Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Here's Miss Grace..a new bear that I finished last night....I got a lot of feathers and beads and such in a closing down sale for next to nothing....I got some fabulous stuff so I'm having fun with those at the moment...It's great when you get a box of stuff like that...so inspirational!!!

Jenny

I am an 'eyeballer'...I've tried measuring but it never works for me...and then I just think if it looks right to me then it should look right to others.

Sometimes they are wonky and I have to start again....but most of the time I'm fine just 'winging it'

Jenny

Hi Clare....I love Tibetan terriers.....they are quite easy to manage...the coats don't moult , we keep ours clipped but some people keep them in full coat...that's a lot of work and I do like them when their coat is shorter.....they have sweet natures and are loyal and quite easy to train. It's hard to tell if a dog is good with children...it's perhaps a case of vice versa.....but I'd say their placid nature makes them a pretty safe bet.

By they way, I don't think all Cockers are smelly....and our sweet little soul wouldn't be either if she didn't keep jumping in the fish pond...

Clare..if you want me to I can let you have the name of a good TT breeder not a million miles from you just south of Gloucester...email me privately if you want the address.

Jenny

The one in the middle of the top photo is not a pet.... here are my two Tibetans, Zoe and Lottie and my very smelly Cocker spaniel...Lizzie

And our new Ragdoll kitten...Fae....when she was small...and now she's 5 months old

Jenny

Hi Sandi....Thank goodness for that....at least you can find out what all the buttons are for.

On Bears and buds.com Shelli has done an exceptional piece on photographing your bears. I am addicted to film as I have used it for 20 years and am finding digital photography really challenging...I know all the rules but they just are so much more complex..and I get bogged down with looking at histograms and stuff when I really should just look at the picture.

So I can recommend reading it ...I have always used reflector boards but after reading it I did set up a light tent which is working brilliantly!!!
There's always something new to learn and you'll learn lots from Shellis article.

I have said this before on here but when you get to grips with your white balance button ...check out the ' exposure-compensation' button..(usually a +/- sign) it lets you add more light than your camera thinks your subject needs..so your whites will look white....

Good luck..

Jenny

You can get heavier, high density plastic pellets....I know Peacock Fibres in the UK do them....There must be a supplier in Canada....

Jenny

My best tip is to get a tripod....I have been taking photos semi-professionally for years with a regular (non-digital type) camera...I used to take fashion portraits of hairstyles for hair magazines...and if you are shooting photos indoors you need to use a tripod for clarity to show off the detail in your bears.

I don't pretend I am an expert with digital cameras... they are quite a challenge....but get a book that's simple to understand...that doesn't talk jargon..and you may be able to find the handbook to your camera very cheaply on ebay....

You can only do so much computer enhancement of photos...unless you are an expert it's best to get the photos as good as you can first....

Lovely, Lovely bears!!!
Jenny

Every one makes good points on this list....and I agree with everything said..and Paula is absolutely right when she says that you need to promote your work everywhere...and to do that your photography has to be clear and bright and in focus. I believe that good photos often make the difference on Ebay..and certainly when submitting work to magazines.

Each photo takes the place of our shop window...and every effort should be made to show work off in the best possible way. It's how to establish an image ...maybe a theme that can continue through a series of bears perhaps..some people are really clever at this ..and though we can argue till the cows come home that some peoples work is no better than the next persons but they can command high prices, from a collectors point of view they are buying into an image which has been cleverly constructed to allow us to want to join in the make believe. One person who does this very well is Lora Soling of Lora Bears...

And the acid test is to make your work as open to the public as possible..and to take the compliments on board along with the criticisms. Family and friends are great but I don't believe what they say too much...my Mom says everything I do is wonderful...and so does my husband...but the blazing rows I have had with my sister and daughter when they have said that a bear is not so good have resulted in me lifting my game afterwards despite the fall out...

It's not easy to get people to buy into what we believe in and I have had bears that I thought were the best thing ever sit on my stand and no-one even looks at them and the one that I really thought was just 'ok' has been snapped up ....

It just takes time and a lot of determination.........

Jenny

Jane...Idon't know what you're going in for but needless to say, I am sure it will be fine and I wish you the best of luck.....

Jenny

Hi Chrissie....

1 I decided to make one for my niece who had started a collection...so I bought a kit...and didn't read the instructions..and almost didn't have enough fabric because I placed the pattern pieces wrongly...but after that I was on the hamster wheel!!!

2 I sat up all night making the kit....so pretty much all day, all night and most of the next day. I don't measure how long they take these days...they're done when they're done.

3 My inspiration evolves on a bear to bear basis...I'll change this, add that...but often it might be and accessory..or a picture...and lately...since we got or new little kitten...I have been insetting pieces into the face to create a similar shaped face to hers....then something else will pop into my head...sometimes it works...sometimes it's a waste of time.

4 I do buy bears...mainly Steiffs....I have one or two artist bears..and sometimes ...if I'm at a fair and something grabs me, I buy then...but I don't buy too many these days...only the Steiffs

Jenny

Hugglets? It...  or they... run probably the biggest ,best...(depends on how you do on the day I suspect) teddy bear fairs in the UK. I believe...so I have been told.. that there used to be nore than just the 2 fairs they run now, one in February and one in September (it happened last week). It's a brilliant showcase for artists in the UK..as well as from all over the world.

It's regarded by most as the pinnacle of shows and collectors will come from all over the place to visit. I only do the February one...they have a huge waiting list for artists and only well established folks get to exhibit at both. I got offered a table with one week to go...and I should learn to be prepared as I had to turn it down through lack of finished bears.

They also publish the annual Teddy Bear Guide...a handbook for artists, collectors and anyone else with an interest in bears and anything else vaguely furry....it's a must have!!

Hope that helps!!!

Jenny

In May my daughter had her first baby....and it is so easy for me to drop everything and go whizzing off to her house to play at being Grannie...and I have had to stop myself so many times.

I found the best way is just to set myself a task for the day..and just start..and once I've started I am fine..I enjoy it..and I actually get productive again. The problem is working at home...the distractions are there all the time....

I totally understand...

Jenny

She looks really sweet...why not try a pink background...I often use one with girly bears....I can look really nice..and will contrast nicely with the fur...

Jenny

Oh Sue-Ann..I know this is true....here in the UK..and more than likely most other places in the world, private householders can ask to be removed from these lists ..and stop unsolicited calls...but the problem when you are a business and you want collectors to call you is that by barring calls you may inadvertantly barr potential sales.

I think it is highly irresponsible of companies to give out their clients information...but unfortunately they do. ...they make money out of I, I guess.

Jenny

Dilu....I think that's what we call them here...cotton buds....and Q-tips too...but mainly cotton buds....!!!??

Jenny

Sorry Shelli....

Tally ho, old bean...what, what, what!!!

I'm quite new to bear-making so I guess the people who have been established longer would know better than me...but my guess is that a following happens with your bears getting exposure to people who will potentially buy them.

It's taken me 3 years to get a good mailing list together...and I don't sweat about it these days because I can only make so many bears anyway...

Jenny

Right, Shelli...I got some oil paint this morning...now can you just come over to my house and run through it with me....................!!!!

I will practice on scraps first......

Jenny

Another hairdressing tip....wax comes off hair with oil... we use almond oil...but any oil would do....just use a cotton bud very, very  carefully...it might be worth a try...

I've never tried it on a bear..but it comes off a treat on people...they do it in beauty salons all the time...with leg wax...it's the same thing!!

Jenny

I'd just do a test piece...but my experience of dying things is mostly only hair (human) and if something were blue to start with you'd need to neutralise that colour first, with an orangey colour. So I reckon you'd be fine with brown as long as it's a warm brown...but the black....black is notorious for going navy blue on white....I'd do it reddish brown first then do a piece black ie double dye the black.

I dyed some black once and it did work when I dyed it red/brown first. You'll find the blue will go mahogany when you dye the white part brown...could be very nice...

I think Rainbow dyes are very good....Woodlands Teddies I think sell them...

Jenny

Oh ...it was just Pennys earlier post said there may have been a connection...but I do know that often magazines share info about customers...when you advertise in one often you get other people canvassing for further business...because they tout for the same customers.

This used to happen when we first advertised our hairdressing business...the flood gates-opened for advertising sales people..don't tell me they read Hair magazines...or Bear magazines. It was never like this though...this is scary.

Jenny

Oh ...and I really, really  hope TBT aren't involved with this because I'd be very disappointed that a magazine that's supposed to support the industry in a professional manner could give out information to such people. It beggars belief.

After all we support them ...by buying the magazines in the first place...

It's just not cricket.....!!!

Jenny

Thanks for all your supportive messages...I am up and at 'em now and I won't let this drop. I have contacted trading standards and they are taking it extremely seriously as are the police. The trading standards guys have got me details on the company I will be taking further action. as I have witnesses to the whole nasty episode.

Yesterday I was feeling extremely fragile and pathetic...but as I said I am a tough old bird and usually this kind of thing just puts me in fighting mode.

Thanks again everyone...!!

Jenny

I wish I had the answer to it ...because if we knew why certain artists create the designs they do..be it teddy bears or fashion or furniture...we could also easily work out why people buy what they buy..and I guess it would all be simple ...but not so much fun. 
I guess lifestyle has a lot to do with it. It's why I have Tibetan terriers and someone else chooses a Doberman....why some folks make realistic bears and I go for baby faced bears.  Vive la difference!!

I am also rambling...had a bad day.....

Jenny

Some of you might have experienced this kind of thing already but I feel rather shocked by what has happened to me.

I advertise regularly inTeddy Bear Times....rarely Teddy Bear Scene..and Hugglets Teddy Bear Guide. Yearly I decide my advertising budget so when unsolicited calls come trying to sell advertising I always say 'no thanks'.

For about a year I have been getting monthly calls from a local newspaper (not local to me ...but a local rag in the UK..one of these free papers that no-one reads)...and each month I say, 'No thanks, and please don't call me again...'  Yesterday I got the call again and said the same thing, but this time the girl wasn't having it, she became immediately abusive and after I explained...though I didn't need to...that there is no benefit to me in advertisng anywhere but a specialist magazine...she bacame even more rude so I put the phone down.

Today I received a similar call from the same girl...she became immediately aggressive in her manner and I again put the phone down. This was followed by a series of silent calls...then a man called ,who was threatening and obscene to me in front of an office full of giggling girls with the speaker-phone on so they could all hear. I have called the police and had a trace put on my line but this kind of thing to sell advertising is unbelievable.

I'm a real tough cookie and not much gets past me these days...but this has now made me feel quite uneasy and insecure about putting my telephone number in any future advertising....but how else do you do business.

Jenny