Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Great pictures, Peter! (and great bears!)

Just got this little antique teddy doll - about 10 inches tall and likely from the early 1900's.  Mohair body with excelsior stuffing and a bisque doll head. It has a squeaker in the body that works and the eyes sleep. The old silk ribbons have mostly frayed away, but otherwise it is in very nice shape. Needless to say I am thrilled to pieces with her - and she fits into both my bear and doll collections!

I don't know exactly how old he is but the button matches for the years 1908 - 1911 so I expect he is somewhere in that time frame. I was SO lucky to find him in an antique store!

Thought I would post a pic of the great old Steiff bear I added to my collection last fall. He is in really good shape and 13.5" tall. So nice that he still has his button!

Bobbie, I wonder if entries for the contests are WAY down and that might explain why they have chosen bears that don't meet the rules in some of the categories? I noticed that several categories in the Golden Teddies only had 4 nominations instead of the usual 6 - at least they do online, I haven't gotten my actual magazine to see if it is different.

Of course it's not your fault, Tami! And while it is nice for both your bears to get the exposure, your fans votes may well be split between your two bears - could unfairly cost you a Golden Teddy win. So not fair to you either!

It seems to me there have been quite a number of "infractions" in the last few years on contest entry rules. As well as more than one entry by a single artist being nominated in a category, I've seen more than one bear or a bear and an animal nominated, and even winning, where the rules state only one critter, and I've also seen quite a few with "props" (as opposed to accessories) which it specifys are only to be used in the tableaux category, but have been accepted in all categories.
It certainly doesn't make for a level playing field for all participants when the sponsors don't follow their own rules. Why set rules if you don't mean to stick to them?

Great job, Lynn! She definitely looks more vintage in the after pic! She's adorable!

It's really up to the individual preferance of the artist how much distressing to do - and the individual bear as well,  and the "look" you are trying to achieve. That said, I often feel I've maybe gone a bit too far with the distressing and should have quit sooner! I like Joanne's attic - trash can reference!!! Looking at old teddies - either in the fur or pics - is a great place to start!

I use aligator clips even on my two inch bears! Guess I've just gotten used to doing it that way. My clips are pretty small.

Lisa, I use the backstitch as well when sewing in mini bear foot pads. I start at the seam on the center of the foot at the toe so don't bother tacking there as my first stitch will hold it in place there and then instead of tacking at the opposite end (seam of leg at heel) I hold it in place with a little alligator clip. Faster than doing the tacking stitches and has always worked great for me! On bigger bears I do the same thing but also put alligator clips at the center of each side of the foot pad as well.

Just the cutest!

Wow! You outdid yourself, Susan - she is great!

Hi Sophie,
I think PayPal has made some changes recently as I used to get those "you've got money" notices with the customers email address and now I am getting the emails from "service@intl.paypal.com" and the subject says "(customer's name) has just paid you for......
Before I could click reply to the email and it would go right back to the customer to thank them for the payment - can't do that anymore!

I've just listed this little anime style bunny, Kalysta, on Bear Pile. She is 4" tall, made from dye painted fabric, fully jointed with long floppy ears.

Fabulous! I love him!

Very cute!

He's adorable!

Oh wow! I had no idea he was so little until I saw the pic in hand!

Wonderful bear, that face is great!

oh, he is too adorable!!!

Listed three bunnies on Bear Pile an hour ago and sold two of them already. Little Ginny is still available:

http://www.bearpile.com/artist.cgi?id=1103

"Ginny" is a miniature bunny rabbit, 3 1/4" tall, made of a light beige vintage pile fabric, black bead eyes with embroidered accents, face shading, fully jointed, ultrasuede foot pads, wired ears, and a fluffy white mohair tail. She has a bedraggled ribbon bow on her head and such a forlorn look on her face!

Thanks for the lovely comments!

Little Fleur is a miniature bear, 3 1/2" tall, made of a soft off-white pile fabric, fully jointed, ultrasuede foot pads, stitched nose, mouth, claws, and eyebrows, face shading, black bead eyes with embroidered accents. Her little yellow dress is made from a silk flower and the front of it is adorned with smaller silk flowers, matching the ones she wears on her head.
She is now available on Bear Pile

I finished this little guy today and have him listed on Bear Pile. He is 3.5" tall, made of hand dyed vintage rayon pile fabric, fully jointed, black bead eyes with embroidery accents, face shading. He wears a little paper hat.
Nice to be back at the bear making again - it's been a while!