Mink Teddy Bears (made from recyled mink coats)

Stout

• This is little "Stout." Made from a recycled mink coat. He is 6" tall and available in my Etsy shop along with his brother, Shadow!

Stout

And this is little "Shadow." Also made from a recycled mink coat and available on Etsy!

Shadow

Shadow

Thanks for the visit! Vicki and the Bears!

Rambo the Yorkie

In addition to the teddy bears, I love creating one of a kind dogs occasionally. Little Rambo is one of three pups I've recently created. I'll post the other two shortly!

On the right hand side of this post is a link to my Etsy store. Rambo is available for adoption if you are interested.

Thanks for visiting my blog. Vicki and the pups!

Miniature Teddy Bears

I've just finished these five little sweeties. They are all 4.5 inches tall and soon to be listed in my Etsy shop.

This one is Sprout.

And these are her little brothers, Bran and Buddy.

And then there is the beautiful Miss Charolette!

And last, but of course not least, is little Dennis.

If you are interested in adopting any on of these little cuties, they will be listed in my Etsy shop shortly. Just click on the link to the right of this entry. 

Love and hugs, Vicki

My New Best Buddy

I met Jackie in July of 2013. His hair was what you could call a "rough cut" and he had just been adopted by my then 84 year-old Mom. It seems his former owner left him with her x-husband and from what I understand, Jackie then lived outside in a pen for about a year with his companion, a Pit Bull. I guess the "x-husband" decided it was time for Jackie to have his own home and through a neighbor of my Mother's, she was told that there was a lonely little dog who was up for adoption. My Mom had lost her dog-companion, Spock, a few months earlier, so she was in the market for a new pup and consequently adopted Jackie.

When my Mom called me and told me she had a new dog, I couldn't wait to come over and meet him. When I saw him, I fell in love. Yes, it was love at first sight. I told my Mother that she didn't have to worry about ever leaving Jackie behind if she decided to leave this earth, because I would take care of him for her.

Sadly, my Mom had a series of health problems and ultimately passed away at the age of 85, about a year and a half after adopting Jackie. I knew Jackie was a special little dog the first day I met him. However, I did not know of his loyalty until I observed him in action during the last year and a half of my Mom's life. Due to her extreme illness, she was hospitalized numerous times and spent many days in her own bed at home. At the times when Jackie could not be near her due to a hospital stay, he was frantic with worry. When she was at home and spent many hours in bed, he was there with her. He kept her company during those long days when she couldn't do much, he never left her side.

On the evening my Mother passed, Jackie was there. He stayed on the bed with my Mother while she gently left this world. 

Although I knew Jackie would be coming home with me, I also knew that it would be too much for him to take him away from my Mom's house immediately after her passing. So I spent the night with him in my Mother's house. He came and slept with me on the couch. No frantically looking for my Mom, No anxiety, he knew. He knew she was gone.

I must say that having Jackie in my life this past year has been a blessing I would have never expected. Although our family has had dogs in the past, I never had my own dog. I mean I had never experienced the clicking of toenails following me every where I went, a dog-companion to snuggle up to at night, someone begging to go on car rides, leaping with glee at the thought of going for a walk, and chasing a ball with complete delight. 

I've wanted to introduce Jackie for some time, but the story couldn't be written until some of the grieving was done. I know that now. I hope my Mom knows that Jackie is safe and loved and will see her in heaven someday.

Jackie's transition with the teddy bears was seamless..... however, he and the cat are still working things out! Katrina is still the boss.

Happy 2016 everybody. More stories, bears and Juneau life to follow. Hugs, Vicki & Jackie

Ebb and Flow

I realize it has been over a year since I’ve posted on this blog. I can’t bring myself to close this site, because I used to love posting. And, I still do, as a matter of fact. Life and it’s trials and stresses and (you know the drill) has gotten in the way of my inspiration and my time. So the blog just fell to the wayside.

For the past few weeks, I’ve been wanting to write. Not knowing where to start. Do I tell in detail the story of stress and loss? Caring for my Mother, losing my sister and subsequently losing my Mother, too.

Or do I just pretend everything is OK and I’ve just been too busy to write. 

For the past few years, I have spent a great deal of time caring for my elderly Mother, who subsequently passed away in January of this year. Since her death and the closing of her affairs, I have begun to realize the toll that this took on my body and spirit.

It’s been 10 months now since my Mom has passed. I am beginning to feel my spirit stir again and my health and enthusiasm are returning.

So, this is where I begin… again. Living within the ebb and flow of life. Continuing with the things I love.

Love and hugs, Vicki and the Bears

P.S. We have a new addition to the family. His name is Jackie and he is a “dog.” He was my Mom’s companion and he has come to live with us. More on him in my next post!

Spring Arrives!

And to assist in its’ entrance, is sweet little Springs, a pretty little miniature teddy bear with flowers and a patio rocker.

She is currently available in my Etsy shop! Just click the link on the right hand side of your screen.

Thank you everyone who commented on my previous post. I am happy it is Spring, for I feel the healing power of new life.

Hugs from Vicki and the bears!

I Miss You, Sister

Two weeks ago today, my sister passed away.

I was at my Mother’s when I got the call, cleaning her house while she napped. I was well into my sixth week of a nightmare trying to help her recover from an operation she had in January.

My sister was in poor health for many years. She had been in a nursing home for the past few months and actually seemed happier than I remember her being in a long time.

She was my confidant. My friend. The only one I could really talk to about how I felt about things, because she felt the same way I did.

I miss her so much.

I can’t seem to stop the tears sometimes. I know I am being selfish, because she was in so much pain before she died. But I miss her.

The day she died, I couldn’t even call my friends. They had been so supportive of my predicament with my Mother that how could I tell them this?

Sometimes life just seems to hand us too much.

And that day, it was too much.

I have since left my Mother’s house and have had time to grieve a bit. Grieving around my Mother was not an option.

We took two different paths, my sister and I. I became an overachiever/perfectionist, to fill the hole in my insides; she didn’t give a damn and slowly began to die from overindulgence and internal pain.

Although our paths were different, our feelings were the same. Selfishly, I will miss our talks, our sharing the pain, our laughing. She laughed so well.

I have thought long and hard about sharing this on my blog.

But this is part of my life. And life is just hard sometimes.

This day was dedicated to my Sister. I read her yearbooks, played her favorite music, put her picture here on my desk so we could share the day together. Now it is evening. Time to put away the toys and memories of childhood/ good and not so good, and get ready for bed. 

This was a good day. Tears and grief don’t turn good days into bad days. And tomorrow will be a better day, I just know it.

Love from Vicki and the bears.

P.S I love you, Sister. I feel you with me. I thank God for you in my life. We’ll still have our talks. I’ll try hard to hear you. 

Millicent and Manny

I’m happy to report my first creations of 2014 are finally finished, two pups, Millicent and Manny.

It’s been a tough week. My aging Mother was admitted for surgery on Monday. Long story short, she is now home and doing well.

For any of you who have been through this with a parent, I know you know how it is. It is difficult in a way that can’t be explained.

It’s like that truth in living one moment at a time.

So, today I’m using some of those moments to revitalize myself in my self-created world of bears (and puppies it seems).

Love and hugs, Vicki and the bears and dogs!

Cubby and Badger on an Exciting Holiday in Beautiful France!

Submitted by my friend, Bine.

In October 2013 Cubby and Badger went on Holiday with their German parents in their camping car. Both were so excited that they danced and rocked on the dashboard. Finally their first long journey started. They travelled straight across through France to reach the Atlantic Ocean.

On one of these roaming tours, Badger suddenly screamed in an already breaking of his voice, pointing with his paw into the appropriate direction – we stopped the car at once! And unbelievable but true, the reason why Badger was so excited was the name “Vicky” on a sign near the road. Now tears dropped from the eyes of both bears; and Cubby sighed swaying to and fro; sweet memories; obviously remembering a cradle.

The next morning – as every morning – they had French breakfast, of course, with quail eggs, goat’s cheese and baguette. Cubby tried to ride on the baguette, but unfortunately always in vain.

In an unobserved moment, Badger pinched several quail eggs and ate them hidden behind the robin shopping bag, his favorite. He kept two eggs in order to hide them in the baguette that he had excavated for hard times.

After breakfast they went to an old castle where Badger climbed a pile and became the first to sit on top! “What an experience to see the world from above!” he thought. And Cubby??? He didn’t succeed in climbing on top of the pile; he leaned against the pile, exhausted, with all his muscles out of control.

The next day they went to the seaside. It was their last day at the Atlantic Ocean. All of a sudden Badger climbed on a pale, sat down on top, sucking his thumb with his left hand and holding a pinched little tomato in his right arm while he watched the sea.

Cubby, who again wasn’t able to climb that high, was satisfied with a lower seat.

Sunset was the time when they sat together and dreamed of Vicki and Alaska until the full moon rose in their back.

Thank you, Bine, for sharing this story with me and our friends on the Blog. I almost feel like I was able to go with you on your trip and share the fun with you and the bears. Big smiles and gratitude. Love and hugs, too!!!

Inspired by a Doggy Dog World!

Cyrus was my final creation of 2013 and I believe he will be my inspiration for more pups in 2014.

I’m feeling my mojo returning after a brief Christmas respite.

Happy New Year to all my friends here on the blog!

Hugs from Vicki and the Bears!

The Black Hole

Every year about this time, I have ahead of me a project. Every year I dread it more. Is it because I’m getting older and it is harder to move about… underneath the house?

The hole is located behind a beautiful lace curtain that hangs over a doorway in the teddy bear room.

Behind the curtain is a “mess” of teddy bears, supplies and just “stuff” that belongs in a closet.

So, I begin to haul all of the “stuff” into the teddy bear room… to reveal the “hatch” that opens up to the black hole.

After going this far, I can’t turn back. So I open up the hatch and gingerly place my trusty step stool into the cold black area where the magic of Christmas resides… hidden away in blue bins.

Into the dark hole I go…. grasping for the string that hangs from the hole’s ceiling that will allow me to turn on the light.

OK, I’ve gotten this far. Now I need to drag each bin to the hole and ease it up into the closet. Good thing hubby was home so he could help drag the bins into the living room. (He gets the easy job).

So, bin after bin eases up into the teddy bear room. From there into the living room. And in a couple of hours it turns into this….

…. and that is what gives me the courage, year after year, to enter into the black hole that contains the magic of Christmas!

Hugs from Vicki and the Bears!