Mark you calendars: An Apology to Elephants HBO doc Premieres on Earth Day

Don't miss the documentary An Apology to Elephants, which will be premiering on HBO on Earth Day, Monday, April 22, at 7 p.m. ET (check local listings for times in your region). The film explores how elephants—intelligent and fascinating animals who lead rich social lives in the wild and play an essential role in global ecology—have been exploited and abused by the circus and zoo industries. Click here to learn more about the documentary as well as the people and elephants it features.

Since HBO started working on this film two years ago, PETA has played an instrumental role by supplying the filmmaker with footage you'll see in the film, extensive information about elephants in captivity, and elephant expert recommendations.

Please set your DVRs so you don't miss the premiere of An Apology to Elephants on HBO on Monday, April 22, at 7 p.m. ET (check local listings for times in your region), and be sure to alert your family and friends to this informative and poignant film!

the show must not go on

November is a bittersweet month for me. while the thought of cozy holidays approaching and all the beautiful things that autumn brings.. it also means circus-time in Chicagoland. Ringling Brothers "cruelest show on earth" is in town, November 9th-25th.

Ten Fast Facts about Animals in the Circus

1. Every major circus that uses animals has been cited for violating the minimal standards of care set forth in the United States Animal Welfare Act (AWA).


2. Animals in circuses spend about 11 months of the year traveling.


3. During travel, animals may be caged or chained for long distances and hours, forced to stand in their own waste, in extreme temperatures.


4. Standard circus industry training tools used on animals include bullhooks, whips, clubs, and electric prods.


5. Animals born in circus “conservation” breeding programs have never been released into the wild. Most are slated to become “replacement” performers. (read next point below)


6. From 1994 to 2005, at least 31 elephants have died premature deaths in the circus. Other circus animals who have died in an untimely manner include horses and lions.


7. Captive elephant and captive feline attacks on humans in the U.S. have resulted in hundreds of injuries, many resulting in death.


8. In the wild, elephants live in large, sociable herds and walk up to 25 miles every day. Most other wild animals found in circus settings, including lions and tigers, are also constantly on the move in their native habitats. In the circus, animals spend most of their time immobilized in cages or chains.


9. Officials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (which enforces the AWA) have repeatedly ignored obvious physical trauma to animals, eyewitness accounts of mistreatment, and sworn testimony from former circus employees who report abuse of elephants.


10. Circuses that feature only human performers are gaining in popularity and provide dazzling, humane, and truly family-friendly entertainment. click for a list here.

Excellent in-depth articles:
End the Circus of Cruelty- LA Times
The Cruelest Show on Earth - Mother Jones
The Problem with Circuses - Born Free 

for anyone who is not yet convinced:
www.babyelephants.net - a look inside training camp for the circus, by former Ringling elephant trainer who had a change of heart at the end of his career. These are standard methods used by ALL circuses.


what you can do: 

• top ten ways to fight circus cruelty 
• don't attend circuses that feature animals
• take a minute to email your congressman here! pass this on to your friends via social media:

“It's the action, not the fruit of the action, that's important. You have to do the right thing. It may not be in your power, may not be in your time, that there'll be any fruit. But that doesn't mean you stop doing the right thing. You may never know what results come from your action. But if you do nothing, there will be no result.” ~Mahatma Gandhi ♥

green elephants

 inspiration for today: life-size topiary ellies!

imagine a whole herd of these with some trees, a bamboo grove and a pond/watering hole... that's what i would do :)

this week i've been working on special order bears and packing up print orders. 

i will be doing a little Halloween update with *new* bears next week!

check back here for sneak peeks. ✭

TGIF!

☺

parisian delights + recipe + new print

here's a few belated photos from our trip to Paris/ post-Hugglets. we stayed with our friend Melanie and her 2 cats in her petite apartment.  i know it is SO evil of me to post these pictures of a typical French breakfast...but a healthy alternative follows :) from her neighborhood bakery: fresh croissants, pain chocolat, pain aux raisin, the made-by-the-devil Nutella (spread on crepes, bread), soft brioche (similar to callah here in the states), juice and coffee. the manufactured Nutella isn't very healthy (as i said, made by the devil) plus it has nuts which i'm allergic to...but that chocolately smooth texture had me jonesing to make my own version soon as we got back to chicago.

  

viola! healthy, vegan, better-than-nutella! i substituted with almonds. made in a matter of minutes. recipe via chocolate covered katie. it is heavenly spread on multigrain or sourdough toast, with a lot less guilt.

the ladies swooned over the macarons at Laduree. the rose & caramel were my favorites. i never had a macaron before, so where a better place than Paris to try my first!

which inspired my new print: elephant eating macarons! there are a few more fun elephant prints now available in my etsy print shop.

enjoy the weekend! it's rain, rain, rainy here. ☂

new ellies and bear at Collins Gifts

Collins Gifts annual spring webshow and sale is up! see my new ellie designs debut and Strawberri Creme OOAK bear (she was made with Marshmallow Peanutte pattern).

all this month i had been working away on shop orders. i had planned for a march update but april is practically here. will try to get those tomato bears & friends ripening quicker!

pfatt marketplace november ellie

PFATT Marketplace update is today! my november offering is an adorable behatted mini elephant *peppermints* named appropriately after his gorgeous red tipped silver mohair on mint green backing. it's a marvelous color combo and *peppermints* shows it off well. he is one of a kind, and offered at a very special PFATT price, see his listing here. SOLD, thank you!

PFATT Marketplace October Ellie!

i'm a very small 3.5" ellie, so one jumbo peanut a day should suffice :) my mohair is a unique discontinued mohair which was then hand-dyed... there is no more of it! a lovely autumny combo of black-tipped copper on dark chocolate backing. yum! come scoop me up on PFATT Marketplace today. a very special PFATT price too. SOLD

Lost Little Ellie needs a home!

Goodness me! How did this ellie go astray from her herd? Perhaps taking a bit too long at the drinking pool? She'd love to join your herd, and promises to stay close by your side...

"My name is Binah and I'm pleased to meet 'cha!" (sorry, couldn't resist!). Binah measures just 3 1/2" seated but very wide! Hand dyed slate blue Schulte mohair (nice effect with darker backing), hand painted glass eyes, hand dyed pink wool felt foot pads, tiny jointed limbs, very old vintage feedsack neck tie, polyfil/ encased steel BB's for a nice feeling in your hand. One of a kind. $225 USD. SOLD

New June Cuties at Abracadabra Teddies UK!

Here they are, the new gang I made for Abracadabra Teddies UK shop! Featuring 2 plump 'Buddha Bears'~ the lovable Mr. Blueberry Ice and happy Little Samuel Sunshine, 2 ellies~ Lucille the silly red head, and the teeniest ellie I've made yet...Blue Chiku. And who's that one in the front? That would be a singleton wee bear, the adorable Tiny Tamu. All are One-of-a-Kinds, available for adoption now at Abracadabra.

Elephant Sunset

I was going through folders on my computer and came across some paintings I did years ago, pre-Peng Peng Bears! This one is entitled "Elephant Sunset" 2002, acrylic on canvas, a very small painting just a few inches in diameter... you could hold the entire thing in your palm! It is in a private collection. Believe it or not, peng-peng.com was my *art* web site for a very brief blip in time, my little painting gallery. There you go, some PP trivia!

Lonely Little Ellie looking for a home

*Happy Father's Day*


Oh my...another lost little ellie! This sweet gal is from the April herd, and wonders if she will soon find a loving home, like her herd mates have. Luckily this tiny deer came along to keep her company and now they are inseparable friends :)



"Peachi Paki" is her name and the tiny deer comes with her, of course! A chunky cutie, just 4 1/2" tall, hand dyed bristle mohair, handpainted glass eyes, hand dyed pale minty green wool felt pads, jointed limbs, excelsior/ polyfil, wearing a handmade primitive yet charming dress of vintage feedsack cottons. One of a kind. $175 SOLD




"may i join your herd?"

"Seriesously" Obsessed!

Reflecting on my work to date, what I collect, things i'm drawn to, and even my CD collection and what DVD's I watch - one thing is clear as a bell: I'm a nut about things in 'series'. Maybe it's power in numbers, things en masse, repetition, pattern, themes, abundance, to see an idea come to fruition. Series allows one to organize thoughts and process, to play with boundaries verses be caught in them. What I find most interesting and profound about series, is that a small universe is created within itself. And those are places I like to explore :)

Even as a child I collected series; Avon decanters, plush animals, Sanrio, were the big ones... and oh how I took pride in them! In my twenties I was a raging collectaholic (fueled by my thrift store addiction, Philly had some of the BEST thrifts ever!). Over time, moving homes, purges (yes, I did let go of a massive Norfin Troll collection, but will admit to have saved just ONE), and perhaps discovering a bit more about myself, I've fine tuned my life to being "a minimalist who collects things"... a favorite phrase I once read somewhere. Creating is a fascinating journey, and I hope you enjoy the places we go together :)



1. Dumplings, the miniature bears (circa 2003~ retired breed)



2. Grinning Round Headed bears (circa 2004 ~ retired breed)


3. Buddha Bears



4. Pointed nose squat bears (essentially 'retired' breed, stuffing them with excelsior proved too hard on my paws, and takes a looong time to stuff just right. But i do love them so!)


5. Antiqued Mini Bears



6. Sock Monkeys & Ellies (2005-present)


7. Anime Sweeties



8. "Wee Bears" (can't get enough of these!)



9. Mohair Elephants (wide squat-shaped and upright 'traditional')


10. What's next?? It will be exciting to see!


As for DVD's i'm currently crazed about: My husband and i just devoured the 1940's Sherlock Holmes series starring Basil Rathbone & Nigel Bruce. Now we've moved on to the 1980's Granada TV series Sherlock Holmes starring Jeremy Brett (who many claim to be the ultimate Holmes) and I must agree!

~ a flower for Petal ~

Perhaps the universe was trying to tell me something, when I posted 'one little lost ellie' yesterday. I had not yet heard the news 'til today...

On June 9th, Petal, the oldest African elephant in U.S., died at Philadelphia Zoo at age 52. May she find freedom and her herd in the heavens :)

Here is Petal in her bleak zoo surroundings, in what was to be her final months of life. Photo taken February 2008, by Friends of Philly Zoo Elephants.

And by contrast, an elephant herd in the wild (they walk in formation to protect the little ones in the center :O)


For more info about Petal & the Philly Zoo elephants:

Save Wild Elephants
The Elephant Sanctuary who took in Dulary, a former Philly Zoo ellie.
Friends of Philly Zoo Elephants
Philly Daily News

One Little Lost Ellie...

oh my! This lonely little ellie has lost her herd! She is looking for a loving home, and promises to hold on to your finger tightly with her trunk so she won't get lost again :)



"Marmella" is a new creation, just 4" seated (but very wide!), hand-dyed long n' shaggy mohair, hand-dyed pink wool felt pads, jointed limbs, hand painted glass eyes, polyfil/ encased steel BB's, vintage feedsack tie. One of a kind. $235 SOLD


xo (^____^)

Here they are! *June Sweeties* mini delights!

~If you'd like to adopt a bear or ellie just send me an email to peng[at]peng-peng.com and I'll confirm your order ASAP. Happy June!



Little Rex (red) and Rita (pink): Both are just about 4" tall (red is a tad bit smaller), hand dyed mohair (pink mohair is tipped), waxed noses on mohair muzzles, excelsior/ polyfil, 5 way disc jointed, milk glass google eyes, hand dyed vintage lace bows, one of a kinds. $185 each. both SOLD




Nola Nicely: 4 1/2" tall, hand dyed mohair (kiwi green n' brown), waxed nose on mohair muzzle, excelsior/ polyfil, 5 way disc jointed, handpainted/ aged glass eyes, wearing a delicate handmade apron dress of antique Japanese cotton, one of a kind. $199. SOLD

the Colonel (blue): 4" tall, hand dyed mohair, waxed nose on mohair muzzle, excelsior/ polyfil, 5 way disc jointed, handpainted glass eyes, wearing his "medal" made from antique striped cotton and old button (removable), one of a kind. $175. SOLD



Kima (pink): 4 3/4" tall, hand dyed mohair, excelsior/ polyfil, hand dyed wool felt pads, jointed limbs, handpainted glass eyes, handmade cotton dress w/ vintage ric rac. One of a kind. $189. SOLD


Kibibi (means "little lady"): Perhaps my smallest ellie yet at just 4" tall! Hand dyed mohair, excelsior/ polyfil, hand dyed wool felt pads, jointed limbs, handpainted glass eyes, vintage crochet lace skirt w/ hand dyed vintage lace bow. One of a kind. $189. SOLD


Mr. Weeble: a diminutive tot only 3 1/2" tall! Hand dyed mohair, waxed nose on mohair muzzle, excelsior/ polyfil, 5 way disc jointed, handpainted glass eyes, a delicate shirt made of antique fabric, hand dyed mini knit hat. One of a kind. $199 SOLD

*******(^___^)********

New Ellies! April Herd update this Wednesday!

Trumpets of Joy! New mohair elephants update happening on my website
Wednesday, April 16th @ at 12 noon Central (10am Pacific/ 11am Mountain/ 1pm Eastern).
A delightful assortment of One-of-a-kind Ellies looking to bring sunshine to all!

Be sure to 'refresh' your browser at the update time to see all the new ellies!

In the Press: Look for Peng Peng Elephant featured in the May/ June 2008 issue of Teddy Bear & Friends!