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Bears by Edie
I thought it would be interesting to see how much everyone's bears have changed and improved from when they started - and also very encouraging for new artists!
I'll even go first - but remember I've been making bears for almost 20 years so my early ones are from a long time ago when supplies weren't as plentiful and methods not so easily shared. Okay, I'm making excuses - here goes! I'm going to post a photo showing my minis which is mostly what I do now and then one showing a couple of larger bears - the 9" grey?/beige? one I thought was so terrific when I finished it that I couldn't bear to part with it! :redface: Looking at my early bears now, if I was just starting out I think I'd give up! - so it just shows what you can do with persistance!
Flying Fur Studios
ooh, I wanna play. Great idea Edie, love to see how you've grown.
it's you guess which one I made 1st :crackup: :crackup:
I want to join in on the fun, too! :dance:
This is Madeleine, the first bear I sorta designed, but not completely from scratch (summer of 1996).
This is Geneva, who I finished on Memorial Day this year, 10 years later.
And here's a second shot of her, just because I like it. 
Edie and Heather, your bears are so sweet! Can't wait to see more of these then-and-now shots. :photo: Great idea, Edie! 
Apple Dumpling DesignsI'll play...
Taffy -- September 2005
Jewel -- September 2006
Boy have things changed in the Apple Dumpling Bears workshop!!!
I forgot how much until right now. 
Hugs,
Wild Thyme OriginalsHere's one from my first few months of miniature bear making.... I think this is somewhere around Christmas of 2003.
And now....
I'd have to say that though I have come a LONG way... I'm a such a poster child for babysteps to get there!
I keep most of the bears I have made on my picturetrail site.... so I'm able to journey back all the time and take a little peek!
Oh this is so interesting... I think it's fascinating to see how things change over the years as people hone their skills and move in different directions. You can so often see just a little smidgen of style, or feeling that has carried through... I can in many that are posted here.... though obviously... everyone gets so much better as time goes on!
NEAT IDEA! 
Kim Basta
Wild Thyme Originals
Great topic, Edie! I wanna play, too.
It's fascinating to watch everyone's progression, and we're all the same in that we started with earnest excitement, and not a lot of skills... and have all come a long way from there!!!
Here's my first bear, still without a name ... and my most recent one.
Wild Thyme OriginalsOh.. perfect example!!!! Shelli, you've gotta name that guy!!!! The first hints of that wonderful Potbelly smile are SO THERE!!!!!! I mean honestly..... look at the smiles on each of those teds..... 
Kim Basta
Wild Thyme Originals
I don't know what to name him. Frankly, he pissed me off and frustrated me so much I contemplated calling him DISAPPOINTMENT. I just could NOT make him turn out better than that and that's what sent me on a bookstore/internet informational RAMPAGE to learn more about bearmaking. Hence, my discovery of artist bears.
Any suggestions for a name? If so, please start a new thread or PM or email me. I don't want to bogart Edie's great topic here, by craming it full of replies!
Baird'sBears:crackup: Are you Kidding, Edie? :crackup:
Last time I showed my Ugly Duckling Bear, there were howls of mirth.
First time, there was a lot of sympathy.
:crackup: I'd prefer to remember the sympathy, thanks all the same!! :crackup: :crackup:
Oh, well, here he is . . .what was I thinking? Both his arms are growing out of his chest! But I wouldn't give him up for anything
Anyway, I built the planter beside the garage all by myself
. . . but these are
. . . keep them coming, pleeze?
Jare Hares & BearsShelli -
You could call him FRED, ED, NED, TED, or my personal Favorite
.
Everyone -
I still have the very first bear that I designed and made around somewhere. I'll have to post a picture of the K-mart bears that mom made.
This is going to be a fun thread.
aerBearsWow, I am so impressed with all the bears! It is so fun to see where you all started!
Here is one of my first bears, Oliver:
Here is one of my more recent bears, Cody:
Aerianna
Past Time BearsOh my, how embarrassing! This is a very early bear when I was still using really cheap synthetics. He's made from a Jennifer Laing pattern. 
This lovely :crackup: :crackup: :crackup: fellow is my very first mohair bear and my very first design all by myself. 
This is my first and last miniature (4") . . . a synthetic bear designed by me. 
And this is a recent bear. 
My very latest. 
Bears by EdieOh this is just so great to see how everyone has progressed - although some of you have been pretty darn good from day one by the looks of it! Keep them coming everyone - this is fun! Really does show how much using good material affects the outcome too doesn't it - I'm sure my early 9" would have been much cuter if he had been mohair rather than the cheapest synthetic on the planet! :redface:
Ruby Mountain Bears
Okay first bears here Jan 2004 Little Grey.
Then progress to flower bear, and the latest bear.
Delartful BearsI'll play!!!
Here are two fine examples of how one improves! The first is Baxter, made in June 05 
This is Duke, made in May 06 from the same mohair, similar pattern from Baxter, it had just evolved since then. I just wish I had a better photo of Duke to show you.
Another example is Fu Ling, made in April 05
And Yue Yan made in Feb 06
What fun - thanks for a great topic Edie!
Danni
Back Road BearsThe first picture is of (L to R):
The second bear I made "Maple", from a Jennifer Laing pattern. "Buddy" the first bear I designed myself and "Chichester", the very first bear I ever made.... with LOTS of help from my bear mentor and friend Diana Lind of Wee Treasures who has been making bears for 20 years, this is her pattern. These were made in 2000.
This is 9 inch "Aidan" made in 2005:
And finally 15 inch "Bluebeary II" made in June of 2006: 
Jare Hares & BearsSue Ann -
I don't know that first bear you posted looks pretty nice to me.
I know that fabric I made a few pieces out of it in my day, like I'm so old. :crackup:
There are a few of you that were good at this right out of the gate.
I'm still digging for photos. :photo: "CLICK!" as MaeLynn says.
OKay me too me too...the first is Jewel, my old avatar, and the first bear made from my own designed pattern.. I will get onto hubbies computer and add some of my first bears ever made which were from comercial patterns, and Nancy's book.
to Sorbet from the same pattern revamped
And then of course on to Tundra
Hugs,
Krista
Back Road BearsDig faster, Jared!!!
Bears by Jodi
This is fun , here are some of my early bears and the 2 at the end what I do now.
Jodi Falk
Very timely Edie. I've just been digging through boxes as I pack to move and found two of my earliest mini bears.
Klaus was born the day after I made my first mini bear at a class in 2000. I came home and the next day designed this pattern (complete with ugly sewn in trousers and boots!!). I can still remember excitedly ringing my sister and telling her about the bear I'd made!! I think he measures about 4 inches. I couldn't quite believe that I could make anything that "small" 
Moonbeam was made at the end of 2001 I think, maybe early 2002. I remember when i made him, I thought I'd finally found "my look". I think he may have had some other adornment that I later stole back off him. Now I just look at him and think what a waste of precious vintage long pile!!! He measures around 2.5" Between the creation of Moonbeam and the wee unamed fellow, I gave up miniatures as I thought they were not my thing at all. I concentrated on 4"-6" bears until the beginning of this year when I got into the miniature groove again. I think I'm slightly more on track this time!!
The little fellow in the photo was finished just last night. He still needs some grooming and a name! I also added a photo of my ballerina who dates from early this year - she's just over an inch and one of my favourites.
Patsy Lake Bears
Bert is one of my early Bears made from a synthetic fabric and a commercial pattern. 1997
Ralph is my first bear designed by me..1999
Ashley is one of my most recent bears2006
What a lovely thread! I have really enjoyed looking at everyone's pictures. Here are mine:
First, these bears were made in the early/mid 90's. They are my own very early designs. The other bears will be more familiar to you - I have picked my most recent favourites to share, all made this summer.
The 'orange blob' bear at the bottom, was my very first bear made in about 1990. I handstitched him from a kiddies kit! 'Ivor' (wearing the tartan ribbon) is the second bear I ever made. He came in kit form and was made in mohair.
Tami Eveslage Original Teddy BearsThis is such a cool topic Edie! The weird thing is I was just thinking about posting exactly the same thing yesterday! I love looking at these! I'm a little intimidated to post mine though because some of these are seriously impressive first bears!!!
I'll have to post earlier bears rather han my first. I made my first when I was 9 and he was a tiny little two piece pattern I drew on brown velour. I remember I loved him, but then later decided he was stupid so I threw him out!
I will post an early bear though.
Wild Thyme OriginalsTami... don't you feel intimidated at all! Though I have to say, Sue Ann... I think that early "cheap" synthetic guy is just adorable!!!!! You folks should see the first "doll" I made... she's somewhere at my parents house in the basement... she's made of a lightbulb covered with panty hose, with glued on yarn braids for hair... :dance: I think I was about 9.
Kim Basta
Wild Thyme Originals
