I do wish I could have been at the auction of the bears from the Teddy Bear Museum of Stratford-upon-Avon last week, which was the end of an era of teddy bear history in more ways than one.

I expect lots of collectors found some new members for their hug, as the lots sold from just £80 up to £8,000 for some of the celebrity bears, so there really was something for everyone. Sad in some ways to see those bears split up, but lovely that lots of them have gone off to happy new homes. 

But it was also a sad occasion because it was the very last teddy bear sale at Christie's - the end of 14 years of historic bear sales organised by the lovely Daniel Agnew at Christie's, and a day of laughter and tears.

Did you buy any bears at the sale? If so, I would love to hear about them and pass on the good news to my friends in the McBears club. You could add your news by putting a comment on my blog, or email the details, with ...

What a fantastic event Teddies 2007 was last Sunday. Grrrrrreat to see so many wonderful bears gathered together at Kensington Town Hall - and so many happy collectors and bear artists.

Visit our News and Events section to see some photos from the day - and Jo has done a full show report with lots more pictures that will be in the next issue of Teddy Bear Scene.

Also new on the site is the latest trip by Truffles, with some stunning pictures of him in the lovely city of Bath - see the Bear Tales section - and under Bear Artists' News you can see a photo of the gorgeous Raphael, a fabulous new big bear by Jenny Johnson of Three O'Clock Bears.

Hugs from McBear xx

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 (