Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

They are all adorable! I like the one on the right with the blue dot fabric the most! Your customer is going to to be so pleased with them!! I love the one I adopted from you!

I love my featherweight too and also my Viking which is a basic model and a work horse. All the bells and whistles intimidated me and aren't necessary for bear making. BUT..... I've been getting into some other sewing projects and would like another machine that does some fancier things. The nearest Viking dealer is nearly 2 hours from me so I won't get another Viking... mine doesn't get cleaned/serviced as often as it should.

Do you know what the model # is of the machine you are buying Karon? And no foot pedal? There must be a knee pedal then? How does it work? Look forward to hearing what you think of it after you've used it a while. Janomes are good machines. I used to work at a quilt shop and a lot of folks brought them to classes so I've worked with quite a few.

Oh wow! He's absolutely gorgeous! I just love Kat's realistic bears!! 

I'll get it off to you sometime this week and email ya with the shipping cost. PayPal is fine!

Great advice. We've discussed this with using certain organic and inorganic materials for stuffing in the past and many have stated that their country won't allow such materials through customs. It's really just not worth the risk where there are materials out there such as glass beads and stainless steel shot that are readily available and safe to ship just about anywhere.

I bought a bag of it out of curiosity. I have not opened the bag but can tell that, for me, it's not something I'll use. It's little pieces of some sort of synthetic material... like shredded foam sort of. It could be very interesting and produce great results but just not something I think I could easily work with knowing how I stuff my bears. If you want this bag to try it out I'd be happy to send it to you for just the cost of shipping.

Hi Cindy and welcome back!!

I created a public page on Facebook called Artist Teddy Bears For Sale where any artist can post a photo of a bear they have up for adoption and a link or email address to where it can be purchased. I've gotten fantastic feedback from artists who have used this page to sell bears. There are nearly 700 followers/collectors on that page so it's great exposure and it's FREE! Here's a link:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Artist-Te … 7833319592

You might also consider doing a teddy bear show or high end craft show. As we approach fall and holiday season buying should hopefully pick up. Sales on eBay, Etsy, etc. are often slow during the summer months. But 9% of final value on Ebay? YIKES!!!

"Fallen" rose has very good advice. Look on eBay or do a google search and see if you can find bears similar in style/materials as yours.

The pricing you saw us discuss in past threads here using a price per inch guide was mainly for mohair bears as the cost of mohair was factored into that. ($200-300 per yard on average!) You are using much more affordable materials so your price will likely be lower.

I grew up with a Pom. Not a mini though. How big will she get? SOOOO cute!

No we don't and they usually aren't right up against the backing of the mohair which steel shot may be depending on how a person stuffs their bears.

My teddy mentor showed me a tupperware container of steel shot she'd had for about 20 years. It was sealed tight and stored in her attic untouched all that time. There was so much rust in there you couldn't see through the container and if you touched the shot the rust was all over your hands. She lives in NH, her attic isn't climate controlled... we get snow and rain and plenty of humdity. I'm sure some of our artist bears end up in storage in people's attics, basements, etc.... some for years even perhaps. I'd rather not take a chance I guess.

Steel rusts. Copper can slow down the process but not eliminate it.

That is why we've often discussed STAINLESS STEEL shot and why such places as Sassy Bears and Fabrics sells just stainless steel shot.

You might use the library or search function to look for discussions we've had here in the past about steel shot... I think you'll find a lot of info.

I agree to stay away from copper shot as it does turn color like anything copper does!

Stainless steel shot is heavier than glass beads.

I get my glass beads from CRsCrafts and I use mohair with a tightly woven backing so no problems with it coming out but if you're concerned you can make a pouch out of muslin, fill it with glass beads then insert into tummy.

I use nuts and bolts and also always fill the feet and ankles with steel shot or glass beads. That can help them to stand too! Once in a while I fill the whole leg or all of the body with weight. It's quite easy to get a bear toooo heavy actually!

Thanks, Gail!
Look forward to seeing you!!

Wow! Thanks for all the compliments!!! It's nice to see some Pippi fans (and one who's not)!

I have finally completed my gallery piece for TBAI on Aug. 14th. This year's theme is "Children's Classics". I chose "Pippi Longstocking".
I always wanted to be Pippi when I was a kid... no parents to answer to .... strong enough to pick up a horse... and lucky enough to have a monkey for a pet!

Here is 12 inch Pippi and her monkey, Mr. Nilssen. They'll be available for adoption at TBAI, with total adoption fee going to benefit Ross Park Zoo in Binghamton, NY.

www.TBAI.org

Workshops are invaluable throughout anyone's career as a teddy bear maker! I've taught beginners and experienced bear makers alike and everyone takes home new knowledge... be it a different way of putting eyes in or embroidering noses or they learn of a new kind of stuffing or thread to try. In workshops you're learning TECHNIQUES and tips and tricks and resources to then apply to your own work. The finished bear is not what you're there to make... it's the HOW TOs!!! I've been making bears for nearly 10 years and I still take workshops, ask questions and try new things until I find what works for me! An artist's work must evolve through out their career to stay fresh and appealing to collectors... it can't evolve without learning new things! Enjoy those workshops!!!

I've gone back to reread the questions which was when "do the bears take on that professional look"? That's different than when does the ARTIST become a professional I think, sort of.

The answer is still similar... everyone learns at a different pace, everyone's abilities vary greatly and everyone has a different opinion of what is "professional looking". I've seen some bears by artists who have been selling for a while and they did NOT look professional at all while others were finding fault with thier work which was very well done. I've been a fiber arts juror for the oldest craftsmen's league in the US... the standards are high... there are specifics to look for in design, construction, execution of techniques as well as over all appearance.

In most cases 4 bears and a class do not make you a professional but it's a start.    Most though not all "professional" artists do indeed spend years working to get where they are today. Don't expect to be an overnight success... don't think you're going to make money doing this.... just pour your heart into what you do, enjoy it and keep learning and practicing. The more you make the better you will likely get at it. You may be surprised where your bear making adventure takes you!

I agree with Sue Ann on all counts. 

Paula, as always, you make many valid, level-headed points!

I definitely agree with some of the things he said but some of the things are typical of just about any forum out there!

I like a person who can honestly speak his mind and cut through the fluff so good for him! He is entitled to his opinion, after all.

I honestly don't recall much about Eric or when he was at all active on here but we've had plenty of drama in the past and if he was around for any of it that would certainly be cause for his comments.

It's been fairly quiet and peaceful on here lately (knocking on wood with Laura) so I'll just enjoy that!

I worked in a vets office and we sold tons of Furminators! They are awesome and work great on any dog with a thick undercoat of fur.

***It is not for use on dogs with "hair" or who have single layer coats like many terriers, poodles, etc. That's why it's call the "Fur"minator and not the "Hair"minator!!    I'm just pointing this out as it seemed clients at the vet's office didn't always understand this.

Love this cow!! Her new family is going to love her too!   

I've gotten to know your grandmother quite well since Jodi started this conversation 3 years ago.  I'm sure by now she's gotten in contact with her. Johnni is such a wonderful lady and so full of ideas and inspiration. I got together with her and another bear artist friend just last month for a day of bear making... I learned a lot from your grandmother!!! You are so lucky to have such a sweet and cmulti-talented grandmother!! Sounds like the creativity runs in the family too!

OMG--- Hunting Season!  :doh:  I don't think I'll be able to handle that! How do Sue and Lynn get through that every year! 

July 18 - DRAMA CONTINUES
Seems Lily is having second thoughts AGAIN about this whole "being a momma" thing. I think she has split personalities.
Poor Hope. They slept 1/2 mile apart from each other last night. Hope found Lily today but it sounds like Lily isn't happy about being found. The poor babe just wants her momma!    Waiting for tonight's update....

You know, i've been thinking about getting rid of my website... keep the domain name but not the hosting. With all the layout options on Blogger it looks like you can have a multiple page blog and I've seen a number of people listing and selling their goods on a blog page that looks like a regular website, paypal buttons and all. And then there's all the FB opportunities, including this storefront which looks great! And of course Bearpile, Etsy, etc. I could just have my domain name point to my blog. No more hours doing website updates and all. Once I have my blog set up right it should be easy to update. Have to give this some serious thought and really plan it out first.