Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Hi Tina~
Welcome to TT!!!

I use a Kistka. As mentioned before, it is the same tool used to dye Ukranian eggs. The candle heated ones are very inexpensive (around $5). My bears are small so I use a fine tipped kistka. If you buy a kistka don't forget to also buy cleaning wires because you will need them to keep the wax flowing.

Hugs~ Kathy

:clap:  :clap:  :clap:  :clap:  :clap:  :clap:  :clap:  :clap:  :clap:

I would have loved to have had such great directions when I was a new to bear making.

Three cheers for Jodi!   :dance:  :dance:  :dance:

Giant bear hugs for a very generous lady...
~Kathy

Wow!!! Absolutely stunningly beautiful bears. I love love love them both. Looking forward to you sharing more of your amazing bears with us.

:clap:  :clap:  :clap: ~ Kathy

Okay, here is my classic contribution.

I made this bear before I started focusing exclusively on small mink bears. It's big and it's mohair...a very unusual concept for me.

Thanks~ Kathy Myers

I have another animal to share...this one is imaginary. I call them Alieoops and they are related to the hedgehog but with soft fur instead of stiff spines.

Hi Gladys!
Your Monkbear is just too too adorable!

After 18 years of doing shows, with the San Diego show being the only show I did for the last few years...I decided to no longer do shows (at least for a while). But I sure hope that it is a great show for everyone who attends this weekend!

Bear Hugs~ Kathy

Absolutely beautiful !!!!! Stunning!  :clap:  :clap:  :clap: Amazing bear...I know your special collector will love her.

I love winged creatures and those are the most amazing wings...if you ever decide to give lessons I'm first on the list. I've made hand-painted silk wings for my fairies but your wings are outstanding.

Best wishes to your collector, I hope things get better for her soon.
~Kathy

      "spawn of Satan" ....being a city girl I haven't got a clue...but that's funny.

Thanks to all for your kind words, very appreciated since this was my first attempt at baby raccoons~ Kathy

Well, here are my baby raccoons (mink, of course)...a brand new design for me.

~Kathy Myers

This is a great project!  :dance:  :dance:  :dance:  :dance:  :dance:

Thanks so much~ Kathy Myers

After all these years I finally found the perfect solution for grey mink....raccoons! I don't know anything about raccoons but I love their panda-like masked face. I just designed a baby raccoon pattern:

http://home.comcast.net/~designedbykm/w … html-.html

I hope you enjoy looking at them.
Thanks~Kathy

Wow!!!! You are an amazing artist. This bear is awesome!!!!!!!!  :clap:   :clap:  :clap:
~ Kathy

Congratulations! Great bear!!!!! :clap:  :clap:  :clap:

~ Kathy

Wonderful bear!!! And he looks so handsome in his lovely suit. Great work for a first bear.
~Kathy

Quy, you really are brilliant!  :clap:  :clap:  :clap:
Thanks so much  :hug:
~ Kathy

Hi, Debbie, I don't work with mohair but I did take a class with my daughter when she was younger where we learned how to hand spin and weave wool. We used Kool-aide to dye the wool first. I definitely remember that the instuctor said that Kool-aide was not a permanent dye (that it would fade with time)...which was why they used it to teach children how to dye.

Actually that was a few years ago and I don't think that the wool we dyed has faded but it has also been stored in a box.
~Kathy

Interesting topic!

My bears are small so they are easy to package and I have lots of fun looking for pretty boxes. I use white and colorful tissue papers to careful wrap my bear before putting him in his pretty gift box (with his hang-tag). On top of the gift box I paste on a label that I designed with a hand-drawn teddy and a thank you note, I also fill in the name of the bear and hand-sign the label. I also include a small gift bag that holds the packing slip, my business card, the bear's certificate, and another thank you note with a one-of-a- kind hand-made polymer clay heart pendant that I make as a special gift. If my bear includes special props then I will gift bag or box those also. All of those then go into a Hawaiian print tote bag (I happened to find these at a great price so I bought a few). Finally, I carefully secure the tote bag in a new shipping box. I always ship Priority or Express with tracking and insurance.

The way I look at it, I need to show respect and love for my little bear ... if I don't then why should my collector.

I was delighted when one of my collectors wrote to thank me for my packageing...she said that she had so much fun opening my package that it felt like Christmas! ...and she let me know that she was looking forward to adopting more. I think that makes the extra effort worthwhile.

I love Jane's idea of adding note cards...nice gift. But I need to add that some collector's may not appreciate having an extra scent in the box. I recently had a discussion with a collector who had a problem because a bear that she bought came with an odor that she had a problem with but she did not want to complain to the artist.  So you may want to check with your collector before adding an extra scent in the box.

I don't always remember to list the stuffing contents but that's a good idea.

~Kathy Myers

Great face!!!!  :clap:  :clap:  :clap:
Well done  ~Kathy

Jennie~ Your orphans are just too too wonderful.  :clap:  :clap:  :clap: 
~ Kathy

Wow, Judi, amazing bears!

I did the San Diego show for about 15 years. Did you have a specific question about doing that show? One thing I can suggest is to get your table set up and ready in time for the Early Bird buyers on Saturday (I think that may be as early as 8:30am...you'd better check). It is possible to sell out to the Early Birds...or to at least put a serious dent in your inventory if the right collectors are attending the show. It doesn't get any better than that.

Also be ready to spend money because between the Intercal and Edinburgh supply tables...well, it's just too much fun!

Oh, I just thought of one more tip: Get there as soon as the doors open, that way you can adjust your table if you are stuck in the middle of a row of tables with no direct access to the front of your table. Just make yourself a space so you can get to the front of your table without having to walk all the way around 2 or 3 other tables.

Bring healthy snacks to munch on and water because there have been some shows where I could never get away from my table...and besides some collectors (like me) might be making a special trip to SD just to see you and your bears, so you should be at your table.

I always brought around 15 bears...and I always wished I had brought more.

The artists that do the SD show are wonderful, I'm sure you will enjoy yourself.
Hope I can make it there to see you~ Kathy Myers

Paula~ I think that it is a great idea! After seeing so many beautiful traditional bears created by TT artists I am falling in love with that style all over again. I have tried (and I am currently trying) to design a traditional mohair bear....not so easy when my style is so totally different.

When all the details are worked out I will definitely share my attempt at a traditional style teddy.

I hope that some of TT's wonderful traditional artists will share some tips with those of us who aren't very good at "thinking" traditional.

Thanks~ Kathy

I was going to be a Mystery Shopper. I took classes and read books. If she is serious then it is easy to get started. There are several Mystery Shopper books that she can buy (good idea because it involves a lot more than you would think). And she can join organizations online to help her find work (just google Mystery Shopper). I did not want to spend so much time traveling so I became a Merchandiser instead...that's another option. As a merchandiser you work for a vendor (like Hallmark Cards) and you just merchandise their product in differents stores. She can also find merchandising jobs on the same websites that have Mystery Shoppers.

Of course, the best option is to start your own homebased business...like being a Teddy Bear Artist. It's the only job that I had while I was homeschooling my daughter. She just graduated and now she is in college.
Hope that helps~Kathy

Oh, Zoe, since I live near Hollywood I don't find anything too stange. There are lots of Independent Film Makers who may need someone to make special effect items for a low price. The storyline does not sound so good...especially the mature theme part.
~Kathy

Kellisa and I thank everyone for their good wishes and prayers.

And a special thanks to Dilu for explaining CF so well.

Kellisa is still in the hospital but doing very well. She does not have pnuemonia, the doctors said that she had a virus but after countless tests they have not been able give it a name. As a precaution against secondary bacterial infections they have put her on strong IV antibiotics anyway (for CF kids they call it a "Tune Up").

I think that they will want to send Kellisa home ASAP because she watches every thing that the doctors and nurses do and when she catches an error she is very vocal about letting them know what they have done wrong! Yesterday she had one of her doctors rather frustrated because Kellisa pointed out several areas where she thought that the doctors had made an error. The doctor pulled out her charts and was going to prove that she had not...she ended up apologizing to Kellisa because she had read the numbers wrong and put her stronger treatment than she needed.

So needless to say Kellisa is one tough kid. She can not get her computer online in the hospital but I will let her know about everyone's well wishes.

Thanks  :hug:  :hug:  :hug:  ~Kathy

Hi Everyone~
My 18 year old daughter,Kellisa, is in the hospital again. She has pneumonia again...since she has Cystic Fibrosis she has been though this before. She hates the hospital. Last time she was in they made so many mistakes that she almost died so she is terrified of going back to the hospital.

Please send her good wishes and prayers, I will print them out and bring to her.

Thanks so much~
Kathy Myers

I updated how Kellisa was doing today (Fri 06/30)...oh wow, I just realized that tomorrow is my 28th wedding anniversay...yikes, that's a long time! Anyway, Kellisa's progress report is on the 2nd page.
Thanks to everyone!!!