Truffle has been travelling again - enjoying a day out in the beautiful city of Bath this time. Have a look at Truffle's Travels in the Bear Tales section to see some lovely pics, and do send us some pics of your travels with your teddy.

Hugs from McBear

Sorry I haven't been able to do any blogging for a little while, but Jo very inconsiderately went on holiday and I just couldn't get my paws on a computer.

However, normal service is now being resumed, and at a very exciting time. Just over a week to go now before the fantastic Teddies 2007 at Kensington Town Hall. This event is an absolute MUST for all bear-lovers who can get there - a chance to see superb bears by some of the UK's very best bear artists as well as leading artists from overseas. The queues outside the town hall at the Hugglets event earlier this year demonstrated just how popular their events are and we're sure it will be just as busy again this time around.

As well as the opportunity to see so many gorgeous beary creations, it's also a chance to meet up with bear-loving friends old and new. Sadly, I won't be able to travel down from Scotland, but Jo will be going along with one of her hug - Tramp seems fairly determined that it's going to be ...

Great, it's the weekend so plenty of time to get my paws on the keyboard.

I have been kept busy, though, answering emails from all over the world, which is brilliant, but I am still getting only a handful of people - or bears! - who are adding comments to my blogs. Please, bearlovers, I want lots more!

Of course I did get a comment from a cat a couple of days ago, and rather an amusing one, so that was a first... Said cat did email me as well, and I have suggested to her that perhaps one of the numerous teddies who live with her might like to add some blog comments as well.

The main excitement in Jo's household this weekend, I gather, is deciding which 20 little bears will accompany her to Ledbury for the world's biggest-ever teddy bears' picnic at the end of this month.

The ubiquitous Tramp got a bit of a shock when he was told he wouldn't be the leader of the pack on that occasion. Instead, that honour will fall to one ...

I just had to let everyone know that McBears has gone global - I am getting emails from all over the world, which is wonderful. Lots from Australia, from both bear artists and collectors, and several from Germany, France, Norway and, of course, the United States.

I had no idea that you could make so many friends so quickly - but I do wish that as well as emailing me, more people would join in and blog with me so that we can share our news that way.

Hugs from McBear x

Hello, McBear here, with some very exciting news for some members of Jo's hug - they will be on their travels soon, to two events for bearlovers, both of them in really lovely surroundings.

Twenty of them will be heading for Herefordshire on Sunday, July 29, to try and help to set a new Guinness World Record. The occasion is the World's Biggest Teddy Bears' Picnic, at Eastnor Castle and Jo and the bears are hoping that we can encourage other 'serious' bear collectors to go along on the day.

Then Jo is hoping to go to the Exbury Teddy Festival, on Sunday, August 5, which will also be a great day out for all bear-lovers, from children to adult collector.

The teddy bears' picnic will be a magical family event on what organisers hope will be the sunniest day of the year, they are hoping tens of thousands of teddy bear lovers will join in the bid to break the world record at the lovely setting of Eastnor Castle (

At last I've had time to read the July issue of Teddy Bear Scene and while there was so much to read that it did keep me pawing over the magazine for hours, I was totally fascinated by one piece of news - about Knut the polar bear.

Jenna, Jo and I were very upset when we heard how poor little Knut had been rejected by his mother - and we were even more appalled to hear that some people thought he should be put to sleep.

Thankfully Knut survived his tragic start in life and is now developing into a beautiful young polar bear, a really handsome fellow.

Robin Rive, that lovely bear artist from New Zealand, has often been inspired in the past to make bears to mark special events or personalities - and in Knut's case, a bearsonality. She has created a truly adorable fellow in lush off-white mohair, just the colour of a real polar bear.

Kosen have also made a charming Knut of their own, and no doubt Knut will ...

I have been kept so busy this weekend, with lots of people emailing me through the website, but now I'm going to relax and look at the July issue of Teddy Bear Scene, my favourite magazine - I've been itching to get my paws on it for days, but just couldn't find the time.