Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

He has such a sweet expression...you did a wonderful job, like always!  

He has the sweetest possible face. Fantastic bear!

Yes, I would also say that if your bears are OOAK then the category would be as EJ suggested. I have found that often the period right after Christmas is a bit slow with sales, so I wouldn't worry. XXX

He is really adorable! 

Such a sweet, gorgeous bear! 

I hand stitch all my creations. It has nothing to do with thinking that it might be more valuable. It has to do with the fact that I am not good enough with machine sewing to have good results with it, especially as most of my designs have multiple little parts that need very careful and precise sewing. I think what is important is the result. If you are able to obtain a good result with machine sewing, I think there is no shame in saving time....I would do it, if I were good enough! Machine sewing gives me immense stress, hand sewing soothes me!    

Gorgeous bear!
I'm sure he will do splendidly on his auction!

Thank you Lisa!!!   

Thank you for your compliments Michelle!    
I just want to say 'take the plunge' and do it! There are so many artists out there that simply blow my mind with their work, and their work really humbles me. Sometimes I think "I wish I could be as good as they are" but this feeling of being 'less' has actually pushed me to try new things, and make my own work worthier of my self esteem. Also, realistic doesn't mean a perfect copy of nature, so there is also here great space for creativity, and for your own special and wonderful creativity to show! Go for it, I'm sure it will be a great fox!     

I think she is a lovely bear...using 'she' because to me she looks like a girl all right! I don't mind the arm placement at all, I actually like them placed so. I'm sure your niece will be super happy to receive such a lovely bear!

Thanks so much Thelma and Ivi-na!  

Thank you Millie and Peter for the appreciation!!!     

Thank you everybody for the kind comments!     

Wonderful!   

Congratulations! It is a great way to start a new year! 

Yes, that looks definitely like a four pieces pattern! The visual surely helps understanding! :-)

I'm very pleased to present Fiamma, my first 2015 creation on auction here:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/181630379295?ss … 1555.l2649

I wish you a wonderful 2015!!!

Another possibility, if you like to try new designs, is a four pieces head pattern. Imagine the head shape you want and think of drawing an imaginary line from the nose splitting the top muzzle into two parts and going all the way up the head and to the back neck. Another line goes from the head base in the middle of the head side, up the head top and crosses the other line at the center of the head top, then it goes down symmetrically on the other side. A third line from the nose down to the lower muzzle to the head base. This is how you would split the four parts. You design them to fit together accordingly and you can give the head a rounded shape depending on how you draw the curves on the four pieces.
I don't know if it makes sense, it is very difficult to explain it with words and no visual. I hope it helps.

I agree that there is no rule really. But I seem to remember that there is a sort of 'rule of proportions' in Jennifer Laing's  book "Teddy Bear Art". I have it at home and I'm away now so I can't check, but I'm pretty sure I remember something of the sort. Said that, I would suggest to follow your instinct and design following your tastes. If you mean to design a realistic bear, then you could simply look at real bears pictures, and measure the body and head and start from there! That is what I do when I design my animals, if I wish them to have a realistic look.

Merry Christmas dear Peter, to you and to all your beautiful and sweet bears!

I agree with what everybody else said. Sometimes people, especially if they are new to 'our' world, have problems understanding the pricing. When they say that money is 'no issue', they probably mean it earnestly because they imagine that they are speaking about a much lower range than it really is. They don't have any idea of the work and craftmanship involved, of the materials we are using and so on. They compare our work to mass produced toys sold in chain stores, probably produced with underpaid child labor!
I think you have to think of this as a lesson. Your dog is truly beautiful, and I'm sure you'll have no problems selling it to somebody that really appreciates the time and efforts you put into making it. You did a great job, and your inexperience only showed in the 'dealing with the custom order' thing, because other than that, the dog is really great and professionally made!     

I'm not a great expert with pro-markers as I prefer oils to do my fur shading. My experience with pro markers is that you have to put just tiny bits of very gentle shading and build patiently. Also use your blender to soften the 'edge' of the colour. And you could try blowing air with your hair dryer set on low heat. Also brush the fur often between shading, to avoid the fur clumping with bits of colour. I guess the main thing is to remember that you are shading, and not painting. From what you are writing that might be the problem, that you are putting too much at once.
Good luck with your new puppy, it would be nice to see the end result, if you posted a picture maybe?
XXX