Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Hi, just wanted to let you know I couldn't go to the event as I was really sick . But I'll sure try to get my hands on an airbrush and try that soon. Thanks for all your answers

Thanks to all for your great incomes, I'll let you know what happens!

Thanks Judi, for the advice. If you say the application will be the same I think I'll try it. I would really love to be able to do someting nearly approching what you do. Maybe after a few years of practice... or not, we'll see . I am totally in love with your cats. Musa (is it?), on your Avatar looks incredible. If the event comes to you, they hold contests, I guess you could have some fun there too!

love those cuties 

I use spots so that light reflects into the eyes and show the color good. Of course it's not perfect because you can actually see the spot reflected on the eye. That is the best result I obtained yet though. You can always remove the spot or change it in photoshop

I too had seen the show as my birthday gift from my boyfriend (one year and a half ago I think), I just loved this show it's worth it to pay the ticket if you love horses as I do. My men who don't know horses well was a little less impressed with the horses being able to do tricks but still thought it was wonderful and magical. Go see it as it comes to you.

Your site is very nice and your bears are sooooo cute! I use freewebs as well. It's easy to use and give good results... :clap:

How funny, we all want spring to show and it's snowing everywhere. It was in Montreal too yesterday, I had already give up my boots... Not a feet though... ooops I Just looked by the window, seems it's not over. Good luck to all, spring will show soon.  :pray:

How frustrating , I know the feeling . Never been to a bear show yet but I've done other shows. The first was for all kind of crafts, I was selling fur and it was too expensive for the market there I just covered my expenses. But after the show I got a couple customers that asked for special orders . A guy who saw my bears (huggables fur bears, didn't make jointed at that time) even called me 1 year and a half later and asked me to ship two of my bears to Australia where he moved (I'm from canada). The funny part is my boyfriend had to go to Australia (Melbourne) for a business trip so he delivered them in person. All of that to tell you that sometimes it can pay after the show as you get visibility. Who knows?

Thanks for those great ideas, I'll find a way to try an airbrush before buying the equipment, I might after that be able to take Judi's class. I'll probably go to the show anyway but will think again for the class. 

Yes you're right that is bothering me a little but that's the best 'live thing' I found so far, I'd like to try airbrushing before buying the equipment. I'll have to decide. Someone I know got one, maybe I could try it before spending money on a class. But I won't have a second chance this year if I pass on that one...

eBay is a wonderful thing sometimes but gosh do they have problems   I had problems too with my item not showing up, I'll try your trick. Also, my picture and text didn't always show on my listing this week I'm happy a customer contacted me to tell me. Did a revise the item and it works now. I think I might have already said that somewhere else on the forum...   anyway good luck to all on eBay!

Hi all,
I was looking if I could find airbrushing classes in Montreal where I live and I found an event which is held in 10 days . For sure I'm going there to learn everything I can on airbrushing. Never done any but would like to start. I'm wondering if the classes offered would be really helpfulthough  . It's seems more focused on body painting and make-up. I guess I could applie techniques on the teddy bears. If you have any advice let me know before I suscribe to the class because it's quite expensive.

Here's the link to the event in Montreal
http://www.colormundo.com/
http://www.colormundo.com/pdf-doc/progr … nement.pdf

And the one for the general site where you might find an event near you http://www.facepaintingevents.com/Event … 2702.shtml

Enjoy!

you should those are amazing eyes!!! 

Wow, beautiful horse, a shame that she is not here to see your great comments, I think I'll e-mail her the link.

Hi Christine,
Why don't you start a new topic on that?
I'm sure a lot of us have lots of things to say concerning that matter
Sharing is a big part of what we're here for, don't you think?

Thanks Christine for sharing the experience. Don't worry about annoying people  . It was helpful for me and people who are not interested will just stop to read.

Wow, thanks for your answers to all who have replied yet!  :clap:
I guess I was right, I am little bit slower than most of you! But I do enjoy spending time on my teddy and I guess that's a good point!  I put lots of time in the faces. I found lining and stuffing are quite long as well. I also often like to try new things which of course take more time than when you know how to do them.
Let's hear some more!

Eliza, I read that miniatures can be sometimes longer than big bears to make, you have to do both to know I guess.

I do a spreadsheet with all the information and could still manage to mix-up two of my customers last week on an e-mail  I couldn't live without. 

Do you know how much time you spend on a single bear?  I look throughout the topics and didn't find any specific to that matter (if there is one already let me know).

I feel I may spend more time than other bearmakers on my bears but I may be wrong! I read that a bear should take 10 to 15 hours to complete. But lots of people seems to think they are really slow, what do you mean by that. I'm spending much more than that. About 30 hours is the less I spend on a bear and that is for faux fur bears. It can sometime go over 50 hours with a lined fur bear with needle felted details. This includes the pattern making and the work on the fur but still... Am I so very slow or is it just because I am a newbie? :redface:  I have always worked my bears one at a time and I'm now considering making several bears at the same time. Do you think it's going to be much faster this way? I don't want to downgrade the quality of my bears but would appreciate being able to make more. :dance:
Do you have tricks to work faster?

I'm curious about how and how fast you do it so if you don't mind let me know!

Wow, I was asking myself the same question and thought that I'd get more 'it took me several years to get there but I'm making a good even if smaller income and I'm able to live on bears making'. I always live a little out of reality though, an artist characteristic maybe. I'm quite new in bears making but because they are so long to make I was wondering how it was possible to sell enough to live. Thanks for all your truthful and generous answers  I think this will be helpful for me.

Yes, Montreal is a good place to find good furs!

1 3/4 or 2'' depending on your pattern and the fit you want!

Hi wendy, thanks for the comments.  Ethan on my avatar is made from fox. Whipstitch is good!