Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

It's been awhile since I've posted here. So I thought I could start with a quote and picture
Dorothy

This handmade artist teddy bear was created from a reclaimed vintage camel hair coat, his body is from a soft wide wale cordouroy shirt. The eyes are handpainted antique shoebuttons.
The ears are made using felted 100% wool sweaters and the satin lining of the coat.
He is avaliable at my etsy shop

http://www.etsy.com/listing/98149758/ar … tage-camel

Adele again. 

Adele is avaliable right now! At the worldwide online teddy bears show. At my "table" Teddy Folk by Dorothy Stuhr.
http://www.backroadbears.com/teddiesworldwide.htm

We have coyotes in our area I hear and see them often. My Aussie shepard hates them and barks long and loud.
I sometimes walk my dogs A Chi-weenie (Una) and Nora my Aussie at night in the park nearby off leash. One night a coyote grabbed Una, Nora took off after howling like a banshee! Una, nicknamed the "brown streak" because she runs so fast (I think it sounds like dirty underwear) got away with ony a couple of marks on her neck. I don't often walk in the park alone at night anymore, I walk with friends and their pack of dogs. Also I put a light on Una' s harness. She looks like weird little fairy with it on. And I blow a whistle loudly, it seems to work.

Here's mine her name is Una
She's a red brown color. At the park she is known as the brown streak because she is so fast (Ithink it sounds like dirty underwear)

A bunch of us sweet and humble teddy bear artistes have landed in a wonderful treasury on Etsy :dance:
here is the link  http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=55854
Check it out, and leave a comment or two please
Dorothy

Well, I am going to join the Etsy teddy bear team too, it's a great idea! Christine is right you really have to market your bears on etsy. I have discovered several ways to do this, which I will share with my team members. Yea Team
Dorothy

  and how are you doing? Would you like to form a etsy team? How do you "market" your bears on etsy?
Do they float alone in cyber etsy space? What helps.  
Dorothy

Lisa it's called "bear burnout" an ailment that affects only teddy bear artists for some reason
I too have suffered and recovered numerous times... My advice is to do something else, another craft perhaps, long walks, writing in a journel, reading good books (Billie Letts, Connie May Fowler) are good authors. Take good care of yourself, explore, play.  
hugs, Dorothy

I checked out all the shops and added them to my favorites   'cause you all are my favorites  
And guess what I just sold my first etsy bear!! The only one I had in my shop! I am so over the top :cake: YEA!
Dorothy

There are several shows in Ca.  :clap:  :clap:  Dorothy Drake has two (teddy and doll), one in San Jose and one in Roseville these repeat in the spring/summer and fall/winter. There is one in Santa Barbara in March, a doll and teddy bear show, also in Santa Barbara there is a very nice teddy bear museum to visit. Also Pat Moore is having a convention in San Jose in June. John Port and Denis Shaw wil be there and I hear Art Rodgers is doing a class.
And of course the Teddy Bear Convention in Nevada City.
These shows are quite reasonable, about $75 per table and they are one day shows (except the conventions)
Hugs Dorothy

Hey Lisa, what a cool site   I voted too. Love your elephant   and your other softie, what an adorable face! Just a little aside... when my sister and I used to play dolls, one of us was always Mrs. Macgillacudy (sp?).
Dorothy

Shelli, what you said  
Dorothy

Well, I do have kids in their 20's it's not such a bad thing, really.    I shared some of this information with the ladies at my work, and got the cold shoulder all day.   I guess not knowing is comforting and makes it eaiser. But just in case you are curious. Please check out these sites:
http://www.safecosmetics.org/companies/signers.cfm
http://www.coopamerica.org/pubs/realmon … metics.cfm
http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/
Dorothy

Hi Shelli,    I've been experimenting lately. Try overdying sparse mohair (get a little bit from intercal, ask Johnana and tell her I said hi ) that is a tanish color, use a darker color, let it get splotchie in the dye bath. Cushing acid dyes are wonderful (intercal). I bought a hand sander, one with a handle knob, and went over the mohair 1/3 yd. at a time, this way and that. Then I get out my steam iron and go whosh here and there all over the mohair, then I twist it up steam the twist as I go and wad it up into a ball and fasten it with a big rubber band. Let it dry a few days, untwist it the iron the back, so that it lays flat. I bought this little eyebrow shaver that work well for small areas to achieve a worn look. after the bear is assembled I thought I would spritze on some distressing inks (rubberstamp store) they are permenant and acid free etc.

      hope this helps Dorothy

I would like to be a storyteller, and tell stories.   Years ago I took a story telling class at USD, it was designed for teachers. There were professional storytellers that told wonderful stories from all over the world, talking to one I said "I would love to do this, but I am afraid to be in front of an audience" She said "well, you have a problem then Dorothy.

I love "strange!"  I have a etsy shop but haven't really done anything with it. Now I am encouraged and enlightened by your bravery Lisa. :clap:  When I get home from work tonight I am going to fiddle with it and see what happens. About Ebay, Lisa I really don't care for it, too big and impersonal to me I think you've got it figured out, blogging, etsy and all.   Have you tried lovli.com? It's an up and coming etsy tpye site and free too, they are based out of Portland Oregon.
I saw the article in T.B Friends that had your kiddies pics. So cute How lucky and busy you must be.
Your friend, Dorothy

What is a sidewalk experience? How do I know if I have had one?

I am trying to make a little dress for one of my bears. Help! how do you make one that is lined so that it is finished right? How do you finish the neck and armholes if you don't line it? Do you use bias binding? Is there a tutorial anyone knows about this?
  Dorothy

  Thanks to all you lovely ladies who visited my blog and left pretty words about my newest teddy bear...finally finished She has a name now
Love, Dorothy

Gaby I love blog   I'll add you to my list on my blog.
Dorothy

Hi Marion, excellent blog . I have added you to my list. My blog is http://teddyfolk.blogspot.com/
Dorothy

:pray:  May God Bless Wally on his new journey, and console his family on their loss. :hug:
Love, Dorothy

  I did it! with a lot of help from my friends Look out blogs cause Dorothy the commenter is on the loose :dance:
Dorothy