Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

I also don't think anything was said here to make any ONE person feel bad - we WERE just discussing a practice that we had stumbled upon and I think it was mentioned several times that it was not just ONE particular person doing this. 
I did PM links of ones that I had seen - without knowing if this was even the same incident originally referred to as people were curious to see what "Reborning" a bear was all about. If the lady is feeling badly after hearing what we have discussed here she needs to ask herself "why" - if she has the orginal artist's approval and feels good about what she is doing and has a market for this work - why on earth would she feel badly????? Just because some people disagree with what she is doing???? One can not possibly please everyone all the time! And she certainly should not feel that this discussion was in ANY way an attack on her - it WAS and IS just a DISCUSSION!

Plus most of this discussion really wasn't even about her - it was more about how WE would feel to have our creations "reborn" by someone else WITHOUT our approval - which isn't what she is doing - as far as I know this lady hasn't "reborn" bears by ANY of the artists taking place in this discussion.

I've sent you a link to the ones I came across, Chrissie - not sure if these are the ones originally talked about or if there are others as well.
I did notice this time looking at them that she says that she was given written permission by the original artist to do the makeovers. She doesn't give the artist's name. If someone remade one of my bears I certainly wouldn't want my name mentioned - I wouldn't consider it one of my bears any more and wouldn't want collectors to think it was my work with me having no control over the outcome!

Hi Deborah,
I haven't gotten any such thing and I am on TT fairly frequently - haven't heard of anyone else mentioning it either so I have no idea how it happened - but you're right it must have been some kind of scam - wierd how they could send it through TT though????

I think the names you've chosen are perfect for them Karen! Lovely set!

I first came across "reborn" bears on Bear Pile a couple months ago and posted the topic on Guild of Master Bear Crafters but got no response so deleted it as I thought no one else was interested. I know we have no control over what happens to our bears once we sell them but I think most artists would find it a bit distressing to have one their creations be the subject of one of these "reworking" of bears. I have had the experience of having someone buy one of my bears and strip away all the accessories and props and then resell it using my name as the artist and this didn't make me very happy as she was saying it was my bear but I really didn't feel it was after she had removed all the accessories. At least the person I saw doing "reborn" bears didn't use the artists names which I think is a good thing and she did state that they were artist bears that she had changed so I guess if people wanted to buy them knowing that, there isn't anything anyone can do about it - no false pretenses at any rate!

P.S. I've PMed you a link Erin!

Congratulations, Marion! They are both so cute!

Yes, that is the problem with velboa - the stretch - and if you use iron on interfacing wouldn't that make the fabric stiffer and less flexible? What about one of the vintage rayons, Karen - they are woven backing and very nice to work with and you can find different lengths of pile.

Yuk, Tami! I am SO not ready for snow! It was cold here overnight - the garden froze - but no white stuff yet and the forecast for this next week  is for unseasonably warm - Yeah!!! (So please keep that white stuff down there!!)

I too would like to add my appreciation and thanks to Beverly Port for her contributions to the teddy bear world - we wouldn't be where we are today if it hadn't been for her! Many thanks and bear hugs, Beverly! :hug:  :hug: 

What an adorable little sweetie!!!

Oh my gosh, Jane, that must have been so scary! Thank goodness Sarah was with you and I am so glad that it wasn't a hear attack. Do take care of yourself and I hope they get you all fixed up and right as rain really soon!

Thanks so much for the positive comments - really means a lot to me!

He's a little sweetie - and those wings are fantastic!!!

Adorable! Love those eyes!

Thank you all so much for all the "beary" lovely comments!

How sweet! And those shoes are just too cute! Where on earth did you get them!

Wow! He is so original! Great job!

Darling! looks like he is about to start a seance!

Just beautiful!!!

Laurie, they are all wonderful!!! You've done a great job of the shading on Popple's face - I love his expression! And what a fantastic colour for Jingle!

Thanks so much everyone for your encouraging comments! I love making these little elephants so it is nice to know that they are appreciated!

Thanks so much everyone!!!!
I am thrilled to say that this set sold in less than a day on Bear Pile!

4 1/2" miniature anime type elephant made of a lt brown microfiber fabric and 1" white mouse made of upholstery velvet, both fully jointed, white embroidered accents by elephants eyes, face shading, and a distressed blue rayon ribbon around his neck. The elephant has a rare earth magnet placed in his trunk and top of his head to attach the mouse who has the corresponding magnet inside him.

Bela Loves Butterflies" - 4 1/4" tall, very soft off-white vintage fabric, black bead eyes with white embroidered accents, fully jointed, polyfil stuffed, pink rayon ribbon around neck. Bela has rare earth magnets placed in her trunk and at the top edge of her right ear to attach the butterfly. Butterfly is plastic with glitter and has a corresponding magnet attached to the back.

“Montaro” is a miniature anime type elephant 5” tall. He is made from a beige vintage rayon? pile fabric, fully jointed, polyfil stuffed, black bead eyes, face shading, ultrasuede foot pads, stitched mouth, eyebrows and toe nails.  He has tiny rare earth magnets located in his trunk, head, and left paw to attach the little butterfly. The butterfly is a purchased fabric appliqué - I have attached a corresponding magnet to the back of it.

He is now on ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi … 0330937429