Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

I've always fantasied of being a full-time artist, when the daily jobs and work politics gets too much!  Unfortuantely, my bears and friends don't sell too well and I've got debts to pay. 

What's your day like as a full-time bear artist?

I had problems accessing Sassy website (www.sassybearsandfabrics.com) from home (in Singapore). Checked with my ISP but still no luck.  Finally found a work-around.  So if other non-US folks have the same problem, you can try this URL instead : http://www.king-cart.com/cgi-bin/cart.c … atch=exact

If u like realistic animals, look out for Karen Lyons.  Her cats are very realistic. I thought they were real cats from their photos.   I'd bet the auctions $ for her cats would be going up substantially soon.  Her website is http://www.kjlyons.com/

No idea why, but I've not been able to go to Sassy website.  Always get page not found error.  Do you have Sassy's email so that I can check with the webmaster?

I make mini versions first so not to use too much mohair.  If it looks fine, then I enlarge it using a photocopier to the size I want. 
I tend to have a disaster ever so often.  I'd hide it somewhere at the back of the closet  :D
I don't like to make the prototype in synthetic too much cos I don't quite like synthetic.  I find the backing normally hard to sew and they tend to stretch.  Some synthetic have silky backing and it "slips" often.   Others are rather thick and hard to turn out.  So if I use it for prototype, it would not turn out quite the way I wanted it. 
I've not tried Muslim or Calico... somehow I think the effect with and without the fur would be different.   It's like my dog before and after a short haircut.  He looks much nicer when he has more fur than when he's shaved  almost bald. My dog's a Australian Silky Terrier.

Not on mine....  If I put a photo, probably will put a old photo when I was younger... Slimmer.... Prettier...
There was a internet scare some years back, where people would download photos and put the head on nude pictures and post up in scandalous websites  ... Didn't want that happening to me, so have not put photos.   
My friend got around it by only putting half her face... somewhat artistic looking.  She's a oil canvas contemporary artist by hobby.

There are a handful of teddy bear artist who sells bear fulltime in Singapore. Sadly I'm not one of them....  It's a dream... may be if I strike lottery first.   
Selling teddy bear is a great way to pay for the mohair.  Before I sold bears, I could only affored every few mohair and stopped making bears for months 'cos it was taking a lot of savings.  After I started selling bears,  I ended up collecting mohair... 
It's great that the hobby can sustain itself.  And I get to keep those teddies and friends that I love the most and can't bear to part with it.  If this was a business, I'd probably have to sell them off too!

Thanks!

I'm trying to grow out my hair.  I had really short crop hair for years and now going for shoulder length hair. 

Now everyday is a bad hair day...  sometimes, feel like hiding in a big hat!   

I'm getting confused with the fur desciptions...

Which is more dense?  Medium density or Regular density???

Here's a koala bear I made using the Edinburgh upholstery mohair.
The fabric does fray so remember to fray check!
http://www.edinburghimports.com/shopping/FU5.asp

Some of my miniature favorite patterns/Kits
Andrea Brewer (ebay id brewersbruins)
Roberta Kasnick Ripperger (ebay Id rkr4cds)
Emily Farmer kits  (ebay ID emilyfarmer)

For me. beary cheap has lower shipping cost compared to Gerry's.  So if it's Australia shopping, then I'd normally go with beary cheap.  Actually, it's more worthwhile for me to buy from Edinburgh & Intercal compared to Australia.  Though Australia is nearer to Singapore, compared to US on the other side of the world, the postal is almost the same.  Time to delivery is longer for US, but it's worth the wait! 
I love Intercal's prepak specials.  I have a hard time resisting buying them... running out of closet space. 
I've been trying to find steel shots in Singapore, still no luck.  It's way too expensive to ship from overseas due to the weight...

Thanks for all your help!  The pain is actually the joint part.... will look out for the  tight fingerless elastic glove things...
guess the alternative would be to make clay noses.  seems to be quite popular these days.  except that I wonder how long they would last.  Will they get moulded?

found my avartar on the web... thought it was super cute and downloaded it.  found a lot of other cute doggies pictures too.    I love dogs and thanks to Lisa Pay's patterns, had picked up a skill or too in dog design and making.

Before buying camera, check out the reviews on www.cnet.com
I always check out the reviews before buying any electronic gadget.  I didn't believe the reviews one time when I bought a fuji digital camera some years back ... sure regretted it!

I like to sew minis... problem is with sewing the nose.  I use my left thumb and fingers to hold the little head, while using right hand to sew.  The right hand is OK 'cos I use pliers when it gets difficult to sink the needle.  The problem is with the left thumb as I still have to hold the head tightly.

Anyone has the same experience?  Any ideas on what you do that help prevent thumb damage???