My memento for Rita's Festival is A Teddy Bear.
Teddy bears abound here at home ranging from little beanie teddies to a big orange handmade Ted called Big Ted. A profusion of assorted teddies in different shapes, forms and sizes can be found throughout the house and they have served well over time as hug-able and delightful company for the little tackers and the big ones alike. Anyone wishing to enjoy the company of a cute and cuddly teddy can always find one here.
Now for a special teddy tale about a very special teddy.
I would like you to meet Jemeka.
Jemeka is a special little bear and when you see her she also strikes you as being a very unique little teddy. First you will notice the Burgundy colouring and aged effect of her mohair fur. Thus being a handmade bear, constructed with much love and care, this individual young lady bear, bares all the hallmarks of her individuality, on her little self.
From the topaz coloured English glass bead eyes to the hand dyed silk scarf tied on her head and not to forget to mention, her handmade and very beautiful beaded necklace. Oh! and look further and you will see that she sports the most beautiful little silver crescent moon face dangling off of her right arm.
This little lady bear comes with a pedigree certificate.
Born second of June 2003 at 11.20pm she stands 11 inches high and is constructed of Schulte felted mohair hand dyed Burgundy.
She was handmade by my friend Jacqui who has made some extraordinary and exquisite bears in the last seven years of which many have been awarded first prize and extinctions at various Bear and Doll shows. Jemeka is one of these bears having taken first place in the open bear category.
Now how does this little bear fit into the festival?
It was many years ago when I met Jacqui and her family. They became neighbours and we became good friends very quickly. She is exceptional in her sewing skills and her imagination and creativity. Even though the bears had not emerged into her creativity at that time I realise now in hindsight that they had been incubating in her creative mind.
Many years have passed on and Jacqui moved away, however we always caught up when possible and always remembered each others birthdays.
There was a lapse of time because of work commitments and life, funny how life can move you apart physically but not mentally? I was about to have a birthday and although I was not to see Jacqui she wanted me to know that she had a special something for me. I had no idea what it was. Would you believe it was another two years before that present arrived just after another birthday had been celebrated. Both of us had been involved totally in our own lives and even though we spoke by phone or saw each other briefly, the special present had not been received by myself from her. So it was out of the blue one day that I got a call to say that she was selling up and moving into a caravan park with the intention of moving off in the future, to travel.
Her husband found work up in the north of Australia and for quite some time she worked down here and lived in the caravan park with her husband coming home on his time off, so it was a total surprise when one day my son who had gone across to visit Jacqui came home with a box and said " Mum, Jacqui told me to give you this box and said she was sorry it had taken so long to get to you. She said that she wanted to bring it herself but time had not allowed it and she hopes you don't mind her sending it with me?."
I opened the box and to my absolute delight I found Jemeka. She had been hand picked for me by Jacqui all those years before and now here she was, my little prize winning bear and belated birthday present in my possession and I was delighted.
Last weekend we had a send off for Jacqui and her husband from the caravan park and today I have had a text message to say that their home on wheels The Bus has got them safely to their new place of abode for the next two years at least. They both have work in a town in Western Australia north of Broome. Remote and rugged this is where they hope to base themselves for further exploration of our Amazing Australia. As I toured the Bus Home I noticed on the back of it a sign Moon Beam Bears and I know there will be in time to come more little specialty bears made at different localities around Australia. You see because of her basic nature Jacqui loves to teach others her skill's. I am sure we will have little classes conducted en route with delighted recipients of their very own little precious bears to come.
Bon voyage Jacqui and I will come and visit you. I promise.
Hugs Milli.
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