Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Eileen...that's an extremely good point. My first bears sold for around £75 and now I have very little under £175....however...given what other people have said, I think I'd better bite the bullet and put the prices on from now on...

Hey Daphne...can you come over here and organise a show...sounds like we need you!!!!

Jenny

I actually think it's the only way forward for shows. There are so many new makers now...and so many folks trying to sell just about anything, it's in everyones interest that the organiser chooses a good, fair mix of exhibitors.

As long as it's done with integrity and common sense then it makes for a successful show that's fair to all. I also think that just because someone always attends that particular show , shouldn't automatically guarantee them a table every year regardless of what they are producing. It may sound harsh but with such stiff competition from some wonderful new artists it keeps shows fresh and interesting for all concerned.

Thinking of you, Shantell.....

Jenny

There is a good reason to sell to shops if you want to get your name around...because it's basically advertising...that's they way i see the discount I offer. However, I am dead picky these days who I supply...and quite honestly could live without it. However, if it keeps my bears out there then it's worth it. I do advertise but I never can tell who sees it....but without it I'd be invisible to alot of potential customers.

As far as shops mark-up goes...a bear is worth what someone is prepared to pay. Some folks offer shops 30-50% discount bringing it down to an amount that still allows them profit , labour costs etc...then pretty much price their website bears equal to the shops price. I think this makes sense...then no-one gets upset.

I don't do that...I am not good at that kind of thing....but maybe I will in future....who knows!!!!

I remember!! You'd need to use a warm, reddish orangey brown...then the blue will go a mahogany /purpley shade....you could dye it orange first which would neutralise the blue...then do it brown. You'd have to be careful with the tan browns as they are yellow / gold based...and what does yellow and blue make?....A lovely shade of green/ khaki!!!!

Vicky...I'm glad I'm not the only one. I think that from now on though I shall publish my prices...as I see exactly what could be construed by collectors...and I have to safeguard that relationship.

Jenny

Hi Fran...I missed this, sorry...it's the Complete Dolls Dressmaker...I also have Authentic Victorian Dolls clothes ( not so good) and Miniature Millinery...excellent!!!!

There's also a great cloth doll book with wonderful outfits...they fit bears better...easy peasy patterns...I think it's called Cloth Dolls and Their Clothes....something like that...my mum has it ...I'll check and get back to you!!

Jenny

Jane...what colour is your mohair?

I fluctuate between putting prices on.....and then sometimes not. It doesn't seem to make much difference either way, mainly because I rarely have any bears for sale on there lately...but I really don't know because I can't tell who hasn't contacted me because of it. One reason I didn't put them on is because often bear shops will put a huge mark up on...then when people visit my site and see cheaper bears the shops lose out..and the net outcome is that the shops then don't buy.

That said, I haven't done much business with shops this year since I have cut back on my productivity and I can't keep pace with their orders and demand from collectors...a happy position to find myself in....but maybe I should start displaying the price again.

I have had a collector get a bit grumpy with me over my stint of ebay auctions, since she hinted that it was driving the prices up..( that is not always the case)so I am just confused now...I thought that by doing an auction it opens up the bears to more people...

All in all I think customers like to know where they stand on price...and have a ceiling on their spending...I like to see the price up front on what I buy.

Peroxide won't lighten/bleach used on its own. It may take out light staining but on its own it will have little influence. People used to use it on their hair to lighten a bit like lemon juice and it just used make their hair go a bit more golden,( and dry and brittle)...ie bring out the red. Or they would use it to remove nicotine staining. It won't remove solid colour.

Hair bleach will lighten mohair used carefully....don't get it on the backing as it will rot it. We use hairspray or gel spray in the salon to make the hair stand up before applying it...that way it goes on the ends only. That method would work with mohair.

The hair-dye removers won't work on fabric dyes, they are designed to remove oxidised  (peroxide based) colour ...and fabric dyes are stains. I haven't tried it but in theory they won't work.

If I buy certain bears...I buy because they talk to me..but I buy very few in that way.
I do buy Steiffs and other old bears which I sell on and I make a small profit. I don't buy often but I watch ebay for likely candidates. I bought Teddy Rose last year for an absolute bargain price and doubled my money when I sold him...I have done that 3 or 4 times. But I do look upon Steiffs in a different way.

I think that being sentimental about bears is fine but I see it as an interest which makes me a bit of money and pays for itself...I don't get upset when they go because I don't attach myself in the first place. I mean the Steiffs...not my own...I always get a bit upset when they go.

If I buy an artist bear I don't buy to make money...I buy because I love the look of the bear. I have seen a couple of my own bears on the secondary market and I get a bit confused...and a bit hurt. But again, when someone buys from me it's theirs to do what they want with really. I wouldn't like someone to con discount out of me then sell it on at a profit...that's just downright sneaky.

You have to be careful with bleach...as it can perish the fabric and literally the fabric rots and starts to fall apart. Especially that backing. I would try a dye remover. I don't know anything about Rit but I do know Dylon make one...it's probably the same thing.
If you do bleach it I would dilute the bleach a lot and do a small test piece first!!!

Jenny

Hi Jane...are you going to the NEC next week? Because there is usually a lady there who makes teddy clothes...and dolls clothes. I don't know what she's called though.

I had a great book of old style dolls clothes that I used as the basis for some pretty simple patterns...dead easy to make yourself...I got it off Amazon. I have lent it to a friend but there are loads of those sort of books about.

Jenny

Hi Ellen...No, his ears are stitched on afterwards...I don't like to stitch the ears in to the seam..I like to choose where to place them for best effect.

As far has his eyes go. I have started giving  all my bears (and now bunnies!!) upper lids...which in this case are black and very subtle. It looks like eyeliner...

I spend forever scissoring..and do a lot of shading..as well as a bit of needle sculpting. I wanted a more almond eye shape than my teddies have..and I think I got there in the end.

I keep forgetting to look in the Miniature section....Amanda...what a sweet little bear!!

Jenny

Wow...you certainly have an eye for detail....very impressive

Jenny

Not including his ears he's about 15"...smaller ones coming...

Jenny

Thanks everyone...I am really pleased with this bunny. It's my first diversion away from bears.. and I am pleased because I see huge potential for further development..and I had fun designing this pattern...I went through photo after photo of real rabbits, cartoon rabbits, illustrations of rabbits....well that's enough rabbiting....'Rabbit, Rabbit...yack, yack... '( Only the Brit's will get that unless 'Chas and Dave' are big overseas, so apologies)

Hi everyone....Here is what I need the fabric for that I was searching for last night..( I now have the perfect thing on order from Sassy...thanks to everyone...not what I thought I get but perfect all the same)

This is Bunny Clover...who's a prototype bunny that is the result of much messing around with the design...he's certainly the direction I want to go with this.

Anyway I ought to have done a bunny since my proper name is Jenny Johnson-Bunn.... now Bunny!!

Jenny

Ah ...but it's not for a hat!!! It's for ears!!

Thanks for all your help!!!

Jenny

It seems it's called fur felt...or hatters plush...but I won't get that. I'll have to keep looking till I find something similar..before I go mad as a hatter!!

Thanks Penny,

Jenny...( whoops, there's a rhyme!!)

AAAAAAH, eureka!! I think you're right Penny....you're a marvel .. It is long pile felt..I know it's not the ordinary kind. That type is shiny...I thought there might be a special name for it.

I've tried millinery suppliers ...I will ring one up tomorrow and ask....

I'll try to find a photo....

Thanks

Jenny

Hi Marion...No, I have wool felt...the kind of thing I am looking for is a shiny fabric...that has a flat laid pile...I can picture it in my head but don't know what it's called. I think some vintage rayons are like this so I am searching...but silk panne velvet maybe what I am searching for, after saying it's not what I want. It's so hard when you didn't pay attention in needlework at school!!

Thanks for helping!!

Jenny

Has anyone got any idea what the kind of fabric used for top-hats is called, the old fashioned textured type of hat. I am looking for something with a laid pile, with a nice sheen, but textured. I don't want mohair as it's not for a bear. I thought it might be called panne velvet, but I think I'm a mile off the scent...If anyone has any ideas ..I need a smooth velvetty fabric that has a sheen...but not velvet because I need the pile to lie in one direction..

I have been trawling the internet with no clue...and I just thought one of you might be brighter than me on the fabric front!!

I know what I want but can't think what it's called!!

Thanks

Jenny