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Lovely! What an expressive face!!!
Great panda!
She is adorable!
Wonderful!
She's great!
How darling!
So cute! Wonderful wings!
Too cute! Love all the poses!
Love them all!
Thanks so much for all the lovely comments - very encouraging!
Peter, it seems that artist bears often go for a lower price if it is a collector reselling the bear rather than the original artist. I think there are several reasons for this. One is that the artists usually have a list of collectors who they notify when they have bears for sale and of course the reseller doesn't have access to this list so a lot of people who might have been interested in bidding just don't see it. Another reason might be that the collectors want to buy the artists latest work and see items that are being resold as older work that is perhaps (not necessarily correct of course!) not as good as what they are doing now. Another factor is that they cannot be positive that the bear is in the EXACT ORIGINAL condition as when the artist created it. I HAVE had people buy my bears and remove some of their clothes or accessories and then resell them. Or the bear might have been kept in a smoking home, or sitting in sunlight, or etc. etc. However I am sure these cases are rare and an astute collector can certainly pick up some good bargains on ebay - and sometimes finding a critter that is NOT what the artist is producing now is a good thing if you liked their earlier work but missed out on one getting it at the time.
Your bear is darling and a great buy!
I did the same as Laura Lynn - listed 5 pieces of fabric (that I didn't even expect to sell and sold 3 of them!) Now I'm fine for the next 3 weeks. Just have to remember to do that again when the month is up!
As long as whatever you list sells for less than $25 you won't be paying any more than you did before as before we paid 8.75% on the first 25.00 and then 3.5% on the balance. Or the other option is to list something REALLY EXPENSIVE with a high start price so that you really are saving on the listing fee if it doesn't sell and since they have put a cap on the final value fee for these "free" listings you will still be ahead if does sell! (or list something that you would like to sell but don't know if it will sell and you will find out without incurring any expenses and if it does sell and you might not mind paying the higher f v fee as you weren't sure if it would sell! - if that makes any sense 
)
I 'm not really familiar with the third party listing services but I went and looked at Auctiva as I see a lot of people use it but it appears that there is a charge for using that service so didn't see how I'd be any farther ahead with that.
I have just listed this little bear - 6 1/2" tall on ebay. He was going to be a little girl along the lines of my bear that is on the cover of TB&F fall issue but he had a mind of his own and refused to become a girl and wear and a girly dress so instead he has a vintage doll jacket on and is a little boy! He is made of mohair, fully jointed, face shading and heat set paint staining for that aged look.
I know, Kristina. It is actually cheaper for us to buy these Teddy magazines on the news stand than to subscribe to them as they ding us so much for postage. Plus they are usually out on the newstands before we get our subscription copies! BUT, as you say, it is getting harder and harder all the time to find places that carry the magazines! (and impossible for me when I live out in the boonies!)
Kristina, did you mean July/Aug or Sept/Oct issue? - I got my July/Aug issue some time ago and heard that Sept/Oct is now out in the States so have been looking for that issue to arrive any day now.
I think ebay has gone completely nuts! Who wants to buy something - unless something like an unopened DVD -when the pic you are seeing is from their "catalogue" and not the actual item you are buying!!!! Why on earth would ebay even want to think of making it easier for sellers to dupe buyers in this way??? I want to see the EXACT item I am buying - from many angles! - in 95% of the cases!
I wonder if it is only US sellers whose photos they are planning on using since it seems those of us from other countries can't see that drop down item?
Hi Eileen
I checked Steiff's Sortiment book and there is an Arco German Shepherd on wheels on page 97 with the pull ring in the neck (dates 1957 thru 1970 in 2 sizes) - the base looks a little different from yours though, the front wheels don't turn. I have this same type base on a boxer dog with the neck pull cord but it has a smaller ring than yours. On page 89 there is a wheeled dog that is Schnauzer size 50cm that has the same neck ring as yours and the base looks exactly like yours except the tires are white - dates 1970-75. I also found a donkey in one of Dee Hockenberry's books with the base like yours from the 70's. Hope this helps.
What a rewarding project this will be to restore to it's former glory! You've made a good start already!
Becky's got it right - IF the bear's fur is mohair! Just be very careful not to get it too wet and work in SMALL patches at a time - gently rubbing the suds into the fur and then using a different clean cloth dampened in clear water go over that patch to take the suds and dirt out - maybe several times if needed, and then take a DRY cloth or towel and soak up as much of the moisture out of the patch you've cleaned as possible before going onto to the next patch. Always start in a more inconspicuous spot to make sure everything is working fine and the fabric is colorfast.
Now if the fabric is art silk plush I would be VERY careful about trying to clean it this way - might not be very successful at all! Also the cotton plush fabrics are pretty tricky to clean.
Inspiring! Thanks, Tami!
Thanks so much for the encouraging comments, Joanne, Susan, and lombardbears (sorry, I don't know your name)
This little set is listed to start on ebay tonight. Teddy is 3 1/4" tall and sits in a little old fashioned type toy box with a collection of other toys. He is fully jointed and wears a red ribbon tied around his neck.
I just posted this sweet little girl on Bear Pile. She is 2 7/8" tall, fully jointed and with a ribbon braid trim on her head.
http://www.bearpile.com/detail.cgi?id=1103&item=32449
Thanks everyone for all the lovely comments! Most appreciated!
Just listed this little guy on ebay. He is fully jointed and dressed in a sailor collar and hat.
http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie … 0322932230
Thanks so much Sylvia, Tami, and Elaine! I am stil waiting (impatiently!) for my copy of TB&F to arrive, Sylvia - all I've seen is the photo on their web site!
