Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Hi Shannon,

If you don't have enough fabric from the other offers...please contact me.  I am sure I also have mohair I will no longer use and would be happy to help out.  I have been making cloth dolls for quite a while now , rather than bears.
Blessings,
Nancy

Oh my gosh Tami...she is gorgeous!!!  After being gone for a while, I am having so much fun seeing how bear artists are evolving into true 'artists of the cloth'.
It is amazing how different art forms will continually get better and better.  When I first started bear making, they were pretty basic and now,,,my goodness I can only imagine how they do such beautiful work.
I remember how we all went gaga over the 'new' eyelids Michelle Lamb made...and all tried to figure out how she did them.  They are still gorgeous and I absolutely love her bears...but look at what has happened to the art since them.  Eyes that open and close, mouths that do all sorts of things, claws, teeth...it is amazing.
Thank you for sharing your gorgeous new 'family member'.
hugs,
Nancy

I will definitely go vote...thanks for bringing it to our attention.
hugs,
nancy

Very nicely put together Lanie...you are doing a wonderful job with this site.
Hugs,
Nancy

Oh....acapella!!!
How adorable.

Alison, so glad this ended well and thank you for sharing this information.  I didn't know this and a friend of mine was going to use paypal as a means of collecting money for a charity project she is about to embark on.
So glad to know this,
blessings,
nancy

How exciting Erl, for you and mom.  Mom is probably more excited than you  :crackup:  and no wonder. 
I love your fur...a curly little fellow! It's easy to see why you won !!!
Congrats to you both,
Hugs,
Nancy

Girls...thank you so much.  I know that many of you have had awards and nominations, but this is my first and it IS fun !!!
I would have thanked you sooner, but had to go to work.... :0(
So, a belated thank you, you are such an encouraging group of ladies...just as I remembered!!!
hugs,
Nancy

Just had to share with my 'old' friends who knew me...back when.
I am excited about the nomination and wanted to share.

I haven't made a bear in quite a while...but dolls and bears go hand in hand.
I 'lurk' quite often, but never get into chats because I am making dolls...but this is
exciting!
Wish me luck.
hugs and blessings as always,
nancy

Hi Girls...

Bonnie, I started out making dolls (original porcelain)...then went to bears and now back to dolls.  Geez, it's hard  for me to stay focused  :doh:  ...nice to know you are selling from your blog.  Thank you!

Edie, thank you for your kind words and YES, a teddy with a doll would be great.  I did put an antique, very loved and shabby bear with one of my dolls...they were perfect together (but now one of my own bears).  Great idea tho!

JoAnne, I sure will post my blog.  I was going to work on it today but had to go to the dr's for some tests.  My granddaughter told me she would help me get it all going.  Nothing like the young! 

Alison, you are so sweet...your comments made me feel wonderful, hmmmm, what was that old saying about getting a 'warm fuzzy feeling'...or something like that!  Thank you!

Karen, I will probably have all my trials and errors all listed on my blog.  Did you see the movie "Julie and Julia"?
I really enjoyed it and there was a lot about blogging in the movie.  What fun.

Sue Ann, you're a sweetie as always.  You are always there to lend support!  My granddaughter still enjoys your adorable book...can we talk about a talented lady here?  YOU !

Thanks everyone...you are so encouraging!  Yeh! to US GIRLS  :hug:

hugs,
nancy

I agree Dean...I think the eyes are your key to it's past.
Nancy

Hi Dean,

What a precious old bear.  I wish I could help you to identify the bear...it would be such fun to know some history and I am sure this bear has a lot of history connected to him.

I don't believe I have ever seen a bear so (obviously) loved and in such good condition.  I mean, he has no tears or stains...just the fur being worn off which I am sure is from being held and hugs LOTS!
A real gem.
Thanks for sharing,
Nancy

Girls...thank you so much for all the valued input you gave me.
It helps so much to hear others opinions...I have always been a 'gatherer of information', because it gives me a good base from which to make an intelligent decision.

I think I will make the blog for now and you know it's funny...I don't even know how to look someones blog up.
Boy, that tell you something?

But I do love the magazine about blogging...thank you Brenda for helping me remember the name. I am on Facebook but only use it for social fun. Thank you for your sweet comment about my work !
Daphne, your idea about re'directing is very interesting and I loved to hear about the annie dolls. Thank you for all the information you took time to write.
Sue Ann...you are a old friend  :crackup:  and I don't mean that in a bad way.  It is nice to come back and chat and thank you for your confidence that my dolls a well done.  Always nice to hear.
Karen, thank you for your input as well...with your gorgeous work I think you could use anything and be successful.
Tami...thanks for your comments, of course we do chat now and then on Facebook
JoAnne...thank you again for all your posts, a HUGE help

My daughter was also telling me about making a website on Google...she has made several.  Some for clubs and one personal one for her bee-keeping hobby.  My goodness, that girls does love her bees!!!  :crackup:

I think I will take the time to create a blog and see how that goes and then if need be, I will try another website.
Thank you again girls...I new if I wanted good answers I would have to log back into Teddy Talk.
I have missed this site!
hugs,
Nancy

I am going to attach just a small sampling of the dolls I have made and the handpainted teddy.  Gee, is this BLOGGING?  :doh:

Joanne,
Thank you so much, your comments are very interesting.
My website, that I am thinking about dropping cost me a lot of money to have made and the thought of having someone create another for my dolls now...is something that I don't think my wallet would like me to do at this time.

I see what you mean about having multiple outlets and that is a wonderful idea.  I send emails to my collectors about a doll I have for sale on my website  (have dropped using ebay)...but I cannot say that my website has 'brought' anyone to me on it's own...so I am thinking about that as well.

I know that Somerset is publishing a beautiful magazine called Blogging and I love to sit and go thru it...lots of fun things to look at.
At anyrate, you have certainly given me a different perspective on the subject...Thank you!
hugs,
nancy

Hello everyone...It has been such a very long time since I have been on Teddy Talk, I am not even sure if any of the 'old timers' that  I enjoyed so much, are still here...BUT in the event you still are, I have a question.

I haven't made any teddy bears (except my handpainted collage/quotation bears) in a very long time.  Instead I have been making cloth dolls and loving every minute of it.
Girls, my question is:

Since I have more or less stopped bear making, my website doesn't really seem to fit me anymore.

The renewal is coming up and I am thinking of dropping it and going with a blog.
It seems that blogs are very popular.

Could anyone help me understand the difference between blogs and websites, as far as the benefits are concerned.

I have done very well with my dolls and 'teddybearchaser.com' just isn't me anymore...so Blog or new website?

I certainly look forward to your advice and input and treaure your opinions as always.

hugs,
Nancy

Shelli...I pop on TT so very rarely anymore (about every 3 months or more)  so I am glad I did this evening.

You have been such a friend to everyone here on TT and always soooo willing to help anyone in anyway you could.
I am sure there is not a person here that hasn't been touched by your kindness over the years.

Best wishes in everything you are about to embark on...you are a dear lady.

hugs,
Nancy

I am just getting back on and am so happy to see all the in-put.  Here is how it seems to me...correct me if I am wrong and I am using a hypothetical here:

We would have a group that says they CAN make the committment and a group that says they CAN'T, but could put one maybe once a month.

This is how I see it...
If we can get enough artists that can only put one on once in a while, it will still work !

Janie, Julie, Glenny, Suzie Q, Mary and so on...all put one on (say once a month)
Then maybe Jimmy, Jerry, Bobby, Sally and so on...put one on later in the month

Along with the regulars, there will always be someone listing that week as well, fill-in's so to speak...and I know that once it gets going, more and more artists will join in.

We just sold our home 2 days ago  (must vacate on the 22nd of January)and I am in the trows of packing, moving AND  we just purchased some acreage that we will be building a new home on...so I am going to have to find sometime to make bears.  YIKES  But I know I can do this.

Laura, you mentioned the 19.95 featured fee...I totally agree with you... 100%.  Just to let you know, I have been contacted by some artists with the thought of getting everyone together and NOT using it for a little while, to see if our sales change.  Everyone that I have talked to is tired of that high fee.  I would have to check my emails again and see when...but I thought it was mentioned to try this in March or April.
Forgive me...my mind is in a million places right now.

I enjoyed all the posts...thanks to everyone who has joined in with their thoughts.

hugs,
Nancy

I know that almost everyone has been talking for sometime about an ebay alternative.  I think we can all agree that ebay with it's constant increase in fees is just getting a bit much.  The addition of the featured item fee at 19.95 plus all the other fees is is making our endeavors too costly.  I myself pay around 60.00 to sell a bear and I know many others pay more than that.

I have been talking with a large number of artists about supporting an alternative site....Bid4Bears.

I know that you all are familiar with the hard work and monies that Nancy Tillberg has put into this site.

Would it be possible, if each of us (if you are willing) could create an additional bear to list on this much deserving auction site, and get this thing rolling?

I know that many don't want to give up ebay because of the large audience we have, and I totally understand that...I am the same way.
BUT (there is always a but  )...I do think if we would put our collective support together...The Bid 4 Bears site WILL work, but only if the artists support it.

If we artists list, and then collectively email our buyers lists, (with a clickable link in that campaign mailing, directing their collectors to Bid 4 Bears site)  that will draw a lot of traffic.

It only needs to be done a few times, and the  collectors will make it a regular stop in their web browsing.  But, it has to be consistant, and there have to be items of interest listed for the collectors to look at.  Without artist support, the site will fail and conversely, WITH our support it will work. 

I believe with all my heart this can work...but we have to stick together and MAKE it work!  "Artist Power" !!!!

I am just putting this out to everyone of you for your editorial comments.

Again, all it would take is creating an extra bear (not to take away from your ebay listings) and then listing that item all at the same time, so that when the collectors or interested folk log on...they get the WOW factor and want to come back.
I think a reserve price is also in order.

I know that a few of you have listed on there before (I remember Judi did)...but she was pretty much alone.  We need to create a large group.  No one wants to go to a store that has empty shelves.

WE CAN DO THIS !!! I am willing, is anyone else?

hugs,
Nancy

    What?  You won that adorable bear...?

Lucky you and lucky little bear to have such a great new 'mom'.

Congratulations Eileen, couldn't have happened to a sweeter person, I know you are excited.

:hug:
nanc

Oh my goodness Mindy...that will be so much fun to look at.  I can see hours, looking at all the wonderful talent out there.  This is a wonderful idea, I know your readers will absolutely love it.
Blessings,
nanc......

I had to stop using Splenda having a very bad reaction and then reading a warning in a magazine about it...I was having the exact symptoms they published.  After discontinuing using Splenda, all the symptoms are gone.
Having said that...not everyone has this reaction.

Nanc...

Oh my goodness...with this many prayers going up, things should probably be taking a turn for the better REAL SOON!!!

Thank you all so much...but please keep me in your prayers...not over yet!

Hugs,
Nancy

I cannot thank you all enough...I have read each and every post and your sincerity, love and prayers is greatly appreciated, you have no idea how much!!!

:hug:
Nanc....

For those of you who believe in the power of prayer...please keep me in your prayers for the next few weeks.

Thank you so much.

nancy

Henry...thanks so much for letting us know what is going on.
My prayers  are for 'Dad' to recuperate and for the family to have the strength to endure these hard times.
Give a special hug to Daphne for me, will you?

Blessings,
Nancy