Laura's New Interest - Reading eBooks!

I've discovered reading books on eReader and love it! I've had a few people ask me about how I like it and more information, so I made up website about the eReader I chose to buy. The link is below...

http://ebookwise.blogspot.com/

My Newest Project: www.LaughatYourBoss.com

Yep, we've been busy and I DO need to catch you all up on what's going on with us. One project that I (Laura) have been working on (which I've had on my "to do" list for a couple of years) is a new website.

That website is: www.LaughatYourBoss.com
Yes, it's a funny name. I wanted something that would be easy to remember.

What's the website about? I've had many people ask me what I do when I tell them I work from home. Although I started off making collectible teddy bears, I do so many other things also that I decided to create a website about it so other people can learn how to work from home too.

Merry Christmas!

Well, as you can see, it's been a long time since I've updated this page! I update my Teddies by Laura Lynn Blog more often than this one, (even with family news) but I hope to be better at updating both ;)

Here are some very quick updates....

Sequoya (also known as Squirt) has joined our household. Sequoya is an adorable 4 pound Chihuahua from Chihuahua Rescue USA. She was 1 year old when she came to our house.

Our friends across the street who had the house fire have moved back in several weeks ago!

We spent most of the summer at The Bristol Renaissance Faire. And Laura is WAY behind on uploading photos taken there this past summer....

We went to the NASCAR race in "Chicago" this year (Joliet)

Bob and friends went to Ohio for a diecast model open house.

Bob of course has been working on LOTS of models.

Laura's best bear artist friend Daphne flew in during October so they could both drive to Kohler, WI to participate in the Kohler Doll & Teddy Bear Show.

Laura & Daphne decided to produce a bear show in Schaumburg starting fall of 2009 - The Chicagoland Teddy Bear Show.

ABC Unlimited Productions had produced artist teddy bear shows in Schaumburg for over 20 years and had decided to retire. We waited a couple of months to see if anyone would pick up the show... when it wasn't, we decided to do it. Chicago just can NOT be without an ALL teddy bear show! It's been a LOT of work already... and lots more to come.

The deck was finished! I'll have to see if I have the final photos. I finally convinced Bob to put latticework around the bottom of the deck. It was a pia, but it looks wonderful! Also I'm hoping that we don't have momma bunnies thinking that under our deck is an ideal place to raise baby bunnies.... Pandora caught quite a few of those this past spring....

Isis our "miracle puppy" is still doing GREAT!

Well, that's it for now. I need to get crackin' on making bears! Hope to post again soon! :)

Spring Break!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, actually today is the last day of Spring Break for Jen. She's been home with us this week and the timing couldn't have been better. Monday I slipped on the ice in the back yard and fell down HARD on my right knee. I couldn't walk at all. Thank goodness Jen was home as she helped me tremendously!!

Spring appears to be trying to make an appearance in Chicago. Now.. (after my fall) the snow has almost all melted. We've had a day or two of temperatures in the 50's! Mostly high 30's to low 40's... at least it's above freezing! I've even seen & heard the robins and redwing black birds singing. We ARE supposed to get some snow later this week.... but the end is in sight!

Last night we took Jen to dinner at Ju Rin -- our most favorite restaurant. Jen has not only helped me out in the house, she's helped Bob out in the workshop.

It's Snowed... AGAIN! And News on Laura

OK I'm posting this for all you family members who had the good idea to move AWAY from Chicago.... it's snowed AGAIN!!! I think the weather people are saying that this winter is one of our worst as far as snowfall goes. It started early... and it sure seems to be going on for a long time.

And GREAT news about Laura -- that's me ;) One of my bears has made the cover of the major teddy bear collecting magazine here in the States!! I can't tell you how thrilled I am!!!

It's a Busy Summer, that's for sure!

Nubble Light 5, originally uploaded by Laura Lynn - Teddy Bear Artist.

No, we have not fallen off the face of the planet! We've been having fun this summer!

Lots has been going on... and I'll fill you in on more later. But I had to show you my latest trip.

I went to visit my friend Daphne of Back Road Bears who lives in New Hampshire. She not only creates artist bears, but she also produces 2 all artist bear shows per year in New England.

I went out to participate in her 2nd annual Maine Teddy Bear Show which was lots of fun! I was lucky enough to be able to stay a couple of extra days. Daphne was awesome and took me to take some lighthouse photos. You can see all of those pictures here.

Of course, we did some shopping too! I'd never been out on the East Coast before and I had no idea how much shopping there is - or how beautiful it is!

Now I'm getting ready for another teddy bear show... this one in Kansas City!

Went to see Mom!

Uhhh... no... I forgot my camera... but I had a great time down in Kentucky visiting Mom and Gene!

I DID bring my sewing machine LOL! It was really nice just to relax and hang out with Mom... and work on some bears.

I drove down... my... that Mercedes drives SO nicely! And it got 30 mpg on the highway too!

Busy busy busy!!!

Well, it's not because "nothing" is going on that I haven't posted!! Jen is in England right now with her Grandma Martha. They went with Grandma's choir on a singing tour. Bob has been busy working on painting cranes... I've been working on bears... and many other projects.

I'll FINALLY be going to see my Mom next week! I was supposed to go the first weekend in May... but Isis had her accident the weekend before so I postponed it. Isis is doing very well now.. and I feel very comfortable leaving her in Bob & Jen's very capable hands :)

I've signed up do do THREE teddy bear shows this year! For me... that's a lot! PLUS they are one right after another: August, September and October. I'll be flying to Maine.... then driving to Kansas City with my friend and teddy mentor Jo, and then doing my local Schaumburg show. Bob will be going to a model open house this summer too in Ohio.

Jen will be leaving for Oregon to visit her Dad about a week after she gets back from England. She'll go back to school mid August.

And this year... I'm ATTEMPTING a few flowers. Keeping it easy and simple so I keep up with the watering :) The top picture is at the front of the house.... here's the first photo of the flowers in the back. I've recently added some more "fru fru" as Bob calls it and need to take some new pictures.

April 2007 Schaumburg Teddy Bear Show!

I did not have a table at the ABC April Teddy Bear Show.... but I did go as a collector! I do enjoy being able to do either... when you go as a collector you do get to see EVERYthing!

There were about 40 artists at this show - and the work was amazing! It was SO hard to choose! Thankfully, the weather was not great (although not raining) so there were a lot of collectors buying at the show too. Last year the weather was fabulous.... so there weren't so many collectors .

Well, I wish I could have taken more photos.... but I couldn't even start taking photos (with Artists' permissions of course!) until later in the day because there were so many people buying bears! I know I missed a LOT of my friends' tables... but here are the ones I did manage to take!

Bob really "got me" for my birthday!

This year I am 42.... and in June we'll be married for 10 years :)
Bob was so excited about what he got me for my birthday that he made me open my present in the morning... before he went to work. I think I screamed when I opened the box!!!!!

He has never given me an artist bear before.... and this one (as if you couldn't guess!) is Zebeddee a Back Road Bear by Daphne!!!! Daphne is a VERY good friend of mine who is (obviously) also a bear artist. She lives in New Hampshire.

I think I screamed louder than when he's given me jewelry LOL!!!!I had planned on spending the rest of the day re-organizing my studio and trying to finish up a special order bunny I have... I also went out to lunch with a friend from Bob's work.

Bob asked me what plans I had for the day.... I said working on bears. Terry asked me what I was doing after lunch... I said working on bears.But... WHAT did I do after lunch? I didn't "go shopping" as my hubby said... I just went to 3 stores to "pick up a few things"

It was for the re-organization of my studio!!! (I swear!)

Well, got a call when I walked into the 2nd store... hubby checking to see how I'm enjoying my day (or so I thought) Told him I was at Hobby Lobby.Then I went to Target.... got another call from hubby... (this is about 2 hours after lunch) He told me "well, I have to let the cat out of the bag.... I'm having flowers delivered and the florist has tried 2 times but you aren't home yet...."I apologized... I was sorry for wrecking his surprise!

So... I check out quickly and get home.... press the garage door opener.... and see this......
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So..... if you couldn't guess by now.... I got NOTHING done for the rest of the day Oh... here's a pic of BOTH my presents!

The Movie... The Last Mimzy

I'm not sure if you've seen the trailers for the movie: The Last Mimzy..... but I have to tell you why I am so excited about seeing this movie....

The story's main characters are a brother and sister... and a stuffed rabbit named Mimzy. Well... the bunny maker who made Mimzy for the movie... is a very good friend of mine!!
Her name is Daphne Blau of Back Road Bears: http://www.backroadbears.com/

This bunny was NOT Daphne's typical soft sculpture style... but was a very unique and rewarding opportunity for her!
You can find out more about the movie here: http://www.mimzy.com/

A Little About Laura

Now here's a little bit about me - Laura.

My business is making collectible teddy bears and selling them on the internet. The bears are actually for adults who collect bears ~ they are not safe as toys.

I started selling them on Ebay in 2000 and eventually learned how to make my own website. I now sell them on both my site and on Ebay. In 2002 I quit my job and started doing the bears full time.

My bears have homes all over the US... and also in the United Kingdom and Australia! At the end of this post you can find links to see more photos of my bears and also my websites.

I love making my teddy bears of course, but I also enjoy collecting them!

I love to read - although I have less time now. I usually read mysteries! I love "The Cat Who..." mysteries series by Lillian Jackson Braun. My NEW favorite mystery series is the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich (One for the Money,....) Thanks to Mom for turning me onto her! I've even got Jen hooked on these!

Although I haven't done a lot of it lately... I still love photography! I'll get some photography up here on the site eventually. I've been learning more and more about my Adobe Photoshop Elements program too which is fun.

I also keep busy by selling things on Ebay! If we haven't used it in a year (sometimes less time) then it goes on Ebay! With no basement - we just don't have room to keep stuff we don't use. It's a great way to help pay for the new hobbies and stuff too. Of course, I also keep busy BUYING stuff on ebay too!

I LOVE seasonal decorating! One of my favorite things to do is to go to my best friend Nancy's house to get ideas from her. She has a marvelous eye and talent for putting things "just so". I do tend to be a little more sparse in my decorating... or looking for things that do "double duty". We don't have lots of storage left for things that are just up for a little while.

And of course another hobby of mine is to TRY to keep the family webpage updated. I'm always fooling around with it and changing stuff. Maybe this time I'll actually keep the news part updated!

Laura's Websites

• Teddies by Laura Lynn
• Free Teddy Bear Patterns
• Teddy Bear Collecting

Laura's Stuff - Click Photos to See More

Laura's Original Bears

Laura's Photography

Fun Decorating