Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Thanks everyone! All this enthusiasm from everyone makes me even more excited!  :dance:

Judi, I don't subscribe to Teddy Bear Scene either. The funny thing is I don't yet have a subscription to any bear magazine! Money's always tight...but I eventually will subscribe to some. I have 3 in mind that I would like. The only subscription magazine I get is MAD magazine! I know, I know, that's very telling of me isn't it? That I would read and enjoy such a lowly magazine!    Judi, you can go to Teddy Bear Scene website and get a subscription. They even have monthly payment plans...or you can buy one single issue from them as well. That is how I will get a copy of next month's issue. Can't wait to see Milo in it!

-Eliza

Maria!! Would you, really? That's awesome!  :dance: Wow...Milo's been having some grand adventures here lately! I'm sure he'll have fun attending that show and getting to meet
Kathy!
Thank you thank you Maria!!!!

Eliza 

Yay! I'm so happy!  I got an email today from the people at Teddy Bear Scene magazine saying that they would include my bear Milo in next months "What's New" section! This will be the first time I've ever had a bear in a magazine! I'm just overjoyed! Now I'm going to have to get a subscription! 

Here's the picture I had sent them of Milo. And I have to give a big thanks to Maria of Puca Bears. Not only did she adopt Milo, but she's the one who told me to contact Teddy Bear Scene to get into the "What's New" section. So thank you, Maria!! And Maria, you will have to show Milo his picture in the mag when it comes out so he can do a little gloating!

-Eliza 

Can't tell you how many times my hamster escaped while growing up. They always do turn up though within a couple days! I even left a trail of treats to intice him. Those cages do not keep hamsters in. Put something heavy on top...but warning: do not put a heavy folded blanket on top to keep the cage lid down. I did that when I was 10 and came home from school and Timothy had pulled off part of the blanket and stuffed it in his cheeks and suffocated and died. It was a horrible accident...but I was young and didn't want him escaping anymore.  Poor Timothy.

-Eliza

Kim,
I wish that was my bedroom! How magical and beautiful! Your girls must love it! What are their ages? I wish I had been lucky enough to have such a lovely whimsical room during childhood. I hope they will appreciate their wonderfully talented mommy for doing that for them! Outstanding job! Just love those colors!  :clap:

-Eliza

Aww, I hope Pookie finds a good home, Kim.
You know, I've always wondered if I'll see one of my bears for sale someday. I can imagine my first reaction would be similar to you Kim---sad, hurt. Actually, I wouldn't be angry about it, but I would feel that maybe that bear didn't go to the right person initially. But then again, you don't know their circumstances. I've had to sell off books, dvds, and video games at certain times over the years when hard financial times hit. Though if I was ever fortunate to own an artist bear I don't think anyone could rip it out of my arms to sell it even if I was going bankrupt! But that's just me! I love artist bears and I don't own any...not even my own!
   

-Eliza

As an afterthought to what I was just saying...I really thought some of you super talented artists never doubted your work. Whenever I see certain bears and other creatures that are just top-notch I say to myself, "Oh that artist is so talented...I know that they never have to worry that their work is not good enough...they know that their creations are perfection!" Now when I hear that Ellen has doubted her raccoons and has just today said that she was nervous about listing her new penguin and wondered what people would say about it.....it just blows my mind! I thought she knew her work was wonderful and perfect! Now I am thinking probably many of you on here that I think do the best bears/creatures are actually doubting their talent!

-Eliza

Omigosh, Ellen! I can't believe you hated one of your raccoons! You do such lovely realistic raccoons that I can't imagine you wanting to throw it out! And then you won an award for it!

I guess all us artists on here are our own worst critic! We all seem to be the most harsh when it comes to our own bears...and I think it's because so many of us are perfectionists. Just the other day when I finished my latest bear Ainsley, I said to myself, "Well, you've really screwed this one up. Here's another one that won't sell." And then to my amazement I've gotten more wonderful comments on it from you Teddy Talkers than any of my other bears! True, I don't yet have a bid for it even though it's priced cheap...but now I do know that others really love Ainsley. And the funny thing is if I saw the same Ainsley bear made by someone else I would adore him!

I think we all need to have more confidence in our work.

-Eliza

Rita said:

Your Bears are soo nice made, I would get discouraged too,
I know why Mine are not selling, they are not that good than everybodies here on the Board.

Rita, that is so not true. I've been impressed with many of your bears! I admire them all the time in the Showcase area and Teddy & Friends area. I'm surprised you say that yours are not selling. It certainly has nothing to do with their looks cause they're adorable! So I guess I've figured out from this thread that sometimes bears just don't sell. The right person for them has not come along to fall in love with them. Or perhaps many people would love to have it, but cannot afford it at the time. I know it's very easy to get discouraged. We're both together in that! But we just got to keep at it and hope that things get better. And read what the all-wise Bobbie said about selling. She makes some great points. And it totally makes sense.

So keep at it, Rita and have more confidence in your wonderful bears. The last thing they need is their "mommy" saying they are not as good as everyone else's bears.

-Eliza

Teresa,
your website is beautiful...and I just adore your bears and other creations! I love their colorful appearances! You do such whimsical work and it's just wonderful!

-Eliza

just wanted to add one more thing. I didn't time how long it took my bear to appear yesterday, but I can tell you it took half a day for it to appear. I had listed it early in the day and it was not there till the evening.    I thought it was just my bear that had gotten lost in cyberspace, but apparently everyone is having the same problem.

-Eliza

I too listed a bear today...early today...and it only recently showed up. It's been hours, and I was wondering if it was just my bear or if you all were having the same problem. Ebay is a bunch of crap. I'm so tired of the problems with ebay...and especially those very high fees I get every month. Listing several bears a month those fees do add up, don't they? And it's only the worse if I don't sell a bear...I still got to pay for that listing.

I am really hoping that Bid4Bears does phenomenally well and we could all permanently switch to listing there.

-Eliza

Bobbie,

What wonderful advice! Thank you for that! That really puts it into perspective for me. I've never done shows so I've never thought of it in that way. Makes a lot of sense.
And I also like that you said to keep the business end of it separate from the sewing/work part.

Many thanks.
Eliza

I had just saw that too and was wondering what happened

-Eliza

I want to sincerely thank everyone who has posted such sweet comments about my bears and everyone who has offered help, advice, and support. I Love You Guys! 

Oh, and Maria from Puca Bears...thank you so much for not only adopting Milo but taking him to a bear party to show others. I'm sure he had a wonderful adventure and got an opportunity to stretch his little legs! Give him a hug from me. I miss that little guy.

-Eliza

Amelia,

I love your avatar photo! You look like you're trying to hide your identity! Like you're in the Witness Protection Program! hahaha!  :crackup:

Your other picture is great. You look lovely!

-Eliza

Melanie, you might not have rainbow hair but it's hot pink! You look so much like your bear!!!!!!!!!! Hahahahaha! That's so funny! :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:

And Dilu, that's hilarious what you said! But there's no shame in looking like a golly. They're adorable. Love their wild hair!!

-Eliza

Kimberly, what a lovely girl you are...and yes I do see resemblances in your bear!

And definitely Paula has those same sparkly eyes as her bears! So cool!

-Eliza

This is so funny! I think some of you do look like your bears! Now I'm obsessed with scrolling across everyone's avatars...not just here but in all the other postings too!

Hell yeah, Karen! I got the hots for Johnny Depp too! Love that drunken pirate look!  :dance:  :crackup:

-Eliza

Um, I'm kinda confused by Debbie's post. I've only been here a few weeks so I don't know what shill bidding is. Debbie seems angry at someone, but I don't know who she's directed her comments too. I must have missed some big debate/feud that happened here.

Anyway, Debbie I appreciate hearing your collector's point of view. Definitely, we should never take collectors for granted. The few collectors I have for my bears are very sweet people and I appreciate their love for my work. Their comments mean the world to me.

-Eliza

Shantell,

Omigosh! I never knew I could do that! Now I'm going to be scrolling over everyone's avatar to see if they match up with their bear! 

Thanks for telling me that!

And Shantell, you look lovely.... and sweet! 

-Eliza

I recently looked at the photos page. (I haven't ever put one up of myself yet, because I recently had a hair disaster  :doh: and am waiting to get out of the awkward stage before I submit a photo of myself). Anyway, so I was looking at the photos page and was shocked to see how "human" everyone looked.    Since I've been here the last few weeks I am constantly trying to keep every one straight in my head...and how I do that is I associate that person's avatar with their name....so much to the point where I actually think y'all look like your avatar. So when I saw real photos of you guys I was kinda shocked! Y'all look so human. But then again you each may have similarities to your avatar bears.

I was staring at Little Toot in my avatar and a weird realization hit me...you know, I kinda look like Little Toot. So my question to all of you is...do you look like your avatar bear?

-Eliza 

Omigosh! Beautiful website! I want Penny to do one for me! Maybe in a few months....

Also, I Love your Christopher Robin and Pooh!!!!!!!!!!

-Eliza

Cutest animal pic yet!!!!!!!!       

-Eliza

Wow. So much information here! You guys have convinced me...I need to find a new way to sell than just relying on ebay. I think I'm really going to give that Bid4Bears campaign a try...if it's not too late.

I think one of the problems I'm having with ebay is that I have a few loyal customers when it comes to my traditional style pattern...but basically no fan base when it comes to my new whimsical style pattern (whimsical style being what you see in my avatar....and black bear cub being my traditional style). I think my whimsical style is very cute and original...but so far not really popular...hmm...it seems strange to me cause I would think something more original than my traditional style would be more sought after. So I'm definitely going to have to go back to making more traditional style bears just to make an income and keep my few loyal fans happy. And I will have to find a way to promote my new whimsical style bears. Perhaps with Bid4Bears and sending photos to magazines.

I just got an email response from Kathy Martin of Teddy Bear Scene saying she would post pictures of my bears in the What's New section, but only if I email her high resolution photos. Um, I thought the photos I sent were very good and clear. Um, I actually don't know what "high resolution" means. Could someone clue me in? Sorry, I'm a dummy when it comes to technical jargon and computer technology! Please help.

-Eliza