Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

How do you join? I sell my bears on etsy and I would love to be on that list.

LOL! You're right. I started a new job and my bears went on vacation. I am listing one on ebay today (Halloween bear) and the other one is going to my sister for her 50th birthday. Think I need to make a Christmas bear.

So I sold one of my bears on etsy, as I have done several times. The lady who purchased it was nice enough to send me an email and tell me that she had recently purchased one of my bears on ebay from another collector. I have no idea how much she paid. I had seen other posts on here about folks having their bears resold on ebay. Since it had not happened to me I didn't know how I would feel if it happened to me. My reaction when i found out was "COOL! People like my bears!" I was very happy for the lady who purchased the bear and thanked her for telling me that one of my bears has a new home. I thought that was very nice. Now I can write down in my "book" that it went to a new collector. She was apparently so excited about it, she found my etsy store and bought another bear. Then asked to be put on my mailing list. The flattery of my newest customer is all I need. 

Thank you! Yes, the box opens. I got it unfinished and stained it with a light coating inside and out. I made the bear to fit inside the box for shipping along with the pumpkin. I have to remove the hat.

Okay, I'll play....

fantastic idea!

I am 40 and think I am headed down the same path too. I am regular but sweaty. 

I usually wear mosquito spray. You laugh, I know. But I mountain bike nearly everyday and I usually wear OFF and some sort of ivy block. That mixed with any kind of perfume really stinks. Lotions make me slimy when I sweat. So it's pretty rare that I actually smell like a girl. HOWEVER... I love Bath and Body works aromatherapy lotion and bath gel (eucalyptus and spearmint). My perfume of choice (which I really love and wear when i go out with my husband) is Escada Lily Chic.

I am kind of weird. I switch between CNN and Court TV a lot (the show that covers big trials in progress, not like Judge Judy or Divorce Court). I love Discovery and any shows about real-life adventure. I also really like X-Games; skateboarding and BMX. (Kind of odd for a 40 year old woman). Funny, I never listen to my ipod, except when riding my bike. My daughter thinks its funny I have a 10GB ipod and only have 87 songs on there.

Very cute, and yes, the colors are fantastic!

It can take 4-6 hours for the category to cycle and have your auction show up. Doesn't always happen but it has happened to me several times. I know this answer because I have used their live online help and this is the answer I have gotten. My auctions have shown up in the time they said, under 6 hours. Bummer, I know, especially since you have a 3-day.

So is it like a challenge? Make a bear representing Thanksgiving and then put it into a holiday photo? Or do we take existing bears and make a T'giving photo?

...when you first started making bears? Did you start selling them immediately? Did you make them as gifts? Did you make them for shows? How did you make the transition, and how long, from making your bears to selling them? I hope that's not confusing.

Wow, those are wonderful.

I feel honored to have personally set foot in Shelli's studio. It was really inspiring. And to also have been able to see some of her award winning bears in the "flesh."

I was also inspired to come home and clean up my mess in my workspace, although it's still nothing like the one's here. I am getting there!

I have all my supplies and sewing machine neatly set-up in the den. But the natural light is so much better in my kitchen. We have a lot of oak trees that make the den sort of dark. I work at my kitchen table where I can SEE what I am working on.

And Aleta!...that is beautiful. It looks like a gorgeous store, so inviting...I want to crawl in there right now.

WOW! I didn't even know about the "who hearts me" thing. That could be my problem...I don't service my shop enough. I checked and I have 32 people who heart me! Neato. I have to start checking y'alls etsy shops. I see some of your bears go up on ebay and the prices are already out of my league. Maybe I will be lucky and get one of my favorites on etsy.

I have an etsy shop. I've made about 5 or 6 transactions on there. It's a bit cheaper than ebay. But I think my buyers linked from my blog. My prices on etsy are what I would normally charge to anybody else. I personally don't scan etsy to buy things, but I definitely link to it from artist blogs. I have been eyeing a bear for some time and hope it's still there when i get my first paycheck!

I think etsy serves a great purpose and it's super easy to use. I think it's a safe way to do business if you don't want to handle it yourself.

WOW, very nice! I can't imagine how much wool that took. How many hours did that take you? Jeepers, I felt 8+ just for a 3.5" bear. That must've taken forever. Very pretty, your customer will be very happy. 

I hate mean people. And that is stealing. But on a good note...you just told me something I didn't know! My mailing list is small but I never even knew that sending out a mass emailing could include addresses visible to everyone. I have to check my settings. So I need to thank YOU for bringing this to my attention!

So cute! What is a lurcher puppy? I have never seen a Deerhound in real life.

Thanks everyone. I feel a bit better now. Hopefully things will pick up in the fall!

I had a great spring and early summer, then things came to a screeching halt late summer. But I know some of y'all are still selling your bears like hotcakes. In the spring I was having lots of watchers and bids. I just had an auction end with no bids and 2 watchers.  :redface: But I know if everybody else is like me, we are squeezed right now with buying all the back to school stuff and high energy costs. Just curious.

Is there a list of 2008 competitions? I was poking around in the library and the links have expired, they were from 2005-6. I tried to refresh some of them but they don't mention any new contests for 2008. I am guessing most of the contests for 2007 are over.

So would I be painting on the back of the eye or the front?

Those eyes on that website you posted are beautiful! Very cool.

white paint? white fabric?

I found an example of some beautiful eyes. This is from Jody B. Bears. After reading, I discovered she is handpainting her eyes. I love them!

http://able.wordpress.com/tag/hand-dyed/

I am going very dark brown mohair (almost black) on my next bear. Do y'all do light eyes on darker mohair? I was thinking black might get lost. I was thinking of a light brown so they would pop. I know most of it is personal choice. I was just wondering.