Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

He is beautiful - he has such traditional proprtions, which is great!!
I love the curve of his arms, and his lovely big feet.
He is simply wonderful, and I would certainly love to have one of your bears in my collection one day!!!  They are stunning!!

Ooohhhh!!!  What a lovely face!!!
You've certainly done a great job with him - what a character!!!

Hi Katrina!
I've had a little look at your website, which is lovely by the way, and was reading all about you - and your story is so similar to mine!!!
I'm 23 now, but began selling my bears at 15.  I must have started making bears when I was about 10 years old.  I got interested in miniatures through my Mum (she makes dolls), and was lucky as a teenager to be able to sell my bears on my Mum's table at shows.  I live in the UK, so when I finished school, I went to university, and was able to make some bears in my spare time, which helped fund being a student.  Since graduating, I now work, but am self-employed, so I can allow some time to make my bears aswell as earning money with a 'real' job!!
I think your website is a great way to start.  I would highly recommend that you introduce your bears to the bear collector's world slowly but steadily.  If you make a piece you are particularly pleased with, then take a good, clear photograph of it, and send it to the editor of one of the magazines, asking if they could include your picture - make sure you include your website address, so that it can be included with your picture.  If people are interested, they can then visit your website.  Always look out for opportunities to be included in a magazine.  Editors seem to be supportive of new bear artists, so have the confidence to show them what you can do!!
I personally LOVE shows, although they are not for everyone.  I would suggest starting at a fairly low-cost show, and just guage people's reactions to your bears.  Hopefully you'll sell a few aswell!!
I personally have never paid a penny for advertising, although I have paid to enter some of the more prestigious competitions, as they give great exposure.  I may have to pay for advertising at some time, but it just shows that it isn't always necessary.
Always remember that the most important thing is to enjoy making the bears, and this will come through in what you make.  Always try something new, or something different, and always push yourself to create the next one 'better' - this has certainly always been my way of thinking.
Lastly, make sure you put lots of pics of your bears on Teddy Talk, as we would all love to see them, and you can get great feedback from people on here, and a lot of encouragement!!

I did a cloth dollmaking course about a year ago, and in that we were taught to fold your whole pice of fabric in half, draw the pattern on one half, and then machine sew along those lines with the fabric still folded in half.  Once they are sewn (leaving a gap for turning and stuffing), then you cut out around the stitching.  I have seen bear makers do the same thing, so I think your plan would work!!!

Lovely!!!
So colourful, and full of character.  Its great to see a creation thats a bit unusual - wonderful!!!

I personally don't mind about weight, but I know it matters to a lot of people.
I personally don't weight my minis because I like to thread joint them.  I once tried steel shot in a bear with thread joints, and the steel shot rubbed away at the the thread running through the bear, and it broke, within days.  Since that first try, I have never combined thread-jointing and weighting.  I want my bears to last!!

I'm so sorry to read your sad news.  You and your family are in my thoughts. :hug:

Wow!!!!
The photos are great - what an experience!!!  I can't wait to go see the film now!!  You must be sssooooo proud!!  Good luck with the TV interview!!!!!

Wow!!!!
That is a beautiful room!!  I'm speechless!!!

That must feel very strange!!  I would always hope that when my bears are adopted, they are at their home for life.  But you never know people's circumstances, and people's reasons for having to sell.
Remember that whoever bids on little Pookie (who, by the way, is a really cutie), really wants him, and I'm sure will give him a good home.

I just saw this little polar bear on the news here in the UK - he is such a cutie!!
The animal 'rights' people are just wasting their time on a case that doesn't need their help.  There are plenty of animals out there that do!!

I love the one with the blue eyes - they are so bright and sparkling that they really stand out.  If the picture is only small, I think the lovely blue eyes would really call out to people.

What a lovely picture!!!
I love cats, they are so funny aren't they!!
I was photographing my Mum's dolls last week, when her cat jumped onto the table, to come and 'help'!!!  I managed to snap this picture:

Sooo cute!!

Really lovely!!   
What a lovely chocolatey colour, and such a sweet little face.
Wonderful work!!

Thank you all for your comments - I really appreciate them.

I am pleased to say that this little bear went to live with my Mum yesterday, and she seemed very pleased with him!!

Congratulations!!! :clap:  :clap:  :clap:
You did very well keeping it a secret - I would have been shouting it from th roof-tops!!!!
Very well deserved!!

Hi Jodi
I just bought the April issue today, and having had a quick look through it, I didn't see any of your bears, so it must be the next issue.  I'll be sure to let you know if I see your bears.  Its not a problem for me to pick up an extra copy for you from our local store for you next month, after I've checked whether you are in it, and I can send it to you, if that helps?
Hugs,
Samantha
x

Ha ha ha!!!  So funny!!!! :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:  :crackup:
Just brilliant!

Here in the UK, it is Mother's Day this Sunday, and I have been busy making a couple of bears for my Mum.  She has a large collection of my bears, the earliest from when I was about 10 years old, so I always make her a bear or two for a special occassion.
This little bear is about 9cm sitting, and is a dark grey/blue colour.  He isn't named yet, as my Mum likes to name them, and he is wearing a little star around his neck.
I'm really pleased with him, and I particularly like the colour.  I hope my Mum likes him!!

If I'm stressed about a deadline to make a particular bear, then I get no sewing done!!!  If I'm stressed about something which isn't bear-related I can sew and sew and sew!!!!  I wouldn't sew anything complicated when stressed, as I would only come back to it on another day and realise I need to do it all again, but I can sew seams, and let everything run through my head at the same time, which is a great release for stress!
I wish I cleaned when I was stressed!!!  Our house would be imaculate!!  My husband and I are NOT tidy people, and yet I find mess and clutter stressful!!!  Oh well!!

I love your dolls!!!   
Don't get me wrong - I love your bears and the website is beautiful, but I have never seen your dolls before, and they are wonderful!!  You are so talented!

I have searched the archives, but can't find the post, but I did save all the info on my laptop, so can copy and paste it here.  Obviously, I cannot take credit for giving this info, someone else took the time to type it all out, but here it is:

Artful Teddy Bears
For many of us, a teddy bear served as our first confidante, best friend and tagalong. A well-loved teddy bear continues as a staple of childhood, even as younger generations enjoy action figures, hand-held video games and electronic pets. What artistic heights are possible with a teddy bear? We invite you to take on teddy bear making as an art and test the boundaries of creativity. Consider using Karen O’Brien’s basic bear pattern in the Spring 2007 issue as a starting point and adding collage pieces, vintage items or ephemera. Feel free to pursue another pattern or design your own. Or try altering a teddy bear, using the existing figure as a canvas for creating an entirely unique piece of art. We’re eager to share teddy bear art and inspiration with readers in the Winter 2008 issue.??Deadline for artwork to be received: June 15, 2007. Please read submission guidelines before sending your submissions to: Stampington & Company · C/O: Art Doll Quarterly · 22992 Mill Creek, Suite B · Laguna Hills, CA 92653

The link to the Submissions Guidlines is: http://www.stampington.com/html/adq_sub … lines.html

Hope this helps!!!  And sorry to whomever provided all this information before, that I can't remember who you are!!! :redface:  :redface:

Yep it was Art Doll Quarterley.  I can't remember who posted about it originally.

Their website is: http://www.stampington.com/html/art_doll_quarterly.html

Perhaps try searching the archives of TT, and you should find it.  I'll have a go, and get back to you if I can find it!!

Wonderful!!
I love the amount of detail that you have added to him, and his face is just lovely!