Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Thats exactly it!! I always have favourite bears on my stall, and when they sell I think 'Oh! I really loved that bear', but I love fairs as I get to meet the person who is adopting the bear, and you really do realise that the person is going to get a lot of pleasure out of the bear, and cherish it, as I do with all the bears I have adopted from other people.

I may own a lot of my bears, but I did start out as a child making them for me to play with.  I went to bear fairs and couldn't afford all the wonderful artist bears on display (I was only 10!), so would find inspiration in what I saw, buy a piece of fabric, and make myself a bear when I got home.

As I began to sell my bears, I always decided before I started the bear whether it was for sale or for keeps.  I have always done the same since - meaning that I don't get attached to bears that are for sale.  However, a couple of weeks ago, I allowed myself to keep a bear that had been made for sale.  However, I was busy worrying about my husband who had gone away for a week (we have never been apart for more than one night since we were first together!), so I allowed myself to keep it, as it's face spoke to me!!  Its a slippery slope though, and I will not let myself do it again!!!  I promise......

Now I really must get off the internet and get on with sewing, as Hugglets is less than two weeks away and I still need another 10 bears!!! Eek!!

Thank you all for your kind comments - they mean a lot to me.

Louise - it would be lovely if you came to say hi - I look forward to meeting you!

Thanks very much!
I've never really noticed that my bears have high foreheads, so I'm not really sure how I do it!!
I guess a lot of it is in the pattern.  The nose is fairly low down if you know what I mean!?  A lot of it is also in the stuffing.  Place the stuffing in the head in the correct place, don't just stuff it in anywhere.  Use the stuffing to shape the head.  Also, a bit of needle-sculpting, to pull eye sockets into the nose.  This will give a larger forehead.  The pattern used on the bear in your avatar could have a larger forehead by placing the eyes nearer to the nose, giving the impression of a larger forehead!

Hope this helps!!

I must have more than 50 of my own bears from over the years!!!  I am lucky that they are miniature, and don't take up much room!
I almost always keep any competition pieces, but also make myself a bear on a regular basis, usually in an attempt to feed my bear addiction, and try and save my bank balance, when I am finding it hard to resist someone else's bear!!! (doesn't work! )
I also make myself a bear as a treat occassionally.  If I'm feeling down, or finding it hard to get inspiration, I promise myself a bear, and it usually works.  Right now I am working hard for Hugglets, and I want 10 more bears made in the next two weeks.  I am already planning the bear I will make myself if I achieve this, and it keeps the creativity going.
Just the way it works for me!

Hiya!
My Mum makes beautiful miniature porcelain dolls, which I think are very reasonably priced, particularly for the amount of work that goes into them.  Have a little look at her website: www.marymyrtleminiaturedolls.co.uk
(although I don't think it is entirely up to date, but will give you an idea of what she makes.)
Here is a taster:

I hope you manage to find something nice for your Mum!

:clap:  :clap: Well done for dealing with the situation so well!!!

I agree that it is soul destroying for people to be critical of our work.  I think I would have burst into tears if someone had been that nasty!!
I have only really ever had comments on my prices!!  I exhibit alongside my Mum at a number of dollshouse and miniature shows, and people will often pick up one of my bears, examine it, and then comment loudly to their friend that they don't understand why it is so expensive.  Now my bears are priced between about £40 and £60, which I personally don't think is too expensive!!  I comforted myself by knowing that I know best (and as do my collectors), and that the comment came from ignorance rather than an attempt to be nasty.  You just wish that people would keep their voices down!!

OT slightly: A quick bit of info from my real job - I work as a sign language interpreter, and would love for people to bear in mind that a facial expression that we would see as being negative, is not neccessarily so when used as part of the grammar of sign language.  Not that I'm denying the people you saw signing were being derogatory - but I would hate for people to have hurt feelings unneccesarily!  I regularly see deaf couples going round bear fairs, who will generally assume that no one can understand them (which is true within most of society), and will have an open discussion about someone's bears, stood right in front of their stall. (which can be amusing for me, who can understand them perfectly!!!)  There is not usually any intention there to be nasty!!  Ok, I'll get off my soap box now!!!

I contacted them directly, just to make sure!!  They have confirmed that I have two nominations. 
I was told that the ribbons are in the post, but as they have got to reach the UK for me, I wouldn't expect them for a few more days yet.

Thanks for your comments!  They mean a lot to me.

Tracey, I am hoping to have 30 to 35 bears with me at Hugglets, but as I am on Teddy Talk rather than making bears (oops)  I don't know if I shall meet my target!!  Some people may think that is a lot of bears, but I always feel I need a minimum of 20 bears to get people to notice them, as they are miniatures.

I've got more 'preview bears' on my website if anyone was curious to see more!

Great topic!
I am very lucky to be surrounded by very creative people.
My Mum has always made dolls, which are 1/12th scale (suitable for dollshouses), and I first helped her with her stall at fairs when I was about 6.  I have grown up helping her, and was able to start selling my bears on her stall when I was about 15.
My Dad has also recently joined in the hobby, and has been making some beautiful dollshouse furniture.
My aunt is also very creative, and aswell as some beautiful needlework projects, she is very talented at knitting.  She has knitted clothes for my Mum's dolls for many years, and has recently started knitting for my bears.
Here are a few pics of my Mum's dolls:

This pregnant lady is wearing a cardigan knitted by my aunt.

This lady is on my Mum's stall at a fair, and is playing a piano made by my Dad.

Me too, me too!!!!
I'll be exhibiting in the basement - make sure you come and say hi!!

:redface:
Thank you so much for your kind comments.  I have been having a couple of days of self-doubt, with bears not working out as I wanted,  so it is really great to hear nice things!!!
Thank you!!!

Here are a couple more new bears ready for Hugglets.
I saw my aunt today who does the beautiful knitwear for the bears, and I am so pleased with the final result of these two.

Thank you for your kind words. :redface:

Isn't the knitwear beautiful!!  My aunt designs and makes all the knitwear from my sketches.  I am hoping to have some little bears in knitted sailor outfits at Hugglets.  I haven't seen one finished yet, but I will see my aunt on Friday, and I can't wait to see what she has finished!

Hugglets is fast approaching, and as usual it is going to be a last minute rush!!!  Here are a couple of bears I have ready for the fair so far:

Good luck with the move Paula - I hope it all runs smoothly.
See you at Hugglets - which is fast approaching so I don't know why I am on the computer rather than sewing!!  I really must get on with some bears!!!

When I was little I loved reading so much that I wanted to be a librarian!!!
My favourites when I was very young were all the Shirley Hughes stories - they had such amazing pictures.  I just got a whole book of her stories this christmas, and they brought back such great memories.  If you've never read Dogger by Shirley Hughes then I can highly recommend it!!!
As a teenager I loved a series called The Babysitter's Club.  I read every single one so many times.  I also enjoyed the Judy Blume books, and Sweet Valley Twins (funnily enough all American books!)  Not exactly classics, but I loved them!!  I was still at school when the first Harry Potter books appeared, and they are now my absolute favourites!!  Don't seem to get much chance to read these days, so I listen to the Harry Potter audiobooks whilst sewing!!!

Ummmmmmm........not sure what to say!............ :crackup:

Ellen - what a great attitude to have!!  I personally am always in awe of your creations - they are stunning, and so realistic.  I agree, that I think the animal category can be one of the toughest - is must be even more difficult for judges to choose, when they are trying to compare creations that are not only very individual to the maker, but also completely different animals.  And there are only 5 or 6 places in each competition for all of those people who create animals that are not bears.  Perhaps you are right that another category allowing animals is needed?
I can't wait to see your new creations - I think it is wonderful that you can translate any disappointment into enthusiasm to create something new - well done you!

Now that I've calmed down and got over the shock - just wanted to say thanks Shelli for posting the list. I've certainly been waiting and wondering, especially as some people have heard personally already and others haven't - seems a bit strange - but never mind, I'm thrilled!
Congatulations to other TTers who are also nominated.  Its great to see TT so well represented again.  What a talented bunch of people we have here!!
My nominated bears are my 'Moonbeam' panda who is also nominated for a TOBY, and 'Alice' who was also my christmas challenge bear here on TT (so appears in the challenge gallery if anyone is curious).  Can't wait to see all the other nominees.
Thanks again for ending the suspence!!

Oh my oh my!!!!!!!  Looks like I'm nominated for two Golden Teddies!!!!!!  I hadn't heard anything!!!!  I can't believe it!!!!!!!

What a beauty!!
Great work (as always!!! )

Wow!!! What amazing bears!!  It really does show that the standard of the entries is so amazingly high, and that it is impossible to predict what will get a nomination and what won't.
Berta, Paula, Jenny and Christine - I have bears by all of you in my personal colleciton, so I admit I am particularly partial to your creations, but I am sat here drooling over your entries, nominated or not!  They really are stunning.  What talent!!!
Tracy - I love your bears - they are so unique.  Your bears are definitely on my wish list!!!

Here are my two entries that were both lucky enough to be nominated:

Congratulations!!!!! :clap:
Fantastic news - and very well deserved!!!!

Thank you all so much for your kind messages.
I am still walking around with a big smile on my face!!!

Thank you all so much!!  I am still glowing with pleasure.  There are some fabulous creations being posted here that I am gob-smacked that they have not received a nomination, which makes my two nominations even more thrilling.