Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

i'm sitting here on the phone, on hold so one finger typing. its to change a hol booking. wed is my real work day so lots to do and back out later. Phone answered, £40 poorer to change name from Mr to Mrs.  Money for nothing. Still, blame hubby he booked it and never checked the booking papers! He won't do it again, for sure.

I've been occupied with the garden so not much bearmaking done. Got one started but thats it. Its not a bad day and got Mark and my dad on the decking rails. Also they've got the posts in for a pergola, my little bear making garden den.

Our kids were off at Easter and this is school time, hurrah! So at least a little routine for us. I must say the weeks wizz by though. I'm so looking forward to a little bit of nice weather to do stuff, moving earth was no fun in the rain.

Thanks Kris sounds great idea. 

Thats exactly what I was thinking Catherine. Sometimes its a trade off between what we would like to do to keep it interesting and what the collectors want.

I've not heard of those terms, maybe I'm too young! 

Saying that we used to have a maid by the hearth. A fold up clothes horse that mum used to put terry towelling nappies and knickers on to dry by the fire.

Dilu this is one of my favourite thoughts! So very true in everything.

My problem is I've gone too far the other way, trying too many things and being tied up in knots. It stopped becoming fun trying new things and a chore, if you see what I mean. Thats why I wondered if anyone else found the same thing happening to them. Now I really must finish those bear legs, then.....I'm going to do an anime, that at least helps to give me that wacky change, they're fun to do!

Have a good time Gemma! I once did a horror 12 hour flight with Amy when she was 17 months old, she slept less than an hour on it! She loved the fact all those people were in one space to nosey at. On the way back (we got married in Vegas) she was perfect and slept loads, hee hee. Just keep thinking of Oz, not the flight. Good luck. 

Hiya. What a lovely read, well done. I love the look too. Did you change the background in the code? Thats the only way it looks like you can do it. My brains too fuzzy to try that at the moment. I'll add you link if I may. Please feel free to add mine if you want to.

http://pandypotter.blogspot.com/

I think sometimes I really must see things through, I think we all get bored but I seem to have gone too far the other way changing things. Saying that I only half finish the bears!  A clue, it was'nt what I wanted to do in the first place I suppose. Now I must finish some legs on a bear......

I've had another miniature thought! 

Do you think as miniature makers we can go too far down the overdoing it route?

What makes me ask is because as a whole we are limited in fabric choice (types, not colours) and size do we go overboard trying to make each bear different. I feel I've been a bit preoccupied trying to make my bears look different, not from other makers, but from eachother. Eyelids here, open mouth there, long body, short body, head changes galore.... You get the drift, rather than keeping to what I and my collectors like or expect. I've been a bit lost with it all.

Or do you love the thrill of trying different things.....

I finally feel I like what I'm doing but don't want to drift down that constant changing route, in the future, yes, but not from one bear to another every week!

I'd love to know how you feel or even how your collectors feel about change.

Too right Paula, I have to work really hard to look this simple!   

I think I know whats bugging you Paula. You put so much detail into your bears and patterns that when you 'go simple' for the look you think somethings missing. In fact I think its really hard to keep it simple and get this look, so you've done brilliant!!! Its really very well done and captures a long ago charm. A bear would be a great addition.

Well done Gemma, you've had a very well deserved weekend! Go for it!  :hug:

Try this site, I made my website heading/banner with it. Check it out click website under my avatar.

http://www.grsites.com/generate/category/1/

I also recently purchased new templates for ebay and I was allowed to use the header on my blog. Its a lady called Linda that does them. Click on ebay (under avatar) then about me to see the full template. I'll be using the listing template later tonight.

http://www.lindapindadesigns.com/auctiontemplates.htm

Penny from Gotobed bears is also fantastic but she has a lot on at the moment. She did my avatar.

Hope this helps.

Great post. For the UK girls Wilkinson's had some lovely papers/card in and less than £2 a pack for lots of colours.

Thanks for sharing. I'd been thinking of this but as always the thought just went and fluttered back out  ! Good reminder.

Good book choices. I started off with Jennifer Laing, super books. As for the miniatures hmmm....I recently made a large bear and apart from some machine stitching I make both miniatures and big ones the same. That said tips for turning small joints etc, it would all be good advice. I forget all the 'learn the hard way' mistakes I've made.    Just ask if you want any help on the miniature front.

Just adorable! I'd keep this one too!

Lovely sweet face. Keep at it Kay!  :hug:

Good post Lisa. Mine tend to be low but then as the mood takes me higher! It made me think of how it can totally alter the bears look when I looked through the photos. 

Hmmm....me thinks cheeky buggers!!!! It sounds like someone again, trading off all your hard work to get access to your mailing list etc. I was surprised on my web stats to find where people come from internet page wise and where they live! Of course the information for me is useful, mine mainly came from here and my ebay me page, but for someone else to check your site stats, naughty.

I'm a nosey thing but from a how are ya doing matey? point of view, not you're doing very nicely, let me in on the act!!!!! I don't like to say this but I would'nt be surprised if its the same people who 'lift' your bear ideas. Thing is any one of us would share stat information to help people to see where people link from, but ask first!

Just had a look at my stats and someone from Melbourne Googled my full name and had a look at my website. Amazing really the way it all works, how I can find that out. But thats for me to find out, not that I need to really, not anyone else, for whatever reasons. Sorry you have had your privacy invaded like this.

Thanks for this as it can just be what people need, an inspirational thing to keep going. I thought it was great for you to tell us about the competitions so am entering my first this year. Sometimes its hard to keep at it, so thanks for sharing.

Well done!!!!!

Thanks for the updates. It keeps changing all the time. As to the bidders ID been hidden I have mixed views. On one hand I like it that people can see that no 'funny business' is going on with my auctions but there must be a small network of collectors who clash against eachother. At least they can bid without upsetting anyone with hidden ID. Either way problem took out of my hands on this one, still not sure how I feel. Pros and cons.

Stunning Easter set.  :clap:

Happy Mother's Day! My cousin has had a baby boy today, just in time.  :dance:

Hi all. I made this bear ages ago but used doll eyes. I needlesculpted the area to make a place for it to go. I took the back off the eye to make it flatter. I then glued it and needlefelted around it to make eyelids and make it secure. I'm sure there are better ways but thats how I did it at the time.