Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

I Have been designing and making bears for about 12 years now and the hardest part is pricing them. I think that most Artists, including myself, ask far  too little for their work. If they don't value it why should anyone else.
Before I discovered bears i made evening wear, some of which I sold through an exclusive boutique. At sale time the owner would look at a garment which, having been reduced, didn't sell. They would then increase the price and in almost every case the dress sold.   If something is too cheap people ask why...what is the matter with it is it very old stock and why didn't anyone buy it immediately.
I was also give some very good advise by a bear shop owner, when I first started. It was don't do consignment...if they are not prepared to purchase your bear, when they happily pay for other bears and stock...They are using you ! He also said when they are trying to make a sale they will push to sell a bear that they have to pay for ....why not ,yours is there for free , when  and if it sells it is a bonus. In the meantime you are giving their shop a fresh influx of stock for no cost.
I have one shop I supply when i have a few extra bears to move. She marks them up 120%. It doesn't worry me. It is by then her stock to do as she likes and if she can make money out of them then she is , and does , come back for more. I might add I don't inundate her with stock...and yes i am fortunate to sell from my website.
I don't know that this will help anyone but it is just my thoughts...and yet I still sometimes struggle with pricing.
Susan
P.S
I haven't placed a bear on ebay for about 2 years. I stopped when there was a problem with images being taken and sold by persons not associated with the artist. I'm not sure if their credability has improved or not.

The weekend is almost over here. It is Spring so I have been gardening. I then made  a Cherry Ripe slice for the week ( I will really try not to eat much of it but it is yum). I am now finishing off another new  koala...I've added  some felted eyelids to this one. Oh I've also done some laundry and now I am trying to think what to prepare for dinner. I have lots of Buk Choy in the garden ready to pick and yesterday bought some great fresh asparagus so at least the greens are covered !

Michelle, I was told by the head of the fur traders in my state to never store fur in plastic. I place them in cotton pillow slips, keep them away from heat and then every so often take them out and air them,
Susan

Sarah your concern didn't take away from my very small effort to make a donation to the charity. Don't ever think that a cure won't come in your lifetime , there are some very dedicated people much smarter than I who feel that there is real hope.
Your family sounds like my husband's. He is the only one of five children/now adults who do not suffer this disease. However, he didn't missout...he got remated arthritis ( another immune disease)..now is remission.
Take care and thank you again for your concern.
Susan

Thank you everyone. I really do appreciate all your kind words.
Sarahjane I feel for you and the loss of your sister. I lost an older brother almost 23 years ago yet feel that loss every day.
Sarah my nephews parents set up a charity in his name when he died and rather than sending flowers many people gave a donation to the charity. As TG worked with  The Walter & Ilisa Hall Institute which is attatched to the Royal Melbourne Hospital they did research into cancer and Diabetes so the charity in his name is through them. It has been of some comfort to his parents that every few months they are invited into his work and the doctors and those involved discuss how the money is used. In this case it is certainly used for type one diabetes only.
Sarah I certainly didn't want to frighten you. Tg was 34 y.o He was fit and looked after his health. He had ben working at home on his computer and his work place was able to say that it was midnight when he logged off. He had done all the right things, blood test and eaten a meal etc. He went to bed  , they then say he had a rare  reaction in that his blood sugar suddenly dropped with no warning. It caused a massive heart attack.( They found him in bed, his teddy from childhood the only one with him)
His mother and sister , both diabetics  have since had further tests and it seems that they also can suddenly drop their blood sugar , despite regular testing and careful diet. So they now wear a small pump with a needle into their tummy which delivers insulin as needed 24 hours a day. ( not much fun for a hard working young Mum...his sister) If only the specialist that TG attended had suggested this for him.
Tg has several uncles and aunts with diabetes type one but their condition is more easily managed so this can happen, but is rare. Please don't let this frighten you but do talk to your doctor.
Sorry for such a long reply .
Susan

O.K. back to the drawing board...maybe the second photo was too large
Susan

Thanks ladies....our loss can not be measured against how his parents and sister feel every day.
I am so excited that I was able to add the photo....my first ever !! So I will try to show the full front which shows the paws..note they are a beige colour not white as they look in my monitor.
Susan

G/day. It has been several weeks since I even dropped into TT. The reason is that I have been putting all my effort in creating this big bear. I have places him on my website and I am hoping he sells reasonably quickly. I intend to donated the FULL amount of his sale to research into a possible cure for diabetes 1.  We lost a loved young nephew to diabetes 1 ,almost a year ago so this is just a small way of maybe preventing grief for another family. I have priced him at $725 AUD (approx. $539 US) which I think is very reasonable for a bear of this size and quality, and this includes post/ins Worldwide ( from Australia). Now I hope the photo is attatched....but knowing me and computers it may not be !!
He has armature , a growler, open mouth etc.  Lots of work...but a labour of love.
I would love to hear what you think.
Regards,
Susan

Yes I would agree with a package and post person. It takes me half a day to get a bear packed then to the post. I include the cost of post, package and ins, (plus GST in Australia), with all my bears, even overseas orders so it is a huge chunk of time and money.
Susan

I guess that I am not the only one who didn't know anything about this award. As I don't usually enter competitions....but probably should...it will not really worry me to miss out .  Maybe I'll look at it next year.
I always seem to have enough deadlines to meet with finishing orders, working on new designs, trying to get material ready for ads...which takes me ages. Then there is housework, cooking ,gardening and the gym ! No wonder I don't get the time I would like to spend on T.T
The older I get , the less hours there seems to be in a day....or maybe like this computer I am overloaded and just tooo slow!
Susan

Thank you everyone. I have had another chat with Cindy from  the two Aussie mags. I am reassured that the magazine will be something which should appeal to Collectors  and Artist and not just be a hobby craft mag. I have signed up for an ad for DB&C and two with BC so we will just have to wait and hope that it all turns out as well as it sounds.
Anyone who has a chance to contact them and let them know directly that you would like to se a date on the cover may help influence them as they do seem to be open to ideas.
Susan

Maybe there could be some of you interested in a swap....although postage may be a stumbling block. I do sometimes buy the Teddy Bear Review but it is so expensive here. i now subscribe to TB&F and did so for two reasons, the newsagent seemed to be getting in only one or two copies and I would miss out and they were about six weeks old so things like the Toby award , were almost over by the time I got a copy. Also they then made a special reduced offer. I have just updated to a 12 month sub. as they offered a gift which arrived this week. It is a lovely teddy key ring. Yes I'm a sucker for a free gift. But to get back on topic , lets hope that BC is marketed as well as TB&F.
Thank you for letting me know how unavailable BC has been for Artists/Collectors in US.
If anyone else buys it or has made a purchas as a result of buying it I would still love to hear from you. At the moment I am torn betwen wanting to support a local magazine but also using my money to best advantage.
Thanks ,
Susanl

Thanks Luan, that is interesting. From a bear artist point of view I am pleased that they are reducing the number of projects, even though I did supply several ( and for which I was paid). I also have most, but not all of each of these magazines , plus many others, and just can't throw them away.
        I was interested to hear that BC is difficult to obtain in the US . I also understand that despite only 4 hours flight to N.Z for Aust. they magazine has, at least in the past, taken about 6 weeks to arrive in paper shops. I wonder if this is still the case.
Susan
www.adorablebears.com.au

My main point in starting this discussion was to find out if many of you actually subscribe to either magazine or even buy it . I am paretically interested in how many outside Australia buy Bear Creations as most of my bears are sold o/s especially going to the U.S.
I will advertise with BC again but when and how much is what I am trying to determine. I have also advertised with Bear Facts and run one or two with TB&F some years ago. I would just love to know what mags. you all buy and if they have led you to a bear purchase.
Susan
www.adorablebears.com.au

Lisa, As you may..or may not know , I have advertised with both magazines a great deal over the years (12). What I meant by saying that at times i wonder if it would be just as useful to toss money in the air. is that it is a hard thing to measure. At times there were advertising people  who had no idea that the majority of Bear Artists work long hours for a small financial reward. Thus the cost of advertising which seemed very fair to those employed on the magazine, was a huge percentage of the years bear income.
       I too am excited by the proposed changes to Bear Creations and look forward to my continued support through advertising. I have also submitted many  projects in the past, most of which, were last minute phone call from them desperate for an immediate project as someone had failed to deliver. I was actually asked to do one for this August but there was no follow up so I assume it will not go ahead.
       With regard to the date on the cover TB&F have month/year on the cover and they distribute worldwide. I hope they reconsider this at ABC  & DBC.
        Again....I am looking forward to a new look bear magazine. and wish them well and will continue to support the magazine when possible.
Susan

I have been talking to Cindy from Australian Bear Creations . She informed that BC has under gone very big changes with new owners.She is new to the advertising dept.
Those who buy the magazine in Australia will know that it has been sold for some time with the latest copy together with an 0ld copy, in a plastic sleeve. While some saw this as a great way to market the magazine ( something for nothing), others like myself didn't want two magazines. Many people also said that they would pick up the double magazine then replace it confused  if it was  an old or new edition. (no date on cover)
     I understand the changes include a new Editor who will be a Bear ......in fact it is to be  Bear Artist ,name will not be disclosed. I'm not sure if this will be good or not....time will tell. I have advertised with the magazine in the past and am looking at placing a few ads later in the year.But as you know advertising is many , many bear hours of work and you sometimes wonder if it would have the same effect if you just threw your hard earned money in the air.
Do any of you buy/subscribe to Australian Bear Creations or their other publication Dolls Bears and Collectables ?
I do think that the whole new approach to the magazine will be good. Apparently they will be replacing the extra old copy with give aways and promotion goodies for the buyers.
Susan
www.adorablebears.com.au

I sent a tiny 7 inch bear to Canada...It didn't arrive to the address. It was insured and Australia  Post tracked to Canada but Canada post didn't cooperate with Aust Post investigation. I was told it could have even been sitting on a shelf in some post office but no they didn't seem to want to check. I did receive full insurance , however,had to quickly make another bear. Fortunatly this has only happened once in 12 years (not counting the credit card thefts) so I guess i am lucky. But I do understand the upset of wondering who has your bear.
Susan
www.adorablebears.com.au

Paula , I think it is all about what you condition your body to do. I,m sure you could also run in warmer weather. At least you get out  and work your body.  Keep at it and don't let the hot weather get you down.
Susan
www.adorablebears.com.au  :clap:

I must admit that I won't go for a run if it is over 40C, 38C is good , 30 is nothing but a pleasant day.
Drink lots of water and enjoy each day.
Susan
www.adorablebears.com.au
I.m 57 years young.

I much prefer locknuts. They also add weight to a bear. In the head I usually use a "grub" screw which has a locknut on each end which is then tightened with an allen key. These are also great for the limbs as the limb can be filled and the seam closed prior to attatching to the body. They cost a little more but better than messing around with glue.
Lock nuts are also stronger for any bear ,and are preferable for that reason in any bear over 6".
But in the long run ...give each a good try (more than 2 or 3) then decide which is best for your bears.
Susan
www.adorablebears.com.au

I used wool fur about 11 years ago. It was lovely and soft but I could no longer buy it. I purchased from a supplier in Australia called Bartfields. They were always very reasonably priced but a little limited in their range. Im not sure if they are still trading.
Susan

I will try to post a few photos but remember I am a computer dummy. I may be able to get my husband to do it for me once we catch up with many other tasks....(end of financial year etc) . Hopefully they will be worth waiting for.
Susan

I missed the Paris Bear Show by just a couple of days but must admit that I more than made up for it by all the Monet paintings I saw. ( The Paris show does look as if it was wonderful...congratulations to all concerned) After eight days in Paris we went to Basel where i did make time to visit the Puppenhausmuseum. Just loved it but was a little sad that I was unable to use a camera. I thought, no matter I will buy their book.....no book. What a lost opportunity for them . I am sure they would sell thousands.
       Drove through Germany and was able to visit Steiff and see their new museum. I had seen the old one a couple of years ago. What a wonderful museum. They are able to tell the story of Steiff and the history of the time to appeal to both children and adults. I was able to take lots of photo's. While I loved this museum i wished they could have also kept the old one which was also splendid...I guess they only have so many bears to display. I did purchase one mohair Steiff (not five like last time), plus a couple of cute llittle plush bears for little family members...their first Steiffs. Yes I am doing my bit to encourage then to become bear collectors.
     Now it is back to Winter in Australia. housework, the gym and fortunatly a couple of bear orders to help save for the next trip.Apart from a case ful of washing, I returned with fresh ideas which I joted down as they came to mind. Now I just have to find the time to work on my ideas.
I think the measure of a good holiday is being happy to return home...and it is great  to be back in Australia.
Susan

This also happened to me about 6 months ago. I changed my password but will not use ebay until they offer more security.
Susan
www.adorablebears.com.au

A second stream has started on this topic but in case you have missed it.....They are out. They actually walked out at about 6am today Tues. Great joy!! All our good thought may have helped. The rescue workers worked hard in dangerous conditions to bring their mates to safety. We must also conceder the family of their co worker killed in the rock fall. Hopefully these miners will now be able to say goodbye to him as the family waited, hoping the rescue would be over and a success before the funeral.
Good thoughts and special prayers sometimes work.
A day of joy and sadness
Susan
Australia