Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Just hit the delete button whenever you get these sort of emails - none of them are genuine.

:crackup:  :crackup:    Funny pics, just what I needed

What an amazing first bear!  Well done - looks like you definitely have the talent.  My first bear was atrocious - it's a wonder I kept bearmaking!

Best of luck Peta!  How exciting not to know the sex yet   It feels like just yesterday I had my little boy (he'll be 1 on the 8th of June!)

Looking forward to seeing photos  :photo:

or one of my mini unicorns?

Thanks for your opinion Kim :)

I always try to list auctions that will end at a convenient time for US bidders (as 98% of my customers are american), BUT it's not always easy and sometimes I stuff up the times.  I often get emails from people saying they had planned to bid at the end but they couldn't be on the computer that early in the morning, or that late at night etc.....

Hi Chrissi,

I have the little Ott-Lite task lamp that I just set up beside me on a lamp table so I can work on my mini bears in the evening.

I find it really good and can't do without it now.  It's particularly good for seeing true colours at night.  I've been working on a cross stitch that has about 50 shades of browns and beiges, bit of a nightmare - but with this lamp I can see the subtle shade differences.

Hi all,

I was just wondering what other people think is the best time to list an auction?  Do you always list auctions on the same day of the week? Do you find a certain day/time is more successful for the auction's end in terms of last minute bidders?  I rarely get bids/visitors at the end of my auctions - so I just thought I'd ask.
 
I tend to list at all times but make sure it runs over a weekend as I'm guessing that's when people have the most time to look...

I'm so sorry to hear of the passing of Tiddy :hug:

Click here ...... http://www.indigo.org/rainbowbridge_ver2.html

Thanks everyone for your responses   Karen, I was at Fountain Gate last weekend and never saw it - but I think they have 2 newsagents, maybe it was at the other one.  Certainly down here in the Frankston/Mornington Peninsula region I haven't seen it for about a year.  It is a good magazine and I used to buy it regularly along with TB & F.  Oh well, I'll keep my eyes peeled for it and in the meantime have a look at the online issues.

I have a freewebs website I set up to document my dad's recovery from illness, and I have soooooo much trouble with it.  Mainly with adding photos.  It's so annoying it's come to the point that I just don't update it anymore......

I haven't been able to find Teddy Bear Club International magazine in the newsagents over here for ages!  Are other aussies having the same trouble?

Hi,

I'm not sure how big your cat is, but I use ladder stitch to attach everything (except for the head) on my mini cats (see pic).  It works well.  I pin everything securely in place and make sure the stitches are nice and tight.  I also use this method for my mini horses.

Hi Ellen,

Here is a pic of a light tent I bought about a month ago.  I have no idea what brand it is, it was just a cheap one i got off Ebay and it works well!  That's a little 2.5 inch bear in there - and as you can see lots of room to fit bigger bears.  I think the dimensions are 40cm x 40cm x 40cm.  I've attached a sample photo I have taken.  Still working on what the best settings are for the camera etc....

I wouldn't take this to heart, it's just nonsense!  Sounds like sour grapes to me.

Thanks Danni, this is my first mother's day!

Love everyone's collections!  I would love to collect artist bears but don't have the money for it unfortunately.  Here are some pics of my current collections.

Pic 1.  Polymer fairy collection and vintage pin cushions
Pic 2.  Cabbage Patch Dolls (the red head is my original doll I had as a child), and some Barbies

Thanks so much Stephanie!  Using those crimp rings looks like the way to go I think.  I'm guessing you sell this through your website?  I'll head on over and take a look 

Hi everyone,

I have an idea for a new bear, and I want his arm flexible so he can wrap it around and hold something.  I've never used armature before.  What do you use?  The bear will probably be around 5 inches tall.  I've heard of using chenille stems before, but I'm not sure how that is done.

Any help would be greatly appreciated 

Love everyone's pics!  Thought I would contribute a photo of my 3 year old spoodle Woodley!

I recently had trouble with a commission piece can you believe it.  I'd finished the piece, emailed her photos and the price and I didn't hear from her for 3 weeks!  She didn't respond to emails at all.  I sent one last email saying if she doesn't contact me soon I'll be putting it on ebay instead.  She paid within the hour.

I love seeing the creations of this artist, she has such amazing talent!!

Hi Louise,

I've been selling bears since 2003 and I've sold the majority of them on ebay.  I'm thinking of moving over to Bid4Bears now though.  I've only sold a couple on my website.

Try joining some yahoo groups that are specifically for advertising bears - I find these groups great to get the word out and get people visiting your auctions etc....  Having a mailing list is important too.

Thanks so much everyone for your replies and opinions.  People always say my creations are "cute" - so I guess that is my style!  I'll continue to explore different types of bears, I think I might get a bit bored if I make everything too similar.

Hi everyone,

Something that I wonder about sometimes is whether I have a definite style to my bearmaking?  Most bear artists have a certain style or look to their bears, and in most cases you see a bear and say "oh yes, that's made by so and so.."  But I'm not sure my bears are like that 

I feel that all the bears I make are different.  I guess there's nothing wrong with that, but I would love my bears to be instantly recognisable by people.  Do you think this is important for an artist?