Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Hi Kirsten,
In case you don't pick it up before dropping by here - I have sent you an e-mail regarding the adorable picture of your daughter with our own Judi
Bear hugs,
Christine

Hey Debbie,
What a brilliant idea!!  Thanks for sharing
Hugs,
Christine

This is great, you guys - I'd love to hear more opinions!
And I'll be coming after those of you who have already posted for photographs, so start sorting through your images now!
Hugs,
Christine

Hi everyone,
I am putting together a feature for Teddy Bear & Friends magazine on the subject of having children attend bear fairs, and I would welcome your input.

Whether you are an exhibitor or a collectors (and I know that many of us are both!) - how do you feel about children being allowed into the exhibition hall?
If you are a bear artist, do you allow children to pick up your bears?  Do you have 'pocket money' items on your table so that children can have something they can afford?

As an exhibitor - if you have children, do you bring them with you to shows?  how do you keep them amused?

As a collector - if you have children yourself, do you bring them to shows?  What do you think children get out of attending a bear fair?  What would you like to see made available for children?  (eg, a quiet space for them to go if bored, entertainment...).  What is the best experienece you have had when bringing your child to a show?

If you don't have children (or they are grown up) - do you mind children being at shows?
I really hope some of you will come up with some interesting answers - you can respond here, or e-mail me privately.  I am also looking for good quality pictures, particularly of anything creative you have done to keep children amused at shows!  Please note that, if you want to send me a picture of your child or children at a show that would be fantastic - but I will need your written consent to use the image.  Please can you get back to me in the next few days??

I look forward to hearing from as many of you as possible!!:))
Beary best wishes,
Christine

Hi guys,
You need to put 'stuffed animal' in there as that is what the code refers to and it helps Customs to find it in their big book    I always add 'soft toy (teddy bear)' for clarification, so that they do NOT jump to the concusion that it is a piece of taxidermy.  I guess that would be a different tariff code anyway, but the more help you give the Customs boys and girls, the smoother ride your bear is likely to get.
Hugs,
Chris

Hi Dilu,
I imagine that was the thinking behind the Japanese wording, yes.  However, they should also have put the universal tariff code on the box, which might have saved poor Bluebottle his slasher movie moment!!
For anyone exporting outside of their own country, the tariff code is: 95034100 and the description of contents should be something like: "Stuffed animal soft toy". 
This does not guarantee a free ride as far as Customs are concerned - unless you are exporting TO the USA, in which case your customer will have no duty to pay.  But the right code and description should at least speed your bear's progress and lessen the chance of the box being ripped open.
Hugs,
Chris

Wow, you guys are making me feel very lucky indeed!!  I picked up an old treadle Singer locally (I know, not quite the same thing as a featherweight!) - but it still has all it's feet, tools, and the original manual and is circa 1930, I think.  It was advertised for £25 and my husband knocked the guy down to £20 (yes, I was a tad embarrassed about that!).  At the moment we are using it to put the tv on, but if utility bills keep sky rocketing, I might have to wheel it out and use it to make bears!
Christine

Ohhhh Daphne, do you know what you might have started??

Try www.clothdollpatterns.com- although the site is mainly for selling patterns, you will pick up the names of the artists who created them.  Some of them are mind-blowing!!
Along with Akira Blount, try Susan Fosnot - she makes the most amazing oil-painted cloth dolls - she might even up up for teaching a class at one of your shows...
Chrisx

Well done, Sue Ann!! :clap:
Chrisx

Interesting question, Amanda!
I definitely think that you shouldn't add something to a bear just for the sake of being clever, but we all love to experiment - and your eyelids, open mouths et al may one day be looked upon as 'transition bears' between moving from one style to another.  As Kay said, the most important thing is to follow your heart
Christine

I was going to reccommend the Debbie Kesling book too!  I used to know her and she made gorgeous miniature bears, so any words of wisdom she has to impart are well worth having...

Jennifer Laing has written a couple of books too and I believe there is at least one pattern for a miniature.  I can't remember the titles - anybody??  You could always just search for her on Amazon.
Happy hunting!
Hugs,
Christine

It's a scam, I'm sure of it - boy, these people get more sneaky by the day!    Steer WELL clear of this one!!!
Hugs,
Chrisx

Hi Donna,
I see where you are coming from and you are on the right lines.  Your resale number enables you to claim back tax on goods you buy for your business, right?  In Europe, if you are registered for VAT you can do the same.  HOWEVER, does this company know that you are outside the European Union?  Make this clear to them because they don't need a VAT number from you and should NOT be charging you VAT in any case.  Perhaps they just have a standard reply format or something, which doesn't take into account customers from outside the EU... anyway, point out to them that you are outside the EU and therefore not liable for VAT, so they should just be charging you the cost of items without adding on any VAT.
Best wishes,
Christine

Well done, Paula! :clap:
And I think you have the German language essentials covered!!
Hugs,
Chrisx

Thanks guys,
I will check out all your suggestions! :hug:
Christine

Anybody out there???  Speak to me, guys!!!
Hugs,
Christine

Hiya,
Does anyone know where I can get faux fur that has a sparse or random pile, or anything a bit curly that looks like ratinee mohair????  I have contacted Beary Cheap, but I wondered if there was anywhere else... a bit closer to the UK would be nice, but I will take what I can get!

Hugs,
Christine

I agree with Penny... although WHOIS does have its uses.  I will admit to, on occasion, having used it myself to check whether an Ebay seller was legit - well, I was about to give rather a lot of money to a complete stranger in a foreign country!!  

I don't know that it's so different from being able to look up a business at Companies House?  And, as Penny says, you can set up privacy protection to hide your details from prying eyes, if you wish.

I have had some weird and annoying e-mails that have come via my blog lately, though.  They appear to be spam and I usually hit delete without opening them as I can check the addy a message has been sent from and it's usually just a random string of letters and numbers.  I think this is just an irritation we have to put up with, and the price we pay for having a presence on the www.
Hugs,
Chris

He's clearly not too bright either - otherwise he wouldn't have told you he wants to sell on Ebay!

Chrisx

Thank you!!!
I am just about to ship him, but thought I would drop by TT to see what you all think of him
Hugs,
Christine

Hi guys,
I have just finished making this panda, which is a commission.  His name is Bei-Jing and he was made using my direct sculpt method.  This is the most realistic bear I have done so far.  He stands around 17 inches and is made from gorgeous, soft alpaca.  I hope you like him!!

Last Minute Lucy, that's me!!
I got up early this morning and added some more pictures to my Hugglets preview on my website. 

 
Here is another direct-sculpted bear I have finished just in time for the show!!  His name is Claude and he will be on my stand (no.28) tomorrow!
Huggies,
Christine

Hi all,
Yes, the Apoxie Sculpt will stick to the mohair without any help - in fact, be very careful not to get in places you don't want it, because it is almost impossible to remove!!    
Hugs,
Christine

You guys still planning on coming over next year??  Great!!!!!  Although it will be hit and miss with the weather!

Hugs,
Chrisx

Me!  Stand 28, as usual
Chris