Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Roxanne,
that has really put me off buying pre packed salad! 

kerren

Hi all,
Thanks for taking a peek!
Gemma i think it is an oakley fabrics mohar the German shulte.
hugs Kerren 

Hi,
Here is my "Dare To Care" bear.
His name is "Scooter"
he stands 11" (27cm) approximately
One of a kind bear made from beautiful best quality Schulte German mohair. Scooter has a pellet & fibre filled tummy to give him extra weight. He has cashmere foot and paw pads, with a brown embroidered nose and has black glass eyes with white surrounds and some airbrushed features and is fully jointed.
Dare to care is being hosted in the Teddy bear scene magazine.

thanks  x Kerren

I have had an account with a credit card company for some time now and have
been able to take credit cards and debit cards from overseas and here at
fairs, I paid £18.95 rent and 2.8% for each transaction plus vat, which just
about paid for its self, but now because I don't take many transactions each
month they have started charging me an extra £15.00 a month. When I spoke to
them they said well that is the new policy I had a letter, I have to make my
mind up to keep it and pay almost double or lose it and lose my overseas
collectors. it is the equivalent of giving a £40.00 mini bear away each
month. I felt like telling them where to put the machine! I fet it was like put up or shut up! 
any thoughts? (not where to put the machine)
hugs Kerren

I was looking at ebay  .COM & .CO.UK  only this afternoon and noticed there were only a hand full of artist bears that had been bought for a really good price.
Most I saw had received low bids and gone for very little money and well over half didn’t receive any bids at all.
I think it is a slow market at this time of year.
I was thinking of putting some books up on ebay but most of the books were not selling and if they were it was only one pound fifty or so about 75cents? I didn’t think it was really worth it.
So I wouldn’t worry or take it personally.
Hugs Kerren

Tracy,
So sorry to hear your sad news,  :hug:
hugs Kerren

Just a few pictures of Whitby,
Hi Kat,
Whitby is my favourite place! I hold’s lots of lovely holiday memories from my childhood, we used to stay in cottages in Robin hoods bay, and go up and down the streets where all the smugglers would have gone.
I spent my Punky/Gothy/Alternative teenage years there visiting Whitby, Staithes, Brid and Scarborough.
I used to take my little record player and all my singles with me to play on holiday. No mp3 player in those days! We would visit Woollies to buy records and walk on the beach in the wind and rain and eat fish and chips. then walk up to the Abbey.

We went in late spring this year just after Adele had found out she was expecting we had a lovely day. I think that’s why I love Heartbeat and the Royal, a bit of nostalgia.
Congratulations on your engagement too!
Hugs Kerren

I do take commissions, I explain that my bears are one of a kind and cannot be reproduced to look like a previous bear, as that wouldn't be ethical to a collector who already has the bear they are wanting to be recreated.
So I say similar bears can be commissioned. All the collectors have been happy with their commissioned bears.
The only time I hated it was when a business bought five bears and wanted me to make three or five of each bear.
I felt I was on a production line and got quite stressed trying to make them all the same this took away the enjoyment for me.
So I asked if I could make him individual one off bears that was better for me.
I make bears to order for a company, the lady agrees a size and I make the bear the way I want it, she is happy with that.
We have been working together like that for a good six years or more and it works well. As I can be creative and don't feel pressurised in to making something I wouldn't normally make. Kerren

aww I want one!
kerren

Marie,
I am so sorry to hear of your sad loss, breast cancer, cancer of any type is a horrid thing. Our thoughts go out to you at this sad time, hugs Kerren  :hug:

I use a long paint brush handle starting from the tip of the tail and try to push it through, alternately for mice I would use a fine black cord.
  Kerren

oh she is sooooo cute!
  Kerren

I use ultra suede you can get very fine for mini bears also white perle nose thread.
Hugs Kerren

Oh Chrissie what a great idea!

There are so many great artists out there that get over looked because the collectors get squiffy eyed looking at all the web sites.
I think its a really good idea.  Hugs Kerren

Hi Irene,
It depends, sometimes I just take 20% or payment in full depending on whether they pay by cheque cash or credit card, I do give a receipt.
hope this helps you. hugs Kerren

Hi Laurie,
Before I accepted credit cards I accepted both Western union money transfers and Western union money transfers. I had to collect Western union money transfers from the travel agents so it was quite a car journey, sometimes the exchange rate was correct sometimes not, so I was out of pocket.  The sender had to add extra for the transaction too. With money orders, they have to add extra for the cost of the money order, these can be put in you business account.
Kerren

Hi Jane,
I hope you are feeling better, I don't like hospital.
Will you be at the NEC? if so i will see you there
love Kerren

Hi Paula,
Your garden looks lovely,
I have some pictures of mine now the building work is over i will post them in another topic later.
Kerren

these are a few of my early bears, Saul is one of my 2006 bears
Kerren x

It is strange to think I live in a large city, with farmland all around me.
I get the best of both worlds countryside and city living. What do you see from your work room window?
Kerren x

Thanks Tammy, that is my favourite mohair so soft and curly, I really enjoy hand dyeing as it never turns out the same colour twice!
Kerren

Hi Jane,
she is cute, if not a bit hairy!
when Charlotte was little she saw an advert on tv about adopting a Panda, unfortunately Charlotte thought we would be able to keep him in the back garden!
when i explained you don't get to keep them at home she was really upset.

we just don't have the room    hugs Kerren x

They are both lovely, I wouldn’t be able to choose between them both.
The doll too is beautiful.
I started by collecting dolls before I started bear making,.
I have a number of dolls by Pauline, and a few other dolls but I sold most of the Ashton drake dolls I bought years ago at the fairs. I think your likes and dislikes change over the years, I had a few small artist bears, now I only have seven artist bears one very lovely bear I recently adopted who is and always will be my favourite.
Kerren x

Hi Wendy,
It is the lovely shulte mohair, so soft and curly even more curly when it has been hand dyed,
thanks Hugs Kerren x

Dilu please add mine too. Thanks

hugs Kerren