Teddy Bear Welt 2013 Wiesbaden

Last weekend you could find us at the biggest Teddy Bear Show in Wiesbaden. This show always is great, though this year we had a bad experiment. Being very busy the first day, late in the afternoon, our purse was stolen.. quiet a shock!!   Almost all earnings off the first day gone !! And nothing we can do..  
The thief(s) confused us with tricks and managed to steal the purse behind our table...  later we figured out they were with a group of 4 and must have been professionals.

This put quiet a dark cloud on what should have been a great weekend.

In the evening the Ted World Wide Awards were announced, winning in my category cheered me up a little.

Above Pincushion "I`v got the whole world in my hands" won in the Subject Bear category in the Master Classes. 

If you are doing shows, watch your purse !!  

I like to let you know..

8 years ago a mother and daughter team applied for the trademark "Thread Teds by Thread Bears".

Many of you know that I have been using ThReAdTeDs as my trademark since 2002 and I filed an opposition against their filing because it is too similar to my trademark and is confusing to customers.

Unfortunately, after a long, 8 year proceeding my opposition was denied, this mother and daughter team are now able to to proceed with their application, in hopes that it will mature into another registered trademark for the same goods- the mark "Thread Teds by Thread Bears".

One good thing comes out of this though, to be able to trademark the mark "Thread Teds by Thread Bears", the mother and daughter team had to disclaim the wording "THREAD TEDS" and "THREAD BEARS" because the trademark office decided it was the name of their goods and not registerable.

There are certain words that the USPTO will not allow to be trademarked because they are generic, etc. So they are asked to disclaim (give up) trademark protection on the words "THREAD TEDS" and "THREAD BEARS", but they still retain trademark protection on the whole "Thread Teds by Thread Bears". So in this case they have TM in "Thread Teds by Thread Bears" but not just in "THREAD TEDS" or "THREAD BEARS".

When a trademark owner disclaims in its trademark registration a portion of the trademark, the trademark owner is declaring to the world that it claims no exclusive right to use that disclaimed portion apart from the trademark as a whole.

So ... by registering "Thread Teds by Thread Bears" as a trademark with "THREAD TEDS" and "THREAD BEARS" disclaimed, the trademark owner claims the exclusive right to use the "Thread Teds by Thread Bears" phrase to brand its product or service but disclaims the exclusive right to use "THREAD TEDS" and "THREAD BEARS" by itself to brand that product or service.
That means, I continue can use my trademark ThReAdTeDs  and am even officially allowed to call my crocheted bears as before "thread bears".

View the entire final action in Thread Teds by Thread Bears proceeding, it is worth to read:
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FINAL ACTION 2007

THIS IS A FINAL ACTION

This FINAL OFFICE ACTION responds to applicant’s communication filed on December 14, 2006 in which the applicant argued against the requirement for the disclaimer of the wording “THREAD BEARS”.  The examining attorney has carefully considered the applicant's arguments but has found them unpersuasive.  For the reasons below, the requirement for the disclaimer of the wording “THREAD BEARS” is maintained and now made FINAL.  37 C.F.R. §2.64(a).

The computerized printing format for the Office’s Trademark Official Gazette requires a standardized format for a disclaimer.  TMEP §1213.08(a)(i).  The following is the standard format used by the Office:

No claim is made to the exclusive right to use “THREAD TEDS” and “THREAD BEARS” apart from the mark as shown.

EXAMINER`S AMENDMENT 2009 (nothing has changed since that final action 2007)

DISCLAIMER:

The disclaimer statement is amended to read as follows:

            No claim is made to the exclusive right to use “THREAD TEDS” and “THREAD BEARS” apart from the mark as shown.

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So, if you are looking for collectible thread bears and friends designed and made by Berta Hesen-Minten look for..   ThReAdTeDs®.. stylized written with upper and lower case alternated; that`s me.
Thanks so much!

Berta

Workshop Annemie koenen

I learned so much in the 3 day Shibori workshop last weekend. Annemie Koenen was a great teacher, very patience and very eager to teach us all we asked. Time was flying. 

The first day we made a small project, I choose for the bracelet. Making this small project made us familiar using the Shibori technique, and made us understand how to count and prepare a pre-felt for a bigger piece.  

Day 2 we first learned about size and shrinking.. then we were off to make the bigger project which would take all the 2 last days. Me and my friend (and the other students in the back ground) laying out the wool for the pre-felt.. 

Which resulted in the above collar after 2 days hard work.  Amazing huh..  I love the ruffles and balls.. I love how the colors blend into each other..

Student showing their finished Shibori pieces.  Right in the picture the teacher Annemie Koenen. Thank you Annemie for teaching and sharing an unforgettable felting experience !  

The day after at home I made the above piece from SA merino wool. It is so soft and felted so wonderful. Hope to have time to start another felt project soon..

Busy

Not much posting on my Blog means.. I am busy.

I finished a new design for Panda Bunny with over sized feet and ears, made from wonderfull  XX Long Pile mini fabric (available from ThReAdTeDs® only) and which will be available as a Kit soon.

For those who are waiting for it, I still work on the thread elephant pattern, it takes longer as expected though..  but I promise it is worth the wait. 

Also have done some wet felting.... 

I admire the pods from Andrea Graham, and planned to do her on-line workshop she is teaching live with web-cam.  But as English is not my native language, and I only would be able to follow her instructions on my I-pad (my computer isn't near enough to my working space) I was afraid I could not follow her instruction properly.  And the price to pay would then be to high, and I had to cancel.  I am sure it would be worth it though, IF able to follow her workshop properly. 

However..  With trial and error this is the result of my first (I am sure there are more to follow) solid wet felted pod.  This was an expiriment, to try several techniques, but I love the result.  This pod is small with only 6.5" tall.

  Front..

....and back view.  The next one will be bigger... 

Now I am looking forward to another 3 day workshop for Shibory felting the end of this week, teacher; Annemie Koenen.  But first....

some mini fabrics are waiting for a dye bath...

Belated Happy New Year !!

I can`t believe the first half of the month of the New Year already is gone..  I don`t think it is to late to sent my best wishes> I hope and wish everybody worldwide a great start in the new year and may it continued the years to come !! 
HAPPY NEW YEAR !!

For me it is time to get back to bear making and prepare for the shows to come. I have a few new designs needs to work out... and there will be another ThReAdTeDs® Challenge (more about this later).
There are mini fabrics waiting for new colors..  my web shop and web site needs to be updated..and...and.. and..

But.. in this post I like to share with you what I worked on and finished in the Christmas Season Holidays...  as you know I like many other crafts/techniques besides bear making.. and/or at least want to do it ones to know what it is about..

Knitting is another favorite needlecraft I LOVE to do.  I found this website of  ZIJ MAAKT HET  and fall in love with the monkeys Jacobus and Saar.  I wanted to knit the monkey for my Grand daughter Malu. Above is the first finished Monkey. I made him with thinner wool and needles as described in the pattern, he turned out very cute. 

The second Monkey I knitted from thicker wool, it is the kind of wool which can be wet felted afterwards, but I knitted him very tight, so no more shrinking or felting is needed. 

Here they are sitting together on a big wet felted Rock. Malu liked the Monkeys, but as she is almost 4 months now, everything she has in her hand will go to her mouth..  and she did start  "eating"  wool fuzzles.. hmm.. not very tasty and  not safe..

So the 3th Monkey I knitted "Malu safe" from a nice cotton yarn.  The above monkey went home with her and she loves to play with him. 

If you are interested to knit Jacobus or Saar or any of the other cute animals, the patterns are available via Annita`s website or in English language available via  www.ravelry.com  user name:  Annita. 

The Felted Stones Pillows the monkeys are sitting on I wanted to make for a long time, and finally got to it. So far I made 4, the last one is in progress. I will make a picture from all the Rocks together wen I finish him.

at last...

ZHEN XIAN BAO

Another project I wanted to do for so long.. making a yarn book using paperfolding techniques developed from a fascinating tradition from remote South West China. It is an aspect of folk art and takes the form of an intriguing type of folder made principally for storing embroidery threads by the Miao, Dong and other minorities. 

Instead of pages they contain many ingeniously folded 3-dimensional compartments. The original books are beautiful decorated inside (stil have to do mine), and usually have a plain indigo cloth cover. I made an inset decoration of tyvek (again another material I wanted to work with) in the cover of mine book.

The book does unfold into 15 pockets. The Chinese name for these books is ZHEN XIAN BAO which translates as NEEDLE THREAD POCKETS.  The book may look complicated, but using and  following the Instructions in book 1;  "Folded Secrets" by Ruth Smith it is not so difficult to make.  Unfortunately  Ruth doesn`t have a website but if you are interested in her books you can contact Ruth at:  eruthsmith@btinternet.com

As you see above, I was quit productive in the Holiday Season, learned a lot new and did pick up some old.

Merry Christmas

Our Yearly Bear Friends Works Shop

Every week we come together with friends, to work on bears or other fun project. In between we chat .. hmm. or should I say.. in between chatting we make bears .
To close the year we organize a Christmas workshop. I mostly take care for the projects.. others take care for food and drinks.
This year we made ThReAdTeDs® Bear Paw pincushion.

  First the Paw Pad was sewn together,  stuffed and weighted.

Then with a template the felted details were added. The claw beads sewn on seperate.

 The fun thing from these projects, with the template we made, everybody can do it..and each one ended up with a nicely needle felted pincushion to take home, with memories of a nice and fun day spent together with Friends.