Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Ah, I love how great minds think alike! I close my seams just how you do, Becky. Even making small bears, it's soooo much easier, and many times when teaching I've noticed people struggling with bulging stuffing til I've suggested they try 'our way'
    And Pink, I use those sugar dispensers too, one for glass, one for steel, so handy. Plus they look cute on the workbench. I'd love to find a couple of pretty old ones to use.

How exciting for you! You'll have a fabulous time, and Irene and Glenn really look after you   sadly I won't be able to go this year

Congratulations Christina, what a fabulous piece! Your award is well deserved!

And Peter, I didn't realise you are in Antwerp, I was there last September, what a beautiful city! Such wonderful old buildings! What a lovely place to live

If you only want fine markings then you'd be far better with an airbrush than a Marker a proper airbrush, not the Copic attachment. For the marker pens you will probably want to invest in the blender pen as well, to blend out your shading. Methylated Spirits works too.

lol YES it bugs me soooo much! The polar bear cub by Tatiana Scalozub ( please forgive me if I've spelled that wrong) is another that pops up too....and it bugs me for exactly the same reason, the artist gets no credit for it at all.... Sort of like the "marzipan babies" photo floating around five six years ago ( maybe more ) they STILL pop up lol although she did get a bit of credit and tv coverage etc at the time.
   Whenever I can I'll tell people no, someone created these..... And try and slip some education in

Cotter pin joints will indeed give you that floppy feel, but on a bear that size may become *too* floppy over time... I'd go for bolt joints on a bear that large, knowing that once you tighten them, that's how they will stay- just don't tighten them fully, leave them a touch on the loose side. Bolts give you so much control. If you're using cotter pins tho ( I'd still use them in the head ) you can use pliers to turn them ( I much prefer pliers to the special turner tools, I could never get those to work! Lol)
   For weighting, that's personal choice- some artists make their bears massively heavy... You're best to order some and see how it feels when you put it in your bear;)
     Needles are so handy you're Never going to regret buying a large assortment- and best of all they aren't expensive!:)  a good long sturdy needle makes sculpting and eye setting *so* much simpler, and on that big bear, you will be sure to need a really long needle to get through that head!:)
     Enjoy your experimenting and I look forward to seeing your results! Good luck:)

Second all the above, and wondering do you have a dart in the top of the body? If you do, I'd try removing it.

I seem to do it the opposite to everyone else:) I draw the footpad first, then measure the foot/leg from there:) I find it easier to get the look I want that way.

I think it all boils down to what works for you. I've always felt that way about competiton, since I started this sort of thing (1989 or so) bogging myself down with stuff like that doesn't work for me, it just fills my head with things that stop me doing my thang working on 'the business side' ugh....the beauty is we are free to do what works for us individually, lots of awesome suggestions here for you to try M&Ms.

Re Bearpile, yes there are old bears listed ( and rehoming artist bears) but at least buyers can choose to not look at them, by not browsing the orphan section- a breath of fresh air compared to eBay with anything and everything listed in the artist bear section... I do get a bit paranoid about violating listing policies on Bearpile, it can get a bit crazy sometimes...
    Guess I'm weird on the links lol, in my mind everyone's work is sufficiently different ( pretty much, aside from those few bear makers who cant be original) that something will either attract a buyer or it won't, I don't really regard other bear artists as competition... If someone's going to buy my bear they'll buy it-or not
    What's funny? I notice nobodys suggested eBay.... I know it's still working for some people, but as the go-to place for selling, it doesn't seem to come to mind for most any more   times sure have changed!

Bearpile is a great way to go, and with minimal outlay. Don't let PayPal intimidate you, it's not that bad- sign up and use it to buy a few things ( bear supplies perhaps? Lol) to get familiar. Use registered or pack &track if you're sending anything overseas that's expensive to protect yourself and your customer.
    Ive never really bothered with facebook, pretty much detest it for everything lol, but I'm a huge fan of Bearpile. The best thing is Facebook is free and Bearpile won't cost you a fortune ($15 a month, deal!) a blog is free too- for getting people looking, maybe try some links to other bear blogs which they might reciprocate, and i have read that reading other bear artists blogs and commenting can also get you traffic. The world is your oyster with the Internet and it won't cost you a fortune!
   Speaking of blog links, maybe it's time for another blog link thread to add each other to our links list?

You'll probably find most artists sell bears that cost over the equivalent of £46, So we are used to that balancing act of keeping Postage economical as well as safe ....while Royal Mail might advise express over that, you are likely to be chasing away customers, specially international ones. You may find you dont get many international customers and not need to worry.
     It's certainly a balancing act keeping yourself safe as well as keeping postage economical.

Good luck with your venture Michael    as I don't usually buy bears I don't have much feedback on your idea aside from your shipping ideas..... While the thought of only offering the fastest shipping method sounds good from one angle, that could work out extremely expensive for your buyers, specially if they are overseas. Postage costs can be a deciding factor when collectors are buying.
     I wouldn't reccomend posting via surface/slow boat at all, but a happy medium. You *may* find the odd collector who will want the fastest option, but I'm guessing in general, you'll be aiming at keeping the postage cost effective.

Needle nose pliers also work well. I actually prefer then to a cotter pin turner, I personally get a much tighter joint using pliers.

For anyone interested, the TOBYs are now up...

http://teddybearandfriends.com/articles … unced.html

And don't forget a blog too, which can also be free, and very simple to update ( says she who hasn't updated hers in way too long lol)

I've never had a whole lot of success with magazine ads, personally, but I know others do. When it comes to getting yourself out there, it's worth a go!
   Shows are a good way of getting yourself known, though sadly shows are a bit hit and miss these day- I'd highly reccomend you give some a try. Something you may find at a show, as a new exhibitor, is that a lot of collectors will go to the show with buying a certain artists pieces in mind, and scout new artists to buy from next time. Of course this isn't everyone, but It's worth keeping in mind that successful shows can take some perseverance. Not wanting to be discouraging, more 'forewarned is forearmed'
    Another avenue for getting yourself out there is Bearpile- it's not expensive and you can go month to month, so no big outlay. It's an excellent addition to having your own website, in my opinion.

Oh yay, glad I could be of help! Fingers crossed and look forward to seeing the results, hint hint good luck!

I read in an old book ( one of Linda Mullins ) that some artists boiled faux fur to distress it, that's the only technique I've heard of.

Hi Nan, I always wax my thread before I sew too, as like you, I find it makes it easier to wax at the end, as well as helping the thread sit nicer while you stitch. And like Donna suggested, I always run the thread through my fingers to remove the excess wax.
    I don't tape the fur away, but do trim, of course. Yes it's scary to trim, but you shouldn't be trimming anywhere near the cheek part, so don't worry too much about losing your chubby cheeks. Mark your nose out then trim that area, and remember you can trim more as you go ( not sure about you but I always end up changing the nose shape as I work lol) Maybe something to help you figure out where to trim is using a felt template as a guide? You can glue it down or just use it to give you an idea where to trim.
  And yes, watching every stitch   much less stressful that way 

I don't subscribe but I'm guessing if you got one in September you have a bit to wait for another one, I think they're at least 3 months apart.

Oh Nan, he's adorable! I wouldn't even guess he was only your 8th if you hadn't said so! Well done and keep up the good work!

The overall height of the pup is important when it comes to choosing the length of fur- do you know how big he is? You cant really choose a fur without knowing the size of the finished piece.
      Can you email the pattern designer to ask which fur they used? Or whoever you got the pattern from? Usually you can buy kits with the identical fabrics, it might be worth you doing this, so you know you have the right fur.

I started with little bears, then went to large......had a break to concentrate on other things, then when I started back with the bears, went tiny almost exclusively, because that was what called me back, the idea of making miniatures. Yes lots of long time collectors say they are collecting tiny ones because they are running out of room now, and minis can fit in all those spots in their cabinets between their big bears And I get sales to bear makers who don't want to or can't make a mini, but there are plenty of collectors who adore larger pieces. Most important thing is you make what calls to you, IMHO... I think you never do as well when you make what you *think* you should be making, rather than what you *have* to make
   It's not always about cost to the collector either- I love making sets or scenes with a few miniatures, which of course are more expensive when they contain 2, 3 or 4 bears- but they still sell well on the whole.

Oh he's adorable! Even if you put him aside for a while, then come back when you feel refreshed, I'm sure he will come out great!