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Bravo Lisa! :clap:
if that is your first bear consider yourself gifted! Dang, you should have seen my first bear! It wouldn't even be in the same league as yours! If there was a contest for Best First Bear you'd win hands down!
Keep up the great work. I look forward to seeing your future bears.
-Eliza
Thanks Denise!
I'm going to subscribe to those 2 magazines! I can't wait to see all the other artist bears listed in them. And I'll start sending in my own photos.
p.s. I really loved the bear you had on ebay many many months ago. I wish I could remember her name...but she was like a toddler girl bear with a cute little dress and there were pictures of her in a small horse rocker, I think. She was the most adorable bear I've ever seen! 
I also loved the bear you listed over a year ago...a dark girlie bear who ate her vegetables and wore green. Maybe her name was Sweet Pea or something similar. Just the cutest thing! I always look forward to viewing your auctions. 
-Eliza
I would love to get my bear photos out there. What is the Bears and Buddies section? What magazine is that? I don't have any teddy bear magazines. And how does that work? Do I submit a photo of a bear that is not currently on auction? Or do I submit photos of past work that has already sold? And how do I advertise? I don't have a website. I only auction on ebay.
It's been a year now and I feel that my bears are better than ever before, and I feel that I've really developed my own style...so I think it's time I did start to advertise. Don't know how to go about it. What magazines are y'all getting? There aren't any teddy bear magazines at any of the bookstores or grocery stores where I live. Could you guys clue me in on these mags and how to advertise? I'd really appreciate any advice about this.
-Eliza
Full time, meaning every weekday like a regular 9-5 job.
Just curious. And for any of you who are could you tell how you were able to get to this point? How long did it take? What's your story? I'd be very interested to hear your career path stories.
-Eliza
Chrissi,
I LOVE those handdyed ribbons on that website too! I've been browsing through them and they are just gorgeous! I want to buy them all! Those are the prettiest ribbons I've seen in a long time.
-Eliza
Rita,
I remember you saying that your bears were plain! Are you crazy? This one is gorgeous! And I love what you put around the neck. I also just looked at your other bear with those sad eyes. I think he's just lovely too. Looks like he should be holding a blankie or a little teddy of his own.
Keep up the great work!
-Eliza
Thanks guys! I checked out all those websites and I was thrilled with the wide selection! :dance: Also, I stumbled upon another fabulous ribbon website that I'd like to share with you all. It's called www.jcarolinecreative.com. Now with all these ribbon websites I'm never going to be without beautiful ribbons! I was getting bored with the poor selection at my local craft store.
Gosh! I never knew it was that easy! I can't wait to give this a go on one of my traditional style minis! Thanks for explaining that! I've always wondered how that was accomplished!
-Eliza
I always see such beautiful ribbons on so many artist bears and don't know where to buy some myself. Does anyone have a favorite website for ribbons? I'd like to view a wide selection of different colors and sizes.
-Eliza
Rita,
I know exactly how you feel. I started this whole bear thing a year ago. I was very unhappy with my original bears although I was able to sell them all (for cheap, of course!) My advice to you is experiment, experiment, experiment! Can't stress that enough. In the beginning I made big teddies and modern looking at that...but they just didn't capture my heart. They didn't excite me in any way. They bored me. Eventually I switched to mini bears and loved it. Then I was unhappy with the design after a little while. If it wasn't one thing it was another cause I'm a perfectionist by nature. 
Then I started making new design after new design, staying up into the late hours each night...what am I talking about...I still do that! I finally designed some patterns that made me happy...but I am constantly tweaking them with each new bear...and maybe someday I will feel that they are perfect as they are, but I am always critical and I'm sure most of us artists are!
In the beginning I would never have dreamed of distressing my teddy bears like I do now, but I started to realize that those well-worn, well-loved teddies were the ones that I was really drawn to...and so now all my bears are primitive in some form.
Also, a bit of advice. Anytime I think one of my bears looks plain I add shading with a Prismacolor marker...to the inside of the ears and around the eyes or around the muzzle, around the pawpads...etc. It always wakes my bears up and gives them much more personality.
I visited your website and I think you make great bears...especially Little Ted...he captured my heart, those eyes gave him so much personality. If you feel that your bears are plain I would add some shading and add decoration to the bear. I barely ever clothe my bears. I almost always just have a jingle bell round the neck or a hat on the head or a bow around the neck or head. Keep it simple. Just a little something for decoration helps to give the bear more character.
And just keep experimenting until you find the style that you're drawn to. Gosh, you're already making beautiful bears! You just got to find the beauty in them...that everyone else sees. 
-Eliza
All the Burlison Bears are minis and I've always put them in their own painted travel trunk made out of paper mache. Sometimes I add vintage-looking luggage label stickers all over the trunk to make it look like they've traveled the world before finding their new owner. With my circus bear he had his own circus themed travel trunk with vintage-looking circus stickers and tickets all over it. It was really adorable. (My Burlison Bear pawprint logo is on the inside of the trunks, and the bear rests comfortably on tissue packing paper folded inside.) I've had a lot of positive response from my buyers with my travel trunks.
But for my holiday bears I put them in plain paper mache boxes and tie them up with ribbons.
I always wondered how everyone else package their bears. Very interesting.
Eliza
Hey I have been wondering about this same thing...what can I do nice for my repeat customers. And I've actually had quite a few repeat customers. One lady has bought 5 of my bears and has told me she can't help buying them cause they're so cute. I found out from her that she only collects antique Steiff and Chiltern bears...and guess what else..Burlison Bears! That was a major compliment to me since she is setting my bears right alongside with those amazing antiques! I couldn't believe it when she told me that, and ever since I've been wondering what I can do special for her to keep her coming back for more.
You guys have given me some great ideas. 
Wow Bobbie! I went to your website and I am intrigued. Needle felting looks like a lot of fun. I eventually would like to buy a kit and supplies. I am putting it on my ever-expanding list of things I want to try for my bears! To make needle felted clothes would be very interesting.
Wow, Pearl! I don't even remember mentioning that Eliza is actually my middle name! My real name is
Hayley Eliza Burlison. When I was little my family members called me "Hayley Eliza". It's a southern thing to combine first and middle names. I grew up in Tennessee! My mother called me Eliza more than she did Hayley, whereas in school and everywhere else I've only been known as Hayley. I switched to Eliza for my bearmaking for a couple reasons...it sounds more like an old-fashioned sewing kind of name and I just always have prefered it over Hayley...especially since "Hayley" is becoming very popular in America now. "Eliza" is basically unheard of in America...and I like to be unique!
As for the picture book about my bears...it's just a work in progress...no actual writing yet. Since I make minis I've been thinking of different adventures a group of my minis could go on...including trekking outdoors into the great big world! I thought it would be good to show how big the world is to them...because small children can really relate to that! As for my other picture books I have 3 really good written ones and my illustrations are in the works so I haven't yet submitted those to publishers. I also have 2 novels written for middle grade children. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that someday I will finally be a published children's book author & illustrator. I even did 4 years of schooling with The Institute of Children's Literature where you learn from other published authors and editors in the business. But getting published (at least in America) is extremely difficult...there are thousands upon thousands of people trying to compete, and the publishers can only publish a set number of books each year.
Pearl, I would be honored if you adopted one of my mini bears! Maybe eventually we can work out a swap...I'd trade you a handful of minis for one of your big beautiful bears! I revisited your website. It's been a while, and I am just in awe with your work. You are very talented.
Let's keep in touch.
.....And is this your one and only career? If so, how long did it take you to start earning a decent living with your bears?
I've been reading through the archives since I found this site days ago and I read most of the one called "Selling yourselves short." It made me sad because I too have to list my bears so cheaply on ebay. The times I've listed what I feel are decent prices I don't sell that bear at all. I've only gotten as high as $65 for some of my bears. Other's have sold for $35, $45, and $55. So I don't know if I'll ever make a decent living with this, but it's only been a year and my skills are still improving. So maybe someday... I hope!
Eliza
You know, I kinda wondered once about them, but then I read that they were made for black children so they could have black dolls instead of white dolls to play with. I have no idea if that's even true. But I don't think they're an abomination at all. I've always loved primitive Mammy dolls and the cute black girl cloth dolls with little knots for hair sticking up all over the head. I think they are adorable and I love and appreciate them just as much as white primitive cloth dolls and even Amish dolls with no faces.
I have no idea if golly dolls offend black people or any other race...but I personally think they're sweet.
Eliza
Pearl,
We seem to have a lot in common...and you're not going to believe this, but I had the same idea for a children's book...using photos of my bears on an adventure! Great minds think alike! Of course, this idea would be far in the future when I can actually keep some of my bears!
Pearl, I just love your photo of bears. I've been to your website again and again for a whole year, always admiring your bears and looking at every auction you have on ebay. They are all so beautiful and sweet. So I've been a fan of yours for awhile now! It's great to get to know you better. And I believe we joined Teddy Talk around the same time!
Keep up the great work on your bears! And eventually when I have money someday I shall buy one of your teddies to keep in my bedroom.
Wow! What a beautiful scarf! That is very thin! I would like to find out more about this wet felting technique. It would be very interesting to add clothes to my bears that way. I already use regular felt when I give them a hat or scarf. I can't do clothes any other way because...I don't know how to knit, crochet, or even sew regular doll clothes. :redface: I never learned how!
I've never needle felted before but plan on giving it a try eventually. I usually don't clothe my bears, but when I do I only do so sparingly. I was wondering is it possible to make little trousers by needle felting that you can put on the bear and even remove.....
or when you needle felt are you attaching the colored "clothes" fibers to the bears fur and hence it is not removeable...and is just giving the image of them wearing clothes? I hope this is clear what I'm trying to ask.
And also who sells the best needle felting kit for beginners?
Eliza
Cool, I see I have different things in common with quite a few of you!
A Few Things you may not have known about me.....
jobs I have had in my life:
1) St. Thomas junior volunteer
2) petsitter
3) annoying DisneyStore salesperson
4) and too many terrible jobs to list
Four Movies I have watched over and over...
1) Braveheart
2) The 10th Kingdom
3) Lost in Translation
4) Joe vs. the Volcanoe
Four Places I have lived......
1) Garland, Texas (born here)
2) Fairview, Tennessee (raised here outside of Nashville)
3) Knoxville, Tennessee (lived here 6 years)
4) Lawrence, Kansas (living here now almost 2 years)
Four TV Shows I love to watch.....
1) Andy Griffith Show
2) I Love Lucy
3) LOST
4) Supernanny
Four Places I have been on vacation....
1) Gatlinburg, TN
2) several beaches/islands in FL
3) Mammoth Cave Kentucky
4) Denver, CO
Four of my favorite foods.......
1) Black Bean Quessadillas
2) Grilled Whiskey Steak
3) strawberry ice cream
4) Reeses peanut butter cups
Four Places I would rather be right now.......
1) wandering the moors of Scotland
2) Fiji
3) a cabin in Colorado
4) hiking in Oregon
Hey I was wondering this same question!
I just turned 28 a few weeks ago, so I am not the youngest here, but I am willing to bet that I look the youngest. I look like a child still, honest. And I wear braided pigtails almost all the time! Most people think I'm 13 or 14...including children. I can be outside playing basketball at our apartments and children will join in and treat me as an equal...until they find out that I'm twice their age! I even have an 8 year old friend who told me that he knows I'm not really a "lady"! haha! 
Actually, I never grew up either and act 6 most of the time. I have Peter Pan all in my bedroom including a statue of him. My favorite things in the world are children's books, teddy bears, old antique toys, and animals...especially my pets. Oh and my husband too.
It's interesting to see that most of the younger people on here are non-American. I guess maybe being a teddy bear artist doesn't appeal too much to young Americans...but it seems to be big everywhere else.
Eliza
70-80 bears!!!
Wow!! I'm in awe! Goodness! You must have a lot of space in your house! That's incredible!
Thanks SamanthaPotter!
I checked out your website too and just love your little bears. I will have to experiment with the high forehead thing and moving the nose down lower too. I use woodwool in the heads though and it doesn't work for needlesculpting...at least I've never gotten it to work! But I prefer the woodwool since I'm going for an old-style look.
For SamanthaPotter...
love your avatar bear! How do you make such high foreheads? I've tried so many times to make my bear have a high forehead, but it always ends up with a weird oversized head on a small body. Is it possible to make a high forehead on a 4" mini bear without the rest of the head expanding and overwhelming the little body?
