Toto Et Lolo

November 25, 2017 / Miki de Goodaboom / Leave a comment

By Miki de Goodaboom (Text and Illustration)

After introducing my Aristobears, Lord Albert/Duchess Alba and Lord Winston/Duchess Laila, here is another couple which we have adopted this year. They came from England, and arrived to us with Ann La Mar, our friend reporter here at GoTeddy,

I regularly go and spend time with my Mom, a wonderful 92 year old lady, who, like me, started loving teddy bears as we adopted our very first bear Truffle McFurry. Every time I go there, I take with me my new children, and introduce them to their grand-mother.

As she saw this couple, she laughed and said

“Toto et Lolo!”

In France we call “Toto et Lolo” a couple which has been together for ages, and can’t be without each other. In modern language, we would say “a fusional couple”.

So, here they are, my Toto et Lolo. For those who are not aware: Toto is the man, Lolo is the woman. And for those who know a bit more about teddy Bears, they are “Russ bears”.

PS: If you are interested in prints of that painting, they are available in many different sizes on paper, metal, canvas, wood, etc. Also on pillows, covers, phone cases, Tote bags, shower curtains, T-shirts, notebooks, towels etc. Just click on the painting, it will bring you to my shop online.

Lord Winston And Duchess Laila

November 23, 2017November 23, 2017 / Miki de Goodaboom / 1 Comment

By Miki de Goodaboom (Text and Illustration)

After having introduced you to my first couple of Aristobears, “Lord Albert and Duchess Alba”, it is today the tour of my second couple, “Lord Winston and Duchess Laila”. They both come from Wales, which I toured during 10 days on a painting trip in September 2017.

We found Lord Winston in an antique shop in a beautiful town called “Machynlleth”, the day we drove from the North to the South of Wales. He majestuously sat on a red throne, he was simply splendid. I did photographs of him, and then said goodbye. But my partner insisted that I could not leave him there, that I had to adopt him.

“How could I, he is much too big to bring him back home in the plane!”

“I will find a way!”

Well, he found a way. Don’t ask me how he did it, but Lord Winston lives now here with us in Spain. I would love to know about his previous life, with whom and where he lived before he retired in the antique shop. One important thing I do know about him, as a beautiful booklet is attached to him and tells an illustrated story about him. You would not believe it, considering his aristocrat origin, but he was a Go-Kart driver!!! His friends helped him building a new go-kart and he won the race. He said

“It is good to have friends like that!”

As for Duchess Laila, we found her in a Welsh charity shop, but I don’t remember where exactly. She obviously is a ballerina, the cutest ballerina ever! As with my first Aristobear couple, it was love at first glance between her and Lord Winston. I was a bit concerned, because of the age difference, but they both convinced me that love has nothing to do with age. And indeed, they seem so happy together, enjoying also the company of Lord Albert and Duchess Alba! Lord Albert and Lord Winston look so similar somehow, I sometimes wonder if they are brothers…

Lord Albert And Duchess Alba

November 21, 2017November 21, 2017 / Miki de Goodaboom / 2 Comments

By Miki de Goodaboom (Text and Illustration)

To me the world has become a much better and softer world the day I discovered Teddy bears. This happened in the person of my beloved Truffle McFurry, whom you probably know quite well in the meanwhile.

I live though in a country -Spain- where the Teddy Bear culture is not very alive. I guess it will come, one day. It was the same with the pets. Until not a long time ago, the Spaniards didn’t really know the notion of pet: dogs, for example, were only there to watch the house. And cats to catch mice.

Now, every time I travel to the UK, it is like being in Paradise: Teddy Bears are everywhere, they are part of everybody’s daily life.

I was so surprised as one day, at a charity shop from Mojacar beach, only a couple of kilometres away from where I live, I found Lord Albert, a magnificent Teddy. The woman told me his name, and cuddled him a very long time before handling him over to me. It was obvious, that she was sad to let him go. I told her
“Don’t worry, he is going to a very loving home.”

We took lord Albert home. He was glad to be with us, but he felt a bit alone. I had no other aristocrat in the house, he missed that. And he missed a wife. He didn’t say it, him being English and understated, but it was quite obvious. I don’t know if he was a widow, or a bachelor as we adopted him.. would love to know! If somebody comes across this post and knows my Lord Albert, please tell me what you know about him.

Anyway Ann La Mar found in internet a wonderful little Duchess. Lord Albert and I looked at her, and for him, it was love at first sight. We let her come all the way from England. I was a bit worried, as love needs to be reciprocated. But Duchess Alba also fell in love at first glance. Both are now spending all their time together, and look very happy. There are even some talks of wedding in the air…

These two, they look so much like my partner and me: the size difference certainly corresponds, me being about half as tall as him. Only the skin colours are inverted! 🙂

Yorkie

November 19, 2017 / Miki de Goodaboom / Leave a comment

By Ann La Mar

(Illustration by Miki de Goodaboom)

While having a bear break ( like a coffee break with the calming addition of bear research) I came across a bear with the sweetest face. He immediately melted my heart.
He was on an auction site so I had to wait some days before I knew for sure he was mine.

I couldn’t wait for the postman to bring him. He was travelling from London back home to North Yorkshire where he started out. Once out of his brown paper he was the sweetest little bear ever. He has a coat of arms on his foot which says City of York. I think this is for the City Council. I guess he was made to commemorate something but I have yet to find out what. He has a tag which says Stonegate Teddy Bears, this is a wonderful bear shop in York.
I wondered if he had a name as it would have been nice to have continuity. I contacted his previous owner who told me he had no name. That is so sad. I decided to call him “Yorkie” after the chocolate bar that was once made there by Rowntree’s.
Yorkie has settled in with all his bear brothers and sisters and is much loved.

Yorkie S

Children In Need

November 17, 2017December 1, 2017 / Miki de Goodaboom / Leave a comment

By Truffle McFurry

(Illustration by Miki de Goodaboom)

Today I am doing something very important! I am sitting with Pudsey and other little bears to collect money for the Children In Need!

I met Pudsey the first time at Newby Hall, as we were visiting all the bears from Gyles Brandreth. He was already collecting money there, he is so generous!

I did not have a white thing with red dots to put on around my head like Pudsey, so I tore up a piece of my red trousers with the white hearts. I hope it will work too and people will give much money for the poor children!

Love you all

Truffle

Pudsey And Truffle McFurry For Children In Need S

We Love Paddington Movies

November 16, 2017 / Miki de Goodaboom / Leave a comment

By Truffle McFurry

(Illustration by Miki De Goodaboom)

A long time ago I told you about Euston, our little bear from Paddington Bear’s family, who arrived all the way alone from England. We all had many discussions to find the right name for him, he wanted to be called “Paddington” too, but my Mom Miki said we could not do it, because there is only one Paddington.

But now we have it, he is called “Euston”. Because he took the train at Euston Station in London, to come to us in Spain.

We have watched together the first Paddington movie, we love it so much! And now we can’t wait to see the new one, everybody says it is great. My parents said we will look at it for Christmas. What a wonderful Christmas gift for the whole family!

Love you all

Take care

Truffle xxx

We Love Paddington S

I Am A Witch

November 14, 2017 / Miki de Goodaboom / Leave a comment

By Truffle McFurry

(Illustration by Miki de Goodaboom)

Hello everybody!

The other day Auntie Ann La Mar went shopping for her Christmas tree in England, and she came back with lots of photos of very beautiful Christmassy stuff. She sent them to us, we were over the moon, it really was as if it was Christmas already!

There were some witches, they looked fabulous. Auntie Ann told us that they were the witches of Pendle. I thought witches are all bad, but one of them looked quite nice. I asked my Mom Miki to paint me as one of his witches, together with the nice witch.

She said:

“I am not sure I am allowed to do so, Truffy… because of the copyright thing…”

She explained to me once what a thing it is, that copyright. I have forgotten. Anyway I asked her 100 of times again, until she said yes!

“Truffy, if they put me in jail, it will your fault!”

Would they put my Mom in jail because she painted that lovely painting of me? Surely not! And if they do, I will go down to the street, with all my brothers and mates, and make a big revolution to free her!

Take care

Truffle xxx

The Witches Of Pendle S

Clair De Fees

November 11, 2017 / Miki de Goodaboom / Leave a comment

By Truffle McFurry

Hallo Everybody!

I have great news! I am so proud, I will be on the beautiful place called “Clair De Fees”. A “Fee” is a fairy, you know… My Mom and me, we will show there paintings of Teddy bears and other soft creatures from my enchanted world. We will be there with all these other fairies who make such beautiful things!

It is for the French people, but if you love fairies and Teddy bears, you are all invited and I hope you will visit us often there! It does not matter if you don’t understand French, you will understand the images, I am sure!

Be ready to help us all, fairies and teddies, it opens on the 13th of November 2017!

Love you all!

Truffle

CdF 2017 11 Vitrine Miki

Children From Beaumaris

October 30, 2017 / Miki de Goodaboom / Leave a comment

By Truffle McFurry

(Illustration by Miki de Goodaboom)

Hallo everybody!

I told you in my last post that we were in Wales on a painting trip. We met many bears there, and we adopted loads of them. They are all my brothers and sisters now!

In Wales, in the North, there is an island , it is called “Anglesey'”. There, there is a town with the beautiful name of Beaumaris. They have bears too, but also sheep and they are all playing together. In the past I was very jealous of sheep because my Mom loves to paint them and I was always afraid that she abandoned me for a sheep.

But I am a big boy now, and I understand many things about love. So, I am ok with sheep too. And this is true that they are so cute. The cutest one being my little sister Mary,

Here are some of the children from Beaumaris, painted by my Mom of course!

Bye for now, love you all xxx

Truffle Beaumaris Children S

Mr Bean’s Teddy

July 26, 2017 / Miki de Goodaboom / 1 Comment

By Miki de Goodaboom

I was once a big fan of Mr Bean, one of the rare TV comic figures who did manage to make me laugh. There are not so many!

These days, I did not know Teddy Bears, I had not met my Truffle McFurry yet, and had had none as a child. I certainly did not get it with the Teddy Bear love, and to my deep shame today, I even ignored them. Which is why I did not even know that Mr Bean’s best friend was his Teddy Bear “Teddy”!

Here is what I found about him on the “Mr Bean Wiki”:

“…Teddy (born in August 15) is Mr. Bean‘s teddy bear, generally regarded as Mr Bean’s best friend. The bear is a dark brown, knitted oddity with button eyes and sausage-shaped limbs, invariably ending up broken in half or in various other states of destruction and disfiguration. Although Teddy is inanimate, Mr Bean occasionally pretends it is alive. For example, when Mr Bean hypnotises Teddy, he snaps his fingers and the bear’s head falls backwards as if it has fallen asleep instantly (Bean used his finger to prop Teddy’s head up). Certainly, Bean behaves as if the bear is real, buying it a Christmas present or trying not to wake it in the mornings. The bear is often privy to Mr. Bean’s various schemes and doubles as a good dish cloth or paint brush in an emergency; it has been decapitated (“Mr. Bean in Room 426”) and shrunk in the wash (“Tee Off, Mr. Bean”). In the animated series, he has a girlfriend. It is actually Irma Gobb’s teddy (Lottie), which doesn’t appear in the original series.

Over the years, Teddy has undergone several changes. When it debuted on The Trouble with Mr. Bean, it had a smaller head. Two episodes later, its head reached its current size, but its “eye” wasn’t present until Bean placed gold thumb tacks on its face. The “eyes” have since been replaced with two small white buttons sewn over Teddy’s face, giving it a distinct image…”

Well, I guess I will have to look at Mr Bean again. I do need to see him with teddy. In the meanwhile I have painted them together… based on toys, which were given to me last year…

Mr Bean And Teddy S