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Wild Thyme OriginalsThen we come to glue. Same thing. I have vintage hats with velvet and silk flowers in which glue is the sole method of application. Have you tried pulling flowers off of the really old hats?
Oh My Gosh... YES, Aleta I have in fact done that! What the heck IS that glue made out of! I'd love to know! I've been purchasing some just beautiful old hats and vintage hat flowers lately to use with my bears. That stuff is like steel!
I've had the same experience with elastic in doll clothes as well. My Mom collects vintage hard plastic and composition dolls... most of them are right around the same time that elastic started being produced.... late 40's/early 50's... that elastic has steteched a bit and weakened, but it's still got a touch of stretch to it. My Alice collection has dolls ranging form the 1930's on ward, and each and every pair of pantaloons made after 1980 has completely lost the stretch in the elastic. 
I think that you just have to do your best with the knowledge that you have at the time and what is available to you. 
I certainly don't make any guarantees about how my own teds will look 10 years, 50 years, 100 years down the road, but I do include a little section in my brochure that goes out to my collectors that gives the basic details of "bear care." And I stand behind my work by letting them know that if they ever DO have a question/concern/problem relating to one of my bears... I am just a phone call away, and ready, willing and able to repair and/or replace if need be. So far the only repairs I've dealt with were two unrelated and completely unprovoked "cat attacks!" 
I'm sure my little ones might look just a wee bit like mice to the feline population! So not MY fault, and probably not kitty's fault either, but I was more than happy to help out a fellow bear/cat lover! 
Kim Basta
LuxembearsBack in my early days of doll sculpting, a wonderful Australian artist said something to me that I keep in my mind always now- with both my dolls and bears- she said "always remember that this piece could be the only example of your work left in 100 years time"
I like this a lot. :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:
I like to think of my bears as an extension of myself. They represent me...who I am...so I want them to be of the best quality I can make.
LuxembearswThe bear must be able to stand alone without his accessories or clothes and still be judged a good bear. Is this way he will stand and pass the test of time.
Sandra I agree with you 100%.
If the bear looks great alone, then the clothes are a bonus. 
Kim,
That's so funny! I'm in the process of repairing one of my cats that was attacked by a puppy 
I think he just wanted a friend. He chewed off an ear and the leather tag and it looks like he was licking the cat's nose 
He could have done much worse damage. Anyway, I guess my cats are rugged, I can and will repair this guy to almost new. I think sometimes both cats and dogs need a friend!
Karen
Mountain Dreamer BearsWhat an interesting topic. Great food for thought.
I like to think of my bears as an extension of myself. They represent me...who I am...so I want them to be of the best quality I can make.
I feel this way too. 100%.
From the very start I've tried to learn and think about what will last... maybe not for hundreds of years unscathed but more than just a few! Something I can honestly call heirloom quality. But some things you just don't think about failing ...like florist tape. Makes sense now that it has been brought up! Maybe ribbon is a better choice?
Since that long discussion on glue use a while back I've been a bit leary of it, but I do confess to using a bit now and then, but only to hold something in place until I can afix it in a more permanent way. Ie: sewing in place!
I've also noticed that elastic now-a-days doesn't last at all while the older stuff still has some life in it. I wonder if it is because they used to use real rubber from rubber trees in it and now they use something synthetic?
Anyway, I know I'll be looking at everything I consider using in bearmaking with new eyes! I would simply hate to think of one of my bears just falling apart after all the time end effort that goes into them.
Rufnut Teddy'sGreat Topic Sandra, please write something for the teddy collectors and readers of Aust Bear Creations, I think its a very valuable topic. It is lovely to read others Experiences, and Philosophies, thanks so much :hug:
Has anyone had any experiences with stuffing and fillings and how well they age or do not? What is good and bad, eg. poly fibre, Orlon Flock, Excelsior glass beads, plastic beads, stainless steel, etc
Creative Design Studio (RKR4CDS)What a fabulous subject and personal insight you're sharing ~ THX!!!
Right, elastic gives way within a year or two, depending on the type. There's a Swimwear elastic (@ Hancock's, for sure) that holds up better than most but all eventually fail.
Markers are the ones that drive me up the wall. We have a very well-known pair of artists that do all of their shading around the nose & eyes with a black Sharpie (a Sanford produt? Don't have one at hand) These are known to turn reddish over time....
Another famous artist (up to $1000 bears) marks the mohair and Needle Felted pads with marker; I can only assume that it's Sharpie. Not very well done (defined) markings that show up poorly in pix as I have a set of the bears and that are awful: not crisply defined and bleeding as well as lightening in color...
I see Ellen reports the same thing. I wonder if we have the same person's work! I discovered a few weeks ago the reason for their bubbled, Dbl necks: gathered fabric over the joints instead of flat fabric inserts. On minis I used fabric - I just assumed the the washer part of their work was too small for the space created.
And those that draw the template lines on fabric with pens - I can't tell you the number of bears I've seen that have had these cutting lines, within a few years, continue to bleed into the fabric and show as dark gray shadows in every seamline.
Sometimes there's a need for glue, esp when creating your own acessores like books and wood things. There's a dollhouse glue called GRRRIP - a white glue curing clear) that I've used for almost 20 years and it has yet to let go of paper, leather, wood or fabric. It's quite thick, like Extra Tacky, and easily applied with a needle tip.
Did you use an old knee-hi stocking to cover the end of the vacuum wand? It's a good way not to lose things. I also cover the end with a laddered one when - on VERY infrequent occasion - that I Gasp! vacuum the studio floor. It'd great for recovering all of the tiny eyes, needles that fell into floor cracks, beads, etc.... It retains the good stuff against the end of the hose; hold the wand over an empty container and turn off the power. All of the good stuff is drops into the bowl ab=nd is recovered, much more easily than chasing it down when it happens. Aka - Passive Housekeeping.
Back Road BearsBLACK SHARPIES TURN PURPLE WITH AGE!!!!! In fact, when used on mohair I find it's a matter of days, not years before that purple tinge starts to show, especially in sun or bright light! I learned this lesson the hard way!
Has anyone had any experiences with stuffing and fillings and how well they age or do not? What is good and bad, eg. poly fibre, Orlon Flock, Excelsior glass beads, plastic beads, stainless steel, etc
I can only speak from my limited experience.... as I mentioned earlier excelsior dries out... and I mean really dries out with age. It packs hard, forms a very solid body... rock solid almost. If that's a desired feel great but care must be given at the wrists and ankles. As the mohair also dries out with age (lots of age) those ankles will literally give out! I've seen feet dangling by a thread or two!! Some use it only in the muzzle. Again, it dries out and if for any reason the nose needs to be restitched it can be a bear to do!
Stainless steel.... as long as it's STAINLESS steel shot (which doesn't rust) and not just steel shot which does there should be no problem. I think it's always safe to put it in a little pouch before putting it in the body.
With any type of bead used for weight, be sure it has a layer of polyfill between the fabric and the beads so as not to wear at the backing of the fur. Especially if you aren't putting the beads in a pouch as many don't with plastic pellets.
Elastics? I have vintage doll dresses with elastic in them that have held up while newer doll outfits with elastics have completely failed.
Aleta - I was just thinking the same thing - I have dollies clothes that were my mother's from the 40s and 50s and my own dollies and teddies clothes from the 70s.....these clothes were handmade and they have been hand "washed" numerous times by both me and my sister (along with the dollies) and then dried outside on a farm fenc in the hot New Zealand sun. I think we would have washed them in shampoo! Horrors! but they are still going strong despite all that. If you use good quality elastic then you shouldn't have a problem. Try using the swim wear elastic, which is designed to be durable as it has to beat pool chemicals. Like anything rubberised constant exposure to the sun will make it break down.
Strange BearsNot only does my collection have artist bears but also quite a lot of antique bears.......some english and a lot of Australian. Plus a few schucos and Steiff's ......these are under lock and key and carefully kept in limited light. One thing that was driven home over the last 2 days......how much character these old bears have to some of the newer artist bears due to their worn patches and threadbare condition.
Why do I say this?
My eager helper has been Lara my 6 year old daughter......normally she is not allowed to touch the majority of the collection so her eyes have glowed and oooh and aaahs have come every few seconds as I have cleared a shelf or a section onto the card table for cleaning and the shelf is dusted.
Today I moved to the "antique" section of the colleciton and the oooh and aahhs changed to 'Oh isn't he sweet" "Oh mummy can I cuddle him" "Oh Mum I love his face he's so sad" "Oh mum he's been hurt can I kiss it better" "Oh Mum an I love him"
I explained that some of these bears had been so loved they now needed gentle handling. After I put them all away and turned the key again a little voice asked "Mum if they were so loved, they will miss it can I love them all again if I sit quietly with them......I promise just to watch TV with them......they will be sad if I don't."
Maybe I'm an idiot but I unlocked the cabinet and gave her a Farnell to sit and watch TV with.....he is in good condition and I swear he smiled as I gave him over.
They have lasted this long and were made to be loved....I think they deserve a little bit more love.
And........their materials have made them what they are .....and the wear makes them more loveable.
I'm glad I had my daughter to help the last 2 days.......she has made me see many bears in the collection an entirely different way.
oh and someon was asking about wax? Surely if it's buffed so that it forms a seal it should last well. What about all those dolls that were made from wax from the 19th (??) century? Absolutely a more complex process than our bears' noses but many of them are still in existence.
yes I can feel some of you cringing here........but I feel that even some artist bears should stand the test of time and if they are made in a traditional way I do allow my daughter on her "good" days to play with one as a treat. Lisa Pay's big bear seems to be her favorite.
I think you're absolutely right Sandra. For me, bears are created to make people happy first and foremost. If they stay in their boxes, in a darkened room, how can that make people happy? There's nothing better than seeing a young child hold a bear and hug him as if he's her very best friend ... I love that.
So, overall I think artist designed bears are made to be special, but we also need to keep our feet on the ground and bear in mind that if we want them to be held up as shining examples of craftmanship in many years to come, we have to create them to the highest standards today. We need to make our bears as sturdy as possible for loving as long as possible.
Someone said earlier, that the first teddy bears weren't made with longevity in mind, they were made as children's toys and this is true, yet still many have achieved longevity. Those that have have been made with first class mohair and have been loved with respect, do stand the test of time. Yes, some fall by the wayside through deteroriation for all kinds of reasons, but there are many outstanding examples of beautiful vintage bears made traditionally, surviving today.
I agree that excelsior deteriorates over time in certain conditions, but having said that, there are many fine examples of vintage bears who have been given extended life with sympathetic re-stuffing, the quality of their mohair and craftmanship being such that they are easily revitalised, despite being created decades ago. I have several English Chiltern Hugmees from the 1930's, 40's and 50's and even the septegenarians are still in wonderful condition ... incidentally, they are stuffed with kapok and woodwool.
I've always made my bears to be loved today and cherished tomorrow. As we grow older we all need a little more tender, loving, care and teddy bears are no different from us in that respect.
Not everyone creates bears for the same reason and not all collectors collect for the same reason - some may buy in the hope of values increasing on their 'art' in the future and others will buy simply because they make an emotional connection with a bear. Some bear artists create solely to offer that emotional connection and others create what they strive to offer as art, to be put on a pedestal, handled with care and preserved for future generations. Some artists create with their hopes somewhere between the two! So in terms of workmanship, there may differing end goals for the 'bear' maker and maybe this means there are varying outlooks on how the bear is created to achieve those goals? I don't know. It's just a thought running round my head right now ...
Pumpkin & Pickle BearsHmm, I have to confess to putting a blob of superglue on the backs of the bears eyes to secure the eye whites to. I also use a small blob of PVA glue to attach a template before embroidering the nose. Am I doing something horrendously wrong? I'm worried now....
Also, Daphne, you said about STAINLESS steel shot - I've only ever seen the normal steel shot (which I use) sold here in the UK not STAINLESS steel....anyone know where I can get some in the UK?
Matilda Huggington-beareI have placed signs on my critters that they arent for children but I have done this only for legality reasons . I KNOW my critters would fare well under the hands of children. Like homes that have been abandoned unhandled bears/critters will disintergrate. A lived in home blossoms and doesnt disintergrate as fast.
My own bear survived quite well with me dragging him everywhere. Mum made new jammies for him everyother year because he would strip and lose his clothes. When I grew too old for him he went into the cupboard and the deteriation process then started. the moths got him and now he is no more. It would be nice if my critters or even just one critter survived 50 to 100 years but really, I only want them to be loved now. I havent put my critters together with anything I know to be inferior. My work represents me. They are all around the world now. I see them as a reflection of who I am so I really do wish them to stand up as quality workmanship with quality materials.
I'm pleased this topic came up. It will make me even more discerning about how my critters are presented.
Cleaning needle felting has me all ears and quite concerned. I'm wondering if 'scotch guarding' t will work.??? It works on my dining chairs.
I must say though, not giving a bear ears because he's wearing a hat is just not on. Very bad idea in my opinion.
and an unpolished wax nose is poor workmanship.
Earth pallette dyes survive the sunshine because they are heat set at high temperature. I actually set my earthpallette dyes in the sun.
There is an estopol that is good at giving a finish to metal findings so that they dont tarnish as quickly.it stops the black acid spots. Makes cleaning easier as well.
I must say again brilliant topic with loads of thought provoking ideas.
Wendy
Bears by JodiBoy it is really something to think about. In the early years I used plastic pellets a few times and I got to wondering if that when the fabric got weaker through the years that the bear would empty out , so I stopped using it .
Tami Eveslage Original Teddy BearsI have really enjoyed reading this topic!!! Wonderful info! (Although, I'm sad to know that the signatures and dates on all of my bear's "birthmarks" -their heart shaped butt tags- will be turning purple, as I sign them with a "sharpie" 
) What is a good thing to sign bears with?
Sandra, I loved reading about your daughter's concern that the Teddies will miss being loved. I actually got teary-eyed! (Yes, I am a sentimental fool! 
) My childhood bear definately looks worse for the wear, but I loved him so much and imagined he had feelings, too. And my love for that bear is the reason I do what I do today!
Paula
Some bear artists create solely to offer that emotional connection and others create what they strive to offer as art, to be put on a pedestal, handled with care and preserved for future generations. Some artists create with their hopes somewhere between the two!
I guess I'm somewhere in between the two. Yes, I want my bears to be appreciated as art, but the reason this form of art appeals to me is that it is art you can hold, touch, pose and "play with" , and experience beyond just looking at it. It is art that evokes the warmth, security, and delight of of childhood, and shows an appreciation for the beauty of God's furry creations. There are not any bears in my home that I would not let my children or my nieces and nephews hold and or gently play with. ( I don't have any fragile antiques, though, and we do a check for clean hands!)
Posts: 434I don't collect many bears and dolls myself, but the few I have that I paid a lot of money for are in collectable glass cases. I was tempted to display them throughout the house but I feared what would happen to them.
I found this web-site and the cleaning etc. topic interesting from cleaning and storing.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/antiques/antiques_ … #cleaning_
Cleaning
Follow these tips for looking after your antique toys:
Cleaning should be kept to a minimum. Dust can be removed with a soft brush. Using water on a cracked item can allow water to get into the substrate and cause more damage.
Never try to 'touch up' items with paint.
Mohair was often used on 19th-century dolls and this was set using a sugar water solution. Trying to wash and set a doll's hair could remove this original material.
Doll's clothing is a prime target for cleaning and repairs. The same rules that apply to textiles care are true here. Old textiles do not react to modern cleaning techniques. And using tap water and soap flakes can actually cause damage. Find out more about caring for textiles.
If you want to make new clothes for a doll, make sure you save all the original clothing. Replica clothing will not give the same historical information and will lower the financial value of the doll if you wish to sell it.
Repairs
We have all seen damaged teddy bears that have been 'loved to death' and then suffered from bad repairs. As they age, the fur will become more fragile and stitching into it may cause splitting.
Just as an artist is not the best person to repair a painting, someone who makes teddy bears will not have the skills to repair treasured bears unless they have trained as a conservator.
Items made of textiles such as teddy bears should be examined by a textile conservator. Some items, such as dolls made of ceramics, may need the help of both a textile conservator and a ceramics conservator.
Many items like train sets and drums fall into the area of expertise of those trained in archaeological conservation or social history conservation.
While some businesses undertake specialist repairs, ensure they are professionally qualified. Conservators are taught how things fall apart and it is important to know this before commencing repair.
Display
Follow the below guidelines on displaying your dolls and teddies:
Toys should be kept where they are safe from fluctuations in heat and humidity. They should not be in direct light. A glass case will keep dirt and smoke (both coal smoke and cigarette smoke) away from the objects.
Display units should be stable so they don't easily tip over.
Don't use glue or adhesive tape around your items and never string items up with wire.
Storage
Whether it's in the original packaging or has been heavily played with, if you want to put a toy into storage, you should take time to examine it. Firstly, find out what is it made from as this will give you an idea of possible problems.
For example, a wax-headed doll shouldn't be left near heat sources or near lights, as it can easily melt. Conversely, cold temperatures can cause cracks.
Metal toys can rust if they are kept where there is a moist atmosphere.
Lead soldiers can also be dangerous to children because of the lead content and sharp edges.
Plastics can degrade into a sticky mess. Some early plastics and PVC give off fumes which can cause degradation. If a surface is sticky, cracked, powdery or has darkened, it should be kept away from other items as the fumes can cause damage to other pieces.
Wooden toys may have broken sides or edges. Wood also gives off fumes as it breaks down. It's best to store these items away from other organic materials such as paper and textiles.
Items should be stored separately and wrapped in acid-free tissue. Plastic items should be put in well-ventilated boxes.
Information courtesy of Sharon Manitta.
In Lifestyle
Collector's guide to teddy bears
Tips on collecting toys
Guide to collecting dolls
Elsewhere on the web
Conservation by Design
Conservation Resources UK
Preservation Equipment
Ryder & Co (acid-free boxes)
Even though we as teddy bear artist need to always use good quaility supplies we as collectors also need to know how to store, display, and clean. Maybe we as artist need to include care and display instructions for a longer life on all teddy bears. We can give suggestions on how to care for and keep our teddy bears around a little longer if we choose to store and display properly. I have noticed my teddy bear in the glass case looks a lot better than the ones I have displayed throughout the house.
Thanks Sandra for an educational topic. I have found this topic helpful and will now include care instructions for my teddy bears for those who aren't aware of how to preserve fine artist teddy bears.
I think all teddy bear artist try and offer the best of themselves and supplies. We as collectors need to try and find the best way to preserve the art from the artist.
LuxembearsNot everyone creates bears for the same reason and not all collectors collect for the same reason - some may buy in the hope of values increasing on their 'art' in the future and others will buy simply because they make an emotional connection with a bear. Some bear artists create solely to offer that emotional connection and others create what they strive to offer as art, to be put on a pedestal, handled with care and preserved for future generations. Some artists create with their hopes somewhere between the two! So in terms of workmanship, there may differing end goals for the 'bear' maker and maybe this means there are varying outlooks on how the bear is created to achieve those goals? I don't know. It's just a thought running round my head right now ...
So well said Paula. :clap: :clap:
It's so true that one size does not fit all.
Great info Melissa. Thanks for sharing
Posts: 1,836I love what's being said about "loving" these teddy bears. Nothing about that makes me cringe!! I guess this is something that I've thought a lot about too. For legal purposes and safety standards the works are labeled collectibles and not a toy. But these were toys years ago. I have several old photo cards of kids holding that bear at their side, the bear the kid and the dog on the farm cart, etc. I love the idea of my larger bears being handled and loved and "used" for a happy purpose. My mom has several of my larger bears in her living room. My sister is expecting a baby in March and when seeing the bears lined up at the back of the couch on Christmas Day said "eww...lots of fun stuff for lil' peanut to play with". This didn't freak me out, just the opposite. If a little one wants to play tea party with my bear I'm more than happy. (little one being old enough to know not to try to pry off and swallow an eye ).
I love Antiques Road Show and it always makes me sad to see someone's grandchild now in their 50s bring in a doll that was kept in a box, is in mint condition, only comes out to be looked and then locked away. It might be worth more money today, but they always say they'll never sell it....so it's just this thing in a box being passed down from generation to generation. I guess I'm in that mind frame that says..you're here now for a small amount of time fully use and enjoy what you have. My grandfather had a train set, when he passed away it went into storage and no one would use it "Because it was so special..an antique...worth something" Well, it was stolen. Now no one gets to use it, see it, or care about it's worth and monetary value.
If a teddy bear is quality made with quality materials it will withstand a good snuggling or a trip to grandmas house. Allowing a little girl to hold and love special bear while watching a tv show is just about the best thing ever!! 
Plus I'm one of those crazy people who can "humanize" inanimate objects. I picture a glass case with a bear peering out each day longing to be held, kissed, and talked to by a lovely little girl. (I'm a nutball, huh? Too many children's books about toys coming to life I guess )
:hug:
~Chrissi
:hug: Sandra wrote: I explained that some of these bears had been so loved they now needed gentle handling. After I put them all away and turned the key again a little voice asked "Mum if they were so loved, they will miss it can I love them all again if I sit quietly with them......I promise just to watch TV with them......they will be sad if I don't."
Well, if that doesn't pull on your heartstrings!!! It brought me to tears! 
Chrissi,
It goes without saying....but I'll say it anyway.....I'm a nutball too. I used to write stories about my bears as if they were "real". I've compiled all the stories in two bound scrapbooks. I pull them out of the library occassionally and read them and remember each detail of each bear they were written for. Now I just write the stories in my head as I'm putting the finishing details on the bears.
Warmest bear hugs, :hug:
Aleta
Newcastle, OntarioI've learned a lot here and I love hearing everyones views. Sandra, I'm so glad one teddy got a "real" hug, although the others in the cabinet must be jealous. You will have to let her hold them gently, in turn! I have one cat that likes nothing more than to bath them, so mine are in a cabinet, but my three year old grandson loves to hold them.
I made our grandson a 3 inch mohair teddy for Xmas, because he has always been fascinated with the tiny ones. I know they aren't supposed to be for small children, but it is fully jointed with cotter pins and the eyes are so tight, I don't think even I could get them out. He LOVES IT! He will sit for ages watching me make one, and now that he has his own, he tells everyone "nanny made him"! I don't care if it becomes fur
less or eyeless in the next few years. The pleasure I get from watching him interact with this wee thing is priceless. It has made me wish that in this techno age, more children would have the opportunity of playing with a simple teddy.
hugs,
Brenda
Mountain Dreamer BearsAw Sandra, How sweet and caring your daughter is! (Another teary eyed bearmaker here 
)
Plus I'm one of those crazy people who can "humanize" inanimate objects. I picture a glass case with a bear peering out each day longing to be held, kissed, and talked to by a lovely little girl. (I'm a nutball, huh? Too many children's books about toys coming to life I guess
Well if that makes you a nutball then I'm one too. As a child I always endowed my most loved toys with personalities and feelings. I do the same with my bears to a certain degree. I guess for me that's part of the appeal of bear making... It brings back a bit of that lovely childhood fun and whimsy that often gets lost or forgotten in the responsibilities of adulthood.
Wendy you are so right about a lived in house lasting longer. The same must be true for teddies. How can a little gentle loving be bad for anything? I want my bears to be loved, hugged, handled and hold up to it and strive to continualy improve them with this in mind. Everything deteriorates eventually but, like so many have said, some of the most cherished teddies are those that show the clear signs of having been loved and hugged and played with.
Thanks Sandra for the great topic! It's been fascinating and so educational.
Posts: 3,540Awwwhhhh Brenda that's so cute it makes me cry!!
I'm the exact same... when I first started making my teds, I expressly made teds for each of my nieces, using safety eyes. The first niece still calls her "Magica" bear her "have to wash my hands" bear, because at the very first meeting, I laid down the groundrules for her getting to hold and play with her bear. Yep, she has to wash her hands first 
Especially that she was covered in half slobbered chocolate chip cookie when she remembered her bear. After I helped her washup, though, she was oooh, so careful, petting Magica's fur and staring lovingly into her eyes
In the past, I've actually refused to sell my bears when I've discovered someone was going to shove it into a glass cabinet never to touch it again 
Fat chance with one of my bears!!! MY bears are meant to be held and touched and hugged and loved on!!!
BrisbaneAwww Sandra how sweet your daughter is. I think it is quite surprising how much a well made artist teddy bear can stand up too. Having made both my daughters one for christmas...yes made the 'proper' way not with plastic eyes and safety joints (they are 5 and 9) I've been watching with interest to see if there is any difficulty with the bears, the treatment they are getting is the same as with their other toys and they take them to bed every night. I wouldn't say they are particularly gentle (especially the 5 year old) I know it's only early days yet but so far so good!! It will be interesting to see how long they stand up to this type of love that they get from the children. I am considering it an experiment.
Call me silly but I feel that I made the bears for the girls, and I don't want to take the bears off them and sit them on a shelf where they are only allowed to look at them!! Of course they are not supposed to touch my other bears (that doesn't always stop them though!!! any time I sell one they try to hide it because they don't want it to leave home!!!! 
)
These two have also acquired some of my 'reject' bears from early in the year (when I wasn't happy with a design or something) and all of these bears seem to have held up well also.
