Our Newsletter Has A Name!

Congratulations to Patti's Paw Prints. She left the name "EbearZ Repeating" in our comments section for the name the newsletter contest. We think this is a great name as it embodies the spirit of the newsletter, while still allowing us to focus on a wide variety of arts and crafts. 

Patti's Paw Prints wins one free workshop of their choice.

It's been a busy week, beginning with a live show. After all the hustle of setup and tear down, unpacking and re-organizing, I'm thankful to be back in the studio, where the Christmas music is already playing.

Here are the answers to the crossword puzzle previously posted:

 Down

1. excelsior

2. joint

3. lead

4. bear

5. alpaca

6. woven

7. sculpted

8. whip

9. synthetic

10. running

11. setscrew

12. pearl

13. back

Across

1. epoxy

3. label

10. ratchet

14. sweet

15. ladder

16. mohair

17. airbrush

18. crayon

19. hump

20. needle

21. nap

22. sub

23. acrlic

24. felt

25. awl

Beginner Bear: Get The Basics!

Wanted to try bear making but just can't seem to get around to it? Our updated Beginner Bear workshop will teach you all the basic skills you'll need to know to create a beautiful 15 inch teddy bear.  Just in time for Christmas!

The class is full of photos, videos, flash and fun surprises.

And for those of you that already 'speak' teddy... try your hand at our EbearZ crossword. Answers will be posted next week.  Just right click on the puzzle and open it in a new tab or window. Then print it.

Down:
1. A type of stuffing commonly used in antique bears.
2. The device used to hold the head, arms and legs onto the body of the bear.
3. A heavy stuffing that is unsafe and should be avoided.
4. Another word for bruin.
5. Llama's wool.
6. A word that refers to the construction of the backing of Schulte mohair.
7. A word that refers to the shape a bear takes when the material is manipulated with a needle and thread.
8. A quick stitch that tacks two layers of fabric together.
9. A man-made fiber.
10. A gathering stitch.
11. A jointing system that requires an Allen key.
12. The type of cotton used for noses and claws.
13. A secure hand-stitch that simulated a machine stitch.

Across:
1. A type of glue used in lock-nut joints.
3. A tag often sewn onto the footpad of the bear.
10. A tool used for attaching an arm.
14. The taste of the cookies in segment four.
15. A stitch used for sewing up the openings in the appendages.
16. The wool of the angora goat.
17. A popular tool used to paint a finished bear using an air compressor.
18. An inexpensive alternative for creating a faux airbrushed finish is a pencil ________.
19. A design characteristic in the body of early 20th century bears.
20. A tool for pulling thread.
21. The name given to the direction in which the fur is woven or grown.
22. The waste material commonly used in stuffing teddy bears.
23. A fiber often used in the manufacture of synthetic fur and stuffing.
24. The combination of sizing and fiber that makes up the paw pads of your bear.
25. A tool used for poking holes.

Veterans Day/Remembrance Day

 

A remarkable video for the day.

 
Terry Kelly - A Pittance of Time



On November 11, 1999 Terry Kelly was in a drug store in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. At 10:55 AM an announcement came over the stores PA asking customers who would still be on the premises at 11:00 AM to give two minutes of silence in respect to the veterans who have sacrificed so much for us.

Faculty of Dolls Now Open

I'm happy to report that the Faculty of Dolls is now open and that we've posted our very first 'doll' workshop there.  Kinda Sorta...

Our first doll class begins life as a doll but is then Reborn into an adorable Puppy. Many of the doll makers among you may have heard of Reborn Baby Dolls, as this is quite a hot trend in doll making right now.

Our workshop takes the reborn process to a whole new level.  Award winning, master artist, Krista Griffiths has developed this remarkable technique and will take you through the steps of creating your very own lifelike puppy!

Please click HERE to learn more about this fascinating new workshop!

  

A Needle Felted Gnome

Makes me feel like singing something from 'The Sound of Music' ... G.. a needle felted gnome ...

Yes well, I digress.  Coming up this weekend is a brand new workshop with Maurine Adrezin.  She'll guide you through the steps of free form needle felting to create your very own little fantasy gnome.

This is a great project for the holidays!

The workshop is absolutely jamb packed with photos and videos, so it should really appeal to those of you who are visual learners!

To learn more about the workshop, click HERE.

Registration is taking place right now on our main site at www.ebearz.com  Just click 'Register' at the top or side of the page.  You can also register via our Artfire shop and we'll do all the account set up for you. Click here to visit the Artfire Studio.

Blog Promotion Winner

Thank you to everyone who signed up to follow us during our Halloween Blog Promotion.

The winner of a free EbearZ workshop is dotdinnigan. 

dotdinnigan can contact the EbearZ admin via the contact page on our main site at www.ebearz.com and we'll get them all set up in the class!

Congratulations!

The EbearZ Newsletter

Hello everyone!  Last night we prepared and sent out the first newsletter with EbearZ Updates since NCTB closed back in February.  I'm happy to report that EbearZ was the primary reason for many of the people signing up to receive the newsletter in the first places, so the response has been warm and appreciative.

Thank you to everyone who has read our newsletter!

Future newsletters will be archived and available on our site to read.

Each newsletter will include a discount coupon, which can be used for a discount on our classes. These will be very limited time offers and will only be accepted if you, take the discount when you pay and mention the coupon in your message (if using Paypal) or if you mention the coupon if paying by Credit Card on the phone.

Of course you'll have to open the newsletter to see the coupon!  LOL.

Finally,  The EbearZ Newsletter is such a boring name.  So, for the month of November, we'll be running a challenge to see who can think of a great name for our little publication.  The winner will be treated to a free workshop of their choice, so put on your thinking caps and comment on this post with your ideas!   Our comments are held in a moderation que, so they won't be immediately available for public viewing.

I can't wait to read your ideas!

Seeking Social Ambassador

Social Ambassador. Do you love to be on Facebook? Are you a top tweeter on Twitter? Love to visit all the Forums? We are currently seeking a Social Ambassador. This individual will promote the EbearZ U on the various social networking sites. This should amount to about 1-3 hours per month in total. Drop Nancy a line if you'd like to have more information via the Contact Page on our main site. This is a paid opportunity.

Halloween Blog Promotion

Our Hallowe'en Blog Promotion gets underway today as we continue to upgrade and improve the New EbearZ U. 

Win:  A workshop of your choice.

How:  Simply add yourself to our list of followers. Click Follow Me on the right side of this page. Add your information.

When: We will  make a random draw for one free workshop of your choice on October 31st 2009 from all of our followers.

What then?  We'll post the winner here on November 1st.

SPOOKTACULAR!

I am so excited to finally be opening up the New U!  The changes to

the ebearz website have been ongoing behind the scenes since last April. I must confess, that this has truly been the biggest project I have ever undertaken.  One thing for sure that I can say about web design ... the more you know ... the less you know!  There are so many little technicalities, and so many new products available out there that could be integrated, that it's just sometimes all a little overwhelming!

But BOY, OH BOY... I am excited now that it's nearing completion!

Big thankyous go out to the programming team (Leanne and Eli) who worked so hard behind the scenes to make this happen!

Our first Faculties are now open, and the classes are beginning,  Over the course of the next few weeks, you'll see even more changes to the U, as we add in more video, link to Youtube, Facebook and Twitter and open even more Faculties.

I am having so much fun now!

So... if you love our new site, pop me a line.  If you see something that's not quite right, tell me about that too. Sometimes it's a lot easier to really 'see' the finished product when the students help you.

Thanks for visiting!

Watch for a special  Halloween Promotion ... coming  very soon!