushed, he looks more like a teddy than Edward Puppyhands does…
Another teddy who I am quite enamored of is this one – the iPulse Teddy Speaker
Your iPod sits in a pouch on his tummy, the controls are on his paws and coloured lights pulse in his feet in time to the music. That is one hi-tech teddy – a Christmas present for the baby that has everything – including an iPod full of nursery rhymes and lullabies….
Here’s a track that should be on there, this is the original version of ‘The Teddy Bears Picnic’ by Henry Hall and his Orchestra – way before my time, you understand, but this is the version I remember from my childhood. And what about that record player? I’d like to see iPulse Teddy get that in his pouch…..
Much of a muchness 
That bear is still cute, even with the other animal heads for hands. I think the bear is from the Land of Misfit Toys
Did Milo shake off the water as soon as you got him out of the bath, soaking you? Our dog used to do that. :)
‘The Land of Misfit Toys’ – sounds like a great title for one of your stories to me!
No, bless him, he just stood there shaking with his head hung down and didn’t perk up until I had dried him (with the hair dryer on a low setting). Then he looked like a puff ball….and probably felt even more ridiculous :-)
well I have to say that puppy of yours would make a very adorable portrait Diane ;)
he’s very very cute…
an excellent post and thanks for the links and write ups…
you totally deserve to be in the directory as your books are truly artistic and unique :)
fancy you picking up that my comp closes on halloween…what a coincidence…I had no idea when I launched it…
I have just put a count down widget on my blog so there shouldn’t be any confusion as to the deadline for entries ..
it only took me most of the evening to get the code in…
so off to zzzz as it’s 2am here :) :)
ps …your Starke bear is positively eerie…
I bet there’s an interesting story there :) :0
Have the 3 Bears been informed of this ……… Phillipe Starke ……… creation!?!!!!! Perhaps you should email one of them and spill the beans properly …… [do you have the lemon juicer as well BTW?]
That iPulse Bear is real i-candy though …… if I was a bit of a nerd or anything ……….. or related to a teddy …………
……… and get on with some work!!!!!
Edward Puppyhands…bwhahahahaha!! So good to have you back with your very witty posts! Does that put to much pressure on you? ;)
I want to sleep in the total bliss that Milo seems to have mastered.
wow Diane that is one helluva ‘different type of bear’ you have there with Edward Puppyhands…..those repairs to his hands and feet are the things soft toys nightmares are made of …. however, he would be welcome at Dear Teddy coz we all stick together over there (but please make it clear to EP that is not ‘stitched together ‘ though)!!!!
Milo is soooo gorgeous what a ‘puffball’…. awwww he is snowier than me and I have just had a make over
;-)
What a fantastically unique bear! I bet he has some interesting storys! :)
Would you care to share this one (or maybe another) over at Dear Teddy? We could be very honored.
Don’t worry – Grumpy Bear isn’t really that grumpy…he doesnt bite (he has no teeth)…and Snowy Bear is lots of FUN…I’m pretty busy all the time, but never too busy to met a new friend! (Just send one of us an email!) GREAT POST! :)
~BB
Kim – Good idea about the countdown widget – no excuses for lateness now! Milo would make a great subject for one of your paintings….. :-D
Or even Edward Puppyhands….
DP – the ‘Dear Teddy’ bears have been in touch with me – and very nice they are too. Notice Grumpy Ted hasn’t bothered…..
No, I haven’t got the lemon juicer, I think it looks spooky…
Teresa – the pressure to be witty is ever present! It’s either that or be a miserable old boot. I choose witty, you know me – default-cheerful :-)
SnOwY – thank you for welcoming Edward Puppyhands – jolly decent of you :-)
Milo is getting progressively less snowy with each passing day – he is grubby little oik.
Busy Bear – Edward Puppyhands would be honoured to tell you his story (just as soon as I’ve made it up) I’ve heard about Grumpy Bear, he may have no teeth but he can give you a nasty suck….
Just wait until you start taking the cutey puppy out for real… OMW I can tell you it is a gubby old world out there for once clean puppies and bears … my cuddler could tell you a few tales about that with me and Layla ;-)
Lots of friends here on this post. How are you, Diane??
I wanted to add in with “Teddy”, but cannot really remember having one. I had a small kids golf set!
Ha haaa!!
You think the lemon squeezer looks spooky!!!!!!!! ….. oh dear.
Anyway Grumpy mumbled something to me this morning and then stomped off – unfortunately I couldn’t hear what he said as I was credit crunching at the time.
This is a most curious Bär and I am intrigued by the cautionary tale. However, your dalliance with this Vater Papersurfer is worrying.
I am checking our files für your WBC application now. With this postal department upheaval it may have been misplaced. Perhaps it would be more efficient if you submit your application again.
Yours efficiently,
Frau von Sauertraut, Cultural Advisor
World Blog Council
SnOwY – after prodding me in unmentionable places yesterday in an attempt to find my balls (which I had left at home – silly man!!) and then sticking a sharp needle into me, the nasty vet man says I can’t go out for another 2 weeks yet, so I am practising getting dirty in the garden.
love
Milo x
Speedy!! How are you? And the golf clubs have stood you in very good stead, I’m sure (what does that mean?) Not very cuddly though…. :-)
DP – after seeing ‘War of the Worlds’ with Tom Cruise being sicked up by a three legged alien, I couldn’t contemplate owning a Starke lemon squeezer, I’m afraid.
Grumpy is upset you aren’t speaking to him today – are you Wordless all Wednesday?
Frau von Sauertraut – may I just say how much I admire your hair do? I’m sorry that my dalliance with an undesirable has put my membership of the WBC in jeopardy. I shall of course submit my application as soon as possible. I trust any past transgressions will be overlooked…..?
Yes, ever since I was a child I have many comments about my hair. Es ist very practical but stylish too, yes?
As schnell as my department has undergone inspection your application will be processed with the utmost efficiency.
FvS (WBC)
That Frau is starting to be the bane of my life …….. I’m afraid to leave comments now ………
Nah! I bet she’s a pussy cat really….
I keep thinking those fuzzy bears will come to life, rise up, and become “The Blair Witch.” But Halloween is over, unless you register with your local cult for death-time membership.
I prefer to move on and ACCEPT the hour back from daylight savings time, thank you.
your pup is very adorable!