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You sound very excited Sophie. Is it true most people rent in France rather than buy? I've just finished a year long renovation on a small 1939 house. Its lovely making the house of your dreams.
Hi Jacky, welcome. You might want to post this question in tips and techniques, it will not get as much attention here. If there is a particular artist/bear you were thinking off just PM them. We don't bite, promise! :hug:
Ha ha. Only just noticed, old thread. 
Still, issues that will be around for a long time.
I can't comment as the link has been pulled but this happened to me a few years ago. You do think oh, eek, what the heck? but as the advice on here, you move on. Saying that I managed to get one TTer go off on one. I got accused of churning bears out blah, blah, blah. 
It can open a can of worms up. So not to worry, but it does always bring interesting questions and opinions up. Right better go and churn another one out! 
Count me in! :dance:
Shows passion for what you do Melissa. I'll admit my first post is playing Devil's advocate a little. I do like making large and miniature bears but to be honest, its so much more restful and easier doing the miniatures, so for now, thats where I'm at. Its interesting to get people's opinions and they do vary but I think come back to the same thing, as a collector or maker you are just drawn to what feels best. Miniatures fit in better with my life as space is now a problem and in summer I would like to work outside, very much a maker's lifestyle choice, I suppose.
As to ebay, well thats in a world of its own. 
I can answer question 1, well sort of! When you design your templates (loads of free sites, just google) save them on your computer in html, or whatever its called (forgotten lots). Then on ebay (use internet explorer or the like as some browsers are hopeless) you need to tick the advanced sell box. Go through until you get to the description box here you click from the standard (tag at the top) to the html. I then copy and paste my template in, in html. I will use photobucket to host pictures and just change the links in the code to the new photo links as and when I have a new bear.
The write up in the template I change in standard, just click on that and tha actual page comes up. You could change it in the code as well.
Well I sure thats as clear as mud. I did all this some years ago and have kind of forgot what I exactly did. This way works out cheaper (you only pay for the gallery photo) and looks better. I hope there is at least a clue here that might get you further. 
Thank you all so much for replying. Very interesting. I suppose there is'nt one clear cut answer, but individual thoughts. Its funny but I fell into miniatures late on and as people liked them, I made them, then that seemed to be it, Amanda, the one who makes miniatures. From a financial point of view I used to make more money from large bears, but that was years ago and things have moved on. I think the major thing is, if finances allow it, to make what we enjoy. I keep thinking shall I get my mohair from the loft, but if I can't be bothered ,then its miniatures for me.
I don't think it helped when a few years ago miniatures started to be mass produced. It took something away from them. You could argue they became more affordable and opened the market up, but....I'll be blunt, whatever the design, somebody on very low wages in China, sitting sewing, well....Saying that, hey ho, thats the economy and I don't flinch when buying cheap clothes. Hmmm...thinking aloud here, could get me in trouble! 
The best one was seeing miniature bears in the £1 shop ($2).
In the end its horses for courses, but it would be nice to hear from people who collect miniatures and bigger bears. How do they see them, differently? Or just wonderful bears.
Well done Laurie. Lovely job. What fabric did you use? If you do go smaller get easy to use fabric like long pile ulpholstery. Good luck!
OR do you find people are in awe of how tiny and the hard work you put in to get them looking good in that size.
Do miniatures even rate as Teddy Bears or more as collectable/ornament.
I'd love also to hear off collectors. How do you feel about miniatures versus larger bears.
This could get interesting!
Chin up, chubby chops! There just laugh it off, matey. Been there, as you know, on the fat comments. I've had it all. Lets see ginger nut, speccy four eyes, ugly, duracell copper coloured top, fat cow. The memories! The best one, as an adult was on holiday. We had gone Tenerife and were in a bar, loads of footballers there and you know 'I am sooooo cool' sorts, don't know now what we were doing there! 
Then as we had to go the drag queen made a right comment. Can't say on a polite forum, but cheeky devil! The whole bar heard. Eek. Saying that he looked better in a dress than I did.
As to the youngsters, the front page of the daily mail today makes for depressing reading. A man was killed by yobs when he stood up to them. I'm of the 'roll the eyes' and just walk off school myself. Just remember, they do grow up eventually, sometimes better, sometimes worse, but at least you and yours stand by on the right side of good. :hug:
All too true Jane. I do think all these cold virus's have knocked everyone for six. Then there have been some terrible floods in some parts. I've a friend who feels tired all the time due to an illness, it must be very hard to motivate herself, but like you say, we do have a laugh and that helps.
Lets hope the sun shines soon, and gives us a spring in our step! 
On many blogs and posts and people I've come into contact with, they seem to be on a right downer at the moment. The weather has been awful, apart from wednesday and now its back to normal, horrid. Many people, self and family included, has had one virus or another and I think half the country is feeling tired and fed up. Then of course you get 'one of those weeks' added to the mix. I know its after Christmas, but what a month.
So....if you are feeling like that....you're not alone and if you have a spring in your step, let us know your secret!
Roll on weekend!
What I think stands out about this is its not just the costume who makes him King Tut, but the face, the nose, the eyes. Fantastic! :dance:
Hi all. Hot on the heals of my first bear for a year, is my second, Codie. He is 3" and made from Sassy fabric. He has already found a home with a fellow TTer. He has a seperate muzzle and some shading. I hope his new mom likes him!
You're going from strength to strength. Keep at it!
I'm an absolute terror. I moved house and this monday went to find my patterns to start again. They were just in a heap at the bottom of a large house moving box. Then thats how I store them, strewn across my work station. In other words I never put anything away, I just close the door and tidy! I'd lost an ear pattern but found it at the bottom of the bed, I'd been unpacking the box on it. I'd like to get organised but am too lazy. I'm re doing some patterns now and promise to at least label them, it would make life easier!
Same here Melissa. :hug: by the way after your house floods. At least Lisa can organise us into action. I don't suppose its that long. Eek, I never did do that bunny.
Don't worry Kay, it was'nt horrid! I think I had someone darkhaired in my head. Who knows why. I'll have to update my photo. This house has given me grey hairs and the first sign of a 'laughter' line. Time to get the dye out! Mind you I am 40 this year, can't be helped. We all had a shock when we first started including photos. Many of us had to be cajouled into posting them. We are a shy lot!
Kay I have just seen you! You don't look a bit like I expected, but then I don't know what I was expecting. Is'nt it weird seeing each other. There again mine needs updating! You've done so well and already your bears have a look of your own. Keep going! :hug:
England- Hiya. We tend to eat a lot of bread that is ready sliced and packaged here. Do you know the main type of bread that I have, that is freshly baked, is Indian naan bread. We have a many local Asians who make wonderful curries and naan bread is lovely. Curry is our national dish!
Naan resembles pita bread and, like pita bread, is usually leavened with yeast; unleavened dough (similar to that used for roti) is also used. Naan cooks in a tandoor, or clay oven, from which tandoori cooking takes its name. This distinguishes it from roti which is usually cooked on a flat or slightly concave iron griddle called a tava. Modern recipes sometimes substitute baking powder for the yeast. Milk or yogurt may also be used to give greater volume and thickness to the naan. Typically, the naan will be served hot and brushed with ghee or butter. A typical naan recipe involves mixing white [flour] with salt, a yeast culture, and enough yogurt to make a smooth, elastic dough. The dough is kneaded for a few minutes, then set aside to rise for a few hours. Once risen, the dough is divided into balls (about 100 grams or 3½ oz each), which are flattened and cooked.
Starting in the 1970s, the popularity of Indian cuisine increased rapidly in Western culture, starting in Britain with the emergence of curry restaurants. Many of the earliest such restaurants based their food on the cuisines of north and west India and Pakistan. These restaurants have typically provided a basket of bread at the table in the same manner that European restaurants set out a basket of rolls. Thus breads like the naan soon became familiar outside their areas of origin.
So my main source of fresh bread is naan. Otherwise I just have ready sliced wholemeal, nothing special.
Nice to know we all have our ups and downs. I might have started Clare, but the limbs are flying into the bin! One of those days me thinks! :hug:
Get going girl! I started yesterday but sat there for half hour thinking, what now? Now I've got going I can see what I need to change for later so it kind of flows from one bear to another. It is hard though when the weathers grumpy and after the holidays. Saying that I'm sewing legs and they are prooving to be very fidley, so am waiting for my lunch to cook. You need to take little breaks. I've got work later and tomorrow so its whatever gets done this afternoon, then friday. Don't worry you're not the only one! I'll have something eat then check in on here later, so no slacking! :hug:
Sounds like a money making con to me. I would ignore it, but I'm good at that. I would be wary of even emailing.
Hi Gemma. I bet you feel so settled now. We moved house too after renovating it for a year. I feel so much more happy here. Its amazing how the space around us affects how we feel. I ended up moving because of awful neighbours ( who ended up moving out anyway ) but this house is just so much nicer. I had a workroom at the other house and now I have a work.....cupboard! Just as well I do miniatures. All the best. :hug:
