Weekly Bear #10- "Remembear" that a baby bear is a baby bear!

It's Spring and on the West Coast that means that baby black bears and grizzly bears are emerging with their parents. They are soooo fluffy, and soooo cute, and soooo totally still BEARS!

Grizzly bear cub by smallgirl
Black bear cub by smallgirl

Cute as they are, bears are wild animals and should not be fed, pet, touched, or interacted with in any way by people. Each year, many black bears are destroyed here on the West Coast because of negative interactions with humans. We can all live together safely if we follow a few basic precautions like: if you live in bear country, store your trash and pet food properly, clean up and pick fruit from fruit trees quickly, leash your pets when hiking, and travel in areas known to have bears in groups and with caution.

Check out this amazing video for more information about why bears are deserving of our respect:
http://vimeo.com/65780506

Long Time No Teddy Forest!

Happy Spring from Teddy Forest

Hello from Teddy Forest! Although there has been a lot of beauty, fun, and bears going on lately, there has also been some fear, sadness, and general turmoil, which has prevented me and the bears from sharing lately and has stalled the Weekly Bear ATC project. Hopefully things will get back on track soon! In the meantime, I leave you with some shots of spring so far.

Ensatina by smallgirl

Mallard and ducklings by smallgirl

West Coast Black Bear by smallgirl

Keep it joyful, and see you soon :)

Weekly Bear #8- Green Thumb Teddy Bear

Green Thumb Teddy Bear by smallgirl

Don't you just love this little bear ATC? He's probably my favourite weekly bear (so much so that this is actually version #2, I've kept version #1 for my collection). To trade, look for smallgirl at www.atcsforall.com

It's so gorgeous right now...sunny for the past few days with temperatures in the mid-teens, all kinds of flowers blooming, and robins everywhere!

Weekly Bear #6-Dreaming of Spring

Weekly Bear #6-Dreaming of Spring

This polar bear wonders what spring is like in other lands. Done in watercolour pencil and gel pen with collage.

crocus by smallgirl

It's been gorgeous here on the West Coast (amid rain and wind storms) and the spring flowers are starting to bloom.

first daffodil by smallgirl

snowdrops by smallgirl

Wishing you sunshine and flowers!!

Happy World Migratory Bird Day!

We're so excited in Teddy Forest for World Migratory Bird Day! This is a UN initiative to raise awareness around the world about the importance of migratory birds and their habitats around the world. Since we live on the Pacific Flyway, we're so lucky to see so many species of birds here. So, get outside today!

Great Blue Heron, White crowned Sparrow, and Anna's Hummingbird by smallgirl

Visit: http://www.worldmigratorybirdday.org/

Spring means Swamp Lanterns

Bears all over the westcoast rainforest are waking up to delicious swamp lanterns, also know as skunk cabbage (Lysichiton americanus). These beautiful yellow flowered plants help black bears clear out their digestive tracts after a long hibernation. Here, Blackie and Blacky are enjoying an afternoon snack.

Blacky by Unipak, who also doubles as a cute purse, was a dumpster dive rescue. He's much happier munching swamp lanterns in Teddy Forest.

Blackie, a very vintage make by littlebluebirdcrafts has been a fixture in Teddy Forest for a long time. She's a little on the shy side but loves to get out into the woods in spring time.

Have a swampy-sweet day!

Spring has Sprung!

Happy Spring! We do live in a temperate rainforest, so we don't complain about the rain here in Teddy Forest, but we are happy for this recent bout of sun. Carmen, Bruno, Stella Bunny, and Chicky Chick went out to the garden to play this afternoon.

Elf planter: 1951 Gilner California, Carmen: designed and needlefelted by smallgirl, Bruno: designed and handsewn by smallgirl, Stella Bunny: Easter vintage, Chicky Chick: souvenir from the chicken farmer association.

Carmen, needlfelted by smallgirl

Have a great week <3