Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Thanks for reminding me, Yvonne!
I'm so glad you like them - am working on a little panda version now...
Hugs,
Chris

Hi guys,
Just to show what happens when you apply lateral thinking!!

I created Cupid for my current Ebay auction and enjoyed making him so much that I wanted to make a smaller, more feminine version.  I had just the right sized piece of ivory kid mohair to make an 8" version... and now I love this pattern so much that I think I shall be making several more in different colours!  They will be going to Hugglets next month and I do hope people will like them.

Hi Ellen,
You are so right!!!  On our recent trip to Amsterdam I bought some wonderful beads that I can't find anywhere else.  Unfortunately, the shop doesn't have a website yet...

I use various thicknesses of leather cord too, in black and brown.  the brown is nice for lighter-coloured bears as the black can look a bit harsh against pale colours.
Hugs,
Christine

Karen, I will never doubt your word again!!      It was only my total disbelief in the possibility of getting a Golden Teddy nomination (let alone three!!!) that made me cautious!!!

Well done to everyone who has been nominated :clap:  And thanks Shelli for posting the full list of nominees!!
Big hugs to all,
Chrisx

Aaah, Gemma, that is so kind of you!!  And dreams CAN come true, you know!!

Paula - your bears are fabulous!!!  I especially LOVE Bisto and can see why he sold so quickly!!

Hugs to all the hugely talented people who have posted their bears here - it is a real revelation of the level of artistry and skill of TT members :clap:

Chrisx

Hi Guys,
OK, here are my entries that didn't make it.  I actually think they are better bears than the one that DID get a TOBY nomination, but I'm not complaining    And anyone who comes to Hugglets in February will be able to see Koko-San as I will have him on my stand - he's not for sale though; I made him for myself.
Hugs,
Christine

Here is Koko-San, the Origami Master - he is 16":

and here is Little Bear Blue, who was 8"

Oh boy!!!  I think I just remembered why I haven't entered any competition for ten years!!!    
It did occur to me yesterday that this year is the first time there has been a forum for people to really share their joys and heartaches over the awards - and I'm proud of TT for providing that safe space in which to do it!  However, there is always going to be a minority who cannot accept losing, without coming up with some conspiracy theory to comfort themselves and poison the well of other people's happines.  However, these people are losers twice over - lucking out on getting an award is one thing, but they chose to throw away their dignity as well by making these comments.
Mindy - I think you you did a great job of defending your integrity (not that you should have to!), and I will never forget the sound of your dulcet tones coming down the 'phone line on Monday!!    I doubt this will ever happen to me again because I think it is going to be another ten years before I pluck up the courage to enter anything, but for now I am proud to be a nominee - and my little bear's new owner is even more thrilled.  At the end of the day THAT is what matters most - our collectors make the ultimate decision on whether we are winners or losers, and their decision truly is final!!
Hugs to everyone,
Chrisx

Wow, Judi,
Your lion is fabulous - so much movement and character!!  The vignette piece is gorgeous too and they are both SO deserving of their nominations!!
Hugs,
Chris

Hi Karen,
I'd just like to add my congratulations - very well deserved!!  And I LOVE your character kitties, they are fabulous - the judges would have to be blind not to nominate them!!
Hugs,
Christine

Thanks so much, you guys!!!!
I have never had a nomination for the TOBYs before so this is very exciting for me!
Hugs,
Christine

What???????  No, I didn't!!!!!  Are you sure???  It's probably some other Christine Pike... surely....

Karen, if this is true, than I am truly on cloud nine - this kind of thing just does NOT happen to me, haha!!!

Big hugs to you for telling me   
Chrisx

Oh you guys are too much!!!    Thank you Miss Shelli for 'outing' me - and for posting Robin's picture (the little guy in Shelli's original post is my Robin who has just been honoured with the nomination).  And thanks to all of you for your wonderful comments.  This is only the second time I have ever entered the TOBYs - the last time was ten years ago and I didn't get nominated... I guess my bears have improved in the meantime!!

Big hugs to all of you!!!
Chrisx

Congratulations, Marion!!
And to everyone who got a nomination this year!!!  And an even bigger "Well Done!" to everyone who was brave enough to enter in the first place!! :clap:   
I can hear champagne corks popping all over the globe, hehe!
Hugs,
Christine

Yaaaay - congratulations Tami and Judi!!!
Can I join in the happy dance too???  My little bear, Robin, has been nominated in the miniature undressed category:dance:   

Hugs to all,
Christine

Hi Natasha,
I really like your 'Tiny Bear' - he's got a lot of soul!    You can certainly get away with using less expensive and unusual fabrics if you go down the folk art route - and that little guy certainly has a folk feel.  You could even combine bears with quilt making and make patchwork bears.  Folk art is really popular - check out a few websites to see what other artists are doing.

I always advise beginners on a budget to try working with the cheaper mohairs.  I really recommend Intercal's S/CM range as they are very versatile - and, if you wash them they will fluff up into a more substantial fabric.  They are really great for making character bears of all sizes.

Good luck and happy bear making!!
Regards,
Christine

Pish woman!!  Of course you're artistic - those bears have to come from somewhere!!  I think - and this may just be a romantic notion of my own!! - that you have to find the right medium to express your creativity, and, once you do, then you're away!  I don't think cloth is going to be for me, for instance - unless I can paint it or otherwise heavily disgiuse it, because I love sharp, clear detail and I love to work with colour, so I am finding the softness of cloth a bit frustrating.  But I am working on ways to combine Sculpey or papier mache with cloth, and it's a great adventure (have sent hubby away for the day so I have hours and hours to play with STUFF over the weekend, yaaay!!).

Anyway, I'll quit rambling, but just to say to everyone who is venturing into new territory, whether with dolls, airbrushing, whatever - I know it sounds trite but, don't give up!!  Nothing worth having ever comes too easily - I should know, it's taken me nearly thirty years to be able to start sculpting properly    But it's finally coming good and it really was like a switch being thrown in my head: ohhh, so THAT'S how you do it, kind of thing.  I truly think that, if you want to do something badly enough, it will happen for you - hopefully it won't take anyone else thirty years though!!
Creative hugs,
Chris

Hi Paula,
You already know I am into the doll thing too - because I have bored you about it in private!    However, I am almost ready to come out of hibernation and reveal my first pieces... I treated myself to a couple of cloth doll books for Christmas - and then decided that cloth may not be my thing after all, so have gone for a cloth and hard sculpting combo - I have a couple of plaster molds drying off as I speak and am going to try casting with papier mache slip at the weekend - wish me luck!!
Creative hugs to all,
Chrisx

Thanks guys,
I am delighted to say that I have sold two already - and I have lots of ideas for more pieces, yaay!!
Hugs,
Christine

Hi Guys,
Look what hubby and I have been doing over the Holidays
It all started because I wanted him to make me a pendant... so he said ok, but I'd have to design it.  So I did and have been wearing the prototype proudly at shows and just generally out and about - I have had so many comments and people asking me where I bought it!  So we decided to make a few more - and you can see what we have come up with so far at:
http://www.christinepike.com/index_files/jewellery.html

Let me know what you think - and if you have any suggestions for other pieces; I have already been asked for pins, so that's food for thought...

Hugs & a Happy New Year,
Chrisx

Hi Jane,
(sigh), I think the only really reliable English fair is Hugglets.  Get your photos in to them and they might have a vacancy for February, or at least put you on the waiting list.  I don't know about Scottish fairs??  Maybe some of our Scottish members can advise here.

The Spring NEC show isn't bad, but you are taking a bit of a punt on selling much - it depends whether Mary Shortle decides to have one of her grand doll sales on the day!!    Again, you will have to send in photos to Miniatura, so at least there is some kind of quality control...  don't know what else to suggest, really.  It's a bit of a blow about Ally Pally, isn't it?

Hove might be an option for the future - I am doing my best to try and help restore that show's reputation.

Bear hugs,
Christine

Hi Shelli,
Really interesting topic!  I have been involved in a couple of collaborations in the past and, when they work well I think a piece becomes something greater than the sum of all it's parts

Unfortunately, both events happened years ago and I no longer have pictures BUt they were huge fun, a great learning curve, and helped springboard my own work into new areas:
The first one was a two bear piece I made with Cotswold Bears - it was called 'Spirit of the Bear' and had an open-mouthed bear made by me, dressed as a Native American, and rearing up behind it was a realistic bear made by the Cotswolders.  The final addition was a special poem composed by my husband, which went with it.  We got a lot of magazine coverage out of it and the piece was bought by a private collector.

The second piece was SUCH fun!!  I teamed up with a doll maker friend to make a piece called 'Little Vamp and Vincent'.  Jill had the idea she wanted to make a vampire child, but not do anything dumb and obvious like give it fangs dripping blood.  So we came up with the idea for a ghostly-looking child holding hands with a bear which would be somewhere between cuddly teddy bear and a realistic bear with teeth (so yup, Vincent got the fangs!).  My main problem was how to make the paw so it would look like they were properly holding hands - in the end I gave him individualy articulated claws and they looked pretty convincing.  Jill took the piece to a show in New York and again, it was sold to a private collector.

If you are going to do this I think you have to think carefully and find someone whose style really complements yours - both talents have to be equally strong and recognizable, and you both have to work hard to make the finished bear/s or vignette, whatever, look like all the pieces are meant to belong together - not just two bears which happen to be standing next to each other

Hugs,
Chris

Paula!!!!!!!!!!!
I LOVE the Susanah Oryan books - I have all of them... and sob with despair every time I look at them and see how much I have to learn!!!

Once again we seem to be on a spookiliy similar track, as I have been playing around with cloth dolls (the painted kind) and last weekend I started on a head sculpt - something I haven't done for ages. 
Anyway, here's to ya - let's have a show and tell next time we meet up at a fair   
Hugs,
Chris

Hi Paula,
Well, I REALLY had to sit on my hands for this one!!    I did give him a waxed nose as I just couldn't leave him completely 'unadorned'.  But it was a good exercise in discipline.  Now, where did I leave my airbrush....!!!

Hugs,
Chris

Thanks Gemma,
Your tenner's in the post!!  
Seriously - I really appreciate your comments.  Many beary thanks!!
Hugs,
Chris

Hi guys,
There was clearly a bit of synergy going on, because, just as Paula announced the Classic Bear Challenge, I had asked Carie Ferg at Teddy Bear Review if I could base my next Bear Essentials column on... classic bears!  I decided I had better 'walk the walk' too, so here is my ultra-traditional offering:  His name is Hercules and he measures a whopping 25 inches.  I went madly traditional so he is filled with woodwool and has a pull growler in his back.  His 'friend' is my first attempt at a vintage-style painted cloth doll.  I made the pattern up myself but based her look on the style of Early American cloth dolls - I think she turned out ok and I'm itching to make some more, when I get the time!!

Hugs,
Christinex