Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

I'm so bummed that no one has jumped on this thread. Please, please, please submit pics of your first bears. I know I would love to see them & I think it would be great for all the new artists out there to see where we started from.
Thank you & I'm so excited to see all of your "Firsts".
Big Hugs,
Denise  :hug:

Hi All,
I recieved the most touching PM from a new artist a little bit ago.
I know that this has been done all ready, but it got me thinking how fun it would be to share our Very First Bears with TT.  Especially for the new artists so that they can see where we started from.
I am including my Very First in this message.  His name is Harry & I have kept him all of these past 13 years purely for Good Luck.  He looks a bit like a Schnauzer & I did such a horrible job tightening up his joints that I had to wind string around them to keep them from being completely wobbly. I learned at that point that using lock pliars & lock nuts are a must for jointing.
I look forward to seeing all of your "Firsts".
Thanks Big Bunches.
Big Hugs,
Denise  :hug:

Thank you Lynn & Tami.
I want to thank all of you for taking the time to write & to visit my site.
Big Hugs,
Denise  :hug:

Thank you so much Brenda  :hug:
Big Hugs,
Denise

Hi all,
I wanted to let you know that "Celia" is available on my Available Now page on my website.
I have also added a NEW Publications page.
If you would like to check both of these out, please find the link below.
Thank you for visiting & I look forward to your comments. 
Big Hugs,
Denise  :hug:
http://denisepurringtonbears.com/main.html

Thank you so much Jo  :hug:
Big Holiday Hugs,
Denise 

Thank you so much for checking out my website. I'm glad you enjoyed the YouTube video(The Bear Show).  It was a blast to make.  I used Windows Movie Maker which comes with Windows XP.  It took me a little while to figure out how to use it, but once I did, the whole thing came together rather quickly.
Thank you again for your comment. Enjoy your Sunday.
Big Holiday Hugs,
Denise  :hug:

Thank you all for taking the time to go check out my site.  I do know a little html, but when I decided to take over my site, I asked around to friends on which software they used for theirs.  One friend uses Web Page Make V2 and loved it because of it's simplicity and ease of use.  This is what I used for mine. You don't have to know any html, it converts it for you.  I found their download site through Google.
Thank you again for your comments.
Enjoy The Holidays & stay warm.
Big Hugs,
Denise  :hug:

Thank you Jane.     That was so sweet of you to take the time to check out the new look on my site. I'm so glad that you like it.  It's also greatly appreciated being told how easily it is to navigate.
Happy Holidays.
Big Hugs,
Denise  :hug:

Hi All,
I get bored with things so easily, so thought I'd revamp my Website a bit. 
I would love it & appreciate it so much if you'd take a peak & tell me what you think of the new look.
Thank you big bunches.
Big Hugs,
Denise  :hug:
http://denisepurringtonbears.com/main.html

Hi Everyone,
I recently adopted "Chip" from Lisa Thom & was so delighted to receive him yesterday.
Let me say, he is just the cutest. 
He has made himself right at home here on the lap of one of Kim Endlich's bears & I wanted to share their photo with you.
I hope everyone is doing well & had a great weekend.
THANKS AGAIN LISA FOR SHARING YOUR WONDERFUL LITTLE CHIP WITH ME.
Big Hugs,
Denise 

Well, I had so much fun with the first one....I thought I'd do another.
Time to go to bed.
Big Hugs,
Denise 

Just when I thought I knew what I was doing, I think I resized mine wrong.  It's not so clear now.  I'm hoping it's atleast the correct size.
Thanks again Shelly for the great idea. FUN, FUN, FUN & it was a nice break from the bears.
Can't wait to see more.
Big Hugs,
Denise 

These are wonderful.  Can't wait to do one.
Great idea Shell.
Holiday Hugs,
Denise 

Thanks Sandi. Do you mean like a store fixtures shop?  It really is perfect for hanging your mohair. Keeps it tidy & it looks cool while it's doing it's job 
Thanks for the tip. Now, I'm sure half us TT Gals are going to be out looking for our local store fixtures shops tomorrow.
Big Hugs,
Denise 

Sandi....what a Genious way to store your mohair.   :clap:  I want one.  Don't know where I'd put it in my "One Butt" studio though 
Big Hugs,
Denise 

  :crackup:  Ha, ha...I used to fold mine up all the time but came to the realization that it was just way too much time & effort.  I would be spending half my life wrestling with that darned thing.  I don't know what I'd do with out it though because the pictures are more true to life when taken in it. 
One day (soon I hope), I'll have a studio with enough room for a photo corner.
Big Hugs,
Denise 

This is why we can't eat at my dining room table 
Big Hugs,
Denise 

Marilyn, your room is GREAT!!  It's as big as my whole apartment.
Aleta is right. A little warm paint on the walls will cozy it up in a jiffy.
I dream of the day that I can get to my joints without fear of bumping my head on the corner of my cutting table 
This has really been fun seeing all of your wonderful spaces.
Big Hugs,
Denise 

Hi All,
I've been admiring all of your wonderful work spaces & thought I'd share mine.
It's not much as I live in a one bedroom apartment.  I turned my dining room into a studio by dividing it from my living space with a wall unit & my computer desk & hutch.  Because of this I have what I call "One Butt Living". This is because I have had to divide my living room into a living/dining area & there's only enough room for "One Butt" to get around it at a time 
In my work space, there's not near enough room for all of my "Goodies" so they are spread  throughout my apartment in all of my closets & under my bed. 
I do all the hand work in my living room, so I have a really neat coffee table with drawers & an area for baskets. All of my thread, needles, paints, scissors, tools etc... are in that area.  I have it lit pretty well with a paper lamp that I hung from the ceiling right above the sofa, a table lamp behind me on the sofa table & another table lamp on the end table.
It all works pretty darned well under the circumstances     I keep reminding myself that it won't be forever.
I hope you've enjoyed seeing my work space as much as I've enjoyed seeing yours.
Big Hugs,
Denise 

CONGRATULATIONS to all of The URSA Finalists.
All of your pieces are so AWSOME     that I'm having a tough time deciding who to vote for.
Way to go everyone. 
Good Luck.
Big Hugs,
Denise   

You're right Ellen, it is important that we follow our hearts & I must say that I feel truly blessed that I can make ends meet following my heart & doing something that I love almost more than anything.
Keep on Creatin'
Big Hugs,
Denise 

Hi all,
I don't usualy like to get involved with these threads for fear of my words being taken the wrong way.
I have to say that what we do is no different then any other art form out there. They are works of art just like any Million dollar painting and no different then your favorite diamond tennis bracelet, engagement ring etc.. or anything else a person values & covets.  They are worth every penny they get & are worth even more to the collectors who adopt our bears because there was something about that certain little bruin that tugged at their heartstrings.  Some times it's even a combination of this & a connection we get with our collectors (if we are lucky).
I can't ever remember getting a negative reacation from any one who asks what I do for a living. Lot's of confused reactions, but never negative. And once explained to the confused, the confusion always turns to fascination.  I too carry a large ziplock baggy full of my bear photos.  One of the quickest way to explain what we do.
Art has been a very important aspect to life for thousands of years, so what we do does benefit society, (no matter what anyone may tell you).   My 12 years of making bears have been fullfilling ones. Through the years I have made many dear friends, artists & collectors alike.
I hope this helps & that I have not offended anyone.
Big Hugs,
Denise 

Those are beautiful Jane. You can do both by making little lampwork bead necklaces for your bears. Kill two birds with one stone 
I think it's the artists in us that make us want to be a Jack of all Trades & a master of every single one of them, but there reallyi s only so much time in a day.
Great job.
Big Hugs,
Denise 

Your new site looks AWSOME Laurie. Penny does a wonderful job.  Great look & easy to navigate.
Big Hugs,
Denise