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Sheryl, I am working on a memory bear right now. I was commissioned to make it, however, by a friend of my niece's, so I'm not one to give advice on how to turn it into a business. If you have any business cards or brochures that explain what you do, you might take them to the hospitals, hospices, nursing homes, etc., and ask if you may put them up on a bulletin board or in the waiting rooms. Also, if you have a budget for advertising, you could put an ad in the bear mags. Someone else will come up with better ideas, I'm sure.
Thank you Sue Ann, I had not thought of the waiting room.. good idea. I would love to see your bear when you are done. I keep going this direction because my grandpa died when I was little and 30 years later I still wish he was close enough to hug.... If I had only gotten some of his clothes..... 
Hi all, You are all so wonderful with your advise that I am coming to you and asking for help. Here is my situation....
Along with learning to design "fur" bears my passion goes to making bears from clothes. Namely those from lost loved ones. I would like to approach Hospices, Nursing Homes, and Hospitals to put up information about my business. Since I am dealing with the very touchy subject of death, do you all have any ideas as to how to approach these businesses? Is there anyone out there that also makes memory bears?
Your help would be greatly appreciated. I have some ideas of my own but it is always good to get all your expert opinions. 
Thank you all, Sheryl 
:clap: Love him I own and ride (ride on the back of it) a Harley. He is so cute!!! 
You should name him George.... There is an old cartoon where this thing says.... I want to love him and hug him and name him George
Very Very Cute!!!!! :clap:
So sweet!
Hello all, I just wanted to post this comment to everyone.
I love this group so much and all the information, funny, and beautiful bears that are posted here brighten up my days. I have attempted to comment on things here but I have only been able to actually post one. Because of the flaming bear issue that was on here and knowing that this person is one of you/us has caused me to take a step back and be gun shy about posting anything. I just want you all to know that I am still actively looking at the post and all the bears are so beautiful... the funnies are great... and of course all the information is amazing. I am sorry for all of you who have lost loved ones or need prayers.... I think of you often. I hope to someday become active in the conversation again someday.
Thanks for making my day brighter :hug: Sheryl
Anyone know Brittney Spears? We could ask her hairdresser....
Just kidding. I would lover to know because I want to make a bear that looks like my dog!
Lover???? :crackup: :crackup: :crackup: Where did that come from? :crackup: :crackup:
Anyone know Brittney Spears? We could ask her hairdresser.... Just kidding. I would lover to know because I want to make a bear that looks like my dog!
It could be a male, but I do not think so. Just do not over feed it. They only eat a very little every day. They will eat themselves to death!
Its a girl! My daughters both had one... my youngest just got another one. I also had one. I do not know much, but can try to help! :hug:
My story started with a diagnosis of breast cancer at the age of 35. Two types really and very aggressive. I underwent a mastectomy. A couple of hours after the surgery, a nurse came in with a bear. She called it a Sojourn Bear. They are made by a group of volunteers for adult cancer survivors. She said "everybody focuses on children with cancer but the adults suffer too, so this group dedicates their work in making bears for adults". I was touch by this. When I got better I contacted the organizer of this group to thank her for the bear and the efforts of the volunteer sewers. I told her I did not sew but can I help in some way? She invited me to their monthly meetings. There I met Margaret. She pulled out a little mini bear. I was enamored with this little guy and asked how I can learn how to make one. Well Margaret gave me lessons and so my love of sewing began.
Sadly, Margaret died of uterine cancer a year later. It was her little bear that grew my love of sewing bears. I Googled Sojourn Bears and found they have given thousands of bears and is now located in many states. My, how they have grown...
If you want to know about Sorjoun Bears, here their link:
Very Touching.... thank you for sharing your wonderful story!
WOW, what great stories... very inspiring!
My story is that I am very new in the bear making business, yet it has been years in the making.
When I was little I used to sit and watch my mom sew. I would beg her for the scraps and would make weird and unusual things. Then I eventually got to "play" with the sewing machine and make pillows and misc.
I high school home economics I was the "best student in the class"so the teacher said. I never had a problem making anything from a pattern. I played around making stuffed animals from time to time. It wasn't until I had children 21 years ago that I started making stuffed animals on a regular basis. One year my oldest daughter wanted a horse. I found a pattern to make a life sized miniature horse... so away I went. At one time it looked like I was a veterinarian doing surgery sewing up the horses belly! :crackup: She loved that horse. I also took her ratty old baby blanket, reinforced it into a pillow. She still sleeps with it... at 21 years old!
So how did I get into bear making? Well... I got a divorce 9 years ago and my sewing stopped as I had to work, work, work. I met a wonderful man 2 years ago and we moved in together. My many of hours of work eventually slowed down and I got back into sewing. I started out making bears out of special material for loved ones. Since I have made animals in the past I wanted to get back into fur. Sewing with a pattern as I said is a piece of cake. I wanted to go beyond a pattern and design my own style of bear. I have a dog that I got shortly after my divorce and named him Tucker as he always tucked himself next to me. He has been my teddy bear. Looking at him he has become my inspiration to my own design in my head. Not knowing a thing about designing my own pattern I got a book by Nancy Tillberg. In looking through the book I found that she had on line classes EbearZ University. I jumped on the opportunity to learn all the things I never knew you could do... open mouth bears... web sites... designing bears... etc. I am officially hooked!
My goal is to have my own bear designed this summer as I work in a school and have 2 months off to focus on my design.
Wow, if you made it through my long winded speech I applaud you :clap: Thanks for letting me share my story and thank you for being such a wonderful group of women. Now..... everyone sew!
OH MY GOSH! You all are so amazing. Thank you all so very much for all your tips and advice. :hug: This is such an amazing group of women. I hope that someday i can add to all your expertise.
OH MY GOSH! You all are so amazing. Thank you all so very much for all your tips and advice. :hug: This is such an amazing group of women. I hope that someday i can add to all your expertise.
You can get template plastic from a lot of craft suppliers and some bear suppliers. Cereal box cardboard works great too.
I photo copy the pattern onto card stock paper... saves extra tracing and cutting onto cardboard or plastic and still lasts a long time.
I use the silver Sharpies on dark fur. Gel pens are also good.CAUTION: Do not use Fray Check on Sharpie ink... it'll bleed into the fabric.... not pretty. The silver doesn't bleed but the other sharpie colors seem to.
Thank you so much for the caution! :hug:
I use whatever is available for pattern pieces...I've taken boxes apart...and use permanet marker. I've used gold marker on black fur...I mark the pattern right on the backing.
hugs,
Leeann Krikau
Busser Bears
I like the gold marker idea! :clap: Thank you!
I always copy my patterns to bristol board or plastic for use as a template and then use that to draw on the back of the mohair. No pinning involved.
Marion
What kind of plastic do you use?
I've always drawn the pattern straight onto the backside of the fur with a fine permanent marker. One caution is don't use a black marker with very light fur . . . you can see on the right side of the fur. However, once you sew and joint, those marks shouldn't be visible. This method is also faster. JMO.
Have you ever used a light marker on light fur?
I could see it being faster.... and maybe save more fur?
I was wondering if it is better to transfer your pattern by drawing it onto your fur or do you pin the pattern onto the fur then cut?
I worry about marking the fur, but also if it is pinned on it might not come out right.. Thanks for all your input.
One thing I will add... which class to take is a hard one. I am taking 2 right now. If anyone does take the classes I would only take one at a time. I got overly excited and it is hard to juggle 2 classes and work. I work in a school so in 1 week I will be off for 2 moths and can give full attention to these classes... although a new class starts Saturday. So that puts me at 3.... I guess I am a little crazy for teddy bears....
LoobieLou..... You could also take the classes at the site I listed. They are awesome, very understandable, and easy to take on line!
I am taking classes on line... go here...
http://www.kranbearys.com/EbearZ/index.htm
I love these classes..... so worth the money!
Happy mothers day to you and to everyone else :hug: .
Tami, Have a safe and wonderful trip!
Happy mothers day to you and to everyone else :hug: .
Tami, Have a safe and wonderful trip!
Alright.... I went to the proper site and looked up all the Awards. My new question goes out to all of you 
Here it goes..... in your opinion.... What is the best one to enter as a beginner and what is the most rewarding award, in your opinion?
My goal is to reach an award star, I know what one I want
Thank you all for your thoughts
Sheryl
