TOBY and Golden Teddy nominations and IDEX, Florida

I'm pretty sure the TOBY and Golden Teddy nominees are being announced today -- Saturday, January 20, 2007 -- at IDEX in Florida. In fact, I know the GT's are being announced today, because the IDEX site lists the time for the GT announcement as Saturday morning at 9:00 a.m.

I can't find the TOBY event in the IDEX calendar, but I know it's also happening this weekend because of reports by Mindy Kinsey, the editor of TB&F (the magazine who sponsors the TOBY awards.) Mindy's also in charge of what sounds like a really fun Girl Scout event and is involved in a teddy bear artist panel discussion which I really wish I could attend!!! Karen Lyons, a fantastic bear and cat artist, sits on the panel, alongside some other amazing soft-sculpture talents.

I'd like to feign calm, cool, collectedness and blase' indifference to these announcements -- that sounds so much "cooler", doesn't it?, than anxious does! -- but the truth is, I care a lot about the outcome of these contests. There's a huge potential for ego bruising, insecurity, and neurotic feelings of inadequacy (Is my work no good? Doesn't anybody like me?) when an artist puts his/her handiwork "out there" for scrutiny and judgement by others. And it can really hurt when that work is, for whatever reason, found not-quite-up-to-snuff, as compared to the work of other artists. Especially when it's truly the very best an artist can muster.

Despite the nervousness and trepidation I feel, though, I'm also REALLY excited to see who ends up with the nominations this year, and even more, excited to see the pieces that get nominated! Even when there's no nomination in it for me, I find that disappointment fades quickly in the face of all that beautiful work, and in the presence of my joy for other artists whose work has achieved notice. It's always a spectacular showcase of talent and craftsmanship.

So I'm keeping fingers crossed hard for me... but also wishing great luck to everyone who entered!

Will keep you posted on the outcomes... ;)