Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

I will take some more today as i have to put them up on my website anyway, I hope they turn out s bit clearer, I have to say that first pic is not really very good at all :doh:

Hi Gail, I think Mel has answered your question on how this service works, as she was the organiser, I live on the other side of Australia which is a very long way from the Eastern coast where all the major bear action takes place, so yes, I would qualify along with international artists.
You pay a fee, just like booking a table and your bears are there for the show even if you aren't.
I agree that the line has to be drawn somewhere as Mel has already mentioned, so wish I could have been there, sounded like great fun

I am only relatively new to bears and love both the "hands on" Bear Shows and the very convenient internet. I really love attending shows in person meeting the collectors and other artists but understand that it is not always possible due to work, family and financial commitments. Selling via the internet is so convenient for those who are comfortable with it, the only negative I see with that is that photos of bears are not quite the same thing as picking up the little darling that has stolen your heart and seeing it face to face. The internet selling does require extra effort in photo quality and descriptions to convey a true representation of the bear on offer, which is always time consuming.
Mel,I am intriqued with what you have in the pipeline , and can't wait to find out what it is
I try to support our bear shows here in Oz, I religiously attend our annual ones here in my hometown, and when I can, send bears interstate for the shows that provide absent artist tables ( which is a fantastic idea, by the way )
I would like to support international shows also if this would be possible, postage is a lot more financially viable than airfares!!!!
I also love Online Shows, maybe there is a way the two can be combined to cater for everyone???
Just me chipping in, love the bear industry, hoping we can all keep it going strong together :hug:

Thanks for taking the time for all your lovely comments, they are very much valued and appreciated

Thanks guys for your comments, Moe is great fun to make.
So sorry Kerrilyn  :doh: , I have asked my webmaster to look into it, I presume he is too busy at the moment, I too don't know much about computers and have to leave it in his hands :redface:
I have been adding everyone to my mailing list manually, so I will use your email listed here unless you would like to send me another and I can change it, no problem! Thanks for making me your fave for this week, I am honoured :dance:

Introducing Moe, a funny little fellow, he is preparing for a long trip from Australia, all the way to the UK.
Thanks for looking :thumbsup:

Hope these pics are better!

Thanks for letting us all know

I did notice that the website has been updated recently, lets hope everything is OK :pray:

No nothing, I have been waiting too!!!

Hi Marlys, I couldn't help it, I just had to share my gorgeous boy with everyone too    
This is "Jett" the rottweiller, yes, with a tail, and my sister, the day we brought him home, and also a recent piccie of him as a big 3 year old (but still a puppy at heart).
I hope everyone can share their special friends too :hug:

Marlys, I'm so excited for you, she's gorgeous  

I too agree with all your comments, the time just flies by when on TT, it's very addictive, you can lose hours just catching up on everything thats happening. I love looking at everyone's new creations, it's so inspiring :clap:  :clap:

Oh Tracy, he is so gorgeous, such a sweet, happy face.
I am wondering whether you can help me, my inlaws are doggysitting a girl Mastiff of about 5 or 6 years old, her name is Molly.
She is very lame in both her front legs, looks to me like her elbows, would you know whether it is just arthritis or maybe something more sinister that we should be looking into. She is really struggling to get around, which is just awful to watch. All the Mastiff info I have found so far says that they are a sound breed, with little complications, which hasn't helped at all!!!
Cheers
Kim

Thanks guys, yes the New Zealand collector is "over the moon" and can't wait until she arrives
Connie, yes it is a hand dyed piece of mohair and one of my favorite colours to work with.

Hi Wendy, what a sweetie
Big congrats on your Australian Bear Creations pattern, it really looked great :clap:  :clap:

Kim

Please meet "Rose", a commission bear I have been working on for a while, she is off to New Zealand next week to settle in her new home.

I must agree that custom orders are very stressful and draining at the same time, and you do tend to be over critical with them. I have just started making customer's dogs, and even though I love it, the thought of having to do it as well as by a certain time can be a bit overwhelming sometimes   I have decided only to take one order a month (as I work part time too), that means, if thats all I have time for, at least, I should be able to get it done for them in that month. The only thing is that it cuts into your creative time for experimenting with new things, and we all know  that is the most rewarding and enjoyable part about bear making!!!
I would think that your customers would be happy enough just to be on your order list and know that they would have to wait their turn, no matter how long it would take. I try to work on the principle of one order a month and one creation for me, that way, i get through my orders eventually and also have something to post on my website that may be snapped up by someone already waiting for their custom order!!! Please don't stress yourself out, you are only one (very clever) person and I'm sure that your customers will be willing to wait no matter how long, I know I would!!! :hug:
Beary kind regards
Kim

Me too, she is very cute!!!

Thanks Daphne,
Thats a relief to know that it is treatable and can be maintained, must admit, bear making is not good for the posture, and being only 5 foot tall (or short) doesn't help!!!!
I am actually going to a physical therapist next week to work on my whole arms, free up the muscles a bit, will get some specific exercises to help too, thanks for the advise, it is much appreciated :hug:  :hug:  :hug:

Hi, just thought I'd add my 2 cents worth too, I've been felting my bears for a while now, I sometimes felt just the noses but mainly the whole face is what I tend to do most. I have found that wool is a must for stuffing the head in order for the felting to attach properly. I have found needle felting an extension of my childhood passion of clay sculping and find it really hard to make a "normal" bear now!!!
I greatly admire all your work ladies and it's great that we can share all our different techniques, with just the noses, I make a rough shape first and then felt the details onto the bear's nose, I never thought of adding wool as you go, will have to give that a go too!!!
Do any of you suffer from RSI type pain in your hands and forearms after a long sitting of felting? I'm a bit worried, as I do, and I've only just turned 39!!

Debbie, where in Australia has your friends' bears gone missing? Which state? What kind of bears?
I'm in WA, will keep an eagle eye out for them, will wait for the pics from you!!!!

ME TOO!!!! It's such a long way from Oz, maybe next year :pray:  :pray:

Thanks to you all, I'm glad I shared him with everyone, I'm starting on my next one soon, a bull mastiff cross, can't wait to see how he turns out!!!

Huge congratulations to everyone nominated, all well deserved best of luck, for the finals :dance:  :dance:  :dance:

A huge cogratulations to everyone, all the bears and critters are just wonderful. Unfortunately my two entries didn't make it either, here they are.