Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Big congrats to you Shelli for the award and to all the others that had nominations,
Hugs,
Catherine

I too use the wire to create my footpads and it is so quick and also easy to alter the shape - have fun :)

Hugs,
Catherine

Winney.. I just went searching for that site and this should work -cute graphics.

http://groups.msn.com/BearySpecialThings/home.htm

Catherine

Hi Amanda, this reminded me of another topic a little while back about scented teddies and whether it is a good idea - may well answer your thoughts on lavendar. 

http://www.teddy-talk.com/viewtopic.php?id=167

I would also be a little cautious about using lavendar just incase over the many years it goes 'off'.  I know that I have lavendar sachets that are still fine after many years but I would probably avoid them in a ted's tum.

I hope this helps a bit,
Hugs,
Catherine

Hi Tammy,

This was perfect timing for me, I just thought this morning that I would like to try armatures in my bears arms ..came along here  and there was your message with a perfect photo   So I went straight along to the hardware store and found everything I needed except the ring terminal (will look elsewhere for that).... THANKS so much.  It really helped me to know what I was looking for in the store, especially with everything in another language for me.  I think people thought I was crazy going along all the electrical wires bending them to see if they kept their shape:P

I also managed to find a bag of cotter pins - WAYYYY cheaper than buying from teddy stores... I'd rather save my money there and put it into buying scrummy mohair!

Bear Hugs,
Catherine

Hi Danni - well done you - lovely to see your first bear in print, I'm sure there will be more to follow 

Bear Hugs,
Catherine

Thanks everyone, Kelly your bears in the photos are soooooo sweet, I love Katy with her gingerbread man - very inspiring   Magnets here I come!

Catherine

I'd like to add some magnets into the paws of a bear so he can hold onto something. But I'm not sure how to go about this, what kind of magnet would I use and would I just put it in amongst the stuffing in the paw or have to secure it somehow?

Thanks for any ideas,
Bear Hugs,
Catherine

Hi Clare, I don't do anything fancy for the mailing list at the minute. I just get people to send me an email if they want to join.  I then put their details into my mailing list book, and then when I have a new bear I just send out an email to them all, putting their names in the BCC section and sending it directly to me, that way each person receives it as an individual email and can't see the other emails on the list... for privacy.  Does that make sense?  Really it's so easy, especially as I'm not into the hundreds yet for the list! Sure you could do this :)

Thanks for your encouragement,
Catherine

Hi Rita, good to hear you are doing better.  Your panda is really sweet, I love the pink - did you hand dye that?

Hugs,
Catherine

Thanks everyone

Catherine

Hi Heather,

I pin my footpads on the top and bottom like you and then also fold in quarter and pin at those side points .. I then pin all the way round like daphne said to be able to ease it all in to fit...  If that's not working then it could well be the pattern.

Catherine

http://www.bearpile.com/signup.cgi  on that page I do option 3 - I just put them on my links page and then when I post a bear it appears on the front page which if sold through them I give a 10% commision to them. That is the only cost ever involved.  I have not yet sold any bears through this site, but others seem to have success. 

Hope that helps,
Catherine

  It must just be my bears then...

Sue Ann and Judi, I just looked on Ebay under search words "Franklin Mint holly" and see that there are quite a few of your adorable bear being sold, including separate christmas outfit.... she is an apsolute darling   How did you manage to get your design taken on by Franklin Mint, being new to the industry I haver not heard of them before?  Your rooster is GREAT as are all the other furry friends shown here

Hugs,
Catherine

Hi everyone,

I was just wondering how you get on selling your bears through your mailing lists?  I have got a mailing list of people that have adopted bears from me and also people that have seen articles in magazines about me and asked to join my list.  Everytime I have a new bear I send out an email to them all, telling them a little about the bear with a photo.  I always try to keep it friendly and clear but I don't seem to have any luck selling through this mailing list.  How do you all get on?  Do you do anything special with your mailings? 

I'd really appreciate any suggestions to improve this,
Thanks a lot,
Bear Hugs
Catherine

Hi Sue Ann, what a sweetie, I love his muzzle and nose.  What did you use to do his nose?  Good luck packing!

Catherine

Hi Shantell, I love the green pastures idea.. but also the first thing that came into my mind when I heard quilts and teds together ... was of bears all wrapped up cosy in the quilts... all snug in bed with a quilt over them.... would make a cute image.... snug as a bug in a rug = snug as a bear in a quilt --- "bedtime bears" (although I'm sure that would already be taken).... I'm not sure if I've helped, but it may give you some more ideas to ponder over.

Bear Hugs,
Catherine

Hi Shantell,

I have a scanner at home, so after taking off the seam allowance I scan the pieces in.  I then take the exact sizes of the pieces and increase them by however much I want.  I increase each piece by the same, ie all by 10% or whatever you wish.  So I would think it would work just as well at the copy shop.

Good luck :)
Catherine

wow Clare, you've made a fantastic job out of what must have been very challenging fabric.  I love his proportions and his head is so full of character.

Catherine

Hi Rita, I agree he is a lovely chap.  I think it is possibly his mouth too, on my monitor his bottom lip looks rather a strong colour (purpleish), almost a little like he has lip stick on ... maybe this is the point and it is a female bear   or it could just be my monitor not showing up the true colour.  If it is true, maybe tone that and the red nose down very slightly and he'll look even better.  I think the mohair is lovely.

Hugs,
catherine

Hi Danni,

I think that Thomas is a really sweet bear, I think his proportions looks great, I like his hump and longer arms.  He still looks like a Delartful Bear but at the same time having a new look - really great work Danni, I would definitely do some more like him :)

Hugs,
Catherine

Dear Shari,

I just wanted to say I totally understand how you feel, it is so very disheartening and especially hard to take when other things in life get us down.  I've just been to your website and your bears truly are superb, I'm not just saying that.   Just look into their faces and try to focus on the satisfaction you can gain from creating such amazing sweet characters.  I know that we need to sell bears when they are our income, but it seems like a lot of us are in the same boat right now, so hang on in there and get ready for autumn and Christmas shopping, hopefully   Also are there any craft stores, bear shops, gift shops that may be interested in stocking your bears?  Keep going Shari x

Big bear Hugs,
Catherine

I too find the high costs for Ebay starting to put me off, I have recently listed two bears on the featured listing section of Ebay to try to get seen better in amongst all the hundreds of lovely bears, neither sold and I had to pay whopping amounts to list them.  I did however sell one to someone that had seen it on Ebay after the auction.  So it did work as good advertising, but it is hard to swollow the prices.  I think it would be great if lots of bear artists gave support to The Teddy Patch, surely if enough were there then the collectors would follow?  I'll certainly be taking another look.

Catherine

Thanks, I have now found some varnish I used to use to cover decoupage and it seems to do the trick   It is going to be interesting trying to sew and glue the nose at the same time ... oh well nothing ventured, nothing ganied!

Hugs,
Catherine