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Hmm, I'm surprised this conversation is still happening...
It's worth bearing in mind (pun maybe intended) that we're no longer in the 90s when it comes to the Internet -- there isn't only one way to really search for things on the Internet (altavista, anyone?), there isn't one common set of websites dedicated to subject X, Y and Z anymore. People now have the power to reach and find information in a variety of different ways -- and even through the lowest common denominator of Google, that might throw up blogs, papers, forum posts, mailing lists, etc...
I used to be on a site called British Bears. I have no idea if it's still going -- it was a yahoo group originally I think (anyone recall those?) -- and they evolved into something else. The fact that someone might have a blog of their own doesn't mean to say that it devalues all the other places that person might then *choose* to post to as well, it just means that the expectation for someone interested in a particular subject has a wider means of access to it. Blogs are useful for very specific pieces of information, perhaps even directly pertinent to the person whose blog it is -- which might not fit on a forum, for instance.
So you see, it's not about abandoning anything -- the information is still there -- the format might be different, and as other people start to try and use these things then it might be perceived as "something lost" when previously there might have been one central place for that information to go -- but that's just diversity -- I still don't see that as anything bad.
Take books for example -- how many authors sit at home crying because they realise their book's content might just as easily be found on Google, or Wikipedia? How many of them sit at home and fret because they can't see/know the number of people actually *reading* their book? Yet the information in that book is still there -- in that book, and people are eventually going to come across it.
You'll note that I've not once mentioned TT specifically throughout any of that -- because the issue is not specific to TT -- and it's only until you come across other forums, other people who have dedicated forums for interests, that you start to realise very quickly that whilst things *do change* -- and *should* change, that, actually, that's just how communities evolve -- and in my not-so humble opinion, this community is very well stocked.
So I wouldn't worry -- just accept the above, and don't panic over change.
-- Thomas Adam
Imagine my surprise and delight when little Beddy Teddy here (by Heidibears) showed up on my doorstep! As you can see, he's a bit tired from his journey and ready for a nice snooze.
As background info, I helped Heidi out months ago when she was just starting and needed some fabric. I never dreamed that this delightful handful would be my reward. Thank you so much, Heidi! :hug: :hug: :hug:
Aww, I like his eyes. :)
-- Thomas Adam
Yes, thing to do change -- and sometimes one has to change with them. I won't/can't advocate one form or the other, just because there might be more than one form of communication amongst teddy bear artist/collectors, doesn't invalidate or otherwise should not put pressure on you directly.
Information propagates, believe it or not -- and if you feel more comfortable posting here, that's fine. People will read it -- and let others know. For example, I have no *clue* what happens on bearpile or on facebook. Nor do I give a shit. Yet I still feel as though I am kept fully informed about things, *just* because I read these forums.
-- Thomas Adam
Ah -- I hadn't made the connection before. It's quite an old series now, and watching that repeat the BBC had put on did ring bells in my head that I'd seen it before. It's nice to hear that Lily and Hope are still going strong. What really annoyed me is that I didn't realise that bear-hunting is still legal and that it's only a recommendation that shooters do not target research bears. Bloody laws....
-- Thomas Adam
Hi,
So I've watched this:
https://plus.google.com/100692260234415 … G7kBkrdz7p
(Which I am not sure non-UK residents will get to see.) But it's been really interesting to me to see real bears in the wild, and how fragile and volatile they are. :) I do not live on the same continent as bears, so I've never seen one in the wild, but having seen this programme, I've a new respect for wild bears. The cubs are terribly cute, the parents are deadly, and yet they're not necessarily as fierce as they're made out to be. :)
A real eye-opener for me. Of course, if anyone has any real-life experiences with bears, I'd love to hear about them. I am not so fortunate. :)
Kindly,
-- Thomas Adam
Is it crazy to wonder how your bears are doing after they've been adopted? I made bears for my mom and sister both.
Well although I've adopted bears from other artists here in the past, I mostly adopt from one artist in particular and always let her know how her bears are doing -- why recently, my posts on Google+ have been doing just that. :)
I suppose it's difficult for an artist to know if their work will be loved, but if they can build a relationship up with the collector over time, then all should be well. Certainly is the case that each and every teddy bear I've adopted has/is well-loved. :) I take pride in that. :)
-- Thomas Adam
I always carry at least one of my bears everywhere I go. I had a bear named Becky that I was going to keep, but there was a little kid at church whose name was Becca. She fell in love with that bear. Something, maybe it was God, told me to give her the bear, so I did. You should have seen the reaction of the little girl when I told her she could have her. I hope Becca and Becky will have a very close friendship. It makes me so happy that my bear will be loved. Have any of you guys ever given a bear to a kid? I'm not referring to a bear they can't play with, but a nice cuddly bear that you made. My dream is that my bears will be able to give love and caring to their new mommies/daddies the same as my bears in my collection have given me. I made a bear for my neighbors' unborn baby and I would love for that bear to be the one he carries around throughout his childhood and becomes his lifelong companion.
What a nice story. I am not religious though, and as such don't see the connection with your actions, but I do like the reaction nevertheless. :) This to me shows the power of teddy bears, religious or otherwise. Alas, I am slightly too selfish to be as altruistic as yourself, although in the past I have given away teddy bears from my hug to people who I feel deserve them. And that's a good thing. :)
-- Thomas Adam
Awwww! Isn't that sweet. 
Bless, that's so cute.
-- Thomas Adam
Hi everyone,
I thought I would ask if anyone is having problems with their Google Blogs accounts. I can't seem to get in to post anything new. I have tried everything. Not sure what to think....Any thoughts?Thanks,
Bonnie
Can you provide more information? I appreciate it's a bit difficult, but it's working just fine for me...
-- Thomas Adam
Did they give bears that big away over 40 years ago?
Oh yes, they used to. According to my relatives, I am far too young to know. :)
-- Thomas Adam
Hi there im just new here and am hoping you can help with my problem of finding out anything about my bear.
I bought this bear at a car boot sale in N Ireland and the man I bought it from said he had bought it for his wife (girlfriend then)when she was 16 and they have been married for 40 years now.
The bear is about 40" high and has no labels or marks that i can see. The eyes seem plastic the bear has tongue of red felt and also has a red on white polka-dot bow tie around his neck with a sort of gold elastic of some sort.http://www.teddy-talk.com/upload/2010/bear.jpg
i know nothing more about him but would like to know something about him :)
thanks for any help you may give.. i'm just frustrated that i've found nothing so far on 2 days of searching the internet
Aww, isn't he a loved bear. :)
Most bears of this style that I've come across (and I have a similar one) with the sticky-out tongue tend to come from places like fairgrounds or fetes, etc. Is that possible in this case, do you think? He seems of that type to me.
-- Thomas Adam
It was the year, 2003, in San Francisco, Ca. There I was standing in a very long line, holding my old Teddy Bear. People everywhere, turning their heads, pointing at my bear. Asking me, do you what to sell that bear? No, no, no, I replied! As my turn finally arrived in front of the Appraiser, an older gentleman. For the whole one minuite, he looked at my bear. He kept his thumb nail on my Teddy's eyes, getting the feel of it. Glass eyes he said, made in the 1920s, probably German made, very well made, valued at $1600. Next, please. Years later, I find out with my intense research, how wrong he was! Today I see on this modern computer, pictures of the laughing Theodore Roosevelt Bear, circa 1907, New York has the same glass eyes as my old bear. In books these glass eyes with a large black pupils are dated 1903 to 1913.
Well, without any evidence in the form of the bear itself, who can say otherwise? You're forever left judging by what pictures you can find. Still, here's to hoping you can find something which approximates him. But I ask you, why is his monetary worth so important?
-- Thomas Adam
Biz Break: What's in a name? Google+ is working on that
By Jeremy C. Owens
jowens@mercurynews.com
Posted: 07/26/2011 01:25:28 PM PDT
Updated: 07/26/2011 02:31:10 PM PDT
Quoth the raven, "Nevermore".
The lesser of two evils, you might say? I'd rather go with Google who already have all the information about me I don't want, and don't make no bones about it, unlike Facebook which claim otherwise, and then do a huge U-turn when the whistle is blown. You can't escape these people, but I'd rather choose the company which is more open about this (Google) than another. :P
-- Thomas Adam
P.S. Where's all the teddy bears gone? :)
Hello all,
I am sure this will be of interest:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-14231337
All about the 3,000 Steiff teddy bears that were sent from Germany to America and then disappeared.
-- Thomas Adam
It took some pretty major driving to get there, but the North American Bear Center in Ely, MN here in the U.S. was worth every mile - even those last 65 or so miles of roller-coaster road to the edge of the wilderness. (Ely sits at the southern edge of the Boundary Waters.)
The NABC has so much information that I only took in a small part of it in the three hours I was there. I was truly impressed with the center and with the research Dr. Rogers and his team do.
Here are pictures of Ted and Lucky, the two male resident bears at the center. It must have been too hot for Honey, because she didn't show herself - even at feeding time.
Becky
You're very lucky -- not just to go there, but to live on the same continent as real bears. :) Were there more types besides black bears there as well? Hehe - they look quite happy, don't they? Although something tells me they're not as cuddly as their teddy bear counterparts. :)
-- Thomas Adam
Here's the bear. He's out of my hands now, but he got hugged and squeezed, as did I. He was al gift to a special someone...and she didn't care that he's a little...lopsided(?)!! I wish that I could have worked the "bugs" out before I gave him away...but she didn't care!!
Aww, what a lovely teddy bear!!
-- Thomas Adam
You mean I might be British? I will have to look at other Wendy Boston bears online.
Maybe -- but you look more like a Gund to me, in terms of your shape, and especially in how your legs are.
Do you happen to have a faint seam along your bottom where a tag might once have been, or a piece of fur, by any chance? I agree you might still be British; the hallmarks are there for that, but the ears... they're not a Boston-typical style, and I've got a few of those bears myself. Is there any chance your ears are fake?
Why am I talking to a teddy bear though? :)
-- Thomas Adam
Thanks for explaining that Ariane. I was getting a little bit confused as I have a 27cms Steiff known as 'The Artist's Bear' I bought off QVC a few years ago. He is very sweet, like a mini PB55. :D
Hehe, the Steiff teddy bear in your avatar is the same as mine:
:)
He came from Teddy Bears of Witney, in Oxfordshire. I liked him as soon as I saw him. :)
-- Thomas Adam
I can't believe that you've been designing for so few years, Becky!
That's often the way with natural talent though, it doesn't take years to create wonderful teddy bears; and they're stunning bears. :)
-- Thomas Adam
I do notice that the traditional bear makers are getting less and less. Bears are geared more to look either old, vintage and worn out, or new and contemporary.
I do hope such traditional bear makers don't completely disappear; otherwise, as a collector, I wouldn't be able to collect teddy bears anymore. :)
-- Thomas Adam
This story was sent to me by my aunt. It was posted in The Daily which is an app for ipad.
Bearly awake
This bear really does sleep with the fishes.
Aww, bless! I love fish (http://xteddy.org/fish) as well, but it amuses me, knowing what I do of bears that this bear would be so lazy. Hehehehe. :) It's a shame there's no law for bears in this way; and now I want one as a pet. :) :)
-- Thomas Adam
His face is slightly squashed though in comparison to other Hugmees -- but that's OK, he's well-loved. :)
And all the loving is probably the reason why.
Bless. :) And your teddy deserves that too. Is there any indication from looking at him, that a tag might have been on him -- typically on one of his feet? Oh, and please cuddle him tightly from me. :) :)
--Thomas Adam
Yes, similar and different. This guy has a longer muzzle, but the overall shape and the way the arms sit on the body, look very much alike.
Joanne
Yours is splendid.
Hehe -- he gets lots of hugs, and I know he's from the mid 1930s or so. But he deserves them. I bought him knowing he was a Hugmee, a few years ago, but didn't buy him for his monetary value; I wanted him for liking the teddy, and were he to be worth 20p, would still make no difference to me.
His face is slightly squashed though in comparison to other Hugmees -- but that's OK, he's well-loved.
-- Thomas Adam
