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Wazza Bears AustraliaSarah from Jellybelly bears just emailed me with a link to a bear on ebay that looks like my big toe bears, I know some artists have had this before, What do you do?
I know people are going to copy but I feel !! I don't know how I feel.
I don't want to look like I have copied them.
Wazza Bears Australia
Matilda Huggington-beareThere is always going to be some crossover with designs. Mostly unintentioned. Without the ebay link I cant really give an opinion.
I only get flattered / annoyed when some one with talent takes up my ideas. :lol:
MMMMmmmmm..........after seeing it in the real......what can I say?.........I certainly dont wish to be sued for slander................
I can see the similarities especially with the feet, but I can also see some other similarities to other artists as well, might be a case of influences versus copying????
At least yours don't smell like cigarette smoke as stated in this ones auction!!! :crackup:
Hugs,
Krista
Actually, you may be surprised to know that a friend here bought a bear with toes like that years ago...they have been popular in Germany and other European areas for quite a few years now.
Even if u see what you think are "your" bears out and about.... there is not a thing you can do really and when it comes down to it..there is hardly anything new under the sun. It has all been done somewhere before.......
Wazza Bears AustraliaVeronica
I believe that is true.
Everyone will do a inset muzzle, everyone will try different shape feet. Its the name of the game.
I don't feel disappointed at all. I know my bears are designed by me, with my ideas and that is the main thing.
Everyone is trying to strive for something different and to make there bears there own. There will be always be someone in the world that will think of the same things.
Melbourne, AustraliaPeta...I'm afraid once you post a bear anywhere on the internet you're bound to get someone, somewhere, sometime...either use it for inspiration or a model!
Little Bear GuyHmmmm the feet are very much like yours Peta that's for sure. We have a done few bears with feet but with small toes, not huge like what you do. I do have to agree that I can see a couple of different artist similarities in this bear. Looks like they took what they liked from other artist and came up with their own design (well own design might be the wrong term) it looks like half of your bear and half of another artist bear.
I have to agree that a lot of German artist have been doing bears with toes like that for a number of yrs. I know I have admired your bears Peta for a long time and this one does not compare to the workmanship that you do, and I'm sure your's don't smell like smoke or a big ole pile of pot pourri (I am very sensitive to a lot of smells and there is no way I could have that in my house it would give me such headaches)
big hugs
Shane
Jellybelly BearsGlad you posted this Peta...I just feel that this bear looks like yours from top to, well, toe...I feel its fine to be inspired by other artists and say use techniques to improve your own style, but it just looks like a Peta Smart bear to me...even the ear position....I don't know...its always hard to know what to do or say when maybe they aren't quite sure of how things work in the bear artist world..like we discussed with the Kim Bee copycat post...
Veronica, Peta has been making these bears for years and years...I've admired her work from way back and her big toe bears were very new and WOW at the time.
Wendy..yup...its hard to know what to say isn't it....
Shane, yes, I pointed out the smell thing to Peta...covering it up isn't quite enough when your sensitive is it 
Not trying to create any hard feelings here Sarah...I was just saying....
Also..I have been to Peta's site..seen her bears...and I am not sure what the worry is. Hers are a huge cut above... so why even worry about it?
The smoking thing is too funny. Why would a bear maker even mention that? No matter what you do you can't hide that smell from a non smoker.. but smokers don't understand it.
Not long after I started making bears I made a few with a big toe too. I had never seen any before and thought I'd come up with something unique...it didn't take long for me to realise that others were making similar 'big toes'. I think this bear , to my eyes at any rate, looks like a combination of a few artists bears..there is one artist that jumped straight into my mind that I won't mention...but in this case I don't see , apart from the toe, that it resembles your bears Peta.
I don't see that she is a threat to you either..I mean if it's only got 11 hours left and it's only up to £ 26 it's hardly covering her costs. That is not sustainable for very long.
The trouble with eBay is that it is easy to make something, photograph it and put it on there without any standards, guidelines etc.
The fact that she's mentioned smoking would be enough to put most people off..even smokers...it's not something you want your new teddy to arrive smelling of...worse than that is cigarette smoke disguised with perfume...yuck.
Don't worry about it..she's not a threat.
Jellybelly BearsNo hard feelings Veronica, no worries at all 
Good advice Jenny...I'm just so inexperienced in this area I didn't know how to help but felt I needed to at least let her know. I can understand where Peta is coming from coz its hard when you don't make the quantity of bears and you end up looking like the copier But think we all know Peta's bears enough to remember her work 
anyway..its good to brainstorm these things...and get worrying friends to stop 
Hi Sarah..It's great that you stick up for your friends..that's wonderful thing to do, there should be more people like you around!! I think that the best way to flout copiers is to keep on moving forward...that way you are always a step ahead and they are only copying what you left behind in your wake as you move on...
It's time the wasted sweating about something that's not a threat that I begrudge..that's why I just get my head down and work hard to make my bears as good as they can be...and I don't worry about others. It's a case of don't look over your shoulder in race to see what the others are doing...just keep on going forward.
While I do notice the direction others go in..I think it's more important for me to be clear about where I am going. That's why I think Peta shouldn't worry, because this lady clearly spends more time looking at what others do than looking at her own work.
I think things like this make you stronger in the long run!!! :hug: :hug: :hug:
Awesome advice everyone!!!
I myself as a smoker, WHO SMOKES OUTSIDE since it smells so bad and clings to things!!! and wash my hands before I ever touch a bear that i am working would definetly be able to tell that a bear was covered up with perfume and then it would be shoved away in a baggy never to been seen again!!! Just wanted to let you all know that all smokers are not the same!
Hugs,
Krista
Pumpkin & Pickle BearsThere definately ARE similarities! But I agree that yours are in a league of their own!
Krista said:
I myself as a smoker, WHO SMOKES OUTSIDE since it smells so bad and clings to things!!! and wash my hands before I ever touch a bear
Me too!! Even though I am a smoker I just wouldn't be able to own a bear that smells of cigarette smoke!
The smoking thing is too funny. Why would a bear maker even mention that? No matter what you do you can't hide that smell from a non smoker.. but smokers don't understand it.
Look at her feedback on ebay.. I think she has had some complaints...
I hate getting bears or fabric that reek of smoke.. it just kinda ruins it for me.
Hugs!
Melanie
Wazza Bears AustraliaThanks everyone, for your words.
Like I said before I'm not disappointed.
I just keep striving to make my bears the best quality I know how and I keep striving for my bears to be unique.
There is alot of bears out there that look like each others.
Thanks again for letting me vent
Posts: 222your wazza bears are unique they have that special vibe about them they have that staticy look to them that i really love and i just like to hug them and those feets i love those bear feet.
DoodlebearsHi Peta, I've just followed the link and it says the item has been removed.
Hugs Jane. 
Pandy Potter BearsI can't comment as the link has been pulled but this happened to me a few years ago. You do think oh, eek, what the heck? but as the advice on here, you move on. Saying that I managed to get one TTer go off on one. I got accused of churning bears out blah, blah, blah. 
It can open a can of worms up. So not to worry, but it does always bring interesting questions and opinions up. Right better go and churn another one out! 
Wazza Bears AustraliaThis thread was started Jan 2007 and year ago. Its funny how its popped up though as I have seen last year so many people trying to copying other artists. Its getting worse I reackon. Not sayin my bears but other top artist.
Pandy Potter BearsHa ha. Only just noticed, old thread. 
Still, issues that will be around for a long time.
