The Hugglets Show – A Report

I think if you are a bear person who has never been to Hugglets and wanted to get an idea of what it is like, I can tell you from my point of view it seemed massive. If I was a collector, I would not know where to start to look. And how does one take photos of a huge show and also set up a table, mind the table, meet people, go shopping and do it all in 5 and a half hours?

What you do is be glad that your neighbor is Jane Martin of Doodlebears.

Jane has a stellar reputation for going around the entire show and taking photos of almost all of the tables. She is going to edit them and post them in several locations around the Internet. When she does, I am going to give you the link so you can go to the Hugglets bear show virtually. Therefore, I don’t have a photo of each artist and table, but . . .

I am happy to share what few photos I remembered to take. I will intersperse them with comments and an assessment of the show.

First we have the set up in the big room –

what a transformation from bare walls to bear walls.

I am soooo glad that I couldn’t linger in here for more than a brief trip around – too much temptation!

This is a photo of the room I was in at set up – I loved it! Everyone I met there was super nice. Check out the bear on the move on the left hand side of the photo.

This is me getting started on setting up my table. The day was young!  (In bearbits lingo, that means early.)

The photo below was taken before the doors opened I believe. In the upper right hand corner you can see Sebastian supervising the placement of every single thing on the table. I told him if he wasn’t careful, someone was going to come along and make him an immigrant. He cleared out and after that it all became a blur. It went by so fast after people came in the door.

I sold a few bears which seemed to make them, the collector, and me all very happy. Let’s have a party! As with all shows, it really depends on who you ask and how honest they are about the show. A few artists sold very well, others not at all. My sales sort of fell somewhere in between. And by between I mean, between meeting the adorable and witty Katy Cameron of The Littlest Thistle. What an immense pleasure that was! Hi Katy!

Then after wondering how I could connect with the lovely Lynda of The Friendly Company of Bears, she showed up at my table to say hello and to meet Sebastian.

He was truly puffed up by the attention. It was shortly after this meeting that he ‘sent’ me over to the snack bar to get him a bite to eat – “and hurry up about it too,” he said.

What Sebastian doesn’t know is that while I was gone, I took a quick turn around the floor we were on and found Ruth Bowman of Flutter-by Bears. I have two photos of Ruth because after I took one of this charming lady and her amazing tiny bears,

her sweet husband Ashley stepped in and offered to take one of the two of us. Well, I had to post them both.

Now if I had just remembered to ask Ruth about her chihuahua. There never is enough time!

I know you have seen more than enough of me. I have! But a dear friend took this photo of me and my husband and I wanted to post it here as my way of thanking both of them for their help and support throughout the show. Thanks guys!!!!

Lastly - one of my very favorite photos taken after the show.

Left to right, Elanor’s mum Lyn, Elanor and Lex. All very brilliant and talented people. Lyn knits exquisitely. You know Elanor’s wonderful bears. And Lex – dear Lex – sorry about your team!

Now as Hugglets starts becoming a memory, I wonder what kind of mischief we can get into next?  Sebastian surely has a plan.