Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

I use small alligator clips, I trim out the seam allowance, match the pieces up and clip the pieces together.  I use between 4 and 6 clips, I move them along as I go.  Works wonderful for me and I have been using them for over 15 years.  Not to say that when I am sewing I haven't gotten myself poked here and there.  My daughter calls it "sacrificing to the bear goddess".   

At my house we call the many poked fingers "A sacrifice to the bear goddess".

Karen

I just checked your auction and it is there, It doesn't have the ebay.UK  on the auction page, just plain old ebay.  Hope this is useful info.  And by the way, beautiful bear.

Karen

When I make a bear using real fur I do line it.  I cut out the same pattern using a lite colored 100% cotton muslim.  I stitch the muslin right to the fur just enought to secure it, then make sure I pick up both fabric and fur in the sewing of the bear.  I can then not worry about poking a hole in the bear while stuffing, and also not worry about any streching of the fur backing.  Most of the time I will make a head and possibly paws with the fur and mohair for the balance of the bear, I love the look together.

Karen

You could go to Singer's website and get a manual for the serger.  I think you can download them or purchase one outright, don't think they cost a lot.  If your going to use it a lot it would be nice to have one.  I miss placed my manual for my sewing machine and found it right before I purchased a replacement, I think they would have charged me 10.00 or 15.00.  But I really needed it.

Good Luck

Karen

I hand sew all my bears and dogs but I do quilt so I own a few sewing machines.  I know you should replace your needle after 8 hours or so of stitching.  Just to make sure it stays sharp, will work much better and less likely to break.  If your using differnet types of thread that also would determine what needle you use.  And sewing mohair would be a lot differnet than sewing a nice smooth cotton, so again needle choice would be important.  Someone at the fabric store where you would purchase your sewing machine needs should be able to help you with your choices.  Hope this helps.

Karne

Such cuties!  Love each of them. You do good work!!!!

Karen

Connie,
Thanks for the mohair info, can't wait to see the pink in person!  Hope Intercal still has some....

Karen

Just love your bears.....fabulous colors and design.

Karen

Coming up on 12 years, 10 of which I have used only my own designs.  Still love it.  Still have lots of ideas in my head.  Love working on the dogs, they are my favorite.  Hobart Bears came from the 1st street I lived on in Detroit.  The street has been long gone, but the bears keep on coming.  I too am a slow teddy maker, only sewing by hand.

Karen

Hi.
I found at Jo-Ann's a packet of small blank cards.  They are about 1 inch squared, I printed up my info on the computer, cut to size and two side taped it into the card.  On the outside (front of the card) I used a paw print hole punch.  I also use a small hole punch to run a string through to tye it on the bear.  Looks ok even on the smallest bears.  Best part is you can write (small) additional info on the back if you like.  I can price my bears for shows and still only use one tag.

Karen

Thanks Melisa, how sweet of you to respond.  I'm not bitter about not selling, I know it is far and few that can make any money from a craft/hobby.  And I use craft/hobby lightly as this is way to much work and investment to be in that catagory.  I do love making them more than the need to sell any of them, and I give a lot away to my friends and family which is very fulfilling.  Lucky I make them on the smaller side as they don't take up to much room and they are all over the house!
Thanks for your support.  I know a lot of TT's are in the same situation trying ways to sell their bears and other creations and when you see how many are on ebay the competition is really on.  I do love watching to see who will make what and there really are many nice offerings.  Wish I could have one from everyone!

Is is very rewarding to see how teddy bear people are so caring for each other, must be the bear making gene.

Thanks again,

Karen

Sheryl,
Best of luck on Mocha's auction.  You've done great work and should be very pleased with her.

Karen

I started out making bears then dogs along with them just as fun.  Gifts for family and friends.  I had a few friends place orders and then tried to sell on ebay.  The orders are ok, but it would be nice to sell what you make for an artistic challenge.  I find I hate when I know it has to be this color and this breed of dog, takes the fun out.  I too would just love to make a living out of making dogs and bears.  What fun that would be.  I have been in 4 shows over the past 4 years.  I only sold one bear my first show, how disappointing, 2 bears at the 2nd show, well I'm getting better.... 4 bears at my 3rd show and NONE at the 4th show.  The last two shows ended early as there were no customers.  These were shows that I had attended myself as a new to making bears person and if you wanted to be in these shows they filled up so fast there was a lottery for a table, and it was so crowded you couldn't see from one side of the room to the other.  I think I missed the boat, or maybe my bears and dogs just are not what the public wants.  A few years ago I was able to sell about 1/2 of what I listed on ebay.  And I am not at a high price point, I have not sold anything for over $100.00 on ebay.  I put in a lot of work and love each and every one of my creations, even the ones that don't come out so well.  I have just started listing on ebay again in the hopes to sell a little as I'm currently unemployed and can't seem to find a job.  I had one sold and 2 that I will try again with.  For me I had to ask myself, if no one ever purchased another one of my creations would I still make bears?  And the answer was yes, cuz the reason is still the same I make bears for me, for the pleasure of accomplishing a feat and seeing that finished work.  I love it.  So I quess I'll keep looking for the "real job", I sure don't see a financial future in my bear business.
Thanks for letting me vent.

Karen

Sheryl,
Your dog is great.  And I too think Chesapeake......  I am all about dogs and your name "Gone to the dogs", is what my husband always tells me and anyone who will listen that he's having that written on my tombstone! 

Again, great job.

Karen

I thought he looked vintage Steiff like.  Really nice job. 

Karen

For the paw pads, you might try old wool sweaters or skirts and felt them then cut out what you need.  At the salvation army you can get old donated clothing for very cheap, one sweater or skirt will make a lot of paw pads and be very strong.

Good luck,

Karen

Your Good!  What a fabulous job.

Karen

Sue,
I was having a problem with getting a picture to load and thought I would check here for advise.  Too funny, I looked at your website and I was going to use the same template that you did!  I thought the book looked pretty good too.  Thanks for the advise.
Amul, thanks too, I'll check Bluehost and see if it might be a fit.
And Laura, if kids can do it.....well we will see!  Thanks to all, I have been putting this off for WAY to long.

Karen

Hoping to get a little (or a LOT) of advise on a website.  I really think that having a website would help with promoting my bears and dogs.  I'm not looking for anything pricey....I looked at Freeweb's site, and was having a little trouble with how to get the info on that.  Any suggestions?  I have some computer knowledge and I wouldn't mind paying a fee, just not wanting to spend 100's of dollars.

So any help would be appreicated,

Thanks,

Karen

I have tried Kool-aid.  It works good on a white or really light color.  Need a lot of packets.  It only really colors the mohair not the backing.  I have read somewhere that tea has acids in it that can weaken the fabric.  I'm sure you can find more detailed info with a google search.

Karen

He is just beautiful!

Karen

For me the biggest challenge is to get a more realistic look.  My bears are OK, their looks vary, can't seem to get a BIGGER foot though!  Would like them a little fatter.  But I make a lot of dogs and they all come out looking like a cartoon character.  Their cute, everyone that orders one just loves them, but I would like them to look a bit more "real".  I make small dogs and bears. average size is around 6" tall.  Some smaller and only a few bigger around the 10" tall size.  I have some air brush supplies but haven't been brave enough to try.  I did just recently redo the eyes on a few of my unsold dogs and bears.  I pulled out the shoebutton eyes and needle felted the area with white and a black rim and reattached the eyes, I really liked the look and will use it again.  I too have a desire to try a really big bear, just haven't attempt it yet. 
Good luck to all of you when you start on your new ventures, I hope to get some new stuff going after the holidays.  I have been knitting a lot for christmas presents, I need to get back to making sacrifices to the bear goddess.  That what my daughter would say everytime I stabbed myself with the needle.

If I hadn't named my bear business Hobart Bears I could easily have been Crooked Faces, as I only have made a few that didn't have a crooked face! 

Karen

It wasn't an awful gift, but my husband would always shop on christmas eve day for me.  He didn't have to do any of the other shopping for family or friends and it was just "his way" to go then.  It was like his tradition.  He hates to shop, and why he would do this I'll never know.  Well this one year he was so sick he couldn't get out of bed.  Just death warmed over.  He gets up to go shopping for me, I told him he was crazy but he was worried he didn't have anything for me and I would be hurt (well probably MAD at him cuz he waited till the last minute!!) So off he goes, and he's back in 45 minutes, I'm thinking he was just to sick to shop, but no, he got his shopping done.  He got me the exact same gold chain and heart pendant he got me the previous year.  The same gift two years in a row.  It was nice but I sure didn't need 2 of them.  He took one of the chains for himself since I had 2.  Go figure!

Karen

I too love to reread books.  I have been reading a lot of Steve Alten's books.  His Meg series (prehistoric Shark books.) there are 3  so far, and I just reread all of them as a 4th is due out this spring or summer.  I can't wait!  I do like his other books to.  I really liked Michael Crighton's "Next", really well written.  I can get into a good true crime book too.  A book that really surprised me was "Year of the Dog".  I will read that one again.  My problem is I hate to finish a book.  No matter how good it is, I feel sad when I don't have it to pick up and keep me company.  Now that sounds crazy!  I have enjoyed for many years Robert Heinlein books.  A few were a bit strange, but all in all he was so ahead of his time.  I read everyday, even if it's just a quilt magazine, or a knitting book.  One time I took some books to a resale book store and the owners told me everyone reads the same books and only took a few of what I brought in.  No problem, I love my books and there's always a stack of them waiting for me.

Karen