STL7-StLouisShow3-25-2007

Teddy Bear Show Review

St Louis Teddy Bear Show Sunday March 25, 2007 Written by: Diana Stanton

“Meet me in St. Louis, Louie…” seemed to ring in everyone’s ears. Collectors and artists gathered for the return of Bright Star Promotions’ Greater St. Louis Teddy bear show on March 25, 2007.

Pre-show functions included a trip to Old Town, in St. Charles. A quaint area with specialty shops, cobble stone streets, historical houses and wonderful places to eat. “Have you ever tried a fried pickle?” George Weber (Chatham Village Bears) asked. Several artists packed into a booth tasted the new treat. “I’ll try one!” said Ignacio, husband of Adriana Esqueda (My Favorite Treasures).

View of the Missouri River			Downtown shopping street in Old Town St Charles			A break for their feet! Carrie, Art and Valerie
Adriana enjoying shopping!			You can always spot a teddy bear collector. Debbie's bear purse is a dead give-away!			Restful area between main street and the river. The weather was nice and lots of people walking around.

Geroge, Valerie and Carrie trying a fried pickle.

Ignacio, Adriana and Art sampling fried pickles too!

Part of the group enjoying Old Town.

Later after the day of shopping, others met and the group grew to twenty eight artists and collectors meeting at Tony’s Downtown for dinner.

Sharing laughs and enjoying the meal is often a relaxing time before the next day’s show

Set-up time begins early at the Embassy Suites Hotel. Exhibitors put the final touches on their display tables, prior to the open of the show. During that time, Valerie Rogers, the show promoter, presented Isabella Hoffmann with a Winner’s Certificate honoring her teddy bear (and a penguin) photograph used on the invitation post cards.

The Show Me Bear Club of St. Louis packaged snack treats in colorful bags, tied with a ribbon and a teddy bear card. Each vendor was presented a bag. “A little afternoon pick-me-up treat,” said club member Julie Baldwin. “We had fun assembling the bags with anticipation of meeting the artists. Each of the vendors thought the club’s gesture was wonderful.

Remembering back to another award’s ceremony, when Art and George bought plates of Bourbon Balls that Valerie had donated to Good Bears of the World as a fund raiser, she made a big box of candy for them. “My way of saying thank you for all your help with organizing the show,” Valerie said. Art and George beamed with delight, while others asked if they’d need a breathalyzer test to leave the building that night!

Geroge Weber, Valerie Rogers and Art Rogers, all helped bring the show to you!

Several artists entered the ‘Collector’s Choice” Contest. Each attending collector voted for the bear they liked best by dropping a card into the corresponding numbered box. The contest table held 16 entries ranging from small bears, to bears representing famous personalities or storybook characters. “It is hard to decide,” said Debby Tinsley an avid collector. “I love them all.”

Throughout the show, Jenavive, grand daughter of Isabelle Hoffmann (Bearly Collectibles) demonstrated hand-knitting, that is knitting on her hand without needles; making colorful and lacy
scarves for the teddy bears.

“I enjoy meeting new people,” begins Adriana Esqueda (My Favorite Treasures) traveling to St. Louis from Keller, Texas.
“I always learn something from the way the collectors view my art.”

Ruth Ann Bridges said, “Needle felting is new and exciting for me and each creation is different. Dragons are fun to make!”

There's always room for
one more bear!

New to teddy bear shows, Caroline Hulse (LinaBears, LLC) expresses “I have not traveled far yet, but I’m looking forward to it.” And just ask any of the seasoned artists who travel from show to show, “It’s in our blood,’ said Celia Roberts (CMR Collectibles) “These little teddy bears have taken me on a wonderful ride. I’ve been to Florida in the winter, to Maine in August, and every point in between, and the bears ask for nothing in return.”

Celia and her colorful traveling buddies!

Sometimes it is hard to spot the artists among their lovely bears, but Pat Kapral (Hugs by Pat) peeks out with a big smile.

As the show progressed though the day collectors visited the exhibit booths, enjoying their chats with the artists and buying bears to add to their collections. One young man, Anthony W. age of 3 brought his beloved teddy bear to the show. His sister, Brooke held tight to her bear!

Build-A-Bear’s national headquarters is in the St. Louis area and they generously donated door prizes. Each attending collector received a gift card good towards making a teddy bear. Jordon was one of the luck recipients of a Build-A-Bear teddy bear that donned a cute outfit including sport shoes. Each artist also contributed prizes and winning collectors were very pleased.

Connie Schmidt Bears traveling from Oklahoma to exhibit her bears.

Sue Van Natten (Bearlooms) combines her bears with vintage accessories including old Stieff animals.

JoAnn Ohanlon (Bear My Soul) spent time chatting with collectors and enjoying the interaction.

Train engineer bear accompanies Bettina Groh (The Glass Dragon). She demonstrated needle felting during the show.

Dressed for colder weather, Dian Pete's (Bears for Pete's Sake) her bear didn't know how sunny and warm it was in St. Louis!

Bob Pagano (Bob's Buddies) hold his bears that seem to jump off the table. He says his style is 'country look'

Kim Overbey (Parson's Prairie) is ready for Spring with her chicks popping out of colorful eggs.

Please check back for the

2008 St. Louis show date

and join us then!

Continue the fun!

Continue the search for your favorite bears.

You'll know - the bear will be talking to you!

Judy Mathis (Judy's Raggedu Country loved bears, bunnies and lions. Her lion attracted quite a bit of attention.

At 2:30 the winners of the contest were announced.

Third place by a new artist; Caroline Hulse (LinaBears). Second place went to another new artist; Bob Pagano (Bob’s Buddies) and the Collector’s Choice First Place ribbon to Art Rogers (Chatham Village Bears). “I enjoyed getting the collector’s feed back,” Bob said and Isabelle Hoffmann chimed in saying, “The contest was well organized and an excellent highlight for the show.”

Third Place Collector's Choice Award
Caroline Hulse - LinaBear

Second Place Collector's Choice Award for Bob Pagano - Bob's Buddies

First Place Collector's Choice Ribbon goes to Art Rogers - Chatham Village Bears

When the show closed the artists all wished each other safe traveling. “See you at the next show!” was the common chant. Besides all the hard work the artists do while making bears, traveling gives them a time to enjoy the scenery and perhaps rest a little.

Visit shows, meet the artists and keep the shows active.

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