Melbear's Quality Collectibles

2012-03-12T10:07:00.002-06:00

“The one you love and the one who loves you are never, ever the same person.” Chuck Palahniuk

2012-03-12T09:00:00.000-06:00

2012-03-11T19:21:00.000-06:00

Lol

2012-03-10T23:31:00.002-07:00

2012-03-10T22:05:00.000-07:00

Teddies Worldwide Preview is now on!

2012-03-09T14:44:00.001-07:00

You are invited...

Teddy Bear's Tea Party ~ Sneak Preview

Online show preview and voting happening now!

Teddies Worldwide invites you to our tea party! An online show featuring the world's largest group of talented, juried artists from around the globe, offering you Show Exclusive bears and friends!

The show runs March 23-25 but you can have have a Sneak Preview right NOW!

Stop by and see a sampling of the beautiful, show exclusive bears our

90 world renown artists will be offering during the online show

Vote for the bears you think have the "Best Tea Party Attire" in the Miniature and Full Size categories. Your favorites just might win a Collector's Choice Award!
(Winners announced at start of show.)

Vote now through Mar. 22 at www.TeddiesWorldwide.com

2012-03-09T09:45:00.002-07:00

Teddies World wide preview Friday!

2012-03-09T00:04:00.000-07:00

Just finished my Preview bear.... You guys will get to see it tomorrow. I love her, she turned out really well so I hope you guys will like her too.

2012-03-08T18:34:00.003-07:00

2012-03-08T18:24:00.000-07:00

2012-03-08T18:21:00.000-07:00

Loosing my marbles... yes, oh yes..

2012-03-06T22:01:00.000-07:00

So the Teddies Worldwide show scheduled for the end of the month had a last minute cancellation... So... what does this mean??? Yep. I'm just crazy enough to leap into that spot. So look forward to some new bears coming at the end of the month.. lol!

I managed to get one of my pinched nerves in my neck.. likely due to all the work I've been doing in the house... so this will give me a good chance to heal up and get some motivation to get back into the studio.

Hugs,
Melly

2012-03-04T12:45:00.000-07:00

2012-02-28T01:57:00.000-07:00

2012-02-26T23:52:00.001-07:00

Story of my life.... sometimes I think I like it though... Other days not so much.

Spent the day working on the house. I went out on Friday with Kristina and her Posse' but came home after and fell asleep in my chair after one too many drinks. Oops. It was a pretty tame weekend. I'm trying to be "good" big fail on that one but at least stuff is getting done here.

I am working on another video.. I will try to have it up before the end of the week.

2012-02-25T14:00:00.000-07:00

2012-02-23T13:12:00.000-07:00

2012-02-22T09:59:00.000-07:00

2012-02-22T00:26:00.000-07:00

2012-02-21T14:15:00.000-07:00

Wish life really worked that way....

2012-02-21T14:11:00.000-07:00

Something new.

2012-02-20T22:38:00.001-07:00

My first attempt at a video.. very poor... lol. I made an intro for it but I don't have any software to link them together... lol. I'll do that another night. This learning thing is not to start this late in the evening. Night all! enjoy!
Hugs,
Melly

Meow?

2012-02-20T11:27:00.000-07:00

3 days alone with the cats I'm about ready to ... well lets just say.. BAD KITTY!!! Lol!

So I've come to the conclusion over the weekend that I want to get another convertible. I sold mine years ago and regretted it then but had no choice. Did you know Dodge made a convertible Dakota? lmao! I want one.. too funny. http://www.dakotaconvertible.com/truck.html
How funky is that?

Anyway, I had better get my buttola moving here and get the rest of the hall painted. I need to go back to home-depot and pick up a few more things as well.
I will try to get a few new bears... well actually 2 dragons, an Ellie and a bunny up on Etsy before the end of the day as well... Better get off the computer! lol.
Happy Holiday Monday,
Melly

decent into hallway painting madness....

2012-02-19T22:51:00.000-07:00

Mom, you okay? Lol.

Reset button

2012-02-19T10:55:00.002-07:00

I woke up today feeling more like myself so I've got up.. dyed my hair.. I wanted to get the red out and it won't come out.. Oh well.. deal with that another day..I really just want to put the past behind me and start again. It's really difficult when the past keeps showing it's face everywhere you turn around. I really need a new distraction.

So I woke up with this awesome idea.. but I have too much work to do to start that right now.. I am going to go finish painting the hallway and all the other crap I need to get done today.. then I will start on this new project. I've never done any editing on video and that is what this idea entails so this should be a learning experience

2012-02-19T02:10:00.000-07:00

2012-02-19T00:57:00.002-07:00

2012-02-18T23:52:00.000-07:00

My brother texted me this pic the other day and I can't stop looking at it sadly.. lol. Colored soap at the car wash in Stony.

2012-02-18T23:22:00.000-07:00

2012-02-18T23:18:00.000-07:00

2012-02-18T23:17:00.000-07:00

2012-02-18T16:01:00.000-07:00

2012-02-18T12:19:00.001-07:00

.. not your ghost anymore....

2012-02-17T22:00:00.001-07:00

We had the day off work today... I decided I didn't want to get out of bed... finally a friend called after repeated unanswered texts and told me I shouldn't wallow.. So I managed to drag my ass up and get cleaned up. In an effort not to drive myself crazy with my own thoughts I went to the mall to do some much needed retail therapy. It's just been another one of those weeks where I wish I could push the reset button and wake up 7 years ago and start over again.

I've been doing work on the house and tonight I went and picked out a paint for the hallway. I wanted to finish up with the primer tonight but I am out of energy. I will be going back to the studio soon... I'm just not feeling very creative lately.. more self-deprecating. I'm trying not to do this.. but the more time I spend alone thinking about shit, the worse I get. I know I will find my way again... I just need to get into a new project
and find some more people to hang out with who are not drunks to get me out of this house.

Happy Long weekend,
Hugs,
Melly

2012-02-16T22:46:00.001-07:00

2012-02-16T22:29:00.000-07:00

2012-02-16T18:09:00.003-07:00

2012-02-16T18:05:00.000-07:00

Valentines day .. humbug..

2012-02-14T20:24:00.000-07:00

“Have you ever been in love? Horrible isn't it? It makes you so vulnerable. It opens your chest and it opens up your heart and it means that someone can get inside you and mess you up. You build up all these defenses, you build up a whole suit of armor, so that nothing can hurt you, then one stupid person, no different from any other stupid person, wanders into your stupid life...You give them a piece of you. They didn't ask for it. They did something dumb one day, like kiss you or smile at you, and then your life isn't your own anymore. Love takes hostages. It gets inside you. It eats you out and leaves you crying in the darkness, so simple a phrase like 'maybe we should be just friends' turns into a glass splinter working its way into your heart. It hurts. Not just in the imagination. Not just in the mind. It's a soul-hurt, a real gets-inside-you-and-rips-you-apart pain. I hate love.” - Neil Gaimen.

One of my favorite quotes from the talented Neil Gaimen. I thought it fit the day. Today of course is Valentines day and I'm feeling particularly Emo.. lol. I like to compare Valentines day to Christmas... not my favorite holidays! lol. Actually it was not that bad of a day at all thanks to certain people... Oh!... and look what I found...

So happy Valentines day... Have a heart... I'd say it was mine to give but I actually cut it out of some poor unsuspecting lad ;) lol.

Went out for a quick dinner and then bought a copy of Breaking Dawn Part 1 today. I might take the evening off working on the house to go sit on my ass with a mug of Hot Chocolate and actually relax. It's been a few weeks since I've actually sat down to watch a movie.

.. and if nothing else.. Just remember it's only 260 days till next Halloween.. lol

Hugs!

Melly

2012-02-13T14:52:00.000-07:00

2012-02-13T08:50:00.000-07:00

2012-02-12T17:32:00.000-07:00

Okay, I think I need to go see this.. Looks pretty cool.

2012-02-12T17:05:00.000-07:00

2012-02-11T10:26:00.000-07:00

2012-02-11T09:54:00.002-07:00

2012-02-11T09:51:00.002-07:00

2012-02-11T09:46:00.002-07:00

.. and I just might have an addiction...

2012-02-10T23:25:00.000-07:00

Hi my name is Melly and I'm a fabriholic. I don't really want any help for my addiction.. maybe some more fabric? lol!
So tonight I decided against what I had planned and started working in the studio a bit... I had forgot I had packed up all my fabric... well off to the basement. Inspiration galore!

So many new ideas seem to come to you after rummaging through all your mohairs! I will be slowly unpacking it all and organizing it so I can actually see it all.... well, hopefully anyway! lol.

Things have been getting better here. I'm settling into my new life... and although I've had some dark days, I'm lucky to have some pretty awesome people around who make my life bright again.

Tomorrow I want to paint the hallway and do a few other chores.. Getting better everyday in here and it's looking less and less like a disaster zone. Yay!

I do have a few new critters to put up on Etsy.. I just need to set up an area to do my photo shoots. I hope I can set up a permanent place to do them now and it will make getting new critters up that much easier. I have a cute pink ellie and a dragon ready to go.. among other creations!
Melly

2012-02-10T18:44:00.001-07:00

“You don't love someone for their looks, or their clothes, or for their fancy car, but because they sing a song only you can hear.”

2012-02-09T09:04:00.000-07:00

2012-02-08T17:12:00.000-07:00

2012-02-07T23:50:00.000-07:00

2012-02-07T23:49:00.000-07:00

2012-02-06T10:58:00.000-07:00

2012-02-05T19:54:00.000-07:00

2012-02-05T19:47:00.000-07:00

2012-02-05T16:23:00.000-07:00

My new chair and lamp... Looking better everyday in here.

Pinball hall of fame..

2012-02-05T11:31:00.001-07:00

Wow. I totally need to make a plan to go here!!!

Pinball Hall of fame

I can hear a game I own in the background.. lol.

2012-02-05T01:50:00.000-07:00

new blog look and other ramblings..

2012-02-04T22:43:00.001-07:00

I decided to change the blog a little to more of how I feel lately... Sort of tired and worn out. I will likely change it back but I think the change is good for right now.
Spent the day out with Kristina and her Mom. It was a fun day as I really enjoy spending time with them both. We went to the hobby store and to two of the antique malls here. I picked up a pile of cool drinking glasses, which seems to be my new obsession lately. After I got home my parents came over to help me with a few things and we had a quick meal together. I spent the rest of the evening in the garage working... I have more to do but my body is not co-operating. Hopefully by the end of the weekend I will have it all set up the way I want it to be.

I got 2 new dollhouse kits today. Not sure what I will turn them into but they were a very good price so I figured it would be a good thing for me to get back into.. not that I need anything else to do.. I hardly sit down as it it.... mind you I guess you have to sit to work on the dollhouse.. lol!!
Anyway, I have a few things left to do so I can head to bed. Tomorrow should be another busy day and hopefully tonight I will manage to get some sleep.
Hugs,
Melanie

2012-02-02T17:06:00.001-07:00

No, I didn't eat any pills.. lol. This reminds me of a phone call I got at work today. In which the person said to me.... "my husband dumped out all my pills..... BUT I FOUND OONNNNEEE" lol. Great! ha!

Anyway, went out for a quiet dinner tonight with my brother and his wife. I've been going out as much as I can lately. I really can't sit still anymore. It seems when I do I slip into thinking too much and that never really does me any good when it comes to matters of the heart. So I just do anything and everything to stay busy and in the meantime I hope things turn out the way I would like them to be.

2012-02-02T10:05:00.002-07:00

2012-02-02T09:48:00.000-07:00

2012-02-01T16:48:00.000-07:00

2012-01-30T21:15:00.001-07:00

2012-01-29T23:29:00.000-07:00

My new and old studio!

2012-01-29T11:43:00.000-07:00

My new Studio room

My old studio room.. lol. Much better ;)

I am very thrilled to finally have my pinball machines in a place I can play them. I worked on them last night and got most of them working properly. I still have to level them and clean them.. but at least they are here.

Going to try to get some new bears up today among other things so I better get off the computer and get at it.

Hugs!

Melly

2012-01-29T11:39:00.003-07:00

2012-01-29T11:39:00.000-07:00

TBR and TB&F Merge

2012-01-28T11:01:00.000-07:00

Interesting news... http://www.teddybearreview.com/articles/59-news/202-teddy-bear-a-friends-teddy-bear-review-magazines-merge.html

I really hope they keep the TBR creative flare!!!

Melanie

2012-01-26T21:42:00.000-07:00

A friend sent me this the other day and oh my.. Karen, I think you will like this! lol.

Hugs,

Melanie

Oranges and lemons:

2012-01-24T20:43:00.001-07:00

My Mom would always read this to me before bed when I was little.. no wonder I'm strange... lol! I thought it was SO funny and would laugh and laugh.

Oranges and lemons

"Oranges and lemons" say the bells of St. Clement's
"You owe me five farthings" say the bells of St. Martin's
"When will you pay me?" say the bells of Old Bailey
"When I grow rich" say the bells of Shoreditch
"When will that be?" say the bells of Stepney
"I do not know" say the great bells of Bow
"Here comes a candle to light you to bed
Here comes a chopper to chop off your head
Chip chop chip chop - the last man's dead."

2012-01-24T18:54:00.000-07:00

2012-01-23T11:58:00.000-07:00

I found this quote the other day and it really stuck with me....

"If you suffer from depression, anything that makes you feel has to the most important thing in your life, because it's the only thing that can save you" - Siobhan Fahey

Things have been going along here. I've been having more downs the past few days... Seems one thing after another lately.. but I'm trying to stay positive. To top it off my grey kitten, Minion has been ill. She has a rare virus that the vet can't do much for.. We are just praying she gets better. She has had a tough start to life and we all love her so much. Today she is feeling a bit better so I hope she can turn around.

My studio is pretty much ready to work in now.. a bit more cleaning and sorting and then I will move on to my supply area. I want things to be organized again so I can at least find things. Nothing more frustrating than trying to create and not being able to find your supplies.

My wee Minion waiting for a fax :)

~ Melanie

Longing for summer...

2012-01-21T20:56:00.000-07:00

I wish it was summer .........

Trick or Treat??? YES!

2012-01-17T22:39:00.000-07:00

I am pleased to announce I will be taking part in the Trick or Treat Studio tour for 2012! I know October is a long way away but I am already getting excited. I had SO much fun last year and I already have some special new critters who are floating around in my head waiting to be made!

We have had a cold spell here the last few days. Can't complain really as it's been such an awesome winter this year with hardly any snow and awesome temperatures... I am still longing for those warm summer nights though. Cruising on the highway out to the lake with the windows open and the stereo on... Ah.... I can feel the warm breeze.. lol!!!

Things are good here though, thanks to the people who have asked! It means the world to me to have all of you out there. I've been having up's and downs... but things get easier everyday!
Hugs,
Melanie

2012-01-15T18:26:00.000-07:00

From childhood's hour I have not been
As others were; I have not seen
As others saw; I could not bring
My passions from a common spring.
From the same source I have not taken
My sorrow; I could not awaken
My heart to joy at the same tone;
And all I loved, I loved alone.
Then- in my childhood, in the dawn
Of a most stormy life- was drawn
From every depth of good and ill
The mystery which binds me still:
From the torrent, or the fountain,
From the red cliff of the mountain,
From the sun that round me rolled
In its autumn tint of gold,
From the lightning in the sky
As it passed me flying by,
From the thunder and the storm,
And the cloud that took the form
(When the rest of Heaven was blue)
Of a demon in my view.

Edgar Allan Poe

Down to the nitty gritty

2012-01-11T10:59:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

Well it's time for me to come clean about what is going on with life here. My relationship of many years ended. It has been a difficult time and I've shed many tears and have had many a breakdown in the past couple of months. It is all done now and I am starting to pick the pieces back up. I am ready to start over again though, looking forward to the future again instead of not.

I'm moving my studio so I've not been working on anything. I hope in a couple more weeks all will be set up and ready to go. I had been working on a zombie and I think my Friend Karen from Scratching at the Window has inspired me to make a Krampus :D lol! I can't wait.

So that is what has been going on in my life here.
Hope all is well with all of you!!
Hugs,
Melanie

2012-01-10T15:23:00.000-07:00

Another one that made me laugh. This is totally me on a hyper day.
Melanie

2012-01-03T10:59:00.000-07:00

This cracked me up...

Happy New Year everyone! I am thankful 2011 is gone and done with. It was a rough year but I hope 2012 is going to be a better year. It started off much happier already with a great New Years get together with friends and family.
May 2012 bring in happiness and the best of everything!
Melanie

2011-12-27T22:55:00.000-07:00

I'm sure my blog readers have noticed that I've not been updating my blog as of late. Many changes here have been going on.... but I am here and I will be okay. I will be back in 2012! Best wishes, Merry Christmas and a BIG monster Happy New Year!!!

Hugs,
Melanie

Updated Etsy Shop

2011-12-04T10:48:00.000-07:00

I've updated my etsy shop with the few critters left over from the xmas show. I have a few more new pieces to add when I have time including one more Ellie. This is all I have time for today though. Enjoy!
Melanie

The show is over.

2011-11-20T14:13:00.000-07:00

Just a quick thank you to the people who sent me such lovely messages about my bears and for the collectors who adopted them! I really had fun with this show and it's the last one of the season! Three shows in a row have been exhausting but loads of fun. I'm not sure what I'll be doing with myself now that I'm not in panic sewing mode!
Hope you all have a wonderful Sunday!
Thanks again!!
Melanie

Teddies Worldwide show ends TODAY

2011-11-20T11:57:00.000-07:00

Only a few more hours left on the show!

Be sure to go take a peek. Have a great weekend everyone!

Melly

retail therapy is the best kind of therapy.. lol

2011-11-19T16:17:00.000-07:00

I've been listening to this today... I forgot how much I love Jack White.

Went out for some retail therapy today.... Got myself a new purse that resembles a dead poodle.. lol!

Woot! Haha!

Show is off to a great start!!

2011-11-19T08:40:00.000-07:00

The show is off to a great start! Make sure you go take a peek, so many wonderful bears by many artists are still available!

Melanie

The show has begun!!!

2011-11-17T10:07:00.002-07:00

I have 9 critters all ready to go! Hope you enjoy the show!

2011-11-16T16:25:00.000-07:00

show bears and other ramblings.

2011-11-15T21:01:00.000-07:00

Managed to get 8 bears done for the show. I have one more I am trying to get done before the end of the night. I should probably get on that! lol... but if not 8 new critters are ready to go and I really hope you guys like them. It's been a load of work doing 3 show in 2 months but I seem to work the best under pressure.. lol.
There is still time to VOTE for your favorite bear in the show.. so be sure to go vote! Lol!

Hugs!
Melanie

Kittens revisited

2011-11-12T00:32:00.000-07:00

I've been asked how the kittens are doing and they are doing great. Lilly looks like a real cat and Minion, well she is still scrawny.. but growing.

Melly

Halloween goodness

2011-11-11T23:36:00.002-07:00

I really needed a break from sewing so I decided I better upload some of my Halloween photos and I have the one video that turned out half decent. It looked better in the dark but the pics did not turn out.

Enjoy!
Melly

2011-11-11T18:44:00.001-07:00

Spent the morning sewing then went for an outing with my best bear bud Kristina, she really is a nut and lucky that I love her ;) .. lol. We had an entertaining late lunch/early dinner but I had to cut the night short to sew for the show... I'm sure I'd just get into some mischief anyway so it was likely for the best... I did manage to buy myself some sexy Granny glasses though.. haha!

I was blog surfing a few days ago and came across this gem. Pure goodness.. lol.

http://thebloggess.com/2011/07/would-you-like-to-buy-a-monkey/

Back to sewing! 6 down..... at least 2 to go!

Melly

2011-11-09T13:08:00.000-07:00

Working! lol

2011-11-08T22:50:00.000-07:00

Still working my buttola off making Christmas bears. I'm not allowed to give sneak peeks as per the show rules but I will have quite a few new bears and maybe even a few other critters to show you! So far I have 5 new bears ready to go and I`m working on a few more. I can`t wait to for you all to see them.

Hugs,
Melanie

Wow, 2 posts in one day.. lol.

2011-11-04T22:33:00.001-06:00

I finally got Halloween put away! Yay! Wow, what a huge amount of work. Took me over 9 hours to pack all of my props up. I forgot what a production it really is. lol. At least it's all done now for another year. I'll be spending the rest of the weekend getting ready for the Teddies Worldwide Christmas show. I'm very excited about the bears I've made for the show and I hope you like them too. Please go vote! The link is in my post below this one.

It's been another good week here and I can say with full honesty this is the happiest I've been in a long time. It's a good feeling and I hope it continues. The past few years with all the struggles have been really difficult on me and I think maybe finally my luck is turning around. They say all things happen for a reason and I really hope that is true.

Tomorrow I'm going to head to the mall and see if I can't spend my birthday money on myself this year... as for tonight I am going to go snuggle in bed with a cat or two and watch Water for Elephants that I picked up the other day on DVD. I can't wait. It was one of my favorite books and I hope the movie does it justice.
Night all, I hope you have a great weekend!
Melanie

Teddies Worldwide preview has begun!

2011-11-04T17:45:00.000-06:00

The Teddies Worldwide preview has begun! Be sure to go vote for my bear Lol!

Hugs!
Melanie

Halloween is done!

2011-11-02T20:40:00.000-06:00

I survived Halloween although still cleaning up the mess from it all. I will post more photos and a video this week but I'm still trying to sort through the mess of props.. lol.
Hope you are all having a great week!
Hugs,
Melanie

Still making Christmas but getting ready for Halloween!!!

2011-10-30T16:41:00.000-06:00

Here I am with Mouse, "Making Christmas" lol. It's time to get ready for tomorrow though and it's going to be a big busy day. My poor house is plugged with Props EVERYWHERE..... lol. I have 3 bears totally done for the Teddies worldwide Christmas show... I am working like a mad man to get more done. I sure hope I can make my quota!

Today started with a trip to the store to get Halloween candy, as all the treats I bought already got hoovered. While I was there I decided I needed a new shirt......... It was new and white... but clumsy me can never keep a white shirt clean for long ;)

Tomorrow is going to be a good day! lol.
Hugs,
Melanie

Making Christmas, Making Christmas la la la! lol

2011-10-12T10:29:00.000-06:00

I survived Thanksgiving but ended up having to work on of my days off so I didn't get as much done as I had planned for the long weekend.. but I will get it all done... just some late nights ahead of me..

I am deep into making Christmas bears for the Teddies worldwide Christmas show..... I feel sort of like this.....

Lol!!! This song is going to be stuck in my head all day now.. lol!

Some new bears will be available very soon, I have been working well into the night on Etsy listings.. I just need to get some photos done and I should have at least 5 new critters available!

Hugs,
Melanie

2 shows down... one left to go!

2011-10-03T09:26:00.000-06:00

Well I survived the Edmonton Doll show and had lots of fun laughing and shopping and even sold some bears! lol. Thought I would share a few photos of my table...