Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Love the combination of the different fabric textures...a beautiful creation!

Having seen all three pieces you have in the show, I know they won't last long...it will be the quick and the dead for sure!!

Joanne these are both delightful, I think I saw Florence (the light coloured one) on your blog.
Catalina (the brown one) has the face of an angel...gorgeous job of needlefelting!!

Great Golly Jo!

Love your sculptured faces. 

That face would warm anyone's heart...cheeky!!!

Thank you all for your very sweet comments...it's always nice to pop back and find your work has been appreciated by someone.  :hug:

This is Chocmint Dumpling...I think she's kinda cute. (And a chubby dumpling like me!  :crackup:)

It's not just a matter of subscribing to or purchasing these magazines, they need artists to ADVERTISE in them too.

We are all so keen to take advantage of the FREE coverage they give us in magazine articles and features, but less keen to part with advertising dollars.

I'm not saying you should advertise in every magazine as it would become very expensive, but if each artist would choose to support just one magazine by taking out a year of advertising it would certainly help keep these magazines afloat.

I proudly support two magazines with advertising.

Andrea...that's exactly what I'm looking for.
Email me your preference of back issues UK, USA or Australian, how many and your addy and I will put some in the post.

Amy I'm sorry but I am specifically looking for German, Russian mags. I really don't need any bear books.  Email me you addy though and I will send you some after I see what's left after the swap.

I was wondering if any of the European girls would be interested in doing a magazine swap?

I have back issues of Teddy Bear Review (1998-99), Teddy Bear and Friends (1998-2000), Dolls, Bears & Collectables Year Books/Annuals (1996- ?) and Australian Bear Creations (Mixed Oddments-all with patterns), plus 3 magazines with 9 patterns in each.

Please email me if you're interested.

LOL! Edie I think most of us have that problem...I think it's a common addiction that goes hand in hand with bear artistry.

Hi Lisa...great to see you still here. How are the girls? I bet they've grown some. I wish I could help you find your mojo, you've certainly made some creative bears in your time.

Hi Paula,
I would have read the article back when I bought it (I always read mags from cover to cover at least twice), but probably wouldn't have had a clue who you were then. :lol:

Now with the internet, everybody knows everyone, even if they don't really know them ... my heavens look at what Facebook has done for linking up all the teddy bear people! But for all the internet's advantages, I still enjoy a good read of magazine articles about artists and what inspires them !!!

ATTENTION EDITORS ... A "This is your life" or a "Where are they now" would be a great read!!

Well they certainly needed to DO something with the magazine, it became so thin and lean on good stories that I stopped subscribing to it...I remember when it was three times the thickness...yep almost 200 pages. But that was in "the good ol' days" when we were actually receiving good money on a regular basis for all our creative efforts and could actually depend on it to support the household income!

But like all magazines they don't just need readers/subscribers, they need advertisers...how many of you are continuing to advertise I wonder?

I love the last comment Karen...I have complained to them about not having PayPal so many times and told them for artists overseas this would make it so much easier, not only to subscribe, but to pay for advertising in the magazine...mind you they are not the only magazine nor the only country that needs to wise up to that fact!

Well I have probably put my foot in my mouth once more.....but I hope you'll forgive me.

Dawn ... I would find those articles interesting to read, and I'm sure many of the newbies would too. I have often browsed through old mags and thought what happened to "......".

Paula ... I have been sorting my mags out and givng some to my students and of course you can't sort without flicking through and I saw a photo of a younger Paula in a an old TBCI. The article was about you and your sister ... I must say I enjoyed the read!

Joanne ... It is very difficult to when you have a break and have to begin again, for some it's just too hard, but a few manage to stick with it through thick and thin ... you have and I'm sure you continue.

Sue Ann and Debora ... To the 80's artists, coming in the mid 90's we were the newbies on the block, but we all had fun here on TT just the same. I'm sure you will both continue for a long time yet ... it's in your blood! 

Hi Clare ... Bit of a shame she's no longer making bears, I have one of Catherine's big bears in my collection. 

Hi Dawn ... I know the feeling. Like Sue Ann, I am beginning to feel a little on the old side too! LOL!! Who else from the UK has been around as long as you and is still actively making bears?

Hi Again Linda ... you recupertated from Woodend yet? I guess we could call you the Granny from Downunder...or is that Loris? Just as well we are all still young at heart. 

I was reading the "professional bear artists" posts and found it very interesting. I then (after reading Bobbie's post) got to wondering just how many of us are still around?
More to the point how many are still around on TT reading my post?

As a collector I don't really care one way or the other. I bid on what I like, when I like and don't give two hoots who else is bidding.
Friend or foe, seen or private, who cares...I am not in a bidding war, I just want to purchase the bear that appeals to me at the time.

Tell you what gets up my nose though, is all the lurkers who watch and don't make a rotten bid!! Now that's what I call sneaky!!

Oh how wonderful Kat. Bet you have fun with those web feet! 

If I were you, I would be seeking professional advice.

Good to see you pushing the boundaries Jenny...I love the new look, she's charming. 

She is delighful Katherine...love her outfit. 

I do love your lovely minky bears Susan...and I am so happy to have one in my collection. 

Voting closes in 9 hours and all winners announced on Sunday.

Thank you Gail for the info you provided for the Mac users.

And a very special thank you to Paula for her support in promoting the ACD awards. We have had such a marvelous response from everyone.  :clap:  :clap:  :clap:

Voting will be open until Saturday morning Oz time and big winners announced on Sunday sometime during the show.

Thanks too the rest of you for your kind comments about the show...