Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

This rascal of a mink bear started to fall apart on me when I was almost finished.  It was 95% completed when the mink decided it was time to shred. This bear that was supposed to be my ebay auction piece "Cat Kisses and Teddy Bear Hugs". I quickly made a replacement bear in time to list my auction.

Regardless of the bad mink,  I had to finish this bear because her face was just too expressive!

From the front she looks fine but her back looks like a patchwork quilt from all of the repairs that I had to do to hold her together. There is never a dull moment when you are trying to transform an old mink stole into a teddy bear.

~ Kathy Myers

Thanks, Eileen and Debbie, I'll try to take part in the conversations more often. It was fun!

I'm glad that you asked your question, Eileen, I learned a lot.

~Kathy

Hi Shantell....Funny you should ask....I just donated 13 inches of my own hair to Locks of Love last month!

I stopped cutting my hair after the birth of my daughter. Well, that was 18 years ago. I am told by my collectors at TB shows that I was always easy to find because I was the lady with the long hair wearing a hat.

Well, my hair was well below my waistline and I was planning on trimming it a little so I researched Locks of Love and found out that they needed at least 10 inches. I measured my hair and that would have brought my length to about the middle of my back...I could do that. So I called around to find a Stylist who specialized in long hair. I told her to cut off just 10 inches for Locks of Love. Well, she carefully measured 10 inches, wrapped a rubber band at that point and then cut off 3 inches above. Then she layered my hair (there went a few more inches). My final length is now just below my shoulders. This cost me $60. It was a bit of a shock. But I have a sense of humor    and my hair went to a good cause. My hair used grow fast (when I was younger). I plan on letting it grow again but in another 18 years my hair will probably be all grey and Locks of Love won't want it. In the meantime I'm learning how to use rollers and curling irons and my daughter finds it amusing to see her old mom struggle with such basic items. And my trademark in no longer a hat but it is now a flower behind my ear. The other good thing is that my head feels about 10 pounds lighter.

  Kathy Myers

I almost forgot my point: If you donate your hair, bring along a friend who can watch what the Stylist is doing behind your back.

Debbie~ thanks for the extra scissor information!

Tammy~ I've been watching your bears on ebay and I think that they are wonderful. Good luck on ebay. Ebay is definitely a love/hate situation for me...I'm still new to it but I'm learning.

Bear Hugs   :hug:
Kathy

Melissa, you explained the process perfectly. I create my mink faces the same way...and it does take hours of scissor sculpting!
~Kathy Myers

Wow, Judi. Thank you!!! The admiration is mutual. I am so proud to know that I was considered an inspiration to such a talented artist.

To be honest, I envy your airbrushing skills. I took a class way back before I even started making bears and I wish I had continued. I think that you will be my inspiration because I am seriously thinking about taking another airbrushing class. :hug: ~Kathy

Hi Debbie,
Thanks for the extra instruction. I actually have that Fiskars sharpening tool but I forget to use it. I'll try it on my paper scissors for sure.

I would love your advise on which hair shears would be good to add to my collection.
~Kathy

Hi Loretta! Thanks so much. It's nice to reconnect. I love Teddy Talk and I try to check in often but I don't always talk...but this question was right up my alley.

Yeah, I've been in the business so long I feel like I'm as old as dirt...but I still love it and I'm learning everyday. I've gotten a lot of great new tips here on Teddy Talk.

I was truly blessed with great collectors when I was doing shows and I actually remember one show where I sold out before the show even opened. How did that happen? All my bears were adopted by other artists. How cool is that!!!

Bear Hugs to you and everyone else,
Kathy Myers

Thank you, Debbie, for the great links...I need some new shears. My favorite shears were purchased at a dog show. But I have never tried sharpening my own but maybe I will give it a try.

I agree with all of the mink trimming tips given so far. I start with my barber shears and finish with my little mustache scissors...no special tricks, just a slow and steady hand and a ton of patience.

Wow!!! Judi, your work is so amazing! Congratulations on the well-deserved nominations. :clap:  :clap:  :clap:  :dance:  :dance:  :dance:
Kathy Myers

Hi Kim...I know I adusted my bears for the ebay collectors. I figured out pretty quickly that my larger bears, especially my pandas, would get more attention than my miniatures. So all of my ebay bears have been created just for the ebay market. So far, so good...every bear that I've offered has found a new home.  I'm really enjoying making bears that are not miniatures (which are so much harder to make).

Once again, I appreciate everyone who let me know that my auctions were being hijacked because I didn't have a clue. Bear Hugs, Kathy Myers

Well, Shelli, right now I feel like I have an open door to be easily hijacked...so if these crooks want my auction they should at least work a little harder to get it.

I was taking a break from auctions next week anyway so it will be a good time to check out Sellersourcebook.

Thanks again
Kathy

Thanks, Shelli, I'm changing to Sellersourcebook as you suggested. My new auction just got hijacked ... just like my last auction. It's frustrating because ebay takes so long to respond to my complaints (I'm still waiting). I was using ebay's templates and my html but now that I know that there is a market for my bears on ebay I'm definitely going to spend a little more money to keep my auctions safe. As always, Shelli, thank you so much for sharing...Kathy Myers

Thanks to Donna and everyone else who contacted me about my auction being stolen by these dishonest foreign sellers. I'm new to ebay and I was having a good time with it...until now. My auction was copied not only in Germany but also in Australia and China. Do you believe it!!! I've written several emails to ebay...it takes them way too long to respond. Donna emailed me to let me know that there was a bid on the German auction so I used the link that Judi posted and sent the bidder a message to let them know that they were being scammed.

I took Kim's lead and I am posting an alert to the problem on my next auction. If anyone has any other ideas..

Thanks again to everyone for watching out for me.
Bear Hugs, Kathy Myers

Dear Nina
I must add my words of support. I unfortunately must say that I personally know exactly what you are feeling since my own daughter what diagnosed, at the age of 6, with the incurable terminal disease of Cystic Fibrosis. She is now 17 and still doing well. Although she has had her ups and downs, she lives each day to its fullest. My best advise, besides prayer which is very powerful, is to learn all you can about the disease because knowledge is power. Find a good support group for that disease because you will probably learn more from other families than you will from the doctors. Don't be afraid to argue with the doctors or take more of their time than they are willing to give. You are your daughter's best advocate. And you must remember to take care of yourself so you healthy enough to be able to take care of her. My prayers are with you and yours. Bear Hugs, Kathy Myers

I'm very lucky because I live so close to Disneyland that it is almost like our second home. I looked at the show in question and it is not associated with Disneyland...it is only being put on in one of rentable rooms on the hotel grounds by a private promoter. I did a show like that once in the same area on the Disney grounds and it was one of the worse shows that I have ever done. Disneyland stopped putting on Teddy Bear Shows many years ago. Sorry, but better to be warned...Kathy

Outstanding!!! I am in awe of your skills and talents...you are a true artist.  :clap: :clap: :clap:

Well, I have not logged into Teddy Talk for a couple of weeks because I was busy listing my first auction on eBay...and making lots of mistakes! I've learned a lot from reading this discussion. But I did learn something from my early mistakes that I can share: eBay does give you a prior warning...apparently they have keywords that they search for. I had also mentioned that I intended to donate part of my sale to charity. Well,right after I launched my auction I saw some mistakes so I went in to edit it and right at the bottom of my edit page was a big "warning" sign that said that there may be a problem with my mention of a donation. So I went into the HTML and deleted any mention of an "charity" or "donation" and the Warning sign also disappeared.

So from now on I plan on always checking my "edit" page after I launch to make sure that I have not mentioned any "eBay policy breaking keywords".

I said for years that I would Never put my bears on eBay... well, the world has changed. There aren't any TB shows anymore. I agree with Gina and I'm treating my eBay experience as Advertising and if I sell a bear then that's a bonus.
Kathy

I just found your post and had to let you know that I am also praying that everything continues to go well for you and your family. My daughter's life was also saved by receiving 2 units of blood when she needed it...so this is a reminder to all of us...the importance of giving blood (when you can). It really saves lives.

Best Wishes
Kathy

Paula, Thank you for sharing your heartwarming story...I spend a lot of time in the hospital with seriously ill children (my daughter being one of them) and I am always amazed at how these children always find the laughter. I've seen them zoom through the hospital halls using their IV poles like a skateboard. I'm sure that little Miguel was happy just anticipating the arrival of his large teddy bear...it's so exciting to have something good to look forward to!

Kathy

I also saw the mohair dying demonstration at the San Diego Show and I did get some contact info from them. The Imagination Institute is in Florida and is owned by Kathy Glenn and Liz Carollo. I couldn't find a website but their email address is ImaginationInst@aol.com and phone # 818-909-7607. I was really impressed with the Earth Palette Dyes and when I use up my Procion MX Dyes I plan on giving them a try.

Kathy

Oh, okay, Matilda, as a collector, I am first attracted to a bear by his/her expression...especially the eyes. Many of the artists that I have seen here are real experts when it comes to creating bears with expressive eyes. I've been very impressed by what I've been seeing.

I rewatched Saturday Night Fever recently myself...What fun!!!

Kathy

Hi Matilda
I assume that you are trying to figure this out so you can make bears to fit that market. I remember when I used wonder the same thing but I stopped trying to figure it out long ago. I've been a teddy bear artist for 17 years and as an artist you have to make the bear that you love...that's the only way that your bears will be the best that they can possibly be. Then if you market your bears effectively collectors who love your style of bears will find you.

Kathy

Shana, do you have your About Me page on eBay? It is just like a mini website...and it's free!

Kathy

Best wishes for a speedy recovery. I have spent lots of time in the hospital (my daughter has Cystic Fibrosis)...this may sound silly to you but it really works...I made a sign that said Please remember to wash your hands! And I taped it to the head of her bed. I had nurses thank me for the reminder sign because they really do forget (and the hospital is the most unhealthy place that you could possibly be...you don't want to come out with any extra bacteria...it happened to my daughter).

Best Wishes
Kathy