It seems hard to imagine that it is ten years since we first heard about Clarion and five years since we first attended "The Teddy Bear Reunion in the Heartland" at Clarion, Iowa. USA. Now if you want an indication where Clarion is, draw a set of diagonals from each corner of the map of Iowa, and where they cross? That's Clarion. It has a population of around two thousand five hundred people, and then every five years in June approximately ten thousand teddy bear people descend on Clarion, for what would have to be the best Teddy Bear style mid-western hospitality.

The Aussie contingent at Clarion 2005

Clarion artists with auction pieces

2005 Teddy Bear
Reunion in the
Heartland,
Clarion, Iowa, USA

After the official opening of the Clarion Museum (partially financed by the previous Teddy Bear Show) on the Thursday evening we got to catch up with old friends. There was not a minute go past that something was not happening. Friday was packed full of discussion groups, workshops and the charity auction.

We have a few photos of a discussion group, our workshop with very attentive students, then there is a photo of the "Aussie Team" at Clarion and above, a 75 second movie with sound track of the auction, which should be entertaining to all non-US people as the auctioneer is almost incomprehensible ... but, nonetheless, very entertaining.