Proximidade

It was lovely today to come home after a long 10 hour day (with no break!!!!) to find out that the thoughtful Ruth of Flutter-By Bears has awarded me a blog award!



The authors say that blogs who receive this award are exceedingly charming . This blog invests in proximity in space , time and relationships . These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends .
They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandisement . Our hope is that when the ribbons of these awards are cut , even more friendships will be propagated . Please give your kind attention to these writers !

How lovely is that!

Now I have to deliver this award to 8 bloggers who will then choose 8 more , and include the above cleverly written text in to the body of the award.

Here's my choosen 8

Brimbin Forest Bears

Faerie Nuff

Bear Bits

Three O'Clock Bears

Louise Peers

Goings On in the Wild Thyme Originals Studio

The Silly Bear

Soft in the Head

New mice at Edwina's Friends

Here's the 3 mice that I've just sent to Edwina's Friends, they will be on the website shortly!

http://www.edwinasfriends.co.uk/index.html

Goals......

I have a plan, I've always had a plan! A plan of where I want to be and what I want to achieve, both professionally and personally. This plan changes and moves on as I get older, as my priorities change and my career ambition's are realised, the one thing stays the same is I want to be the very best I can be, the best daughter, the best friend, the colleague, the best bear artist etc, its been said many times that I have very high standards of what I expect from people but I'm most hard on myself, I always think "I can do better" and this year I will do better! I had a plan at the start of 2008 and I'm pleased to say that I can look back and think that 9 out of 10 things on my list were achieved! For 2009 I am looking for 10 out 10!

Ever since I started making bears seven years ago I have had achievement's that I've set my sights on, things that in my personal opinion make a bear maker into a bear artist! Getting into Hugglets, winning a BBAA, having pictures published in magazines, a bear on a front cover, exhibiting abroad (in 2007 and 2008 I was lucky enough to go to Germany and France) Well I've managed to bag myself all of the above and there's just a few that I've still yet to accomplish. A TOBY and a Golden Teddy award are top of my list for 2009! I have for so many years dreamed about holding that prestigious award in my hand, every time I enter I think oh this bear is not good enough, I am so disappointed with myself and think "I could of done so much better" and this year I feel the same, whatever I produce will not be good enough in my eyes I suppose until I win one, then I can't ague with myself anymore or beat myself up for not working harder! Anyway I just sent of my TOBY and Golden Teddy entry and now I just have to wait with my fingers and toes crossed that this year may just be my year!

What will 2009 bring?!

A very Happy New Year to you!

2008 was a brilliant year for me! I had so many amazing moments that it is hard to sum up what was the best! I guess I'm most proud of the achievements that Shantock Bears has kindly had. I finally feel like my business is a success, I feel I am producing better and better work each time I made a bear or mouse. My success has come thanks to all my lovely customers who have supported me in this difficult financial time, I can't express how lucky I feel every time somebody requests a bear from me and also from my great family and friends who never complain when all I do is work and lend a hand whenever needed. I am a very lucky girl.

Its all about the mice, mice, mice!!!!

Secondly I had some amazing holidays, crazy Loret de Mar with the girls, the beautiful South of France for the Great Bear, magical Durdle Door for my first camping trip, very, very WET Georgetown in North Devon for my second camping trip and the mini run and numerous trips to the new Forest to visit with my Aunt!

Loret de Mar

South of France

Durdle Door

Mini Run

Highcliff Beach

I've also had some amazing days and nights out the Foo's concert in Wembley, a million fantastic dates with Lex, the Rex, dinners out etc! A posh overnight break in London, Whipsnade zoo!

Foo's

Me & Lex in London

The Zoo!

I went to some kicking party's, the KD moving in party, Kimbo's birthday, my birthday tea party and rounders, Hawaiian bouncy castle party, the 80's party,Lex and Em's leaving party x 2!! Oh and the Boxing Day and New Years Eve party's with the KD massive!!!!

KD moving in party

Hawaiian Bouncy Castle party

Rounders


80's Night

Lex's leaving party

I am a very lucky lady and count my blessings for such a fantastic support system, my Mum and Dad for always believing in me, my fabulous friends for helping me to see the fun in life and my fella for just being great! If 2009 is half as good as 2008 I'll again be a very happy lady!